ATLRetro

By Jordan Barbeau
Contributing Writer

Monday February 20

Joe Gransden and his swingin’ 16 piece jazz band put on a special Valentine’s Day-themed show at Café 290, with special guest stars from Hot Shoe Records including Audrey Shakir, Tyrone Jackson, The Sax All-Stars, Kate Myers and more. From 3 PM on, savor tropical sounds and libations, as well as a Polynesian dinner, during Mai Tai Monday at Smith’s Olde Bar. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam. Head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for dinner and a show, with local blues/jazz band Dry White Toast performing at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, February 21

Jazz up your Mardi Gras with Fat Tuesday On the Rooftop of Marietta’s art deco Earl Smith Strand Theatre featuring Atlanta’s own Jacob Deaton. Frankie’s Blues Mission provides some of the best jazz and blues the ATL has to offer at Two Urban Licks. Whole Lotta Dixie and some extra guests scratch behind the ear of The Family Dog. Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. Little G. Weevil blues it down at Darwin’s Burgers & Blues in Marietta. Crosstown Allstars rock the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers bring on the blues at Northside Tavern. Dance the night away at Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits.

Wednesday, February 22

For the movie lover in all of us, EmoryUniversitycontinues its Painting with Light: 13 Masterpieces of the Art of Cinematography (1928-2002) with a free screening of T-MEN (1947), a noir film about two undercover U.S. Treasury agents who attempt to bust a counterfeiting ring, in White Hall 208. Lefty Williams shows off why he’s not just the world’s finest one-armed guitarist but a truly great guitarist at Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que. In honor of Black History Month, opening tonight and running through Feb. 26, TheatreSouth Atlanta presents a special production of the Broadway gospel musical I HAVE A DREAM about the ideas and beliefs of Martin Luther King, Jr. The Atlanta Funk Society turns the main room of Smith’s Olde Bar into the funkiest place in Atlanta on Wed. nights. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Frankie’s Blues Mission jazzes up Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance to ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s hits during Retro in the Metro Wednesdays at Pub 71 in Brookhaven

Thursday, February 23

Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti play Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. Big Mike’s off in Seattle till June performing with El Vez in Teatro ZinZanni’s CALIENTE SHOW, so Atlanta Funk Society’s Jonathan Lloyd will be filling in on vocals. Remember Lloyd’s Rockstead Review, his killer reggae collaboration with Kingsized? The Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.  The Darrell Webb Band jam at Red Light Café’s weekly Bluegrass Thursday.

Friday, February 24

It’s another jam-packed Friday in Retro Atlanta.  Never fear, steampunks!  Anachrocon is here. This 3-day alternate history convention continues through Sun. Feb. 26 at The Holiday Inn Select Perimeter. Friday night features a Burlesque at the End of the World show produced by the fabulous Talloolah Love at midnight, panels, dealers’ room and performances by a laundry list of steampunk bands, such as The Hellblinki Sextet, Aeronauts, Carnival Epsilon, DJ Dr. Q, and more. Read up on all the Really Retro happenings in our exclusive sneak preview.

Kool Kat Andy Ditzler‘s latest Film Love: George Kuchar celebrates the life and productions of the late filmmaker. Head over to Masquerade as Moon Taxi and The Apache Relay rock the house in a show opened by Athens’ District Attorneys (fronted by Kool Kat Drew Beskin). Hoop Essence presents a special screening of the documentary film THE HOOPING LIFE, a documentary about changing the world through the use of nothing but a hula-hoop, along with a fun line-up of live hoop dance performances, at 7 Stages. To get the full spin, be sure and read this week’s Kool Kat profile on HoopEssence founder Rebecca Deshon. Big Sandy & his Fly Rite Boys kicks some honkytonk/rockabilly into the Star Bar with a show opened by similarly talented Atlanta favorite sons of the Redneck Underground Slim Chance & the Convicts. Bogey and the Viceroy jazz up Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX with Swing Dance Night.

Saturday, February 25

Anachrocon continues with a huge day of performances, including Jennifer Teeter, Eli August, Extraordinary Contraptions, Frenchy and the Punk (read a new ATLRetro feature on that dynamic duo here), and many more, as well as writer and artist panels, a costume contest, dealer’s room and more. Again, see our exclusive preview for more details. If THE HOOPING LIFE inspires you to hoop dance, Maria Valentin, aka Riahoopaleena, teaches a  Hoop Rhythm class today at 2:30 p.m. at Ladies Workout Express at Toco Hills. Professor Morte and the Silver Scream Spookshow gang dare you to brave PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965) with a family matinee at 1 pm and 10 pm adult show at the Plaza Theatre.

Frenchy & the Punk.

Eddie’s Attic serves up a show of very soulful proportions, featuring the talents of veteran Atlanta singer/songwriters Michelle Malone, Dede Vogt and Caroline Aiken. The Dark Star Orchestra bring back the famous sounds of The Grateful Dead to the Variety Playhouse. Former John Coltrane Quartet member McCoy Tyner and his Trio create incredible jazz stylings at the Rialto Center, with special guest Joe Lovano, a Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophonist. The High Museum of Art continues its MOMA movie series with showings of a 35 mm print of DW Griffith‘s ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1930) collected by the New York museum at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Big C and the Ringers jazz it up at Fat Matt’s. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday, February 26

Anachrocon winds down with a performance by Wicked Hips Bellydance and an End of Show Jam Session. For the anarchist in us all, head over to Contraband Cinema‘s Skip the Oscars (and Give to the Plaza), a pop culture collage of truly independent, anti-copyright illegal art and anti-Hollywood messages and some old Hollywood clips at the  Plaza Theatre. Joe Gransden teams up with The Trio to show us what jazz is all about at The Family Dog. Francine Reed and her soulful voice please the ears of those at Eddie’s Attic. Rise and dine with Bonaventure Quartet at 1 p.m. dunch at The Earl . Tony Bryant brings on the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern.

Ongoing Exhibits

Explore one of America’s most iconic theaters in AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING: HOW THE APOLLO THEATER SHAPED AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT, a special exhibition at the Atlanta History Center . Presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, in collaboration with the Apollo Theater Foundation, the display includes historic and contemporary costumes, playbills, music scores, graphic images and recorded music. Through March 4, 2012.

MANDALA: SACRED CIRCLE IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM brings peace and harmony to the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. This amazing special exhibition explores Buddhism’s unique and beautiful perspective on sacred space and honor that through the tradition of mandalas. Be sure to read Lisa Stock’s Retro Review here. Through April 15

PICASSO TO WARHOL, a special art exhibition at the High Museum of Art, features over 100 works of art from 14 of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Through Apr. 29.

If you know of a cool happening coming up soon, send suggestions to ATLRetro@gmail.com.