ATLRetro

By Zohra Yaqub
Contributing Writer

Monday, Oct. 22

Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam featuring Lola Gulley. Head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for a hearty serving of BBQ and Dry White Toast.

Tuesday, Oct. 23

Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab your horn and head over to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. J.T. Speed rocks the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack or you can blues it down with Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers at Northside Tavern.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Disco in the Village at Mary’s is your midweek neighborhood dance party! The Hollidays make it a soulful night at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack and Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck blues it down at Northside Tavern.

Thursday Oct. 25

Find out how to love their way when you go to Variety Playhouse to check out The Psychedelic Furs, The Lemonheads and The Chevin at 8 p.m. Straight from Hell, head out to Lakewood Amphitheatre to be a part of the Twins of Evil Tour with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson.  Get back to your roots at Twain’s with Uncle Daddy and The Kissin’ Cousins. Make your way over to Star Bar to catch the ELO/BabeAbility Spectacular with special guests The Harlequins and hometown favorites, Del Venicci, The Dummies, and Factory.  Doors open at 9 p.m. and costumes are encouraged!  Movie buffs and frustrated grad students, check out LADY TERMINATOR (1989) at Cinefest!  Playing the last Thursday of each month, the cult classic tells the story of the evil spirit of an evil queen that possesses the body of a young anthropology student who then goes on a murderous rampage. It’s a dance-off! Come down to Hand in Hand for the famous Midnight 80s and 90s dance contest. Eat, drink and play a classic game with an adult spin every Thursday night as Mon Cherie presents Mad Lib-Ations, Atlanta’s newest Retro weekly pastime, starting at 7 p.m. at the Corner Tavern in Little 5 Points. The fun-filled night includes games and prizes from some of the city’s most fun Retro retailers, Psychobilly Freakout and punk faves spun by The Right Reverend Andy and a raffle. Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti plays Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. The Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. The Box Cars play Bluegrass Thursday at Red Light Cafe starting at 9 p.m., but come early and bring your own instruments for a locals jam at 7 p.m. Mike Z Trio honkytonks it up at Big Tex and Frankie’s Blues Mission plays at The Family Dog.

Friday, Oct. 26

It’s the opening night of the Dark Harvest Masquerade Ball. Get lost in the Killer Clown Maze at Dark Harvest Haunted House; proceeds from the event, which runs until October 31, will benefit local charities such as The Academy Theatre, Lifeline Animal Project, and The South Dekalb Senior Center. Read our exclusive ATLRetro preview here. You are invited to Mary’s Halloween Hootenanny Weekend! There will be costume contests, music, and prizes Friday and Saturday. If you are looking for an exciting way to celebrate the quirkiest holiday of the year, take a trip to Strandsylvania – aka The Earl Smith Strand Theatre to see Strandemonium, a live song and dance musical revue featuring numbers that highlight the most spook-tacular night of the year. Come hear classics like “Monster Mash,” “Purple People Eater” and “Love Potion Number Nine.” Or enjoy a few more current favorites like “Dead Man’s Party” “Zombie Prom” and “Bring on the Freaks.” Tickets are $20 and the show runs from Oct 26-31.  CineProv makes fun of movies so you don’t have to.  Head over to Relapse Theatre to watch OMEN II (1978) and do not forget to wear your costume for a discounted ticket.  Hottie Hawgs is inviting you to Hawgtoberfest. For $20, you get an all-you-can-eat buffet, drafts and a special cocktail whipped up by Boss Hawg himself.  Live music with The James Hanley Band starts at 9 p.m. and a cash prize goes to the costume contest winner.  Bill Fleming Productions hosts a Musical Séance for Gram Parson, The Grievous Angel at the Arts Exchange. The séance starts at 8:30 p.m. and $10 donations go toward helping Earl Maddox in his fight against colon cancer.  Catch the runaway train at The Buckhead Theatre with Soul Asylum and The Higher Choir.  Head over to Big Tex Cantina to check out Alick Gerard & The Dixie Limited. Catch Lil’ Joey’s Big Band at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack or head over to Northside Tavern if you are looking for a night of blues with Mudcat. Fright Night under the dinosaurs features Frankenfunk at Fernbank Museum of Natural History Martinis & IMAX.

Elsa Lancaster as THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Universal Pictures, 1935.

Saturday, Oct. 27

Get in the Halloween spirit as Plaza Theatre’s Universal Monster Month concludes with one of the best horror movies ever filmed, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935), directed by James Whale and starring Boris Karloff and Elsa Lancaster. The movie will be preceded by the Silver Scream Spookshow hosted by Prof. Morte. This twisted variety show features magic tricks, dance numbers, creepy characters and fun frights. Read our Retro Review here.

Climb out of your grave and join the Marietta Zombie Walk and Carnival of Doom at 5 p.m. Head over to the Decatur Block Party at Big Tex Cantina with Kool Kats The Whiskey Gentry and Caroline & The Ramblers.  Music starts at 1:30 p.m. and they will be joined by bluegrass band, Deja Blue, and Like a Locomotive. Tight Bros Network and OK Productions present the Dum Dum Girls, Devin and Old King Cole Younger at The Earl at 9 p.m. Make your way over to The Basement in East Atlanta at to hear Gentleman Jesse and His Men rock out and the blues/rock of Brother Hawk.  Scary-Oke! We’re pretty sure that is what any karaoke night on any night of the week must eventually become, but why not dress up for it at Mary’s and win some cash and prizes? Catch a rare screening of SHADOWS (1959) directed by John Cassavetes and starring Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni and Hugh Hurd, as part of the ongoing Saturday MOMA AMERICAN INDIES series at the High Museum of Art. Scat on down to Big Tex Cantina in downtown Decatur at 7 p.m. to check out the Tommy Dean Trio as they play favorites from The Rat Pack, classic soul, and great American songbook standards. Check out Northside Tavern’s annual Halloween celebration with Mudcat at 10 p.m.  And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours of the night.

Sunday, Oct. 28

Whether you missed your prom or you miss David Lynch‘s quirky and beloved show, TWIN PEAKS, go back to high school and enjoy a night of 50s and 60s haunted melodies at Twin Peaks Prom Night at Sauced.  The dance kicks off at 8 p.m. and make sure you dress as your favorite TWIN PEAKS character or in prom attire. Enjoy an intimate evening with Nicolette Emanuelle at Kavarna in Decatur. She’s also our Kool Kat of the Week!

Kool Kat Hot Rod Walt and the Psycho-Devilles are playing at Killer Creek Harley-Davidson or enjoy a bluegrass brunch at Big Tex Cantina. Fat Back Deluxe rocks the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dang Dang Dang plays dunch at 1 p.m. at The Earl.

Ongoing

Every night is The Night of the Living Dead at the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse, now in its own third season and expanded to include two different walking attractions, Curse of the Undead and ZWar and a zombie shoot at Safety Wolf, the paintball combat complex offMoreland Avenue, just south of I-285.  The Apocalypse happens every Thursday-Sunday all month.

Netherworld, Atlanta’s favorite haunted house for the past 15 years, is open every night from October 5-November 3.  Ticket prices range from $22 per person for the main haunt, Banshee, to $50 for a speed pass to see both haunts, Banshee and The Hive, and cut to the front of both lines.

Visit the High Museum of Art to see the Fast Forward: Modern Moments exhibit featuring artistic development from the past 100 years, 1913-2013. Artists includeHenri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jeff Koons. Closes January 10, 2013

Take retro to another level at the Genghis Khan special exhibition at Fernbank Museum of National History.  Closes January 21, 2013.

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