ATLRetro

By Jordan Barbeau
Contributing Writer

Monday, January 9

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. To break up the Monday monotony, 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, January 10

In the mood for a veritable gore-fest? Then Plaza Theatre has the film for you! In honor of everybody’s least favorite upcoming holiday, Splatter Cinema presents the film that most launched the splatter horror subgenre, Friday the 13th, in all its gory glory at 9:30 p.m.! Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. J.T. Speed plays Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers bring on the blues at Northside Tavern. Catch Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon, featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits.

Wednesday, January 11

The Atlanta Funk Society turns the main room of Smith’s Olde Bar into the funkiest place in Atlanta Wed. night. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. The Hollidays play 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.

Jeffrey Butzer. Photo credit: Melissa J. Butzer.

Thursday, January 12

As a tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma joins the glee clubs from Morehouse College and Spelman College and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for the 20th anniversary A King Celebration Concert at Atlanta Symphony Hall. The Star Bar features a diverse range of musical talents, such as Lightnin’ Ray & The Mystics, Jeffrey Butzer (for our interview with Jeffrey about his recent A Charlie Brown Christmas show, click here) with Molly Harvey, and Taylor Crowell & The Old Gold. Red Light Cafe holds a special Bluegrass Thursday Band Jam. Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti, featuring Big Mike Geier, play Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. Big Mike’s about to head to Seattle for four months, so this’ll be one of his last local gigs for a while. The Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Friday January 13

To make the unluckiest day of the year just a little bit better, head over to the Star Bar for Friday the 13th, Part 2: Electric Boogaloo, a musical celebration that no amount of black cats or broken mirrors could ruin! Featured bands include Freckle and Burn, The Head and Jade Lemons and the Crimson Lust. Blair Crimmins and The Hookers turn Fernbank Museum’s Martinis and IMAX into a 1920s ragtime jazz club.  Veteran Atlanta musician/beatnik blues poet Kodac Harrison brings his soulful voice to a combo album release, art opening and gig at 7 Stages. The Variety Playhouse hosts Boulder, Colorado’s Big Head Todd and the Monsters, founded in 1986.

Saturday, January 14

Everyone’s favorite red-headed orphan cheering up the Great Depression comes to the Fox Theatre! A production of ANNIE starts tonight, running through Jan. 22. The Yacht Rock Revue goes back in time to DARK SIDE OF THE

THE WHITE REINDEER

MOON and LED ZEPPELIN IV at the Variety Playhouse. THE WHITE REINDEER (1952) won the Fairy Tale Award at the Cannes Film Festival from a jury led by Jean Cocteau and a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film before falling into obscurity. The legendary Finnish art/vampire film, however, gets a rare screening tonight at 7:30 at the  Plaza Theatre , co-sponsored by the Scandinavian-American Foundation of Georgia and the Mythic Imagination Institute. Read our Retro Review here. Eddie’s Attic gets bluesy with the sounds of Delta Moon and Linda McRae. Modern Skirts, The District Attorneys and Tedo Stone rock The Earl. Drew Beskin of the DAs is our Kool Kat this week. Kodac Harrison plays a second night at 7 Stages. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday, January 15

Interstate plays The Earl for dunch, while Tab Benoit and The Deacon Brandon Reeves kick it at Smith’s Olde Bar. Fatback Deluxe bring on the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern.

Ongoing Theatre 

Cavalia: Odysseo takes the spirit, beauty and creativity of recent European acrobatic spectaculars such as Cirque de Soleil and applies it to horses. Let’s just say this is not your mamma’s  Royal Lippizan Stallions circus show. Big tent at 864 Spring Street. Through Jan. 29.

The Supremes at the Apollo Theater. Photo courtesy of The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. Photo by Kwame Brathwaite.

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.

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, 2012.

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