ATLRetro

Monday, August 19

Swing on by Big Band Night featuring Joe Gransden and his amazing 16-member orchestra  at Café 290 every first and third Monday of the month. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam featuring blues and southern soul singer Lola Gulley. Enjoy your BBQ with a side of Dry White Toast at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Tuesday, August 20

Get Abby Normal with Mel Brooks‘ horrifiably hilarious YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern, as they continue their August retro cinema classic series of Classic Comedies! Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations during 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. Blues it down with Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers at Northside Tavern. Crosstown Allstars brings the blues to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, and Danny ‘Mudcat’ Dudeck fires up the blues at Blind Willie’s. Steve’s Live Music in Sandy Springs hosts a weekly Bluegrass & Hootenanny Jam led by Jason Koornick & Hank Weisman.

Wednesday, August 21

Surf on down to the Star Bar to see The Mystery Men?, Gemini 13 and the Andy Browne Troupe. For the uninitiated, Andy used to lead a certain legendary local alt-punk band called The Nightporters. Catch up on a recent documentary about these guys directed by Andy’s co-conspirateur, guitarist Ray Dafrico, here. Experience an alt-rock foursome with Big Head Todd & the Monster, Soul Asylum, The Wailers and Matthew Sweet at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. It’s Ladies Night at Johnny’s Hideaway which plays hits from Sinatra to Madonna for a generally mature crowd. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck brings the Piedmont blues to Northside Tavern, and Frankie’s Blues Mission deliver some soul to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Greet the day abby normally with an 11:30 a.m. matinee of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern’s Retro Cinema series this week!

Thursday, August 22

Joe Gransden is back at Café 290 for a release party for  JAZZ CONTRASTED: TRIBUTE TO KENNY DORHAM, his latest album with Russell Gunn.Get your boogie on at Mary’s, as the East Atlanta venue gets funky with their weekly Disco in the Village. Relax with a cocktail while listening to the groovy sounds and spectacle of Jaye Lish & The Birds of Paradise Drag Show at vintage tiki bar, Trader Vic’s. Ross Bon blues it on down with Atlanta Boogie at Blind Willie’s. Go to Northside Tavern to hear the classic 50s Chicago-style blues of The Breeze Kings. Get on over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack to hear the honkytonkin’ blues of Chickenshack. It’s 80s/90s Retro Video Night with free drinks ’til 10 at The Shelter. Doug Ratner & the Watchmen bring their brand of country fried rock ‘n’ roll down from Massachusetts, with Georgia’s own Caleb Warren & the Perfect Gentlemen kicking things off with their ragtime Dixieland blues at Red Light Cafe‘s Bluegrass Thursday. And it’s your last chance to re-animate YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern!

Friday, August 23

Klimchak Live! Nostalgia for the Future! returns to The Balzer Theatre at Herren’s for his third annual summer performances tonight and Saturday including a new performance of Klimchak’s Lebeato Lounge. The Retro-inspired musician also will be making a bunch o’ Punch while playing a glass xylophone tuned with punch. At intermission the audience gets to drink free punch, and the show will also feature a preview of music from this fall’s production of The Navigator performed by Klimchak and Kool Kat Nicolette Emmanuelle, as well as live versions of several Marimba Lumina & theremin pieces from his new recording “Nostalgia for the Future.” The Rebirth Brass Band comes up from the Big Easy to liven up Smith’s Olde Bar with Georgia Soul Council. John Hiatt & the Combo play Variety Playhouse with pop-country up and comers Native Run. We’re not betting our old video cameras that Rob Lowe will show up, but you can relive the ’80s in Atlanta and benefit AIDS Walk at a Club Rio/Weekends Reunion at The Shelter. An ’80s Party is also the theme for an OTP gig by Denim Arcade, featuring Kool Kat Becky Cormier-Finch, at Craze Tavern in Duluth. Epitome brings their blend of contemporary jazz and R&B rhythms under the dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck  delivers the blues to Northside Tavern, and Delta Moon serves up the blues at Blind Willie‘s. Set It Off explodes the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. For a midnight movie delight, go to the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema to visit WAYNE’S WORLD (1992) just outside of Chicago. MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) brings coconuts and at least one killer rabbit to The Plaza Theatre at 9:40 p.m., followed  by your chance to Do the Time Warp again at THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with full costumed floor show by Lips Down on Dixie every Friday at midnight.

Saturday, August 24

The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival takes off with food, art, vendors and live music including honkytonk/swing by The Cigar Store Indians, southern roots/rock from The Higher Choir, real down n dirty Bama rock n roll by Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires, another chance to hear a rare Atlanta performance by The Nightporters‘ Andy Browne Troupe and more! The Star Bar throws a Country Western Rock & Roll Party including Mississippi Shakedown; Caroline & The Ramblers, featuring Kool Kat Caroline Hull Engel; The Banditos; and Julea & Her Dear Johns featuring Kool Kat Julea Thomerson. The Rebirth Brass Band stays away from the Big Easy to liven up Smith’s Olde Bar for a second night, this time paired with Waterseed. Klimchak Live! Nostalgia for the Future! plays a second night at The Balzer Theatre at Herren’s (see Friday for details). The Jagged Stones, featuring Kool Kat Keef Richards, rock Dixie Tavern in Marietta. Get your glam on at Kavarna in Oakhurst when Jerome Newton and The Band Who Fell to Earth perform Bowie‘s entire ZIGGY STARDUST album at maximum volume as per the instructions on the original LP! Led Zepplica rocks the Variety Playhouse back to the ’70s with Janah. Fringe Factory Radio presents a 529 PSYCHEDELIC FREAKOUT with Bipolaroid, from New Orleans; Andrew and the Disapyramids, featuring Kool Kat Joshua Longino; Athens’ The Rodney Kings and Fringe Factory DJs. Descend into The Basement for a Keep on Movin’ Rock & Soul Dance Party.  Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck  bring the Piedmont blues to Northside Tavern, and The Electromatics spark up the blues at Blind Willie’s. The Hollidays make it a soulful night at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Zydeco T plays Big Tex. Take a look at well…the bright side of life…er, death with Monty Python’s LIFE OF BRIAN (1979) at 9:40 p.m. at The Plaza Theatre. As always, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours of the night. And you have a second chance to rhapsodize in WAYNE’S WORLD (1992) during midnight madness at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema.

Blair Crimmins.

Sunday, August 25

Day Two of the Grant Park Summer Shade Festival features ’20s ragtime from Blair Crimmins & the Hookers, Michelle Malone and more. Have a bluegrass brunch with Banjolicious at Big Tex starting at noon. DJs Tim Lawrence and Agent 45 add a Retro sound to dunch at The Earl.  Tony Bryant Blues Band bring on the blues style at Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack. Sample a spoonful of blues courtesy of Uncle Sugar at Northside Tavern. The Jez Graham Trio jazzes up The Family Dog withJoe Gransden. British cult comedic classic MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) hilariously spoofs the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table at The Plaza Theatre at 9:40 p.m.

Ongoing

Johannes Vermeer’s GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING visits The High Museum of Art, along with other Dutch masterpieces by Rembrandt and more, through Sept. 29.

Every Tuesday night, Wednesday morning and Thursday night is Retro Cinema at Movie Tavern.

If you have a suggestion for a future event that should be included in This Week in Retro Atlanta or see something we missed, please email us at atlretro@gmail.com.