COMING TO ATLANTA AT THE EASTERN ON DEC 9 – PORTUGAL. THE MAN!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/1/25

To celebrate their 10th studio album, they’ll be hitting the road! They’ll play on Dec 9th at The Eastern.


SHISH finds Portugal.The Man on the edge of discovery – pulling the curtain back further. Across its ten distinct tracks, the band leans into discomfort, vulnerability, and the warped pop sensibility that only Portugal. The Man can offer. SHISH represents a period of intense reappraisals for Gourley, both in music and in life and it combines Gourley’s most revealing writing yet, not only about the lessons he learned being raised in Alaska, but also some of the lessons he’s already learned raising his daughter, Frances, who was diagnosed with one of the world’s rarest genetic disorders four years ago. 

These personal tales and philosophies mirror a broader sense of musical freedom than Portugal. The Man has ever before embraced, in spite of how wide-ranging their music has always been.

The band’s released some great teases of the record so far with their tracks: “Angoon,” “Denali”, “Tanana,” and “Mush.” 

Praise for Portugal. the Man:


“Shish, the most explicitly Alaskan record Gourley has written, because he felt he owed it to Alaska and he owed it to himself.” – SPIN

“Shish’s early singles hint at a certain propulsiveness to the structures of these songs, even if Gurley’s falsetto, surfy guitars, and bubblegum psych-pop aesthetic tend to bring MGMT’s Congratulations to mind.” – FLOOD “

“Tanana” finds the band in hazy psych-pop mode, while “Mush” is a little more rocking and propulsive.” – Brooklyn Vegan

“Portugal. The Man, whose 2017 smash “Feel It Still” has been stuck in your head no fewer than six times, have announced their forthcoming album, “SHISH,” with these two new songs. “Tanana” — a city in Alaska, the band’s birth state — evokes a woozy psych-rock freefall, countered by the skittering alt-rock anxiety of “Mush.”  – Boston Globe

“SHISH is yet another awe-inspiring effort from Gourley and his Portugal. The Man project turned out to be some of the most honest, refreshing music the artist has added to his discography in some time. These ten songs pinpoint the exact time and space Gourley is currently in, and turn his point of view into relatable slices of daring, artistic indie rock.” Glide Magazine

“SHISH saw Gourley scale-back from the limitless world to a tightened circle. It became a call back to the band’s Alaskan origins and upbringing, adopting a mentality of taking only what you need rather than everything at your fingertips. Through SHISH, Portugal. The Man invites listeners into their home, proudly representing the community they came from.” Luna Collective

“The Grammy-winning indie-rock mainstays’ next project shows them braving fearsome new sonic possibilities and drawing inspiration from their origins in Alaska” – Relix 


“A pretty eclectic mix of music that hops extravagantly from foot to foot” – 13th Floor

Rest of the tour:

Dec 2 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg (The Lords of Portland Present Portugal. The Man)

Dec 3 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
Dec 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Dec 5 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Dec 7 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
Dec 8 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Dec 9 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
Dec 11 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
Dec 12 – Austin, TX – ACL Live – Moody Theater

MARVELOUS 3 LIGHT UP CENTER STAGE, OCTOBER 13TH!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/16/25

On Friday, October 3, 2025, Atlanta’s own Marvelous 3 took the stage at Center Stage Theater for a sold-out hometown show that felt like a long-overdue family reunion. The rock trio, frontman Butch Walker, bassist Jayce Fincher, and drummer Doug “Slug” Mitchell reunited in recent years after a hiatus, and their energy on this night was infectious. From the moment they started, the band radiated happiness, grinning ear-to-ear as they powered through a set packed with classics and newer hits.

The evening kicked off with opener Major, a fitting choice as the band’s lead guitarist is none other than Holden Fincher, Jayce’s son. Holden has been joining Marvelous 3 on the road as a fourth member, adding rhythm guitar and youth to the lineup. His seamless integration amplified the familial vibe. It made it a multi-generational rock affair.

Marvelous 3 wasted no time diving into their catalog, blending high-energy anthems with heartfelt moments that had the audience singing along word-for-word. The setlist, clocking in at 18 songs, was a masterclass in ’90s-inspired rock with a modern edge. They opened strong with “Little Head,” Walker’s charismatic voice cutting through the mix as the band locked into a tight groove. Off and on, Walker bantered with the crowd between songs, cracking jokes about Atlanta traffic and thanking fans for sticking with them through the years.

Mid-set, they dipped into fan favorites like “#27” and “Grant Park,” the latter a nod to Atlanta’s iconic green space that is tailor-made for this crowd Atlanta crowd. Followed by “You’re So Yesterday,” “Until You See” helmed by Holden, “Every Monday,” “Jackie and Tina” honoring both mothers in the crowd, and a heartfelt tribute to the unity of music, “Melt With You” cover of Modern English.

But, the biggest moment of the night was the pure mastery of “Freak of the Week.” It is their most well known, signature hit that exploded with energy. The crowd was so into it. Walker, Fincher, Mitchell, and young Holden looked ecstatic, hugging it out onstage as the final notes faded. It was a reminder of why Marvelous 3 endures—their music is fun, unpretentious, and delivered with genuine heart. They went on to also perform hits, “Sugarbuzz,” and encored with “Cigarette Lighter Love Song,” and “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me” with Butch in the crowd.

Fans leaving Center Stage buzzed about the band’s unbreakable spirit. In a world of polished rock, Marvelous 3’s raw happiness and family ties made this hometown show unforgettable. If this is what reunion tours can be, sign us up for more.

Our favorite photos from the night, taken by John and I:

SHAKY KNEES 2025 DAY 3: WE’RE NIRVANA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/22/25

Photo: Pooneh Ghana, Shaky Knees

Now that Shaky Knees day three has wrapped, it’s time to reminisce about our favorite moments from the final day of the festival. Our legs hurt, we’ve walked over 13,000 steps each day, and all of it was totally worth it. From seeing Weird Al for the first time to taking a trip down memory lane with Devo, we ended Shaky Knees 2025 on a high note.

I want to go straight for the jugular today and hit it off with my favorite performance of the day, Weird Al! I didn’t ever think I would be saying that but, he really is animated and puts on a great show. It has you rolling laughing! My friend even cried a little he was thought it was so funny. He started out with We’re Nirvana (Smells Like Teen Spirit) and dressed like Kurt Kobain in the original video, and we found out online that he used the same set, janitor, and extras. He then moved on to a Devo parody, literally wearing the same outfit that Devo, who played right before him wore!

After that, Weird Al did a compilation singing everything from Eat It (Beat It), Like a Surgeon (Like a Virgin), and so many more all rolled together. Moving on to White & Nerdy riding a segway on the stage to Amish Paradise (Gangstas Paradise). Finally, doing a whole ending about Star Wars, the Yoda song, and the oddest set of mixed together chanting I have ever heard. I can’t imagine getting everyone in sync acapella on this song!

Best of the rest, included getting to hear Devo sing Whip It live. We loved watching all of their really funny graphic like a donut and a french fry. Plus, they work their iconic red hats. They threw some out into the audience, but I was too far back. The Stereophonics did their main song, Dakota and it was fun to hear it live. We caught Vampire Weekend and my friend exclaimed, “They sound like the Jonas Brothers.” Do they? I’ve never heard the Jonas Brothers. As we walked out, a couple was getting married on stage of the Lucy Dacus show. I’ve never seen anything like that before, so we stopped and watched!

Oops, I did it again. Our ride was leaving before Blink 182, so we didn’t stay. How much did we miss?

With Shaky Knees in the rear view, my favorite performances in this order included Deftones at the top. Then Cage the Elephant came in second for me. Then, rounding out the top three is Cage the Elephant. What was yours?

SHAKY KNEES 2025 DAY 2: MESS AROUND

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/21/25

Photo: Roger Ho, Shaky Knees

With day 2 in the Shaky Knees book, yesterday was a whirl wind of bands and music. We call it the mess around, a nod to my favorite Cage the Elephant Song. We saw as many bands as we could from Radio City Alice to kick it off to Public Enemy to end the night. Here are some of our thoughts on them.

Starting with Radio Free Alice, they had a solid sound and vocals and were impressed with them for such young men. Next, we joined our friends to watch Johnny Marr. I should know who he is as he is the guitarist from the Smiths, but I had no idea until my writer and photographer friend, Reece told me, so I had to go. They didn’t disappoint playing greats like my favorite of theirs, How is Soon Now? and The Charming Man. Morrisey who?

We walked over to Highly Suspect but it was more a chat fest for our group. We agreed they were like a folky Cage the Elephant. Returning back to the Peachtree stage, we caught TV On the Radio. I have always wanted to see Wolf Like Me live since falling in love with the cover by Local H. They turned me on to the song.

Now on to Cage the Elephant, the best show of the day. I have so many stories about their music, like my niece, Katherine, was a huge fan in her teens and I took her to their concert as her birthday present and really enjoyed it. Shultz is so animated and seems to really enjoy his own music. When we covered Shaky back in 2016 at Centennial Park, the group was in the media room doing interviews, so we listened in and caught the show there and were impressed. This one was just as good, maybe better. We were on the hill, and the light show and pyrotechnics were fun, the energy high. They played all of their hits from my favorite Mess Around to Trouble, their first hit Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked, and ending with Cigarette Dreams.

We ended our night seeing a few songs from The Black Keys and heard the iconic Lonely Boy to open. But we really wanted to catch Public Enemy because we love old school rap. They are so engaging, really talk to the crowd, and want the crowd to be in it. They actually have new music that was good!! It was a nice reprieve from all the rock we’d heard all day and a great way to end the night.

I know, we didn’t stay for My Chemical Romance. I liked their first album but was disappointed in a concert I saw before the pandemic. To be honest, I was just so tired by then, I hit a wall.

Pro tip: bring a flashlight!

SHAKY KNEES 2025 DAY 1: MONKEYS GONE TO HEAVEN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/20/25

Photo: Ismael Quintanilla III, Shaky Knees

John and I boarded Marta and took the train down to Piedmont Park for day one of Shaky Knees 2025. For us, today was about getting acquainted with the new venue, perusing all the fun activations, deciding on what merch to purchase, and of course catching all the great bands performing on my birthday! I thank them for making my birthday an epic one.

First, my favorite thing all day, was what I call “large Ozzy.” A larger-than-life Ozzy costume with a huge bat with whom I had some fun interactions. He was walking around near the media tent and food row and tried to “bite my head off.” It was hilarious. It is a great tribute to the late rocker. The coolest activation we found is the two-story Patron Tequila bar. It looks like a real bar and restaurant with lounge seating upstairs and DJ’s spinning every hour. They even have their own DJ line-up you can enjoy. I’m definitely going to spend some time there today upstairs during the day. We also ran into our friend, Steve Craig, DJ at 99x and had a great chat about Inhaler that they were going to interview that day. I didn’t know Elijah Hewson; the lead singer is Bono’s son. Yes, that Bono. I wish we had made it to their show now.

We made our way to the Piedmont stage to check out Idles first. I was really impressed with their sound; it really is a throwback to punk of old with a mix of grunge, rock elements, and a strong bold voice. I don’t know if this is what they were going for, but it was like Rage Against the Machine with a mix of Dead Kennedys, Henry Rollins, and then a grunge influence. I am not a huge Rage fan but love Dead Kennedys and grunge, so I enjoyed the performance. But what I really like is his voice. It is bold, deep, and commanding.

What who we really went to see were Pixies and Deftones. Starting with Pixies, I first discovered them in 1999 from the Fight Club soundtrack. Where is My Mind was an anthem to the times and still rings true today, so immediately I was hooked. This performance was just as good as all the ones I’ve seen before, with Doolittle and crew singing everything from poppy, surfer rock, Here Comes Your Man to grungy Gouge Away to one of my favorites, Monkeys Gone to Heaven. Fitting that the T-shirt they were selling for this tour is a monkey with a halo in clouds. I had to have it.

This leads me to the headliner of the night, Deftones. We literally just saw them about 4 months or so ago at State Farm Arena where they filled an entire arena with fans. They have seemed to have a resurgence in popularity lately and we are here for it! What strikes me every time with Deftones is their use of light and video in tandem with the Chino’s melonic voice. Their performance is always spot on and they know how to keep a crowd engaged sticking mostly with the hits. Deftones performed several of my favorites including Quiet and Drive (Far Away) to start then proceeding with My Own Summer that launched their career, Knife Party, then slowing it down a little with Diamond Eyes and Digital Bath. The hits kept coming with some of their new album, that is absolutely amazing, but nothing is better live than Change (In the House of Flies). The sun rising behind Chino is just chilling and beautiful. Deftones stock has risen! Now, how do I get them to play my favorite of their songs, Passenger from White Pony.

DEAD PIONEERS AT STATE FARM ARENA ON MAY 1, OPENING FOR PEAL JAM

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/23/25

On May 1, 2025, Denver’s Dead Pioneers brought their punk energy to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, opening for Pearl Jam in a night that blended rebellion with rock legacy. Picked by Pearl Jam bassist Ament, the indigenous-fronted band, led by Gregg Deal, delivered a performance that was thought-provoking. Though the early crowd was small, those in attendance were treated to a performance that was a discovery. Dead Pioneers’ set was a reminder of punk’s power to inspire, and their selection by Ament underscored their rising status in music. 

Taking the stage around 7:30 PM, Dead Pioneers —featuring Shane Zweygardt on drums, Lee Tesche on bass, and guitarists Josh Rivera and Abe Brennan—launched into a raw and real set. Their performance drew mostly from their sophomore album, PO$T AMERICAN that was released April 11, 2025. As well as their 2023 self-titled debut, offering a blend of punk’s raw edge with social commentary. 

For the highlights, the band played “PO$T AMERICAN,” the title track of their new album, setting the tone with its driving rhythm and Deal’s large vocals. Tracks like “My Spirit Animal Ate Your Spirit Animal” and “Working Class Warfare” embraces the band’s disruptive spirit, while “Tired” from their debut album showcased their ability to balance melody and aggression. Leading us to “Rage,” an anthem that left everyone prepped for Pearl Jam. All of this while, Deal, took the time to weave in his political spoken poetry with themes of indigenous resistance and inequality.  

In conclusion, Dead Pioneers’ appearance at State Farm Arena was more than an opening act—it reflected Pearl Jam’s social advocacy. Their raw politically charged performance introduced Atlanta to a band unafraid to challenge the status quo. This is one to watch. 

Sources: 

Colorado Springs Independent, Setlist checked from Setlist.fm, Dead Pioneer’s band members and background pulled from deadpioneers.band , YouTube 

HELMET AT THE MASQUERADE MAY 12

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/23/24

We saw Helmet at the Masquerade on 5/12/24. Helmet is an alternative metal and rock band out of New York fronted by guitarist and lead singer, Page Hamilton, boasts some early 90s classic rock albums from 1992’s Meantime to 1994’s Betty. Their sound is creatively unique for the time with melodious metal if that can even be a thing, mixed with grunge notes of the time and very distinct repetitive guitar work called drop D tuning (per wiki).
 
John and I were both huge lovers of the Crow movie soundtrack back when it came out in 1994 and that’s how I discovered Helmet with their song, “Milquetoast” one of the lead tracks! From there we listened to all of album Betty with its repetitive heavily distorted guitar paired with riffs and melodious lyrics. But my heart stays with Meantime and the song “Unsung.” The albums are similar, but I feel Meantime was a little edgier and harder. A recurring MTV staple, I just remember the “Unsung” video looking like it was filmed in a nuclear silo. Fun fact: Beavis and Butthead critiqued the song on the show in 1993 (from wiki). 

Something I found interesting in their wiki was that the New York Times called Helmet, “a band that made important connections between indie-rock and metal.” and that they had a HUGE impact on the nu metal bands of the late 90’s. And even called “smart rock” by the New York Daily News. We agree, their songs and riffs are highly influential, and we think they are one of the most underrated bands of the 90’s in terms of notoriety. They should be rock gods!  
 
Helmet is on tour right now to promote their new album, LEFT, that is now out, and their new track “Holiday” is just what you’d expect from them. Ripping chords blurred with power guitar, fast slow, and grunge reverb. I love it when bands keep their sound, and this new album is just that.

SHAKY KNEES 2024 – FROM DIARY TO DOWNPOUR

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/11/24

Photo: Stephanie Heath

With acts like Weezer, Sunny Day Real Estate, Dinosaur Jr, and Foo Fighters,

this year’s Shaky Knees spoke to my Gen X heart.  

New Band highlight 

Something we’re highlighting this Shaky Knees beyond the stout 90’s band line-up are the new bands that we catch. On Friday, the first one is Ax and the Hatchetmen, a young indie 7-piece out of Chicago with tons of energetic big band sound, funky, rocky, and beachy all rolled into one fun time. I felt it was a mix of Cage the Elephant-esque, the strokes, and a hint of Ween. A great show where they ended the set with The Strokes, “Last Night.”  

Another band that we hadn’t seen is and enjoyed is Late Night Drive Home out of Texas. The lead singer, Andre Patillo, came out with a red mask on that had frills at the bottom. They’re a blend of punk, rock, 90s with swelling choruses. But they also play a wide variety of rock sounds including 90’s reverb. We loved they sang Blur, “Song No. 2.” to end the set. I love that song! 

Next up on Saturday, was two bands: Microwave and Dead Poets Society. Microwave is out of Atlanta, which I didn’t know, and has a variety of sounds from loud, hard rock to 90’s fast slow, and then some punk. The other was Dead Poet’s Society out of Boston that had hard riffs that reminded me of Rob/White Zombie up front, thrash, but then the vocals come in softer and higher for a fun mix of sounds.  

Then, finally on Sunday, we caught a newer band we had not heard of until the festival, Arcy Drive. They are out of New York with a mash-up of varieties of sounds like indie, 90s fast slow, two-step, and singsong talking and singing mix. Not all at the same time, for example one song would be songs that are softer almost ballad-like that erupt into heavy guitar for the chorus. Then, the next song would be a rock song with more of a southern twang and have some two-step influence. I enjoyed lead singer Nick Mateyunas’ voice, it is smooth yet gritty. The one we really like is called Wicked Styley, which is the one they started with. It is a fun upbeat rock song with lots of 90’s influence and reverb. 

Top 5 Favorite Artist Moments  

5. Finally hearing “Seven” live from Sunny Day Real Estate 

4. Billy Idol throwing shirt into crowd 

3. Dead Poets Society lead singer, Jack Underkofler, fell into the crowd and crowd surfed while singing one of the first songs.   

2. Dinosaur Jr embracing the downpour. Putting on the best show despite the rain coming down so hard it caused a flood! Bravo! Plus, they covered The Cure!  

1. Ax and the Hatchetmen. A genius way to get people to listen to your new song is to hand out water with a QR code to your song on the side. They even named it HatchetWater. Love. 

Our two favorite performances 

The Downpour. About 5 minutes before Dinosaur Jr. went on the Ponce De Leon stage, the skies opened, and a torrential downpour started and lasted for almost the entire set. People were caught in the rain, and it was so much that even us with ponchos got soaked. Especially our feet in ankle deep water near the front of the stage flowing into the crowd. No one seemed to mind too much, and it electrified the audience. John quipped at one point, “it’s like we’re back in the 90’s.” And he was right, the energy from the crowd was noticeably high! They even broke out into mosh pits and a sea of crowd surfers dotted the front. It was a sight to behold! Plus, the music had a lot to do with the mood! If you don’t know Dinosaur Jr, they are what I call hard skate rock. Something I imagine skaters on their boards would listen to in their ear buds. Songs like “Feel the Pain” and “Over It” are melodious with heavy guitar and just plain fun. Plus, the covered The Cure, “Just Like Heaven.” It was a great show. 

That brings us to Sunny Day Real Estate. They are one of those 90’s bands that I just got introduced to by John a few years ago and we started watching their videos on YouTube. I call them the quintessential fast slow early 90’s band. Melodious verses and vocals erupt into a barrage of heavy guitar and pounding drums, Sunny Day Real Estate satisfies song after song. This performance was just that, song after song, humming along as they played the entire Diary album for its 30th anniversary. It was AMAZING. Plus, we found out that 90’s band Super chunk members were also playing with them. It’s almost like a super group! 

90’s band extravaganza at this year’s Shaky Knees 

Our favorite of the bands we know is Metric out of Canada. A band that played on 99x back in the day, and that I know probably 5 songs from was thoroughly enjoyable. Emily Haines, the lead singer, came out in a bright red shinny body suit. If you know Metric, they are heavy on electronic and keyboard, yet rock and 80s infused. Reminiscent of Garbage to me, “Help I’m Alive,” was the highlight for me. I hadn’t heard it live and it was my favorite of their music then and now. 

Unfortunately, we had to miss Offspring because we had never seen Sunny Day Real Estate and we’re going to spend time with a band that we hadn’t seen. We love Offspring, I saw them back in 1994 for the Smash tour and several times over the years including the last time they were at the Tabernacle. I heard they did an incredible show.  

Have you ever found yourself driving too fast on the interstate? You might have been listening to Queens of the Stone Age. What I call fast driving music, Queens of the Stone Age are very drum forward with deep and heavy beats, beautiful guitar riffs and Josh Homme’s great voice. Plus, they visually never disappoint, this year with roaming light show. Last time we saw them they had a large video board with LED visuals that really went well with the music. Did you know Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) also did the drums on “No One Knows” which you can tell by the drums! But my favorite of their songs after last night is “Go with the flow.” I always liked it but realized it is more diverse musically than some of the others.   

My boyfriend back in 1994 gave me a non-descript bright blue album as a present. Little did I know that that album would be in my top 5 all-time records, and Weezer would cement themselves into rock god status in my life. I’ve seen Weezer over the years from them playing large festivals to arenas to a small stage at the Braves stadium and they always sound perfect. What I call garage or college rock, Weezer has a distinct sound that no one else can create and that sets them apart from some of the other 90’s bands, don’t get me wrong, I love most early 90’s bands! The underlying hum of the guitars, explosions of rock juxtaposing the smoothness or River’s voice, it all comes together completely. What I love about them live is they really play up the guitar and show their musical prowess, plus, visually, they always have their W front and center. If you’ve never seen them live, you must; it is an experience.    

I’m just going to come right out and say it, we left before Foo Fighters. We’d seen them before, and the weather had made the main stage too muddy. Plus, we had stood in ankle high water for an hour, so our feet were wet, and we had a long weekend. We will catch them next time.   

Billy Idol 

After our Dinosaur Jr. experience, we headed back over to see Billy Idol and found the main stage to be a mud bog. People without shoes dancing in the sprinkles, drenched friends with smiles on their faces. We saw him back in 2015 during Music Midtown and his show has always been top notch! Billy Idol is always a good time singing greats like White Wedding, Rebel Yell, and Cradle of Love that anyone will sing and dance with. Visually, he had some fun LED graphics and seems to have not aged a bit and still sounds good live! He even took his Billy Idol shirt off and threw it in the crowd.   

Around the Festival 

It wouldn’t be a large music festival without festival polls, our favorite was the blown-up stick of butter. Plus, we were blown away by the food court with some great Atlanta and regional restaurants like Hattie Bs. Finally, we experienced a cool activation, Liquid Death Country Club. It was an actual small house with grim reapers guarding the entrance where you can “sell your soul” to get some water inside. You can also get free water with a whole in one on their golf green and airbrushed tattoos inside. It is much fun and on brand for Shaky Knees. 

What was your favorite part of Shaky Knees? 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 3 – THE DOWNPOUR

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

If you have never seen a rock show in the rain, you’re missing out. Today was all about one of John’s favorite bands, Dinosaur Jr.  

First off, we caught a newer band we had not heard of until the festival, Arcy Drive. They are out of New York with a mash-up of varieties of sounds like indie, 90s fast slow, two-step, and singsong talking and singing mix. Not all at the same time, for example one song would be songs that are softer almost ballad-like that erupt into heavy guitar for the chorus. Then, the next song would be a rock song with more of a southern twang and have some two-step influence. I enjoyed lead singer Nick Mateyunas’ voice, it is smooth yet gritty. The one we really like is called Wicked Styley, which is the one they started with. It is a fun upbeat rock song with lots of 90’s influence and reverb. 

The Downpour. About 5 minutes before Dinosaur Jr. went on the Ponce De Leon stage, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour started and lasted for almost the entire set. People were caught in the rain, and it was so much that even us with ponchos got pretty soaked. Especially our feet in ankle deep water near the front of the stage flowing into the crowd. No one seemed to mind too much and it actually electrified the audience. John quipped at one point, “it’s like we’re back in the 90’s.” And he was right, the energy from the crowd was noticeably high! They even broke out into mosh pits and a sea of crowd surfers dotted the front. It was a sight to behold! Plus, the music had a lot to do with the mood! If you don’t know Dinosaur Jr, they are what I call hard skate rock. Something I imagine skaters on their boards would listen to in their ear buds. Songs like Feel the Pain and Over It are melodious with heavy guitar and just plain fun. Plus, the covered The Cure, “Just Like Heaven.” It was a great show. 

After our Dinosaur Jr. experience, we headed back over to see Billy Idol and found the main stage to be a mud bog. People without shoes dancing in the sprinkles, drenched friends with smiles on their faces. We saw him back in 2015 during Music Midtown and his show has always been top notch! Billy Idol is always a good time singing greats like White Wedding, Rebel Yell, and Cradle of Love that anyone will sing and dance with. Visually, he had some fun LED graphics and seems to have not aged a bit and still sounds really good live! He even took his Billy Idol shirt off and threw it in the crowd.  

I’m just going to come right out and say it, we left before Foo Fighters. We’d seen them before, and the weather had made the main stage too muddy. Plus, we had stood in ankle high water for an hour, so our feet were wet, and we had a long weekend. We will catch them next time.  

Did you have a favorite Shaky moment? 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 2

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/5/24

Photo Dusana Risovic

With bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, Offspring, Queens of the Stone Age, and one of my favorites of all time Weezer. Day 2 had it all. Here’s a short recap. 

Starting with the newer bands, we heard both Microwave and Dead Poets Society. Microwave is out of Atlanta, which I didn’t know, and has a variety of sounds from loud, hard rock to 90’s fast slow, and then some punk. The other was Dead Poet’s Society out of Boston that had hard riffs that reminded me of Rob/White Zombie up front, thrash, but then the vocals come in softer and higher for a fun mix of sounds. I like that Jack Underkofler, the lead singer, fell into the crowd and crowd surfed while singing one of the first songs.  

On to the 90’s bands we love, first we actually had to miss Offspring because we had never seen Sunny Day Real Estate and we’re going to spend time with a band that we hadn’t seen. We love Offspring, I saw them back in 1994 and heard they did an incredible show. That brings us to Sunny Day Real Estate. They are one of those 90’s bands that I just got introduced to by a friend a few years ago and we started watching their videos on YouTube. I call them the quintessential fast slow early 90’s band. Melodious verses and vocals erupt into a barrage of heavy guitar and pounding drums, Sunny Day Real Estate satisfies song after song. Tour t-shirt purchased! More to come in our review. 

Have you ever found yourself driving too fast on the interstate? You might have been listening to Queens of the Stone Age. What I call fast driving music, Queens of the Stone Age are very drum forward with deep and heavy beats, beautiful guitar riffs and Josh Homme’s great voice. Plus, they visually never disappoint, this year with roaming light show. Last time we saw them they had a large video board with led visuals that really went well with the music. Did you know Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) also did the drums on “No One Knows?” which you can tell by the drums! But my favorite of their songs after last night is “Go with the flow.” I always liked it but realized it is more diverse musically than some of the others.  

My boyfriend back in 1994 gave me a non-descript bright blue album as a present. Little did I know that that album would be in my top 5 all-time records, and Weezer would cement themselves into rock god status in my life. I’ve seen Weezer over the years from them playing large festivals to arenas to a small stage at the Braves stadium and they always sound perfect. What I call garage or college rock, Weezer has a distinct sound that no one else can create and that sets them apart from some of the other 90’s bands, don’t get me wrong, I love most early 90’s bands! The underlying hum of the guitars, explosions of rock juxtaposing the smoothness or River’s voice, it all comes together completely. What I love about them live is they really play up the guitar and show their musical prowess, plus, visually, they always have their W front and center. If you’ve never seen them live, you must; it is an experience.  

We didn’t make it to liquid death’s activation, it is on our to do list for today. We’re excited about Dinosaur Jr, Billy Idol, and Foo Fighters today. It’s going to be hot, so wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water.