DRAGON CON 2024: THE YEAR OF THE PANEL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/14/24

From Star Wars to the newest hit show to old school Anime and everything in between, Dragon Con is a yearly convention that brings all of the universes together for one big party. Whether you want to people watch or enjoy a parade, meet up with like-minded strangers, and enjoy a panel or two, there is so much to do at Dragon Con. This year with our 80,000 closest friends, was no different. Stunning cosplays, fun celebrity panels, enchanting parade, and a ribbon or two later Dragon Con 2024 was one for the books.

Panels

We are calling this year, Dragon Con 2024: The Year of the Panel! After the writers and actors strike last year prevented the usual TV show or movie focus, this year the panel came roaring back to life for us. We went to more than we ever had before from the entire star studded cast of 12 Monkeys TV show, the beautiful and funny Jared Padaleki best known for his time on Supernatural, and even dropped into a Marvel panel starting Vincent D’Onofrio, who I loved in Full Metal Jacket.

12 Monkeys panel had all of the stars like Aaron Stanford who played Cole, Amanda Schull who played Cassie and even Emily Hampshire that played Jennifer Goines. They spoke about their audition stories. The stand out was Shull who plays Cassie, she auditioned 7 or more times for this role. What she didn’t know is that a big star, they didn’t say who, was supposed to play Cole and wanted his wife to play Cassie. She would have a read with him and he wouldn’t show up or would just be super mean. I would never want to audition!! Some other fun facts were that they all hated the chair the most and they all spoke about what roles they would like to play other than their character.


The second panel was with the beautiful Jared Padaleki who started out in Gilmore Girls. Did you know he was only supposed to be in about 4, but ended up in 70? His biggest role came with Supernatural as Sam Winchester. On Supernatural is where he met his wife, Genevieve, who played Ruby, the demon. She was supposed to be with him on this panel but herself and her kids were all sick. He also revealed his least favorite episode was the Nutcracker and gave a descriptive detail of some of the stunts he had to perform. What I really enjoyed about this panel was how kind, warm, personable, and funny he is in person.


Finally, the best story of the entire con was at the Marvel panel with Vincent D’Onofrio. I am a huge Stanley Kubrick fan and am very familiar with his role as Private Pile in Full Metal Jacket. John and I agree we really loved his audition story about getting that role. He was good friends with Matthew Modine, who was the lead in the movie. He was bouncing and ran into him, Matthew told him to send in a tape. Back then you had to rent a camera to tape an audition and it was expensive. So, he sent in a tape to Stanley Kubrick and a bit later a British man called him saying Stanley Kubrick was on the line. He thought it was a prank from his friends and hung up on him! On Stanley! Kubrick called him back and said, “DON’T HANG UP!” So he sends him words to read. There was no punctuation or anything and he would have to tape himself again reading those words. He deduced from the words it was a Vietnam era soldier in training. He got the part. He also spoke about THAT scene in Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick’s only note was to channel Lon Chaney, you know from Nosferatu. Be epic. He said he knew he nailed it when Kubrick brought him back to see it on the screen. Did you know the drill sergeant was an actual drill sergeant? No wonder it was so lifelike!

Trends


Trends are usually a big thing, but this year it seemed like nothing really trended big like Barbie and Mario last year or Stranger Things the year before. One trend that is still going strong is the Loyal order of the ribbon. In case you don’t know, the ribbon trend is that people make ribbons and trade them for other ribbons. They actually were in the parade this year! I got an amazing ribbon about Supernatural this year that said, “Jared finally.” There are so many great ones, I am partial to the carpet ribbon and the 24601 from Les Misérables last year as my favorites ever.


With that another year at Dragon Con is done.

RIVET HOUSE HOTEL ATHENS, GA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/12/24

The ravishing. The riveting. Rivet House in Athens, Ga! The most beautiful hotel in Athens is a retreat where industrial meets luxury, soaring ceilings and exposed brick stuns, while soft florals and warm hospitality abound. Located only a few miles from downtown, you’ll settle in for a night that redefines the Athens experience, yet is close enough to enjoy the city’s energy. 
 
The old school denim factory vibes hit you the moment you drive up, but are softened by a luxurious lush outdoor dining space and twinkling tea lights. As you enter the lobby, the rustic, industrial check in desk is a bold centerpiece with elegant warm lighting, exposed beams, concrete patterned flooring yet soft floral arrangements juxtapose the wood and brick. The warm staff greet with a smile and invite you to true southern hospitality. 
 
Just across from the lobby are iron gates that lead into Osteria Olio restaurant, where greenery hangs lushly from the ceiling, the marble sweeping bar stuns and the lounge area is straight out of a James Bond flick. This brand new spot boasts a swanky and new hot restaurant serving up modern Italian fare, brunch, and craft cocktails.
 
And just wait until you get to your room, as you enter there is a distinct smell of lavender that immediately calms. The open concept bedroom, bathroom combo has strong loft vibes with exposed vanity and shower to the bedroom, wood floors, soaring ceilings into exposed wood beams, exposed metal posts and brick. The large shower and vanity are gorgeous, while the large king bed is comfortable and flanked by modern touches. 
 
Only a few minutes from Normaltown restaurants and bars, as well as downtown, you can enjoy nightlife or get away from it all at the hotel. Plus, UGA football fans; they will have a shuttle on game day to downtown!

Osteria Olio Brunch

On our last day, we enjoyed an unbelievable brunch in their beautiful Osteria Olio restaurant. They have delectable traditional dishes, Italian inspired brunch options, perfect pastries, an array of delicious coffee, and stellar brunch cocktails! Like their unforgettable quiche, this flavorful little number is creamy and soft inside, topped with tangy onions and scallions and the best salty flaky pastry crust. Its eye roll good. If sweet is your jam, you have to try the amazing ricotta pancakes. Our waitress, Montana, recommended them and we are thankful! It’s divine! Crunchy caramelized outside hiding double pancakes inside that are fluffy, creamy, sweet, and warm. The maple syrup blueberries balance with some fruitiness and sweet. Their brunch cocktail menu is an Italian dream with their limoncello spritz! Cool and bubbly, sweet, and lemony. Perfect with the quiche! 
 
You really can’t go wrong with anything here, like the pastries basket to start with lemon ricotta cake is lemony and sweet yet fluffy and creamy cake. Pecan Monkey bread is croissant based pull-apart with buttery cinnamon and sugar topped with candied pecans. Peach crostata is crunchy and sweet pastry stuffed with fresh caramelized peaches. Croissant (pain au chocolate) is crunchy and flaky, chocolate stuffed inside and on top. As far as salads, the Peach & Melon salad is refreshing, cool watermelon and honey dew, crunchy peach, topped with a crunchy spicy topping and delicate salty and meaty prosciutto. Plus, we really loved the Potato Hash. It is perfectly cooked egg, savory and seasoned, the salsa verde and Calabrian chili oil give it earthy, brightness, and spice. Then, the tangy onions pair well with the potatoes! 

Osteria Olio Dinner

Osteria Olio is the best new restaurant in Athens, GA! This swanky new spot is a masterpiece of impeccable ambiance, inventive modern Italian fare, perfect pastas and pizzas, sensational steak, divine desserts, and sensational cocktails all wrapped into one of the best culinary experiences this year! Starting with the Bistecca Alla Griglia (Ribeye, it is cooked to perfection, tender, with a sensational seasoning. Don’t even need the accoutrements but the chimichurri (broccoli based) is bright and herbaceous and the tart and rich steak sauce is almost like a Demi glaze yet sweeter and tarter. And ending with the Olive Oil Cake, a light lemony sweet cake with creamy vanilla creama and peach puree. They top it off basil compressed peaches and paired with a crunchy, brittle-like cookie. 

For our appetizers, we enjoyed the sensational Polpette (meatballs). Light half pork and beef rolled up with creamy cheese and tangy, earthy tomatoes. As well as the beef Carpaccio, a meaty and tender topped with salty funky blue cheese dollops, earthy arugula, pickled tart fennel with a side of grilled sourdough made in house! And you can’t go wrong with the House made focaccia, a crispy and airy and paired with the creamy ricotta and delicious honey mixture! Washed them all down with the best of their cocktails, Special Landmark. It is a refreshing vodka cocktail with sweet italicus, tart lemon, herbaceous thyme, and bubbly prosecco.

Along with the delicious steak, I enjoyed the epic Malfalde Cacio E Pepe pasta! Al dente specialty pasta made in-house only a few places and this is one of them, plus it looks almost like octopus. The pasta is hefty and hearty then topped with very creamy sauce and topped with sharp cheese and a ton of black pepper. Then, John opted for the Cane americano pizza, a spicy meaty pepperoni and sweet honey! John really enjoyed it. We got two side dishes as well, including the flavorful, charred and tender, herby and tangy Roasted Eggplant. Plus, the waiter recommended the amazing Crispy potatoes. They’re crunchy outside and hearty and tender inside with the flavorful, creamy, bright sauce. Paired the pasta and sides with the Between the Hedges creamy and sweet, balanced, bourbon cocktail. 



THE ELEMENT ATLANTA MIDTOWN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 7/15/24

In our element at the Element Atlanta Midtown! Located in the corner of Peachtree and Ponce, the Element Atlanta Midtown is the official hotel of The Fox Theatre Atlanta! They incorporate nature-inspired ambiance for the healthy, active, and eco-conscious traveler that wants more out of their stay! Modern lobby, clean and bright guest rooms, and even active amenities all go hand in hand for a better way to stay. 
 
The lobby: 
Greeted by natural elements and greenery, calm takes over your senses. The expensive lobby flows into a living room like area and congregate seating for groups to gather or to make new friends. All the decor is relaxing and posh.  Plus, one of our favorite things about the Element Atlanta Midtown is the made-to-order complimentary breakfast each morning! Choose from eggs and pancakes from the grill, grab a bagel or muffin for a quick bite, and even sip on brewed coffee overlooking Peachtree. 
 
The room: 
The rooms at the Element are spacious, clean, and bright. You’re greeted up front in the hall to a clean, spa-like bathroom with large shower. Next to the bathroom is the large and comfy King bed, wood and minimalistic closet and coffee area, a desk, and area for lounging. They also have oversized windows to bring in natural light. 
 
The Ponce Room: 
Downstairs, in the Courtyard lobby, The Ponce Room is a beautiful corner bar and restaurant that overlooks the Fox Theater. It is a sensational spot to catch a bite before going to a show or for a leisurely time with friends and family. They have shareable like crunchy and sharp cheese curds, crunchy French fry and savory loaded steak dish, and my new favorite the spicy, crunchy, savory, sweet and creamy poke nachos! We paired this with either white wine and their spectacular floral and boozy Elderflower Old Fashioned. 
 
Amenities: 
They have an onsite gym for those with an active lifestyle. Plus, this hotel is the definition of location, location, location with Element Atlanta Midtown steps to shopping, dining, breweries, and of course the Fox Theatre and Georgia Tech! You can enjoy a meal, a show, and retire to your Element retreat!

THE BELLYARD HOTEL

The Bellyard Hotel is located in the hip West Midtown Interlock and an inspired design with a touch of modern, a hint of opulence, cozy nooks, elevated rooms, it all comes together seamlessly in every space of the hotel. The moment the elevator doors open you’re greeted with opulent marble, beautiful large white couches, warm seating areas with wood accents and blue tones, the lighting is calming and yellow. A bull stands majestically overlooking the check-in area. Behind the check-in is a large window into the atrium area. Filled with a whimsical colorful mural, wicker and wood seating, greenery and some free-standing trees, it’s a great spot to relax. 
 
The room: 

The door opens and you step into a short hallway with calm light wood and a ceiling to floor windows. Around the corner you come across the beautiful bathroom with its green modern tile and clean lines of the vanity, across from it is the large shower and the toilet area in the middle that can be closed off. The first thing you notice in the large main sleeping area is the intricate wood accent wall behind the bed. It soars up to the concrete ceiling. Lofty and airy. The king bed is very comfortable, while the large window seat is the perfect place to catch the Atlanta Skyline. 

Drawbar and Patio 

Located in the lobby, Drawbar is the focal point of the space with a large sweeping bar, lounge areas, and white couches where you can gather with friends or make new ones. Outside in the patio, Drawbar is known for its patio views of the amazing Atlanta skyline. Plus, they have amazing cocktails and tasty bites for any occasion. Like the Seared lamb that is tender and juicy well-seasoned lamb smothered in a rich and deep, sweet, savory Demi glaze then paired with crunchy and earthy Brussels and root carrots. Paired it with their sensational smoked old fashioned. It is nutty pecan infused whiskey cocktail with earthy and sweet syrup and peach bitters. It is smoked tableside for a light smoke. 

Also really enjoyed the fried green tomato appetizer that is crunchy outside and tangy inside, sharp creamy pimento cheese mixed with spicy and sweet and a pepper jelly for a hint of spice and sweet. 
Got the Pina Lope with the tomatoes and it is a spin on the classic Pina colada but with gin. This cocktail is tangy pineapple, floral on the back, and a hint of nuttiness from the orgeat. We also sampled the Hotlanta Margarita is a sweet peach and pineapple margarita with Tanteo jalapeño tequila for some spice and a tajin rim for extra spice. Comes with a candy floater. 
 
Amenities: 
It’s a community! Beyond the hotel Drawbar, the Interlock’s plethora of options is just steps from the hotel door. Nightlife, bars, restaurants, and even shopping. So, grab your walking shoes and explore! 

HOTEL FORTY FIVE MACON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/7/24

Hotel Forty Five is on the corner of history and music. This hip historic boutique hotel by Tribute Portfolio is in the “Macon Skyscraper,” a 1941 Banker’s Health & Life Insurance Company. John and I recently visited on a weekend getaway to Macon that’s only about an hour and some change from Atlanta! The hotel is steps from restaurants and bars, the Macon Auditorium, the Tubman Museum, and natural attractions for hiking or riding! It is in the center of it all! 
 
What is in a name? The Hotel Forty Five’s name is rich in Macon history! It gets its name from the 45 degree angle of the street formed by Cherry, First, and Cotton Street and was designed to transport cotton barges to and from the Ocmulgee River. Also, Macon is known for its rich musical past and the numerous 45 records produced there, so the name is a nod to this history. As we said, corner of history and music! Did you know Macon is the home of The Allman Brothers Band? If you walk around the corner from the hotel, you’ll find Grant’s Lounge, a staple jam bar where bands would jam night after night to get a record deal. And you can see it today and hear live music!! 
 
Inside the hotel, the lobby winds up through the elevators with retro flooring and bank vibes, while the old directory is still visible from the elevator lobby! Downstairs is the beautiful restaurant Loom with a full bar and dining room, and they also have Reckon coffee bar with pastries and drinks for early risers. Upstairs on the 6th floor is Hightales Rooftop bars with sweeping historical and downtown views, live music, and full beautiful bar! A full review of the amenities is below! 
 
Inside the room, touches of industrial lighting fixtures, a Macon street drawing morphed into a mural with a woman’s face, hints of leather, marble, and retro like the cutest 50s mini fridge and pink funky dresser desk, it is an eclectic mix of angles, textures, and vibes. They even have a schematic of the original building in the restroom. Beyond that, the large king bed was comfy, the beautifully light and bright bathroom stuns, and the historical views can’t be beaten! 


 

As for the restaurant, Loom weaves a tapestry of southern dishes with elevated flavor and fresh ingredients into what the chef calls “Southern Revival!”  Located in the Hotel Forty Five downstairs, Loom is bright, light, and fresh to match the freshness of their food, and has a large loom mural on the wall that draws the eye. As for our favorite dish, that is the King Salmon. The dish is a must in Macon! A well-seasoned, cooked perfectly salmon filet with an amazing tangy and sweet bourbon glaze that will make you want to lock the plate. It sits on top of creamy jasmine rice that mixes with the bourbon glaze harmoniously! Then paired with crunchy seasoned carrots!  

For our appetizers we got Crispy Cauliflower, Bread Service, Burrata, and Fried Green Tomatoes. First, the Crispy Cauliflower is tender, yet crispy, earthy red pepper emulsion and earthy tart capers all drizzled in arugula oil. The next appetizer is Burrata. It is cool and creamy cheese paired with sweet apple gastric and nutty crushed pistachio. A flavor explosion of sweet, nutty, creamy! On the side we got the bread service, which is amazing corn bread. It is warm and buttery, sweet and savory. Finally, the fried green tomatoes are super crunchy outside and tangy, tender tomatoes, creamy and sharp pimento cheese then finished off with tangy tomato chutney to round out all the flavors.  

We also got another entree with the King Salmon, the Smoked Pork Chop. It is tender, charred and well-seasoned topped with a sweet red relish on a bed of funky blue cheese grits and spicy collards. We got all of this with a bottle of champagne for national wine day.  

After our dinner we went upstairs to the Hotel Forty Five, Hightales Rooftop Bar. They have hand crafted cocktails like the Got the Feelin’ James Brown, a super spicy yet fruity tequila concoction with spicy agave and raspberry! But the best part? THE best views of the historical and downtown portions of the city!  

ALIEN ANT FARM X DRIVEWAYS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/7/24

What’s your MANTRA? John and I headed to Center Stage Atlanta, The Loft, to see Alient Ant Farm and Driveways show on 5/18/24! We are very familiar with Alien Ant Farm out of Riverside, CA, a rock band that started in 1996 and hit it big with their cover “Smooth Criminal” and other greats like “Movies” in 2001 on album, ANThology*! We still watch these videos on YouTube today!  

Their sound is considered nu metal, a blend of alternative, post-grunge, pop punk, and metal all rolled into one sound that pays homage to several genres. Did you know some of their influences are Faith No More and Primus? The band is very interactive and interacts with the crowd most of the concert. Like, Dryden Mitchell, coming to the gate and talking or having us sing along to even stopping the music to address a guy giving him the bird. It was fun to watch!  

But, this tour is to introduce and promote their new Album Mantras. Their new single that is out is called “So Cold” and still has the same feel as their other rock songs.  

Driveways is a newer band that we were not familiar with before the show. They are out of Massachusetts starting in 2015 and are considered a pop punk, post-hardcore band with a mix of genres. Most notable is the Blink-182 influence that comes through with many of their songs*. A fun fact we found on Everybody wiki is that in April 2020, their album Night Terrors was named on Alternative Press’ list of 20 Underrated Pop Punk Albums from the 2010s. They had a large following of fans at the concert! 

*information from wiki and everybody wiki pages. 

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.

MOXY ATLANTA MIDTOWN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/20/24

Situated in the heart of Atlanta Midtown, Moxy Atlanta Midtown is daring to be different with welcome cocktails at check-in, boutique hotel vibes paired with a young and fun atmosphere, fresh, large, updated rooms, and High Note rooftop bar to accompany your swim. Sip on craft cocktails and enjoy delish shareable bites. John and I enjoyed a weekend staycation recently and enjoyed the proximity to bars, restaurants, clubs, and only minutes from beautiful Piedmont Park! Come see why Atlanta’s got Moxy. 
 
When you enter Moxy’s lobby, you’re greeted with a living room set-up where you check-in at the bar and receive a welcome cocktail (or wine)! They also have several lounging areas for gathering with family, friends or making new ones. A fireplace, a full bar and snack area, pool table and tabletop shuffleboard, as well as large murals and couch areas. It’s an amazing space. You can also stay late at night for a DJ and drinks in the lobby! Like their Tropic thunder old fashioned that is smoked, sweet, yet boozy. 
 
We went up to the 6th floor to our room. You walk into a beautiful bathroom with white subway tile with black grout shower and spacious vanity. Make sure to look down in the shower for the “Deep End” water grate. Then just down the short hall is the bedroom with comfy king bed, fun old school rotary phone, and desk work area. I really enjoyed the “I woke up this way” as well. ️They have varying sizes for any group.  
 
Get up to the rooftop to lounge at the large inviting pool. Then, pair the pool with craft cocktails and shareable bites at High Note Atlanta!  Like start out with a crisp, cool, floral hibiscus solitude cocktail and enjoy it with some lemony, crunchy, meaty lemon pepper wings. Or sip on a sweet, earthy, boozy banana old fashioned with juicy flavorful honey steak bites on a bead of earthy and sweet Brussels. Feeling hot, sweet crispy fried chicken? Go for their hot honey fried chicken sliders and some crispy seasoned fries. 
 

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?