Tag Archive for: the masquerade

GUNNAR! HEADING TO PLAY THE MASQUERADE IN ATLANTA ON OCT 19

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

Announces New Album Sun Faded  

Out June 6th on PREACH Records / Virgin

Shares New Single & Video for “Upside Down” 

US Tour This Fall With Stops in NYC, D.C., Nashville, and Los Angeles

Los Angeles alt-rocker GUNNAR never sits still for too long. After releasing his debut full-length Best Mistake in 2023, a US tour with JXDN, and opening dates for Maroon 5 across Europe and the UK last year, GUNNAR returns in 2025 with a new album and his first-ever headline tour. 

Following the release of his latest single, “This is Now” produced with Sam Farrar and K-Thrash (Machine Gun Kelly, Jelly Roll, blink-182), and featuring James Valentine (Maroon 5), the rising artist unleashes his newest single “Upside Down”—a high-energy, glitchy pop-rock anthem set to appear on his upcoming album, Sun Faded, dropping June 6th via PREACH Records/Virgin. Pre-Save Sun Faded

Accompanying the track is a visually striking, mind-twisting music video co-directed by GUNNAR and the creative collective The Young Astronauts. The video pulls you into a surreal, gravity-defying world as Gunnar muses about the peace chaos can bring. “This song is about standing on the edge of the unknown where chaos is clarity; where I’m living in that chaos. I sometimes struggle when things are going too well and smoothly and I actually do best when my world is upside down.”

“Upside Down” and the previously released singles “This Is Now” and “Dirty Blonde” are set to appear on GUNNAR’s forthcoming album, Sun Faded — a bold and exciting step forward for the now 23-year-old artist. Where his 2023 debut Best Mistake saw Gunnar unearth his artistic voice and the music that felt most true to him after being thrown into the pop machine as a 16-year-old, Sun Faded is evolved, the sound of an artist who’s truly come into his own. Blending elements of pop, rock, punk, and timeless alternative influences, the album strikes a balance between nostalgia and reinvention. 

“It’s hard to box this album into one theme,” shares GUNNAR. Throughout the record, he reflects on relationships—both with loved ones and his parents—losing his home, and navigating life’s biggest challenges. “A lot of life has happened over the last few years, and I think these new songs show that. A lot of growth, rolling with the punches as they come, and accepting that I can’t control what happens. Sometimes that mentality is exactly what makes a difference.” 

Created in collaboration with K-Thrash (Machine Gun Kelly, Jelly Roll, blink-182) and a small handful of other collaborators, GUNNAR returns more potent than ever. With live shows in mind, the production on the new album is electrifying, bold, and unapologetically fun. “I hope when you hear this music, it feels like a fresh take on something familiar,” he shares. “But more than that, this album is made to be played and heard live!” 

Gunnar has also officially announced his Fall Headline tour dates. While dates were initially slotted for Spring 2025, Gunnar, alongside many other California residents, lost his home in the wildfires this past January. The tour will see him perform across North America this October — kicking off in Chicago on October 9th, with additional stops in Washington D.C., Boston, New York, Nashville, and others. The tour will wrap with a hometown show in Los Angeles on October 29th! “I’ve been waiting to do a headline tour for 6 years and to finally be able to get out on the road and do it is beyond a dream come true,” says GUNNAR. “I’ve always believed that live shows are where the real magic happens and where all the hard work we put in pays off. I am so damn excited for this.” See the full list of tour dates below and find tickets HERE.

Tour Dates

10.9 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen

10.10 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry

10.12 – Detroit, MI – Magic Bag

10.14 – Washington D.C. – Songbyrd DC 

10.15 – Boston, MA – Café 939

10.17 – NYC, NY – Mercury Lounge

10.19 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade – Altar

10.21 – Nashville, TN – The Basement

10.23 – Dallas, TX – Three Links

10.25 – Denver, CO – Lost Lake

10.26 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court

10.29 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo

JANINE COMING TO THE MASQUERADE IN ATLANTA ON 10/16

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/17/25

Jane coming to the Masquerade in Atlanta on October 16th

“Everything had been flipped upside down, my heart ripped out of my chest, and I didn’t know how I could keep living.” New Zealand singer/songwriter Janine is no stranger to grief. A few years ago, the kiwi-born, LA-based songstress unexpectedly lost her hero, her father, while visiting back home and opted to stay in her native homeland to take care of her mum. Since then, Janine has been deeply immersed in writing this album, aptly titled Pain and Paradise, which is out today, Friday, August 22nd, on Little Mixtape Records. From soulful ballads to airy house-influenced anthems, Janine wrote and produced much of the album herself and on the focus track “Happy,” she captures the tension between hope and vulnerability over a classic piano-led melody and hypnotic percussion. 

Melding R&B soundscapes with pop sensibilities, the record’s 16 tracks explore the juxtaposition of life’s beauty and its most painful moments. Standing in the stillness of New Zealand’s rugged beauty, Janine experienced heartache in solace. “I knew I was so lucky to be in such a beautiful place and most importantly, lucky to have loved so deeply that the weight of loss could be so heavy. I stood there and thought, wow this is the most unbearable Pain and Paradise. I decided that the album would be named ‘Pain and Paradise’ because I believe that they always coexist.”

Janine has been on the charts since her debut release in 2014. With several Billboard charting singles & albums, a New Zealand Critics Choice nomination, a 2015 win for Best R&B album for New Zealand Music Awards and numerous sold out tours between Australia, Europe, New Zealand and the US – Janine’s impact is universal. 

Janine will kick off her North American headline tour next month! Starting in Ferndale, Michigan at The Magic Bag the tour will make notable stops in New York with a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg, D.C, Los Angeles at Terragram Ballroom on October 22nd and close out with a final show in Oakland at Crybaby on October 24 – find a show near you and get tickets HERE. Full list of tour dates below. 

Tour Dates

9/28 – The Magic Bag – Ferndale, MI

9/29 – Subterranean – Chicago, IL

10/1 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY

10/3 – Howard Theatre – Washington, DC

10/6 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

10/10 – The Social – Orlando, FL

10/12 – House of Blues – Houston, TX

10/14 – The Studio at The Factory – Dallas, TX

10/16 – Last Exit Live – Phoenix, AZ

10/21 – Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA

10/22 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA

10/24 – Crybaby – Oakland, CA

Pain and Paradise Tracklisting

 1. Fit 

2. Loving Me 

3. Happy 

4. Make You Proud 

5. Dad’s Interlude 

6. UP 

7. Thank You For Breaking My Heart 

8. Meet Me 

9. How Did I Find You 

10. Saved Me 

11. Best Thing 

12. If I Call

13. Good Vibes 

14. Broke Me Down 

15. Pain and Paradise 

16. Rockstar

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.

HELMET AT THE MASQUERADE ATLANTA ON SUNDAY MAY 12 WITH GUESTS CRO-MAGS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/19/24

Playing in Hell at the Masquerade

Sunday, March 12 Doors are 7pm, all ages

$27.50 Advance. Tickets here.

Helmet, an American Alternative rock band out of New York join forces with guest Cro-Mags, a hardcore band, for an evening that will blow you away. Maybe literally.

HELMET

Helmet is an American alternative rock band from New York City formed in 1989 by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton. Since 2010, the band has consisted of Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case.

Helmet has released eight studio albums and two compilation albums. After releasing their debut album, Strap It On (1990), on Amphetamine Reptile, Helmet signed to Interscope Records and released three albums for the label, including the highly successful Meantime (1992), Betty (1994) and Aftertaste (1997). Helmet broke up in 1998, but reformed in 2004, and has since released four more albums ― Size Matters (2004), Monochrome (2006), Seeing Eye Dog (2010) and Dead to the World (2016).

In June 2021 the band released via their website only a limited edition box set entitled “Move On” featuring 4 x 7” singles including the following covers and live tracks:

  • Move on (David Bowie) w/ More Bad News live
  • Mercy (Wire) w/ Rollo live
  • ETI (Blue Oyster Cult) w/ Blacktop live
  • I’m only sleeping (The Beatles) w/ Crisis King live

2023 saw the band return to the studio for it’s ninth album Left which was released by earMusic in November 2023.

CRO-MAGS

“It is 1981 in New York City: a distant planet, hard to see now. Beastie Boys is just being embryonically formed in a rehearsal space somewhere. Elsewhere, Butthole Surfers, Cro-Mags, Motley Crue, Napalm Death, Run- DMC, Sonic Youth, and Wham! are likewise coagulating.”

-Luc Sante “Beastie Revolution” introduction to Beastie Boys Book (2018)

The history of the Cro-Mags is integral to the history of Hardcore, it’s evolution from Punk and the development of alternative music genres such as thrash, cross-over, thrash metal, post punk and grunge to name a few. Numerous iconic bands from Metallica to Green Day, and individuals such as Dave Grohl have credited Cro-Mags with having a primal influence on their development.

The brain child of a very young Harley Flanagan back in 1981 (at the time 14 years old) when still playing with the Stimulators, Flanagan set out to start his own band. By 1982/83 he recorded the very first Cro-Mags demos consisting of 4 songs that would become the blue print for the seminal 1986 “Age of Quarrel.” He wrote all of the music, played each instrument and sang. Before long he was joined by Parris Mayhew and the two started writing music and auditioning band members. 

After several line-ups, 6 album releases (beyond the original demos) and 40 years of tours around the world, Cro-Mags remains one of the most iconic hardcore bands with tremendous reach and influence beyond the genre.  

“ICONIC AND GRITTY,” THE MASQUERADE CELEBRATES 35 YEARS IN ATLANTA – INTRODUCES NEW ROOM!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/1/24

The Venerable Independent Music Venue Introduces Altar Spring 2024

The New 250 Capacity Room and Kitchen Joins Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory

Regarded by many as one of America’s best independent music venues, The Masquerade has stood the test of time, first at the historic DuPre Excelsior Mill on North Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward, opening in September 1989. The venue’s stages- Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, have hosted a litany of alternative music royalty. Acts like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Fugazi, and The Refused have all flexed the floorboards, whipping fans into a frenzy. During the same period, on its grounds, The Masquerade has been the home to the first ever Warped Tour, One Music Fest, Shaky Knees Music Festival, Imagine Music Festival, and the first two editions of The Wrecking Ball ATL. Any given night, fans can find rock, alternative, indie, electronic, metal, punk, hip hop, and more live and ready for consumption. 


While redevelopment of the area necessitated a move to Kenny’s Alley at Underground Atlanta in 2016, it did not slow the venerable music venue, which celebrates its 35 years in Atlanta this year. With this landmark anniversary, The Masquerade is introducing a fourth room, a 250-capacity space called Altar, which will feature local and nationally touring artists of all genres, as well as a monthly comedy weekend curated by the former tenant Atlanta Comedy Theater. The new room is added to an already impressive calendar that will see The Masquerade present over 700 shows on its stages and across venues in Atlanta and the Southeast.

“It’s exciting to celebrate the impressive 35-year history of The Masquerade and, at the same time, open a new room. We’re looking forward to creating opportunities for both up-and-coming artists, as well as downtown Atlanta, to flourish over the next 35 years and beyond.” – The Masquerade’s Talent Buyer, Elena de Soto.

The lineup for Altar is already coming together with shows booked through May including Anthony Green (of Circa Survive, Saosin, The Sound of Animals, and L.S. Dunes); The Broken View; TRSH; NOT; Better Place; Worlds Greatest Dad; Treehouse!; WRASFest; Sheer Mag; Dinner Time; Makari; Natalia Taylar; Glimmers; Girlpuppy; Soft Blue Shimmer; Lø Spirit; Night Club; Fleshwater; Me Nd Adam; Skating Polly; Background Character; Cry Baby; Jameson Tank, and more. Additional artists will be added in the coming weeks. The lineup is subject to change.

In addition to adding to the musical offerings The Masquerade brings to Kenny’s Alley, Altar will feature an expansive kitchen. A variety of simple, healthy, and tasty food offerings, including plant-based options, will be available from Altar’s kitchen before, during, and after shows. Concertgoers for shows at The Masquerade can place orders through a to-go window outside Altar, with dining at tables set up in Kenny’s Alley. 

The Masquerade General Manager, Greg Green, thinks the kitchen will be a game-changer for the concert experience. “Consistently, one of the most common questions we get is, ‘What is there to eat?’ The answer, until now, has been nothing. A lot of people are going to be happy that is no longer the case!”

Additional details on Altar, scheduled to open on March 20th with onsite activations and a performance by Anthony Green, are coming together daily. Visit www.masqueradeatlanta.com for the most up-to-date information on Altar and all shows at Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. Stay connected on Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter at @Masquerade_ATL and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasqueradeAtlanta. The Masquerade is located at 75 Martin Luther King Drive SW, Atlanta, Georgia.

COVER PHOTO: Elana de Soto