Their mission is to identify cities throughout the nation and, at each location, join forces with an established organization already combating issues such as poverty, abuse, and homelessness at a local level. They then reach out to local musicians in each city to create a benefit concert series, and all funds raised at the show are infused directly back into the community through a donation to the partner organization.

Their next effort? Tonight they’ve got a fantastic lineup at the 40 Watt in Athens, partnering with an organization called Whatever It Takes, supporting their effort to fight poverty by promoting education in Athens. The benefit will feature some of Athens’ best talent including Futurebirds, Patterson Hood (guitarist and vocalist for Drive By Truckers), Claire Campbell (of Hope For Agoldensummer), Woodfangs, and My Cousin, The Emperor.

“One of the core principles of the Whatever It Takes initiative is collaboration with other organizations to maximize the effect we all have on our community,” said Ryan Lewis, Communications Director of Whatever It Takes. “Partnering with Poverty Is Real and the participating musicians and local businesses gives us an opportunity to showcase the creativity that makes Athens such a special town while providing people with an easy and fun way to help all children in Athens succeed in life.”

Saving them from immediate closure was one step, but keeping them alive is another task. It’s rumored that SCR has saved the best benefit concert for last, and that this weekend’s “Real Criminal Records Benefit” is the final survival effort show.

The Cottage in East Atlanta is hosting Saturday’s “Real Criminal Records Benefit” that’s presenting one of the best lineups of Atlanta-area bands this year. The show is presented by The Cottage, Goldsoundz on WREK, Wholly Roller, Little Advances, Industrial Strength Promotions, Earth Shaking Music, and Casey Yarbrough and Order of the Owl.

The benefit’s lineup features some Atlanta favorites: A Smart, Mediocre Machine, Nomen Novum, Places, New Animal, Small Reactions and Christ-Lord. While Qurious was on the original bill, they’ve bowed out and it’s fitting that Wowser Bowser fills their slot before opening up for Athens pop-outfit, Reptar. You may recognize Reptar from their recent tours with Foster the People and Phantogram.

Here is the full lineup:

6:30PM - A Smart
7:15PM - Mediocre Machine
7:45PM – Nomen Novum
8:15PM - Places
8:45PM - New Animal
9:30PM - Small Reactions
10:15PM - Christ, Lord
11:00PM - Wowser Bowser
11:45PM - Reptar

For those unfamiliar with The Cottage, I’ll provide a little more insight on one of Atlanta’s budding concert venues. The Cottage is a vintage house located about a mile away from East Atlanta Village. It serves to record bands and put on lively house shows. There will be two stages this Saturday evening. Between bands, we recommend checking out the excellent patio space, as well as a rope swing and view of East Atlanta Stone Quarry.

The show is just $5 with all proceeds going to Criminal Records. There will be cheap drinks and catered food. It’ll be a wonderful Saturday evening to spend with some of Atlanta’s best.

The Raconteurs, with only a hand-full of shows of their calendar for 2011, played a sold-out crowed at The Tabernacle this past Sunday night. The supergroup featuring Jack White (The White Stripes), Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler (the latter two of The Greenhornes) brought their two albums of material to The Tabernacle with no new material in sight.

That’s not so bad as the crowd seemed to know every word to each song and sang along as they kicked off with the title track from Consolers Of The Lonely before progressing into deeper tracks from Broken Boy Soldiers. Certainly folks may have wondered if Jack White would take a backseat (much like he does with The Dead Weather) to Benson and company, but White was in full rockstar-mode Sunday evening. Brendan Benson also brought along his friend and labelmate, Young Hines, to open up the evening.

Photo by Phil Dokas

Mangum will be playing one solo show in Atlanta at Variety Playhouse on February 1 and two solo shows at Athens’ 40 Watt Club on February 10 and 11. Tickets for these shows go on sale today, Friday, November 11, at noon. Expect to spend over $30 a ticket. There is a 4 ticket limit per show.

Pick up your tickets here:

Wednesday, February 1 at Variety Playhouse

Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11 at the 40 Watt

They’ll be hitting Atlanta in a couple of weeks and Drive A Faster Car has a pair of tickets to give away. Jump below the flyer for details on how to win.

Holy Ghost!
Monday, November 21
Masquerade – Hell
Doors 8PM | $12 | All Ages

To win a pair of tickets to see Holy Ghost! at the Masquerade on Monday, November 21, comment on Drive A Faster Car’s Facebook Page with why you should win the tickets.

One winner will be chosen at random from the rule abiding contestants and notified via Facebook message by November 18. Upon confirmation, the winner will be awarded two tickets which they will receive at Will Call.

The War On Drugs are heading South to Atlanta for a show at The Earl on Thursday, October 13th in support of this new album, with openers Purling Hiss and Carter Tanton.

Their bio impressively manages to omit any “rootsy” description sans the mention of their Springsteen, Petty and Dylan influences. To their credit, TWOD does bring rootsy well to an indie crowd by interlacing synths and organs, layering the instrumentals on thickly, unlike their influences’ stripped down no-fuss guitar-driven anthems.

Here is the first video from The Wooden Birds’ new album Two Matchsticks.

In support of their shiny new album, this Austin-based group is hitting the road showcasing new album tracks along with favorites from their great debut, Magnolia, as well as a few favorites from frontman Andrew Kenny’s former band American Analog Set.

Catch the The Wooden Birds live at The Earl on July 17. Doors are at 8pm, with openers Lily and the Tigers and Takenobu. Tickets are on sale now.

Don’t trust your luck? Tickets are still available via Ticket Alternative and at the door.

To win a pair of tickets to see Wintersleep and Gift Horse at The Earl tonight (Monday, May 9), enter via email with your full name and tell me why you should win the tickets. One winner will be chosen at random from the rule abiding contestants and notified via email. Upon confirmation, the winner will receive two tickets which they will receive at Will Call. You must be able to confirm by 5:30PM EST today.

Fresh off the road from tours with the likes of The Hold Steady and Matt Pond PA, it’s about time these great indie rock Canadians make their way back through the South.

Tickets are available via Ticket Alternative and we will be giving away a pair of tickets in the next week so be sure to subscribe or check back!

Held in the theatre’s parking lot, BaconFest offers more than just strips of greasy grub washed down with local brews (though that’s all included with the price of admission). This year’s fattened-up lineup includes X-rated face painting, a silent auction and booths offering services such as consultations with Dr. Boobies and Hobo Wine Tastings. Other attractions include eating contests (isn’t that sort of what the entire event is?) and the coronation of this year’s Bacon King and Queen. And while the Vortex keeps cooking up the bacon, you can also enjoy music from local bands such as Mike LaSage & the Stumbling Troubadours, the Young Orchids and Darling Norman.

Depending on how much you want to pig out at this year’s BaconFest, there are three admission options. Portioned Porking ($25 online, $35 over the phone/at the door) offers “a fistful” of game tickets and three cups of beer and/or bacon. Bottomless Bacon ($50 online, $60 over the phone/at the door) provides unlimited game tickets, bacon and beer. And for those who really want to overindulge, the new Whole Hog option (a $50 upgrade) includes servings from a whole roasted pig courtesy of P’Cheen, exotically-flavored bacon not available to other festival-goers, high gravity beer from Wild Heaven Craft Beers and a bacon bib. With all the other hog-inspired hilarity and festival fare, busting a gut could take on a more literal meaning at BaconFest if your not careful.