Drinky Crow Wrote:
discostu Wrote:
the local scene in Atlanta sucks ass, but you get the best National/World acts there are. Atlanta often gets the only Southern play for good bands. I give Atlanta a 6 only because the local scene is so terrible (with the exception of Dirty South rap).
It's true that Atlanta is the token stop in the South for major tours, but I don't see that as any reason to cut it's "music scene" any slack. Out of the 4 or 5 venues here that I actually like, only 2 ever have good shows more than once or maybe twice a year, if that. Of those 2, The Earl leaves you thoroughly permeated with smoke, and the Variety Playhouse is expensive (not to mention the fact that it mostly books the same acts perennially).
The other places that get good shows among the smaller venues - The Echo Lounge and The Drunken Unicorn - are just shitty places IMO. A lot of people may disagree with me about the Echo (it's really just the layout that annoys me), but I think the Unicorn is widely accepted as being crappy. It's nowhere near as cool as seeing bands on the MJQ main floor which apparently doesn't happen anymore.
I totally agree about the actual local music scene here. Even the Dirty South thing has gotten big enough to not really be any more accessible locally than it is anywhere else. Pretty much anybody who starts out in Atlanta leaves once they start to make it or get a fanbase outside the city. I think Of Montreal was originally from here, and now they won't even play here anymore. Prefuse 73 gives props to Atlanta/ Decatur, but he didn't stick around long after getting big.
Maybe a 4 is harsh. I dunno.
I think you are seriously devaluing the importance of the Atlanta hip-hop scene. Usher,Outkast, Little Jon, and Ludacris are some of the hottest acts in hiphop and everybody wants to record with them. And they do. In Atlanta. L.A. Reid is the president of a major label. Thigh High (Jermaine Dupree) is one of the great hit makers of the past 15 years. Even shit like the Eastside Boyz, Goody Mobb is nationally known. Outside of New York, Atlanta is the hiphop capital of America.
The local rock scene is a little more disjointed. Of Montreal is actually from Athens and there as always been a thing with Athens bands (particularly Elephant 6) playing in Atlanta. Why, I don't know. I think there is a healthy, if understated rock/punk/indie scene. Atlanta is actually one of the easier big cities to actually get gigs in if you are unknown which helps.
In addition to the hiphop recording scene there are also tons of great studios. Think Brendan O'Brian.
Your criticism of venues is basically just whiney, crybaby bullshit. Oh you don't like the layout? Its smokey? BooHoo--ITS A FUCKING ROCK CONCERT! The only legitimate complaint I would have is that the sound is a little loud at Echo Lounge; other than that I consider all of the Atlanta venues to be above average in ticket price, service, and sound qualty. I'd also add that I think The Tabernacle and The Fox are on par with any venue in the country, bar none.
Finally, Atlanta's proximity to Athens (its about an hours drive) is great for the scene. Athens: REM, Widespread, Drive By Truckers, Elephant 6 etc etc.
You live in a better scene than you think, dude---you just insist on making everything a negative.
I give Atlanta a 7 or 8.
