Photograph by Oh Snap Kid
The shelter-in-place blues can be a real mind and soul crusher. To fill the time, and offer the next best thing to seeing familiar faces at the club and hanging out while listening to some live music, here’s a list of streaming performances to raise your spirits until the world starts moving again. As a bonus: Some of these shows also benefit Atlanta music venues.
Every Friday night at 7 p.m., chef Brady Lowe (of Taste Network) joins DJ Lord, of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall-of-Famers Public Enemy and hardrock insurgents the Prophets of Rage, for Cafe Quarantine, streaming live from the Pantry & Provisions in downtown’s historic Healey Building. Each week, Lowe chats with fans about signature dishes and new sandwiches while uncorking premium wines. Lord blends the true school hip-hop foodie vibe with a live mix of classic funk, hip-hop, electronic music, scratches, and more. Tune in at instagram.com/djlord/ and instagram.com/thepantryatl.
My Illegal Body works in conjunction with the ACLU to serve as an empathetic resource for the sheltered-in-place masses. Each day, MIB streams three sessions: morning wellness, mid-day craft or skill, and an evening live musical performance. The current music schedule features Somalia (Friday, April 10), TAVES (Saturday, April 11), Denny Hanson (Sunday, April 12), and Adron (Tuesday, April 15). Sessions stream on Facebook at facebook.com/myillegalbody. More performances are being booked daily, so stay tuned for updates. Videos of previous performances will be posted soon as well.
Photograph by Faye Webster
The Almost Live Music Special, featuring Cicada Rhythm, Kenosha Kid, and Adron, is an ambitious reassignment after this real-world bill at Terminal West was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Rather than cut their losses, all three acts have aligned to stream a 90-minute show from their respective cities—Adron in Los Angeles, Cicada Rhythm in Atlanta, and Kenosha Kid in Athens. On Sunday, May 3, beginning at 7 p.m., each one will beam in to perform their respective blend of tropicália, Americana, and modern jazz, promising a high-quality show filled with classic cuts, newer numbers, and some prepared content as well. Each one is performing with a two-camera feed, and the viewing platform currently remains TBD. Keep an eye on the show’s Bandcamp page for up-to-the-minute details. The first 86 tickets are $10 each and include access to the whole show and a one-of-a-kind tote bag that will be mailed to your home.
Kimono My House is a series of live performances streaming from living rooms, practice spaces, closets, or wherever (mostly) Georgia-based folks are making music in isolation. The series was created by Andy Gish of the Yum Yum Tree and Kim Ware of the Good Graces. Ware played the inaugural live stream on March 13. Since then, Kimono My House has amassed more than 5,000 followers. The rules are simple: Interested musicians are scheduled to play either a 30-minute to one-hour set, or they can stage pop-up performances of just a song or two at facebook.com/groups/kimonomyhouseatl. Previous performances are featured throughout the site, and the calendar boasts upcoming performances such as Heather B Sharp’s Crystal Singing Bowl Sound Bath, George Kotler-Wallace, and Yoga La Tengo. New shows are added daily. From April 10-12, the Kimono My House Fest will also blast live performances from dozens of acts. Donations taken during Friday’s performances benefit 529. Saturday’s shows benefit The Earl, and Sunday benefits Eddie’s Attic.
On Saturday, April 25, DJ Taradactyl kicks out the dance party classics from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and beyond with a highly-requested streaming installment of her Saturday night HeartBeeps dance party. Dance like nobody’s watching—because they aren’t—so you can have full confidence while busting out killer moves to the tune of Janet Jackson, Devo, Prince, Joy Division, David Bowie, the White Stripes, Madonna, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for a virtual tip jar, with all proceeds being donated to the staff at MJQ. More details will be announced at facebook.com/djTaradactyl.
Sweetheart PR and Baby Robot Media teamed up to create the Nuncheon Sessions, featuring live performances by a curated lineup of indie, Americana, and acoustic artists from around the country—with a strong Southern accent, of course. The series began with performances every Monday through Friday at 1 p.m. Over time, however, the list has grown to include sometimes two sets each day. Tune in to watch on Facebook. If you’re craving more, the calendar of upcoming performances is available online here as well.
Tuk Smith is Atlanta rock ‘n’ roll’s saving grace. As the singer and guitar player for a long line of glam-clad power pop and punk acts including the Heart Attacks, Biters, and the Restless Hearts, Smith knows the healing power of anthemic choruses and snarling hooks—even when (especially when) he’s singing to an iPad in his bedroom. Every Thursday at 7 p.m., Smith hosts Live From Tuk’s House, a 35 to 45-minute set of star-spangled acoustic renditions of songs from throughout his career. Tuk shouts out and engages in banter with the friends and fans who tune in, and he’ll pull out a few David Bowie and KISS covers from time to time as well. Tune in on Facebook.
