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Tony Bennett wows crowd at Fox

Just before launching into a series of four standing ovation-inspiring encores at his capacity concert at the Fox Theatre Friday night, Tony Bennett observed with a laugh: "I guess you can tell by now, I just sing old songs!" The 85-year-old icon's legion of fans instantly applauded the singer's Great American Songbook set selection. With his peers, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan and pal Rosemary Clooney all gone now, Bennett is keeping the songs of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and George and Ira Gershwin alive for his diverse audience, a mix of young and old fans.

It’s a Zac Brown World

After years grinding out a living on Georgia’s music circuit, Cumming native Zac Brown has enjoyed seemingly overnight success. Since 2009’s chart-topping “Chicken Fried,” there have been two Grammys, two major-label albums, sold-out shows, and a number one duet with Jimmy Buffett. And like the sailor from Margaritaville, thirty-three-year-old Brown is parlaying the spoils into an empire: Southern Ground.

Zooey Deschanel reflects on She & Him’s impromptu pool party at Atlanta Botanical Garden

It was without a doubt one of the more bizarre incidents to ever occur during a Concerts in the Garden performance at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. And no, we're not referring to the time British songstress Joan Armatrading attempted to silence the chorus of bullfrogs annoying her in the Midtown tourist attraction's reflecting pool. But the small body of water running in front of the Great Lawn did play a role in the venue's now-infamous altercation in the summer of 2010 during a sold-out show with acoustic duo She & Him. The act consists of folk performer M. Ward and indie actress Zooey Deschanel, the star of this season's breakout Fox hit sitcom,"New Girl." In addition to gracing this week's cover of TV Guide, Deschanel went on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" Friday night to promote the show and to discuss the duo's brand-new holiday album, "A Very She & Him Christmas" due in stores Oct. 24.

The wait for Jason White ends as he brings “The Longing” to Eddie’s Attic

Sometimes, it can take a lottery winner a minute to process what's happened to him. In 2001, Nashville singer-songwriter Jason White released a critically acclaimed debut album, "Shades of Gray." After reps for Tim McGraw got an earful of White's song, "Red Rag Top" off the album, the country superstar recorded a hit cover of the tune. Wheelbarrows of cash and songwriting opportunities were pushed in front of White. But after a 2003 follow up, "Tonight's Top Story," White disappeared from the New Releases buzz bin, along with MTV's Buzz Bin and most bricks and mortar record shops for that matter. Forty seven Lady Gaga singles and 137 asymmetrical haircut-laden Lady Antebellum videos later, White is back with an excellent third album, "The Longing" and an appearance in the round Saturday night at Eddie's Attic in Decatur.

Will Turpin’s power pop shines on “The Lighthouse,” “SATC”‘s Berger grabs some eggs

It's probably best that Collective Soul bassist Will Turpin's new solo EP, "The Lighthouse" is only available in audio form. Otherwise, the five instantly addictive tracks on the project (the EP hit iTunes Tuesday) would likely require a doctor's prescription. Playing piano and singing lead vocals, Turpin will debut tunes from "The Lighthouse" Thursday night at Drinkshop Live at the downtown W on Ivan Allen Boulevard. "It's just one of those innate feelings that you have," explains the life-long Beatles fan on how you go about writing a catchy melodic pop song. "When I was taking piano lessons at eight years old, my earliest music teachers kept telling me to quit using my ear. Their goal was to teach me to read music in a traditional way. But after I learned a piece of music, I was always using my ear to modify things. If it feels good to me, that's a good starting place for how a listener might respond to something I write. I'm all about melody. Somebody asked me the other day on a TV show what 'The Lighthouse' sounds like and I said, 'mega sweet, power pop candy.'" Turpin laughs and adds: "I'm not really good at describing music. But I don't think that my style on this EP is something that most people would be able to predict. Hopefully, that's a good thing!"

The Soul Within

Inside Atlanta’s Northyards Complex on a cloudy spring afternoon, India Arie performs “Gift of Acceptance” to a rapt crowd. The ethereal singer twirls in a floor-length white dress, accompanied by her new songwriting partner, Israeli pianist Idan Raichel. Their contemplative set leaves much of the audience visibly moved at the TEDx conference—organized by the local branch of an exclusive, multidisciplinary think tank devoted to technology, entertainment, and design (like Mensa for the culturally aware).

Indigo Girl Amy Ray reflects on Sears Toughskins, previews Party at Ponce, “Beauty Queen Sister”

Four days before the official release of their 14th studio album, "Beauty Queen Sister," the Indigo Girls will debut selections from the project Saturday night as they headline Party at Ponce, the kick off for the planned multi-million dollar Ponce City Market renovation of the massive City Hall East location and former Sears & Roebuck building on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The evening serves as a benefit for the city's Atlanta Beltline Partnership and Georgia Organics. And if we're really lucky, Indigo Girl Amy Ray may take the stage in a pair of green Toughskins jeans, her preferred hue from childhood. In addition to the popular brand of Sears jungle gym-proof denim, Ray's mother worked there as a teenager and the songwriter's very first acoustic guitar and amp also came from Sears. "It's such a great building," she recalls. "My Dad used to take me there to pick up our catalog orders. Every Christmas, we got our Sears Wishbook there too! That was an extremely big deal at the time. I have a real emotional attachment to that building. We're thrilled to be a part of this benefit."

Doria Roberts nurtures an Odetta-inspired batch of new songs on “Blackeyed Susan”

Atlanta singer-songwriter Doria Roberts' new album, "Blackeyed Susan" is designed to engage all your senses. When you slide up the lid on the wooden "Blackeyed Susan" box created out of scraps from a guitar manufacturer, the scent of loose tea perfumes the air. There are blackeyed susan seeds for planting, honey to accompany the tea, a piece of Atlanta designer Kathleen Plate's Smartglass recycled jewelry and, after a five-year wait, Roberts' latest song cycle, inspired by and featuring songs long associated with her late mentor and civil rights folk legend Odetta Holmes. Roberts will introduce fans to the project this week at Decatur CD on Tuesday night at 7:30 with an album release gig (a massive reproduction of the album cover is now displayed on the side of the building) and Thursday at 5 p.m. at the East Atlanta Farmers Market. For the first time, Roberts says she has no plans to issue a digital version of the project ("I want people to enage all their senses with the keepsake box," she says. "You can't achieve that with a download.").

Gregg Allman’s Second Chance

In 2009 Gregg Allman flew to Los Angeles to record his first solo album in fourteen years. The producer was the famous T Bone Burnett. “It started off so quick,” Allman says from his home on the Georgia coast. “Right away we had four tunes. Some were first takes. There were no interruptions, no strife, no drama.”

Waycross, GA

I lean back in the lawn chair to soak up the early autumn sun still high in the sky and aimlessly swat at bugs, waiting for the next band to start. To my left, a local I’d been chatting...

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