Peteetong, boys and girls!

We’re right in the middle of the summer concert season, and it looks like the next few months will bring a great mix of artists to Atlanta.

Green Day will be performing at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Monday, August 9.  I’ll be there working with a local production company doing roadie work – pushing road boxes, tearing down the stage props, loading up the trucks, etc.

Personally, I think Green Day stopped being cool a long time ago in the nineties.  To me, they’re the ultimate sell-out band.  But it could be a good time if you wanted to go get a nostalgia fix.  Just make sure you leave before lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong starts his anti-American lecture.  I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to hear at a rock concert is left-wing political rhetoric from a drug-addled man-boy.  Shut up and play music!

If your tastes are a bit more refined, you’ll want to catch indie rockers Arcade Fire at Verizon Wireless on Wednesday, August 11.  Arcade Fire is touring in support of their new album, The Suburbs, which has been praised almost universally by critics.  Arcade Fire is one of those bands that I’ve heard people talk about for several years, but I’ve never actually listened to them.  Seeing a band without hearing them first can be hit or miss, but I’m pretty sure these guys won’t disappoint.  For an added bonus, Spoon is the opening act, and I know they always put on a good show.

Later this month, Sound Tribe Sector 9 will take over Verizon Wireless with the Disco Biscuits for an electro-rock dance party on Saturday, August 28.  STS9 has origins in Snellville, and their Atlanta shows are legendary.  All the ravers and hippies will be out in full force, so grab some glowsticks and dance your way into the party. 

Those are the big shows I’ll be checking out in August.  As always, I’ll be prowling the local scene for good new bands.  This past weekend, I saw a local group called IOZ at The Five Spot in Little Five Points.  They’ve already developed a small following, and I was genuinely impressed with their set.  IOZ reminds me of Radiohead or the Pixies, and they could be on their way to big, big things.

So get out there and enjoy all this live music.  There’s something for everyone this month!

Peteetong!