Kelly Clarkson brought Piece By Piece Tour to Atlanta on Sept. 10

by Concert Coverage

Photos by Danielle Boise

Kelly Clarkson brought her Piece By Piece Tour to Atlanta’s Aaron’s Ampitheatre on Thursday, September 10, for a rain filled evening that was intensified equally by both lightning and great pop tunes. The night hit a hiccup from the start, with the monsoon that hit Atlanta within minutes of the start of show. The weather caused a halt to the show, but after about a 40-min. delay, the all-clear was given and Abi Ana took the stage for a fun, quick three-song set, followed by Eric Hutchinson‘s abbreviated set. The five-piece acapella group Pentatonix took the stage and flooded the Amphitheatre with famous covers and remixes, including Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” and their new favorite song of the summer, Omi’s “Cheerleader.”

Clarkson took the stage with a happy heart and endearment towards her fans for staying and sticking out the bad weather to get a chance to see her perform her new songs, hits, and covers.

Full Photo Gallery of Kelly Clarkson

Full Photo Gallery of Pentatonix

Full Photo Gallery of Eric Hutchinson

Full Photo Gallery of Abi Ana

Live Review: Avenged Sevenfold, Ghost B.C. and Deftones @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood


by Archives

AvengedSevenfold_131015_0072

Fire, Volume and Energy: Avenged Sevenfold Lights Up Lakewood

The Huntington Beach, Calif. based band Avenged Sevenfold has been on a steady path to the top of the metal charts for the past several years, and with the release of their latest album, the Billboard no. 1 Hail To The King, the band has solidified themselves as a staple of modern rock radio. Seems only fitting that they merge their huge commercial success with a huge touring stage show, which stopped at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood on Oct. 15.

The overall production was pretty massive. The multi-tiered stage resembled the front of a large, Gothic castle, with the band’s winged-skull logo worked into the design. Two of the archways also doubled as video screens, allowing for a barrage of photo and video images. A row of fire lined the top level on either side of the drum riser, and their performance was enhanced with plenty of lighting, smoke, explosives and a flamethrower or two. You know, there are militaries out there in the world that don’t even have a flamethrower…A7X has two.

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The band opened the night with the first song off of Hail To The King, the excellent “Shepherd of Fire.” Lead singer M. Shadows, guitarists Zacky Vengence and Synyster Gates and bassist Johnny Christ (sporting a Clermont Lounge T-shirt) worked the entire stage from side to side while drummer Arin IIejay held down the beat behind his impressive kit. M. Shadow’s chants of “HEY!” during “Critical Acclaim” were spiked with fire bursts, while “Welcome To The Family” got the head’s bobbin’ in unison with the song’s chugging riff.

A7X has changed their style over the years, moving away from their screaming, hardcore roots and has matured into a more mainstream hard rock act. Apparently they’ve been listening to Guns N’ Roses and Metallica along the way, because “Doing Time” and “This Means War” echoed both of those classic bands. No harm no foul I guess … if you’re gonna borrow, borrow from the best, right?

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The piano-based ballad “Fiction” was dedicated to the band’s original drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, who unfortunately died in 2009. Ironically, it was the last song that Sullivan wrote for the band.

The only real misstep of the night was the addition of a guitar solo by Synyster Gates. His workman-like solo killed a lot of the momentum that had been building during the night and was met with a tepid response from the crowd. I much prefer the work he and fellow guitarist Zacky Vengence do together: their twin guitar soloing within the context of their songs, such as their signature, set closing song “Bat Country.”

While A7X’s sound has changed, they haven’t forgotten where they came from and traveled back to their 2nd release – 2004’s Waking The Fallen – for the encore of “Chapter Four” and “Unholy Confessions.”

 

Avenged Sevenfold

 

Deftones:

 

Ghost B.C.

 

Miranda Lambert’s Locked & Reloaded Tour in Atlanta on September 19

by Archives
Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

 

Live Review & Photos by Danielle Boise

 

09-19-13 Miranda Lambert Locked & Reloaded Tour, ATL 1001 tag

Miranda Lambert

 

“Always follow your dreams, ’cause it takes all kinds of kinds.” – Miranda Lambert

 

The Cadillac Three

The Cadillac Three

 

 

Nashville based, The Cadillac Three started the Locked & Reloaded Tour at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood on Thursday, Sept. 19 to the delight of country and southern rock fans with a highly addictive performance. The band thanked Miranda Lambert for having them out on the road with her by  dedicating her song “White Liar” to her.

 

Randy Rogers Band

Randy Rogers Band

 

With a dynamic set, the five-piece band, Randy Rogers Band brought the party to Aaron’s with a string of feel good country songs that left fans dancing and stomping their feet to the beat.

 

Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley

 

Country boy, Dierks Bentley‘s swoon worthy performance caused a wave of mania for fans, as he performed his hit charting set by starting off with “Am I the Only One” followed by “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go),” “5-1-5-0,” “Every Mile a Memory, ” “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do,” “Come a Little Closer,” “Feel That Fire,” “Tip It on Back,” “Up on the Ridge,” “I Hold On, ” “How Am I Doin’,” “What Was I Thinkin’,” “Sideways” and ended with “Home.”

 

Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley

 

 

“Thank you for coming out here tonight and spending your hard earned money on country music.” – Miranda Lambert

 

09-19-13 Miranda Lambert Locked & Reloaded Tour, ATL 873 tag

Miranda Lambert

 

Miranda Lambert started the show hidden behind a banner with Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” blaring through the Amphitheatre with images of strong country women, like Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, projected on the screens surrounded the stage, building up the anticipation to the final moment of the reveal. And man what a reveal it was.

 

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

 

 

Once the curtain dropped, Lambert exploded onto the stage with a fierce and sassy attitude that dominated the night. It was awe inspiring to see such a strong, yet vulnerable woman demand the stage with a striking balance of ease and confidence, along with a no non-sense air about her. And how could you not love a woman with a matching pink guitar and bedazzled microphone sing a 19-song set to you – I dare say it’s impossible not to fall in love with Miranda Lambert.

 

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

 

Lambert had such a down to Earth presence on stage as she not only performed songs off her latest release, Four The Record, which came out Nov. 1, 2011 from RCA Records Nashville, but also songs that put her on the country map. Lambert set list included “Fastest Girl In Town,” “Only Prettier,” “That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round,” “Heart Like Mine,” “New Strings,” “Baggage Claim,” a cover of Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen,” “Over You,” “Me and Charlie Talking,” “Dead Flowers,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “Famous in a Small Town,” a cover of The Beatles “Get Back,” Kerosene,” “All Kinds of Kinds,” “The House That Built Me,” “Gunpowder & Lead” and ended the regular set with “White Liar.” For the encore, Lambert brought all the bands back out onto the stage for a cover of Roger Miller’s “King Of The Road.”

 

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

 

 

It was fascinating to see the influence that Lambert subjugated over the crowd. I would have to say my favorite moment of the night was watching this little girl, who could have been no more than 6 years old, singing word for word “Mama’s Broken Heart” with so much heart while dancing on her seat. She stole the hearts of everyone in my section as she emulated Lambert on stage.

 

Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert

 

Even if you are not a huge country fan, Miranda Lambert will change your mind in a Nashville minute.

 

 

09-19-13 Miranda Lambert Locked & Reloaded Tour, ATL 991 tag

Miranda Lambert

 

Full Photo Gallery of The Cadillac Three

Full Photo Gallery of Randy Rogers Band

 

 

Full Photo Gallery of Dierks Bentley

 

Full Photo Gallery of Miranda Lambert