Don’t stop believin’
BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR/SCENTANNI@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
Band: Journey, Asia Date: Thursday, June 29, 7:30 p.m. Venue: The Amphitheater at The Wharf Tickets: $39.50-$100.50, available through Ticketmaster This beachside flashback is a must for fans of ‘80’s music. British prog rockers Asia will open the evening. With some of the most unique album art in rock history, Asia began its worldwide campaign with its self-titled debut. “Heat of the Moment” served as the band’s first hit and remains in steady rotation on mainstream radio. Asia nurtured a dedicated following that appreciates the epic grandeur of its unique style of rock. While the modern production is evident in its most recent effort, 2014’s “Gravitas,” Asia maintains the regal orchestrations that showcase its prog rock style. Since its beginning, Journey’s West Coast rock sounds has found a new audience with each generation. Over the past few years, hits such as “Lights” and “Don’t Stop Believing” have helped this band find a place in the hearts of millennials. The group is dominated by Journey vets Neal Schon (lead guitar), Ross Valory (bass guitar), Steve Smith (drums) and Jonathan Cain (keyboard). Based on his uncanny ability to perform Journey’s classic vocals, Schon recruited lead singer Arnel Pineda in 2008. Get ready for one of the Gulf Coast’s biggest singalongs ever.
Photo/ journeymusic.com | Journey
Native heartbeat
Hotlanta Band: Elements Hip-Hop Showcase Date: Friday, June 30, with doors at 9 p.m. Venue: The Merry Widow, 51 S. Conception St., www.themerrywidow.net Tickets: $8 advance/$10 day of show, available through Ticketfly
Band: Kate Kelly Date: Thursday, July 6, 7 p.m. Venue: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, 916 Charleston St., www.callaghansirishsocialclub.com Tickets: Info unavailable Not too long ago, native Mobilian Kate Kelly was a local singer-songwriter strumming songs on her acoustic. Eventually, she decided to expand her career options by relocating to Nashville. Home was never far away, however. Pulling inspiration from her time on the Gulf Coast, she began penning songs for what would become her first release, “New Heartbeat.” According to her website, Kelly hopes listeners will experience “a familiar yet unchartered journey” as she weaves her narrative through jazz, blues and Americana styles. The songs on “New Heartbeat” thrive from minimalist production and concentration on aural clarity, allowing listeners to discern layer upon layer of beautiful sound. Kelly’s vocal work is both dreamy and virtuosic throughout the album. No matter where the instrumental arrangements go, Kelly maintains her flawless vocal composure. While the album features a full band, her songs seem created to maintain their power even in a solo environment.
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Each month, Poet Tree Entertainment collects some of the freshest lyricists on the Southeastern hip-hop scene for its Elements showcase. This installment will bring Rod McCoy as one of two hip-hop ambassadors from the ATL. McCoy’s verbal flow is a smooth, hypnotic delivery of eclectic rhythms switched with skillful spontaneity. J-Coop will also be representing Hotlanta. With his smooth Dungeon Family-esque grooves, he’s picking up where Atlanta hip-hop icons Outkast left off. For local artist Eterniti hip-hop is an art form. His well-thought-out lyrical arrangements create an intricate mix of rhythm and spoken word amplified by personal and social philosophies for the modern world. Unicorn Bounty Hunters will provide this lineup with a dose of homegrown indie hip-hop. This collective’s greatest aspect is the sonic personality of each member, especially on such memorable tracks as “Garden of Eden.” Photo/ Facebook | Kate Kelly