After Dark

No, nobody should ignore the sinking ship that is the Trump presidency. But sometimes coming up for air, in the form of catchy protest pop (post-)punk, is what’s needed to continue forging ahead. That’s where ART SCHOOL JOCKS come in. With a well-crafted eponymous EP released in June via Father/Daughter Records, the foursome of scene veterans combines various influences (post-punk, Britpop, emo) with socially aware lyrics. Hit ‘Just a Gwen, which garnered the group national attention via NPR, Stereogum and Mother Jones, explores and denounces the dark irony of victim-blaming culture Ñ don’t dress that way, watch your drink Ñ around sexual harassment and assault. This music is the perfect salve for these hard times. www.artschooljocks.com.

photo by: Joeff Davis

This year, Atlanta boasts a surplus of new and genuinely groundbreaking artists, as the city’s DIY aesthetics evolve to reflect the political catastrophe that’s unfolding across the country. When it comes to live shows, MATERIAL GIRLS stand head and shoulders above the rest, captivating crowds with snarling cabaret/punk theatrics, dressed in drag. Tyler Jundt and David Iduate lead the charge blaring through trumpet and saxophone, while John Restivo Jr. pounds away on bongos and drums. The group’s latest addition, Meghan Dowlen, struts on bass, while Robbie Rapp sears on guitar, and Ben Presley growls his sultry vocals. The group cuts through the subservience of boring, old street wear, as their stage presence and instrumentation rise above the trappings of just another Best local rock band. Since breaking the group’s minimal online presence with the arrival of its debut album, MS VS IQ (released July 2016 via Irrelevant Records), Material Girls emulsify on stage with elements of glam and grit, hunky brass and dildos, wigs and pacifiers, and an attitude so natural the group doesn’t give a shit if you buy it or not. www.soundcloud.com/materialgirlsusa

photo by: Rick Campbell

All right, that title’s a little misleading, but who would have thought that a marketing idea for the latest 2 Chainz album, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, would have created such a buzz around a craftsman home in Berkeley Park? 2 Chainz, born Tauheed Epps, and his team rented a home and blasted it in hot pink paint, creating a hot spot for like-hunting social media savants, and serving as much more than a selfie backdrop that drew people from across the country. THE PINK TRAP HOUSE, as it came to be known, at different points during its brief lifetime, acted as a nail salon, art gallery, church and even a Best locale to utilize the Fulton County Health Department’s mobile HIV testing truck. All in all, this served as great promo for one of 2 Chainz’s best albums. Turns out, the guy can make a hit. www.2chainz.com.

photo by: Joeff Davis

The cutting edge of underground hip-hop shines every Thursday night when the CONTROLLERISE vibe session takes over Slice Pizza. Weekly regulars such as LeemLizzy, Funk.Shu, Triiip the Hippy, house DJ Empress Rah and more may not be household names yet, but each one is a staple of the thriving beat showcase where young DJs, producers and intrepid MCs roll out their latest concoctions for a gathering of peers and like-minded Best locals. Controllerise was conceived by Chris Wilkes, aka STLNDRMS, and Mike Harr as a grass-roots effort to facilitate the overwhelming amount of raw talent they saw brewing around them. Over the last year, attendance has grown, while a revolving cast of beatmakers sharpen their skills with quick excursions to the outer limits. The communal vibe of the weekly party functions as an incubator for ideas where hip-hop heads bounce ideas off of each other, give feedback and provide a critical support system where everyone grows mutually. A fresh batch of instrumental music is always on blast, but an appreciation for all things anime binds the room together. Cartoons such as Ghost in the Shell play out in the periphery, and attendees register to win anything from action figures to T-shirts and other manga-related gear. Giveaways aside, this is ground zero for Atlanta’s most creative young minds in hip-hop. Slice Pizza, 75 Piedmont Ave. S.E.
www.controllerise.com

photo by: Lindsey Max

In times of overt bigotry and social unrest, ANTAGONIZERS ATL’s songs offer uncompromising messages of unity and positivity. This street punk credo echoes as loud in these contentious times as jokey provocation or political sloganeering. Such anthems as “Hold Your Ground” and “Dead to Us” extol the values of self-respect and not taking shit off known enemies and false friends. The band’s positive message resounds with listeners for two reasons. First, singer Bohdan Zacharyj, guitarist Richard Henderson, bassist Billy Fields and drummer Eric Antell perform loud and fast rock ‘n’ roll with roots that dig deep into U.S. and U.K. punk history. Second, and more importantly, all four members come across as genuinely well-intentioned old-school punks, sharing the music that changed their lives every time they take the stage. www.antagonizersatl.bandcamp.com

photo by: Shooting The Shot Photography

On any given night of the week, MARQUINN “QUINN” MASONRY can be found playing music from Gallery 992 (his regular spot) and Aisle 5 to the wilds of the Atlanta Beltline, sputtering and blowing into an alto saxophone. Be it with the Convergence, the Wolfpack, Konda, Leo Project, Charolastra or some other spontaneously formed ensemble, Masonry is a tempestuous player looming over Atlanta’s free jazz and improvised music scene. He’s a MVP for anyone who’s paying attention; the kind of player who doesn’t have to show up for practice and still nail his performance every time. Masonry’s thoughtful yet emotional performances pack in variety and passion, enough to transfix anyone within earshot, and his influence can be discerned not only in the work of his Best local music compatriots, but further afield via such icon musicians as Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Sonny Stitt and John Coltrane. Even when he’s between parts, quietly listening to the rest of the musicians on stage, waiting for his cue, Masonry is dialed into his own wavelength. He lives the music he plays, and it’s his sense of intuition that guides his music and leaves an impression on his fellow performers and anyone who has gathered to take in his presence.

photo by: Joeff Davis

BRENDA NICOLE MOORER is having one hell of a year. The sweet-voiced singer-songwriter kicked things off in April by releasing Brand New Heart, her second full-length „ and most critically lauded „ collection of jazz, soul and folk tunes. Then in May, she earned her first solo shot performing at the Atlanta Jazz Festival and, in the months that followed, played venues like City Winery and Variety Playhouse, opening for drummer Brandon Williams and other musical heavyweights. On top of all that, she recently struck a deal with P-Vine Records to get Brand New Heart distributed in Japan „ so we can only imagine that even bigger things are on the horizon.
www.brendanicolemoorer.com.

photo by: Joeff Davis