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Concert Thu Jun 10 2010
The Constellations shine @ Empty Bottle, 6/13 (and a contest)
Straight off their performance in the wilds of Tennessee at Bonnaroo, Atlanta's own The Constellations hit the Empty Bottle on Sunday night for some funky, soulful, psychedelic southern rocking. But this isn't mullet-tastic southern rock — I doubt you'll even hear a drawl between the keyboards, tambourines, and bass taps. The Constellations tag themselves "southern gothic" (in fact, it's the title of their new album due out June 22) but I think that gothiness just speaks to the smooth, dark, velvety sounds coming out of their amps like thick red drapes. Led by Elijah Jones on vocals (who sounds a bit like a fallen preacher you're bound to enjoy sitting next to at the corner bar) and serenaded by the likes of backing songstresses Alaina Terry and Shab Bashiri, tunes like "Step Right Up" sound like if disco invaded your Sunday morning choir loft. Nine members strong, they'll surely fill the intimate stage at the Empty Bottle Sunday night. More than just funky beats, their lyrics are often dark and dripping with venomous narratives out of some pulpy paperback you'd find on the back shelves at Shake, Rattle, & Read. Or maybe they're the funky new house band at the vampire bar in True Blood. Check out the slightly NSFW (copious amounts of skin here) tattooed pin-up photo shoot video for their song "Felicia" and you be the judge. Better yet, come out on Sunday and check them live and in person.
If you'd like to head down Western for free, well, we can help you out with that. Just be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Starry" and you and a friend will get to hit up the show gratis. [Update: We have a winner! Congrats to Ellen!]
The Constellations play the Empty Bottle on Sunday, June 13th along with Eli "Paperboy" Reed, local GB faves Dirty Diamonds, and East of Eden Soul Express. Tickets are $12. Music starts at 9:30pm. The Empty Bottle is located at 1035 N. Western Ave. 773-276-3600.
[Oh and if you miss them this time around, they are playing Lollapalooza as well. This will be your last chance to see them in town before they hit the big stages in Grant Park in August.]
