Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons

A Chris Gaffney Tribute Brings Near-Perfect Mix of Blue-Eyed Soulsters and Roots-Rockersnew

What started out as a rallying cry to help a sick friend in need turned into a post-mortem tribute album.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 05-21-2009 | Reviews

Tags: The Man of Somebody's Dreams: A Tribute to the Songs of Chris Gaffney, country music, Chris Gaffney

The Gourds Deliver Their Music From a Ground-Level Perspectivenew

The whores, hitchhikers, metalheads and country gals who populate Haymaker!, the band's ninth studio release, come off unvarnished and real, set to a midtempo twang spiced with accordions, fiddles and piano that never gets ahead of itself.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 01-21-2009 | Reviews

Tags: The Gourds, roots music, Haymaker!

'American Teen': Kids Todaynew

Nanette Burstein's documentary can't face the reality.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 08-06-2008 | Reviews

Tags: documentary, film review, American Teen, Nanette Burstein

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompsonnew

New Thompson documentary manages to stay grounded.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 07-03-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Hunter S. Thompson, documentary, Alex Gibney, film review, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, gonzo journalism, Gonzo: The Life & Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, journalist's life, yellow journalist

Christopher Bell Examines a Nation on Steroidsnew

Bell holds a personal stake in its justifications, though, which sets up Bigger, Stronger, Faster as both a balanced (if sometimes overstuffed) two-hour take on the country where size matters, big time.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 06-11-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Bigger, Stronger, Faster, movie review, bigger stronger faster, Christopher Bell, documentary film

'Hats Off': Dull at Heartnew

Mimi Weddell, at 93, remains an elusive subject.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 06-05-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Hats Off, independent film, Jyll Johnstone, movie review

'Surfwise': Room and Boardnew

Riding on a wave of the family dynamic.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 06-05-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Doug Pray, Surfwise, film review, independent movie

The Moviegoernew

Robert Osborne, who hosts this month's 31 Days of Oscar on Turner Classic Movies, represents the history of Hollywood. Up next: A new management team tries to shape the future of the Atlanta-based network.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 02-20-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Contradictory Attitudesnew

The Brit Box captures many of America's paradoxes for better and worse.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 02-06-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Various Artists, The Brit Box

'Honeydripper': Case of the bluesnew

John Sayles continues his slow descent into dull filmmaking.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 01-17-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Honeydripper, John Sayles

2007: The Year Cinema Got the Music Rightnew

This may be the year that showed making movies about rock 'n' roll -- particularly some of its most iconic figures -- need not be overburdened by formula, deification or condescension.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 11-28-2007 | Movies

A Nice Slice of Contextnew

Snippets of Strummer are captured on his "London Calling" radio show for the BBC World Service, with introductions to everything from Elvis Presley's "Crawfish" to Tim Hardin's "Black Sheep Boy."

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | David Lee Simmons | 11-08-2007 | Reviews

Tags: Joe Strummer, Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten