We’re keeping it fresh in 2011, kicking it off with our first big show of the year this Friday, January 21 at the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points.  We’re performing the Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and XTC’s Black Sea in their entirety – all 3 records!  It will be a feat of musical nerd-dom you don’t want to miss, performed with the usual PleaseRock accuracy, humor, and irreverence.

TICKETS are only $10 in advance, and it’s the best-sounding venue in Atlanta!

We’ll talk about the show on an appearance on the Regular Guys Shw on Rock 100.5 this Wednesday morning, and we’ll give you a stripped-down live performance to wet your whistle.  They’ll be giving away tickets to the show all week, so tune in.

In other news, the Yacht Rock Revue returns to East Andrews at 8 Traxx on Friday, January 28 (TICKETS) and road-tripping to the 40 Watt in Athens on Saturday, January 29.  The Schooner plays the Winter Beer Fest at the Masquerade on January 29 in Atlanta, and the Main Street Exiles take on the Ill-Eagles for a Stones vs. Eagles Rock Fight at the Peachtree Tavern in Buckhead on January 28.

Please PleaseRock Me is back at Smith’s Olde Bar for a Beatles vs. Stones Rock Fight with the Main Street Exiles on February 11.  Keep up with all of our shows on PleaseRock.com and on the Facebooks.

We’ve got some exciting things coming up the next couple of months: a couple of new aliases, talk of a live album, and the return of the PROM.  Until then, here are some pictures to remember us by:

First up:  Be thankful for Turkey Eve with Yacht Rock at Andrews Upstairs.  Another first annual for the YRR.  Come out for Atlanta’s newest and best Thanksgiving Reunion Party!  Back in town on holiday from college?  Way out of college, but returning home from your yacht?  Just need a hangover to get through the morning until Green Bay cleans up in Detroit?  Join the YRR on Thanksgiving eve – Wednesday, November 25 – at Andrews Upstairs for a healthy dose of “You’re Welcome.”

Secondly and just announced:  The Yacht Rock Holiday Special! On Friday, December 18 the smooth will invade the Variety Playhouse for a festive evening of light rocking holiday classics, choreographed dance, bona-fide Yacht Rock veterans, and exceptional shenanigans. Brought to you by PleaseRock, DaveFM, CitySearch,  and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Bring 2 cans of food to donate to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and you’ll get your Yachty Holiday Portrait taken.  More details to come, but mark your calendars sailors and sailorettes…

Eddie’s is not only the finest acoustic music venue in the world… it’s also a fabulous place to make a live recording.  Download the entire show for free in a tightly zipped package.

We apologize for the rude e-mails from the promoter, the over-crowdedness, and the fire marshal.  We hope these things were minimally distracting in your attempt to tuck your costume into someone else’s costume.  As a make-up for our fans, we’ll perform Thriller once again in its entirety this Thursday night (November 5) at the 10 High for the FIRST SET – arrive early to get your MJ on.

As we prepare to make a big announcement about a Yacht Rock Revue holiday show, we’ve got a few other things to talk about:

- Paste Magazine featured Y O U on their radio show of “Southern Bands that Should Have Been Bigger.”  They actually said we inspired the theme for the show.  Listen.

- Pictures and a review of the last Y O U show on Atlanta Music Guide. We’re blushing.

- Nespo Johnny (Nick from Y O U solo) opens for Clay Cook of the Zac Brown Band at Eddie’s Attic on Sunday night, November 8.  Doors at 6:30 pm, Nick at 7:30 pm.  Clay, a former member of Y O U, is releasing a new CD.  Tickets.

- Be friends with Yacht Rock on Facebook - It’s where we keep everyone hyper-up-to-date on the Yachtosphere.

LPEP Released

Our close friend Perry (Julien Photography) caught some amazing images from the Y O U EP release at Smith’s Olde Bar in July.  If you missed the show or you’re in the mood to reminisce, check ‘em out HERE.

Mixtape Atlanta unleashed the inaugural photo booth at Andrews Upstairs last Friday.  Get your album prepared because this is sure to be an (ul)tradition.  Pick up your pics UP IN THIS.

In tribute news: Our buddy Tim Smith (Sheryl Crow, Jellyfish) had an urge, albeit disappointingly nonsexual, to pull together a tribute to cult-status Brit poppers XTC.  As if we didn’t have enough going on, some of us signed on straightaway.  He called on bandmate Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow, Don Henley), token Canadian Kevin Spencer (Assistant to Daniel Lanois), and baker / bassist Geoff Melkonian (Josh Joplin, Flashlights Producer) to help us reproduce some of the most intricately crafted pop music this side of Queen, Yes, and…  well, Jellyfish.

Since XTC became increasingly elusive during their 20-year run, many of these songs were rarely performed live by the band, and probably have been covered even more rarely.  They’ve almost certainly never been done this level of justice in Atlanta on a Wednesday night, if we do say so ourselves.  And we always do say so ourselves.

Starting this week and for the next two months, Yacht Rock is upping the ante for the most yacht-ily dressed member of the Nation of Smooth.  Every week, one winner will take home a pair of tickets to see Yacht Rock perform at the Atlanta Zoo on September 26 for Jazzoo Atlanta.  Not that you should care.  Tickets are only $100 a piece.  Time to step up your game.  Tuck it.

PICK UP YOUR MUSTACHE ROCK PICS HERE:

Mark thy calendars: Y O U plays in the middle slot, so you’ll want to get there in a timely fashion.

The Yacht Rock Revue is appropriately nonchalant in announcing Mustache Rock at the 10 High on July 30.  We’ll be celebrating the importance of the ’stache in late ’70s easy listening and holding a contest for finest hairdo on the upper lip.  The winner receives a Yacht Rock Party Pass for himself (or herself?) and up to 8 lucky friends.

Become of fan of Yacht Rock on Facebook to learn more.  This message is approved by the American Mustache Institute.

Tickets are free here.

We’re (I’m) joining Attractive Eighties Women, A Fight to the Death, Richard Parsons, and some very special guests at the Earl later on Friday evening (8:30pm doors) for a Save Paste Benefit.

You can get an exclusive Y O U track from our upcoming E.P. through the Save Paste Campaign.  Here’s a bonus demo of a different (and new) Y O U tune I’ll play on Friday night…

LISTEN: Get Busy (Acoustic Demo).

The Nation of Smooth represented in full force at Deisel Tuesday night at over 350 strong.  Thank you for rocking the Yacht. There was no shortage of eat, drink, or free stuff during the whole cruise.  Even the cabin boy got to eat.  You’re welcome.  Witness the yachtiness and pick up your Yachty Photo Booth pictures HERE (courtesy of our friends at Mixtape Atlanta).

Of course, Three Dog Stevens is thankful for all of the sponsors that helped keep the event afloat, especially the fine young ladies of Sashay Creative Events.  3DS even debuted their first silent film!  You can check out the production complete with sound overdubs at the PleaseRock YouTube page.  Or, just look below.

You’re welcome.  Our version of fan appreciation happens tomorrow night from 7 – 10pm at Diesel in Virginia Highlands with our PleaseRock the Yacht event, presented by PleaseRock and Sashay Creative Events.

What You Get:  a preview of the new Y O U E.P., free food, a look at the new Yacht Rock tees and stickers, a screening of two new 3 Dog Stevens Webisodes, a yachty photo booth, free drinks, etc.

What You May Get:  You can win free passes to Thursday night Yacht Rock just for showing up, as well as Yacht Rock party passes and tix to see Pete Yorn or Y O U and lots of other cool things and stuff.  Stuff and things.

What They Say:  MixTape Atlanta conducted the exclusive video interview.  Blogs like Atlanta Music Blog, Atlanta’s A List, and Awesome Taste in Music all weighed in as well.

What You Do:  E-mail RSVP@sashayevents.com to get more chances to win the Yacht Rock ‘09 Cruise Pass.