Anna Daugherty

What happens when you combine three classically-trained cellists with some of Metallica's greatest hits? You get an electric night of symphonic metal at Buckhead Theatre, courtesy of the high-energy Finnish band Apocalyptica.

It takes a real artist to turn a concert into a whole other universe, and that's exactly what Ashnikko did when she transformed a sold-out Coca-Cola Roxy into a surreal wonderland known as "Smoochie World." The night was a masterclass in maximalist theater, with an audience dressed to the nines in DIY outfits crafted from every object imaginable, perfectly feeding into the "trinket" theme of the Smoochies era.

The Maine packed Heaven at The Masquerade on April 25th, taking the night to celebrate their tenth studio album, Joy Next Door, and also play all the hits. The room had a palpable energy, filled by a dedicated fanbase, some of whom have been following the group for nearly twenty years.