Published April 22, 2004 in issue #0316 of The Hook

By COURTENEY STUART

ATO currently has eight artists on its roster (plus represents the soundtrack from the award-winning documentary Amandla!). Though Jem's grabbing much of the spotlight right now, her ATO sibs are no slackers.

David Gray

Type of music: Contemporary rock

ATO albums: White Ladder, 2000 RCA/ATO; Lost Songs 95-99, 2001 RCA/ATO

Buzz: His album White Ladder, re-released by ATO in 2000, went double platinum in the U.S., but his follow-up, 2003's A New Day at Midnight didn't climb quite so high, despite warm words from critics. No upcoming shows are announced on his website, davidgray.com

Patty Griffin

Type of music: Folk

ATO Albums: 1000 Kisses, 2002; A Kiss in Time, 2003

Buzz: She'll go on tour in August with Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, David Rawlings, and Buddy Miller. The name of the tour, chosen through a fan contest? The Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue.

Ben Kweller

Type of music: Garage rock

ATO Albums: Sha Sha, 2002; On My Way, 2004

Buzz: Rollingstone.com gives three out of five stars to the latest effort of 22-year-old Kweller. "Some of his lyrics can feel contrived, betraying a youth spent in recording studios," writes Laura Sinagra, "his best lines are his most artless, as when, in the strummy title track, he marvels of his wife: 'She makes hats with her hands/She is such an artist.'" Currently on nationwide tour with Death Cap for Cutie, Kweller recently appeared as musical guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Gov't Mule

Type of music: Hardworking southern rock band

ATO albums: The Deep End, Vol. 1, 2001; The Deep End, Vol. 2, 2002; The Deepest End, 2003

Buzz: Warren Haynes, who once played with the Allman Brothers, leads Mule as guitarist/vocalist. The band's three ATO albums pay tribute to bass player Allen Woody, who died in 2000, and feature rock greats from decades past and present. The band's currently on tour, and Haynes is set to play the Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee in June along with Jem and DMB. Haynes' solo album, recorded at last year's Bonnaroo festival, comes out June 8.

North Mississippi Allstars

Type of music: Blues

ATO albums: Polaris, 2003

Buzz: Sons of star rock producer Jim Dickinson, the NMA go on international tour next month, playing shows in New Orleans, Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany.

My Morning Jacket

Type of music: Rock

ATO albums: It Still Moves, 2003

Buzz: With rave reviews from heavies like the Washington Post and the New York Times, My Morning Jacket is gearing up to strut their stuff for the masses. The band will play over 30 shows in May and June, hopping from L.A. to Toronto to Birmingham, Alabama. They'll also be at the Bonnaroo music festival.

Vusi Mahlasela

Type of music: African Folk

ATO albums: The Voice, 2003

Buzz: The South African musician played for the 1994 inauguration of South African president Nelson Mandela. His work is featured prominently on the soundtrack of Amandla!, the award-winning film about the end of apartheid, and on DMB's 2001 album Everyday. He'll tour this spring and summer from Washington, D.C. to Maui.

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