A Rippin' Production talk five years of Atlanta music

On Friday, August 9, A Rippin’ Production kicks off a weekend of headbanging revelry at 529, celebrating five years of bringing only the finest in hardcore, punk, thrash, and metal mayhem to Atlanta. The story begins in 2014 when Amos Rifkin first tried his hand at the promotions game: He booked Manchester U.K.’s classic oi-punk and new wave group Slaughter and the Dogs to headline a show in Purgatory at the Masquerade’s original North Avenue location. Call it beginner’s luck, but Slaughter and the Dogs happened to be touring the States performing songs from the group’s undisputed masterpiece, 1978’s "Do It Doggystyle" LP. A perfectly calibrated set of openers for a Wednesday night — featuring like-minded local punks and rock ’n’ rollers Maggos Heros, Gunpowder Gray, Antagonizers, and Dinos Boys — filled out the rest of the bill for a riotous night of music. “For a minute I was innocent enough to think that all of my shows would be that magical,” Rifkin laughs. “For one brief moment, I was batting a thousand. It’s all been downhill ever since!” Joking aside, hitting the five-year mark as an independent promoter in Atlanta is an impressive feat. Rifkin’s ascent is made all the more remarkable when considering just how much he has accomplished in that time — 500 shows in five years, including performances by legendary underground acts such as British new wave headbangers Satan, Greenville, South Carolina’s death metal and middle eastern music masters Nile, Chicago’s doom outfit the Skull (ex-members of Trouble), and more setting up on stages throughout the city, from Center Stage to the Clermont Lounge. Recently, Rifkin expanded A Rippin’s operations to include graphic designer and right-hand man Van Bassman of Buzzards of Fuzz, writer and videographer Mark McPheeters, and Cody Martin, the latter of whom is in charge of the colossal Mass Destruction Metal Fest, which returns to Center Stage Nov. 1-2. As of April 1, Rifkin has also taken on the role of in-house booking agent for 529. Naturally, he’s put together a three-day, five-year anniversary blowout. Friday night’s lineup includes performances by High Spirits, Lazer/Wulf, Gunpowder Gray, Maiden Killers, Vimur, and Abysmal Lord. On Saturday, Morbid Saint, All Hell, and Young Beasts take the stage. On Sunday night, Daikaiju, Shehehe, and Trauma City bring the weekend to a fiery close. Photo by Chad Radford