Sound Menu August 05 2000 Fri

NOTED ACTS?
?ASHFORD & SIMPSON, MAYA ANGELOU — The R&B songwriting/vocal duo Ashford & Simpson perform on a bill with acclaimed poet Maya Angelou. Nickolas Ashford, 58, and Valerie Simpson, 53, broke into the music business as songwriters, penning Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," Diana Ross' "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand," Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," as well as hits for Ray Charles, Gladys Knight and others. The greatest success of their own recording and performing career began in the mid-'70s and lasted for roughly a decade, featuring R&B hits "Don't Cost You Nothing" and "It Seems to Hang On." The show begins at 8:30 p.m. For more info, call 404-523-6275. Atlanta Civic Center (Powell)

AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS — Don't let the silly song titles fool you, these fellows can play the crap out of whatever style of music they set their minds to. From the hot western swing of "Stupid Texas Song" to the pure honkytonk of "The Dogs, They Really Miss You," the Lizards capture and deconstruct (with due respect) the musical idioms of their home state. Calling it parody is understating the quality of their work, but it's funny as hell no matter what. Variety Playhouse (Kelly)

THE BELL RAYS, TITANICS — Coming on like the Stooges and the MC5 meet Janis Joplin and Tina Turner, the Bell Rays are an open soul wound, baby. Frontwoman Lisa Kekaula rages like Chris Robinson only wishes he could. This is raw power, sucka, and not always pretty. These gritty rockers are not afraid to let it all hang out, so go catch some 'Rays as they radiate heat on yo' lily ass. The Titanics can stay afloat in these dangerous waters, but they'd better keep them life preservers handy. Star Bar (Smith)

CARREG LAFAR — Carreg Lafar (pronounced Cah-rehg Lah-vahr") is a five-member band from Wales featuring traditional Celtic instruments bodhran, whistle, pibgorn, bagpipes and flutes. They're in town promoting their recent album Hyn. Opening the 9:30 show is Emerald Rose, a Celtic band from North Georgia, playing original songs in the Irish, Scottish and Welsh tradition. Sponsored by the Atlanta Celtic Festival. Eddie's Attic (Smith)

DEAD AND GONE, THE LOCUST — It's a few years old, but Dead and Gone's '97 release God Loves Everyone But You (on Alternative Tentacles) is actually reminiscent of the golden '80s underground grunt rock. The Laughing Hyenas, Jesus Lizard, Cop Shoot Cop, even forgotten Amphetamine Reptile nuggets like King Snake Roost are recalled by their fist-flinging, guttural punch. Should be interesting to see where they're headed now. The Locust are a churning, grinding maelstrom with strands melodic electro-organ running through the middle. A gleeful air of absurdity pervades their entire set. 513 Club (Foy)

GROOVEMENT PRESENTS — Local new-soul enablers Groovement present a lineup of three local vocalists: retro-soulman supreme Donnie, as well as Anthony David and Mel Johnson. Cotton Club (Sarig)

FUNK-RAP-FEST ATL EXPLOSION — Old-schoolers Cameo, the SOS Band and Brick, along with local faves Lil' Jon & the Eastside Boyz, Too Short, N-Toon and a bevy of acts from Tony Mercedes' label (including Pressha), take the main stage for this seven-hour concert/fashion show/step-dance competition. On the concourse stage, a new artist showcase features over a dozen unsigned acts looking for their break. For more info, visit www.funkrapfest.com. Philips Arena (Sarig)

GHOST MOUNTAIN — Asheville, N.C., quartet Ghost Mountain play R&B. Mind you, it's not what we call R&B today, but rather the original sound of rhythm and blues, inspired by Chicago's Chess Records and the British rock bands that adopted its more sophisticated groove and blues structure. Northside Tavern (Sarig)

MIRA, FANCY, LARVAE — Sleep-inducing dirges with a sticky Cranberries-like after-taste from Tallahassee. Imagine a (more) boring Cocteau Twins and a good, restful snooze is comin' your way. Ahhh, Florida ... that hotbed of inspiration and originality. Two promising local acts share the bill, though: Fancy, featuring former members of Myssouri, and Larvae, a side project by Underwater's Matt Jeanes. Echo Lounge (Smith/Sarig)

MAGIC OF MANCINI — Atlanta musician Cecil Welch played the trumpet for 18 years with legendary composer Henry Mancini. Tonight he joins the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra as well as his quartet in this spectacular tribute to the man who gave us such standards as "Peter Gunn," "Moon River" and "The Pink Panther Theme." Marvin Cole Auditorium/Georgia Perimeter College/Clarkston (Nicoll/Chen)

TONY ORLANDO — The man who brought us golden greats such as "Knock Three Times" and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" stops into Peachtree City for a two-night engagement. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater (Sarig)

TEAM CLERMONT'S BIG WEEKEND — Athens-based college radio promoters Team Clermont start off a weekend-long third anniversary celebration with some indie rock powerhouses. Tonight's lineup features Enon (with members of Brainiac, Skeleton Key and Blonde Redhead), Los Angeles' slowcore kings Idaho and the Azure Ray featuring Orenda and Maria of Little Red Rocket. The evening climaxes after midnight with Five Eight's CD release party. 40 Watt Club/Athens (Hatcher)

THREE DOG NIGHT W/THE ASO — OK, so it's down to two dog night, after original vocalist Chuck Negron wrote a tell-all book and the other two gave him the heave-ho. It won't make a bit of difference to the Chastain chatterers. They will still recognize most of the 21 chart singles the band spun out from 1969-1975, giving then-nobodies like Randy Newman ("Mama Told Me Not to Come") and Laura Nyro ("Eli's Coming") their first taste of ka-ching. 3DN used to be a rockin' band, but now they've hired the ASO to add schmaltz to their soulless-but-energetic, crowd-pleasing show. Chastain Park Amphitheater (Horowitz)

"UP IN SMOKE" TOUR — This hip-hop mega-tour — reportedly the most entertaining and professionally produced rap show in years — is like a class reunion from Dr. Dre Academy, with the distinguished professor presiding. While continuing to churn out hits, lately Dre has displayed an almost pathological insecurity about his place in hip-hop, with nearly every one of his raps expressing indignation at being dissed, forgotten, or not properly thanked for "starting this gangsta shit." Lighten up, Doc. Snoop Dogg has bounced from being Dre's L.A. protégé to La.'s No Limit free agent and back again, all the while displaying a politician's knack for playing the field without alienating key patrons. Dre's half-brother Warren G is a talented song maker who's tried to escape the family's shadow, but like poor Michael Corleone keeps getting sucked back in. And current blue-eyed devil Eminem (see Furious Styles on p. 107) has heralded the rap apocalypse we've been expecting for over a decade now: The soon-approaching day when teenagers are shocked to flip through history books and discover that blacks actually started hip-hop. Lakewood Amphitheatre (Sarig)

??ALSO PERFORMING?
?9 LIVES SALOON: Smithwick Machine, Hanging Francis

40 WATT CLUB-ATHENS: Five Eight, Enon, Idaho, the Azure Ray

513 CLUB: Dead and Gone, Otophobia, Upsurge, Blame Game, Process is Dead

AFTER DARK CABARET: Groove Machine

ANTHONY'S-DECATUR: Swami Gone Bananas and Jack Sholman

ARCTIC CIRCLE: DJ Rock's Dance Party, Ladies Night

ATLANTA CIVIC CENTER: Ashford and Simson, Maya Angelou

BASIL'S CAFÉ-MARIETTA: Steven Charles

BAYOU ROOM: Paradise Radio

BILLY'S: Heather Lutrell

BLUE PIG-WOODSTOCK: Frankie Moates

BLUE RACCOON: Bill Sheffield & the Ringtail Rounders

BRANDYHOUSE: Blueground Undergrass

BRIDGES: Jazz, the Sharp Four

BUFFALO'S-AKERS MILL: Keren Leppo

CJ'S LANDING: Scott Munns, Da Mojo Chilluns

CALEDONIA LOUNGE: Ceiling Fan, the Lures, Cafeteria

CAJUN KITCHEN: Sutton Evan & Grace

THE CHAMBER: Alabaster with progressive hits from then and now

CHARLIE'S: Dixie Road Band feat. Wendy Daniels

CHECKERED PARROT: The Talk

CHIP'S: Li'l Brian & the Zydeco Travelers

CLASSICS: Live Music w/Badge

COBALT: Parallel Universe w/house and trip-hop

COSMOPOLITAN: DJ Ted Fortenberry

COTTON CLUB: Best of Atlanta Soul feat. Donnie, Anthony, David & Mel Johnson

CRESCENT ROOM: Artwork by Fahamu Pecou, also "Higher Society" and Adom

DARK HORSE TAVERN: Ode to Abbey, Eden, Impulse Ride

DARWIN'S: Roger "Hurricane" Wilson

THE DERBS: Sean Costello

DOC'S FOOD & SPIRITS: The Blast

DOTTIE'S: The Accusations, Tinfoil Gargoyles

EARL: Fiends without a Face, Telegram, Hell Mach Four

ECHO LOUNGE: Mira, Fancy, Larvae

ECLIPSE DI LUNA: Kim Rushing Jazz Quartet

EDDIE'S ATTIC: Carreg Lafar, Emerald Rose

EL PATIO: Alan Vaughan

FREDERICK BROWN JR. AMPHITHEATER: Tony Orlando

FRONT PAGE NEWS: Lachez Les

FUZZY'S: Lou's Blues Revue

JACKAL'S: Old Dogs

JAKE'S ROADHOUSE: The J-Birds feat. J.T. Speed

JAVA HOUSE: Dan Roth

KAYA: Northern Exposure w/V-103's Frank Ski, also DJs Kemit, Bubby and J-Nice spinning house, classics and hip-hop

KILLER CREEK: Showtyme Jazz Duo

LAKEWOOD AMPHITHEATRE: Up in Smoke Tour w/Dr.Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Cube and Warren G

LAST GREAT WATERING HOLE: Mister Natural

MARVIN COLE AUDITORIUM-GA. PERIMETER COLLEGE CLARKSTON CAMPUS: Mancini Magic w/trumpeter Cecil Welch

MASQUERADE: Metallica afterparty w/Dreadnot, Servant Fear, Crossbreed and Munkigrip, also Old Wave '80s dance party in Hell

MCCOLGAN'S IRISH PUB: Mike Waters

MEANS STREET ARTERY: Underground Dance Party w/hip-hop, jungle, house and trance

MURPHY'S LAW: Work in Progress

NORTHSIDE TAVERN: Ghost Mountain Rhythm & Blues

THE OFFICE: Alien

PHILIPS ARENA: Funk Rap Fest ATL Explosion w/Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz, N-Toon, Too Short and others

THE PLACE: Dead Dog Blues

POOR RICHARD'S PUB: Radio Free Dixie

RAY'S ON THE RIVER: Mina

RED LIGHT CAFÉ: Sun Dogs, Boom Bust & Echo

RENAISSANCE HOTEL: Open mic, basement dance party

SAMBUCA JAZZ CAFÉ: Melanie Massell

SCROOGES: Borderline

THE SHACK: Lisa & the E-lusion

SMITH'S OLDE BAR: Band to Band, 13 Stories, Blacklight Poster Boys, Film

SOMBER REPTILE: Days Work Dime, Operation Population Control, Smug Face, Grift

STAR BAR: The Bell Rays, Titanics

TABERNACLE: Hiphopworldparty .com kick-off

UGLY MUG PUB: Southern Knights

UNDER THE COUCH-GA.TECH: The Nerve Agents

VARIETY PLAYHOUSE: Austin Lounge Lizards

WHISKERS-DUNWOODY: Mike Veal

WILD WING CAFÉ: Memory Dean

YA YA'S CAJUN CUISINE: Bootleg Shaman??