Sound Menu August 12 2000 Wed

NOTED ACTS

ALAN CHARING CONTROVERSY — Portland's Charing is like the West Coast Bill Malonee. Impassioned and leading an ever-changing band, Charing is a vagabond with a book of poetry under one arm and a bottle of cheap wine in his back pocket. Sure, he wants to change the world, so he'll preach a little and most likely win the few souls who will bother to listen. If his CD is any indication, Charing is better than most of his ilk. Worth checking out and actively listening to, you'll be rewarded with a set of Cracker-like rock and profiteering. Dark Horse Tavern (Smith)

ASTRAL PROJECT — Fusion, improv and jamming make this New Orleans-based unit a solid bet for an evening of intergalactic transportation. Together for more than 20 years, the veteran group features Blue Note recording artist Steve Masokowski on guitar. If you like Medeski, Martin and Wood, you'll love these cats. Tip your waitress before you float away, dude. Smith's Olde Bar (Smith)

ATLANTA LOCAL MUSIC AWARDS — Now in its eighth year, this local music awards show is held for the first time as part of Atlantis, kicking off the music conference tonight. While notorious for its sometimes questionable award choices, this year's live performance lineup — always the hightlight of the event anyway — looks to be the best ever. Nationally known locals Goodie Mob, Collective Soul's Ed Roland, Lyrical Giants, Double Drive, Vigilantes of Love and Billionaire all appear, as well as regional favorites Jennifer Nettles and People's Choice Award winners, Soup. Tabernacle (Sarig)

BRAIN SURGEONS — Drummer Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult brings his Brain Surgeons project to the 'Reptile tonight. His rock critic wife Deborah Frost sings and Billy Hilfiger (yes, Tommy's brother) plays guitar on the band's stylish new double CD, Piece of Work. Hard rock without all that bombastic BOC posturing, tonight should feature some witty and intelligent headbangin' for the gathered freaks. Somber Reptile (Smith)

EXPO2000 — Athens label Kindercore celebrates its 50th release in four years with four nights of shows. Tonight's lineup includes I am the World Trade Center, Velma, DJ Me DJ You, 8-Track Gorilla and Japancakes. 40 Watt Club/Athens (Smith)

IMMORTAL LEE COUNTY KILLERS — The Killers serve up the sweaty electrified Alabama rock 'n' roll equivalent of a medieval morality play, depicting frontman Chet Weise's death and transfiguration amid a mighty riptide of feedback, rivers of blood pouring from wounded eardrums and the everlasting Holy Spirit of Cale Yarborough. Star Bar (Nicoll)

INDIEGRRL BENEFIT FOR OPERATION SUSANNE MILLSAPS — Atlanta's own songbird Lauren Fincham and the earthy Tennessee troubadour Karen E. Reynolds are among the ladies donating their talents at this 8 p.m. show. It's a fundraiser to assist DJ Millsaps (host of Salt Lake City's Thursday Breakfast Jam on KRCL 90.0 FM), a longtime supporter of women's independent music who recently lost everything — even her furniture — in a home burglary. Admission is $6. Eddie's Attic (Nicoll)

LAYO & BUSHWACKA! — A tag-team duo, the tech-house answer to Sasha and Digweed, Layo & Bushwacka! operate out of The End, the successful club and recording label that includes the Shamen's Mr. C and "Subterrain," one of London's most renowned club nights. Layo & Bushwacka!'s sound, as showcased on debut album, Low Life, is as varied as the guests at The End: Skint Records, Roni Size, Carl Cox, Ganja Kru. Basically, expect this duo to drop Detroit techno, deep basslines and dense drama but with no derailing denouement or pre-mature climax. Some sophisticated, cinematic breakbeats try to break the mold. Fusion (Ware)

LIQUIFIED SCIENCE — Liquid Groove launches this new drum 'n' bass monthly (second Wednesdays) with resident DJ Dara (NYC). Known for two albums of original material, plus several mix CDs, Dara brings spare snares and minimal melodies that make his New York-cum-London tech-step haunting and hard. Also on the bill are Athens' Duda and the Rydim Ryderz' Hazeus. J-Luv, Kevin O and Lil' Steven house up room two. For more information e-mail liquidgroove@mindspring.com. Riviera (Ware)

ALSO PERFORMING

40 WATT CLUB-ATHENS: Expo 2000 Festival: I am the World Trade Center, Velma, Easy, Sleeping Files, DJ Me DJ You, 8-Track Gorilla, Japancakes

BLACK REPERTORY GROUP: Third Eye Theatre

BRANDYHOUSE: 3DK, Ludowici

BRIDGES: Bruce Stanforth

BUFFALO'S-KENNESAW: Keren Leppo

CAFÉ TU TU TANGO'S: Live reggae w/Poshtoner

THE CHAMBER: Lovebreak w/DJ Biff

CHURCHILL GROUNDS: The Mahluli Workshop

COBALT: Hacienda feat. Carlos Alberto and La Perfecta

DARK HORSE TAVERN: Alan Charing

DARWIN'S: Open Blues Jam w/Mothers and Sinners

DOTTIE'S: AFGO, Black Market

ECLIPSE DI LUNA: Kim Rushing Jazz Trio

EDDIE'S ATTIC: Indiegrrl Benefit for Operation Susanne feat. Laren Fincham, Karen Reynolds and others

FLAMING JOE'S: Singles Dance Wednesday

FUSION: Layo and Bushwacka

FUZZY'S: Mike Veal

KAYA: Wind Down w/jazz, poetry and spoken word, also WRFG's Mighty Samson and guests spinning reggae, soca and hip-hop

LASETER'S: Jagermeister Night

MASQUERADE: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, the Grim Fairies, also Raising Hell w/DJs Trauma, Talib "Shab 365" Shabazz, Namahs and B-ing spinning old/new skool and underground hip-hop in Hell

MCDUFF'S IRISH PUB: Brian Jones

NORTHSIDE TAVERN: Daniel Mudcat Dudeck

THE PEASANT UPTOWN: The Steven Charles Duo

POPPERS: Eric Austin Open Mic Nite, College Night

RAY'S ON THE RIVER: Mina

SMITH'S OLDE BAR: Astral Project

SOMBER REPTILE/ CAJUN KITCHEN: Michael Tolcher hosts supernatural assembly open mic night

STAR BAR: Immortal Lee City Killers, Supagroup, Last Night's Pants

TABERNACLE: Atlantis Music Conference, Almas performances: Ed Roland of Collective Soul, Goodie Mob, Peter Searcy, Brand New Immortals, R.E.D., Bill Mallonee, Double Drive, Lyrical Giants, Johnny Knox, Jennifer Nettles, Billionaire

WHISKERS-DUNWOODY: The Spank Monkeys