Sound Menu September 09 2000 Fri

NOTED ACTS

ANSON FUNDERBURGH & THE ROCKETS FEATURING SAM MYERS — A fine collaborative effort wherein the Texas blues meet the Mississippi Delta. Funderburgh, a fluid, less-is-more guitarist who knows the value of musical space, represents the former. Myers, with his cool, raspy voice and urgent harp playing, the latter. The results are a dynamic mingling of down-home, rustic charm and consummate bar-band professionalism. Henderson's Arena/College Park (Robertson)

BOETZ — Heavy metal with a playful pop sensibility, Boetz kick butt ... but they may also grab your ear with a sprightly melody (or a well-chosen cover from an artist more closely associated with disco than rock). 9 Lives Saloon (Nicoll)

CAROLINE AND THE RAMBLERS, STEVIE T. — After years of fine-tuning and polishing, Caroline has finally rebuilt her Ramblers into the finest-running western swing/rockabilly dance machine in town. Rightful heirs to the Continentals' crown, they've lately been shinin' like the stars over Texas. And speaking of the Lone Star State, local bluesrock guitar hero Stevie T. pops in from Austin for a hometown appearance as Caroline's opening act tonight. Star Bar (Nicoll)

COLLEGE URBAN MUSIC FESTIVAL — See listing for Sept. 7. various locations (Sarig)

DELUXE VAUDEVILLE ORCHESTRA — See listing for Sept. 7. Art Station Theatre (Robertson)

DJALMA MOVEMENT AND MUSIC ENSEMBLE — On this tour, Djalma's vivid performance art, which regularly beckons unsuspecting passersby on busy traffic islands in Manhattan's Upper West Side or the sunken gardens of Brooklyn's Prospect Park, defers to their emotional sonic impulses. Among this ensemble of continentally drifting neo-ethnic artistes, Atlanta ex-pat Neel Murgai plays Persian daf (frame drum) and sitar. The vicarious trip with this group is a wild ride: a challenging journey through spoken word, devotional moments, free jazz vocabularies, Javanese gamelan instruments, various electronics, guitars, Japanese Butoh dance, saxophones and clarinets, the Egyptian oud and some unusual instruments, too. A marvelous opportunity to think globally, listen locally. Earthshaking Music (Peake)

EL GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO — Formerly El Gran Combo del Mundo, Los Mulatos del Sabor, Musical Embassadors del Puerto Rico and the University of Salsa, the band that is currently led by Rafael Ithier continues to make musical history for Latin America and Caribbean music. Part of a select group of Latin jazz and salsa legends, El Gran Combo takes its role of musical diplomacy seriously, and for more than 30 years has projected a positive national image of their homeland, exporting contagious Afro-Cuban rhythms and bringing joy to an international audience. Tabernacle (Lueker)

EMPIRE 44 — Formerly known as Liers in Wait, these reformed Goth rockers sport a (somewhat) sunnier, Euro-club sound these days. Pushing the beats and sing-a-long choruses to the fore, the band's new disc Shockwave brings to mind Berlin discos, guys named Franz and Trent Reznor fronting Roxy Music. Not all is sweetness and light, though, as ties to their brooding past still pop up in the uber-heavy lyrical conceits and a marked penchant for black leather. The Otherside (Robertson)

EMPIRE STATE, WHITE LIGHTS, DQE — An interesting and varied triple bill tonight features Athens' Empire State, an inventive trio of musicians who play an assortment of handmade instruments. Odd time signatures and often-atmospheric moods are the cornerstone of the 'State's down-home Empire. Buffi Aguero (Subsonics, Vendettas) ignites her massive troupe of White Lights on the stage tonight to burn brightly for the gathered fans. DQE bring their minimalist back-porch jalopy music, as Grace Braun leads the current lineup through a brief and rough-hewn set. The Earl (Smith)

ART GARFUNKEL — As the non-songwriting half of one of the most admired and influential duos in pop history, Art Garfunkel's post-Simon music career has been a rocky ride. That's likely why he branched into acting, writing and walking across America, with varying degrees of success. A smattering of remade '50s oldies, children's ditties and obscure Jimmy Webb songs won't hold an audience's attention, so be assured he'll break out the S&G chestnuts for the majority of his set. Thankfully, Garfunkel's crystalline tenor hasn't lost a bit of its beauty, and when he hits those dramatic high notes on "Bridge Over Troubled Water," there won't be a dry eye in the house. Frederick Brown Amphitheater (Horowitz)

HARVEST MOON BLUESFEST — The Winder roadhouse starts its fifth annual blues celebration this evening at 5:30 with a lineup that includes the Nighthawks, the Hadden Sayers Band and an Athens all-star tribute to Santana. For more information, call 770-307-2840. Chip's/Winder (Sarig)

JETS TO BRAZIL, SHINER — See Jets To Brazil review. Kansas City quartet Shiner opens. Echo Lounge (Ware)

MARVELOUS 3, SR71, TSAR — See Marvelous 3 article. As with the last time they came through town, SR71 still don't have a hair out of place. Which actually serves as an apt metaphor for their music — sallow, paint-by-numbers alt-rock that's as mannered as an English tea party. Better by far is Tsar, an L.A. band drenched in classic glam-pop (Bowie, Slade, Sweet), yet self-possessed enough to sidestep pointless hero worship and kick out the jams. Oh yeah, they have nice hair, too. Roxy (Robertson)

VIGILANTES OF LOVE — As he proved mightily during the recent Atlantis Conference, Vigilantes' frontman/guitarist Bill Mallonee is just as vigilant as ever. A nonstop powerhouse of great licks, solid songs and passionate performance, they're still rock/pop contendahs. The Vigilantes play twice tonight, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., with Claire Holley opening the late set. Eddie's Attic (Nicoll)

JOHNNY WINTER, KING JOHNSON — Because he's so unpretentious in his manner and so relentless in his delivery of the blues (and maybe because he's a white artist in a seminal black music genre), Johnny Winter probably gets something less than his due recognition. However, have no doubt: The man is a master of the musical crossroads where tattooed roots rock 'n' roll attitude meets the 12-bar blues form. Winter also was producer of blues godfather Muddy Waters' four thoroughly formidable 1977-80 Blue Sky recordings, which won three Grammy Awards. The talented, funky locals King Johnson open the show. Variety Playhouse (Powell)

ALSO PERFORMING

9 LIVES SALOON: Headless Mary, Boetz, Ind, The Heathens

40 WATT CLUB-ATHENS: 5/8

513 CLUB: Johnny Socko, Treephort, Chimpunx, Burn Ups

AFTER DARK CABARET: LBR

ARCTIC CIRCLE: DJ Rock Entertainment's Dance Party; Ladies night

ARTSTATION: Deluxe Vaudeville Orchestra

ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER: Annual College Urban Music Festival

BASIL'S CAFÉ-MARIETTA: Steven Charles

BILLY'S: Dirt

BLUE RACCOON: Frankie Moates

BRANDYHOUSE: YG, Michael Tolcher

BRIDGES: Jazz with The Sharp Four

BUFFALO'S-AKERS MILL: Keren Leppo

THE CHAMBER: Alabaster

CHIP'S-WINDER: Harvest Moon Bluesfest with Athens All Star Tribute to Santana, The Nighthawks, The Hadden Sayers Band

CJ'S LANDING: Maxwell Lumus; Ian Schumaker

COTTON CLUB: Localmusic.com: Bend, Minus, Steep

DARK HORSE TAVERN & GRILL: Persona CD-release, Brighter Shade, Tim Acres band

DARWIN'S: Liz Melendez

THE DERBY-NESBIT FERRY: Eric Culberson and the Erok Band

DOTTIE'S: Burning Clock

THE EARL: Empire State, The White Lights, DQE

EARTHSHAKING MUSIC: Djalma

ECHO LOUNGE: Jets to Brazil, Shiner

ECLIPSE DI LUNA: Kim Rushing

EDDIE'S ATTIC: Vigilantes of Love, Claire Holley

THE ELBOW ROOM: YG

FAT MATT'S RIB SHACK: Kindle Williams Sr. and Blue Soul

FREDERICK BROWN AMPITHEATER:Art Garfunkel

FUZZY'S: Donnie McCormick

HUEY'S: Live Jazz

JAKE'S ROADHOUSE: The J-Birds featuring J.T. Special

JAVA HOUSE: Joe Perri

KILLER CREEK: Showtyme Jazz Duo

LAST GREAT WATERING HOLE: Lucky Dogs and Toby Marriott

MARY'S: Video DJ Jigsaw

MASQUERADE: 96 Rock Hotel with Tim Rhoades; The Playhouse in Hell

MEANS STREET ARTERY: Underground rave

MIKE-N-ANGELO'S: Slim Chickens

MURPHY'S LAW: The Dixie Blues

NORTHSIDE TAVERN: Lee Griffin Band

THE OLDE PECULIAR PUBLIC HOUSE-NORCROSS: Brian Doyle

OTHERSIDE: Empire 44

POOR RICHARDS' PUB: 'Zoot and the Swingin' Suits

RED LIGHT CAFÉ: Susan Werner

ROXY: Marvelous 3, SR71, Tsar

SMITH'S OLDE BAR: Park Bench Blues Band, Drifting Through

STAR BAR: Caroline and the Ramblers, Stevie T.

SWEET MELISSA'S RESTAURANT-DECATUR: Mad Kate, Sue Wilkenson

THE TABERNACLE: El Gran Combo

VARIETY PLAYHOUSE: Johnny Winter with King Johnson

WHISKER'S-DUNWOODY: The New Educators

WILD WING CAFÉ: Memory Dean??