Sound Menu November 11 2000 Wed week out

WED/NOVEMBER 15
Noted acts
ATLANTA COMMUNITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA — Juan Ramirez conducts the Atlanta community orchestra as part of tonight Jewish Book Festival's program featuring author and NPR commentator Martin Goldsmith. Goldsmith discusses his book, Inextinguishable Symphony, the story of Jewish musicians in Nazi Germany. For more information, call 770-989-2522. Zaban Park/5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody (Sarig)
BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS, WARREN HAYNES, MATT ABTS — Although he can rock out when needed, Ben Harper distills the best aspects of Lenny Kravitz — passionately conceived songs infused with the spirits of Gaye, Hendrix and Marley — into a remarkably low-key package, devoid of Kravitz's flamboyant, often schlocky showboating. Though Harper remains seated and hunched over his guitar for the entire show and seldom speaks, his performances are never less than intense, which proves that, at least occasionally, less is more in rock 'n' roll. Gov't Mule riders Warren Haynes and Matt Abts open the show, returning to town for the first time since the August death of founding member Allen Woody. Extended jams are the specialty of these guys and recent reports say the duo, with various guests, have been in fine form. Atlanta Civic Center (Horowitz/Smith)
THE GREASY BEANS — Greasy Beans ain't a bad name for this band; after all, beans are for pickin', as are guitars, banjos and mandolins, the Greasy Beans' instruments. Decatur will be home to a Rocky Top honky tonk for one night. Sometimes sweaty, sometimes serenading. The Greasy Beans music will pick you up. Eddie's Attic (Ware)
HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH — As the band critics love to hate, and fans love to love, H&TB always suffered from a lack of good songs. That problem is rectified on their new album which collects 15 covers from sources as obscure as Canada's 54-40, Texas' The Reivers and even Athens' Vic Chesnutt. For better or worse they all end up sounding like Hootie tunes, which in the case of Roy Orbison's majestic "Dream Baby" isn't necessarily a good thing. Performing in this intimate venue, though, oughta loosen them up to bash it out like the bar band they've always been. (This show is sold out.) Roxy (Horowitz)
JERRY JOSEPH & THE JACKMORMONS — Veteran songwriter Joseph received the ultimate stamp of approval around these parts when Widespread Panic elected to perform his "Climb to Safety" on their last album. While his visibility has recently been pumped up due to that song's popularity, Joseph has been at it for 25 years. His latest release, Everything Was Beautiful, is a lyrically inspired, vocally cranky country-twinged rock reflection. Smith's Olde Bar (Hutchinson)
KENNY HOWES & THE YEAH!, JIMMY AND THE TEASERS — Pop tunesmith Howes raises the bar for himself tonight by positioning North Carolina combo Jimmy and the Teasers (who are certainly no slouches at delivering an over-the-top rock 'n' roll performance) as his opening act. Also on the bill is Yum-Yum Tree. Star Bar (Nicoll)
MEATJACK, OTOPHOBIA — If you have a habit of rewinding scenes from movies involving lots of hacking and screaming over and over; if you not only slow down at traffic accidents but stop to look for souvenirs; if you find yourself drawn not to Mecca but Milwaukee (home of Jeffrey Dahmer), then this is the show for you. 513 Club (Foy)
MOVIETONE, JAPANCAKES, FOREVER — Movietone play extremely low-key post-rock. Pretty and orchestrated, they won't send you soaring to the heights like the Rachel's, but might send a warm buzz your way. If you're already sleepy, find a good place to zone out during their set. Beforehand a six-piece incarnation of Athens-based Japancakes will preview selections from its upcoming Kindercore Records release The Sleepy Strange. Forever, which features members of Atlanta's the Bad Poet, will open the show with its own brand of catchy rhythms and improvised rock, á la Old Gold Records. Eyedrum (Foy/Radford)
ALSO PERFORMING

9 LIVES SALOON: Divinity
40 WATT CLUB-ATHENS: Idaho, Black Watch
513 CLUB: Meatjack, Kream Abdul Babbar, Otophobia, Arms Race
ATLANTA CIVIC CENTER: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Warren Haynes, Matt Abts
BRANDYHOUSE: Gordon Shay, Adams Township
CJ'S LANDING: "Top-of-the-Tree" competition with Film, Eden, Court Gecko
DARK HORSE TAVERN: New Talent Night with Good Question, Dexter, Slowearth
DOTTIE'S: Rick F. Dang's Electric Open-Mic Nite
DUNWOODY TAVERN: Ian Schumacher
THE EARL: Stinking Lizaveta, Hell Mach Four, Chris McFarland
ECHO LOUNGE: Bindlestiff Family Circus, Greasepaint
ECLIPSE DI LUNA: Kim Rushing
EYEDRUM: Movietone, Japancakes, Forever
FAT MATT'S RIB SHACK: The Electromatics
FUZZY'S: Lou's Blues Revue
ROCKFORDS: Mike Graves
ROOSTER'S
ROXY: Hootie & the Blowfish, Virginwool
SMITH'S OLDE BAR: Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons CD release party, Five Pound Bass
STAR BAR-L5P: Kenny Howes and the Yeah!, Jimmy and the Teasers, Yum-Yum Tree
TASTY WORLD-ATHENS: The Strange, Captain Soular Cat
WHISKER'S TAVERN- DUNWOODY: Ricky Fargo