Sound Menu September 26 2001 Sat

BEACH BOYS — See listing for Friday, Sept. 28. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater (Nicoll)

PIERRE BENSUSAN — Beloved by diverse guitar icons such as Leo Kottke and Steve Vai (whose Favored Nations label released his new Intuite album), the French Bensusan doesn’t succumb to New-Age blandness, preferring to spice his predominantly instrumental music with a Michael Hedges edge. Bensusan never over-plays, infusing his picking with subtlety and grace. Take a rare chance to experience this internationally lauded guitarist in an intimate club. Red Light Cafe (Horowitz)

BURNING SPEAR — One of reggae’s most spellbinding and prolific artists, Grammy-winning Winston Rodney (aka Burning Spear) hasn’t changed his M.O. significantly throughout 30-odd albums on a bewildering array of labels. His deep, languid, charismatic vocals spiced with distinctive horn charts ladled over a heavy dose of dub sauce and the usual Rasta political approach works better live than on album, creating a stoner sound that’s hypnotic and gripping. Tabernacle (Horowitz)

TINSLEY ELLIS, ERIC GALES — Although his overlooked last album got lost in Capricorn’s downturn, Atlanta’s favorite blues-rocker Ellis keeps touring and cracking out sizzling leads with energetic nonchalance. That subtlety will be in short supply for fret-shredding opener Gales, as he smashes through Hendrix-drenched acid-blues with an iron fist. Still, this is a solid double bill, especially if the two guitarists share the stage. Smith’s Olde Bar (Horowitz)

RIK EMMETT — Emmett led Canadian trio Triumph to major success in the ’70s. Since then, apparently, he’s had an active solo career, recently releasing a series of instrumental guitar CDs. And he still has a small but rabid following, calling itself the Rick Emmett Network, that sets up local grass-roots concerts. One Atlanta networker brings us this intimate theater show — $30 gets you in, $45 gets a meet-and-greet with Emmett. For information, e-mail quincykids@aol.com. 14th Street Playhouse (Sarig)

FACE DOWN IN SHIT, GOAT SHANTY, THE SQUARES, BLAME GAME — Face Down In Shit spew forth grizzly, dense narco-metal with forays into Sabbath-inspired sludge. Athens-based Goat Shanty slave away at their art a little less distinctively, thrashing and screeching at lightning speed. Local hardcore-punks Blame Game have an impressive new 7-inch out on Atlanta’s Stickfigure Records. Just where the Squares, much of whose careful instrumental rock rides along a surf guitar, fits in this bill is anyone’s guess. Under the Couch (Foy)

FORTY-FIVES, PUDDIN — A surprise hit with the crowd at the recent Drive Invasion gala, this ’60s style garage-punk band makes fabulous use of cheesy electric keyboards, sprinkling authentic Kingsmen-style flavor atop their mind-bending, high speed rough-and-tumble rock. Admit it, you like hard rock. So does Puddin. Provocative bassist/vocalist Kim Breeden and her bone-rattling wail surely will peel those Methane posters right off the Echo’s walls tonight. Unlike their peers, Puddin never forsake melody for sheer volume. Echo Lounge (Nicoll/Smith)

HARVEST MUSIC FESTIVAL — The second day of the fourth annual autumn weekend of camping, jamming and roots music gets under way at 11 a.m. On the main stage: The Waybacks (11 a.m.); Snake Oil Medicine Show (12:30 p.m.); Donna the Buffalo (2:15 p.m.); John Cowan Band (4 p.m.); Larry Keel Experience w/Curtis Burch (5:45 p.m.); Peter Rowan’s Texas Trio w/Tony Rice & Vassar Clements (7:20 p.m.); Leftover Salmon (9 p.m.); Blueground Undergrass (midnight). For more information, visit www.tdawgsproductions.com. Also see Earshot, p. 91. Atlanta’s Back Porch/Fairburn (Sarig)

JAVON JACKSON — Hard-bop tenor saxman Jackson was a member of the final version of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers (1987-90) and subsequently worked with drum icon Elvin Jones, the Harper Brothers and Freddie Hubbard. Look for tunes from his most recent recording, Pleasant Valley (Blue Note, 1999), as well as standards, with guitarist Lesure’s fine quartet. Partial proceeds will benefit the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry Project. Churchill Grounds (Powell)

JAY-Z — While he simultaneously wrestles with delusions of grandeur (Jay’s now calling himself Hova, as in Jehovah), Mr. Z is also making increasingly overt stabs at the pop charts, with a series of flashy, hook-filled singles that veer from his supposed underground roots. DeKalb Atlanta Center (Sarig)

JUICE — Lively if somewhat innocuous jam-oriented funk from New Orleans, Juice is the latest installment in the neo-funk movement born out of the jam band scene. Like Crescent City companions Galactic, Juice lay down the grooves in competent improvisational fashion. But for those who like a nastier beverage, thick with pulp and grit, this juice might go down a little too smoothly. Chip’s (Hutchinson)

JUMP, LITTLE CHILDREN — See Record Reviews, p. 96. Variety Playhouse (Horowitz)

DJ LOGIC & PROJECT LOGIC — Turntable wizard DJ Logic, who has toured with New York jazz-jam luminaries Medeski, Martin and Wood, and performed with Don Byron, Vernon Reid and Sex Mob, is back out on tour with Project Logic, a full-blown band with keyboards, horns, bass and drums in addition to turntables. On record, DJ Logic pairs gritty hip-hop beats and intricate layers of soul-jazz loops, with an emphasis on scratching. The live band show has been drawing great reviews for tip-top musicianship, skillful improvisation and a seamless blend of organic and electronic jazz-funk. Cotton Club (Trammell)

RADIO DISNEY LIVE — Radio for kids: an idea so obvious it’s amazing how long it took programmers to come around to it. The next step: radio for kids package tours. This one features famed dog-barkers the Baha Men, Hawaiian celebrity spawn Hoku and 15-year-old Mexican-American singer Myra among the entertainers. Opening up is Swedish girl-group Play: Is there anybody else out there who finds something creepy about this whole trend toward younger and younger female pop stars? Play features girls that range in age from 12 to 14. Singing songs (often composed by adult men) about their complex relationships, decked out in rhinestone halter tops and hip huggers, and propped in front of arenas full of people. HiFi Buys Amphitheatre (Sarig/Hutchinson)

SKIN — Karma’s most popular party — its motto, “Show skin, get in” — is back, featuring DJs such as Daniel Gresham, Ian Lee, Jonathan Edwards, CSX, Patrick Scott, J-Luv and Starboy. Rub shoulders, literally, with beautiful women to the sexy beat of deep and progressive house music. Karma (Ware)

MILES TILMANN — Chicago-based laptop composer Tilmann, who recently released his sub:marine debut Underland, performs in the parking lot outside Criminal Records, improvising live keyboard and manipulating lo-fi tape loops over a cluster of clicking computers. Criminal Records (Ware)

WARSAW — See listing for Fri., Sept. 28. Brandyhouse (Hutchinson)

THE WATERBOYS, TOM McRAE — See Waterboy article, p. 87. Spare and almost childlike in his delivery, London-based Tom McRae’s self-titled debut has a hollow, haunting quality, at its best moments recalling the sweet, soft sadness of Nick Drake. Dynamically, though, McRae seems a bit limited, working at the same soft volume and slow tempo on every song, leaving even the most thematically energizing lyrics feeling depressed and melancholy. Roxy (Hutchinson)

MIKE WILLIS — Atlanta native Mike Willis returns home from Boston, where the 20-year-old musician attends Berklee School of Music, to play a benefit for the American Red Cross. The entire $3 admission, as well as half the profits from sales of his Green Eggs and Jam Sessions CD, go to the cause. Eddie’s Attic (Sarig)

ANTHONY’S-DECATUR: The Eric Austin Band

APACHE CAFE: Come with Namdue, Injex, Cullen, Alex King, Jeff Meyers

ARCTIC CIRCLE: 13 Stories

ATLANTA’S BACK PORCH: Harvest Music Festival

BACI THEATRE CLUB: The Goldstein Sisters Variety Show

THE BAYOU ROOM: 911

BLIND WILLIE’S: Housrocker Johnson and The Shadows

BLUE RACCOON: The Electromatics

BOLING PARK: Swing Shift

BRANDYHOUSE: Warsaw Poland Bros, Bow Echo

BREAKERS: Ignition, 6 Against 7, Voodoo, Cadillac

BRIDGES: Jazz with the Sharp Four, local artists

BUFFALO’S-PLEASANT HILL: Karaoke

THE CHAMBER: Europa - modern dance music with DJ Gene Carbonell

CHIP’S-WINDER: New Orleans’ Juice

CHURCHILL GROUNDS JAZZ CAFE: Jack Lesure with Javon Jackson

CJ’S LANDING: Hanging Francis, Elephant, Blindspot, Brian and Chip Acoustic

C.K.’S GRILLED PIZZA: CK’s Jazz Combo

CLUB GENO’S: Milkshake Quartet

CLUB VENUS: DJ Gary B.

COTTON CLUB: DJ Logic’s Project Logic

COWBOYS: Darrin Robbins, Eric Key, Marta Tyree, Kickback

DARK HORSE TAVERN: 9 from 10, IPS, Cloud 10

DARWIN’S: Heaven Davis

DEKALB ATLANTA CENTER: Jay-ZDIXIE TAVERN: YG Band

DOC HOLLIDAY’S: Asika, Chatman

THE EARL: Ocelot, Rizzudo, Moreland Audio

ECHO LOUNGE: The Forty-Fives, Puddin

ECLIPSE DI LUNA: Trio Latino Band

EDDIE’S ATTIC: Halcyon, Karen Reynolds, Mike Willis

FADO IRISH PUB: Party our Bass off

14TH STREET PLAYHOUSE: Rik Emmett

40 WATT CLUB-ATHENS: Crooked Fingers

THE FIRE HOUSE: Motor City Josh

FREDERICK BROWN JR. AMPHITHEATER: Beach BoysFRONT PAGE NEWS: jennabush

FUZZY’S: Mike Veal

GLENN MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM: Takacs String Quartet with Robert Pinsky

THE GRAPE AT VININGS: Harry Lester

HEMINGWAY’S TROPICAL BAR & GRILL: Live Entertainment- A1A

HI FI BUYS AMPHITHEATRE: Radio Disney LiveIF COFFEEHOUSE: Z-Axis

JAKE’S ROADHOUSE: DROP

KARMA: SkinKNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS POST 660: Intro to Zydeco feturing “Lil” Malcolm & the Houserockers

LAST GREAT H20 HOLE: In Mic R-53

THE LIUN’S LAIR: Libra Party w/ Hip-hop soul, funk, and raggae

THE LIVING ROOM: George Greenlee/Progressive Dance, High Energy

LOCA LUNA: Damien Cartier and his Mynute Orchestra

MALL OF GEORGIA: Bear and the Bobcats

METROPOLITAN PIZZA: DJ Dan

MICHAEL’S COFFEES: Lauren Finchum

MJQ CONCOURSE: Deep, Kemit, Cullen, Kai

MUSIC FARM: The Derek Trucks Band with Shakedown

9 LIVES SALOON: Gargantua, Place of Skulls, Freightliner, Life Beyond

NOMENCLATURE MUSEUM: Pussy Galore with DJs Kevin O and J-Luv

NORTHSIDE TAVERN: Daniel “Mudcat” Dudeck

OLDE PECULIAR PUBLIC HOUSE: Ron Cooley and The Hard Times

POOR RICHARDS’ PUB: X-Rays

POPPER’S: Blues Mafia

RAY’S ON THE RIVER: Waveform with Doc Samuels, Larry Jackson, Tom Woodruff Larry ChapinRED LIGHT CAFE: Pierre Bensusan

ROXY: Waterboys, Tom McRae

SAMBUCA JAZZ CAFE: Pharris Scott

SMITH’S OLDE BAR: Tinsley Ellis, Eric Gales

SOMBER REPTILE: Plur Planet

STAR BAR-L5P: Drive-By Truckers

THE TABERNACLE: Burning Spear, Sons of Steel

TEN27: DJs Jamel & Jamed

UNDER THE COUCH: Face Down in Shit, Blame Game, Cynosure, The Squares

VARIETY PLAYHOUSE: Jump, Little Children, Howie Day

THE VAULT: Cyberia - electronica’s dark side with DJ OMAC/The High Note featuring The Gary Motley Trio

WHITFIELD’S: PEADBOY

WILD WING CAFE: Dyna-Groove

YA YA’S CAJUN CUISINE: Bailey’s Birthday with Flathead Mike and the Mercs, Rubix Bomb