Sound Menu January 04 2006

THURS/5

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHAMBER CHORUS Robert Spano leads the first ASO concert of the new year: Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Magnificant,” featuring the ASO Chamber Chorus and five vocal soloists, plus the bright and buoyant “Symphony No. 2” of Johannes Brahms. $15-$53. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham

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MOVING FUSION Like, us Southerners think we know something about rolling out. Sure, we’ve got our spinners, our dubba duuubs. But you wanna talk heavy rollers, talk to the U.K.’s RAM Records crew. And key among that drum ‘n’ bass enclave is Moving Fusion, a duo that drops the storming dance floor funk that’s MC friendly while intently fierce. Joining Moving Fusion at this installment of 404Audio.com & SLR’s “Transit” are Hellraiza, Enexgee and Evol Intent. $10, ladies free. 10 p.m. The Mark. 678-904-0050. www.themarkatlanta.com. — Tony Ware

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FRI/6

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHAMBER CHORUS See Sound Menu listing for Thurs., Jan. 6. $15-$53. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000.

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www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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JIMMY AND THE TEASERS, BILLY JOE WINGHEAD Guitar slingin’ North Carolina Wildman (with a capital w) Jimmy Brad and his vivacious rhythm section (Super Val and C. Bomb) will please and, yes, tease the masses tonight, along with their longtime touring pals and upper-case Hellraisers, Oklahoma’s Billy Joe Winghead. $5. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — Lee Valentine Smith

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THE LOVE DRUNKS, THE HISS, THE COGBURNS Expect garage-rocking chaos and you’ll get it tonight as the Drunks, the undisputed Make-Out Kings of Atlanta, throw a party to celebrate their national label deal with Alive Records and birthday parties for two members of the band. There’ll be gifts, cake and sassy kissing/spanking sessions, oh my! The Hiss and the Cogburns will add to the sure-to-be-legendary hysteria. $5. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — LVS

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STEVE FORBERT Living proof that a former one-hit wonder singer/songwriter can enjoy a healthy if not exactly commercially lucrative career. Now in his 50s, Forbert has never stopped working after the chart success of 1979’s “Romeo’s Tune.” He also hasn’t lost that endearing scratchy yet warm voice and has amassed an impressive catalog of sturdy, Americana, folk-rocking originals, most of which are as catchy as his hit. $15. 8:30 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — Hal Horowitz

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SAT/7

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHAMBER CHORUS See Sound Menu listing for Thurs., Jan. 6. $15-$53. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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NEON CHRIST The grizzled old vets of the heyday of Atlanta’s punk scene return this weekend for a pair of performances for posterity. The hardcore cult faves, who originally broke up in ‘84, will be filming and recording tonight for an upcoming project. The band says this is probably its last performance — although, tomorrow they’ll do a 2 p.m., all-ages show at Eyedrum. Some great archival photos and downloads are currently available at nx.motherbuster.com. $10. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — LVS

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TUES/10

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LOWERY, THE BOWMANS Not your standard acoustic guitar strumming Kansas-bred singer/songwriter, Alex Lowry’s psychedelic neo/anti-folk pop is an offbeat offshoot where the hurdy gurdy man takes us on a twisted magical mystery tour. Hot wired and intense, even in its quieter moments, this is challenging, innovative music that pushes established boundaries with alarming ease. The Bowmans are twin sisters also aligned with New York’s anti-folk scene, with a sound similar to the Roches. $10. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — HH

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WED/11

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CRAIG WEDRON, AMY MILES As lead singer/guitarist for DC’s Shudder to Think, Wedron helmed that hardcore-emo-prog outfit through a handful of increasingly more eclectic and challenging albums. After a few forays into movie soundtracks, his debut solo album shows he’s an introspective and edgy singer/songwriter at heart. Miles’ tough and tender pop/rock displays elements of PJ Harvey and a well-bred Breeders. $8. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

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HALVORSON & PAVONE, GFE The Brooklyn-based duo of Mary Halvorson (guitar) and Jessica Pavone (strings) features a combined resume that places the two in ensembles with such experimental/improv luminaries as Anthony Braxton, Trevor Dunn and Dirty Projectors. Their first offering together, Prairies (Lucky Kitchen) combines lush, textural melodies and acoustic improvisation that traverses amplified electronics and folkish filigree. Atlanta experimental rock outfit GFE opens the show. $7. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-622-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — Chad Radford

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THURS/12

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH MOREHOUSE & SPELMAN COLLEGE GLEE CLUBS National Public Radio’s Korva Coleman hosts and Robert Spano conducts this annual program presented by the ASO, Morehouse and Spelman colleges, the King Center and NPR in celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Music includes Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and the finale from his “Symphony No. 3,” Jennifer Higdon’s “Dooryard Bloom” featuring baritone Nmon Ford, excerpts from T.J. Anderson’s “Spirituals” and “Slavery Documents 2,” and Uzee Brown Jr.’s arrangement of “We Shall Overcome.” $25. 8 p.m. M.L. King Jr. Chapel at Morehouse College. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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AN ALBATROSS Presenting high and mighty performance art from these quirky masters of kinetics. The band’s sound is an audience-interactive festival of Farfisa organ and synthesizer-fueled polyrhythms of hysteric joy, led by the elastic, ecstatic vocalist Eddie B. Gieda III. Amen and hallelujah! 9 p.m. The Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — LVS

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CX-1, HOPSING PROJECT Members of Acoustic Syndicate and Snake Oil Medicine Show meld their funky bluegrass leanings into a jam-up and jelly-tight outer space excursion called CX-1. There’s something for nearly everyone in every tune — and a banjo, too. Brothers-in-genre-busting-jam-rock, the Hopsing boys, round out the bill. $8 (advance). 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — LVS

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GABE DIXON BAND, ELIOT MORRIS In-demand session player and composer Dixon, backed by his minimalist band, cooks up a churning soul-stew of genres, but the magic chef always seasons the simmering sound with just enough jazz to keep it politely funky. Eliot Morris opens. $8-$10. 7 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — LVS

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· Bands/performers/venues wishing to be included in Sound Menu’s noted-acts boxes may send recordings, press material and schedules two weeks in advance to Creative Loafing c/o Heather Kuldell, P.O. Box 54223, Atlanta, GA 30308, or e-mail information to: heather.kuldell@creativeloafing.com. To be included in the listings only, e-mail venue and band schedules by Friday at noon (for the issue that comes out the following Thursday) to soundboard@creativeloafing.com