Sound Menu June 28 2006

Cl’s picks for the week’s best shows

THURS/29

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BLUE DOGS, DEADSTRING BROTHERS A couple of Americana’s rock representatives hit the stage tonight to add some welcome piss and vinegar to the often overly mellow genre. The Blue Dogs bring a little Southern-fried influence into their mix, while Bloodshot artists the Deadstring Brothers borrow a few Glimmer Twins riffs and hollers. Wear your coolest retro rock T-shirt. $12. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — James Kelly

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THE HEART ATTACKS, BEAT BEAT BEAT Raunchy punk lives on in the Heart Attacks — who recently scored a track on Hellcat Records’ Give ‘Em the Boot V compilation — and Beat Beat Beat, who crack open the aural equivalent of Pabst Blue Ribbon and pour it on your ears. The two local rockers lend a welcome wagon to touring acts Clit 45 and New Mexican Disaster Squad. 10 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Mosi Reeves

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SWAG Chris Duckenfield and Richard Brown’s careers go back nearly two decades. First recording together under the name RAC for Warp Records, the duo are best known as Swag, a production team that makes funky and tasteful electronic house and downtempo beats, issuing their works under their label Version Music Records. Duckenfield represents in Atlanta for Swag, and local DJs Mike Zarin and Michael Scott open. $10. 10 p.m. Lava Lounge. 404-873-6189. www.cosmolava.com. — MR

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FRI/30

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CYBERRAVER V2.0 I’ve always considered ravers as wanting to look like angels, devils or Skittles. My roommate counters they’re more a bunch of juicy fruits. Evil Empire Productions, meanwhile, would have you believe ravers want to be anamorphic androids, or at least are willing to dress up like one to get $5 off admission. Hey, I guess it worked for breakdancing earthworms. Anyway, DJs Adam X, Fixx, Section-8, Evil-Z, Adam Sin, Jinx, Sid Reflux, G-Nome and Blink will drop darkwave, industrial, drum ‘n’ bass, breaks, hard dance/trance and more “sounds of the future” in an attempt to make up for some silly names. $15. 8:45 p.m. Jungle. 404-844-8800. www.jungleclub.net. — Tony Ware

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KENNY ROGERS AND THE ASO Active since the late ’50s, crossover king Rogers has garnered success and multimedia fame with rock, pop and country hits, movie roles, photo exhibits, restaurants ... whew, the list is almost as long as his five-decade string of hit records. Lately, he’s been (in)famous for his revamped appearance, and has been unusually honest about his cosmetic renovations. Hey, if women can nip and tuck, why can’t the Gambler? Tonight, backed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Rogers’ live show features plenty of familiar tunes, good-natured humor and few selections from Water & Bridges, his recent release. $27.84-$74.28. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-733-5000. www.classicchastain.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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PHIL K Wowser, Australians are some crazy bludgers. For instance, Phil K of Lostep does some live remixing of jazz on the fly, layering dirty electro-breaks to deep, earthy dub, glistening prog and twisted tribal. Adding to the emotive breakbeat is the quad-fisted fury of Habersham & Numinous, plus Mike Bradley. Big up, Global Underground. Sometimes I feel I have Buckley’s chance in understanding that Australian strine. But, undoubtedly, this event will not be daggy, so get ready to throw down like hoons at a football match. $10. 9 p.m. Vinyl. 404-885-1365. www.vinylatlanta.com. — TW

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ROCKET 88, THE JOEY ALLCORN SHOW Rocket 88 is a crazy, totally over-the-top show band from Florida that rocks, rolls and just might burn the damn place down with its flaming piano and other incendiary antics. Sharing the bill is the energetic and entertaining Allcorn, a traditional country revivalist right down to his old-school Opry suit and tie. $7. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — LVS

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SAT/1

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Celebrate Independence Day early with a free outdoor concert by the ASO, led by the ever amiable Jere Flint. The program includes celebratory American and Russian music, including Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Morton Gould’s “American Salute,” and the finale to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” Free. 7:30 p.m. Oak Hill at Piedmont Park. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham

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THE GREENCARDS This trio of immigrants who found each other in the fertile Austin, Texas, music scene has become one of the best up-and-coming acoustic/folk acts in the country. Their expert musicianship impresses you right off the bat, but their stylistic diversity keeps the “wow” factor on high all night long. $15. 8 p.m. Red Light Cafe. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — JK

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THE JEFFERSON FAMILY GALACTIC REUNION Next month, the nebulous musical configuration called Jefferson Airplane will be 41 years old. Over the years, the band morphed into Jefferson Starship with a constantly rotating cast of characters. Tonight, founder Paul Kantner, along with pals David Freiberg, Slick Aguilar, Prairie Prince, Country Joe McDonald & the Fish and more will look back on four decades of the Airplane, the Grateful Dead and the early San Francisco sound at a trippy gathering called the Jefferson Family Galactic Reunion. $30 gets you in, but spring for the $50 ticket; it includes a meet and greet with the band, and at the end of the night you get a CD of the show! $30-$50. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-521-1786. www.variety-playhouse.com. — LVS

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WEAPONS OF MATH DESTRUCTION WMD is a gathering of men channeling manhood through stringed instruments. From the avant-garde noodlings of Brett Kelly to the mathematical freakouts of BigPenguin, there’s something for every dude that’s into experimenting with guitar. PPR’s spastic humor is a strong contrast to Erik Hinds’ ethno-infused improvisation, but all find common ground in the fringe areas of rock. Sorry No Ferrari and Coulier also perform. $5. 9 p.m. Lenny’s. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — Chad Radford

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SUN/2

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BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT, CHERYL JUNE, MARIEE SIOUX Brightblack Morning Light, or just Brightblack for short, quietly rumbles with the natural tones that emanate from the instruments at hand. Vast space separates slow-motion, psychedelic Americana highlighting the subtleties in each majestic song. The group is touring in support of its self-titled second release and its Matador Record debut. June and Sioux are also on the bill. $8. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR

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PAUL MANOUSOS, LAURIS VIDAL Bay Area, Calif., musician Manousos hits Atlanta in support of his debut album, For Better or Worse. A tasty slice of pop-rock pie, it varies between raspy, heartfelt ballads like “Beautiful Girl,” and ringing tracks like “Flavor of the Month.” Florida’s Vidal comes to town with his EP, Shoot Shoot Your Skeletons in Tow, which includes dark acoustic numbers like “Bitter Pill for St. Valentine.” Both play as part of Kahle Davis’ Songsmiths Songwriter Series. $5. 9 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — MR

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MON/3

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STORM TOUR W/ACEYALONE, UGLY DUCKLING, THE PROCUSSIONS, DIVERSE, WREKONIZE, MAYDAY! As far as package tours go, the backpacker-themed Storm Tour is a doozy. Aceyalone, one of the most underrated MCs ever, headlines in support of his critically acclaimed album, Magnificent City. Hip-hop jokesters Ugly Duckling promote their new disc, Bang for the Buck. The Procussions, who recently put out 5 Sparrows for 2 Cents on Rawkus Records, will be there, too. Bringing up the rear is Chicago MC Diverse, and Miami buzz acts Wrekonize and Mayday! $12-$14. 9 p.m. The Loft. 404-885-1365. www.theloftatl.com. — MR

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TUES/4

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CALLANWOLDE CONCERT BAND Raymond Handfield conducts a pops concert followed by fireworks on the Decatur Square. Concert follows the 6 p.m. participatory Pied Piper Parade of decorated bicycles, skateboards, wagons and pedestrians that winds through downtown. Party easy and on the cheap. Free. 7 p.m. Decatur Square. 404-371-8262. www.decaturga.com. — MG

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THE GOOD ANNA, PROJEXORCISM, BLIZZARDS The Good Anna is a free-improv guitar and drum duo from Nottingham, England. The group’s sound builds around Eastern notions of harmonics, tonal textures, jazz and drone music. Projexorcism assembles a surreal display of live film manipulation, light and sound. Blizzards create experimental drone-voice pieces that interact with lush guitar compositions to form an intricate web of free-floating structures and rough song sketches. $5. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — CR

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WED/5

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BRAND NEW HEAVIES, VAN HUNT All nostalgia comes to those that wait, and the reunited Brand New Heavies — complete with original diva N’Dea Davenport — will surely draw a bit of it when they play the Roxy Theatre. The combo is one of the most popular groups of the early ’90s acid-jazz era, and just released a new album, Get Used to It. As for the opening act, how much more can be said about Van Hunt? The former Atlanta artist’s On the Jungle Floor is one of 2006’s best albums, and the world should know it. $30. 8 p.m. Roxy Theatre. 404-233-7699. www.livenation.com. — MR

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DIANE BISH The flamboyant, over-the-top First Lady of the Pipe Organ (“as seen on TV”) plays works by Bach and Widor as well as her own compositions. The program is part of Buckhead’s annual Atlanta Summer Organ Festival. $15. 7:30 p.m. Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. 404-240-8212. www.prumc.org. — MG

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THURS/6

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BLACK CROWES, ROBERT RANDOLPH, DRIVE BY TRUCKERS This homecoming for the reunited (sort of) Crowes will be a barn burner all night long. From the post-modern Southern rock of Athens’ DBTs to Randolph’s incredible sacred-steel sounds, the Crowes better be on the ball with their own Faces-inspired classic sound, or risk getting shown up big time. $24.50-$49.50. 6:30 p.m. HiFi Buys Amphitheatre. 404-443-5090. www.hob.com. — JK

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TRANSIT TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY Over the past two years, the Transit biweekly has really drummed up a fan base. But that’s not why they call it drum ‘n’ bass. No, they call it drum ‘n’ bass because of an ancient tradition passed down from the Druids through the Winstons Bros. to Meat Beat Manifesto and finally to breakbeat ‘ardkore producers in early ’90s inner-city London. The newly darkcore dancehall soundsystem underwent deeply phantasmagorical changes under the auspices of producer/DJs including Transit headliners Optical. Joining the techstep troops are the Upbeats, MC Armanni, Evol Intent vs. Mayhem, Deco vs. Sorted and MC Race One. The only thing missing from this night is a miniature replica of Stonehenge. Guys, $15; ladies, free. 10 p.m. The Mark. 678-904-0050. www.themarkatlanta.com. — TW

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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, 384 Northyards Blvd., Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30313, 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.