Sound Menu September 06 2006

FRI/8

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THE MARK’S THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY With like a half-dozen DJs scheduled, this event should appeal to anyone with a pulse. But the real treat is the Jungle Brothers’ DJ Sammy B, pioneer of hip-house. Hip-house was inevitable, because at the root of both house and hip-hop is a need to boot the booty. When you’ve got two such groovetastic, funk-influenced genres as hip-hop and house (especially Chicago house), they are inevitably going to make sweet, sticky love. And the result is a salty, senses-coating syrup that tickles as it trickles. We won’t even hold Technotronic and C&C Music Factory against ‘em. $10. 9 p.m. The Mark. 678-904-0050. www.themarkatlanta.com. — Tony Ware

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THE NEW CARS, BERLIN One of the most maligned rock music “reunions” in recent history, the retooled Cars features original members Elliott Easton and Greg Hawks with Todd Rundgren on vocals and guitar, Rundgren’s former Utopia conspirator Kasim Sultan, and Prairie Prince of the Tubes on drums. Yes, it sounds like an odd mix, but I’m excited about this show, postponed from an earlier date because of a bus accident. Rundgren throws a few of his songs into the mix, and the group’s recent live album was, in my opinion, great. Still sexy Terri Nunn’s newest version of Berlin opens. $37.25-$59.25. 7 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheater. 404-249-6400. www.ticketmaster.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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SAT/9

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DJ SNEAK Sinatra always said Chicago was his kind of town, his “kind of razzmatazz/and it has all that jazz.” I believe “razzmatazz” was some designer ecstasy way more potent than your street-bought Mitsubishi, because that’s how that old blue-eyed pimp rolled. So how does one get an even more wicked buzz than razzmatazz? Chicago’s groovy house music. And second-wave Chicago house anchor DJ Sneak brings the filter funk to discotechs with a swanky-meets-sleazy strut and defiant sneer. With the occasional light peppering of porn and paranoia in buggin’ beats, Sneak keeps the house rockin’, fierce and funkdafied. $15-$20. 10 p.m. Fever. 404-214-0151. www.feveratl.com. — TW

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THE FEATURES Once upon a time, there was Tennessee rock band the Features, and it was signed to Universal Records. Then, just before the group entered the studio to record a follow-up to its critically acclaimed album Exhibit A, the label asked it to cover the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.” When the group balked, the label dropped it from the roster. So the group finished the album, Contrast, and put it out independently in hopes of getting label interest. You can hear the new album for yourself and rock yourself into a tizzy when the Features come to Atlanta. Local bands Sovus Radio and Parade open. $7. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — Mosi Reeves

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JODY MILLER Early music specialist Miller and friends perform 16th- to 18th-century chamber compositions, plus works for Baroque instruments by 20th-century composers Gordon Jacob, Michio Miyagi and Bernard Andres. Free. 8 p.m. Schwartz Center, Emerson Hall, 404-727-5050. arts.emory.edu — Mark Gresham

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LEO KOTTKE There are only a few solo acoustic guitarists in the world who can hold my interest for an entire show, and Kottke is one of them. Best known for his multilayered work in what is referred to as the “American Primitivism” school of playing, he is considered a folk-music master. His singing is not as good as his playing, but it’s better than average. $22.50. 8:30PM. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — James Kelly

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SUMMERBIRDS IN THE CELLAR, DEERHUNTER, MENEGUAR Orlando, Fla.’s Summerbirds in the Cellar plays sultry indie rock that smudges the lines between the dance club and the rock show. Synthetic subtleties in rhythm ride scenic guitar washes that are underscored by moody lights and dueling drummers. Think the Cure, Blur, the Faint and Now It’s Overhead rolled into one. Atlanta art-rock drone provocateurs Deerhunter and Meneguar open. $5. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Chad Radford

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SUN/10

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TIMOTHY ALBRECHT Hitting the fall season early, Timothy Albrecht performs an all-Bach solo recital (as in Johann Sebastian) on the Jaeckel Op. 45 organ in Emerson Hall. Program includes Bachophilic favorites such as “Prelude and Fugue in E minor” (“Wedge”), the “Fantasy and Fugue in G minor” and the “Sinfonia, BWV 29.” Free. 4 p.m. Schwartz Center, Emerson Hall. 404-727-5050. arts.emory.edu. — MG

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TUES/12

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CAT POWER & THE MEMPHIS RHYTHM BAND Even with a reputation for onstage meltdowns that some folks think are as entertaining as the music, former local girl Chan Marshall has nothing to be embarrassed about. Her music is as sadly beautiful as she is, and her newest release, the incredibly soulful The Greatest may well be her greatest. If she has a tough night and quits early, we can all do Al Green karaoke with the amazing Memphis Rhythm Band. Yeah, it’s THAT band. $26. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — JK

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JUNIOR BOYS, ENSEMBLE Junior Boys headlines an evening of Canadian electronica that’s fitted with all kinds of glitch-hop, garage and minimal techno jargon. Hamilton, Ontario’s Junior Boys headline playing material from its latest offering, So This Is Goodbye (Domino). Ensemble is the moniker of Montreal resident Olivier Alary. Alary fronts a three-piece lineup that adds body to Ensemble’s atmospheric pieces, which fall somewhere between Stereolab and Autechre lite. $10. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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WED/13

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AKROBATIK, INTELLEKT & DIRTY DIGITS Akrobatik is best known as one-third of Boston hip-hop supergroup the Perceptionists. But he’s a pretty good solo artist, too, with joints dating back to “Internet MCs” and his 2003 Balance album. The rapper is releasing a new album, Absolute, this fall and promoting its arrival with a few shows. His Atlanta appearance takes place at Lenny’s Bar; hopefully the new club will be open before he gets here. Also appearing is Atlanta duo Intellekt & Dirty Digits, which just issued its album Intellektual Property Revised. $8. 9 p.m. Lenny’s Bar. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — MR

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JUDITH OWEN, KRISTIN MARKINTON Owen is an amazing British-born singer/songwriter/actress and the better half of comic/actor/commentator Harry Shearer (“The Simpsons,” Spinal Tap). Owen “spent a week in Atlanta one day,” as the saying goes. Ask her and she’ll gladly recall the story with hilarious detail. Her acerbic tales of Macy’s Pink Pig and her eBay obsessions are uproarious. Here, her latest album, is out this week, too. $12. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic, 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — LVS

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KAKI KING, CHRISTINE BAZE Guitar hero and abstract musical poet Kaki King comes to Atlanta as part of the Yellow Umbrella tour, which draws attention to cervical cancer. King’s new album, ... until we felt red, is dark and melodic stuff, bleeding from her arrangements with the same pungency as blood. Loopy singer/songwriter Christine Baze, a cancer survivor who created the Yellow Umbrella project, opens. $15. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. ­-- MR

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MARAH, ADAM & DAVE’S BLOODLINE Following loosely in Springsteen’s northeast blue-collar rock vein, Philly-based Marah used to represent the heavier side of the Americana coin. Those days are over, as these cats come out blasting and don’t let up. Although they tried to calm it down a bit on the new album, they just can’t help themselves on stage. $12. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

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THE PRESETS, DJ DJ DYLAN, MUSIC FOR PEOPLE Aussie duo the Presets combine rock music grit with a disco flair to forge a post-electroclash sneer. The Presets are a side project of Julian Hamilton (keyboards, vocals) and Kimberley Moyes (drums, programming), avant-garde leanings in the group Prop that places an emphasis on leather-clad grooves over chin-scratching experiments. Music For People creates dreamy and surreal electronic music. DJ DJ Dylan opens. $5. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR

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Thurs/14

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KING BRITT Call me oblivious, or maybe just call me one smoldering hunk of man meat continually caught up in making love to his own reflection, but I was not aware we had lost sexy. And yet from Justin Timberlake to Philadelphia’s jazzy funk jockey King Britt, artists are vowing to bring sexy back. And oddly enough, they are doing it with laptop, tech-hop backgrounds. Britt’s Nova Dream Sequences — which he will bring into Atlanta’s soulful belly through an extended set — are aggressive, unrelenting flicks and flecks of synthuality. Because sometimes everyone could use a deep, hydraulic and metronomic fuck, the kind that equally curls your toes and leaves your spirit heaving. 9 p.m. Django Gypsy Kitchen. 404-347-8648. www.djangoatlanta.com. — TW

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ROCK ‘N’ SHOCK: A ROCK AND WRESTLING BENEFIT Grips, grunts and groans will fill the halls of the Masquerade tonight as smokin’ hot WWE it-girl Lita debuts her head-lockin’ new punk rock band the Luchagors with a little help from a few of her local friends, including the shock-savvy Shane Morton (the Infernals, Gargantua). The show is a benefit for pro wrestler Sean Shocker, a fixture of WWE events, recently diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Sean, a non-smoker, has no insurance, so a sweaty team of his pals will slam into town on his behalf. In addition to Lita, Raven, Lex Luger, Buff Bagwell and more will be on hand to sign autographs, ham it up, and help with the silent auction and fun. And if that’s not enough for you pencil-necked geeks, Artimus Pyledriver and Of Legend will also perform. Grrrr! Visit www.myspace.com/rocknshock for more info. $10. 7 p.m. The Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.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, 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.