Sound Menu September 27 2006

THURS/28

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Celebrating his 60th birth year and the 50th anniversary of his debut as a 10-year-old child prodigy, pianist Andre Watts performs as soloist in Beethoven's imaginative and virtuosic "Concerto No. 5 for Piano and Orchestra." Robert Spano leads the ASO, also performing both "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" and "Symphony No. 5" by quintessentially British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. $18$68. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall, 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. Mark Gresham

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RAKIM "I'm rated 'R' ... this is a warning, ya better void/Poets are paranoid, DJs d-stroyed/Cuz I came back to attack others in spite/Strike like lightnin', it's quite frightenin'!/But don't be afraid in the dark, in a park/Not a scream or a cry, or a bark, more like a spark/Ya tremble like a alcoholic, muscles tighten up/What's that, lighten up! you see a sight but/Suddenly you feel like your in a horror flick/You grab your heart then wish for tomorrow quick!/Music's the clue, when I come your warned/Apocolypse now, when I'm done, ya gone!/Haven't you ever heard of a mc-murderer?/This is the death penalty, and I'm servin' a/Death wish, so come on, step to this/Hysterical idea for a lyrical professionist!/Friday the thirteenth, walking down elm street/You come in my realm ya get beat!/This is off limits, so your visions are blurry/All ya see is the meters at a volume/Pumping lyrics of fury!" — Some things, such as the lyrics of Golden Age virtuoso MC Rakim, speak for themselves. The rest is left to legendary Bronx DJ Kid Capri. $20. 7 p.m. eleven50. 404-874-0428. www.eleven50.com. — Tony Ware

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THE THIEVES, GHOST TOUR, LESBIAN AFTERNOON Southern California-based UK transplant trio, the Thieves, wield a classic rock fetish, churning out a hodgepodge of retro riffage that summons the ghosts of Thin Lizzy, the Who and Pink Floyd's greatest years. Atlanta trio Ghost Tour (this year's Best New Music Act) infuses indie rock fuzz with a bucolic and literary county pace. Local noise-pop songsmith, Lesbian Afternoon opens with a homemade strum and stomp. $7. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — Chad Radford

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FRI/29

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA See Sound Menu for Thurs., Sept. 28. $18$68. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. MG

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BUGALLO-WILLIAMS PIANO DUO Pianists Helena Bugallo and Amy Williams like to stay on the cutting edge of piano music for four hands. Emphasizing the point, they'll perform a number of short, complex pieces by avant-gardist Conlon Nancarrow originally intended for mechanical player piano. Also featured are 20th- and 21st-century works by Igor Stravinsky, György Ligeti, Steve Reich, Reinhard Febel and an original by the duo's own Amy Williams. Free. 7:30 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG

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RAILROAD EARTH In its short five years, RRE has managed to become one of the definitive jam bands with a very unique combination of instrumentation and inspiration. Often drifting into "jazz" territory, RRE creates an aural experience unlike any other band on the circuit today. Please leave the patchouli at home. $15. 9 p.m. Variety Playhouse.404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — James Kelly

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TONY JOE WHITE Best known for the iconic "Polk Salad Annie," White is a most interesting cat who's able to blend a gritty, soulful sound with some amazing lyrics. He was one of Elvis Presley's favorite singers, so much so that the King regularly covered White's material. Tonight will not be just a repeat of last year's local gig, as White has a damn good new album out. $17.50. 7 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

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UNKNOWN HINSON Spooky and campy, this Charlotte-bred Man in Black doesn't take anything seriously, exceptin' his guitar pickin' and unconventional (and often hilarious) stage show. Touring to support his recent Target Practice album, the self-proclaimed "King Of Country Western Troubadours" pulls out all the stops as he brings his gee-tar, big ol' sideburns, cap-bustin' firearms and other assorted vaudeville antics back to town tonight. Run for cover and grab a beer, this is gonna be good fun. Call for ticket price. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — Lee Valentine Smith

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VEGA STRING QUARTET The first in a six-part series featuring the complete works for solo string instruments by Johann Sebastian Bach and all six-string quartets of Béla Bartók. This one features Bach's "Cello Suite No. 1 in G major" and "Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor" and Bartók's "String Quartet No. 1" performed by violinists Wei-Wei Le and Jessica Wu, violist Yinzi Kong, and cellist Guang Wang. $20. 8 p.m. Schwartz Center, Emerson Hall. 404-727-5050. arts.emory.edu. — MG

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SAT/ 30

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA See Sound Menu for Thurs., Sept. 28. $18$68. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. MG

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CITIZEN COPE, ALICE SMITH Citizen Cope personifies the urban troubadour while eschewing twee indie-rock tones. His music sounds as if it could be from another era, albeit the short-lived era of hip-hop-influenced folkies and rockers (see G. Love and Special Sauce, Basehead, etc.) His new album, Every Waking Moment, may be too earnest for some, although his wavering, straightforward vocals indicate he's trying to create something akin to rustic soul. Alice Smith's soul music doesn't offer as much hybridization. Her album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, is mostly a showcase for her deep, husky voice. $20-$23. 8 p.m. Center Stage Atlanta. 404-885-1365. www.earthlinklive.com. — Mosi Reeves

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EMORY JAVANESE GAMALEAN ENSEMBLE Comprised of well more than a dozen professional and accomplished amateur Atlanta musicians, Emory Javanese Gamelan, directed by Steve Everett, plays music rooted in the ceremony and ritual cultural traditions of Indonesia and Malaysia on a full set of unique gamelan instruments in "slendro" and "pelog" tunings. For this open-air concert, the group first performs a half hour of magical mystery music, then for the finale is joined by puppeteer Midiyanto to present a "wayang kulit" (shadow-puppet play). Free. 7:30 p.m. Patterson Plaza.

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404-727-5050. arts.emory.edu. — MG

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THE ENGLISH BEAT'S DANCE CRAZE II The current version of the venerable English Beat makes a return trip to L5P to transform the Variety into a dancehall tonight. In addition to Dave Wakeling and his Beat boys, the bill features guest spots from Lynval Golding of the Specials and a rare appearance by Pauline Black of the Selector. $20. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-521-1786. www.variety-playhouse.com. — LVS

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THE QUEERS, THE HARD ONS, TOYS THAT KILL He's here, he's Queer. Joe Queer, that is. Now Atlanta-based, Joe King and whoever he has at the moment (recent reports site Ben Vermin and Salesman Dave as the current rhythm section) will blast through a goofy and rockin' set tonight as they continue to celebrate the recent release of Weekend At Bernie's, a lively live album. But wait, that's not all! The Hard Ons and Toys That Kill round out the bill. Get there early, or early in Drunken Unicorn terms. $10. 9:45 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — LVS

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SUNSET RUBDOWN, BEAVER, ONE HAND LOVES THE OTHER Sunset Rubdown features Canadian indie-pop sensation and Wolf Parade frontman Spencer Krug. The group's latest lo-fi art-pop offering, Shut Up I Am Dreaming is hard-edged but retains a sense of electro-pop charisma. One Hand Loves the Other melds pop, classical and new wave music into one drifting and spacious sound that's teeming with midi-glitches and drones. Beaver is also on the bill. $10. 9 p.m. Lenny's. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — CR

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MON/2

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RATATAT, ENVELOPES Ratatat's programmer Evan Mast and guitarist Mike Stroud are like Yngwie Malmsteen, if Yngwie Malmsteen made stoned funk like Daft Punk channeling Out Hud channeling Trans Am covering the Meters. The two kick out synth-anchored filter-rawkin' geometric jams. According to one of my peoples, Sweden's Envelopes are as if you "pulled a page from Of Montreal, threw in some Tilly and the Wall and added some rabidly fun indie pop such as Love Is All, resulting in a band leading the way headfirst in to whimsicality." And the wet spot on indie rock's pencil leg jeans grows. Portland's Panther also contributes a weedy fryk beat. $12. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — TW

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SERENA-MANEESH, WOVENHAND, EVANGELICALS Norway band Serena-Maneesh's psychedelic noise, captured on its self-titled debut, will strike some listeners as familiar. But the music still sounds clean and effervescent, and offers gauzy delights. After all, why try to reinvent the wheel when it runs (and sounds) so well? Colorado band Wovenhand is less predictable. Its album Mosaic is full of folksy yet haunted journeys into darkness. Opening is Oklahoma weirdos Evangelicals. $8. 9:45 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — MR

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TUES/3

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HEAVY TRASH, THE SADIES Heavy Trash is just that, a heavy, trashy rockabilly band fronted by Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion) and Mat Verta-Ray (Madder Rose). They are as grimy and soulful as the name implies. Canada's Sadies may be the world's first all-purpose band by doing everything from classic country to surf to rock n' roll. And they do it all incredibly well. Check out their two new releases, the live album and the Ed "Big Daddy" Roth documentary soundtrack. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — JK

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SMOG The songs of Bill Callahan, aka Smog, are naked and stark. He sings them in a plainspoken style, as if he were telling you a story or sharing his problems and inner fears with you. On their own, they sound quirky and circuitous. But on A River Ain't Too Much to Love, they wield a cumulative power that eventually reaches you. Athens singer-songwriter Liz Durrett opens. Call for price. 8:30 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — MR

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WED/4

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DJ SHADOW In 1996 I was thoroughly stoned and underground instrumental hip-hop was blissfully blunted. The way Josh "DJ Shadow" Davis pasted together hazy shards of forgotten vinyl on his debut, Endtroducing, was much the way I was trying daily to reassemble the memories of what I did the night before. Life was a little paranoid, and a lot melancholy. The only plus was my schizo girlfriend at the time was a MEGA-pothead, so the Shadow/Mo'Wax style of hip-hop plus some Papa John's pizza totally hit her triggers. Man, I owe Shadow a drink for all that tail I tagged. Maybe I'll try to find him after the sampler fiend performs a set of meditative breakbeats, cavernous psychedelic electro-pop and recently released digitally augmented hyphy, accompanied on tour by Oakland's Quannum MC Lateef the Truth Speaker. $30. 8 p.m. Roxy Theatre. 404-233-7699. www.livenation.com. — TW

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THE HOLD STEADY, SEAN NA NA Borough of Kings-by-way-of-the Twin Cities hissers the Hold Steady, led by barroom rambler Craig Finn, are joined on tour by St. Paul jangle-pop crooner Sean Na Na, the counterpart to Sean Tillmann's sexed-up Har Mar Superstar. And both make failure come across as noble. These guys are soarin' for those who ain't scorin', sharing tales of hot nights and cold shoulders as if they were the E Street Band or Cheap Trick. These voices of indie rock's jilted generation are joined by opening act Secret Service. $14. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — TW

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THURS/5

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA In a program of early 20th-century British music, Israeli violinist Gil Shaham performs as soloist in the long and emotional "Violin Concerto" of Sir Edward Elgar. The concerto is paired with astrologically-inspired orchestral favorite "The Planets" by the younger and slightly more modern Gustav Holst. Robert Spano conducts. $16$68. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. MG

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THE CONSTANTLY ON LIVE MIX-TAPE EXPERIMENT As part of the Atlantis Music Conference, CL's Best Local Label, Arc the Finger, presents an indie hip-hop showcase of artists who generally aren't anything like bling-bling mainstream rap. Fort Knox and the Dumpsterdive DJ crew host performances by locals Intellekt & Dirty Digits and Psyche Origami, as well as the A-B's (formerly Asamov), the Smile Rays, A Heavenly Noise, Weatherworm and DRES tha Beatnik & Collective Efforts. $10 or $40 festival wristband. 9 p.m. The Loft. 770-499-8600. www.atlantismusic.com. — Heather Kuldell

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JIL STATION, LESLIE, THE FUTURISTS, THE GATES OF BERLIN, SOVUS RADIO, DEAD CONFEDERATE As part of the Atlantis Music Conference, a collection of the South's youngest and freshest sounding bands present their various interpretations of that ambiguous musical mish-mosh known as indie-pop-rock. The barely out-of-high-school members of Jil Station has moved beyond the teenage angst so melodramitcally present in music today. In addition, Leslie, the Futurists, Dead Confederate, et al, each have their own unique sound which impressively avoids monotony. $10 or $40 festival wristband. 8:30 p.m. Vinyl. 770-499-8600. www.atlantismusic.com. — Tom DeFreytas

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REGIMENT, SIXTH FLOOR, OCCAMS RAZOR, ENDERS GAME, SOULS HARBOR, MUSIC HATE YOU Up in Marietta, the Darkside's showcasing metal and punk bands for Atlantis, so if you like bands dark and angry, head there. Don't miss Athens' Music Hates You because one: it's a good band name, and two: its visceral metal will make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about Athens bands. $40 festival wristband (call for price without wristband). 8 p.m. The Darkside. 770-499-8600. www.atlantismusic.com. — HK

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THE REWINDS, HARRISON HUDSON, T-MINUS BAND, THE BEGGAR'S GUILD, ELLER, DEARSTAZAZLE On North Avenue on the Westside, relatively new venue 585 hosts a night of good ol' rock and roll for Atlantis Music Conference. Think the Rolling Stones and Tom Petty as bands like Alabama's the Rewinds take the stage. $7 or $40 festival wristband. 8 p.m. 585. 770-499-8600. www.atlantismusic.com. — HK

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SEIS PISTOS, QUALONE, THE VAGINAS, GONZALES, ARTIMUS PYLEDRIVER There's Southern rock like the Allman Brothers made famous, then there's the swampy, aggressive Southern rock of locals Gonzales and Artimus Pyledriver. This Atlantis showcase doesn't veer too far from normal Star Bar far, save for Seis Pistos, a Latin punk band from Chihuahua, Mexico. $40 festival wristband (call for price without wristband). 9 p.m. Star Bar. 770-499-8600. www.atlantismusic.com. — HK

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SUBTLE Jel and DoseOne of Anticon front the bay area sextet, Subtle. The ensemble features various string, wind and electronic instrumentalists coming together to explore a more organic approach to mechanical rhythms and melodies under the flag of progressive hip-hop. The group's latest full-length For Hero For Fool builds upon layers of decidedly non-hip-hop songwriting and hi-fi production, drawing from influences as far-flung as Devo to Tangerine Dream. $8. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR

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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.