Sound Menu October 25 2006

THURS/26

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ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO, NATIONAL GRAIN Escovedo doesn’t just play a show, he stages an event. Whether touring with a trio, four-piece rock lineup or a string quintet, he delivers an emotional musical affair that is burned into the soul. Few contemporary songwriters are as thoughtful and intense. He will touch your heart. Local country boys National Grain open. $15. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — James Kelly

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS Guest conductor Bernard Labadie leads the ASO in Mozart’s “Symphony No. 41.” The ASO Chorus joins in for two of Gabriel Fauré’s best-loved and melodious compositions: his “Pavane” in the original version with chorus, and his “Requiem,” one of the most frequently performed works in choral-orchestral repertoire. Featured soloists in the “Requiem” are soprano Karina Gauvin and baritone Aaron St. Clair Nicholson. $18$63. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. Mark Gresham

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NATHANIEL BARTLETT, PLANT Bartlett performs new works for solo marimba and computer-generated sounds. Bartlett’s recently released Precipice — Modern Marimba (Albany Records) taps into the same headspace as minimalism and experimental music luminaries Phillip Glass, Terry Reilly, Steve Reich and Harry Partch. Making use of live organic drums, electric bass, sonic manipulation, loops and electronics, Atlanta duo Plant constructs a labyrinth of improvised polyrhythms and dubbed-out electronics. $5. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — Chad Radford

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PADDY KEENAN Although he may not be as well-known as a lot of other Irish artists (like, uh ... Bono?), Uilleann pipes master Keenan is a seminal figure in bringing traditional Irish music into the contemporary era. His former group, the Bothy Band, was one of the first to merge folk and rock music. Hope they have plenty of Guinness Stout. $14. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic.??
404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK

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RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, THE MARS VOLTA Without this Los Angeles spasmodic quartet, wearing a sock on your cock in public might have only been the domain of fraternity hazings. But the Red Hot Chili Peppers legitimized the practice, as well as psychedelic punk-funk years before Zoo York. And just as their legacy (really, the Lollapalooza era in general) reached its nadir with late ’90s nu metal, RHCP went and got all mature. But who wouldn’t distance themselves from all those illegitimate rap-rock devil spawns. They’re now too dignified to flash the tube steak, I mean, tube socks, and thank god. The Mars Volta, meanwhile, can play one obtuse, contused “song” (really a post-hardcore song suite) as long as half the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ entire set. Because prog-rock is the new post-punk, bitches. Watch that those hydrochloric riffs and lysergic dynamics don’t get in your eyes. $52. 7:30 p.m.?Arena at Gwinnett Center. 800-224-6422. www.gwinnettcenter.com. — Tony Ware

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ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND, RYAN SHAW Randolph is an impressive pedal-steel guitarist who leads the Family Band. Together, they give rapturous performances that blend hard rock and funky soul with ease. With the new album, Colorblind, Randolph is poised for a major breakthrough. Check out the band at the Tabernacle with soul singer and former Atlantan Shaw. $25. 8 p.m. The Tabernacle. 404-249-6400. www.livenation.com. — Mosi Reeves

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FRI/27

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HARVEY MILK, TENEMENT HALLS Mythical like Sasquatch, Athens’ distorted destroyers Harvey Milk do not trudge lightly. Maniacally? Perhaps. Epically? Often. Irrepressibly? Absolutely. And the trio’s reputation certainly preceded the band before its recent DVD documentary/reformation. With hints of the Melvins, Jesus Lizard and ZZ Top, Harvey Milk does Southern sludge dirges like a draggin’ Roscoe P. Coltrane needs a corndog when he’s weak like a cat — that’s something fierce. More tangy (and a bit twangy) is Tenement Halls — the apple cider vinegar sauce to Harvey Milk’s five-alarm chili. Cabbagetown’s best kicks out desperate pep and disarming bounce marked by bright detailing. The Rattler also performs. $10. 9:30 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — TW

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MOJAVE 3, TIM O’REAGAN Birthed from the remnants of shoe-gaze pioneer Slowdive, Mojave 3 offers sleepy, Nick Drake-like melancholy at its finest. O’Reagan plays drums for the vaunted Jayhawks, but his name alone may be less familiar to some than Mojave 3. On his self-titled debut, O’Reagan pairs his group’s ethos for emotionally direct songwriting with a light and sweet voice. Decatur band Ocha La Rocha opens. $15. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — MR

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MUTE MATH, THE WHIGS Musicians go through stages, in more than one sense. Louisiana quartet Mute Math, with its electro-trip-rock-anthem hooks, often sounds firmly in a Synchronicity-meets-Pop Mart phase, aiming for an arena-worthy modulation even on club stages. Mirror ball lemons remain unlikely to be brought forth, but expect tidal waves of melodic undulation regardless. Athens’ own the Whigs reportedly recorded the band’s debut, Give ‘Em a Big Fat Lip, in a frat house and it sometimes seems that in frat houses is also where it gets the most play. But that audience doesn’t make the trio’s nervy, rootsy jangle any less catchy. Jonezetta also performs. $14. 8 p.m. Roxy Theatre. 404-233-7699. www.livenation.com. — TW

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SAT/28

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AARON LACRATE What’s old is new again when it comes to this event’s every aspect — from the glam vs. punk “fashion face-off” organized by Recollection Vintage to the music of New York-based headliner LaCrate, who shoots a crunked-out hard-house tangent off B-More Club’s swingin’ stomp that he dubbed “Gutter Music.” While that genre’s name and intentions are certainly questionable in its taste, the selections are guaranteed floor fillers, especially with augmentation from electro-fying mash-up master Rob Wonder plus Brian Parris, Skooter, DJ DJ Dylan and Black Sunshine adding to the hipster-hop. Expect a display of regurgitated fads like oh so trendy bulimia — everybody’s spewing it. But who needs “authenticity” when you have 3,756 MySpace friends you’ve never met but who all swear they had Lily Allen’s demos first. Kids just sweat, I’ll just fret. $8. 11 p.m. MJQ Concourse. 404-870-0575. www.mjqatlanta.com. — TW

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS See Sound Menu for Thurs., Oct. 26. $21$65. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. MG

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BILLY MONTANA, WAYLAND PATTON, LYDIA SALNIKOVA What? Never heard of them? Well, does penning hits for Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw (Montana), Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam (Patton), and Bering Strait (Salnikova) impress you? Me, too. Another great opportunity to hear the hit songs by the folks who wrote them. $15. 10 p.m. Swallow at the Hollow. 678-352-1975. www.theswallowatthehollow.com. — JK

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THE EARL HALLOWEEN BASH: THE EXPLODING METAL INEVITABLE COSTUME BALL The Earl celebrates Halloween with a Warhol Factory scene that’s been given a horror-metal makeover. Come dressed as your favorite member of the Velvet Underground, or your favorite creepy rocker, for fun and prizes. Scheduled to perform is Mr. Nice Guy (Alice Cooper cover band), Day Mars Ray (paying homage to the Velvet Underground and David Bowie) and Clay Reed. $7. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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SUICIDE GIRLS BURLESQUE, LENNON Purists may scoff, but the heavily inked, body mod squad of the Los Angeles-based Suicide Girls website are back on the road, bringing their raucous rock and roll circus to clubs across this great country of ours. A gaggle of the site’s popular models, including Reagan and Nixon (insert your own political joke here) will strut, strip and tease after a set from Lennon (wow, all these famous names on one stage!). Lennon is the tough Tori-meets-Alanis singer/rocker from Nashville. $13. 9 p.m. Roxy Theatre. 404-233-7699. www.ticketmaster.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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THERMOS GREENWOOD HALLOWEEN ORGY For the third year in a row, the colored people of the Thermos Greenwood ensemble are back in action. The red, white, blue, green and silver-coated musicians have, individually and collectively, warped Atlanta’s music scene since the ’70s. Tonight the fun will be accelerated as Tommy Dean (Thermos himself) and company welcome a rare appearance from legendary drag queen Diamond Lil. Weapons of Mass Dysfunction kicks the evening off at 8:30 and fellow scene veterans VietNam close out the night. Be sure to dress in your holiday strangery and wear some shoes fit for dancin’. Call club for ticket price. 8 p.m. Club29. 404-633-8090. www.club29atl.com. — LVS

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SUN/29

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THE ALBUM LEAF, OXFORD COLLAPSE, CHIN UP CHIN UP, LYMBYC SYSTYM Much beloved by fans of yearning, introspective indie-rock, the Album Leaf is principally the work of multi-instrumentalist James LaValle. The Seattle musician released Into the Blue Again earlier this year to stellar reviews. If that makes you sleepy, then dance-oriented rock bands Oxford Collapse and Chin Up Chin Up should rile you up. Arizona’s Lymbyc Systym, a promising electronic pop duo whose debut for Mush Records comes out next year, opens. $8. 7 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — MR

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ATLANTA WIND SYMPHONY Paul Bamonte, former conductor of the Army Ground Forces Band at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, makes his podium debut as the new music director of this north-suburban symphonic band. The program includes a bouquet of favorites by John Philip Sousa, Henry Fillmore, and Percy Grainger among the staples of symphonic band repertoire. No strings attached. Senior/student discounts; children under 12 free. $10. 3 p.m. Roswell Cultural Arts Center. 770-641-1260. www.atlantawindsymphony.org. — MG

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DAN SARTAIN, PAINFUL REMINDER Sartain is an Alabama garage-rock troubadour who molds the means of lo-fi, punk and below-the-belt rock and roll into a witty, endearing and emotionally charged strum and croon. There is a dash of Southern sneer to his jittery songs that’s guided by the voice of a hooligan who knows what makes a good song good, despite his bad disposition. Painful Reminder opens. $12. 7 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — CR

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MON/30

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TILLY AND THE WALL, MEW, PONY UP!, THE BLACK LIPS Omaha, Neb.’s Tilly and the Wall engage in brightly colored indie pop that is sometimes catching and other times annoying. The same can be said for Danish band Mew, which occasionally attains rock and roll greatness on its self-titled debut. Much like Tilly and the Wall, Montreal quartet Pony Up! reach for the skies with twee harmonies and songs of love. All of the bands have yet to reach their potential, making their respective albums rough drafts for something greater to come. However, their best traits will undoubtedly shine through in concert. Local heroes the Black Lips open. $12-$14. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — MR

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WANDA YANG TEMKO & BRENT RUNNELS Soprano Temko and pianist Runnels scare up a day-before-Halloween treat in song with a pair of informal, one-hour “Ghouls and Goodies” recitals in the Skylight Court. Complimentary wine after the evening rendition. $5-$10. Noon and 7 p.m. Cathedral of St. Philip. 404-365-1052. www.stphilipscathedral.org. — MG

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WED/1

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DERAILERS, THE BLUEJAYS Although Austin, Texas’ Derailers have drifted a bit from their hard-country roots and a bit more into the British Invasion sound, they can still twang with the best of them. Hot picking and great singing combine to fill the show with goodies. The Bluejays are working their fine new CD, 100 Songs, but they will not have enough time to do all of them tonight. $12. 7 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

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THURS/2

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA It’s an evening of all “serenades” as ASO principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles makes his first podium appearance this season. Mozart’s “Notturno” serenade and the “Serenade No. 2” of Johannes Brahms outline the concert, with Benjamin Britten’s lovely “Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings” as the centerpiece, featuring ASO principal horn Brice Andrus and tenor Paul Groves as soloists. $16$68. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. MG

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BARBRA STREISAND, IL DIVO OK, you’d better sit down: Streisand is an outspoken Democrat, prone to heated anti-Bush tirades. Shocking, I know. There, now that you’ve been warned, no refunds are available if you are offended by her remarks, opinions and skits. So settle back in your seat and, as Ms. Streisand might say, “Shut the fuck up” and enjoy the show. At her best, the singer/actress is capable of a spellbinding evening of songs. All recent reports agree that the gracefully aging supastar, America’s biggest-selling female recording artist, is as engaging — and buttery — as ever, revisiting songs from her illustrious multidecade, multimedia career. For more on her politics, visit www.barbrastreisand.com. Il Divo opens. $102-$752. 8 p.m. Philips Arena. 404-878-3000. www.ticketmaster.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.