Sound Menu November 15 2006

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Commander Cody, Imogen Heap

THURS/16

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... AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, BLOOD BROTHERS Sometimes fans have unrealistic expectations. Nas acolytes are still waiting for a proper follow-up to Illmatic, even though he made that masterpiece 12 years ago. (Wasn’t Stillmatic enough?) Austin, Texas’ ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead faces the same quandary. People want another album from the band that sounds like Source Tags & Codes, the 2002 epic that put it on the map. But they’ve moved on to new sounds, such as the orchestral rock-pop of So Divided. Can you love Trail of Dead for what it’s become instead of what it was? Cast your vote when it hits town with screamo-junkies Blood Brothers. $15. 7 p.m. The Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. — Mosi Reeves

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Itzhak Perlman may be the world’s best-known violinist, but he is less known as a conductor. With violin in hand as soloist, Perlman leads Vivaldi’s “Spring” and “Winter” concerti from “The Four Seasons.” He then trades fiddle for baton to conduct two other “safe-bet” traditional crowd-pleasers: the very “Academic Festival Overture” of Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s colorful “Symphony No. 5,” with its prominent horn solo and march-dominated conclusion, ending the program with a bang. $49$70. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. Mark Gresham

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THE BLUE HOUR, LOLITA BRAS, THE ORPHINS, ARMA SECRETA, THE COUCH AND FOUR Atlanta trio the Blue Hour carves out lush and vivid drone-pop via emotionally charged lyrics and swelling guitars. New York City four-piece Lolita Bras plays smooth and forlorn indie rock. The Orphins channel artfully manic post-punk through a swirl of Pixies/Eno-esque pop tones and chiming rhythms. Arma Secreta and the Couch and Four also perform. $5. 9 p.m. Lenny’s. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — Chad Radford

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FRI/17

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BABY ANNE I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Florida’s Baby Anne, the “Bass Queen,” is a party starter, a speaker tweaker, a filter fiend and a bass-bin dominator. She rides funky Florida electro breaks deep, penetrating and unrelenting — like a porn star doing another porn star. The seismic pleasure is like the aural equivalent of T&A from a D&J. Kre-8, Jonathan Allyn, JK and Sharc also rock prog and pounding like the ’70s did handlebar mustaches — keepin’ it equally slick and sleazy. $10; free before 11 p.m. 10 p.m. Hush. 404-875-7473.

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www.HushVIPLounge.com. — Tony Ware

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GSU OPERA Georgia State University’s increasingly vital opera program, directed by Dwight Coleman, presents scenes from a handful of American operas: Menotti’s “Ahmal and the Night Visitors,” Ned Rorem’s “Our Town,” Carlisle Floyd’s “Cold Sassy Tree,” and the most recent complete scene from a new opera in progress, “The Anarchists,” by Atlanta composer Curtis Bryant. The program is presented in the midst of another work-in-progress: Kopleff Recital Hall, which has just reopened last month after completing phase one of a $3 million renovation. Free. 7:30 p.m. Kopleff Recital Hall. 404-651-4636. www.music.gsu.edu. — MG

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VEGA STRING QUARTET The Vega Quartet’s third installment in a series focusing on the music of J.S. Bach and Béla Bartók features Bach’s very popular “Cello Suite No. 3,” his “Violin Sonata No. 2,” and Bartók’s adventurous, contrapuntally complex “String Quartet No. 3.” Although there is an admission price, students can get in for free. $20. 8 p.m.

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Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall. 404-727-5050. www.arts.emory.edu. — MG

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SAT/18

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ANONYMOUS 4 W/ DAROL ANGER & SCOTT NYGAARD The female vocal quartet that rocked the vocal-ensemble world with its stunning renditions of medieval and contemporary works is back with “Long Time Traveling.” The program, drawn from the American music legacy of 19th-century Southern shape-note books, spiritual and gospel hymns, is deployed in Anonymous 4’s pure, sometimes haunting, often incisively clear vocal style. They are joined by progressive fiddler Anger and bluegrass-newgrass guitarist Nygaard. $40. 8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200.

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www.spiveyhall.org. — MG

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COMMANDER CODY You never know exactly what the Commander will bring to the party, but it’s a guaranteed boogie-woogie good time. The years of hard living have taken their toll, but Cody’s love of playing music and that “Hot Rod Lincoln” keep him on the road. $12. 9 p.m. Blind Willie’s.

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404-873-2583. www.blindwilliesblues.com. — James Kelly

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THE DESPISED AND FRIENDS Tonight the Vaginas, the Hose Harkonnen, Whiskey Shit Vomit and Broomfiller fill the bill on a long evening of chaos headlined by the Despised. I bet if you ask nicely, you can purchase a copy of the Despised’s Punk: It’s Not For Rich Kids Anymore! before the official CD release party next month. Hard. Core. Punk. $7. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — Lee Valentine Smith

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(LITTLE) JEN MITCHELL Contrary to popular belief, life does not begin (and end) at the hop and it doesn’t always take a DJ to save your life. But it is true that music sounds better with you. You’re invited to hear the compositions of longtime scene fixture Little Jen, a DJ and composition student at GSU who is staging her graduate recital as casual and open to the public. On the program are works from brass, marimba, double bass, woodwinds and solo soprano, as well as ambient, introspective soundscapes for DJ and percussion (in the vein of the London Sinfonietta), piano and a mixed-media-illustrated ensemble. Come see Mitchell’s range, from a “Celebration Fanfare” to “Dark Stories for a Sunny Day.” Added bonus: No Red Bull needed. Free. 3 p.m. Florence Kopleff Recital Hall,

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Georgia State Arts & Humanities Building. 404-651-3676. www.music.gsu.edu. — TW

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KAZELL No, a “Kazell” is not a type of small African antelope caught in a K-hole. But the gazelle analogy might be appropriate seeing as Kazell, a former ATLien, plays graceful progressive house choons that can reach quite a big-room gallop. Ian James provides additional bang ‘n’ melodic build in the main room, while Rob Wonder makes like a hammer and pounds the funky freshness in the Cabana courtyard. $15. 10 p.m. Eleven50. 404-874-0428. www.eleven50.com. — TW

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WILL KIMBROUGH BAND, TOMMY WOMACK, BLAKE GUTHRIE Kimbrough is one of the most sought-after guitarists in Music City, with stints in Rodney Crowell’s band and as leader of the legendary Will & the Bushmen. His recent heavy duty (and very political) CD is a departure, but the elections are over so expect a lot of fun stuff tonight. Womack is a power-pop guru and Atlanta’s own Guthrie opens. $8. 7:00 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK

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SUN/19

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA See Sound Menu for Thurs., Nov. 16. $49-$70. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW OK, I know most tribute bands are usually pathetic rip-offs to get drunk yuppies into Buckhead shithole bars, but these guys are unbelievable. Their commitment to detail (musical and theatrical) of the original Pink Floyd is near perfection. After a couple of beers, you will never know the difference. Hmmm ... maybe it’s not that different after all. $32.50-$37.50. 7:30 p.m. Fox Theatre. 404-817-8700. www.foxtheatre.org. — JK

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IMOGEN HEAP, KID BEYOND Middle-of-the-road electronica usually doesn’t pass muster, but Imogen Heap’s Speak for Yourself somehow avoids the Sneaker Pimps/Dido pedantics. The exotically named British singer (and yes, that’s her real name) specializes in vocalese, spicing up her musical backgrounds with whoops and whirls that occasionally approach Kate Bush’s grace. Speaking of vocal gymnastics, get to the show early and check out Kid Beyond, a beatboxing/spoken word dynamo from San Francisco. $22.50. 8 p.m. The Tabernacle. 404-659-9022. — MR

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JOANNA NEWSOM, SIR RICHARD BISHOP Newsom’s songs evoke lush Arthurian fairy tales where kings are kings and frogs become princes when kissed by the right lady. Evoking the most benevolent order of pixies with her high-pitched crooning and pulls on the harp strings, her angelic voice can transform scenes of fuzzy-lens serenity into something much more surreal. Sun City Girls guitarist Sir Richard Bishop opens the show. $13. 9 p.m. Variety Playhouse.

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404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — CR

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MON/20

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ISLANDS, SUBTITLE, BLUEPRINT Islands is the second coming of lo-fi, experimental, Canadian pop goofballs the Unicorns. The group’s debut recording, Return to the Sea, takes shape like a blissful pop-hybrid of Ween meets Olivia Tremor Control. West Coast underground hip-hop troubadour Subtitle also performs. Blueprint blends simple, hard-hitting beats and samples that invoke the golden era of hip-hop founding fathers Doug E. Fresh, Run DMC and Afrika Bambaataa. $10. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — CR

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TUES/21

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WED/22

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EVANGELICALS, BEACH HOUSE, OVER THE ATLANTIC This new rock showcase is headlined by the Evangelicals. The Oklahoma band recently issued So Gone, which veers toward slightly deranged yet soulful rock. Two Carpark Records bands fill out the bill. Comprised of Maryland musicians Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, Beach House’s name aptly describes its hallucinatory and romantic sound. It is rightly earning acclaim for its recently released self-titled debut. Finally, there is mopey New Zealand act Over the Atlantic, who just dropped Junica. 9:30 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — MR

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THUNDERBALL After a long hiatus (which included a side project as the breaks-oriented Fort Knox Five), Washington, D.C., lounge lizards Sid Barcelona, Steve Raskin and Rob Myers are back as Thunderball. Anyone who used to chill out to memorable albums such as 1999’s Ambassadors of Style should pick up the group’s new release, Cinescope. Just out on ESL Music, it confirms Thunderball hasn’t missed a step. Steve Raskin represents for the crew during a pre-Thanksgiving DJ performance. Call for price. Halo Lounge. 404-962-7333. www.halolounge.com. — MR

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THE WHO, THE PRETENDERS Have you heard the new Who release, Endless Wire? If you haven’t, you should because you will tonight. On most stops of the tour to date, the Townshend-Daltrey express has played most of it, centering on the mini-opera Wire and Glass along with a very generous dose of the classic songs you actually came to hear. Get there early because the opening act is the Pretenders! Finally, a high-ticket show that’s actually worth the price of admission. $54-$204. 7:30 p.m. Arena at Gwinnett Center. 404-249-6400. www.gwinnettcenter.com. — LVS

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THURS/23

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THIRD DAY, LEANN RIMES A Thanksgiving night tradition, the lighting of the massive tree at Macy’s is a fun and entertaining event for all ages. Atlanta-based Christian rock act Third Day and sassy country singer Rimes are among the scheduled special guests, offering holiday tunes and good cheer in the midst of the retail onslaught of the holiday season. Free. 7 p.m. Macy’s at Lenox Square. www.macys.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.