Sound Menu December 06 2006

THURS/7

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS Stormin' Norman Mackenzie, ASO director of choruses, leads the ASO&C and choral guests, the Gwinnett Young Singers and the Morehouse Glee Club, in "Christmas with the ASO," one of Atlanta's most enduring holiday traditions. Based largely on the program model created by the late and legendary Robert Shaw, the program also includes some audience sing-alongs. $19$57. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. Mark Gresham

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BATTLECAT, CELEPHAIS, SUITCASES Atlanta post-screamo outfit Battlecat plays a spastic blend of hardcore aggression. Celephais crafts a pendulous web of stoner-metal riffage that gushes like sludge from the deepest darkest recesses of the mind. Suitcases churns out a noisy, reverb-drenched industrial throb that dwells in the aesthetic of the golden era of industrial music. Think Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire and Tuxedomoon emanating from a less-refined headspace. $5. 9 p.m. Lenny's. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — Chad Radford

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BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND Face The Promise is Seger's return-from-a-decade-long-hiatus release, but it's the string of hits from the Detroit rocker's late '70s catalog that'll get the suburbanites out en masse. Sure, he's the Wal-Mart of the blue-collar rockers, but don't tell me you don't know the songs, ya big snob. "Night Moves," "Mainstreet," "Rock 'N' Roll Never Forgets," "Still the Same," "We've Got Tonight," and "Old Time Rock And Roll" are just a few of the Hall of Famer's considerable collection of classic tunes. $33-$63. 7:30 p.m. Philips Arena. 404-878-3000. www.philipsarena.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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CHATHAM COUNTY LINE Former alt-country musicians from bands such as Whiskeytown find their muse in a deep rural hillbilly style. CCL is one of the best acoustic bands on the circuit. With one foot in the traditions of the past and the other in a very contemporary stance, it has built a very respectable following across the land. $7. 7 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — James Kelly

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CONNECT TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY If beats are just sonic dots, 4Deep has kept them Connected for two deep now. Quirky, underground house has been the flavor to savor, and this night will drip like no other. And in case you're wondering, once the beats are connected they form a beautiful unicorn shaking a rainbow mane of bristly funk. $5. 11 p.m. Lava Lounge. 404-873-6189. www.cosmolava.com. — Tony Ware

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THE LIFE AND TIMES, RAHIM, BOUND STEMS, THE LIVERHEARTS Workmanlike indie-rock bands seem to have an affinity for banding together, the better to highlight their promising talents. This concert is the latest example, offering Kansas City's the Life and Times (who drew notice last year with Suburban Hymns), hotly tipped New York trio Rahim and Chicago's Bound Stems (who just released Appreciation Night). Raucous post-hardcore Atlantans the Liverhearts open. $8. 9:30 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Mosi Reeves

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Fri/8

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ATLANTA GAY MEN'S CHORUS "Wrapped in Light" features a blend of classic choral works and holiday favorites from this singing band of merry macho men, led by interim director Jeffrey McIntyre. The holiday program is the opener for AGMC's 26th season. $20-$40. 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 9, 2 and 8 p.m. Cathedral of St. Philip. 404-320-1030. www.agmchorus.org. — MG

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CHARLES WALKER & THE DYNAMITES, CADILLAC JONES Charles Walker is a real-deal performer who's belted out super soul and funk sounds since the late 1950s. His band the Dynamites is a large ensemble of younger players who charge like an engine, giving thrust to Walker's powerful voice. Cadillac Jones opens with a set of slick white funk lifted straight from the soundtrack to an imaginary '70s cop drama. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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JOHN HORNOR One of New England's elder statesmen of romantic lieder, baritone John Hornor sings songs of youth and old age by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler and Strauss. Emory's own William Ransom is his collaborating pianist in this "The Cycle of Life" recital presented by the Emory Chamber Music Society. Free. Noon. Michael C. Carlos Museum. 404-727-5050. www.arts.emory.edu. — MG

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MIKE CROSS Cross has been doing his thing for almost 30 years now, and he stands tall as a purveyor of what is becoming a lost art — the all-around, one-man band/entertainer. As close to a traveling troubadour as we are likely to see, Cross sings, plays guitar and fiddle, tells jokes and stories, and holds his crowd in the palm of his hand all night long. $22.50 (advance). 7:30 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — JK

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Sat/9

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ATLANTA GAY MEN'S CHORUS See Sound Menu Fri., Dec. 8. $20-$40. 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 9, 2 and 8 p.m. Cathedral of St. Philip. 404-320-1030. www.agmchorus.org. — MG

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CHRIS KNIGHT, CADDLE, MATT STILLWELL Knight plays here enough to almost be considered a local act, but his stellar songwriting and crackin' good band are worldly. Perhaps he will be the balance between the recycled Southern rock of Caddle and the sensitive folky style of opener Matt Stillwell. $15 (advance), two cans of food. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

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DAVE NAVARRO'S PIMPS AND HO'S PARTY When I was in high school and thru college I sincerely loved Jane's Addiction. Admittedly, I also sincerely got high. And one of the reasons I sincerely loved Jane's Addiction was because they were decidedly not pimps. Ho's, indubitably, but unlike much music of the time they seemed genuinely scuffed, genuinely scarred. So not pimps. Skip to now, and the plasticine post-'90s "rock star" Dave Navarro makes me feel the kind of shame I haven't since after what I did when I used to get that high. And much like last night's good times, not everything tastes better coming back up. But for those who get off on gloss, additional entertainment comes courtesy of DJs Mike B, Brett Mauro and Kevin Dispain, plus percussionists MJ and Aerial's Michael Angelo. Call for price. 10 p.m. Fever. 404-886-3467. www.feveratl.com. — TW

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JINGLE JAM The Fray, Goo Goo Dolls, KT Tunstall and Hinder headline Top 40 radio station Star 94's annual Jingle Jam show. Now in its sixth year, the showcase features a good selection of mainstream artists including Tunstall, this year's biggest surprise success and most unique talent on the bill. She's played Atlanta several times this year, but get there early because for this visit, the multi-tasking singer/songwriter starts the evening at 7, followed by Hinder (7:45), the Fray (8:45) and the Goo Goo Dolls (10:15). The event sold out in six days, but the sponsoring station will be giving tickets away on the air and at various promotions. See www.star94.com for details. Sold out. 7 p.m. Arena at Gwinnett Center. 770-813-7600. www.gwinnettcenter.com. — LVS

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KASKADE I totally swear by Cascade in my dishwasher; it gets my dishes spotless and streak-free. And there are few sights more beautiful than a streak-free wine glass. As for San Francisco soul-house DJ/producer Kaskade, he offers up similarly grit-free, uplifting and gleaming moments full of lush, silky synths and cathartic vocal arcs carried on a bumping background. $15. 10 p.m. eleven50. 404-874-0428. www.eleven50.com. — TW

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PACKWAY HANDLE BAND, HACKENSAW BOYS Proving that every band out of Athens doesn't have to play jangly guitars or stare at its shoes, the PHB is an energetic and talented bluegrass combo, staying well within the genre's traditional signifiers. The Hackensaw Boys tend to be a bit more "tongue in cheek" about things, but they can still play the crap out of their stuff. $12-$15. 8 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK

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Sun/10

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COLOUR REVOLT Colour Revolt's Anglicized spelling of the word "color" is a nod to its sound (though it says the word is taken from Edwin Abbott's 1884 novella, Flatland). On its debut EP, the Mississippi group mixes Radiohead-styled emotionalism with American indie post-rock into icicle music works. Add talented locals Manchester Orchestra and Estates, and you've got a bill of bands so yearning they could make you cry. $7. 10 p.m. The 585. www.the585.com. — MR

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Mon/11

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MONSTER MAKER C-Rayz Walz is one of the leaders in New York underground hip-hop. While his two albums for Definitive Jux (Ravipops and Year of the Beast) didn't break him through to a wider audience, he is still an incendiary live performer, and effortlessly carries the burden of being a potential rap star. His new project that may or may not blow up is Monster Maker, a concept duo with producer Sharkey. The group is touring the country in anticipation of next year's debut album, and ATLiens Intellekt & Dirty Digits open for it on this date. Call for price. 9:30 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — MR

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Wed/13

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EXENE CERVENKA AND THE ORIGINAL SINNERS Touring to support Sev7en, her side-project's second release, X co-founder Exene returns to Atlanta tonight. The Los Angeles punk legend is joined by longtime collaborator/guitarist Jason Edge, but the rest of the Sinners are different than the last time they strolled the steamy south. This time, the new guys are on loan from their steady gig as the 7 Shot Screamers, a thunderous gang of St. Louis, Mo., hell-raisers. Call for price. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — LVS

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Thurs/14

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS ASO Chorus director Norman Mackenzie ascends the podium again to lead the ASO&C another seasonal tradition: the Christmas portion of G.F. Handel's best-known oratorio, "Messiah," plus the almost-as-frequently performed "Gloria" in D major of Antonio Vivaldi. After these two familiar Baroque classics, you might be inclined to shout "Hallelujah" or something similar. $19$59. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. MG

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SNOWDEN, ¡FORWARD, RUSSIA!, SLOW MOTION CRASH Slow Motion Crash (formerly Creve Coeur) plays slow and dramatic goth-pop. ¡Forward, Russia! comes all the way from Leeds, U.K., with a high and anxious blend of dark Brit rock under the influence of plastic American new hardcore production. Snowden's emotionally indifferent pop aesthetic evokes the distance of Joy Division and the spaciousness of Spitirualized driven by melancholy tones and guttural passion. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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THOMAS DOLBY, BT Two giants of the electronica movement will share the stage tonight. Dolby is best known for his quirky "She Blinded Me With Science" and his amazing and strange pop-music videos of the '80s, but did you know he created the "Beatnik" software used in many cell phones? He hasn't made an album of new material since '92 but his new CD and DVD, The Sole Inhabitant, revisits his past glories with the fresh perspective of modern technology. Don't expect new tunes, though he's been busy working on them. Tonight, it's the songs of his past, presented with a series of computers, vintage oscilloscopes and live visual effects. BT will perform music from his two-disc CD/DVD, This Binary Universe. $21.50 (advance), 8 p.m. (doors). Center Stage. 404-885-1365. www.centerstage-atlanta.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.