Sound Menu December 27 2006

Goldstar PR

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THURS/28

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CAROLINE AIKEN, MORGAN ROWE, DOGHOUSE Aiken is one of the pioneers of the Decatur acoustic scene. The godmother of singer/songwriter soul has been busy touring this year, so a return trip to town is an always welcome treat. Tonight, she’ll be joined by the blues-rockin’ Doghouse and a set from Rowe. $14. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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LAYNE GARRETT, DUET FOR THEREMIN & LAP STEEL Washington, D.C., sound sculptor Garrett creates sonic panoramas that flourish between clusters of noise, improvisation and drone. His instruments of choice include prepared guitars, field recordings and the sound of his own voice. Atlanta avant-garde music fixtures Frank Schultz (lap steel) and Scott Burland (theremin) present an experiment, using instruments with no fixed pitch to craft sounds that are both quiet and disturbing. $5. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — Chad Radford

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FRI/29

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BLUEGROUND UNDERGRASS, THE SQUIRRELHEADS, WHOA NELLY It’s an evening of acoustic funk-grass and jammin’, and a guaranteed good time. BGUG is one of Atlanta’s finest and most durable acts, with a tight sound in spite of the perceived looseness. The Squirrelheads bring a funky N’awlins feel to the stage, and Whoa Nelly carries the bluegrass tradition into the future. $12 plus two cans of food. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — James Kelly

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Confessions of a Music Addict showcase w/ Rantings of Eva Leah Baker is the woman behind Confessions of a Music Addict, a blog mostly dedicated to the local rock scene. She writes about her favorite bands with sincerity and respect, which is why her blog has steadily grown in sophistication and readership since she launched it last September. Last month, she threw her first artist showcase at promising new venue the 585. Her second event there will feature headliner Rantings of Eva and opening acts League of Evil, the Beggars Guild and Chris Unck and the Middle 8. $10 (includes free beer). 9 p.m. The 585. www.the585.com. — Mosi Reeves

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The Slack Republic Fresh from an appearance at the Afro-Punk Festival, a New York event organized by the filmmaker of the groundbreaking documentary Afro-Punk, the Slack Republic returns to Atlanta. Led by singer/songwriter M.J. Zilla, the quartet plays appealingly upbeat punk rock. The opening acts for this show include the similar-minded Seven Envy and Spin-approved indie-rockers the Close. $7. 10 p.m. Lenny’s Bar. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — MR

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SAT/30

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MICHELLE MALONE Longtime local favorite Malone welcomes the new and rocks out the old with a two-night stand. Tonight, Malone and the Low Down Georgia Revue are joined by Blue Mother Tupelo. $15. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — LVS

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SAN AGUSTIN Old guardian of Atlanta’s murky and guitar-driven avant-garde scene, San Agustin returns for a holiday performance. The group features the original lineup of David Daniell (guitar), Andrew Burnes (guitar) and Bryan Fielden (drums) playing a set of droning instrumental waves that linger between moments of ominous tension and candle-lit reverberations. This is a rare appearance by a complex group of musicians bending the rules with formless simplicity. $5. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — CR

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WIDESPREAD PANIC It’s a tradition as old as the decade. Panic at the Arena. By now, you know the drill: Writhe in aural ecstasy as the venerable Athens jam-daddies roll through a massive career-spanning, year-end set. And what a year it’s been. Earth to America, released in June, is a grand album, featuring a true group groove as a mature and confident unit. It’s still not as good as their live show, but for the first time in years, they’ve captured the fleeting magic of their near-telepathic onstage interaction. $49.50. 8 p.m. Philips Arena. 404-249-6400. www.ticketmaster.com. — LVS

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SUN/31

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Pops specialist Michael Krajewski returns for a final swipe at Atlanta’s 2006 holiday scene, leading the ASO in a New Year’s Eve concert that includes a playful array of light classics from the techno-novelty piece “Concerto for Cell Phone” by James Stephenson. For the second half, actors/singers Jodi and Ray Benson are the featured guest warblers — she’s best known as the voice of Ariel from The Little Mermaid and he’s recognized from recent Broadway musical productions of Singing in the Rain and Dreamgirls. $30-$65. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham

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Countdown 2K7 For New Year’s Eve Liquified is locking down the CW Atlanta complex for a massive rave-style dance party. The Center Stage Atlanta venue will feature trance DJs George Acosta, Uberzone, and local jocks Corey von Waters, Rel1 and Christian Michael. The Loft is dedicated to 404audio.com, which invited Technical Itch, Dara, Kiko, Atlanta’s Mayhem and others to hit the decks. Vinyl, or the “It’s a New Dawn Era” room, features a battery of hard house and trance DJs. $30-$40. 8 p.m. CW Atlanta. 404-885-1365. www.liquified.com. — MR

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MOTHERS FINEST Bring in the new year tonight with a stiff dose of dirty funk and gritty Southern rock from the legendary party people. Atlanta fans may find it worth the drive to Athens without the hassle of maneuvering back home down 316. Thanks to nearby Foundry Park Inn’s selection of rock and rest package tie-ins, you can tie one on as you keep 2006 ringin’ and rollin’. Packages range from $160-$365. Not a bad deal considering the venue shares the same parking lot as the lodge. With the right posse in tow, the celebration can last well into tomorrow if you know what I mean. $35. 9 p.m. The Melting Point, Athens. 706-254-6909. www.meltingpointathens.com. — LVS

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MICHELLE MALONE Longtime local favorite Malone welcomes the new and rocks out the old with the second show of a two-night stand at Eddie’s Attic. Tonight, the merriment continues with special guests South 70. The late show fun begins around 9:45 p.m. Get there early for the 7 o’clock show if you can’t get enough of Malone’s world-wise rock and folk. Early show: $15. Late show: $25. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — LVS

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THE SELMANAIRES, TENEMENT HALLS, THEE CRUCIALS Just when the world was running low on handclaps, tambourine tamps and stomp-a-longs, here comes this New Year’s Eve show. The Selmanaires could have played the best beach-blanket-bingo party your mother and father ever skeeted at. What I’m trying to say is that this angular kind of rocksteady rave-up is totally baby-batter blotter, and the band better wear goggles. Tenement Halls follows in a plump vein that is Kinks-meets-XTC as interpreted by Robert Pollard caked in red clay. Thee Crucials are kinda like the Originals who became the New Originals who became the Thamesmen, which was the skiffle-meets-R&B band that spawned Spinal Tap. All that’s a good thing. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — Tony Ware

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SNOWDEN, DEERHUNTER, GRINGO STAR It probably won’t snow in Atlanta this year, but you can still celebrate an honorary White Christmas, Pale Hanukkah or Cracker New Year’s with this bill, featuring some of the city’s top melanin-deficient, melody-rending rawk. Whether your tastes run toward pasty Brit-pop dance-punk, Liars-approved sprawls or psychedelic shake-shimmy, this bill is like the cream dream of 2007 Atlanta for the faux-intellectuals at pitchforkmedia.com, blanching it even further. The only thing this bill has in common with anything vaguely ethnic is that it threatens to bring da noize. But the bands do that in spades, and do it well. So put your earmuffs and fuzzy antlers on and come on down, you snow angels. $10. 9:30 p.m. The Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — TW

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TY HERNDON Even with a tabloid tarnish on his reputation, country-pop singer Herndon has managed to maintain a fairly successful career. His annual NYE appearance at Swallow at the Hollow will be a fun time for his fans, and I’m betting he will put on a fine show for them. Just keep in mind that on Jan. 1, we all enter some type of rehab. $60. 10 p.m. Swallow at the Hollow. 678-352-1975. www.theswallowatthehollow.com. — JK

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WIDESPREAD PANIC See Sound Menu for Sat., Dec. 30. $49.50. 9 p.m. Philips Arena. 404-249-6400. www.ticketmaster.com. — LVS

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Tues/2

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DJ SWIVEL Offering up tunes that will slay ya and cocktails that will te-kill-ya, Dee-Jay Swivel and Pozole highlight salty Latin funk from a highly comprehensive, over-50 tequila selection to the wide swing of the choons. This event takes place every Tuesday from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Grab some friends and go feel the vibe, but not too much; nobody wants to end the night hugging the bath mat, not even people with Axe Body Spray. Free. 10 p.m. Pozole. 404-892-0552. www.pozolerestaurant.com. — TW

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PACKWAY HANDLE BAND Athens’ finest bluegrass band begins a monthlong Tuesday-night residency, and you can bet they will be filling every set with a unique mix of their old and new material. It will be interesting to attend the first and last nights of this four-week stand, just to see what changes. $8. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

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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 David Lee Simmons, 384 Northyards Blvd., Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30313, or e-mail information to: davidlee.simmons@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.