Sound Menu January 10 2007

Thurs/11

??
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Robert Spano leads the ASO in its 15th annual musical celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The concert features a triptych from Richard Danielpour’s 2005 opera “Margaret Garner,” the tragic story of a fugitive Kentucky slave who helped spark unrest in pre-Civil War America. Terrence Wilson is the piano soloist for George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” The Spelman and Morehouse College Glee Clubs join the ASO forces, along with solo vocalists Cynthia Haymon, Pamela Dillard, Vinson Cole and Alfred Walker, for the “Ode to Joy” finale from Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9.” $12.50. 8 p.m. King International Chapel, Morehouse College. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. -- Mark Gresham

??
GARY PFAFF The Obsession Day guy has a new solo album out and he intends to celebrate its release tonight. White Stars finds Pfaff in fine voice, in a subdued set of warm singer/songwriter observations, co-produced by Tim Delaney. $8 (advance). 8 p.m. Andrews Upstairs. 404-467-1600. www.andrewsupstairs.com. -- Lee Valentine Smith

??
TYFL Break out those No. 2 pencils, it’s time to get standardized on that azz! Well, actually, the test is to see who can stand out the MOST. That’s right, it’s the finals of the TestYourFuckingLocals drum ‘n’ bass DJ competition. 180 Degrees, 404Audio.com and Abstract Logic Recordings have spent the last couple months at the Mark presenting you with the top dnb Ds ‘n’ Js n the ci-ty. Sonar, Truform and Disciple13 compete to be your champion in the camo-decked, hoodie-speckled arena of riddim. Emak, Ployd, Corey von Waters, REL1 and Bright all contribute additional infotainment. All I wanna know is are there enough bubbles for “SELECTAH REEEWIND!?” Free. 10 p.m. The Mark. 678-904-0050. www.themarkatlanta.com, www.404audio.com. -- Tony Ware

??
THE VENUS IN FURS, MORNING STATE Atlanta’s newest psych-rock space travelers the Venus in Furs embrace a grand history of rock legacies, taking nods from everyone from Jim Morrison to Syd Barrett to Thom Yorke. Morning State plays bounding rock numbers carved out of minimal arrangements. The group doesn’t throw any surprise punches, just places a well-crafted blend of classic-era alternative rock influences into a modern rock context. $5. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Chad Radford

??
FRI/12

??
GLENN TILBROOK In the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Tilbrook and writing partner Chris Difford created a wealth of remarkable British pop with their now-legendary band Squeeze. Known for his mastery of melody, hooks and pop perfection, his clever songcraft continues in this decade with his solo work, low-key and delightful pop creations. Tonight, he’ll showcase his recent compositions as he inevitably looks back to his early-’80s period of pub-rock hits. Singer/songwriter Nathan Angelo opens. $22. 8:30 p.m. Five Spot. 404-223-1100. www.ticketmaster.com. -- LVS

??
STACY EARLE & MARK STUART, WISHING CHAIR, ROBERT KELLY Don’t let the familiar last name fool you; Stacy Earle is an outstanding artist in her own way, who just happens to have a very famous brother. Her husband Mark Stuart is a perfect foil for their wonderful and entertaining folky, twangy duet sound. Wishing Chair brings a very unique and rootsy combination of sounds and songs to the show. Robert Kelly (no relation) is 19, so give him a serious listen. He might be the next big thing. $13. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- James Kelly

??
THE MIGHTY HANNIBAL (W/ THE BLACK LIPS), REIGNING SOUND, GENTLEMAN JESSE & HIS MEN The Mighty Hannibal is an artifact from the 1960s-’70s Atlanta soul scene. His songs embrace humorous though socially conscious themes that stem from conflicts with religion, drug addiction and Vietnam-era songwriting. Atlanta garage punks the Black Lips back him up. Memphis, Tenn., rockers Reigning Sound and locals Gentleman Jesse and His Men open. $12. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. -- CR

??
HEMATAVORE, CELEPHAIS, TUALATIN Auburn, Ala.-based instrumental quintet Hematavore plays a blackened and precise thrash and chug that combines equal parts indie-rock sneer and black-metal power. Atlanta’s Celephais crafts psychedelic stoner-rock riffage. Fellow Atlanta metal act Tualatin features former members of Ocelot and blasts a monolithic art metal dirge that tempers the traditions of ’80s thrash metal (Slayer, Celtic Frost) with a stark and stoic allure. $5. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- CR

??
SAT/13

??
DJ GREYBOY San Diego producer DJ Greyboy represents an era in music history when acid jazz and hip-hop merged to form a peculiarly West Coast sound. His debut album, Freestylin’, was an influential underground hit in the mid-90s; more recently he scored with a smart cover of Cymande’s “Genevieve.” DJ Greyboy just reunited with his onetime group, the jazz-funk combo Greyboy Allstars, and completed a new album, What Happened to TV? It comes out in March. But first, he’ll spin funky dance records at the Apache Café; Yancy’s Breakneck Quartet and DJ Jamal Ahmad open. $10-$12. 9 p.m. Apache Café. 404-876-5436. www.apachecafe.info. — Mosi Reeves

??
NINE POUND HAMMER Originally formed in the mid-’80s, the rhythm section of Nine Pound Hammer has changed often over the years but its gut-punch, southern-fried rock sound has remained the constant pulse of the operation. Anchored by Nashville Pussy singer/guitarist Blaine Cartwright and sweat-machine vocalist Scott Luallen, the group will storm back into the Star Bar tonight for a hell-raisin’ night of high, live and loud fun. Call club for ticket price. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — LVS

??
MISSION OF BURMA, SOME SOVIET STATION Mission of Burma returns in support of its stellar, second post-reunion offering, The Obliterati (Matador). Burma set a high standard for American post-punk in the early ’80s and 14 years after breaking up, the group cranks out searing and meticulous grooves that solidify with greater power now more than ever before. Millennium-era Atlanta post-hardcore scene setters Some Soviet Station reunite for a one-time performance. $20. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

??
SUN/14

??
BECKY TAYLOR Organist-choirmaster for the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Montgomery, Ala., Becky Taylor performs a solo recital on the day before Martin Luther King Day, featuring rarely heard organ works by African-American composers Adolpus Hailstork, Eugene Hancock and David Hurd, and by Nigerian organist/composer Fela Sowande. The program also includes selections by 20th-century Czech composer Petr Eben and 17th-century Danish composer Dietrich Buxtehude. Free. 3:15 p.m. Cathedral of St. Philip, 404-365-1050. www.cathedralofstphilip.org. — MG

??
ENTER THE HAGGIS There have been way too many bands out there blending way too many different styles of music into something that just doesn’t work, but Enter The Haggis manages to bring something new to the conglomeration of sound. Take a deep Celtic base, throw in a bit of the Pogues and some pop tweaking, add a little Latino soul and blend completely. Enter The Haggis, my favorite Scottish meal. Once you try it, you won’t forget it. $12. 8 p.m. The Five Spot. 404-223-1100. www.fivespot-atl.com. — JK

??
TUES/16

??
BENJY FERREE Benjy Ferree’s music, a charismatic hodgepodge of folk and lightly rocking backbeats, goes down particularly easy on the ears. Granted, the D.C. tunesmith is the latest in a glut of indie-certified singer/songwriters but try to not hold that against him. Originally issued on Box Theory Records, Leaving the Nest was good enough to get picked up by Domino Records. The U.K. label has a strong record, and it didn’t go wrong with this one. The Pleasant Intervals and Juju B Solomon open. $7. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — MR

??
WED/17

??
AGENT ORANGE Agent Orange is a defoliant, a potent and infamous plant killer, notably used during the Vietnam War era. It’s also the name of this long-running California trio, equally lethal and in business since 1979. While the band isn’t the most prolific on record, its energetic live shows more than make up for this oversight. It’s a dizzy mix of aggressive punk, splintered surfboards and freewheelin’ skaters, and the beautifully chaotic mess returns to town tonight. Lennox, 10 Second Aggression and Courtesy Murder are scheduled to open. In Heaven. $10. 8 p.m. Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. — LVS

??
CAMERA OBSCURA As a Glasgow, Scotland, band, Camera Obscura evokes easy comparisons to Belle and Sebastian. Like that ever-popular Glasgow product, Camera Obscura favors frippery ’60s-ish pop and clever, sometimes cynical lyrics. Even when singing material such as “Let’s Get Out of this Country,” Traceyanne Campbell’s sweetly accented voice makes it all sound lovely. $12. 8 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — MR

??
Thurs/18

??
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Colorful orchestration is the key with this program led by ASO music director Robert Spano. Two works by French composer Maurice Ravel grace the first part of the program: “Le Tombeau de Couperin,” originally written by Ravel for piano but brilliantly transcribed later for orchestra, and his “Piano Concerto in G” featuring the dynamic Louis Lorie as piano soloist. The program concludes with an epic Russian favorite, “Scheherazade,” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. $21-$73. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

??
GEIN If house music is silk, and trance music is some kind of Day-Glo synthetic fabric, then drum ‘n’ bass is definitely dark wool. Why? Because it’s got that technical itch! Or at least DJs such as Milwaukee’s GEIN do, as this producer for Habit and Tech Itch drops the demented, mangled metal rumbles as fanatically as a serial killah wears a wool-lined cap made out of left buttock cheek. Dinovo, Alpha Rhythm, War Omen and MC Race One help keep the headz in the freezer bobbing hard. So grab that itchy camo scarf, get the pitchfork out of your asses, get on the dance floor and choke yourself till you’re hard, you lil devils. Ladies free, Guys $10. 10 p.m. The Mark, 79 Poplar St. 678-904-0050. www.themarkatlanta.com. — TW

??
TRES CHICAS Three of alt-country’s most talented women join forces, and the final product is a dream come true. Caitlin Cary was the glue that held Whiskeytown together, Lynne Blakey was part of Let’s Active, Oh OK, and Glory Fountain, and Tonya Lamm helped put Hazeldine on the indie map. Together, the trio is magical. $12. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

??
•Check out our website at atlanta.creativeloafing.com. Click the Music category for a full selection of Soundboard events. CL online provides the address, a map and directions from your location.

??
•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.