Sound Menu January 24 2007

CL’s picks for the week’s best shows

THURS/25

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles returns to the ASO podium to conduct excerpts from the opera “Der Rosenkavalier” (“The Knight of the Rose”) by Richard Strauss. The story is set in the social opulence of late 18th-century Austria. Sopranos Twyla Robinson and Lyubov Petrova, and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Bishop are the featured vocal soloists. The program opens with Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Symphony No. 48 (Maria Theresia).” $18-$68. Thurs., 8 p.m.; Sat., 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham

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BLAME GAME, BIG PENGUIN, SOUND OF SEVENTYTHREE, SORRY NO FERRARI Blame Game returns for one final hurrah. Not so long ago, Blame Game was Atlanta’s saving grace. The group turned a palette of jazz, math rock, post-crust and artfully minded hardcore into a gorgeous aural assault. This is the group’s last show ever. Like-minded post-hardcore local bands Big Penguin, Sound of Seventythree and Sorry No Ferrari open. $5. 8 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Chad Radford

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LADYFEST SOUTH 2007 After a three-year hiatus, Ladyfest South, a women’s music and arts festival modeled after the famous Olympia, Wash., feminist event, returns with a four-day slate of musicians, poets, visual artists, filmmakers and lady-loving activists. The opening party features several performers, including Divine-like lounge lizard Phat Man Dee; folk singers Julia Carroll, Marce, Amy Lashley, Reneé Mixon and Shelley Raymond; alt-country artist Steff Mahan and the Morgan Rowe Band. There will also be an open mic for the poetically inclined members of the audience. (Continues through Sunday at IF Coffeehouse, the Earl and the Five Spot.) $10-$30. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.ladyfestsouth.com. — Mosi Reeves

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THURSDAY, MURDER BY DEATH, FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES, HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW Bloomington, Ind., band Murder by Death has played Atlanta several times since issuing its third album, last year’s slept-on In Bocca al Lupo. I like to think that the group’s local shows mean people are catching on to its gothic blues. This time around, it appears on the Strhess Tour as an opening act for emo stars Thursday. Fear Before the March of Flames and Heavy Heavy Low Low also perform during this Purevolume.com-sponsored tour. $17. 6:30 p.m. The Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. — MR

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SCOTT MILLER, SANDRA McCRACKEN Living the life of a traveling troubadour, Miller has seen the world as a rocker in the V-Roys and with his band the Commonwealth, and as a solo acoustic performer. His songs are edgy, funny and sad, but always carry a ring of truthfulness. McCracken opens with her own oeuvre of heartfelt material. $12. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — James Kelly

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FRI/26

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ZANDOSIS, PPR, SAILOR WINTERS AND SUITCASES The third night of the Stickfigure Records showcase dives into a more aggressive strain of noisy and maniacally exacerbated hardcore. Zandosis will most likely showcase a blitzkrieg of machine-gun spasms and politically charged shrieks from its recent offering, George W. Bush Go Straight to Fucking Hell. PPR plays obnoxious punk juvenilia. Sailor Winters and Suitcases troll the depths of dark acerbic noise. $5. 8 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net — CR

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SAT/27

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CHRIS THILE & EDGAR MEYER When two of the true masters of their instruments get together and play around, you can bet that there will be something magical happening. Thile is best known for his extraordinary mandolin and vocal work in Nickel Creek, and Meyer is one of the world’s finest double-bass players. Expect an evening of pure improvisational virtuosity, with a little hillbilly stuff thrown in. $5-$48. 8 p.m. Schwartz Center, Emory University. 404-727-5050. www.arts.emory.edu. — JK

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ERIC TAYLOR, FAYSSOUX MCLEAN Georgia-born singer/songwriter Taylor has been a vital cog in the Texas music machine since the ’70s. The famous and almost-famous sing his praises and from a listen to his latest release The Great Divide, it’s easy to see why they rave. The disc includes a dramatic reading of his emotive “Storms,” covered by Nanci Griffith on her now-classic ‘89 release. If you treasure the best of Townes Van Zandt and Lyle Lovett, you’ll love Taylor. Check him out. Charming South Carolina-based McLean opens the show. $15. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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LEMONHEADS, VIETNAM Evan Dando has birthed yet another version of his Lemonheads and this one has a tougher, more aggressively raw sound than some of the previous incarnations over the past 21 years. Still, his knack for memorable pop melodies remains as sharp as ever on their recently released, self-titled album. This is Dando’s first group effort in at least a decade. Vietnam opens. No, not Atlanta’s vieTNam, this one is from Brooklyn. $15. 9 p.m. 40 Watt, Athens. 706-549-7871. www.40watt.com. — LVS

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ONE HAND LOVES THE OTHER, ENTERTAINME.NT, ENVIE AND LID EMBA The fourth and final evening of the Stickfigure showcase closes the event on a subtle note. One Hand Loves the Other plays an ornate merger of classical and electro-pop tones. Entertainme.nt crafts slick strands of gothic rock, while Envie plays darkly brittle and baroque, piano-driven pop. Lid Emba plays a set of noisy and dysfunctional psychedelia. $5. 8 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. --CR

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THE RAPTURE, UNDER THE INFLUENCE, ALL THE SAINTS How do you follow up a classic, groundbreaking hit? For me, nothing the Rapture does can compare to hearing its breakthrough single “House of Jealous Lovers” for the first time. Maybe that’s not fair. Certainly, the Brooklyn band has tried its best with 2003’s Echoes (which wasn’t bad) and last fall’s Pieces of the People We Love (which was a little mediocre). L.A.’s Under the Influence of Giants and local killers All the Saints add to the hipster vibe. $15. 7 p.m. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. — MR

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SPAM ALLSTARS Ever seen a performer that’s so good you wonder, “man, why aren’t they huge?” That’s how you’ll react when you witness Miami’s Spam Allstars. The sprawling collective, led by DJ Spam, is a steaming pot full of funk, electro and Afro-Cuban beats. It spreads its joyful noise at Apache Café twice a year, and is the perfect soundtrack for a night of dancing. Chattanooga, Tenn., hip-hop group Natural Habitz opens. $10. 10 p.m. Apache Café. 404-876-5436. www.apachecafe.info. — MR

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TISHAMINGO, SUN DOMINGO It’s Mingofest, man! Tishamingo dances in a serpentine storm through raspy-voiced Southern rock with the prerequisite blues and jam influences, situating the Classic City outfit definitely on the Foundry Street side of the Athens music mindset. Decidedly non-art school, yet artfully crafted takes on muscular white-boy soul and drawling downhome funk with plenty of room for those lengthy, eagerly anticipated improv excursions. Atlanta-based, jam-friendly pop purveyors Sun Domingo open the show with a set of enjoyable Big Star meets the Police jangle and swagger. $12.50 (advance). 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-521-1786. www.variety-playhouse.com. — LVS

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SUN/28

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ABBEY ROAD LIVE A long time ago in a galaxy far away, there was a band called the Beatles. They made very good records, and tonight some guys are going to play one of them in its entirety. Abbey Road was the Beatles’ final album, and every note is ingrained into the psyche of the true fan. Reproducing that music will be quite an undertaking, but just remember that all you need is love. Yeah, yeah, yeah. $10 advance. 7 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

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THE GET UP JOHNS The perfect cure for that Saturday night debauchery you’re trying to forget today. The Get Up Johns are an endearingly old-timey duo from Minnesota who mine the best of the Louvin and Stanley Brothers’ style. They are touring to support their engagingly primitive debut album Trouble In Mind, a collection of traditionals and originals delivered in the good ol’ depression-era country-gospel approach, with close tenor harmonies backed by bare-bones fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Pass the plate, buy ‘em a drink if they’re thirsty and buy that CD; you need it for your salvation. Free. 1 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — LVS

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TUES/30

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THE BOTTLE ROCKETS, ANNA KRAMER, TOVA RINAH & THE WAY HOME, OTIS GIBBS The BRox are one of the figureheads of the Americana scare from the mid ’90s, and even through some personnel changes they haven’t lost a lick of the energy and enthusiasm that makes them one of the best live bands in the country. Local gal Anna Kramer is a shapeshifter, a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. With two other acts on the bill, this could be a long night. $12. 10 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — JK

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SONIC GENERATOR Would you believe everything from whale calls to wine glasses to hip-hop? Atlanta’s new techno-alternative classical ensemble performs George Crumb’s mesmerizing “Vox Balanae” (“The Voice of the Whale”) replete with new, original video animations by Al Matthews that respond to the music in real time. Also featured are urban/hip-hop-influenced “North Star Bugaloo” for percussion and tape by George Lewis, and other tech-inundated works by Jennifer Walshe, Daniel Lentz and Jason Freeman. Free. 8 p.m. Georgia Tech Alumni House. 404-385-7257. www.sonicgenerator.gatech.edu. — MG

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THURS/1

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Henning Kraggerud, one of Scandinavia’s most notable young violinists, is soloist for the “Violin Concerto” of Felix Mendelssohn in this all-Mendelssohn program led by guest conductor Nicholas (“Nic”) McGegan. The concerto is preceded by Mendelssohn’s overture “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage,” inspired by two poems of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and his “Symphony No. 3.” $21-$73. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org — MG

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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 Rodney Carmichael, 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.