Sound Menu February 21 2007

CL’s picks for the week’s best shows

THU/22

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Robert Spano leads the ASO in a reprise performance of the 2004 Masterprize-winning “Rainbow Body” by Christopher Theofanidis, which they recorded in 2002 for Telarc and will perform six times next week in the orchestra’s whirlwind tour of Florida. Emmanuel Ax joins in as soloist for Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 22,” and the popular “Symphonic Dances” by Sergei Rachmaninov is the grand finale. $18-$54. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham

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FRI/23

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BARR, MARNIE STERN, SLEEP THERAPY Brendan Fowler, the frontman who leads L.A. band BARR, talks conversationally over backing tracks about life’s mundaneness. It’s like an aural episode of “Seinfeld,” except not as mean-spirited. New Yorker Marnie Stern does the heavily layered, supercharged guitar rock thing ... you know what I mean. Atlanta dream-rock prodigy Sleep Therapy opens for these two “Kill Rock Stars.” 10 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Mosi Reeves

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BÉLA FLECK, CHICK COREA While these virtuoso duet shows can often devolve into noodlefests, you would be hard-pressed to find two better improvisers than Corea on piano and Fleck on ... banjo? Having seen both of these artists at their creative peaks, trust me, it works. $36-$46. 8 p.m. Ferst Center of the Performing Arts at Georgia Tech. 404-494-9600. www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu. — James Kelly

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BIG DADDY KANE, CONNIE PRICE, THE KEYSTONES The legend of Big Daddy Kane is assured, thanks to classics such as “Raw” and “Ain’t No Half Steppin’.” But the Queens rapper isn’t just a footnote in a VH1 documentary. He’s a living artist capable of evolving with the times. So the prospect of hearing Big Daddy Kane collaborating with Stones Throw-certified L.A. funk band Connie Price & the Keystones is an exciting opportunity to hear the great rapper in a fresh, new context. Better yet, DJs J. Period (Lauryn Hill, Black Star) and Reach will open. Free. RSVP at www.scion.com/livemetro. 9 p.m. The Loft. 404-885-1365. www.theloftatl.com. — MR

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JJ GREY & MOFRO, VIRGINIA COALITION Singer/songwriter/frontman Grey gets top billing for a band whose personnel, except for shotgun-riding co-founder/guitarist Daryl Hance, seems to be perpetually in flux. Regardless, the outfit’s loose and swampy funk/soul remains gripping and unique and its new Alligator Records release perfectly captures its lazy yet taut mojo. Virginia Coalition’s standard issue, white-bread jammy vibe is as pleasant as it is mundane. $15-$17.50. 9 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-885-1365. www.variety-playhouse.com. — Hal Horowitz

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STEEP CANYON RANGERS The emergence of a slew of young traditional bluegrass bands has done two things — the spirit of the music as Bill Monroe visualized it continues, and the genre is presented to a new generation by the new generation. The Rangers stick to the rules, but make it interesting and entertaining. Bring your young’uns. $10. 8 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — JK

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TRACY BYRD It’s easy to typecast Byrd as a remnant of the “Garth Brooks-clone” era of country music, but he has enough natural talent and a distinctive, traditional twang to legitimize his place in the industry. His biggest hits were almost novelty songs, but the man can wail a honky-tonk tune like the best of them. Now putting out albums on his own indie label, Byrd is definitely keepin’ it country. $14-$100. 9 p.m. Wild Bill’s. 678-473-1000. www.wildbillsatlanta.com. — JK

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SAT/24

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DR. DOG, WHAT MADE MILWAUKEE FAMOUS, THE TEETH Philadelphia five-piece band Dr. Dog plays a lo-fi and melancholy blend of ’60s pop that’s akin to Athens’ Elephant 6 staples: Olivia Tremor Control, Of Montreal and Elf Power. What Made Milwaukee Famous, a band that is ironically from Austin, Texas, plays sappy and infectious indie pop. Ann Arbor, Mich.’s the Teeth opens with a set of experimental punk jams. $10. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — Chad Radford

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FREDERICA VON STADE, SAMUEL RAMEY Two vocal giants of the operatic world appear together in a joint recital. Best known for his dramatic portrayals of villainous and devilish characters, the profound but lyrical Ramey is hailed as “the most recorded bass in the world.” Known to fans and friends worldwide by her nickname “Flicka,” mezzo-soprano von Stade has recorded more than 60 albums and performed with nearly every major opera company on the planet. (And that’s a lot.) $5-$56. 8 p.m. Schwartz Center, Emerson Hall. 404-727-5050. www.arts.emory.edu. — MG

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ROCKABILLY RUMBLE Get ready to rumble, all you rockabilly cats. Pile that hair up high, grab that curvy babe and roll into the Star Bar this afternoon. Yes, afternoon. The big shindig starts at 6 p.m. to give each band plenty of time to stretch out and really rock the joint. With a slate scheduled to include Rocket 350, the Straight 8’s, the Tremors, the Hot Rods, Atomic Boogie and Hotrod Walt and the Psycho Devilles, the mighty bastion on Moreland should rumble all night. $10. 6 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — Lee Valentine Smith

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SUN/25

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BONEY JAMES The 2007 Symphony season is back in full force with the streamlined urban jazz of saxophonist Boney James. He’s touring to support Shine, the recent release that includes collaborations with a myriad of divergent yet definitely soulful artists such as George Benson, Faith Evans and Phillip Bailey. James’ live show should set an energetic yet romantic mood with lively interpretations from his deep catalog of smooth and sensual grooves. $25.92-$58.32. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — LVS

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MON/26

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CHRIS DIFFORD, THE BRILLIANT INVENTIONS Difford is co-founder and songwriter for Squeeze, the beloved British pop band originally formed in 1973. He’ll feature songs from his latest album, South East Side Story, an engaging look back at some of his best Squeeze material, presented as an acoustic-based career X-ray. The witty and, yes, wacky, Brilliant Inventions open. $17.50. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — LVS

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TUE/27

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DAVID ROGERS Guitarist and lutenist of Oregon’s award-winning Terra Nova Consort, David Rogers has established himself as a prominent performer with formidable technique. In this free recital, he plays the 17th-century “archlute” — a lute with a long bass extension featuring seven extra free-vibrating strings that expand the instrument’s lower range by an octave. The program features virtuoso archlute music by Giovanni Kapsperger, Bernardo Gianoncelli, Giovanni Zamboni, J.S. Bach and John Dowland. Free. 8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG

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HYLANDAZ, EARATIK STATIK, SINGLE MINDED PROS After moving from Atlanta to Chicago, underground hip-hop upstart Hylandaz assembled a proper debut, Hostile Takeover, packed with guests such as EDO.G, Maspyke and C-Rayz Walz. Now the trio returns for a CD release party, and they’re bringing production crew Single Minded Pros and bombastic rap crew Earatik Statik along for the trip. Second Sight DJs open. $3-$5. 9 p.m. Lenny’s Bar. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — MR

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MIXEL PIXEL, RAHIM, CLUB AWESOME Brooklyn’s Mixel Pixel plays warped and psychedelic pop that draws from a palette of obscure influences, ranging from Loretta Lynn to Psychic TV. Fellow New York act Rahim plays a more straightforward take on sentimental pop. Club Awesome kicks out the jams with twisted, lo-fi pop gems that rhyme Josef Stalin with Jackie Collins ... and they’ve been known to wear Speedos on stage. $7. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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THURS/1

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moe., TEA LEAF GREEN, TOUBAB KREWE While moe. doesn’t entirely discard the typical trappings of jam bands — faceless vocals, bland songs, seemingly endless improvs — the upstate New York collective prides itself on skewing the image, if only slightly. There is plenty of Dead in the band’s mix, but a fair amount of Zappa, too, at least enough to throw some twists into the formula. And they can rock out with high energy when the mood strikes. The Bay Area-based Tea Leaf Green (opens March 1) adheres closer to the jam-nation playbook, but Toubab Krewe’s (opens March 3) nimble Afrobeat brings a tasty international flavor to the genre. $25-$65. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m. The Tabernacle. 404-233-7699. www.ticketmaster.com. — HH

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THE ONE AM RADIO, HOPE FOR AGOLDENSUMMER, THE BLUE HOUR The One AM Radio crafts a breezy blend of chamber pop by siphoning the dour side of human relations through deep, dark strings, intimate songwriting and laptop resonance. Hope for Agoldensummer plays a humid and distinctively Southern blend of haunted, folk-damaged songs. The Blue Hour churns out a melancholy post-punk dirge that balances precision, noise and brittle sentiments. $10. 9 p.m. 11:11 Teahouse. 404-521-1911. www.1111teahouse.com. — CR

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RED SPAROWES, PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, KYLESA, IRREVERSIBLE Though Red Sparowes features members of Isis and Neurosis, the group subdues the metal’s aggressive traits to form an epic roar that’s built around the shimmering waves of pedal steel. Planes Mistaken For Stars plays a blend of brash and cathartic emo-core. Savannah’s Kylesa churns out a wave of blackened metal miasma, while Atlanta’s Irreversible opens with a set of psychedelic sludge. $10. 8 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR

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RONNIE BAKER BROOKS It doesn’t hurt your credibility having blues legend Lonnie Brooks as your mentor and father, but Ronnie Baker Brooks doesn’t blindly follow his dad’s legacy. His new album brings frisky funk, steamy Southern soul and even hip-hop to the table, all propelled by his gutsy, occasionally psychedelic guitar. He’s clearly throwing a bunch of styles against the wall, but enough of them stick to show he has the chops and drive to keep the family heritage flowing for at least another generation. Ticket price TBA. 9 p.m. Darwin’s. 770-578-6872. www.darwinsblues.com. — HH

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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: rodney.carmichael@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.