Sound Menu March 14 2007

THURS/15

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DIONNE FARRIS, ANTHONY DAVID It's been a minute since we've heard from Farris, the one-time Arrested Development member who broke out with "I Know" and "Hopeless." Silent for most of this decade, she has finally released a new album, Signs of Life. She'll undoubtedly perform songs from it during her concert at Sugarhill. David, with whom most local soul fans are familiar, opens. $15. 9 p.m. Sugarhill. 404-658-0068. www.sugarhillatl.com. -- Mosi Reeves

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DON DIXON BAND One of the original North Carolina music-scene hotshots of the early '80s, Dixon is an incredibly soulful singer with a boxful of great pop songs. There is no reason he should not be a big star, other than the obviously poor taste of the general public. Witty, emotional and catchy tunes abound. $12. 7:30 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — James Kelly

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WESTMINSTER CHOIR After years under the baton of Joseph Flummerfelt, the world-famous Westminster Choir, all students at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, N.J., makes its first tour of the South with its new conductor, Joe Miller. The group has established a reputation among choral music circles for its particularly full-bodied, incisive style of singing. $30. 7:30 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — Mark Gresham

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FRI/16

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404 NOISE FEST Atlanta record labels Blossoming Noise, NCC Records, Sounds from the Pocket and Robot Fishy head up an exposition of noise music in the Southeast, exploring everything from formless and meditative electronics to crushing distortion and feedback. Groups scheduled to perform include Jarboe, Mugu Guymen, Zandosis, Magicicada, Subliminator, Eiliyas, Tree Creatures and several others. The show starts early, and don't forget to bring your ear plugs. $10. 5 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — Chad Radford

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LAST WALTZ ENSEMBLE Is it Thanksgiving already? No, but the popular Last Waltz concert will live once again tonight, months before the day of thanks that marks its actual anniversary. The tribute to the music of the Band by musician Kris Gloer and an ever-changing roster of friends has taken on a healthy life of its own, starting from a one-off November charity homage, morphing into a popular touring machine. With opening sets from Chris Unck and the Black Roses. $15. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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SAT/17

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ALBERT HAMMOND JR., THE MOONEY SUZUKI Since Hammond is a member of the Strokes, it's likely that the group's fans will comprise most of the audience for his first solo tour. But the comparably upbeat, amenable, often psychedelic indie-rock approach of his debut release is miles removed from his full-time band's more jaded and raunchy New York rock. The Detroit-based openers have likewise shifted from their more furious shadowy garage MC5-based sound of a few years back to a lighter, even sunny, California-pop style. $15. 9 p.m. Roxy Theatre. 404-233-7699. www.ticketmaster.com. — Hal Horowitz

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BUDDY O'REILLY BAND On St. Patrick's Day, every dumb yuppie in town thinks he's Irish, and drinks like he can handle it. Please. And every band with a hint of a traditional Irish sound is in great demand. Well, the Buddy O'Reilly Band plays real Irish music all year long, and does it well. Eddie's is probably the safest place in town to get your Irish on, so come to Decatur and kiss my shillelagh. $10-$15. 7 and 10 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK

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GLENN PHILLIPS, SUPREME COURT Here's a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day that doesn't involve green beer and leering leprechauns: a doubleheader of magically delicious shows from two elfin forefathers of Atlanta's rock scene. Phillips has been astounding audiences with his guitar prowess since his days with the Hampton Grease Band. Tonight he plays with his seasoned gang and also in the Supreme Court with longtime collaborator Jeff Calder of the indestructible Swimming Pool Q's. There'll be two shows tonight featuring both bands, so stop by after the parade for your own personal four-leaf clover search. $12. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — LVS

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RODRIGO Y GABRIELA This Mexico-born, now Dublin-based (!) acoustic guitar twosome got its experience on the street as buskers. The male/female duo's roots lie in heavy metal, but their frenetic, percussive, heavy approach melds Latin attack with virtuoso speedy fingering. Gabriela provides the furious rhythms, Rodrigo handles most of the fiery leads and the combination is as combustible as it sounds. Don't call 'em jazz or flamenco or even world music. It's unplugged but more electrified than most rock and twice as passionate. And wait'll you hear their cover of "Stairway to Heaven." $20. 8:30 p.m. The Five Spot. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — HH

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ST. PATPRICK'S DAY PARTY Ink and booze, both presumably green, will be a-flowin' and showin' at tonight's celebration of all things body art and rock 'n' roll. Yes, it's time again for Prick magazine's seventh annual St. PatPrick's Day blow-out. By now, you know the drill. Raucous and colorful performances from the Rock City Drop Outs, the Hot Rods and the Grinder Girls will all get under your skin at this in-your-face spectacular. And if that's not enough to curl yer tattooed sleeves, the event is hosted by the freakish performance-art tsunami called the Enigma. It only hurts a little. You can handle it. $10. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — LVS

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THE PRODUCERS, GREG HESTER Today, Smyrna is host to the fourth annual St. Patrick's Day Festival. Organizers expect several thousand revelers and entertainment features a headlining performance from '80s hit-makers the Producers as well as Hester's tribute to Van Morrison, Bill Rutan's Irish Trio and Lethal Rhythms. The Market Village Square in the middle of downtown Smyrna is ground zero for the activities, which also include food and drink specials. Have fun but please don't pee in the fountain of green water, that's just not cool. The festivities start at 1 p.m. and continue after dark. $15-$20. 1 p.m. Downtown Smyrna. www.

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smyrnamarketvillageevents.com. — LVS

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SUN/18

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA Jere Flint leads the young and awesome musicians of the ASYO in music by three "maverick" 20th-century American composers: "Symphony X" by Don Gillis, "The Unanswered Question" by Charles Ives, and "Floating World" by Alan Hovhaness. The program concludes with music of an early 20th-century Hungarian composer: Zoltán Kodály's "Háry János" orchestral suite, drawn from his opera of the same name. $10. 3 p.m. Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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IVAN MORAVEC One of the past century's few remaining truly great classical pianists, celebrated Czech master pianist Moravec brings his remarkable individuality, extraordinary musicianship and warmly expressive tone to Spivey Hall for a solo recital that includes Mozart's "Fantasia in C minor, K.475," Cesar Franck's "Prelude, Choral et Fugue," Claude Debussy's "Images, Book I," and selected Mazurkas and Barcarolles by Frederic Chopin. $40. 3 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG

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MON/19

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LILY ALLEN, THE BIRD AND THE BEE, AARON LACRATE U.K. pop sweetheart Allen has one of the great singles of the moment (or past several months, if you're an Anglophile) in "Smile," a fresh little pop-ska ditty. Besides, her press battle with Lady Sovereign proves she's not above talking shit about wack artists (sorry, kids, but 'tis true). Allen hits the Loft on the heels of her accomplished debut, Alright, Still. Gauzy pop couple the Bird and the Bee opens, and Baltimore club advocate LaCrate spins in between sets. $20. 8 p.m. The Loft. 404-885-1365. www.theloftatl.com. ­-- MR

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TUES/20

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RJD2, BUSDRIVER With his recent album, The Third Hand, RJD2 makes a smooth transition from left-field hip-hop to a more pop-oriented sound. His work as a knob twiddler and beat wrangler leaves an indelible mark on his songwriting, while his lighthearted croon and gorgeous vocal melodies counterweigh complex production qualities that take allegiance with a groove over pop subtlety. Busdriver opens with a balance of rapid-fire rhymes and acerbic wit. $20. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — CR

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ROBYN HITCHCOCK & THE VENUS 3 Hitchcock, a certified U.K. folk-rocking eccentric from his days as a Soft Boy, brings longtime fan Pete Buck along in his sturdy band and tours behind his best album in years, so what's not to like? Besides, nobody writes twisted lyrics sung with such casual aplomb in a particularly British nasal twang or dares to have between-song patter nearly as entertaining and bizarre as the tunes. He's custom-made for a rabid cult fan base, so plan to arrive early. $17.50. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

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WED/21

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THE BLACK LIPS, PONYS, COFFIN BOUND The Black Lips are Atlanta's quintessential rock 'n' roll band. The group blasts a primitive, sweaty and totally infectious dirge of garage-punk abandon while beer cans rocket over the stage like stray missiles. Chicago four-piece the Ponys draw from the same well of classic garage-rock influences as the Black Lips, but temper the energy with a slurred, junky cool haze. Coffin Bound opens. $8. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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THE DREAM TEAM Come on, admit it. You love Southern rock. Skynyrd, Hatchett, .38 Special, Elvin Bishop, the list goes on. A few members of some contemporary regional bands get together tonight to celebrate the music of the South. Come on out and hear the great songs that inspired the Drive-By Truckers to steal their sound. $7. 9 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — JK

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LO-FI-FNK, MINT CHICKS, THE PRAYERS, LE CASTLE VANIA Sweden's Lo-Fi-Fnk works an electronic club-pop style that's charming and infectious. It's good party music if you don't think too deeply about it. New Zealand's Mint Chicks play real instruments to make you dance, and San Diego's the Prayers opt for a less trendy, song-oriented rock approach. My money is on MJQ mainstay and fledgling producer Le Castle Vania (aka DJ DJ Dylan), who just got back from SXSW and is ready to blow. $8. 8 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — MR

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THURS/22

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS Remember 9/11? San Francisco composer John Adams conducts the first Atlanta performances of his profound, heart-wrenching and controversial "On the Transmigration of Souls" for choruses, orchestra and live electronics. Written in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, for the New York Philharmonic, Adams nevertheless hopes the work will "summon human experience that goes beyond this particular event." Violinist Midori is soloist for Adams' "Violin Concerto," and the program rounds out the Manhattan imagery with Aaron Copland's introspective "Quiet City," evoking the nocturnal melancholy and anxieties of an urban society in 1940. $26-$73. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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UNCLE EARL, CROOKED STILL Nice double bill! Uncle Earl is an all-female bluegrass band featuring some amazingly talented musicians, particularly the banjo whizgirl Abigail Washburn. The new CD is called Waterloo, Tennessee, and is a must-have. Crooked Still mines the traditional music vein, and sounds as authentic as it needs to. $16-$19. 8 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.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 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.