Sound Menu August 01 2007

FRI/3

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BOBBY YANG Hard-rockin' violinist Yang, along with his band of Unrivaled Players (that's what they call themselves, and — for once — a band isn't exaggerating) featuring Mark Cobb (Y.O.U.), Ben Holst (Love Tractor) and Franher Joseph (Eldridge Simms Quintet), have two special shows planned for tonight. They'll trip up the stairs to the Attic and float out into space as they take their classic rock to a new level, a totally improv'ed set of roaring, '70s-fueled free-forms. $15. 7 (all ages) and 9:30 p.m. (21 and over only). Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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ERIC CHURCH Fitting right in with the current crop of rockin' country dudes, Church is a good-enough singer with a finger on the pulse of the radio crowd. There are not a lot of unusual or innovative sounds here, but what he does sounds as good as or better than anybody else in the genre today. Plus, he believes in Jesus and Merle, so that's pretty OK. $14-$100. 9 p.m. Wild Bill's. 678-473-1000. www.wildbillsatlanta.com. — James Kelly

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FLOETRY, AMANDA DIVA On Floetry's latest tour, fans will get to check out singer Marsha Ambrosius' newest partner, spoken-word veteran and Aphilliates associate (as in DJ Drama's crew) Diva, who replaces founding member Natalie Stewart. Despite the change, the two will undoubtedly run through Floetry's soul/rap hits and, hopefully, a teaser or two from Ambrosius' long-in-the-works debut for Dr. Dre's Aftermath label. Opening songstress Emily King has garnered considerable attention leading up to her debut, East Side Story, which comes out Aug. 28. $24. 9 p.m. Center Stage. 404-885-1365. www.centerstage-atlanta.com. — Mosi Reeves

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HIPPIEFEST This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the storied Summer of Love, a tumultuous explosion of classic music, dynamic activism and mind-altering social-consciousness. Tonight, a diverse assortment of refugees from the '60s will celebrate those days in the touring package called Hippiefest, but don't expect a stash of long-haired, swirling space-jammers. This show is a record geek's heaven of innovative acts including the Zombies, the Rascals, the Turtles, Mitch Ryder, Denny Laine and Joey Molland, the sole survivor of Badfinger. Additionally, from the historic lineup of 1969 Woodstock, Country Joe McDonald and Mountain are scheduled to perform. $28-$78. 7 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheater. www.classicchastain.com. — LVS

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HULK SMASH, BATTLECAT, SWAMP APE, THE CLUB OF ROME Philadelphia, Pa.'s Hulk Smash plays grimy and distressing screamo that combines equal parts sci-fi and low-fi with slow rhythmic brutality. Atlanta's Battlecat plays fast, noisy post-hardcore. Club of Rome's sound is a throwback to the creepy/campy skulk of '80s punk/industrial nihilism. Stoner-rock duo Swamp Ape also performs. This is a house show, and this shit will be rowdy. Donations accepted. 10 p.m. The Crackhouse. 404-588-9600. www.myspace.com/crackhouseatl. — Chad Radford

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IRIS DEMENT, JASON WILBER Her debut album in 1994 made Dement a critic's darling and one of the most talked about artists in the emerging Americana scene, but her sporadic and often brilliant output over the years has made her an enigma. Her heartfelt hillbilly-esque vocals and touching words prove that she was no fluke. Opening (and probably joining Dement on guitar) will be the talented Wilber. $20. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — JK

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JOAN OSBORNE In the tradition of great jazz singers, Osborne's best work appears to be her renditions of soul, country and pop nuggets. Half her new album features fiery versions of well-known R&B gems such as "Ain't No Sunshine," "Kiss and Say Goodbye" and even "Sara Smile," all of which shimmer when she purrs and belts them out with obvious delight. She'd probably rather be known for her original tunes, but even the best ones pale next to the emotional wallop she brings to the covers. $35. 8 p.m. Atlanta Botanical Garden. 404-876-5859. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org. — Hal Horowitz

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SAT/4

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Laura Jackson conducts the ASO in some real "space music": Gustav Holst's ever-popular "The Planets," accompanied by awesomely lush planetary exploration images from NASA and narration by WSB-AM (750)'s morning news guru, Scott Slade. Beam us up, Scotty! $20-$38. 8 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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DAVID ALLAN COE, J.B. WALKER & THE CHEAP WHISKEY BAND, CADDLE Coe is getting a bit long in the tooth these days, but he's a roadhog who will probably die of old age on stage. He's got a ton of great songs from his heyday, and a few that are just cringe-worthy in their obtuse political incorrectness. But the rednecks in the crowd don't give a damn about that, they are here to party. Walker and Caddle will start things off on this wild night. $23. 9 p.m. Center Stage. 404-885-1365. www.centerstage-atlanta.com. — JK

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KEVN KINNEY, DELTA MOON Drivin' N' Cryin's on-again-off-again country/hard-rock hybrid is only part of Kinney's personality. He's also a rugged Southern blues rocker and grungy folkie who combines his naturally frayed vocals with songs that bubble up from the red clay soil that stains all of his work. Openers Delta Moon — promoting a terrific new album — likewise dig a distinctive blues-rock niche with alternating slide guitars that sizzle and Tom Gray's throaty vocals. This is a terrific bill of Atlanta-based contemporary roots music. $15. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

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RUDY RAY MOORE Long before the current crop of today's rappers bragged and rhymed with outlandish and filthy couplets, Moore was flowin', showin' and growin' some funk of his own, y'all. The star of such classic cult films as Dolemite and Petey Wheatstraw is still at it, as wicked as ever, and touring the country with his stand-up act. The sartorial satirist cuts an urbane figure as he busts loose with his once-shocking brand of ribald urban merriment. $12. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — LVS

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SUN/5

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CALLA, THE PREAKNESS Calla has changed the last decade from an arid, languid Velvets-inspired drone act addled with low-level background noise to a more song-oriented creature whose dark, ringing ambience recalls Interpol minus the new-wave affectations. Calla's latest, Strength in Numbers, still hums and writhes, but it's a moodier, meatier buzz. Local opener the Preakness' folk-tinged sound ranges from the dreamy, taut rhythms of "I Thought I Was in Control" to the effusive jangle-pop empowerment of "On the Couch." $10. 8 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — Chris Parker

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JOHN DOE, DEAD ROCK WEST Along with Doe's incisive songs, most of what made X so successful was his edgy harmonizing with Exene. Thankfully Dead Rock West's Cindy Wasserman handles those parts as her band backs Doe in addition to doing its own opening set at tonight's gig. Doe's supporting a pretty good new album, but the fans are there to hear his '80s punk classics, which, with Wasserman in tow, he'll amiably revisit. The opener's male/female voices are straight out of the X playbook, so the combination is a natural. $15. 7 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

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TUES/7

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BEN KWELLER, TIM FITE There's a boyish vulnerability and innocence to Kweller's music that's earnest and heartwarming. He turned "Ice, Ice Baby" into a personal theme song, "B.K. Baby," demonstrating his self-awareness and goofy humor. Like a more congenial, radio-friendly Lou Barlow, Kweller has a talent for reflective, self-effacing pop rock. Opener Fite is like a grimier, odder Beck, blending samples, guitar and his subversive, satirical sense of humor, reaching an apotheosis on his new album, Over the Counter Culture, which is free on his website, TimFite.com. $16. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — CP

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PORTUGAL THE MAN, PLAYRADIOPLAY!, PHOTO ATLAS, THE ONLY CHILDREN Portugal the Man strikes some appealing notes — the pomp and bombast of '70s hard rock, vocal strains similar to Jack White — on its just-released Church Mouth. PlayRadioPlay! mines Death Cab for Cutie-styled indie pop for the Hot Topic set. Photo Atlas plays a familiar brand of dance punk on No, Not Me, Never. One-time punks-turned-country rockers the Only Children open this showcase of Warped Tour-styled bands. $12. 8 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — MR

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PROJEKT REVOLUTION W/ LINKIN PARK, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, HIM This ain't a show for your parents! Expect the audience at the Projekt Revolution Tour to be a tad prepubescent, but adolescence shouldn't distract from rock acts Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance and HIM putting on one helluva show. It's hard to tell exactly what the bill of bands contribute musically to the tour's idea of a "revolution," but if they're selling records, does it really matter? $24.50-$70. Noon. HiFi Buys Amphitheatre. 404-443-5090. www.hob.com/venues/concerts/hifibuys. — Brian Holcomb

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THURS/9

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LADONNA SMITH/KILLICK, I AM ALL YOU CAN EAT Improv visionaries Smith and Killick come together in a collision of noise and passions that are rooted on both sides of the Mason-Dixon. Together they dive headlong into the most primitive reaches of folk music and the darkest recesses of black metal exploration. I Am All You Can Eat is a spacey, noisy, experimental-jazz duo that features Roger Ruzow on trumpet, and Keith Leslie on drums. $5. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — CR

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ONE HAND LOVES THE OTHER, NINETYNINE, STREZO This Stickfigure Records showcase of arty and outsider pop tones brings Ninetynine all the way from Melbourne, Australia. The group features original Sleater-Kinney drummer Laura MacFarlane, and revels in a cool, ornate sound that can jump from melancholy to explosive all in the space of one-layered Casio drone. Atlanta acts One Hand Loves the Other and Strezo also perform. $8. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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JUDI CHICAGO, CAN CAN, CINETROPE, DJ MATT MUSIC Judi Chicago headlines this sure-to-be-sassy Romance Explosion dance party with its hybrid-hyphenated blend of electro-pop-rap-techno-sexy-strut stuff. Can Can's effusive disco punk features Mary Collins and Patrick-A. Cinetrope and former Decatur Social Club DJ Matt Music round out the evening. As a tastefully tacky teaser, be sure to wear neon green; promoters say you'll get $1 off the door and some other goodies they claim will be worth looking fabulously fluorescent for. $5. 9 p.m. 10 High. 404-873-3607. www.tenhighclub.com. — LVS

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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.