Sound Menu November 07 2007

THURS/08

BUSDRIVER, DAEDELUS The speed-rapping hip-hop artist Busdriver makes complex satire that touches on race, cultural politics and societal trends with aplomb. But if Roadkillovercoat, released earlier this year, was sometimes difficult to follow, then his live appearances are dazzling and overwhelming tours de force. He’s already played Atlanta once this year as an opening act for RJD2. This time, he tours with Daedelus, the electronic dandy who just released an EP on Ninja Tune, Fair Weather Friends, highlighted by a rework of TLC’s “No Scrubs.” Antimc, Chris Devoe and DJ Gnosis open. $8. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Mosi Reeves

GRAYSON CAPPS He’s the epitome of a young-yet-weathered New Orleans folksy singer/songwriter, and not just because he appeared in the Crescent City-based flick A Love Song for Bobby Long. Capps’ old band Stavin’ Chain never made much noise outside of N.O., but recent solo albums that feature his emotionally gnarled voice singing compelling story songs about those with no place to go and little left to lose have justifiably attracted reams of critical praise. Although the troubadour often tours solo, his current group joins him tonight to further heat things up. $8. 7 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — Hal Horowitz

FRI/09

ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Taiwanese-American violinist Cho-liang Lin is guest soloist, playing the work with which he made his 1979 public debut in New York at age 19, the “Violin Concerto No. 3” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (who, incidentally, wrote it when he was also 19 years old). Conducted by Atlanta’s favorite Scottish wand-waver, Donald Runnicles, the program includes Ludwig van Beethoven’s cheerful midcareer “Symphony No. 4,” and Richard Strauss’ tone poem about a fictional medieval German trickster and folk hero, “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks.” $16-$70. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham

ERIC PRYDZ Three years ago, Eric Prydz scored a house remix of Steve Winwood’s ’80s pop chestnut “Call on Me.” It was one of the first dance tracks to draw mainstream attention via a softcore video — in this case, a clip of gyrating girls doing aerobics in tight-fitting leotards — widely circulated on the Internet. Written off as a gimmick, Prydz then earned grudging respect with a throbbing electro-house remake of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall,” (retitled “Proper Education”). But it’s unlikely that the hipsters who’ve danced to that track at MJQ will show up to this rare Atlanta appearance. $20. 10 p.m. Wetbar. 404-754-9494. www.ericprydz.com. — MR

THE PIPETTES Leave it to the Brits to remind us Yanks of our own musical roots. The Pipettes’ matching polka-dot dresses and cotton-candy girl-group harmonies revive the Shirelles and the Shangri-Las by way of Bananarama and Amy Winehouse. Cute, sassy and retro in all the best ways, they may have a shorter shelf life than even the Spice Girls, so enjoy the show before their 15 minutes are up. Big-voiced chanteuse Nicole Atkins’ expansive epics are likewise reminiscent of a different style of Spector-esque ’60s productions. The Sea and the Booze opens. $12. 8 p.m. Vinyl. 404-885-1365. www.myspace.com/vinylatlanta. — HH

VEGA STRING QUARTET with VICTOR ASUNCION Philippines native Victor Santiago Asuncion is a rising young classical pianist with musical sensitivity, technical excellence, and his own indie record label (Deux). He joins the Vega String Quartet for a midday concert featuring the “Piano Quintet No. 1” by Erno Dohnányi, his first published composition (1895), which put the 18-year-old Hungarian composer in the spotlight when it attracted the attention of Johannes Brahms. Free. Noon. Michael C. Carlos Museum. 404-727-5050. www.arts.emory.edu. — MG

SAT/10

BEANSTOCK: ROLLER GIRLS KICK ASS NIGHT On this night of Lenny’s promoter Bean Summer’s ongoing Beanstock music festival, a bevy of bands, including the Baby Shakes, the Hiss, Femme Fatality (from St. Louis), Thee Crucials, the Lizardmen, the Khans, Sleep Therapy, Untied States and the Arks, and maybe a few more bands, will all perform. The musical portions of the night will be interspersed by a live Roller Girl battle. $10. 12 p.m. Lenny’s. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — Chad Radford

MAGIC SLIM & THE TEARDROPS There aren’t many genuine second-generation Chicago bluesmen left still plying their trade of taut licks against gruff vocals and no-frills songs, but Magic Slim is one of them. He’s acquired a thick catalog of quality tunes during the past three decades and, like most of his generation still spry enough, stays on the road constantly. That means he knows how to put on a show that makes even curious onlookers leave believers in the power of undiluted electric blues. Truly the real deal. $15. 9 p.m. Blind Willie’s. 404-873-BLUE. www.blindwilliesblues.com. — HH

OLD CEREMONY The Chapel Hill, N.C., genre-defying pop sextet began as tunes that singer/songwriter Django Haskins couldn’t get quite right, eventually resorting to more instrumentation. It bloomed into an act with a life of its own, blending cabaret swing and baroque lilt with an adventurousness that prevents it from falling into familiar piano-pop stereotypes. It’s smart stuff with true offbeat allure, as on the Indian-tinged ’60s psych of “Get to Love,” off last month’s full-length debut, Our One Mistake. $10. 9 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — CP

WEBB WILDER, THE BACKYARDBIRDS Tough It Out is the title of Wilder’s recent live DVD/CD and that’s what he has done for the past three decades. His rumbling hand grenade of twangy blues, swamp, psychedelia, garage and rockabilly explodes on stage and his between-song banter is nearly as enticing as the songs. He always employs a top-notch band, too, making him one of rock ‘n’ roll’s finest under-the-radar roots-rock journeymen. The Backyardbirds’ Yardbirds covers are played so close to the originals you’ll think Jeff Beck might have snuck into the lineup unnoticed. $12. 6 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

SUN/11

LB COLLECTIVE LB is Laura Benjamin and the Collective is a cool cooperative combo of skilled musicians. Together, they propel her finely crafted songs into stylized singer/songwriter fare, lightly tinged with likable, streamlined pop, soul and Americana influences. Tonight is the CD-release party for the band’s slick debut album Let It Go, produced by busy folk-and-roots authority Don McCollister. Note special early (5 p.m.) showtime. $7, $15 (includes CD). 5 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

NICOLE CABELL Twenty-nine-year-old Ventura, Calif.-raised soprano Nicole Cabell is the epitome of the new 21st-century operatic diva: slim and sexy as a pop star/model in her lovely melding of Korean, Caucasian and African-American ancestry, a liquidly golden voice, and interesting vocal repertoire. Cabell, whose self-titled solo CD was released on Decca earlier this year, performs songs by Franz Liszt, Carlos Guastavino, Georges Bizet, Antonín Dvorák, André Previn and American composer/lyricist Ben Moore, plus a handful of traditional American spirituals. $35. 3 p.m. Spivey Hall. 404-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG

TUES/13

CHUCK PROPHET The former Green on Red frontman has always demonstrated great affection for American roots music, and folk-rock in particular. Over the years he’s flirted with so many rustic forms that his albums have begun to defy categorization. His latest, Soap and Water, is another fine, eclectic release informed this time by a rock-inflected R&B vibe dusted with subtle atmospheric texture. Nooked and crannied like much of Prophet’s material, it gets better with each listen. $8. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CP

ENON, LOVE OF DIAGRAMS, UNTIED STATES Touch & Go Records’ noise-pop saving-grace trio Enon returns to Atlanta in support of its brand new full-length, Grass Geysers... Carbon Clouds. Fronted by former Brainiac guitarist John Schmersal, the group blends the warped song-structure sensibilities of new wave with a penchant for crafting loose, colorful and often experimental rhythmic pop qualities. Love of Diagrams and Untied States open. $8. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR

RECKLESS KELLY, SONS OF BILL Somewhere in Americanaland there is a factory that cranks out rock bands with a lil twang that don’t rock quite enough, and therefore they are cast into a neverland of indistinguishability. Presenting ... Texas’ Reckless Kelly, and its Virginia counterpart, Sons of Bill. Good bands if you like that sort of stuff. $15. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — James Kelly

WED/14

LUCINDA BLACK BEAR Christian Gibbs, sometimes known as C. Gibbs on evocative, rustic releases by the C. Gibbs Review and the Morning Glories, is touring to promote his moody modern mission, Lucinda Black Bear. On the just-released Capo My Heart and Other Bear Songs, Gibbs — backed by an exceptional cache of NY musicians — explores brooding, twilight Americana with lush arrangements and haunting aural apparitions. With special guests, TBA at press time. $6. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — LVS

TORI AMOS I must confess, I have been a Tori hater for years, repelled by her pretentiousness and overwrought lyricism. But her latest CD American Doll brought me around, especially the kickoff tune about “King George.” HA! But there will be plenty of cringe-worthy moments, although she really puts out on stage, if you get my drift. $31.50-$43.50. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre. 404-249-4600. www.foxtheatre.org. — JK

THURS/15

LICHENS, JANA HUNTER, MATTEAH BAIM Chicago’s Lichens is the sometimes-solo, sometimes-full-band project of former 90 Day Men bassist Robert Lowe. As Lichens, Lowe dwells on the subtle elements of drone music and avant-garde folk pickery, relying on the microtones and the imperfections of sound to craft songs. Jana Hunter sings and strums a set of beautifully sparse and melancholy folk songs. Matteah Baim opens. $7. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR

REGINA SPEKTOR The Russian-born Spektor slowly filtered through the East Village’s anti-folk scene, developing a quirky, effusive style, adding guitar to her bluesy, piano-driven compositions. Her major-label debut, Begin to Hope, is polished and less idiosyncratic than her prior work, but no less charming. She’s got a spunky, especially honest manner, epitomized by the perky “Fidelity,” where she confesses, “I’ve never loved anyone fully, always one foot on the ground.” $25. 8 p.m. Tabernacle. 404-659-9022. www.livenation.com. — CP

SCOTT MILLER, THE GOUGERS Miller is one of the hardest-working musicians in the land, always touring, cranking out albums and giving it his all. He’s a songwriter with an eye for the details, and a witty sense of injustice in the world. The Gougers from Austin open the show. I think they are Americana, whatever that is this week. $12-$60. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK

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.