Sound Menu December 19 2007

CL’s picks for the week’s best shows

THURS/20

ARLINGTON PRIEST, JACKSON COUNTY LINE Tonight’s double bill features the smooth, melodic, easy-listening side of Americana. Duet act Arlington Priest has been doing its thing in town for quite a while, and its pop influences are easy on the ears. Locals JCL fit into a similar category, and have a new CD just out with some rather interesting instrumentation. $10-$50. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — James Kelly

COATHANGERS, STRANGE BOYS, SHINING PATH Atlanta’s favorite post-punk daughters the Coathangers return to Lenny’s to headline with a set of crafty and irreverent party-punk anthems and caterwauling. Austin, Texas’ Strange Boys play a slow, distant and noisy country-damaged punk/pop twang. Each song is both psychedelic and warbling as it channels the tinny, ghostly drive of everyone from the Velvet Underground to the 13th Floor Elevators. Shining Path opens. $7. 9 p.m. Lenny’s. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — Chad Radford

EILEEN IVERS The talented Riverdance veteran and nine-time Ireland fiddle champion performs two nights with the ASO, featuring holiday music from her amazing new CD An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas. Even an old Scrooge like me can be lifted up by these beautiful Celtic melodies and well-known Christmas tunes. Repeat performance Friday. $21-$48. 8 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — JK

THREE KINGS AND A PRINCE Inspiration for this newest operetta by Atlanta composer Sharon J. Willis is about 2,000 years older than 3 Men and a Baby and a very different script. Of course, it’s the Epiphany story of the three wise guys from the east on their trek to find the baby Jesus (not “the artist formerly known as...”). The world-premiere production is by Americolor Opera Alliance of Atlanta. Six performances in all, with other shows Friday-Sunday. $20. 7:30 p.m. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. 404-880-8212. www.callanwolde.org. — Mark Gresham

FRI/21

ALL NIGHT DRUG PROWLING WOLVES, BABY SHAKES, COFFIN BOUND Billed officially as Dry Ink magazine’s “Very White Christmas Party,” All Night Drug Prowling Wolves play edgy, drunk rock songs that mesh the nervous energy of circa ‘77 pop punk with poetic fragments and a distinctively Pogues-like swagger. Baby Shakes play bright and energetic lady-centric power pop. Coffin Bound plays a swampy blues-punk dirge that blends low-fi noise and trashy and dark rock ‘n’ roll rhythms. $7. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

THE BEGGAR’S GUILD, PASADENA Local roots-rockers the Beggar’s Guild boast the usual Petty/Springsteen/Replacements influences but create original music that doesn’t sound exactly like any of them. The band’s Telecasters bring twang to Americana that’s honest, emotional and unpretentious. Look for some Christmas nuggets mixed in with the heartfelt, heartland rock and arrive early to catch fellow local strum passengers Pasadena, another band of dusty Atlanta up-and-comers with honest songs and a similarly straightforward approach. $8. 9 p.m. Vinyl. 404-885-1365. www.vinylatlanta.com. — Hal Horowitz

DIRTY MONEY If you set Against Me! on fire, then tried to put them out with kerosene, you’d match the furious heat and thundering inferno of Gainesville brethren Dirty Money. Their catchy, anthemic punk pulse is keyed by frontman Colin’s gruff, impassioned growl and the quartet’s hard-charging old-school sound. The songs are straightforward, but delivered with Oi! enthusiasm and the impetuous passion of youthful rebellion, providing a sizzle that far outstrips the music’s implicit familiarity. $5. 9 p.m. 141 Moreland. www.myspace.com/morelandave. — Chris Parker

PAUL THORN, WADE BOWEN With a nice mix of humor and pathos in his quirky but accessible material, Thorn stands out among the throng of introspective singer/songwriters. It’s pretty obvious he has lived a lot of what he sings about, which gives it a sense of authenticity. Texas artist Bowen opens, sounding a lot like a Texas artist. $20. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — JK

ROCKET 350 The often-underappreciated outfit that blends as much hard rock and punk energy as familiar rockabilly ingredients is back at the Bar tonight with a holiday-themed performance sure to include a roster of some like-minded pals from the region. They certainly aren’t the most prolific recording artists, but their near-decade of life is 100-proof positive that straight-up Phil 350 and his rebellious gang o’ crazy-beat daddies are still ready to shake and rumble with rough-hewn precision. $8. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbaratlanta.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

THE SEVENTH RING OF SATURN, REV REBEL, MOG ROCKET Psych-rock travelers the Seventh Ring of Saturn plow through a vast terrain of noise, melody, mood and rock experimentation with an M.O. lifted straight from the paisley shades of pop that defined the 1960s. Rev Rebel is the ever-evolving blues and ’60s soul-based rock outfit fronted by former Follow for Now keyboardist/vocalist Billy Fields. Mog Rocket also performs. $6. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — CR

SAT/22

THE ALTERBOYS Tonight marks the second performance ever from this raw and rollicking, Rockpile-influenced, NRBQ-informed bunch of seasoned scenesters. Rick Richards, Keith Christopher and David Michaelson, all of beloved local ’80s institution Keith and the Satellites, are joined by Peter Stroud (of Sheryl Crow’s band) and James Ford (Classics IV) for two crackin’ shows. The early (9:30 p.m.) and late-night sets should bring back fond memories of the good old days of Hedgens and Rumours. Remember those places? If so, this is the show for you. Even if you don’t and you love straight-ahead rock played by adults without emo or modern posturing, then this is the show for you! Call for price. 9:30 p.m. Club 29. 404-633-4111. www.club29atl.com. — LVS

ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Michael Krajewski is guest conductor for the ASO’s “A Very Merry Holiday Pops” with the von Trapp Family Singers as special guests. Remember The Sound of Music? Yep, this is the current generation of young singers from that same Austrian family, now based at the family’s Austrian-style vacation lodge in Vermont. The four von Trapps sing selections from the film as part of the program’s yuletide fare. $22-$58. 2 and 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

DAVID RYAN HARRIS Harris led seminal local rockers Follow for Now, who were poised to follow Living Colour and Fishbone into the spotlight before grunge scorched the earth, and the band broke up after their ‘91 debut. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Harris has worked with a wide variety of artists including members of Arrested Development, Black Crowes, John Mayer and Cassandra Wilson. He’s always demonstrated a dynamic touch musically, blending soul, blues, rock and R&B into the supple, generally meditative shapes of his solo work. $15. 7 and 9 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — CP

JOI Would-be godmother of the stank-soul revival, Joi Gilliam has endured playing second fiddle to watered-down nu jacks for a dozen years. Though mainstream success has eluded her, all who know better hail the queen. Her Dungeon Family-affiliated collaborations (she was once married to Goodie Mob’s Big Gipp) are about as timeless as the old-school inspiration she draws from: namely rock/funk diva Betty Davis. Though she regularly hosts the Tuesday Jam at Sugarhill, a headline show at the Apache should give her ample room to dip deep into her bag of tricks, from her ‘94 debut Pendulum Vibe to 2006’s Tennessee Slim Is the Bomb. $20. 9 p.m. Apache Café. 404-876-5436. www.apachecafe.info. — Rodney Carmichael

NEW TRINITY BAROQUE “Christmas in Germany” is the theme of NTB’s annual Candlelight Christmas Concert this year. The program features the cantata “Nun komm der Heiden Heiland” by J.S. Bach, as well as his “Violin Concerto in E Major” with violinist Carrie Krause as soloist. The all-Baroque fare also includes “Das neugeborne Kindelein” and “Christmas Chorales” by Dietrich Buxtehude, and the “Christmas Suite” of Georg Telemann, among other seriously seasonal works. $29-$39. 8 p.m. St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. 770-638-7574. www.newtrinitybaroque.org. — MG

SUN/23

JENNIFER DANIELS, DREW HOLCOMB Daniels, a former winner of Eddie’s Shootout contest, doesn’t need a full band to captivate you with her thrilling, trilling vocals, but she’ll have one for this holiday-themed set. Expect seasonal material from her new EP, a transcendent set of goose bump-raising beauty, as well as the more ringing, introspective folk rock that has made her a popular Attic attraction. Soulful opener Holcomb also rides in on a new singer/songwriter Christmas disc featuring a tougher than you’d expect version of “Silent Night.” $13. 9 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 770-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — HH

wed/26

COL. BRUCE HAMPTON AND THE QUARK ALLIANCE The Grand Poohbah of Atlanta’s offbeat roots-rock scene remains as eccentric, innovative and irrepressible as ever on his new band’s fine debut, Give Thanks to Chank. He’s a local institution, so this post-Christmas hometown gig should attract musical friends he has cultivated through the years. But this outfit needs no help crafting its stew of soul/funk/reggae/jazz, all propelled by the good Col.’s peculiar, distinctive, yet always amicable personality. The folksy Mosier Brothers also appear. $12 plus two cans of food. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

thurs/27

DEAD CONFEDERATE, ALL THE SAINTS Rising from the ashes of the jam-driven Redbelly Band, this Athens quintet graduated to a shadowy keen, suffused of arid drone. The sultry thrum spikes in noisy spasms of roar, then recedes into a sturdy pulse colored in shimmering swaths of distortion and reverb. The insistent narcotized sound insinuates itself slyly, like a well-lit barroom lothario. All the Saints’ chunky garage psych lingers like stoned window-shoppers as the bubbling rumble slowly accumulates like storm clouds haunted by the incipient spectre of release. $7. 9 p.m. Lenny’s Bar. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — CP

SWINGING CAESARS, BACKYARDBIRDS The Christmas season is a great time for recalling warm memories, and tonight the Swinging Caesars will bring back the best moments of the Swinging Richards and Caesar Speaks, a couple of once-popular Atlanta bands. With Chris Edmonds, Peter Stroud (staying busy with these reunion side projects while off the road from his Sheryl Crow duties), Kenny Creswell and Bruce Smith. The Backyardbirds open, continuing their Yardbirds tribute shows. $5 plus two cans of food. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — LVS

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.