Sound Menu March 05 2008

WED/5

ROBIN TROWER Unfortunately Cream’s Jack Bruce won’t be along to re-create the vocals from the duo’s impressive new collaborative album, but much of the bluesy rock guitarist’s set typically features Trower’s still mind-expanding, Hendrix-inspired Bridge of Sighs (mid- to late-’70s) era hits. Balding air guitarists will be out in force as Trower whips off the spacey/psychedelic leads that provided the backdrop for many a dorm party when Ford and Carter were presidents. But Trower’s new material is nearly as powerful as the Stratocaster-driven warhorses that get the fiftysomethings off the sofa and ready to rock down memory lane. $25. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-223-1100. variety-playhouse.com. — Hal Horowitz

SARAH BORGES & THE BROKEN SINGLES, TAG TEAM Bostonian Borges reminds one a lot of Wanda Jackson — deceptively ladylike in appearance, but a high-energy fireball on stage. She can rock, she can wail, and she can make you cry in your beer with a purified honky-tonk version of Tom Waits’ “Stone Blind Love.” I’m glad I can see just fine in this case. Tag Team (not the rap act) opens. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — James Kelly

WARM IN THE WAKE, HOOTS & HELLMOUTH, GIANT BEAR This reasonably priced triple bill features an impressive and eclectic trio of up-and-coming bands from a wide range of East Coast locales. Headlining is Decatur’s Warm in the Wake, who doesn’t have far to drive to deliver an intriguing combination of folksy strum combined with a fuzzy ’60s psychedelia somewhat atypical of Eddie’s usual fare. Hoots’ rousing, gospel-tinged, strummy rockabilly hails from Philadelphia, and be sure to arrive early for Giant Bear. This highly touted Memphis-based quintet throws big band, bluegrass, country and Bob Dylan in a blender with unpredictable and exhilarating results. $10. 8:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 770-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — HH

THU/6

ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Hot news for Loafers is the world premiere of “Pregunta y Respuesta” (“Question and Answer”) by Venezuelan-born Gonzalo Grau, a twentysomething composer/producer who would be equally at home in an ATL club performing with his band La Clave Secreta as he is as a guest composer in Symphony Hall with the ASO. Robert Spano conducts the program, including Tchaikovsky’s tumultuous “Symphony No. 4” and features ASO principal cellist Christopher Rex as soloist in Sam Barber’s “Cello Concerto.” Program repeats Fri., March 7, and Sat., March 8. $10-$70. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham

LIGHT PUPIL DILATE, BLOOD VESSELS, FIGHT AMP, 13 DAY MISSION Light Pupil Dilate plays a complex and psychedelic merger of hardcore and art-metal riffs, drones and chugs. Blood Vessels tempers equal parts Southern metal, classic rock and psychedelia under the direction of Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds. Fight Amp from New Jersey plays big and bottom-heavy metal riffage, and 13 Day Mission leans toward the experimental side of progressive and aggressive rock. $7. 9 p.m. Lenny’s. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — Chad Radford

FRI/7

BILLY RAY CYRUS Bummed that you missed the Hannah Montana concert? Well, here’s the next best thing to cure your perverted “Achy Breaky Heart.” Cyrus is best-known these days as the dad of the hottest teen queen in the world, but he has always been a pretty decent country singer in his own right. He actually has a new hit song in the charts, and even though the mullet is long gone I’m sure he will sing his signature tune ... for the rest of his life. $14-$100. 9 p.m. Wild Bill’s. 678-473-1000. www.wildbillsatlanta.com. — JK

FRUET E OS COZINHEIROS, ANDY DITZLER Fruet e os Cozinheiros is the brainchild of Brazilian composer, songwriter and vocalist Marcelo Fruet. The group’s sound is a hybrid of indie-rock leanings that are underscored by elements of Argentine tango, samba and various other shades of tropical Brazilian sounds. This performance at Eyedrum marks the group’s debut on American soil. Atlanta songwriter Andy Ditzler opens and will join Fruet e os Cozinheiros for a few songs. $5. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — CR

SAT/8

BOBBY BARE JR. As far removed from his famous dad’s musical footsteps as he could be, Bare Jr. does his own Southern gothic country-rock thing, with just a tiny twang thrown in. Great, catchy tunes, thoughtful songwriting, hmm ... maybe he is more like his old man than I thought. $8. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — JK

BRENTANO QUARTET Violinists Mark Steinberg and Serena Canin, violist Misha Amory and cellist Nina Lee perform “Quijotadas,” a Peruvian Andes-inspired work written for the Brentanos in 2007 by SF Bay Area composer Gabriela Lena Frank, whose music frequently reflects her travels through South America and study of its native mythologies and musical styles. Two stalwart romantic works complement: “Quartet in F minor” by Felix Mendelssohn and “Quartet in E-flat major” by Ludwig van Beethoven. Preconcert talk at 7:15 p.m. $35. 8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG

JESSE MALIN, DE NOVO DAHL Ex-D Generation frontman Malin has been honing his solo act since that band’s dissolution five years ago, further sharpening his urban-poet/rocker approach with every release. With last year’s Glitter in the Gutter, his third solo album, he nailed it, creating music that rocks with brains that never get in the way of his sweaty, man-of-the-streets attitude. Imagine a combination of Lou Reed, Paul Westerberg and Marah and you’re close to the tough-guy passion and lyrical smarts Malin exudes. Be sure to arrive early — doors at 6 p.m. — to catch De Novo Dahl’s glam-soaked pop rock. $12. 6 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

MIKE STERN Hot shot drummer Dave Weckl and journeyman bassist Tom Kennedy accompany jazz Telecaster whiz Stern on this trio date, a rare Atlanta appearance for the ex-Miles Davis sideman. This has been one of the guitarist’s biggest years yet, as his Who Let the Cats Out? release was nominated for a Best Contemporary Jazz Album Grammy (it lost). The stripped-down band allows Stern plenty of room to solo, and hearing his sumptuous tone while watching his fingers fly in a theater with sound as stellar as the Variety’s will be a treat for every jazz lover and aspiring guitarist. $25. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-223-1100.variety-playhouse.com. — HH

SUN/9

NEW MASTERSOUNDS Take the Meters, add some Booker T. and the MG’s and Medeski, Martin & Wood grooves, move ‘em to the U.K. and you’ve got the New Mastersounds. The band has been cooking up its sizzling acid-jazz/funk concoction since 2001 with a revolving set of guest vocalists, but decided to stick to all instrumentals on 2006’s 102%, a move that paid off with its tightest, toughest, funkiest set yet. The four piece doesn’t play many U.S. dates, so don’t miss this opportunity to catch ‘em in an intimate venue. Atlanta’s Entropy opens with a solid dose of jazz fusion. $10. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

WHITE MICE, DJ SCOTCH EGG, THE WHANGS Providence, R.I.’s art-spazz terror-rodents White Mice unleash a splatter of blood-soaked rat costumes and frenzied blasts of grind and squelch. The group’s shows are spectacles of anxiety that are not meant for the faint of heart. DJ Scotch Egg churns out a mishmash of video-game sounds, noise, and motorik glitch beats. Fort Lauderdale noise pop weirdos the Whangs also perform. $7. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — CR

MON/10

ROYAL SCOTS DRAGOON GUARD & BAND OF THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS Here comes the Cavalry! Scotland’s only Regiment of Cavalry, and famed for the stirring sounds of its bagpipes and drums, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard topped U.K. music charts with its rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Band of the Coldstream Guards has been in existence for more than 200 years, making it one of the world’s oldest military brass bands and the British army’s longest surviving Cavalry of the Line. $27-$38. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre. 404-817-8700. www.foxtheatre.org. — MG

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 Thursday at noon (for the issue that comes out the following Wednesday) to soundboard@creativeloafing.com.