Sharp Notes May 09 2001

Vic’s picks. Quirky singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt is on a creative roll. His new solo album has just been released and he’s almost half finished with a second Brute project where he joins fellow Athens’ residents Widespread Panic. He is also writing songs with California-based puppeteer Janie Geiser for a joint performance in New York coming up in June.?

Wave this! The front cover of Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz’ upcoming TVT album Put Yo Hood Up, contains an image of the Atlanta based group surrounded by burning Confederate flags. Lil Jon sez, “Our album cover was our way of burning the Confederate Flag and all the racist mentality that comes with it, but we’re also wearing it to show our love for the South.” Whatever. In other ATL hip-hop news, OutKast joins a star-studded cast including U2 on the soundtrack to the upcoming Tomb Raider flick. The band’s contribution, “Speed Ballin’,” is not available on any other album.?

In a rather bizarre collaboration, Underwater has written two pieces of electronic music for The Bacchae, a Greek tragedy by Euripides, which was recently presented by Starving Artist Productions. The play also featured music by Delerium and Paul Oakenfold.?

M.F. phase two. The Marianne Faithfulls are sort of back, with a new lineup and a revised name. They’ve changed their drummer and bass player, added another guitarist and are now called the more explosive The M.F. Revolution. In less revolutionary band news, ex-members of Path of Allyson, Hayride, Space Seed and Wits End have formed a new outfit called Shady’s Leash.?

Ramblin’ men. Long time Allman Brothers Band friend and fan Dean Reynolds has published The Complete Allman Brothers Band Discography. The limited edition features a comprehensive and extensive overview of the recorded output, including bootlegs, of the popular Southern rockers, its members and offshoots. Yet even at $35, it doesn’t shed any light onto the longstanding Gregg-Betts feud. Tap on www.geocities.com/abbbook for more information.