Sharp Notes November 07 2001

Electronic producer Chris Brann, under the guise of his Ananda Project, contributes a remix of Bebel Gilberto’s “Alguem” on the Brazilian singer’s Tanto Tempo Remixes CD.

Kodac Harrison takes his spoken word/folk act overseas this month as he plays dates in Germany and the Netherlands. He’s due back — likely with some new stories to tell — by Nov. 29 for his monthly Blue Plate Special at East Atlanta’s Gravity Pub. Not to be outdone, itinerant bluesman Mudcat also hits Switzerland, Italy and France for dates this month.

Fresh off their surprise Athens show — the first full band performance in their hometown in seven years — R.E.M. showed up unexpectedly at Peter Buck’s Seattle club, the Crocodile Cafe. Eddie Vedder joined the trio on versions of Pearl Jam’s “Long Road” and Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power.” The traveling Michael Stipe also made an unscheduled appearance at the Beastie Boys’ recent New York fund raiser for Sept. 11 victims.

The video for Jermaine Dupri’s new single “Welcome to Atlanta” was appropriately shot at various area nightspots, including Club 112. The clip is also peppered by cameos from noted local celebs Evander Holyfield and the Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins. Along with releasing his own album, Instructions, last week, running his label and a heavy production schedule, the busy Dupri is planning a So-So Def package tour early next year.

Ernie Boetz, leader of the band Boetz, is also a talented artist who works with NASCAR. He designed the Coke polar bear illustrations on the hoods of cars for Bobby Labonte (#18) and Tony Stewart (#20). Watch for them as they whiz by.