Sound Menu May 16 2001 Tues

KOTTONMOUTH KINGS, PHUNK JUNKEEZ, SPRUNG MONKEY — The Kottonmouth Kings have truly divined the formula for commercial success in modern rock: a serviceable funk beat, metallic guitar riffs, hip-hop derived cadences and lyrics about pot. It’s music tailor-made to make adolescent boys feel dangerous while driving their folks apeshit. Rock-rap old-timers the Phunk Junkeez mine similar, though poppier territory and, against all odds, are even less interesting than their tour mates. SoCal punks Sprung Monkey take a decidedly pop turn on their latest, Get a Taste. Masquerade (Robertson/Sarig)

PLACEBO, IDLEWILD — Placebo’s singer/guitarist Brian Molko may have changed his subject matter from overindulgence to tales of caution, but have no fear, Placebo still tear through sleazy mascara-smeared rock like a needle tears a vein. Placebo’s latest, Black Market Music, is like the morning after a one-night shag: not full-on action, but still revelling in every sordid detail. See Idlewild in Record Reviews, p. 117. Roxy (Ware)

THREE MO’ TENORS — When PBS could no longer inflict the endless re-airings of the Three Tenors on its audience, it chanced upon something radically different: Three Mo’ Tenors. That’s Mo’, you know, as in black folks. Hokey as the concept may be, the program sung by these three African-American tenors — Puccini to Ellington, Sondheim to Gamble & Huff — is admittedly appealing. They hit the Ga. Tech stage for two performances. Robert Ferst Center (Sarig)

BILLY’S: Martay’s Partay

BLIND WILLIE’S: Sandra Hall

BRADLEY’S AMERICAN CAFE: Burt Mabry & Steve Ward

BRANDYHOUSE: Field Trip, Da Shiz

CHECKERED PARROT: Dance party

CHURCHILL GROUNDS JAZZ CAFE: Jam Session with Danny Harper

DAILEY’S DOWNSTAIRS: Atlanta Blaze

DARWIN’S: Slim Fatz

DIXIE TAVERN-SMYRNA: Ian Schumacher

ECHO LOUNGE: Rock and Roll High School - DJs spin your favorite punk, rock, goth and glam

ECLIPSE DI LUNA: Trio Latino Band

FAT MATT’S RIB SHACK: Rough Draft

FUZZY’S: Donna Hopkins

JUSTIN’S: Expressions

KAYA: Elevation with Sol Konfuscation and DJ Bruce Banner; House Arrest - house DJs including Kemit, Kevin O and J-Luv, plus buffet

MASQUERADE: The Kottonmouth Kings, Sprung Monkey, the Phunk Junkeez, Corporate Avengers

MCDUFF’S IRISH PUB: Open mic with Vicki Salz

METROPOLITAN PIZZA: Karaoke

NOMENCLATURE MUSEUM: Food For The Distraught with rotating DJs Spearhead X, J-Sun, Boolicious and Hazeus

NORTHSIDE TAVERN: Mountain Jam hosted by Devon Oxford

OLDE PECULIAR PUBLIC HOUSE: Open-mic with Dave Craver

PEASANT UPTOWN: The Steven Charles Jazz Duo

POPPERS: Blues Jam with Bones

RED LIGHT CAFE: Nagchampa

ROBERT FERST CENTER-GA.TECH: Three Mo’ Tenors

ROXY: Placebo, Idlewild

SMITH’S OLDE BAR: George DeVore & the Roam, Crown Electric

STAR BAR-L5P: Funk with Romeo Cologne

VIOLETTE RESTAURANT: Jus Jazz featuring Dave Wallis, Eddie Taylor, Dan Coy, Shack Lewis, Rita Graham and Pete the bartender

WILD WING CAFE: The Pheromones

WOODRUFF PARK: The Bonadventure Quartet with Amy Pike