Sound Menu July 05 2006

THURS/6

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BLACK CROWES, ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND, DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS If you’re a popular band like the Black Crowes that tours constantly and wants to bring out fans for the next go-round, what do you do? Hire a pair of sterling opening acts. As a result, Georgia’s favorite rock band, the Drive-By Truckers, and sacred steel dynamo Robert Randolph and his Family Band are supporting the long-running Crowes, and they’re worth the price of admission alone. $24.50-$49.50. 6:30 p.m. HiFi Buys Amphitheatre. 404-443-5090. www.hob.com. — Mosi Reeves

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TRANSIT TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY Over the past two years, the Transit biweekly has really drummed up a fan base. But that’s not why they call it drum ‘n’ bass. No, they call it drum ‘n’ bass because of an ancient tradition passed down from the Druids through the Winstons Bros. to Meat Beat Manifesto and finally to breakbeat ‘ardkore producers in early ’90s inner-city London. The newly darkcore dancehall soundsystem underwent deeply phantasmagorical changes under the auspices of producer/DJs including Transit headliners Optical. Joining the techstep troops are the Upbeats, MC Armanni, Evol Intent vs. Mayhem, Deco vs. Sorted and MC Race One. The only thing missing from this night is a miniature replica of Stonehenge. Guys, $15; ladies, free. 10 p.m. The Mark. 678-904-0050. www.themarkatlanta.com. — Tony Ware

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FRI/7

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CASEY DRIESSEN, RISSI PALMER It’s five-act Friday again, but only two spots were filled at press time. Fiddle virtuoso Driessen, who has performed with Steve Earle, Tim O’Brien, and Bela Fleck, makes his solo Atlanta debut tonight, featuring songs from his excellent Sugar Hill CD 3D. Palmer is a mainstream country vocalist with a gorgeous voice. Consider the other three acts a grab bag. $10. 7 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — James Kelly

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DROPSONIC, TRAINDODGE Tonight, Atlanta’s Dropsonic celebrates the release of Xerxes, its unique new split EP with fellow rockers Traindodge, pals from Oklahoma City. But what’s so different about this split EP? It includes two songs where the bands split, swapping rhythm sections to totally meld their sounds. Sounds interesting. Go see the great exchange in person. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Lee Valentine Smith

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HOT TUNA (ELECTRIC) Jorma and Jack have often been pegged as remnants of the original Jefferson Airplane, but their history as a duet goes all the way back to the ’50s. Even approaching the unheard of 50-year mark in their collaboration, the duo shows no signs of aging, as its classic blues-rock sound is as fresh and compelling as it was in the old days. $20. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — JK

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MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS After descending into an inconsistent haze for most of the ’90s, Ministry mainstay Al Jourgensen returned in 2003 with Animositisomina, and has since been putting out Psalm 70, Psalm 71, etc., in reference to albums similar in constitution to Ministry’s 1992 breakthrough Psalm 69. These albums — including the latest, Rio Grande Blood — heap a barrage of Bush bashing atop bile-eroded industrial thrash. Additionally, Jourgensen wins an award for music’s most unrelenting album title puns (Houses of the Molé, Greatest Fits, Dark Side of the Spoon, Side Trax B-sides collection, the Sphinctour live album). Porno pun-heavy Revolting Cocks, meanwhile, are like Ministry giving the donkey punch to My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult — all sleazy sneer over steely grind. Animal Filter and Pitbull Daycare also appear. 7 p.m. $25. Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. — TW

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TAMMY ALLEN AND THE COLORS OF JAZZ A vocalist who blends smooth jazz, R&B and Latin influences, Allen left the grind of L.A. and Vegas clubs behind her to make the Atlanta area her musical home. The outdoor concert on the Callanwolde lawns, blanket and picnic basket style, will move to the indoor courtyard if it rains. $15. 7:30 p.m. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. 404-872-5338. www.callanwolde.org. — Mark Gresham

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TENEMENT HALLS, GENTLEMAN JESSE & HIS MEN Celebrating another year of indie-rock excellence, the Earl hosts its seven-year anniversary party, headlined by Atlanta’s indie-rock heirloom, Tenement Halls. Fronted by former Rock*A*Teens singer/guitarist Chris Lopez, Tenement Halls craft noisy and melancholy pop driven by a songwriter whose words are as spectral and Southern as William Faulkner or Erskine Caldwell. Gentleman Jesse & His Men open. Free. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — Chad Radford

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SAT/8

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Laura Jackson conducts the ASO in the first of two concerts of “Great Film Music,” both music written for films (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and Mission Impossible) and concert classics used in film that help make the blockbusters leap off the screen and into your face. $27. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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KRS-ONE They say there are four pillars of hip-hop. I’m still waiting for someone to tell me if they are Ionic, Doric or Corinthian. Until then, I’ll just assume they mean MCing, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti. That’s certainly what is meant at Dropbombz.com’s “This Is Hip-Hop,” an event headlined by “The Teacher” KRS-One, straight outta tha Bronx. Joining in the boogie down boom-bap are Mars Ill, Intellekt and Dirty Digits and Dres tha Beatnik. Will there be B-Boys and B-Girls? You betcha! A Needle to the Record DJ Battle? Check! A drum ‘n’ bass room featuring Evol Intent, Corrupt Souls, Mayhem and 180 Degrees? They invented wearing that pastel camo shit! I just wish someone would be there dropping mad science on the impact of Greek architecture, because then I could yell, “When I say frieze you say frieze one time, when I say frieze y’all stop on a dime!” $20-$25. 8 p.m. The Loft. 404-885-1365. www.theloftatl.com. — TW

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RANDY TRAVIS Travis was one of the prime movers of country’s “New Traditionalist” movement in the mid ’80s, and his emotional baritone sounds just as good today. The hits just keep coming. He has explored the gospel genre lately, but the stone-cold honky-tonk is his main entree. $22-$61. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-733-5000. www.classicchastain.org. — JK

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SAEED YOUNAN Having been to Washington, D.C., a handful of times I can tell you them streets is crazy, and I ain’t even talking about the crime. Some possessed architects laid D.C. out in zany Freemason patterns where straight and diagonal streets intersect in a supposed effort to impede line of sight in the event of an invasion. I suspect intentions more mystical, like the Earth energy harnessed in the tarmac lattice seeps into the citizens including Star 69 DJ Younan, resulting in tribal thumping full of sultry squelches. House of Representatives, meet house music. Ya secret society gold ring-wearing bastiches. J-Luv, Kevin O and Prince Presto perform undulating rituals in Eden. 9 p.m. $15. Eleven50. 404-874-0428. www.eleven50.com. — TW

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SEELY, SHANNON MULVANEY ROAST/BENEFIT The local music community is rallying to raise money to help International Hits co-owner and all-around music fixture Mulvaney pay medical bills in the fight against cancer. If you’ve ever wanted to make fun of Mulvaney’s sideburns, now’s the chance. Performances by Anna Kramer, the Selmanaires, Johnny Knox, the Liverhearts and more are also on hand. Long-defunct Atlanta art-rockers Seely reconvene to close the show. $7. 7 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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URBAN LEGENDS, SUBURBAN HYMNS Clever Mark Thomas Kluepfel and his Action Action associates return to headline this long evening of danceable pop. Still touring to support their giddy An Army of Shapes Between Wars, the Action continues after energetic sets from the Matches, Portugal, the Man, the Classic Crime and Rediscover. $10. 7 p.m. The Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. — LVS

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MON/10

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CARLA BOZULICH, THE DEAD SCIENCE Based out of Los Angeles, Bozulich makes music that is atmospheric, strained and harsh. Her album Evangelista, recorded with the cream of Constellation Records’ crop (think Godspeed You! Black Emperor and A Silver Mt. Zion), is a uniquely bittersweet pill. The instrumentation is jagged and industrial, and she manipulates her voice from a sad wail to a horrifying screech. In contrast, Seattle group the Dead Science is standard indie rock, albeit dramatically rendered. Local bands Ani Rossi and One Hand Loves the Other open. $5. 9 p.m. Lenny’s. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — MR

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WED/12

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ALAN MORRISON Atlanta native Morrison is one of today’s most sought-after classical organists of his generation, and is currently head of the organ department at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. The program is part of Buckhead’s annual Atlanta Summer Organ Festival. $10 (suggested donation). 7:30 p.m. Cathedral of St. Philip. 404-240-8212. www.stphilipscathedral.org. — MG

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CAMERA OBSCURA, GEORGIE JAMES The cheeky lassies of Glasgow, Scotland’s Camera Obscura cross the pond to play a set of fey-pop tunes from the group’s latest Merge Records offering, Let’s Get Out of this Country. Former Q and Not U drummer John Davis and singer/songwriter Laura Burhenn convene as Georgie James, churning out strong melodies and ’70s-style pop harmonies carved out by drums, guitars and a Fender Rhodes. $10. 7 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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PETER FRAMPTON WITH THE ASO Best-known for his double-live album Frampton Comes Alive, the vintage singer/guitarist really does come alive on stage. His studio albums have never quite captured the excitement of that lengthy collection from 30 years ago, but Frampton — also co-founder of the legendary and oft-imitated Humble Pie — continues to revisit the ’70s, much to the pleasure of his many fans. Tonight, the Atlanta Symphony adds some orchestral oomph to some of his classics. “Do You Feel Like We Do?” Sometimes, yeah. $27.84-$74.28. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-733-5000. www.classicchastain.com. — LVS

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THURS/13

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LOVEKILL, THE LETTERS ORGANIZE, THE FELIX CULPA Geez, I just love mathy post-punk rock, and just can’t get enough. If you like that stuff, too, you’ll dig Lovekill, a Cleveland quartet touring in support of its new album, These Moments Are Momentum. Also on the bill are the Letters Organize, who are giving locals plenty of chances to see them for cheap before their new album comes out and they start playing $15 gigs at the Masquerade. Finally, you’ve got the Felix Culpa, a melodic hardcore band out of Rockford, Ill. 10 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — MR

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· 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 Heather Kuldell, 384 Northyards Blvd., Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30313, or e-mail information to: heather.kuldell@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.