Sound Menu July 26 2006

CL’s picks for the week’s best shows

THURS/27

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ART GARFUNKEL As half the iconic ’60s duo Simon & Garfunkel, wiry haired Art’s heavenly harmonies blended perfectly with the timeless words and music of Paul Simon. Solo, the singer/actor is a great interpreter of tunes, and his live show features an impressive collection of material from the talents of such heralded wordsmiths as Jimmy Webb — and yes, even Simon. As he proved on the recent S&G reunion tour, he still possesses an incredible voice, a dramatic presence and an endearing sense of humor. $25-$70. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre. 770-819-7765. www.mablehouseamphitheatre.com. — Lee Valentine Smith

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CHRIS KNIGHT, STOVALL While Steve Earle’s work slowly devolves into a caricature of his past glory, Chris Knight continues to crank out powerful and unique “story songs” that capture a dark and oppressive image of life in America. Not for the fainthearted, but a listening experience you won’t soon forget. His newest release, Enough Rope, is a mo-fo. $12. 9 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — James Kelly

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FRI/28

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COGBURNS, ROCKET 350, THE LOVE DRUNKS To celebrate the release of their second album, Pay Up, Sucker!, the garage-rockin’ Cogburns are hosting a CD release party with surprises galore, including a costume contest. Check their My Space page for more info, or just go and be truly surprised — and thoroughly rocked — by the recently revamped lineup of the skinny necktie-wearin’ band. Guests include Rocket 350 and those sexxxy kissin’ fools the Love Drunks. Pucker up, sucker! $7. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — LVS

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DJ SHORTKUT Jonathan “Shortkut” Cruz is a one-time member of two of the most celebrated hip-hop DJ crews ever: the legendary Invisibl Skratch Piklz and the Beat Junkies. His aesthetic ranges from underground and mainstream hip-hop to dancehall and funky ol’ soul. You’re not going to hear any trainwrecks and bad mixes tonight, kids. With Shortkut, you’re rocking with the best. 10 p.m. MJQ Concourse. www.mjqatlanta.com. — Mosi Reeves

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JON FADDIS QUARTET A protege of Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter Faddis has technical and expressive range in his straight-ahead jazz that evokes the voices of his mentor and other jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge and Miles Davis. $35. 8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — Mark Gresham

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LUST To celebrate a full-on decade of Lust, the luscious girls (and, oh yeah, boy — I almost forgot) of the wacky theatrical trio are throwing a swingin’ party, heavy on the kitsch. The crazy soirée is sponsored by the number 10, due to the bands TENure, of “10 years, 10 drummers, 10’s of 100’s of wardrobe changes, and 10’s of thousands of miles.” Come dressed in a crazy Vegas koo-koo nutty kinda way and win prizes! Or just show up and watch the fun. Also scheduled to appear: Tiger! Tiger! (featuring Susanne from Lust on bass), Chicago punkers Plasma Drive, Courtesy Murder (with Lusty Amos on drums) and, of course, Sass Parilla, the Singing Gorilla. $5. 9 p.m. Lenny’s. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. — LVS

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QUINTRON & MISS PUSSY CAT, HARRY MERRY Quintron & Miss Pussy Cat have fought an uphill battle since hurricane Katrina flooded their home and studio in New Orleans’ 9th Ward. But their merger of demented puppetry coupled with homemade drums and swamp-monster electronics still jolt to life with Cajun art-punk shivers. Harry Merry opens with a set of whimsical, lo-fi pop culled from Rotterdam’s most deranged alleys. $12. 8 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Chad Radford

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WENDY WALDMAN, FREEBO, JIM PHOTOGLO These crafty musicians go way back, individually and collectively. Waldman was one of the coolest of the late ’70s Warner Brothers stable of female singer/songwriters. She’s written songs covered by a ton of diverse acts on the country and pop sides of the tracks. She’s also worked with legendary L.A.-based musician Freebo, a mainstay of classic performances by Bonnie Raitt and Maria Muldaur. The two recently appeared on Neil Young’s Living with War. Freebo’s Before the Separation is part of the reason for this tour. Also, his collaborations with Photoglo, a Nashville-based genre-jumper, surely will feature tunes from their Sparks in the Radio, as well. Does anyone — besides me — remember his ’80s band called Photoglo? $15. 9 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — LVS

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SAT/29

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CAROLINE & THE RAMBLERS, FULTON COUNTY RHYTHM KINGS The kid-friendly, PBR-flowing Saturday matinee series continues with one of Atlanta’s finest vocalists, Caroline Engel, and her amazing combo. John McLean’s Rhythm Kings are also making one of their first public performances today, so you gotta be there. $2-$5. 3 p.m. PushPush Theater. 404-377-6332. www.pushpushtheater.com. — JK

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THE CRYSTAL METHOD In 1995, “Superstar DJ” Keoki released the single “Caterpillar.” On said single were breakbeat “superstars” including Florida’s Rabbit in the Moon and Las Vegas-founded duo the Crystal Method. And it was the Crystal Method’s “big beats” that took “Caterpillar” from indulgent dreck to dancefloor devastator. Personally, I haven’t been as compelled since, though these guys have kept the beat rollin’. Now we’ve got “funky breaks,” “nu-breaks,” “drum ‘n’ breaks” and all kinds of other reasons for excessive use of quote marks. And surely the Crystal Method’s Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland will play a bit of it all. While you’ll no longer see my stovepipe pants flapping to the speaker’s pulse, “Caterpillar” is still redemptive. J-Luv, Kevin O and Prince Presto also make like Michael Jackson and just beat it. $15. 9 p.m. Eleven50. 404-874-0428. www.eleven50.com. — Tony Ware

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HALO FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY It’s called Halo, but it’s unlikely the people who visit this swank neighborhood nook in the bowels of the Biltmore intend to wile away their time being angelic. Over the past five years, this Little Lounge That Could has dished out more and more (and s’mores) entertainment, becoming a go-to grotto for refined rumpus. Now the minimalist futurists are celebrating five years of jet set gourmet behind unmarked doors, and along with champagne wishes and caviar dreams will be the sounds of Halo’s resident DJs, as well as NYC’s Turntables on the Hudson DJs Nickodemus and Mariano, plus percussionist Nappy G. Deep and dubby, never grubby, this conceptual coven will leave the walls palpitating and perspiring. Call for price. 8 p.m. Halo. 404-962-7333. www.halolounge.com. — TW

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ONEIDA, BIRDS OF AVALON, BLACK TAJ If you’re looking for nothing more than smart hard-rock from Oneida, then look elsewhere. The Brooklyn group’s new album, Happy New Year, finds its expanding repertoire to incorporate droning, mystical melodies alongside the usual rhythm and strum. Raleigh, N.C., band Birds of Avalon sound equally progressive, though their incarnation of it is less futuristic than throwback (as in ’70s). Black Taj, which sports two members of the late and beloved Polvo, opens for what should be an indie-heavy night. The occasion is a book release party for Chunklet magazine’s The Overrated Book. See 3Qs with Henry Owings in Arts, p. 41. $8. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — MR

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U.S. ARMY GROUND FORCES BAND Led by Captain Paul R. Bamonte, the U.S. Army Ground Forces Band is one of Atlanta’s hometown ensembles, based at Fort McPherson in the city’s south side. The afternoon program offers everything from full symphonic band repertoire to selections for smaller groups such as brass quintet and Dixieland band. Free. 3 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG

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SUN/30

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ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The ASO’s annual Bark in the Park concert, led by Jere Flint, features animal-themed music and includes an open invitation to bring your pet to enjoy the program. Whether dog, cat, weasel, armadillo, flying squirrel, gecko, wallaby, emu or capybara, all species of fauna are welcomed. Free. 7:30 p.m. Piedmont Park, Oak Hill. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — MG

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GREG TROOPER He’s one of the most overlooked singers in the business, and deserves much more attention than he gets. Trooper’s last CD, Make It Through This World, was a blue-eyed soul masterpiece, and even in an intimate solo setting he can blow you away. A great way to end the weekend. $10. 7 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK

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MON/31

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THE MINDERS, THE KINGDOM, THE PROTECTORS OF Even though the Minders are some of the more remote cousins of the Elephant 6 family, the group’s brand of Beatles-centric pop bares the unmistakable mark of its Athens-based compatriots. The group is currently touring in support of It’s a Bright Guilty World (Future Farmer), its first release in more than three years. The Kingdom and the Protectors Of open the show. $8. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR

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TUES/1

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THE BITTERSWEETS Oakland, Calif., quintet the Bittersweets makes lovely acoustic pop-rock and is distinguished by the sweet, textured vocals of Hannah Prater and Chris Meyers. The group just released its debut album, The Life You Always Wanted, and Prater and Meyers are promoting the disc with a string of acoustic dates. Philadelphia singer Todd Martin opens. $10. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — MR

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WED/2

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FIONA APPLE It’s hard to believe that Apple’s third album, Extraordinary Machine, is her lowest-selling effort to date. It’s one of her best, wedding extraordinary lyrics like “It took the agenda from its place in my bed/Made a merry paramour of me” (from the song “O’ Sailor”) with heavy, thumping cabaret pop. Raspy singer/songwriter David Garza supports. $27.84-$74.28. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-733-4800. www.classicchastain.org. — MR

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LUKE FAIR Admit it, we’re all looking backward to move forward. You think, “Man, I wasn’t able to get the last girl I dated to tie me up and tickle my taint, so how can I subtly convince the next one?” Electronic music is much like that taint-tickling, always drawing on the past to diddle the skittle of the future. Take some evocatively hollow tech-house, adhere it to some jack tracks, cobble together melodic prog pads with grit-streaked electro stabs and twist some cheeky strings on top of funky house. Wha’cha got? Bedrock DJ Luke Fair and a prostate pulsing like a hydraulic press. $10. 9 p.m. Eleven50. 404-874-0428. www.eleven50.com. — TW

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THURS/3

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BATTLECAT, GOD’S AMERICA, THIS SONG IS A MESS BUT SO AM I, EMPEROR X, DRY LUNGS Battlecat is an Atlanta post-screamo super group featuring Jeff Burgoon (Airoes), Mike Keenan (Airoes, Electrosleep Int’l), Sean Fitzgerald (Electrosleep Int’l), and Pat Clarici (Portrait). The group’s dual-bass pummel is reminiscent of its members’ not-so-branched family tree, while moving into new realms of recklessness. A Marathon of noisy and experimental post-hardcore acts open. $6. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR

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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.