Sound Menu May 06 2009
WED/6
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, RA RA RIOT Northwestern indie-mopesters Death Cab stepped up to the majors without losing their downbeat pop mojo. Ra Ra Riot overcame personal tragedy to establish its infectious, keening chamber pop as a revelation worthy of the Decemberists. $30-$35. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre. 404-881-2100. www.foxtheatre.org. — Chris Parker
AMOS LEE With an emotional vocabulary reminiscent of Bill Withers and Curtis Mayfield that touches the heart and soul, Lee has established a well-deserved reputation as one of today’s finest balladeers. But he can also get your toes to tapping. $25-$27.50. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — James Kelly
THUR/7
JIMMY HERRING BAND Though best known as lead guitarist for Widespread Panic, Herring’s heart lies in the jazz-fusion world. This rare solo show funds him recruiting longtime musical friends like drummer Jeff Sipe to feature furious, Southern-tinged jazz rock from Herring’s recent solo release. $20-$22.50. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-223-1100.www.variety-playhouse.com. — Hal Horowitz
BELLEVILLE OUTFIT, CASEY DRIESSEN Austin, Texas’, newest export is touring in support of its fine sophomore release, and combines a cornucopia of rootsy styles into something new. Fiddler extraordinaire Driessen opens with an eclectic set of world-influenced sounds. $10-$50. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK
THE DYNAMITES FEATURING CHARLES WALKER, BETTY HARRIS The Dynamites and Walker have been instrumental in kick-starting the biggest deep soul revival in recent years. As real as the night is long, they capture an era that cannot be forgotten. Harris brings a funky female touch. $12. 8:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — JK
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Canadian pianist Louis Lortie performs “Piano Concerto No. 4” of Ludwig van Beethoven. The ASO frames the concerto performance with evocative music by Claude Debussy and Franz Liszt. Robert Spano conducts. Repeats FRI/8 and SAT/9. $16-$73. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham
FRI/8
KEVIN DEVINE, SARAH JAFFE, MINIATURE TIGERS, BRIAN BONZ A talented singer/songwriter who doesn’t mind rocking out, Devine’s an Elliott Smith disciple who’s honed his lyrical bite since leaving indie-rockers Miracle of 86. He possesses a real stage presence much like Conor Oberst. $9-$11. 8 p.m. Vinyl. 404-885-1365. www.vinylatlanta.com. — CP
MAGDALENA KOZENÁ, KAREL KOSAREK Luminous-voiced Czech mezzo-soprano Kozená and collaborative pianist Kosarek perform a bouquet of love songs by Henry Purcell in modern realizations by Benjamin Britten, and songs by Alban Berg, Robert Schumann and Henri Duparc. $60. 8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG
SAT/9
THE DEXATEENS, ARKADELPHIA, THE ELECTRIC CYCLES These hard-rocking Alabama cousins of the Drive-By Truckers soften their country-punk attack in favor of acoustic country flavor reminiscent of Crazy Horse and Exile-era Stones on the forthcoming album, Singlewide. Rocking ‘Bama soul brothers Arkadelphia open. $8. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CP
JULIA FISCHER, MILANA CHERNYAVSKA Classic FM Gramophone 2007 Artist of the Year, 24-year-old German violinist Fischer and young
Ukrainian-born pianist Chernyavska perform a tetrad of sonatas for
violin and piano by Mozart, Beethoven, Prokofiev and Martinu. $45.
8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG
WYE OAK, POMEGRANATES, PRETTY & NICE Baltimore duo Wye Oak play soft-focus, lo-fi indie-rock songs that build around simple strums balanced against frail lyrical melodies and dramatic musical peaks and valleys. The group is touring in support of its forthcoming sophomore release for Merge, titled The Knot. Cincinnati’s Pomegranates play smooth and energetic art-pop harmonies. Boston’s Pretty & Nice opens. $8-$10. The Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Chad Radford
SUN/10
NINE INCH NAILS, JANES ADDICTION, STREET SWEEPER SOCIAL CLUB When it seemed the world had forgotten about Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor unleashed the Slip, a dark pop album that brought the ’90s industrial music innovator back to the top of his game. His shows are a spectacle of brain-melting lights and angst. Adding Jane’s Addiction to the bill pushes the nostalgia factor a little too far. Street Sweeper Social Club opens. $20-$99. 7 p.m. Lakewood Amphitheatre. 404-443-5000. www.livenation.com. — CR
CYRIL NEVILLE The youngest Neville Brother, and the band’s gritty voiced counterpart to Aaron’s sweet falsetto, continues to push his musical envelope, adding elements of gospel, hip-hop and reggae to his righteous New Orleans funk, blues and jazz roots. Atlanta funk band Entropy opens. $20. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH
ASYLUM STREET SPANKERS, JEFFREY BUTZER New mom Christina Marrs sits out this tour, but the founding, beer-swigging frontman Wammo keeps the retro jazz-blues-folk-bluegrass-comedy outfit’s fires burning. The ASS are always a blast, especially live where the ever-changing act’s musical schtick never seems forced or contrived, even if you have seem them before. $20-$100. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — Hal Horowitz
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 Rodney Carmichael, 384 Northyards Blvd., Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30313, or e-mail information to: rodney.carmichael at creativeloafing.com. To be included in the listings only, e-mail venue and band schedules by Thursday at noon (for the issue that comes out the following Wednesday) to soundboard at creativeloafing.com.