Sound Menu August 26 2009
WED/26
FLAMING LIPS, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, STARDEATH & WHITE DWARFS The Lips evolved from widescreen acid-rocking punks into mad layered pop geniuses during the past quarter-century, uniting the spacey and elegantly beautiful. Dynamic instrumentalists Explosions in the Sky’s symphonies have sharper, more aerodynamic edges. $43. 7:30 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-233-2227. www.classicchastain.com. — Chris Parker
THE RESCUES This half male/female quartet is comprised of respected singer/songwriters whose own folk-pop is critically acclaimed. But together they prove the axiom that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s especially true when the Fleetwood Mac-styled harmonies start flying. $15-$75. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — Hal Horowitz
THURS/27
ELIZA GILKYSON, DEDE VOGT In an ocean of talented singer/songwriters, Gilkyson stands out with her “cut to the bone” honesty and insight. Turning darkness into beauty is an art, and Gilkyson is a true purveyor. Local songster Vogt opens. $18-$90. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — James Kelly
ENSEMBLE PAMPELMOUSSE This NYC crew of modern classical misfits is bent on exploring the outer limits of electronic and improvised music. Remarkable chemistry binds the group’s members, and their camaraderie is just as important to their sound as their virtuoso skills when it comes to manning a procession of flute, strings, drums and knobs on their trek. $8. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. — Chad Radford
THE INCREDIBLE SANDWICH This Athens quartet dig deep grooves filled with jazz-blues-folk-funk ganache spilling out a spunky mix of the Dead, MM&W, and Weather Report. Their debut EP ranges from jazzy pop atmospheres to expansive fusion jams with a rootsy undercurrent. Free. 5:30 p.m. Sweetwater Brewing Company. 404-691-2537. www.sweetwaterbrew.com. — Chris Parker
FRI/28
AIROES, EAR PWR Atlanta’s Airoes create spastic music that sounds like you are fighting the boss of the last level of an old Nintendo game with time running out. Baltimore’s Ear Pwr has a similar affinity for retro video games, as well as ‘80s dance and hip-hop. Toro Y Moi and the Crunk Punk DJs round out this electro bill. $5. 10 p.m. 529. 404-228-6769. www.529atl.com. — Jonathan Williams
AMON TOBIN, WELDER, SIMON B Headlining the opening of Athens’ latest music venue, Tobin is known for his dark mix of jungle grooves, breakbeats and hip-hop’s low end. Welder mixes glitchy IDM with ambient pop while Simon B spins a set of techno, electro and anything else that will keep bodies moving. $20-$25. 9 p.m. New Earth Music Hall, Athens. 706-543-8283. www.newearthmusichall.com. — JW
EDWIN MCCAIN, FREDDY JONES BAND Both McCain and Jones make easy, fairly light music for folks who don’t need a lot of heavy stuff bringing them down. Not that it is a bad thing, but it is a pretty common thing. $15-$45. 7:30 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-733-4800. www.classicchastain.com. — JK
LOS LOBOS There aren’t many acts still touring with their original members 36 years down the line, but East L.A.’s Los Lobos’ inventive combination of Latin, rockabilly, country, folk, blues, world and even experimental roots music remains fresh and inspirational. Expect all that and some new material, too, from a soon to be released 18th album. Delta Moon opens. $35. 8 p.m. Atlanta Botanical Garden. 404-249-6400. www.concertsinthegarden.org. — HH
NEBULA, THE ENTRANCE BAND, EL CAMINOS Featuring ex-Fu Manchu guitarist Eddie Glass, Nebula arrives draped in more fuzz than the work frig’s year-old leftovers. The wah wails and rhythm section quakes setting controls to the heart of the sun on their raucous garage-psych exploration. $12. 8 p.m. Masquerade. 404-577-8178. masq.com. — CP
SAT/29
ANNA KRAMER & THE LOST CAUSE, OCHA LA ROCHA, JOHN PAUL KEITH & THE ONE FOUR FIVES, HAYSHAKER All four bands on the bill tonight embrace a skewed, although deeply engrained sense of Americana in their songwriting, ranging from straight-forward rock ‘n’ roll to a more robust mix of earth-toned and traditional country songs. Memphis rockers Keith and the One Four Fives are the only non-local act on the bill. $10. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbar.net. — CR
CHERYL WHEELER Despite the somber nature of much of her catalog, fans know that folk singer Wheeler’s live shows are as much a showcase for her humorous between-song patter as for the introspective material that dominates her studio work. She tours behind a new album, her eighth, which features three frisky tunes about her late cat. $22.50-$25. 8:30 p.m. Red Light Cafe. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. — HH
EN VOGUE, TONY! TONI! TONÉ!, SILK Is anyone else mourning the death of R&B’s slow jam? OK, so the quiet storm era wasn’t the most magnetic in black music, but at least such groups as EnVogue, Tony! Toni! Toné! and Silk provided the essential baby-making music that helped teen pregnancy rates skyrocket in the early ’90s. Nowadays, all these poor young people have to set the mood is Percocet. Now throw your lit cell phone in the air, and wave it side to side like you just don’t care. $25-$60. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-733-4800. www.classicchastain.com. — Rodney Carmichael
KIMBERLY NICHOLE, RAHBI, THE REMNANT Last year, one of Atlanta’s most electric soul vocalists Nichole departed for bigger and better in N.Y. Yet she ended up collaborating with a slew of Atlanta-based talent, including producer Q Kegler, to put together her debut album, The Yellow Brick Journey. Nichole returns for the release party this weekend, and she’s just what the A’s been missing. $5. 9 p.m. Apache Café. 404-876-5436. www.apachecafe.info. — RC
TUES/1
DEPECHE MODE, PETER, BJORN, & JOHN It’s amazing that DM is still plugging along with its trademark new wave techno style — so dated but still fun to dance to. PB&J open with more or less of the same. $30-$84. 7 p.m. Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood. 404-443-5090. www.hob.com/venues/concerts/lakewood. — JK