Sound Menu December 26 2001 Mon
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA — This New Year’s Eve, the ASO parties with patriotism. Instead of the usual “Evening in Old Vienna,” this year’s “Celebrate America!” concert features a collection of crowd-pleasers from the likes of American composers Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein and Leroy Anderson — not forgetting, of course, Sousa. Music Director Emeritus Yoel Levi returns to conduct the evening’s festivities. Symphony Hall (Brown)
DAVE MATTHEWS COVER BAND — Sheesh, the least Athens could cough up would be an adequate R.E.M. cover band. Instead we get the DMCB. Rather than inviting friends over to play the real band’s live videos, join a crowd of like-minded Dave-heads to compare notes on the best DM bootleg you’ve heard. It’s better than staying home on this party night — but just barely. EarthLink Live (Horowitz)
FIVE-EIGHT, THE MOTO-LITAS, AMERICAN DREAM, KENNY HOWES — For a mere $5.80, admission is secured to party with some of the finest and most consistently challenging musicians in the area. Five-Eight continue to rock amazingly hard with sweaty, lengthy shows and an impressive catalog of thoughtfully disturbing recorded work. With their winningly upbeat and danceable music, the Moto-Litas have solidified their reputation this year as one of Atlanta’s finest acts on record or live. The cello and harp-driven American Dream promise to be loud and sloppy, unlike their often-languid and thoughtful recent club shows. Kenny Howes opens with a solo set of his breezy pop tunes. Smith’s Olde Bar (Smith)
GARTH — Midtown’s eleven50 closes out another successful year with the funky tribal techno sounds of California’s favorite son, Garth, who is joined by Atlanta’s Brandon Sutton. eleven50 (Ware)
KING JOHNSON — KJ hit its stride this year with Luck So Strange, which effectively fuses greasy blues and New Orleans and funk elements, nabbing the band some well-earned national recognition. Unpretentious yet remarkably talented, these guys rock the house. Chip’s (Horowitz)
LIVING COLOUR, LENNON — A welcome return for these political rockers, whose electrifying mix of Hendrix, Zep, James Brown and Bad Brains never quite seemed fully fleshed out when they disbanded in 1995. Vernon Reid is an astonishing, if derivative, guitarist, and Corey Glover remains one of the most mind-blowing — and eardrum-busting — frontmen in rock. Loud, proud and ferocious, their live show is legendary. Alt-metal grrl rocker Lennon — equal parts Alanis and Reznor, and more abrasive than either — opens. Roxy (Horowitz)
MAN OR ASTRO-MAN?, RED LEVEL ELEVEN, WHITE LIGHTS — Those who can’t deal with planet Earth on New Year’s Eve can beam up into the black hole of Man Or Astro-Man?’s warped imaginations. MOAM?’s wacky multi-media mix of overdriven sci-fi, surf and punk is a show you’ll never forget — and wearing your favorite spacesuit attire only adds to the experience. Sharing the bill are incendiary, subversive popsters Red Level Eleven. The whole evening gets off to a grand start when garage-rock collides with cocktail swank during the White Lights’ opening set. As a co-promotion with The Earl up the street, $20 tickets (available in advance only) gets you into both shows. Echo Lounge (Horowitz/Nicoll)
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS — Strong on meandering jams, this impressive young trio mixes superior guitar work with the same sort of hypnotic, rambling fluidity that made legends of the Grateful Dead — yet they aren’t afraid to rock out with righteous power. Building on its already strong following, the talented threesome is currently supporting its just-released second album, 51 Phantom, the strong successor to the group’s Grammy-nominated debut. Variety Playhouse (Nicoll)
EDI KRIZ OKRI — See listing for Sat., Dec. 29. Island Breeze Cafe (Sarig)
PLANET OF THE DRUMS — Produced by Liquid Groove (or Liquified, as they’re starting to be known now), “Planet of the Drums” presents one of the fiercest drum ‘n’ bass kru’s you’ll see all season, holiday or not. Philadelphia’s Dieselboy, Florida’s AK1200 and New York’s Dara — considered to be three of the pioneering U.S. jungle DJs — bring along crates of the hottest unreleased dark, hard, funky tech-step dubplates. To further sweeten the deal, some of the best locals, including Jeremy and Kia, Duda, J-Luv, Nasir, T. Mouse, Octal, Purple Haze, Oliver Dodd, Jygawatt, Lewis and Maston and 12” Gangsta, fill three other rooms. Prepare for a thorough rinsing. Masquerade (Ware)
THEE MICHELLE MALONE STARS, CHRISTINE KANE — Eddie’s favorite Michelle Malone rocks in the new year on the Attic stage. Thee Stars includes Michelle Malone on vocals, guitar, harmonica; Linda Bolley (Gentle Readers) on drums, vocals; Johnny D (Right As Rain) on guitar; and Chris Lamp on bass. The 7 p.m. show is all ages; the 10 p.m. show has singer/songwriter Christine Kane opening.Eddie’ Attic (Smith)
PEACH DROP — In addition to the usual New Year’s activities at the Underground — games, magicians, balloon artists and a very large peach — this year features a live performance by Three Dog Night. Now’s your chance to time trip back to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve circa 1968 and sing “Shambala” along with the other 40-something AM oldie-heads. Underground Atlanta (Horowitz)
FRANCINE REED, HOUSEROCKER JOHNSON AND THE SHADOWS — Reed has enjoyed a remarkably productive year with the release of a CD, a tour with Lyle Lovett and a role in the stage musical, A Time to Dance. Help her see into her next year when she highlights Blind Willie’s New Year’s party. Club regular Houserocker Johnson also performs with house band, The Shadows. Blind Willie’s (Powell)
WIDESPREAD PANIC — See listing for Sat., Dec. 29. Philips Arena (Smith)
The WOGGLES, ROCK*A*TEENS, A FIR-JU WELL — Last year’s Rent Boys show at The Earl will be hard to top, but if anyone can do it, it’s the mighty one-two punch of the Woggles and Rock*A*Teens. The Teens will rumble the backroom with friends and fans getting in on the act. The ’60s garage-rock-inspired Woggles will have the gathered mass in a dance-floor frenzy from the moment they begin playing. Brand new local band A Fir-Ju Well debut with a set of Beatle-beat pop. As a co-promotion with The Earl up the street, $20 tickets (available in advance only) gets you into both shows. The Earl (Smith)
002 — Aiming to offer the “ultimate multimedia New Year’s Eve Experience,” multiple rooms of the downtown Sheraton Atlanta get heavily decorated for deep house and rhythmic world DJs including Starboy, Luvsxi, Sharaab, Jason Gerry, Keiran, Daniel Gresham, J-Luv, Kevin-O, Marcos Pieras, Michael Scott and Brian Bazarte. Also featured: live performances by Atlanta’s favorite electronica act Aerial and up-and-coming soundscape explorers Project Digitalia. Amongst the music and multimedia projections, a casino will benefit the Huntington’s Disease Society, along with a Bond-themed fashion show by Wayne Van Nuygen. Sheraton Atlanta/Downtown (Ware)
The Abbey Heaven 2002
Apache Cafe Boundless with Azikiwe
Atlanta Symphony Hall Yoel Levi conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Bayou Room 911
Blind Willie’s Francine Reed, Houserocker Johnson & the Shadows
Brandyhouse Ancient Harmony
Bridgetown Grill - Midtown Satin Dolls
CJ’s The Likes of Which, Brian Wiltsey, Angry Ocean, The Wood, 9 from 10
Chip’s King Johnson
Clermont Lounge Antique Erotica, poetry reading by Blondie
Cowboys Rascal Flatts
Dark Horse Tavern Doubledrive, Jad
Darwin’s Slim Fatz
The Earl Rock*A*Teens, the Woggles, A Fir-Ju Well
EarthLink Live Dave Matthews Cover Band
Echo Lounge Man or Astro-man?, Red Level Eleven, White Lights
Eddie’s Attic Michelle Malone Stars, Christine Kane
eleven50 Garth, Brandon Sutton
Fat Matt’s Rib Shack The Rolling Bones
40 Watt Glands, Krush Girls
Fountainhead Lounge Brit-pop, Indie, Brit-invasion music videos
Fuzzy’s Place Java Monkey
Hard Rock Cafe Left Front Tire, Eliot James & The Snakes
International Artists Guild jazz jam
Island Breeze Caribbean Edi Okri
Jake’s Roadhouse Deep Blue Sun and friends
Limmerick Junction A-sides
Luby’s Tentilfour, RS3, Falling Up
MJQ Concourse Talib Shabazz, Gnosis, Cullen Cole, Kai Alce
Masquerade Liquified Planet of the Drums with Dieselboy, AK1200, Dra, J-Messinian, et. al.
Mumbo Jumbo Jabari and His Four Piece Band
9 Lives Saloon Dick Delicious and the Tasty Testicles, Gargantua, The Evils
Nomenclature Museum Dirty Deep
North Atlanta Trade Center AK1200
Northside Tavern Mudcat
Paradox Sky Sushi with DJ Shakim, Special T
Philips Arena Widespread Panic
The Poetry Planet Renaissance Mondays w/ The Direction
Resto Nax Tim Bower
Roxy Theatre Living Colour, Lennon
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel 002 with Aerial, DJ LuvSxi, Sharaab, Rhythm
Smith’s Olde Bar Moto-Litas, Five Eight, American Dream, Kenny Howes
Somber Reptile Heavy Metal New Year’s Eve Ball
Star Community Bar Chickens and Pigs
Tangier Silver Ball w/DJ Terrel
Tasty World 706 New Year with Guff, Donkey Punch, Hunter Gatherer, Exit 86, Egg Sandwich
Tongue & Groove DJ Shakim & Special T
Trinity Marc-Alan Gray, Michael Allen, Bil Clancy, Richard Gunsenhauser, Ryan Johnson
Underground Atlanta Peach Drop w/ Three Dog Night
Variety Playhouse North Mississippi Allstars, Ghost Trane
Varketta’s Adebi
Whisker’s Tavern-Dunwoody Alien