See & Do March 30 2005

Music

You will know ...?
Most bands work in the throwaway gestures of traditional pop/rock, but ... AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE Trail of Dead is the rare act with both the grand impulse and the ability to make it work, though the music’s epic scale belies the group’s fascination with progressive rock. The Austin quartet, playing APRIL 1, began its decade of existence as loud, cacophonous rebels employing Sonic Youth’s vocabulary of crash-and-burn distorted guitar with live equipment demolition la the Who. The latest release, Worlds Apart, reveals a more polished vehicle that’s tighter in the curves and doesn’t fly off the road. $15. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com.

Music

Desperate Confessions?
Two wildly popular and confessional singer/songwriters ease into town this week. On APRIL 4, TORI AMOS comes to Symphony Hall, and two days later, ALICIA KEYS settles into the Fox for a two-night stand APRIL 6-7. Both are riding high on highly personal releases: Amos’ The Beekeeper is a metaphorical visit to her garden, while The Diary of Alicia Keys offers pages ripped from her innermost thoughts. Though both shows are sold out, we’re betting plenty of their rabid fans have already snapped up tickets. Amos: 8 p.m. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantaconcerts.com. Keys: 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. 404-817-8700. www.foxtheatre.org.

Music

Hot corn, cold corn, bring along the demijohn ...?
Unfortunately, demijohns - those wicker-covered long-neck bottles, usually filled with wine or ‘shine - aren’t allowed at the 29th annual PEACHBLOSSOM BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL. But what it lacks in likker, the festival makes up for in bluegrass, with 16 local and regional acts offering a dose of that high lonesome sound APRIL 2. Headliners include Pine Mountain Railroad and Michelle Nixon & Drive, but local acts such as Cedar Hill, Whoa Nelly, and Brush Fire are what make it so much fun. No beer and no alcohol, but - with proceeds benefiting WRFG-FM (89.3) - this is a good time for a good cause. $10-$15. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. State Farmer’s Market, Exit 237 off I-75 South. 404-523-3471. www.wrfg.org.

Benefit

Stop wine-ing?
Those wine and cheese benefits for the arts can get so, well, cheesy, no? Each year, the High Museum hosts an annual wine auction fundraiser that closes with the decidedly unstuffy RED, WHITE & BREW. As the name suggests, it offers red and white wine and beer from more than 30 different breweries and microbreweries. Though there will be food from area restaurants, we sincerely doubt you’ll find anyone muddling about the tables commenting on their pairings at the APRIL 2 event. But we do have one warning: Get your tickets now, because the event sells out every year. $55. 7-11 p.m. Under the tents at Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Road. 404-733-5000. www.theredwhiteandbrew.com.

March 31 Thursday
Tonight, ANDREWS UPSTAIRS celebrates two years of operation in the former Celebrity Rock location. The hard-touring and always rowdy Southeastern band Mel & the Party Hats should keep the fun going into the wee hours with sets beginning at 10:30. Free. 8 p.m. 56 E. Andrews Drive. 404-467-1600. www.andrewsupstairs.com. (LVS)

April 1 Friday
We’ll spare you the obvious jokes: Today, metro Atlanta police officers begin a three-day camp-out on top of Atlanta-area Krispy Kreme doughnut shops as part of their COPS ON SHOPS campaign, an effort to raise money to benefit Special Olympics Georgia. Those who contribute $5 or more obtain not only the thanks of local officers, but more importantly, the opportunity to get free doughnuts and other delicious treats from Krispy Kreme. 6 a.m.; Sun., April 3, 6 p.m. 295 Ponce de Leon Ave., and seven other metro Atlanta locations. 404-876-7307. www.krispykreme.com. (Anïsa Lewis)

Wanna be a roller girl? The Atlanta Roller Girls are throwing a recruitment party for the 2005 roller derby season. They’ll be presenting footage of the Texas Rollergirls in action, along with goodies and a meet-and-greet. Team positions as well as volunteer opportunities are available. 8 p.m. Brewhouse Cafe, 401 Moreland Ave. 404-525-7799. www.atlantarollergirls.com. (AL)

April 2 Saturday
The Living Sea, an Academy Award-nominated film, returns to Fernbank Museum’s IMAX theater. The under-the-sea action, which includes the music of Sting and narration by Meryl Streep, explores the sea’s natural cycles and its complex relationship with humanity. $6-$10. Shows daily, times vary. 767 Clifton Road. 404-929-6400. www.fernbank.edu/museum. (AL)

April 3 Sunday
Take that pen-collecting obsession to a whole new level at the 11th annual Great Southeastern Pen Show. Closing today, it features scads of retro collectors’ pens, pens from around the globe, new trends and Victorian models. $6. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Holiday Inn Select-Atlanta Perimeter/Dunwoody, 4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. 770-457-6363. (AL)

April 4 Monday
Obviously, the petition to stop ASHLEE SIMPSON from performing live hasn’t worked. If that Nexium prescription really works, Simpson’s audience will be treated to her la-la-laing with her CD. If it doesn’t, the audience will be treated to the acid reflux-suffering pop tart lip-synching to her CD. $28.50. 7 p.m. Arena at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway. 404-249-6400. www.gwinnettcenter.com. (Heather Kuldell)

April 5 Tuesday
SpongeBob SquarePants is a favorite of children, college stoners and gay rights activists. Now he’s off to win over a new demographic - the minor league hockey crowd. The GwinneTt Gladiators take on the Charlotte Checkers with the pineapple-dwelling sea creature skating by their side. For other events in the wide world of sports, see Sports List, p. 106. $10-$19. 7:35 p.m. Arena at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway. 770-497-5100. www.gwinnettgladiators.com. (Coley Ward)

April 6 Wednesday
Stone Mountain Park offers a Spring Break Festival for kids, keeping them busy all week long with oodles of shows and interactive games. The Georgia Wildlife Encounter features native birds of prey, a coyote and a baby cougar, while the Wheels of Freestyle show takes kids in a completely different direction, with extreme stunts performed by in-line skaters, skateboarders and other tricks you’ll hope your kids never manage to re-create at home. $17-$20. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Highway 78. 770-498-5690. www.stonemountainpark.com. (LB) ??