Sound Menu December 10 2008
WED/10
NEIL DIAMOND I love the way these older artists are rediscovering themselves, as Diamond’s recent CD is a fine piece of work. Naturally, he will cover the rootsy classics from the ’60s as well, along with the ostentatious crap. $52-$120. 7 p.m. Gwinnett Arena. 404-249-6400. www.gwinnettcenter.com. -- James Kelly
THURS/11
ANDPW, DEXATEENS, BATHTUB GIN, YOUR UNCLE BILL WHO WENT CRAZY For this week’s installment of the Star Bar’s Thursday night freakout, All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, the Dexateens, Bathtub Gin and Your Uncle Bill Who Went Crazy fill out a bill of full-on punk, garage and otherwise deranged rock and roll jams. Free. 9 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbaratlanta.com. — Chad Radford
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS The Morehouse Glee Club and Gwinnett Young Singers are guests of the ASO&C for “Christmas with the ASO,” an enduring annual Atlanta holiday tradition for half a century. Program repeats Friday and Saturday. $29-$62. 8 p.m. Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham
HAYES CARLL Pretty much your typical singer/songwriter, but with a sense of humor. Carll is as entertaining as the other guys and worth a listen. His latest single, “She Left Me for Jesus,” is causing quite a ruckus. $12. 8:30 p.m. The Five Spot. 404-223-1100. www.fivespot-atl.com. — James Kelly
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY, THE MEEKS FAMILY, DELANEY DAVIDSON Golightly sowed her garage-rock oats with Thee Headcoatees and solo for a dozen years before abandoning her soulful garage punk for a ragged backwoods country duo her last two albums. See p. 49 for more on Holly Golightly. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CP
JOHNNY WINTER Those who remember Winter’s frantic ’70s shows will need to get used to this version, where the once raging guitarist stays seated to deliver his blues rocking with a calmer authority. $25 and two canned goods. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — Hal Horowitz
FRI/12
ATLANTA GAY MEN’S CHORUS Known nationally among the GLBT choral community, AGMC offers up songs from the 1954 jukebox musical “White Christmas” amid a stocking full of Christmas classics and holiday favorites. Repeat show Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. $15-$45. 8 p.m. Cathedral of St. Philip. 404-320-1030. www.agmchorus.org. — MG
RICHIE HAVENS Best known for his unique interpretations of other artist’s tunes, Havens is a symbol of an era long gone, when protest songs actually meant something and people paid attention to the words. Remember Woodstock! $30-$32.50. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. — JK
WILLIE “BIG EYES” SMITH The ex-Muddy Waters drummer now moves out front for vocals and harmonica. The result is raw, rugged Chicago blues played by a guy who learned his craft at the feet of one of the genre’s masters. $15. 9 p.m. Blind Willie’s. 404-873-2583. www.blindwilliesblues.com. — HH
SAT/13
ADAM F, HIVE, DB, PHANTOM 45, DJ CAPITAL J, TRILOGY SOUND, DJ WEDNESDAY A massive drum and bass lineup gathers at the Atrium — once a rave venue staple in the ’90s — to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of an Atlanta promotion crew. Fans of the hard and fast sound will reap the benefits — especially with the reapparance of longtime Atlanta DnB legends DJ Wednesday, D:RC, Little Jen, and Hazeus and Tester of Trilogy Sound. $20-$30. 9 p.m. The Atrium. 404-298-6545. www.theatriumlive.com. — T. LaGon
ALL THE SAINTS, THE NEC, BALKANS, ABBY GO GO All the Saints are quickly becoming the noisy, arty, psychedelic-rock flagship for Atlanta’s indie-rock scene. Local up and comers the NEC, Balkans, and Abby Go Go open with their respectively skewed takes on punk-rock grind. $6-$8. The Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — CR
RAHBI For the fourth edition of his Strange Fruit concert series, glam-soulster Rahbi invites Atlanta’s cooler breed of rap and R&B cats, including Rome Fortune, Muffy, Fiya Starta, Shanell, Hollyweerd and Scar. For more on Rahbi, see the Vibes Backpage. $12-$15. 10 p.m. Apache Café. 404-876-5436. www.apachecafe.info. — Rodney Carmichael
REBIRTH BRASS BAND, KRISTIN DIABLE This New Orleans institution celebrates its 25th year of blending Big Easy brass with swinging soul, invigorating traditional sounds with contemporary panache and irresistible boogie. The loose-limbed, improvisational sets and brash grooves thrive on keen musicianship. $20 and two canned goods. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — CP
SUN/14
ATLANTA SINGERS Familiar Christmas carols share the stage with seasonal choral classics by Felix Mendelssohn, Healy Wilan, Herbert Howells, Ulysses Kay, Abbie Betinis and Rene Clausen in this concert by one of Atlanta’s most notable vocal ensembles. $20. 7:30 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG
PATTY LARKIN The heralded folk singer/songwriter plays all the instruments on her stunning 2008 album, infusing already introspective material with an even more personal, warm and occasionally ghostly touch. Live, she’s better, with between-song patter that further illuminates the tunes. $20. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — HH
WONDERROOT WINTER SOULSTICE FUNDRAISER WonderRoot hosts the second annual Winter Soulstice benefit with performances by Eddy Fontane, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, It’s Elephants, Picturemefree, the Grain and the Brotherland. There will also be live acoustic music in the Atlanta Room as well as a silent art auction. $10 and two cans of food. 5 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — CR
MON/15
AMY GRANT, VINCE GILL Nashville’s happiest couple share the stage with a combination of holiday music, Grant’s poppy Christian fare, and Gill’s smooth country. They are turning the Fox into a honky-tonk for baby Jesus! Ho ho ho, y’all. $25-$75. 7:30 p.m. Fox Theater. 404-249-4600. www.foxtheatre.org. — JK
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@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@creativeloafing.com.