Sound Menu February 27 2002 Thur

JOSHUA BELL — The past couple of decades have seen the meteoric rise — and fall — of many a gifted young tyro on the violin (whatever happened to Eugene Fodor?). But Joshua Bell has handled the transition from adolescence to adulthood with uncommon ease, continuing to hang in there as one of the most acclaimed violinists of his generation. He is joined by another gifted young tyro, conductor (and Atlanta favorite) Alan Gilbert, in a performance of Bortz, Bernstein and Schumann. Symphony Hall (Brown)

BLACK LOVE — Former Pineal Ventana and Titanics bassist Brian Cook has teamed with former BOB singer Rich Hudson to form the eccentric, minimalist outfit Black Love, which combines the eerie, occasionally catchy keyboard scrawls of the Residents with the Dadaist rock of The Red Crayola. The duo debuts tonight in an opening slot for Audio Explorations. Caledonia Lounge/Athens (Sarig)

PRECIOUS BRYANT — See article, p. 83. Blind Willie’s (Powell)

FREEBO — The veteran bassist, best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt and Maria Muldaur, presents a selection of tunes from his recent album, Dog People, a collection of songs dedicated to man’s best friend. Freebo frequently performs with singer/songwriter Caroline Aiken, and will join her Friday night at the Java House in Conyers. Tonight, singer/songwriter Wendy Bucklew shares the bill. Eddie’s Attic (Smith)

THE HELGAS — Various permutations of “hard, loud and fast” rule the evening as local quartet the Helgas (featuring members from 17 Years and Lust) unveils its five-song single. Boss, American Plastics and the Nowhere Squares offer more variations on the punk theme. 9 Lives Saloon (Sarig)

LAMBCHOP — See Record Reviews, p. 105. Echo Lounge (Ware)

PLUS ONE — Christian boy band Plus One would seem to have all the elements to make it the single most tepid whitebread act in the world. But their new CD, Obvious (out this week as the group kicks off its national tour in Atlanta), is hardly the worse we’ve heard from the genre. Of course, we’re grading on a curve here, but 12-year-old church girls could do a lot worse than peep Obvious’ sharp production and respectable hooks. Civic Center (Sarig)

TRISTEZA, RIZZUDO, REMUXERS — See Tristeza in Record Reviews, p. 105. If the gentle facets of Tristeza’s post-rock aren’t enough to get you moving, come dance a jig as the brothers Rizzudo rock a Moogy math rush. Make it early to catch the knee-slapping finger-tapping of Remuxers, who scale the scales like Eddie Van Halen with indie cred. The Earl (Ware)