Sound Menu November 07 2001 Tues
FATHEAD — Like hometown heroes The Roots, Philadelphia seven-piece Fathead combines live instrumentation with hip-hop lyricism. While MCs Herbie D. and FreAKAnature don’t really have the vocal presence of Black Thought or Malik B, they rap without pretense — an undervalued skill. And the band’s sumptuous organic groove is always cozy, like a worn shag carpet under bare feet. Brandyhouse (Hutchinson)LIVE, STEREO MC’S — Since the platinum-plus success of 1994’s Throwing Copper, the blustery Ed Kowalczyk and crew have come dangerously close to painting themselves into a quasi-mystical corner. On their latest, V, they can’t seem to decide whether to revisit their music-for-the-masses glory or veer off in some unexpected direction (try synths, samples, drum loops and a guest rap from Tricky). While the experimental nuances are a welcome respite from Live’s relentless loud-soft arena-friendly dynamic, the mixed-up feel of the album underscores the group’s ongoing dilemma — confusing arrogance with ambition. No strangers to making a statement, South London’s Stereo MC’s open the show, touring behind Deep Down and Dirty, their first album in almost a decade. Tabernacle (Rowland)
PERNICE BROTHERS, THE SADIES — If you feel you might do something drastic if another music critic gushes over the Pernice Brothers’ The World Won’t End, turn the page. Joe Pernice’s latest collection of symphonic pop, lamenting love gone wrong and love just gone, puts him in that rarefied air of tunesmiths named Costello, Webb and Wilson. It’s that good, loaded with metaphors that could spark serious self-analysis, and melodies plucked from the heavens. The Sadies, a first-rate twang/surf/garage/country band from Toronto, open. The Earl (Berkery/Sarig)
TOPAZ, SQUAT — Furrowing their field between the old-school funk-jazz of the Crusaders and early electric Miles Davis, NYC-based saxist Topaz and the seven-piece band that bears his name find their groove. Predominantly instrumental, the group shifts from atmospheric to straight-ahead to experimental. Athens’ Squat make a perfect evening of crossover, but far from slick, contemporary jazz-fusion. Smith’s Olde Bar (Horowitz)
BILLY’S: Open Mic
BLIND WILLIE’S: Delta Moon
BRADLEY’S AMERICAN CAFE: Burt Mabry & Steve Ward
BRANDYHOUSE: Fathead, Basement
CALEDONIA-ATHENS: Tiger Style, Engine Down, Fin Fang Foom
CHURCHILL GROUNDS JAZZ CAFE: Jam Session with Danny Harper
COTTON CLUB: 6 Against 7
THE EARL: The Pernice Brothers, The Sadies
ECHO LOUNGE: Girls Night Out with DJ Cherry
ECLIPSE DI LUNA: Trio Latino Band
FAT MATT’S RIB SHACK: Rough Draft
GEORGIA THEATRE-ATHENS: Tim Reynolds, Janah, Devon
KAYA: House Arrest - house DJs including Kemit, Kevin O and J-Luv, plus buffet
LUBY’S: Gwinnetmusicscene.com
MCDUFF’S IRISH PUB: Open mic with Vicki Salz
METROPOLITAN PIZZA: Karaoke
NOMENCLATURE MUSEUM: Food For The Distraught with rotating DJs Spearhead X, J-Sun, Boolicious and Hazeus
NORTHSIDE TAVERN: Mountain Jam hosted by Devon Oxford
OLDE PECULIAR PUBLIC HOUSE: Open-mic
RAY’S ON THE RIVER: Waveform with Doc Samuels, Larry Jackson, Tom Woodruff
RIALTO: Georga State Jazz Band, Tim Armacost
RIB SHACK BLUES CAFE- STN MTN:
SMITH’S OLDE BAR: Topaz, Squat
STAR BAR-L5P: Funk with Romeo Cologne
THE TABERNACLE: Live
TASTY WORLD-ATHENS: Benefit for Leukemia/ Lymphoma
THREE DOLLAR CAFE- SNELLVILLE: Open Mic Night
VIOLETTE RESTAURANT: Jus Jazz featuring Dave Wallis, Eddie Taylor, Dan Coy, Shack Lewis, Rita Graham and Pete the bartender
WHISKERS: Mark & Jody
WILD WING CAFE: The Pheromones
WOODEN NICKEL: Ian Schumacher