THU/10
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Host Ken Meltzer and ASO conducting fellow Laura Jackson lead this one-night "listen and learn"-style concert including Paul Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (yep, the one featured in Disney's animated Fantasia, with Mickey and the mops) and the 1919 version of the orchestral suite from Igor Stravinsky's ballet, "The Firebird." $25. 7 p.m. Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. -- Mark Gresham
COCO ROSIE, BUSDRIVER, TEZ Coco Rosie (aka sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady) returns with The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn. One sister sports a mustache, one sings like an elfish Billie Holiday. Together they craft a surreal and operatic album that melds haunted-house sounds with beats, samples and chirps. Busdriver wields a balance of rapid-fire rhymes and acerbic wit. French experimental MC and beat maker Tez also performs. $12. 7 p.m. Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. -- Chad Radford
THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS This jazz/R&B/jam supergroup of sorts features established journeymen of the genre such as keyboardist Robert Walter and reedman Karl Denson. The quintet's new album proves that a near-decadelong hiatus playing under the Greyboy moniker hasn't dulled its collective juices as men on a funky mission. In concert though, the jams bring out the best in each member's sharp improvisational talent and ability to tap into a sizzling James Brown-styled take-it-the-bridge groove. Guaranteed to put ants in your pants. $22.50-$25. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. ww.variety-playhouse.com. -- Hal Horowitz
SAY ANYTHING, SAVES THE DAY, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA Singer/guitarist Max Bemis burst onto the scene in 2004 with Say Anything's conceptual second album, ...Is a Real Boy, which traces the rise and fall of a band led by an emotionally troubled singer resembling himself (Bemis suffered a nervous breakdown after the album's release). Saves the Day recovered from its limp, poppy major-label debut (In Reverie), returning to Vagrant and rediscovering the punk-pop verve of its early days on last year's Sound the Alarm. The warm, rich indie pop of Manchester Orchestra opens. $17. 7 p.m. Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. -- Chris Parker
FRI/11
SON VOLT Jay Farrar's prolific post-Son Volt solo career resulted in lots of music, little of it memorable. Last year's band reformation initially seemed like a desperate attempt for commercial viability, but the resulting album was a surprisingly strong comeback. A year and another release later, Farrar seems to have regained his footing as a moaning Americana, country-folk rocker with a sack full of touching, mournful, if similar-sounding, songs. Now, if the notoriously shy musician would only find some stage presence. The High Strung opens. $20. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. -- HH
SOUTHERN COMFORT MUSIC EXPERIENCE Tonight marks the return of SCMX, a free, two-day festival created by the liquor company to feature bands, food and (of course) liquid refreshment. And, since potent potables will be present (for a price), attendance is restricted to those over the legal drinking age of 21. This isn't Music Midtown, buddy. It's an interesting sampling of bands and entertainment with main stage acts including Wolfmother (9:30 p.m.), Mickey Avalon (8 p.m.) and Rose Hill Drive (6:30 p.m.). A second stage, sponsored by Creative Loafing, will offer a chance to sip a set from Elevado (6 p.m.), Collective Efforts (7:30 p.m.) and Pistolero (9 p.m.) between the main acts. Free. 5-11 p.m. Centennial Park. www.southerncomfort.com. -- Lee Valentine Smith
STEELY DAN Considering that the Becker/Fagen brain trust was so adamantly against touring in their salad days, a relatively recent burst of road-happy activity over the past few years is an acknowledgment that they truly can pull off those tricky jazz-pop masterpieces live and/or a realization that they're not getting any younger. Either way, fans win and with Fagen's last solo album a return to past glories, the band's already bulging catalog of wry pop gems increased substantially. $34-$88. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-233-2227. www.ticketmaster.com/venue/114766. -- HH
SAT/12
BOYS NIGHT OUT Tonight, Atlanta singer/songwriters Mike Rickard, Wayne Fishell, Lucas Mire and Sean Kagalis present an out-and-proud "writers in the round" showcase. The evening of music is intended to help increase networking opportunities for local gay musicians and their supporters. Richard Solomon opens. The group has created a special MySpace page for the event: www.myspace.com/rlcboys. $7. 7 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. -- LVS
THE CLIENTELE, BEACH HOUSE, THE CLOSE With its third full-length, God Save the Clientele (Merge), British act the Clientele crafts lush and lazy pop melodies that marry classic alternative song craft with a fey wit and breezy tone. Baltimore duo Beach House plays a sparse and delicately lo-fi brand of art pop. Like-minded Atlanta indie the Close performs numbers from its latest self-released offering, Sun, Burn. $10. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. -- CR
COWBOY JUNKIES, TEDDY THOMPSON It's been about 20 years since the Junkies took the world by storm with their dark and Gothic neo-country sound. That's a long time, and the band has grown immensely since then. How do you improve on such greatness? I don't know, but they have. The ever-improving Teddy Thompson opens, and has made great steps in emerging from the shadows of his incredibly talented parents -- Richard and Linda. $35. 7:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. -- James Kelly
SIMON PRESTON Voted one of classical music's "Greatest Players of the Century" by Classic CD magazine, organist Simon Preston is unimpeachably one of the legends of kist o' whistles. Of special note among the program's music is the "Free Fantasia on O Zion Haste and How Firm a Foundation" by University of Michigan composer William Bolcom. Preston's recital also includes music by Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, J.S. Bach and Maurice Duruflé. $30. 8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. -- MG
SOUTHERN COMFORT MUSIC EXPERIENCE (SCMXATL) The final night of the Southern Comfort Music Experience includes performances by Cypress Hill (9:30 p.m.), Galactic (7 p.m.), Sick Puppies (5:30 p.m.) and the Zac Brown Band (4 p.m.) on the main stage. The second stage, sponsored by your comfortably Southern friends here at Creative Loafing, pours a party mix of Coy Bowles (3:30 p.m.), Crane (5 p.m.), Gurufish (6:30 p.m.) and Psyche Origami (9 p.m.). Free. 3-11 p.m. Centennial Park. www.southerncomfort.com. -- LVS
SUN/13
J. ROBBINS BENEFIT As a producer/engineer and former frontman for D.C. post-punk bands Jawbox and Burning Airlines, J. Robbins worked closely with local acts Drop Sonic, the Purkinje Shift and Heros Severum over the last decade. His son was recently diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, for which there is no cure. Lay Down Mains, Scars, the Forever War and Mistaken for Them are playing a benefit show to cover medical expenses. $10. 8 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. -- CR
THE WRIGHTS, JON BYRD Former Atlantans the Wrights made a name for themselves as Heritage Cherry before heading to Music City for the big time. They make great country music, with beautiful harmonies and intelligent songs. Another ATL ex-pat, Jon Byrd, opens the show. His new CD, Byrd's Auto Parts, may be the best honky-tonk album to come out this year. DON'T MISS THIS ONE!!! $12; mothers get in for half-price. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. -- JK
MON/14
FROG EYES, ALEX DELIVERY Canadian quartet Frog Eyes pits chirping and distressed vocals against a clamor of unhinged and upbeat art pop. The group balances manic and nonsensical lyricism with gorgeous, angular melodies that bring a sense of whimsical order to the jittery dirge. Brooklyn five-piece Alex Delivery balances noise and rhythm in a set of experimental rock backed by a hypnotic show of films and lights. $8. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- CR
TUE/15
JOE GRANSDEN W/ GWINNETT PHILHARMONIC BIG BAND Smooth-jazz trumpeter Joe Gransden is featured in this big-band jazz concert backed up by members of the Gwinnett Philharmonic, performing time-honored charts by great jazz legends. Student and senior discounts available. $12-$28. 8 p.m. Gwinnett Center Performing Arts Center. 770-418-1115. www.gwinnettphilharmonic.org. -- MG
WED/16
DICKY BETTS, THE OUTLAWS Two Southern rock legends perform tonight, and you can bet the shit will be kicked. Betts is a truly great guitarist, and his tunes are ingrained in the heart of Dixie. The current lineup of the Outlaws will be wading through the "Green Grass and High Tides" once again. $20-$100. 8 p.m. Wild Bill's. 678-473-1000. www.wildbillsatlanta.com. -- JK
THE DRAMS The last time through, Brent Best and Co. ripped into a rollicking version of Buffalo Springfield's "Burned" as one of the few covers in a roaring, frills-free set. That song perfectly reflects the combination of country, rock and pop the Drams churn out with effortless aplomb. A little slicker and more melodic than Slobberbone, the group from which three of its members emerged, the Texas-based quintet's current sound is tweaked to be slightly more commercial but just as edgy and intense. Justin Brogdon opens. $10. 9 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. -- HH
LADYTRON Ladytron descends on angels' wings, still icy from the upper atmosphere. Its chilly synth pop channels the graceful ambience of Stereolab as well as the percolating dance-floor throb of '80s New Wave, and gently stirs them into a frothy, if subdued, pop mix. It's dark, dreamy stuff delivered with more nuance and flavor than your typical club chum. Equally charming is the band's commitment to playing its vintage equipment live instead of using samples. $5. 11 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- CP
ROBERT EARL KEEN Keen follows in the alt-country tradition of Townes Van Zandt and Terry Allen, penning character studies of windblown souls, the broken-hearted and those who just gave up trying. Keen's a one-time journalism student who played guitar on the porch with his neighbor Lyle Lovett while at Texas A&M, and scored his first hit with the satirical "Merry Christmas from the Family," a humorous ode to redneck dysfunction that spotlights his biting wit. $25. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. -- CP
THU/17
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASO principal contrabassist Ralph Jones is featured in John Harbison's "Concerto for Double Bass." ASO conducting fellow Laura Jackson leads the program, which also features four popular selections from the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" by Sergei Prokofiev, and the lushly romantic and lyrical "Symphony No. 4" of Johannes Brahms. $18-$63. Thurs., Sat.-Sun., 8 p.m. Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. -- MG
JOSEPH ARTHUR, STARS OF TRACK AND FIELD An adventurous songwriter from Akron, Ohio, Arthur was initially discovered by Peter Gabriel, releasing his roots-inflected debut on Gabriel's Real World label. Arthur usually works from a folk-based template that's greatly enriched with ambient and textural touches that take it left-of-center from your typical singer/songwriter. So it's less surprising to find Arthur chucking the whole solo-artist shtick on his latest, Let's Just Be, in favor of a band-driven rock attack. Openers Stars of Track and Field play fetching, synth-heavy twee recalling Belle & Sebastian. $12. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. -- CP
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 Friday at noon (for the issue that comes out the following Thursday) to soundboard@creativeloafing.com.
