WED/13
ARMS AND SLEEPERS, CHRIS DEVOE, INDIGO VOX Cambridge, Mass., trio Arms and Sleepers create drifting, ambient soundscapes that are cut from live drums and synths. The songs move too swiftly to be called trip-hop, but are too dramatic to be called anything else. Indigo Vox is the electro-pop vehicle driven by Atlanta-based composer Raquel Pupo. Devoe spins cool and heady beats backed by electric piano and drums. $5. 9 p.m. Eyedrum Music and Art Gallery. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. -- Chad Radford
NINE INCH NAILS, DEERHUNTER How do you rekindle relevance? The same way a new band courts attention -- by giving it away. After striking industrial music's beachhead in the mainstream with his first couple albums, Reznor grew fussy, insular, indulgent and, by the time of 2005's With Teeth, largely irrelevant. While the craftsmanship's increased, his new album, The Slip, is the first to recapture the immediacy and energy of his earliest releases. It's available for free from his site, along with tracks from other electronic artists like freaky electro-psych locals Deerhunter. $39.50-$56.50. 7 p.m. Gwinnett Center. 770-813-7500. www.gwinnettcenter.com. -- Chris Parker
SILVER BEATS, PRABIR & THE SUBSTITUTES Just when you think the "tribute band" wagon will finally break down, something interesting comes along. The Silver Beats is a Japanese band that plays the early Beatles material, when they were fab. All reports say it's a visual and musical mirror on the past. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Prabir & the Substitutes open. $17.50-$20. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. -- James Kelly
STOLL VAUGHAN, BILL MALLONEE Based strictly on experience and releases, this lineup should be reversed, with ex-Vigilantes of Love frontman Mallonee, who has racked up nearly 20 years in the music biz, headlining over relative newcomer Vaughan. Regardless, it's a terrific bill of Dylan-inspired Americana, as each musician can shift from introspective folk to thumping, heartland rocking with twangy country tinges faster than you can say "the basement tapes." Both write rugged songs with ringing choruses worthy of his Bobness and have toured long enough to know how to deliver them with passion and intensity. $10-$50. 8 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- Hal Horowitz
FRI/15
LUCERO They started as a country band to piss their punk friends off, and got a little early help from Luther and Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars). Guitarist Brian Venable left, and whiskey-throated frontman Ben Nichols tacked Lucero toward indie-country roots somewhere between the Drive-By Truckers and the Replacements. Venable returned for the grimy garage rumble of 2005's Nobody's Darlings, and then in 2006 (before the Truckers!) they added a keyboardist (Rick Steff), producing the soul-soaked Southern rock Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers, like the Boss deep-fat fried with the pork rinds. $12. 9 p.m. The Hummingbird Stage & Taproom, Macon. 478-741-9130. www.myspace.com/thebirdstage. -- CP
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA After their previous Atlanta show was cancelled due to visa problems, the acoustic guitarists have exploded commercially and now play a larger theater. Anyone expecting a snoozy, laid-back evening probably hasn't seen any YouTube videos of the pair as they hyperventilate through a set that includes traditional classical Spanish guitar originals along with nontraditional prog and trash-metal covers all performed with complex, technically intricate fret-melting picking. It's rousing, unpredictable and intense music that shifts emotions in less time than you can say "Stairway to Heaven," which they famously cover. $35. 8 p.m. The Tabernacle. 404-659-9022. www.tabernacleatl.com. -- HH
THE WRIGHTS, ANNA KRAMER Former local duet the Wrights come back home to celebrate the release of a great new acoustic CD of all cover songs. Adam and Shannon's vocal interplay and smart song choices make for a pleasant evening. Kramer returns to her country roots for a night, and will make you wonder why she wandered down that rock 'n' roll highway. The gal can flat out nail those tearjerkers. $12-$60. 9:30 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- JK
SAT/16
BLACKBERRY SMOKE, JOCEPHUS & THE GEORGE JONESTOWN MASSACRE Blackberry Smoke plays pure and unadulterated Southern rock that channels the spirit of everyone from the Allman Bros. to the Byrds to craft an old world rock 'n' roll sound. Memphis country-punk fusionists Jocephus & the George Jonestown Massacre play a dazzling and somewhat confusing blend of banjo chops that find a middle ground somewhere between redneck stomps and punk-rock jitters. $10. 9 p.m. The Star Bar. 404-681-5740. www.starbar.net. -- CR
THE HISS, APACHE, ELECTRIC SHADOWS, THE NEC Atlanta four-piece the Hiss plays a cocky rock strut that borrows from the Who, the Rolling Stones, et. al. Bay Area long-hairs Apache plays rock that leans toward the pop tones of the '70s. Like-minded NYC trio Electric Shadows follows suit, but tunes it down a notch. Atlanta's the NEC hones a noisy, '60s psych-tinged rumble to guide its take on retro-mod rock 'n' roll. $8. 9:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. -- CR
KRISTIN TINSLEY Although she played her first solo gig in 2005, by the end of the following year Tinsley built an enthusiastic local fan base in Atlanta and released her debut indie CD, Cry Out to the Night. The CD's comfortable but earthy, folksy pop-rock mix underscores her distinctively reedy voice, influenced by old-school bands like Fleetwood Mac. Tinsley engages the guttural lower end of the vocal range when lyrics beg for understated emotional grit. $3-$5. 6 p.m. Dunwoody Nature Center, Dunwoody. 770-394-3322. www.dunwoodynature.org. -- Mark Gresham
WEBB WILDER, LIBERTY JONES The long, tall Nashvegan returns to town for another evening of smoking good guitar picking and witty, twangy tunes. Webb is always a sure bet, and tonight's opener Liberty Jones captures the spirit of classic Southern rock and country with style and aplomb. A great matchup, an early show and no smoking. $15. 6 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. -- JK
SUN/17
JEFFREY SIEGEL Combining performance and acculturation therapy, pianist Siegel uses informal talk and musical demonstration in his "Keyboard Conversations" programs to offer an informal "comfort zone" for enjoying classical music. This "Basking in Beethoven" recital features Beethoven's lyrical "Lebeswohl" ("B'-bye") Sonata, Op. 81a, his set of seven variations on "God Save the King" (better known on this side of the pond as "America"), and a batch of Big B's briefer bon-bons. $20. 4 p.m. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. 678-812-4000. www.atlantajcc.org. -- MG
MON/18
THE HUSH SOUND Vibrant marching melodies bounce about like attention-addled kindergartners in thrall to a rocking baroque sound somewhere between E.L.O. and labelmates Panic at the Disco. They're fueled by the complementary songwriting of emo-inclined guitarist Bob Morris and classically trained teen pianist Greta Salpeter. After almost breaking up in the wake of nearly two nonstop years supporting 2006's debut, Like Vines, they pulled it back together for their triumphant March release, Goodbye Blues. Salpeter's strutting vocals move more center stage, and her expressive style meshes well with the album's swinging, cabaret-tinged midtempo swoon. $12-$14. 7 p.m. The Loft. 404-885-1365. www.theloftatl.com. -- CP
DANIEL LAUFER AND ROBERT SPANO Atlanta Symphony music director Spano takes a rare step off the podium to take a seat at the piano, collaborating with ASO associate principal cellist Laufer to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor" (1901) and the "Sonata for Cello and Piano in A major" (1886) by César Franck. Pop-culture factoid: Laufer can also be heard as the cellist on "Devil's Arcade" from Bruce Springsteen's top-selling Magic CD of last year. $18 suggested donation. 7:30 p.m. Ellman Chapel, Ahavath Achim Synagogue. 404-355-5222. www.aasynagogue.org. -- MG
TUES/19
FAUN FABLES, JEFFREY BÜTZER Singer/frontwoman Dawn McCarthy, although raised in Washington, tends to favor a musical (and artistic) palette that veers toward British folk with avant-garde leanings. While not exactly like labelmate Joanna Newsom, she attracts a similar audience with her chirping, innocent vocals and acoustic, fairyish approach. Sweet, challenging, occasionally weird but always intriguing, she is still very much an acquired taste. Welcome local opener Butzer back from France, where his cabaret art-pop reportedly was well-received. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. -- HH
MARGOT & THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO'S The Indianapolis octet's debut, The Dust of Retreat, balances careening, string- and horn-fueled arrangements with sweet, melodious broken-hearted odes, lightened by a bit of playfulness, as on "Paper Kitten Nightmare," where Richard Edwards meows the chorus like an old Meow Mix commercial. Unlike many chamber-pop-oriented acts, Margot rocks convincingly ("Barfight Revolution, Power Violence") despite their preference for ringing, folk-tinged melodies. In September they make their Epic debut with two different albums, Animal and Not Animal, with varying song selections, one of the label's choosing and one of their own. $10. 10 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- CP
WED/20
RANDALL BRAMBLETT BAND This "lifestyle fusion boutique" is an unusual venue for Athens-based journeyman/multi-instrumentalist Bramblett to preview his just-released album, but the acoustic set should whet your appetite for his upcoming electric shows. His salty voice is the perfect vehicle for introspective, jazz-inflected singer/songwriter fare. He's a class act who has been marginalized supporting Steve Winwood in the past but is starting to be recognized as a superior frontman with his own impressive catalog. Free. 9 p.m. 1*Five*0. 404-474-4102. www.150atlanta.com. -- HH
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.
