JONNY LANG Back in '97, blues-rock guitarist Lang made waves as a teen prodigy when his solo debut album, Lie to Me, went double platinum. Nearly 10 years later, the Fargo, N.D., native found a new musical maturity, winning a Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album with his fifth and pivotal CD, Turn Around, in 2006, melding his guitar work into a much tighter ensemble while letting impassioned vocals and lyrics leap more into the foreground. $32-$33. 8 p.m. Center Stage. 404-885-1365. www.centerstage-atlanta.com. -- Mark Gresham
SCOTT MILLER, THE WRIGHTS Ex V-Roy Miller has been riding the folk-rock/alt-country solo road since 2001 with little to show for it but a clutch of pretty cool albums and lots of miles on his van. He's a sharp songwriter, convincing singer and exciting performer who hasn't gotten the breaks that some of his influences, such as Tom Petty and Neil Young (both of whom he covers), have. The same goes for Nashville's husband-and-wife Wrights, the once-Atlanta-based couple known as Heritage Cherry whose sumptuous harmonies alone are worth the price of admission. $12-$60. 8 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- Hal Horowitz
THURS/26
BMI SHOWCASE FEATURING ASLYN, HIGHTIDE BLUES, ZACHARY KALE, GOLDEN, EMMA WHITE Two years ago, Hightide Blues was playing house parties. One week ago, they jammed at Bonnaroo. Now they're promoting the release of their second EP, Love Come Easy. They play with infectious beats and catchy lyrics twisted with classic Southern rock circa the 1970s Lynyrd Skynyrd era. Also on the bill is sultry singer Aslyn to showcase her new EP, The Grand Garden, and the funky jam band Golden. $8-$10. 9 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. -- Erin Everhart
MERLE HAGGARD The old guard of country music is getting older, but like a fine wine Haggard just keeps getting better. He's had a few health problems recently that have slowed him down a bit, but the new material is as politically powerful as the classics. The Strangers may be one of the best bands in the biz, and they always do right for Merle. Never seen him? GO! $34-$54. 7:30 p.m. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. 770-916-2800. www.cobbenergycentre.com. -- James Kelly
DANIEL JOHNSTON, THE HYMNS Many people like to point out that there is a thin line between creativity and lunacy, and Johnston has made a career out of straddling that line. His songs are unique, and have been heralded by critics and other artists. But his life has been a struggle to find balance and sanity in a world of chaos. Go for the music, not the spectacle. The Hymns twist the Americana thing in a different direction. $20-$22. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. -- JK
FRI/27
MUDCAT Take two. Danny "Mudcat" Dudek's last attempt at recording a live album was scratched due to production problems so he's back for a weekend at his favorite hometown joint to try again. He'll have his longtime band expanded with a full horn section to bolster the raw, bluesy, good-time party sound. Dudek's an Atlanta -- and Northside -- institution, even though he's probably better known in Europe where he spends much of his time. Come out, show him some love and be a part of his recorded legacy. Repeat show Saturday. $8-$10. 10 p.m. Northside Tavern. 404-874-8745. www.northsidetavern.com. -- HH
ATLANTA GAY MEN'S CHORUS Collaborative songwriting team Kander and Ebb built their fame and fortune writing for hugely popular musicals like Cabaret and penning evergreen songs like "New York, New York," in addition to being stalwart creators of new material for Broadway mavens Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera. This revue of the team's extensive output, "They Had It Coming: The Music of Kander and Ebb," was crafted by AGMC artistic director Kevin Robison. Program repeats Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. $15-$45. 8 p.m. Alliance Theatre. 404-320-1030. www.agmchorus.org. -- MG
THE BELLEVILLE OUTFIT This Americana outfit came together quickly a year ago, when the DesChamps Band was offered a slot at Merlefest. Forging a mix of the old band -- featuring offspring of Austin Americana institution Uncle Walt's Band -- and a jazzy, Big Easy bounce, they were one of the big hits of the festival. Their folk-blues-gypsy swing is old-fashioned but vibrant, fueled by rich harmonies and the sextet's crisp playing. $12-$60. 8 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- Chris Parker
BLACKTOP ROCKETS While rockabilly only really lasted two years in its original incarnation, BTR is Atlanta's finest at keeping the genre alive. They don't rely on silly costumes, stunts or slick hairdos to impress, simply letting Dave Weil's finely constructed and catchy tunes do that for them. Free. $6 for beer glass. 6 p.m. Atlanta Brewing Company. 2323 Defoor Hills Road. 404-355-5558. www.atlantabrewing.com. -- JK
EMMYLOU HARRIS, SAM BUSH, JIMMY GAUDREAU, MOONDI KLEIN She's the newest member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Harris is also the first lady of Americana. Her new album is another fine piece of work with amazing interpretations of other people's songs, and she has really come into her own as a writer. Nobody has mastered the mandolin like Bush, and openers Guidreau & Klein have an impressive résumé. $25-$75. 7 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheater. 4469 Stella Drive. 404-249-6400. www.classicchastain.com. -- JK
ISLANDS Forged from the ashes of lo-fi post-millennial Canadian indie sensation the Unicorns, the Islands' 2006 debut, Return to the Sea, was much lauded for its playful chamber psych-pop. But on their latest, Arm's Way, the sunny twee-tinged foot tappers of Sea give way to ambitious, art-pop symphonies like E.L.O. teaching Fleetwood Mac some Arcade Fire songs. There are definitely hooks and rock in there, but they get trapped in the arrangements, like a drummer locked in his car. Joys are intermittent, highlighted by the wonderful, Destroyer-like glam-rave, "Kid's Don't Know Shit." $13. 8 p.m. Masquerade. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. -- CP
SAT/28
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Robert Spano and the ASO thwart the axiom of "lite summer salad" programming with an all-Beethoven program. This tribute to the towering musical revolutionary includes his overture to Goethe's tragic but anti-despotic play Egmont, the iconic Symphony No. 5, and features the elegant phrasing and intense dynamism of pianist Dejan Lazic in the powerful "Piano Concerto No. 5" (aka "Emperor"). $21-$53. 8 p.m. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. 404-249-6400. www.vzwamp.com. -- MG
MICAH DALTON, RICHARD JULIAN Accurate comparisons to Ben Harper notwithstanding, Atlanta-based Dalton's folk-soul-blues-pop rock is a distinctive mix that has become increasingly focused through four releases and lots of road miles. He joins NYC's similarly styled Julian whose literate, bucolic folk with an urban edge has earned raves from Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones, the latter of whom he plays with as a member of her occasional Little Willies side project. His jazzy chords nearly obscure wry, sly lyrics that place him as Jesus' offspring where "life is a dream that happens between your birthday and your heart attack." $10-$50. 7 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- HH
OXFORD COLLAPSE, FRIGHTENED RABBIT Headliners Oxford Collapse better bring their "A" game because opening Scot quartet Frightened Rabbit isn't your typical feckless, here-today-gone-tomorrow collegiate rock fare. Their second album, The Midnight Organ Fight, mines a vein of indie pop that's ramshackle and beautiful, jaunty and shambling, witty but frank. They're even more impassioned live, where their sweaty show contrasts with the album's occasional delicacy. Brooklyn's Oxford Collapse recalls late-'80s underground rockers with jagged, post-punk riffs touched with ringing distortion and pulled by a taut rhythmic undertow. $8. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- CP
SUN/29
IKE Philly pop-rock band IKE has been on a roller-coaster ride. 2006 was one of their most successful years, but a difficult, near-fatal breakup at the year's end left remaining members John Faye and Joann Schmidt with a rebuilding task. With addition of drummer Tom Kristich and guitarist Brett Talley, the new mix adds an edge of emotional rawness to IKE's songs without losing their pop-rock foundations. Their fitly named CD Where To Begin was released in January. Free. 7 p.m. Park Tavern. 404-249-0001. www.parktavern.com. -- MG
WED/2
THE DEATH SET Baltimore's Australian ex-pat duo the Death Set explodes with a sample-fueled fury unheard since Atari Teenage Riot. The buzzing synth and drum-machine beats are joined by noisy, distortion-drenched bass and guitar with childlike shouted vocals like the Go! Team giving Daft Punk a beatdown. The lo-fi crush adds an amateurish, ramshackle charm to their careening, punkish racket. Free. 10 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- CP
PETER MURPHY Bauhaus' Bela Lugosi-inspired frontman returns for a trawl through his solo catalog of dark, post-punk, world-influenced prog-goth. His creepy, Bowie-styled vocals provide suitable accompaniment for eerie, often atmospheric music that nonetheless has generated a handful of hits, such as "Cuts You Up." Despite the heat, dress in black for maximum impact, dig out the dark eyeliner and be sure to wear a disaffected stare. $27-$29. 8 p.m. Center Stage. 404-885-1365. www.centerstage-atlanta.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.
