Courtesy soul asylum
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. Their innocent roar suggests an electro-punk Shonen Knife, particularly on tracks like "Negative Thinking," where frontman Johnny Siera sings, "If I felt cynicism, I'd wrap it in a blanket of discontentment. Fuck that!" Free. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- Chris Parker
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. -- Hal Horowitz
BOZ SCAGGS W/THE ASO The stylish poster boy for slick, rhythmic '70s blue-eyed soul hasn't released an album of original material in seven years, but as with his old bandmate Steve Miller, the Chastain faithful don't schlep out the candles and pricey catered food to hear new stuff. The symphony will add heft to Scaggs' sumptuous ballads and he'll surely play the "Lowdown" hits. But he's best when laying into the upbeat blues and R&B at the foundation of his earliest songs. $25-$90. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheater. 404-733-5000. www.classicchastain.com. -- HH
THURS/3
THE 4TH OF U-LIE CONCERT FEATURING NY OIL, ISHUES, STACY EPPS, SUNS OF LIGHT, LAST LYRICISTS, LEON ROTHSTEIN Talk about ironic. The homes of both Minister Server of the Temple of Hip Hop and Professor Griff of Public Enemy were recently lost in two separate fires. So folks have pulled together, including community activist Angie the Hip Hop Angel and noted DJ/producer Sol Messiah, to hold a fundraiser for the celebrated hip-hop vets. With a deep list of artists, the sets won't be long, but Leon Rothstein of the Labratz will debut a few solo songs and Stacy Epps will be on hand to keep the crowd "Floatin." $10 donation. 10 p.m. The Five Spot. 404-223-1100. www.fivespot-atl.com. -- Jacinta Howard
DIXIE BEELINERS, BLUEGRASS JAM The Beeliners have managed to make traditional bluegrass interesting again, with their rapid-fire instrumentals and captivating songs. They are students and scholars of the genre, and treat it with the respect it deserves. Open jam gives newbies a chance to sit in and refine their chops. $7. Jam at 7 p.m., Beeliners at 9 p.m. Red Light Café. 404-874-7828. www.redlightcafe.com. -- James Kelly
CLAIRE HOLLEY, JONATHAN BYRD, DAVID JACOBS-STRAIN There are so many great indie artists who seem to fly under the radar, yet continue to work the road and hone their craft because they love doing it. Holley is one who deserves more public acclaim, and hopefully her newest CD, Hush, will move her upward. Her thoughtful lyrics and tender melodies are great for a warm summer night. Fellow folkies Byrd and Jacobs-Strain open. $10-$50. 8 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- JK
KEVIN KINNEY BAND, THE HEAP When he's away from the bluster of Drivin N Cryin, lead singer Kinney has room to explore the deeper folkie, country and blues influences that help make his band so resilient. He's an Atlanta institution of sorts and a survivor in the music trench wars whose distinctive, Dirty South roots and warbling vocals tap a scruffy authenticity that remains timeless and edgy. Athens-based the Heap's funk-soul-jazz mélange makes an interesting opener. $15. 8 p.m. Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. -- HH
NO AGE Shoegazers live on through this L.A. duo, whose ample racket recalls the fuzzy roar of Jesus & Mary Chain wedded to jagged post-punk angularity and hardcore clatter instead of Beach Boys melodies. The dissonant spikes of drone owe a debt to Sonic Youth, and the white-noise wall of distortion recalls Dinosaur Jr., but the blend of influences produces something uniquely their own. Drummer Dean Allen Spunt sings with a Wareham-like dispassion, though vocals are somewhat intermittent, between the ambient noise and blasts of spiky melody. $10-$12. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org. -- CP
FRI/4
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA A musical Independence Day celebration that features mostly American music: Aaron Copland's "Fanfare of the Common Man" and "A Lincoln Portrait," the "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story" by Leonard Bernstein, Christopher Theofanidis' luminous "Rainbow Body." Two perennial populist favorites cap off the concert: the "1812 Overture" by Russian composer Peter Tchiakovsky and the quintessential American march "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa. Star-spangled Robert Spano conducts. Live HD video of fireworks at Lenox Square follows. $21-$64. 7:30 p.m. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. 404-733-5397. www.vzwamp.com. -- Mark Gresham
SAT/5
ASYLUM STREET SPANKERS Austin-based acoustic band and theatrical troupe that gleefully mashes up styles from juke-joint jazz to punk-rock and rap into a potpourri of novelty, whimsy and comedic subversion, using everything from washboard and toy piano to Tibetan harmonic singing (emulating space aliens). The Spankers' songs touch on a range of topics too: obsessive admiration ("Sidekick," "My Favorite Record"), redneck transmogrifications ("Beer," "Hick-hop") and on-target perspectives about childhood ("Be Like You," "Mommy Says No!"). $20-$100. 8 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- MG
FLEET FOXES This Seattle quintet's debut is among the most critically lauded releases of the year, thanks to a pretty paisley shimmer and rich three-part harmonies. The psych-pop tone suggests the Shins at times, though that's mediated by their shambling folk-baroque moments, which reimagine Burt Bacharach as freak folk. Frontman Robin Pecknold's soaring vocals key the songs emotively, fueling their earthy, nature gospel of "Quiet Houses," "Meadowlarks" and "Blue Ridge Mountains." $10. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn. 404-870-0575. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. -- CP
TOM WAITS For a guy who didn't play Atlanta for a few decades before his 2006 show, this quick return is an unexpected treat. Waits is an adamantly noncommercial actor/author/singer/songwriter whose iconoclastic, often experimental oeuvre and lengthy career is a guidebook for how to stay successful in the music biz without selling out. His raw, raspy vocals, offbeat instrumentation, twisted melodies and wry lyrics appeal to a dedicated audience of critics and fans that is the very definition of cult. But it's a substantial enough one to sell out this large auditorium at inflated prices. $65-$105. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre. 404-249-6400. www.foxtheatre.org. -- HH
SUN/6
LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND To quote one of his peers, for Lovett "the road goes on forever." He's turned a marginally successful career into a cottage industry, consistently putting out good albums and packing in the fans at his shows. With so many musicians available, Lovett is able to work the ensemble from an intimate acoustic thing to a full-on big band. And he is always good. Always. $37.50-$67.50. 7:30 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheater. 404-249-6400. www.ticketmaster.com. -- JK
MON/7
THE JET AGE There is more than a little Pete Townsend and Ray Davies in the Jet Age's auteur Eric Tischler. His band's new conceptual album is a direct descendant of Tommy and Quadrophrenia with Who/Kinks-influenced songs that slot into a three-act rock-opera format. The narrative is complex but any whiff of pretentiousness is squashed by the trio's frantic energy and raw power-pop attack. Thankfully, the booming tunes stand on their own without the need for a libretto or even any idea of the storyline. Free. 9 p.m. Lenny's. 404-577-7721.
www.lennysbar.com. -- HH
TUE/8
JOAN ARMATRADING It's hard to believe Armatrading has been making great music for more than 35 years, and her latest endeavor, Into The Blues, is just another great chapter in her storied career. With a voice as rich and smooth as honey and a song selection loaded with gems, she has cast a giant shadow on popular music that many strive to emerge from. $40-$42.50. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. -- JK
THE BLACK ANGELS, THE WARLOCKS The guitars are thick and sultry like the air in a sweat lodge, soaked in reverberating distortion and saturated hum, a primal, shamanistic drone driving through the smoky haze of Spacemen 3's resinous remains. The decade-old Warlocks' latest, Heavy Deavy Skull Lover, leans more toward noise pop, particularly on the delicate "So Paranoid." The Black Angels' second disc, Direction to See a Ghost, maintains the debut's garage grit amid spiraling, stereoscopic guitar plumage that hides resilient buds of melody and hooks. $12. 8 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. -- CP
GWENDY JOYSEN Pop/folk-rock songstress Joysen, noted for her emotive vocals and adept songwriting, hosts the release concert and party for her new CD Love is Stronger, published on her own Atlanta-based indie DayFlower label. Among the disc's songs, all written by Joysen, the single "Not Enough" has already gained strong attention in the GLBT community, with publisher Rainbow Legend picking it up as a theme song for one of its book tours. $10. 9 p.m. Cafe 290. 404-256-3942. www.cafe290atlanta.com. -- MG
WED/9
SOUL ASYLUM, GIN BLOSSOMS These two once-scrappy '80s pop/alternative relics both released new albums in the past few years, not that anyone noticed or cared. Neither has many original members left, either, but as long as they stick with the MTV-approved hits, their ringing, guitar-based pop goes down easy and remains far less dated than the music of many of their contemporaries. Still, as retro summer concert shed bills go, this is a surprisingly anemic lineup. $25-$35. 8 p.m. Chastain Park Amphitheater. 404-733-5000. www.classicchastain.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.
