By Shane Harrison
Live Music Picks
Brad Paisley shows off guitar skills live
Thursday, September 18, 2008
THURSDAY, SEPT. 18
Steve Brown
The Selmanaires will perform with Anna Kramer and the Lost Cause in a concert that benefits the Georgia Music Hall of Fame’s Music in Kids’ Education program.
TELECASTER MASTER: The man’s phenomenal guitar prowess often has been underutilized in his string of country hits, but it’s a major asset when he rips it up live — and on his upcoming album, “Play.” The largely instrumental disc comes out Nov. 4 and includes guest vocals from Keith Urban and B.B. King. With Jewel and Chuck Wicks.
• THE 411: 7:30 p.m. $54.50; $25 lawn; $75 lawn family four-pack. Lakewood Amphitheatre, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta. 404-443-5090, 404-249-6400, www.livenation.com.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
SWEET SOUL: The early ’70s hits of this Philadelphia R&B vocal group — including Top 10s “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and “I’m Stone in Love With You” — can still send shivers up the spine, largely due to the lovely falsetto of frontman Russell Thompkins Jr. Alas, he’s no longer part of the Stylistics, but those gorgeous love songs still pack enough sweet, sweet love to make this a romantic’s dream night.
• THE 411: 7 p.m. $25-$65. Lithonia Amphitheatre, 2515 Park Place, Lithonia. 770-484-8740, www.lithonia concerts.com.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
HIP OR HYPE? The hype that greeted this Jacksonville outfit was overwhelming — including being touted as one of Rolling Stone’s 10 Artists to Watch for 2008 — and they had a lot to live up to with debut album “Partie Traumatic.” It was bound to disappoint, but it’s a more than accomplished debut that should appeal to folks who have a thing for the poppier side of the Cure, or a yen for the ’80s in general.
• THE 411: 9 p.m. $15. The EARL, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., East Atlanta. 404-522-3950, 1-800-594-8499, www.badearl.com.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
ROCK IN A WEIRD PLACE: Formed from the ashes of critical fave At the Drive-In, Mars Volta crafts a strange and adventurous blend of musical mayhem that’s enough to make the words “progressive rock” cool again. Music for metal-loving eggheads. Tickets for the canceled April 5 show will not be valid for the new date.
• THE 411: 8 p.m. $35. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-659-9022, www.livenation.com.
DANCE TO THE EAST: The Eastern European flavor of this New York-based gypsy-punk ensemble comes courtesy of Ukrainian frontman Eugene Hutz. He is also an actor, playing the English-mangling Ukrainian guide in the film adaptation of the Jonathan Safran Foer novel “Everything Is Illuminated,” and he’s the lead in Madonna’s upcoming directorial debut, “Filth and Wisdom.” At times, Bordello’s music bears a striking resemblance to some of the Pogues’ more raucous material, which points up the many similarities among Europe’s indigenous musical traditions.
• THE 411: 8:30 p.m. $25. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Little Five Points. 404-521-1786, www.variety-playhouse.com.
shows
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
Live at Five With the Selmanaires, Anna Kramer and the Lost Cause
EARLY BIRDS: So you’re not the night owl you used to be. That shouldn’t stop you from seeing some of the best local music around. Here’s a good opportunity for those of us who need our beauty sleep — and it benefits the Georgia Music Hall of Fame’s Music in Kids’ Education program. The ever-awesome Selmanaires cram together a freaky melting pot of inspirations — ’60s pop, surf, reggae, etc. — along with sublime vocal harmonies and watchspring-tight playing. Kramer and Co.’s music is a layered cocktail of torch songs, punk blasts and gritty old country. If Patsy Cline were a punk, she’d be Anna Kramer.
• THE 411: 5 p.m. $5 Hard Rock Cafe, 215 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-688-7625, www.hardrock.com.
