WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5
Silverchair Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins were obvious namedrops when this Aussie rock trio hit the airwaves in the mid '90s. But over the past decade, they've made some nice original rawk. Their newest recording, Young Modern, is laced with piano, electronic effects and composed, mature writing that can shoo away most younger contemporary rock combos to the backburner. The Almost and The Starting Line are also on the bill. Amos' Southend (Samir Shukla)
THURSDAY, DEC. 6
THE SHOWDOWN Tennessee's The Showdown are labeled as a Christian metal group, but their recent appearance on Ozzfest may have you wondering about that label. The band's touring in support of their recent release, the EP Feel Like Hell. David Bunton brings an old-school vocal style reminiscent of Iron Maiden (lower pitch) that compliments the chugging guitar riffs and solo-heavy fret work. Tremont Music Hall (Jeff Hahne)
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart Songwriter Stacey Earle is somewhat overshadowed in the popular media by the rather large visage (in whatever sense of the term) of her famous brother, Steve. Which is a shame. It's an apples/oranges, thing, of course, but, along with her husband/musical partner Mark Stuart, she's a wonderful – and a wonderfully giving – performer, and not afraid to bare it all (emotionally speaking) on stage. Steve's stage might be a bit bigger, but, musically speaking, Stace's is no less important. With Papertongues Showcase. The Evening Muse (Davis)
FRIDAY, DEC. 7
Nevada This Asheville-based sextet coat their songs in a glaze of miles-deep reverb and orchestral wash, recalling the best of '90s‚ shoe-gazers like Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine and Spiritualized. But there's also a palpable current of Crazy Horse guitar and neo-folkie melodicism (often via cello and violin) that acts like an old fashioned roots rock chaser. Their 2006 debut, The Sunlight & the Sound is flat-out gorgeous. With locals Bullship, who should be test-driving new material from their upcoming release. Snug Harbor (John Schacht)
Eric Lindell New Orleans R&B guitarist/vocalist Lindell understands the battered city's musical legacy and is schooled in its subtleties as well as partying ethos. That's key in his crisp guitar work and mix of blues, rock, and reggae that carves out tropically-treated R&B ably warming the toes and goading them to slip on dancing shoes. Double Door Inn (Shukla)
Black Lips Hide the kiddies and yer moonshine stills, Atlanta's notorious flower power/garage punk polarizers are steaming into town behind this year‚s well-received Good Bad Not Evil. The new record trims a bit of the spiky edges from their Syd Barrett-fronting-the-Stooges mix – check out their Tijuana-recorded live show Los Valientes del Mundo Nuevo for those spiky edges – without toning down the band‚s image as hedonistic smart-asses. The whole she-bang constantly teeters on the verge of train-wreck, which is precisely what makes it so compelling in the first place. The Sammies open. Neighborhood Theatre (Schacht)
SATURDAY, DEC. 8
Tony Rice Read the liner notes and credits of just about every bluegrass release of the past couple of decades and Rice's name will likely show up. His traditional flat-picked guitar can cause jaws to drop open while taking listeners on an American journey of bluegrass and roots music. This is essential listening for long-time bluegrass aficionados as well as newbies. With Larry Keel & Natural Bridge. Neighborhood Theatre (Shukla)
Rebecca Loebe The Atlanta native is ending her fall tour with a stop in the Queen City. The singer/songwriter has played more than 100 dates this year in support of her latest 6-song EP, The Brooklyn Series. She's a tender-voiced acoustic folkie that can belt out the notes when she needs to and does more finger-picking than strumming, adding a more intricate element to her music. Evening Muse (Hahne)
All the Saints Sounding like a mash-up of The Stone Roses, Dinosaur Jr. and 400 Blows (the band, not the Truffaut movie), Georgia's All the Saints come marching in with amps set to "stun." A "power trio" par excellence, the boys ain't afraid to dip into some psych-doom-blues a la a band like Cactus or Pentagram or Blue Cheer, either. Sherman may have burned Hotlanta down first, but don't get the flammables too near these fellers. With The Lights, Fluorescent and Red Cloud at Sundown. Snug Harbor (Davis)
