Crib Notes

Local fixture ANNA KRAMER has secretly dominated Atlanta’s country, folk and under-ground rock scenes for the last decade via her various solo and band efforts. With her current trio, the Lost Cause, featuring Shannon Mulvaney (upright bass) and Adam Renshaw (drums), she has perfected a body of songs that captures the true spirit of an urbane Southern troubadour. There’s more dang than twang on her 2008 release, The Rustic Contemporary Sounds of Anna Kramer and the Lost Cause (International Hits). And you can’t call it alt-country without giving equal props to the palette of ’70s Brit invasion and ’90s indie rock that gives just as much kick to her strut. www.myspace.com/annakramer. — Chad Radford

Click here to view CL’s complete 2008 Best of Atlanta/After Dark critics’ and readers’ picks.

Photo by Joeff Davis

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Music acts for Friday, August 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. — Chris Parker

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. — Hal Horowitz

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. — James Kelly

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A LOCAL LEGEND: the Dexter Romweber duo (photo by Camellia Morton)

The third and final day of Bubbapalooza ‘08 features some of the finest acts to grace this year’s festival. Bands on the bill include. Rocket 350, the Psychodevilles, the Dexter Romweber Duo, Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause, Jimmy & The Teasers, Billie Joe Winghead, El Capitan & The Scallywags and the Georgia Fireflies.

None of these acts are to be missed, but this critics pics for the must see performances of the entire weekend are Anna Kramer & the Loast Cause, and of course former Flat Duo Jets main man Dexter Romweber fronting a new duo. Kramer & the Cause have just returned from a West coast tour and are sharper than ever. Romweber is straight-up a local legend. Yeah he lives in North Carloina, but he honed his chops in the golden age of Athens, GA… He’s a local. What are you gonna do?

It’s $15 at the door and the music starts at 8 p.m. For more information click here.

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