Crib Notes

The art world recognizes Chris Verene as a photographer, but Atlanta knows him as one of the city’s founding fathers of indie rock. He pounded away as the original drummer for Dairy Queen Empire (now DQE), and played in various musical acts throughout the ’80s and ’90s, including the Rock*A*Teens and the Opal Foxx Quartet.

These days, the Brooklyn-based transplant can be heard providing the beat for the Brooklyn-bases Spanish indie rock band, Cordero — so named after his wife, songwriter and the band’s founding member, Ani Cordero.

The group has a long history of cycling through collaborations with members of groups such as Calexico and Giant Sand (Howie Gelb), while various other musicians have moved in and out of the fold. Their latest album, De Donde Eres, hit the streets via on Bloodshot Records last month, and the group will be performing at The Earl on Thurs., Oct. 9. Batata Doce and The Holland Dutch open the show.

Click to watch the video for “Ruleta Rusa” from De Donde Eres.

(Photo courtesy of Cordero)

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Batata Doce is a Georgia-born outfit that combines the worlds of Brazilian folk music and psychedelic Appalachia. Vocalist/guitarist Leticia Arioli hails from Florianopolis, Brazil and her voice brings an authentic spice to the city rhythms and melodies of guitarist Russell Owens, who hails from the mountains of western North Carolina.

Leticia crafts a soulfully high-energy sound of the Portuguese/English variety, while Russell delivers a more traditionally rock-influenced and finger picking guitar style. The two lead a procession of musicians that includes Justin Hughes (guitar), Justin Sias (bass) and Todd Morrison (drums), Todd Barnett (saxophone) and Ripley Torres (percussion).

The group’s self-released, three-song demo (which can be heard here) evoke smooth, Latin lounge sounds and baroque jazz that conceal hints of pop minimalism and garage rock rhythms.

This Sun., Sept. 21  Batata Doce will hit the road for a few tour dates stretching up and down the east coast.

Click below for tour dates.

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