Crib Notes

PAULA NELSON, SHANE BRIDGES Yeah, she’s Willie’s daughter, and her thing is very typical Texas country-blues. The girl can sing, but we’ve heard most of this before. If you dig the blues, be there. Macon’s Americana guy Shane Bridges opens. $6, 8PM. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. – James Kelly

GRAILS Portland, Ore.’s purveyors of avant-garde metal return in support of their darkest and dirtiest offering yet, Doomsdayer’s Holiday. The latest release details epic, instrumental riffage and atmospheres that find sludgy, metal drums intertwining with washes of Middle Eastern textures and a white-hot tussle between harmony and distortion. For their Fri. Nov. 14th show, electronic music pioneers the Silver Apples surf the sine waves, carving out deep, psychedelic grooves. Led by the mysterious Simeon Coxe III, Silver Apples craft songs that are as addictive today as they were when the group emerged from the New York art-rock scene circa 1967. Athens’ instrumental math rockers A.Armada open. $10. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn, 736 Ponce de Leon Place. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net. — Chad Radford

(Photo Credit: Todd V. Wolfson)

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BLUE MOUNTAIN Despite nearly a decade of hard touring and raw, rollicking shows, Mississippi alt-country trio Blue Mountain tossed in the greasy, sweat-soaked towel in 2001. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Cary Hudson made a stab at a solo career, but despite their quality his albums never connected, so it’s reformation time. Touring to support two new discs — one of original music and a rerecorded “hits” set — Mountain combines backwoods, slinky picking with amped-up energy. At its best, the threesome’s energetic, sizzling gigs left newcomers raving and existing fans wondering why they weren’t stars. Andy Friedman & the Other Failures and Amy Speace & the Tearjerks get the party started. $12. 7 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

PIERCED ARROWS Rural Oregon outsiders Dead Moon called it quits in 2006. But after decades spent crafting rugged, outlaw garage rock as a lifestyle choice, retirement just wasn’t their style. In the downtime, the husband-and-wife team of Fred and Toody Cole recharged their batteries to return as PIERCED ARROWS. Their debut full-length, Straight to the Heart, is a dark, groove-driven nod to the power of loud and lo-fi rock ‘n’ roll. Gentleman Jesse and Coffin Bound open. $8-$10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com – CR

(Photo by Brad Hodge)

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They come from Utah, Texas, South Carolina, Alabama and Decatur, but The DejaBlue Grass Band has blended the roots from their regions to bring something new to the Atlanta bluegrass scene.

Friends, family, former band members and even in-laws crowded into Red Light Café Thursday night for the band’s CD release party for their first album, Bucket Full of Rain.
The burgundy, cinderblock walls of Red Light Café aren’t ideal for acoustics, but this 5-piece lit up the dingy room with sharp vocals, crisp chords and one hell-of-a fiddler.

The night was filled with The DejaBlue Grass Band’s unique sound — bluegrass twang meets country lyrics sauced with a whole ‘lotta soul. It was spun into mostly covers, but they did toss in a few originals: the title track “Bucket Full of Rain” by lead vocals and guitarist Joey Bowers and about three new songs from mandolin player and harmonies Rutland “Rut” Walker.

“It’s nerve-wracking as hell playing a song you wrote in front of people,” Walker confessed to the crowd

Obviously, this band is in unfamiliar territory.
(more…)

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By Lee Valentine Smith

Clever, funny, often profane and never boring, singer/songwriter BOB SCHNEIDER is back in town Mon., DEC. 17, with copies of his recent double-live album on Shockorama, Songs Sung and Played at the Same Time on Guitar with People in the Room. The discs, recorded in Austin, Texas, in front of a vocal group of die-hard fans, presents the laid-back entertainer in fine form, playing audience favorites. Be ready for a few selections from his “rock opera,” Fuck All You Motherfuckers. AM shares the bill. $15 plus two cans of food. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com.

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(Photo courtesy Shockorama)

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(photo courtesy www.graysoncapps.com)

GRAYSON CAPPS is the epitome of a young-yet-weathered New Orleans folksy singer/songwriter, and not just because he appeared in the Crescent City-based flick A Love Song for Bobby Long. Capps’ old band Stavin’ Chain never made much noise outside of N.O., but recent solo albums that feature his emotionally gnarled voice singing compelling story songs about those with no place to go and little left to lose have justifiably attracted reams of critical praise. Although the troubadour often tours solo, his current group joins him Thurs., NOV. 8, to further heat things up. $8. 7 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com.

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