Indy rock, country and rap fill local stages
THURSDAY, Aug. 28
Elf Power, Silent Kids
ATLANTA-ATHENS SUMMIT: The arty Athenians in Elf Power infuse latter-day progressive rock with inspired quirks — or are they just folking up psychedelic pop? The quintet has covered songs by Brian Eno, the Flaming Lips and Robyn Hitchcock, and you can hear traces of all three in the band's work. The quartet version of the band that played at South by Southwest in Austin earlier this year rocked a lot harder than any of that might indicate. Elf Power has always been a band that's hard to pin down, and that's a large part of the Andrew Rieger-led outfit's appeal. The Silent Kids delivered their second album, "Dinosaurs Turn Into Birds," earlier this year. The ever-evolving Atlanta band is still based around songwriters, guitarists and vocalists Michael Oakley and Jeff Holt. The group's sound combines bits and pieces of some of rock's coolest bands, from the Velvet Underground to My Bloody Valentine, with traces of psychedelia and a ramshackle pop charm. With the Meeks Family.
The 411: 9 p.m. $10; $8 advance. The EARL, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., East Atlanta. 404-522-3950, 1-800-594-8499, www.badearl.com.
FRIDAY, Aug. 29
Brantley Gilbert
THE RIGHT ROCK /COUNTRY RATIO: In Nashville, it's become popular to shoehorn a Southern rock rowdiness and grit onto the mainstream's pop country sensibilities. It sounds forced. Brantley Gilbert, from the Jackson County seat of Jefferson, makes easy work of a blend that eludes so many mainstream country artists. His marriage of country and Southern rock rings true, because he hasn't knocked all the dirt off of his rural roots. And like fellow Georgian Luke Bryan, Gilbert's working the clubs and colleges of Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas, building a fan base one gig at a time. Don't be surprised if Gilbert, like Bryan, makes his way to the upper reaches of the country charts in the coming years. Check out his music at www.myspace.com/brantleygilbertmusic.
The 411: 8 p.m. $12-$100. Wild Bill's, 2075 Market St., Duluth. 678-473-1000, www.wildbillsatlanta.com.
MONDAY, Sept. 1
WRFG Labor Day Blues Barbecue
One of the major annual fund-raisers for community radio station WRFG (89.3 FM) will feature performances by some of Atlanta's best blues talent. There's a sad tinge to this year's festivities. The day is dedicated to late Atlanta blues musician Sean Costello, who died earlier this year on the eve of his 29th birthday. In 2006, Costello was one of the festival's headliners. This year, the Joe Krown Organ Combo leads the bill, with additional performances from the Breeze Kings, Joe McGuinness and Oliver Wood, Heaven Davis, the Soul Shakers, and Zydefunk with Charlie Wooten.
The 411: 12:30-8:30 p.m. $18; $15 advance; ages 12 and younger free. Park Tavern, 500 10th St. N.E., Midtown. 404-523-3471, www.wrfg.org.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3
Young Jeezy
GOLD AND PLATINUM: Olympic golden boy Michael Phelps is a fan of Atlanta rapper Jeezy, but he's not alone. Both of Jeezy's earlier Def Jam albums have gone platinum, selling well over 1 million copies each. Jeezy's imagery may be violent, drug-laced, cash-obsessed and liberally sprinkled with profanity, but it also feels authentic. He creates atmosphere — both foreboding and celebratory — with stunning ease. The slow-rolling beats, memorable rhymes and Jeezy's gruff delivery give his tracks a fresh and seductive spin. This show comes one day after the release of Jeezy's new album, "The Recession."
The 411: 8 p.m. $35; $31 advance. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-659-9022, 404-249-6400, www.livenation.com.
