Sri Ganesha Temple on Old Hickory Boulevard is hosting a must-see concert for any fans of Indian classical music. Featured performer Ramani is a living legend in his native India. He is uniformly regarded as one of the world's best bamboo flautists and has literally spent a lifetime mastering the deceptively simple instrument. To see a musician of his caliber is an imperative; the last time we had a chance to witness world-class performers play music exotic to most Nashvillians was at the sold-out Afro Cuban All Stars show. This is not to suggest that the two acts share anything stylistically, but merely to underscore the undeniable quality of the music you'll hear if you attend the show. Ramani will not disappoint you, but he will make your jaw drop and may move you to tears.
—C.D.
Thursday, 31st
The Ladybug Transistor Boasting both a modern sensibility and an uncanny ability to recreate the paisley summer sounds of 1967, Brooklyn's Ladybug Transistor are above all things pleasant. The incredibly intricate arrangments recall the chamber pop of The Left Banke, Donovan, and The Zombies' Odessey and Oracle, yet their mastery of infectious songcraft prevents them from being branded as mere retro-geeks. They might not be as quirky or overtly psychedelic as their peers in the Elephant 6 circus, but they also demonstrate a sort of calm maturity often lacking in today's “let's be weird” methodology. Their new album, Argyle Heir, is yet another masterstroke of hazy bliss, so don't miss them when they appear with The Lucksmiths at Murfreesboro's Red Rose Coffee House & Bistro.
—W.T.
The Blacks With firm foundations in the countrified punk of bands like The Violent Femmes, X, and The Cramps, Chicago's The Blacks play “insurgent country” that genuinely rocks and avoids affected dust bowl-isms and wistful prairie hymns. Their infectious enthusiasm and setful of quality tunes should make for a good show at The End. Punchy opens.
—C.D.
Bullets of Orange On their self-titled debut, this local quartet transmit an extraterrestrial brand of melodic rock; vocals that at times suggest Jeff Buckley, Billy Corgan, and David Gray hover amidst noise-pop atmospheres blending synth pads, strings, wildly effected guitars, haunting backing vocals, and general studio trickery. A briskly paced rhythm section fuels many of the album's 12 tracks, but the band's reliance on the understated-verse-leading-into-huge-chorus formula tends to short-circuit any sense of diversity among the songs. Unique uses of samples, percussion, and other interesting sounds go a long way toward spicing things up, though, and the succession of memorable hooks on Bullets of Orange ultimately does much to allay any complaints of sameness. The foursome will port its material from studio to stage—a feat worth seeing in itself, given the disc's intricate production—during their CD release party at 12th & Porter. Atticus Fault headline.
—D.R.B.
Mattie Groves Fronted by singer-songwriter Nic Giaconia, who moved to Nashville shortly after recording this band's self-titled debut in Dave Perkins' Garden of Eden studio in '99, Mattie Groves dispense straight-ahead folk-rock founded on acoustic and electric guitars, Hammond organ, and groove-oriented bass and drum lines. Giaconia's lyrics and delivery are sometimes bold and defiant, but more often humble and searching, as he contemplates aloud issues of life, love, and faith. His songs come across better live than on disc, which bodes well for the band's show at the Exit/In, a double-bill with Ron LaSalle.
—D.R.B.
Kate Campbell For her most recent release, Wandering Strange on Eminent Records, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Campbell branched out by exploring Southern hymns, and she hired some Muscle Shoals pros to put some extra, well, muscle in her music. This week, she's a featured performer on the NPR music program World Cafe (http://worldcafe.xpn.org), and she'll also be performing at the Bluebird Cafe.
Robert Earl Keen/SWAGThis week's Dancin' in the District offers a fairly diverse lineup in hardy Texas tunesmith Keen and Nashville power-pop übergroup SWAG. They'll be joined at Riverfront Park by The Buzzbees and JoAnna Cotten.
Scott Holt This Buddy Guy sideman and protégé plays simple blues-rock stomps designed to frame his eruptive, Guy-like solos. He'll be steaming things up at Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar.
Thursday, 31st-Friday, 1st
Sarah Masen Locally based singer-songwriter Masen shares her smart folk-pop twice this weekend before packing it up and carrying it across the Atlantic for dates in England and Ireland throughout June. She plays an early show Friday night at the Bluebird Cafe, then shares the Radio Cafe stage Saturday evening with fellow locals The Evinrudes—who will not only be touring with Masen in the U.K., but will also be serving as her backing band. Meanwhile, famed British deejay Bob Harris has been laying the groundwork abroad, spinning Masen's cover of Supertramp's “Give a Little Bit” on his Saturday-night BBC Radio 2 broadcast.
Friday, 1st
Royal City Aaron Riches has been writing modern folk songs for at least five years now, releasing records under his own name and as a member of the Royal City All-Stars. Now known simply as Royal City, the band is clearly of the opinion that one does not need to be a purist and move through the Weaver/Seeger/Guthrie axis to be a credible folkie. Riches found in folk music an analogue to the earnest activism of the hardcore punk he also favored—in fact, he was partly responsible for booking Vancouver punk legends DOA to play at a major folk festival. Royal City sound closer to Pavement and the more melodic Smog in their aloof detatched vocal delivery. Springwater should be the perfect place to see them, as its patrons provide a clean cross-section of Nashville on any given night.
—C.D.
Tom Hambridge Former touring drummer Hambridge—who's worked with the likes of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry—favors revved-up blues-rock in his solo outings. He'll be bringing his soul shouts and heavy rhythms to 3rd & Lindsley.
Bare Jr. To get a glimpse of just how fanatical this raucous, rocking Nashville band's following is, visit www.barejr.net and follow the links until you find the photos of a bare-assed fan showing off his Bare Jr. tattoo. To hear songs off the group's most recent LP, Brainwasher, just show up at 12th & Porter Playroom.
Tommy Womack The wry, literate local rocker sets up in the intimate confines of Pub of Love.
Friday, 1st-Saturday, 2nd
Sandra Hall Hall is a soul singer in the purest sense, a lyric interpreter whose storytelling ability is nicely balanced by a powerful, impressive voice and slicing delivery. Unfortunately, she has been hampered thus far by not having anything on record that remotely resembles her best live performances; her solid reputation among R&B and blues fans rests solely on the basis of eyewitness accounts. See for yourself at Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar why Hall has earned such fan esteem.
—R.W.
Friday, 1st-Sunday, 3rd
Jazz@Bellevue Center Jazz Showcase Ed Smith's Jazz@Bellevue Center store has not only been a great addition to the city's record retailers, but it has also been the weekly site for free concerts featuring top local jazz artists. This weekend, the live offerings will be expanded with the inaugural Jazz@ Bellevue Center Jazz Showcase, where you can catch free performances by many of the city's most popular and accomplished improvising musicians. The list includes Moe Denham, Annie Sellick, April Barrows, Les Kerr, Benita Hill, Liz Johnson, Dan Dowling, and several others. Performances begin at 4 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday.
—R.W.
Saturday, 2nd
The Eskimos After three years of touring around the Southeast and developing their sound, this Athens, Ga., quartet have finally committed their shaggy, shout-along folk-rock to disc for their excellent self-released debut, Let It Come Down. Sounding like Bob Dylan and The Band at Big Pink, bashing out memorable ditties that a toddler could sing (but that their parents wouldn't want them to), The Eskimos play gentle music very loudly. They stir the soul and calm the mind, and they'll be booming at The End. Also on the bill are Young Antiques, an upbeat Atlanta trad-rock trio with a punky edge and a knack for catchy melodies, and Rayon City Quartet.
—N.M.
Mandy Barnett In case you didn't already know, this woman has got some pipes, and she's got a deep understanding of the virtues of classic songs, as embodied in old pop standards and Owen Bradley's lush country productions of the ‘60s. Hear what she can do at 3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill.
Rosie Flores Nashville's lucky to have a talent on the order of Flores, a delightful singer and guitar-slinger whose love of honky-tonk and hopped-up rockabilly has sustained her through years of touring and recording. If you plan on doing any record shopping this weekend, do it while she's performing a couple of in-stores at Tower Records (both the Opry Mills and West End locations), and you may find yourself walking out with one of her discs in hand.
Free Gospel Concert We don't know a thing about the lineup for this event at Hadley Park, but it sounds like the perfect thing to do on a Saturday. Grab a goat sandwich from Pop's Bar-Be-Q just up the street, and settle in for what's sure to be a fine afternoon of music. To find out more about the concert, call Metro Parks at 862-8424.
Sunday, 3rd
Allison Moorer Now that her sister Shelby Lynne has garnered a hard-earned, long-in-the-coming Best New Artist Grammy, perhaps attention can be paid to Moorer, who similarly combines dusty traditional country and darkly shaded big-city tension. Moorer's phenomenal voice and beautifully gripping songs will be featured at 3rd & Lindsley. Get there early to catch opening act Saddlesong, a local alt-country band with some terrific songs and voices of their own.
—N.M.
Reverend Horton Heat The good Reverend first brought his hard-driving garage-rock/rockabilly revival to Nashville audiences some 12 or so years ago, when he appeared at Elliston Square (now The End). He has returned to town many times since, as he will this week, appearing at the Exit/In with Gotohells and Death on Wednesday.
Monday, 4th
Mindy Smith Both sonically and lyrically, singer-songwriter Smith explores the ongoing struggle between the simultaneous needs for toughness and vulnerability. Her voice—at times angelic, at times sultry—explores the upper registers with a striking purity that brings to mind a less quavery Emmylou Harris. But she infuses her rootsiness with an East Coast attitude that suggests a wolf in waif's clothing. Go see Smith and her seasoned New York scowl—a welcome relief here in bless-your-heart land—at 3rd & Lindsley.
—J.S.
Delicious Blues Stew This local ensemble has toiled long and hard on the Nashville blues circuit. Though individual members have earned some plaudits, the group as a whole hasn't enjoyed much time in the spotlight until now. Their new album, 2 Stew, will be featured Monday night during a CD release party at Congo Square, where the Stew will show off its mix of blues, soul, funk, and R&B.
—R.W.
Tuesday, 5th
Llama Formerly The Dahlia Llamas, this local trio of 18- and 19-year-olds have shortened their name and streamlined their sprawling jam-rock for their major-label debut, Close to the Silence, the release of which the band is celebrating with a gig at 12th & Porter. Llama's approach to the jam genre has the rhythmic complexity and melodic lilt of Dave Matthews Band and the bluesy, rootsy grounding of Gov't Mule. More than anything, they resemble the U.K. rock ensemble Gomez in their tight, dynamic song structures and their tendency to drift from dreamy acoustic musing to triumphantly forceful rock in a single song. These kids are pretty amazing; if you've been looking for a band to start a cult around, catch ‘em while they're still young and relatively unspoiled.
—N.M.
Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers This group features contemporary flash and rock arrangements in its mixture of vintage and classic Zydeco. The accordion solos take second place to the spicy vocals and bustling rhythms, and like almost every modern Zydeco ensemble, they are dashing, delightful live performers. Catch their act at Congo Square.
—R.W.
Bluebird Cafe 19th Anniversary show As it does every year, this cozy Green Hills venue celebrates its anniversary with a lineup of folks who've helped make it the institution it is today. Come have a piece of tuneful birthday cake with The Jay Patten Band, Jonell Mosser, Jimmy Hall, Deborah Allen, Roger Cook, Michael Johnson, and others.
Wednesday, 6th
Maura O'Connell The lightly Celtic, lightly bluegrass, thoroughly captivating O'Connell sits in for a night at The Station Inn.
Cheap Trick Tribute Night Because you can never hear the song “Surrender” too many times. At the Exit/In.
Film
@Normal:Belcourt First Year Anniversary The reopening of the Belcourt Theatre last June drew 1,100 people in its first weekend; the Belcourt hopes to see a lot of those folks return Saturday, as Nashville's only historic neighborhood theater throws a birthday party to celebrate its first year back in business. The day-long festivities include a 75-cent afternoon matinee for the family, cake and ice cream, and a champagne reception following People's Branch Theatre's closing-night performance of “Krapp's Last Tape” and “The Zoo Story.” For more information, call 846-3150 or e-mail belcourt@earthlink.net. @byline2:—J.R.
Nashville Independent Film Festival Now in its 32nd year, the city's biggest annual film event kicks off next Wednesday for five days of screenings and workshops at Regal's Green Hills Commons 16. For a festival preview, see our cover story on p. 18; for advance tickets—and we strongly recommend them—call 742-1199 or consult the NIFF's official Web site at www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.
—J.R.
Moulin Rouge Baz Luhrmann's glossy musical stars Nicole Kidman as the toast of ol' Paree, with Ewan McGregor as the lovestruck scribe who woos her by warbling Elton John tunes. The movie starts Friday at area theaters, along with Martin Lawrence in What's the Worst That Could Happen? and Rob Schneider as The Animal. See our Movie Clock and Film Listings for more information.
—J.R.
The Golden Bowl The Remains of the Day/Howards End team of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabwala reunited for this adaptation of the Henry James novel, with Uma Thurman as the not-so-innocent American who marries robber-baron art collector Nick Nolte and rebels at becoming part of his collection. We're not sure, but we think that oft-mentioned flaw in the titular object may be symbolic. The movie, which co-stars Kate Beckinsale and Jeremy Northam, opens Friday at Green Hills.
—J.R.
DVD/Video
Faust/The Last Laugh Contrary to what Shadow of the Vampire would have you believe, German director F.W. Murnau didn't serve his cast to a vampire, didn't look like John Malkovich, and wasn't some sort of pretentious schlockmeister. Don't take our word for it—check out Kino's DVD editions of two Murnau classics, 1924's The Last Laugh, with Emil Jannings in his unforgettable role as a doorman whose downward spiral is interrupted by authorial intervention; and 1927's Faust, with Jannings as the sinister Mephisto, whose demonic form dominates some of the most astonishing visual effects of the silent era. Both films include a few special features, ranging from scholarly essays to scenes from alternate versions.
—J.R.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind One of the most eagerly awaited DVDs finally hits the racks, in an edition that is virtually identical to the acclaimed laser disc version released several years back. The most noteworthy bonus is a nearly two-hour documentary on the making of the film, featuring all of the insight and reminiscence that one would ordinarily find on a commentary track. (Good thing, since director Steven Spielberg doesn't do commentaries.) Then there's the film itself, in its 14th or 15th “definitive” form and still beguiling until it dissolves into a vaguely philosophical muddle at the end. Nevertheless, this is the sort of classy entertainment for which home theater systems were invented.
—N.M.
Tootsie One of the funniest movies ever made—and full of meaningful insight to boot—comes to DVD in a “nothing special” edition, devoid of commentaries or behind-the-scenes featurettes. Given the attention lavished on Tootsie by the AFI in its last couple of “100 Years...100 Movies” specials, the time would seem to be ripe for one of those “rediscover a classic” home video packages. In fact, that time may still be imminent, so save your money and wait a little longer before you buy this disc.
—N.M.
Traffic Hard to believe, but for the second consecutive DVD release, commentary master Stephen Soderbergh has declined to record a track for one of his films. At least Erin Brockovich had his comments on the 40 minutes of deleted scenes, but no such luck on the similarly Oscar-winning Traffic. Only a brief making-of mini doc—likely prepared for promotional purposes—offers any insight into the creation of this charged, elaborate drug war mosaic. Will there be another edition after Soderbergh wraps his latest film projects and has time to concentrate on DVDs? Maybe. The smart consumer might want to wait and see.
—N.M.
Theater
LITTLE RED'S MOST UNUSUAL DAY Nashville Opera continues to produce musical work geared for children. Happily, this particular opus, based on the classic fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood,” should also have whimsical appeal for parents and adults in general. It'll be performed twice this coming weekend at two separate venues. At 12:30 p.m. June 2, catch the show at Montgomery Bell Academy as part of the Nashville Opera Guild's “Opera Carnival,” which, besides the performance, will feature fun food, balloon animals, face painting, and a magician. On June 3, the opera will do its thing in Williamson County's Crockett Park, in a 7 p.m. performance that's free and open to the public. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner.
—M.B.
Art
attic gallery Two shows, two locations, and back-to-back receptions: Don't the Attic Gallery folks know this is summer vacation? First up is the opening of a satellite exhibit of paintings by musicians/songwriters Kieran Kane and Robert Ellis Orrall, 5-7 p.m. May 31 at Bank of America on Music Row. The other Attic show, with paintings of country music stars of yesteryear by musician Jon Langford and the found-objects sculpture of Kevin Titzer, opens 6-9 p.m. June 1 at the gallery itself on 12th Avenue South.
—A.W.
CHEEKWOOD Most of us think of a journal as a daily record of thoughts and experiences set down in words, but the latest Temporary Contemporary exhibit at Cheekwood challenges that perception. Artist Donna Tauscher's “journal” is a series of Polaroid-based collages that chart what she calls her “internal geography.” She begins each piece with a self-portrait that she snaps herself, holding the camera in her left hand. She then manipulates the photo by cutting and adding other images and original text to it. The exhibit opens with a reception 6-8 p.m. June 1 that includes a spoken-word performance by the artist at 6:30 p.m.
—A.W.
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PALMER PLACE AT CANNERY ROW Fifteen new works by Nashville artist Mark Palen are on view for one night only, 4-8 p.m. June 1. After that, the oil paintings hit the road for a month-long stay at the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts in Blairstown, N.J. Palen describes his paintings of interlocking mechanical and organic forms as a reflection on where design, technology, and architecture are going. If Palen's visuals are any indication, that direction is surreal and a bit disturbing, but intriguing nevertheless.
—A.W.
The Renaissance Center Hand-forged copper sculptures by Nashville-area artist Sydney Reichman are on view at this Dickson cultural center through July 7. The works reflect Reichman's ongoing fascination with nature, though in abstract and expressionistic fashion. Her sculptures suggest, as Reichman puts it, “primitive indigenous ancestor messengers, watching, witnessing and protecting...or seekers, thrust toward the earth and sky, continually searching.” Her copper forms also function as part of the natural landscape, and many incorporate elements of wind and water to create a meditative and interactive environment. Join the artist at the reception, 4-7 p.m. June 2.
—A.W.
Zeitgeist Lain York is the man behind the mask in Zeitgeist's latest show. The Nashville artist has created 6-foot-tall images of African and Mayan masks that feature intricate floral patterns and rough-hewn textures carved into the heavily painted surfaces. York's epic masks are paired with Brady Haston's prints and paintings inspired by the diaries of Swiss artist Paul Klee, who wrote of a valley of humans wedged between a mountain inhabited by gods on one side and one inhabited by animals on the other. The opening reception is 6-8 p.m. June 2.
—A.W.
Events
The Parthenon Skip the rush-hour traffic and head for a wine-and-baked-goodie reception 6-7:30 p.m. May 31 at Nashville's very own Greek temple. There will be a selection of Italian wines to sample and delectable treats from the Tolar House Bakery and Cafe in East Nashville. After you munch and mingle, take a look at the art exhibits on view in the galleries. The event is free, but reservations are required, so call 862-8431.
—A.W.
Books
R. Scott Brunner Pay a visit to Davis-Kidd at 6 p.m. June 1, when NPR commentator Brunner will read and sign Carryin' On and Other Strange Things Southerners Do, which opens with a hilarious examination of the differences between being Common and being A Redneck.
—D.B.
Dr. Kenneth Brigham As part of Davis-Kidd's series of “Local Authors Days,” Brigham will read and sign Hard Bargain: Life-Lessons From Prostate Cancer...A Love Story June 2 at 3:30 p.m. Going from a four-room East Nashville house to the topmost echelons of Vanderbilt's medical school and research centers might carry some folks straight into the ether, so to speak, but Brigham has obviously—and always—kept one foot in the often humbling, relentlessly exigent world of day-to-day life. And death. A listing of his titles, honors, and accomplishments could easily fill this entire page, but most symbolic, particularly in terms of Hard Bargain, would seem to be his role as founder of geneRx, a biotechnology company that seeks to translate lab discoveries more rapidly into “practical treatments for human disease.” Faced with prostate cancer, Brigham translates practicality into a book characterized by sexual and urological frankness, unsparing gazes at the self-absorption to which illness condemns us, and finally wit—which ranks just under love in its importance as a survival skill.
—D.B.
Raye Ann Greenbaum/Jackie Tepper These two Nashville women have collaborated on Stretch & Kvetch: The Yenta's Guide to No-Sweat Exercise, a newly published humor volume with a distinctly Yiddish slant. The whole point, of course, is getting in your daily allowance of exercise without having to expend too much effort (witness such chapter headings as “The Jewelry Lift” and “The Shopper's Pull”). The women team up for a signing 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis-Kidd.
Picks written by Diann Blakely, Martin Brady, Doug R. Brumley, Chris Davis, Noel Murray, Jim Ridley, Jack Silverman, William Tyler, Angela Wibking, and Ron Wynn.
