THURSDAY 11/29
Attaboy, Clarence!IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Forget that you’ve seen Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey tussling with Lionel Barrymore’s Mr. Potter a gazillion times already. This Tennessee Rep production based on the 1946 Frank Capra film spins not the story but the format, moving the classic tale into a fictional radio station on Christmas Eve, where five versatile actors play all the roles, supported by radio-drama sound effects and a live piano underscoring. The studio audience (that would be us) even experiences the commercials performed live by the cast. Gary Hoff provides the set and Trish Clark designs the period costumes for this Joe Landry adaptation. Director and co-star David Alford has assembled some fine actors to help pull off this ambitious feat, including Matthew Carlton, Jenny Littleton, Marin Miller and Todd Truley. Nov. 29-Dec. 22 at TPAC’s Johnson Theater —MARTIN BRADY
Film3 NEEDLES A South African nun (Chloe Sevigny) who faces a sexual sacrifice to protect villagers, a Chinese entrepreneur (Lucy Liu) who traffics in contaminated blood, and a porn star (Shawn Ashmore) who’s been faking his HIV-negative tests form the triptych of Canadian writer-director Thom Fitzgerald’s drama—a grim dispatch from the global fight against AIDS. It screens on DVD at OutLoud as part of a week-long series leading up to World AIDS Day Dec. 1: each film represents a different country, with a localized expert and moderator on hand for discussion. The series concludes 6 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday at Meharry Medical College with the films Yesterday and Standing-N-Truth; the screenings are free and open to the public. For more information, call 340-0034. 6 p.m. at the Café at OutLoud, 1703 Church Street —JIM RIDLEY
East Side EveningSIP AND SKIP Want to impress that new flame with your refined tastes? We’ve got your perfect date night: Start at Sip Café in Inglewood’s Riverside Village for the opening of Of Drawing in Ice, featuring drawings and collaborative sound works by Camille Jackson, Debbie Kraski, Emily Laird, Erin Plew and John Whitten. The show is a response to Werner Herzog’s 1974 book Of Walking on Ice, a journal describing the author’s three-week trek from Munich to Paris—on foot. Then head to the Family Wash for a set by Skip Heller, a guitarist from Philadelphia who plays jazz you don’t need a Ken Burns documentary to appreciate. Heller’s music is rich in sardonic humor, recalling the work of NYC downtown savants like Sex Mob and Marc Ribot. (“Katrina Mon Amour,” from Heller’s MySpace page, sounds like a lost track from Ribot’s Los Cubanos Postizos.) Reception at Sip Cafe, 6-8 p.m.; Skip Heller at Family Wash, 8:30 p.m. —JACK SILVERMAN
MusicJOSH WILLIAMS AND FRIENDS Some of the biggest buzz at last month’s International Bluegrass Music Association Trade Show was caused by the abrupt departure of young guitarist and singer Josh Williams from Rhonda Vincent’s band The Rage. For many, that would be tantamount to leaving the national scene, but for Williams, it’s another story. His virtuosity on at least three instruments—guitar, mandolin and banjo—would be sufficient for almost any major act to make room for him in the lineup, but he’s also a compelling singer. His tastes run in a traditionalist vein and his grasp of bluegrass history is deep enough to encompass the smooth stylings of the underappreciated Jim Eanes—a perfect fit for his low but muscular voice. So while he’s no doubt entertaining job offers, the launch of a solo career may be in the offing. This show offers the perfect opportunity to catch a young man whose future is indescribably bright. 9 p.m. at Station Inn —JON WEISBERGER
FRIDAY 11/30
Life During WartimeLITTLE WOMEN The enthusiastic folks at Lamplighter’s Theatre mount this stage version of Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1868 novel about a Massachusetts family with four daughters, coping while father is away serving as a Union chaplain in the Civil War. The story’s initial setting is Christmastime, which helps to affirm its pertinence as a warm holiday diversion for all ages. Margaret Meek directs a cast that includes Rhonda Frazier as the March family matriarch, with Angela Calcaterra, Daryn Jackson, Amanda Ethridge and Brittany Ambrose as the spirited young siblings. Nov. 30-Dec. 9 at Lamplighter’s Theatre, Smyrna —MARTIN BRADY
MusicKEITH URBAN The seven years’ worth of mainstream country radio staples collected on Urban’s new Greatest Hits: 18 Kids plays like the diary of a manic depressive—exhilarating uptempo blasts of optimism and seize-the-day joie de vivre on the one hand (“Days Go By,” “Somebody Like You,” “Once in a Lifetime”), long-dark-night-of-the-soul ballads on the other (“You’ll Think of Me,” “Tonight I Wanna Cry,” “Stupid Boy”). Urban’s lyrical extremes are knitted seamlessly together by a musical sensibility that combines the sleek precision of modern country with the raw urgency of rock. That’s never truer than in the native Australian’s sweat-drenched live shows, highlighted by his passionate singing and truly mad guitar skills. 8 p.m. at the Sommet Center —CHRIS NEAL
Modern Sounds in Country and Western MusicRAY CHARLES FORUM Vanderbilt University and The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will present a lunchtime lecture on R&B legend Ray Charles, “SoBro Sessions: Remembering Brother Ray,” featuring saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman, an original member of the Ray Charles Band. Newman will be joined by David Ritz, co-author of Charles’ autobiography, and Nashville Jazz Orchestra director Jim Williamson. The lecture will be held in the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is also exhibiting an extensive collection of Ray Charles memorabilia through Dec. 31. The event is free, but seating is limited to 200. Free box lunches will be handed out at 11:30 a.m. Participants must register in advance by calling 322-8585, or via email at cngr@vanderbilt.edu. Newman will also perform with the Nashville Jazz Orchestra at the Blair School of Music on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.; call 416-2001 for ticket information. Noon at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum —MARIA BROWNING
Be CivilBLUE AND GRAY DAYS AT CARNTON PLANTATION Who needs the big man in red and white when you can have a whole bunch of dudes in blue and grey, with muskets. This weekend the Battle of Franklin will be commemorated with a series of events out at Historic Carnton Plantation. Bring the kids for two days’ worth of demonstrations, guided tours and a series of lectures and performances on the back porch. For a complete listing of events, including the climactic lighting of 10,000 luminaries and a performance by the Pull-Tight Players, visit carnton.org or call 794-0903. Oh, and don’t forget to choose a side. Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at Carnton Plantation —LEE STABERT
Bard in the ’BoroTWELFTH NIGHT A shipwreck, mistaken identity, the follies of love—familiar themes inhabit this beloved Shakespearean comedy, presented by Marc Mazzone’s New Bear Players as a part of Murfreesboro Little Theatre’s Twelve Days of Christmas celebration. Mazzone has assembled a promising cast, including Tamiko Robinson, Courtney Sadler, Lane Wright and Benjamin Reed. Mazzone himself takes on the role of Sir Toby Belch. Nov. 30-Dec. 9 at Log Cabin Playhouse, Murfreesboro —MARTIN BRADY
I’ll Be Home for the HolidaysAMERICAN CHRISTMAS GroundWorks Theatre’s prolific Bob O’Connell continues to produce original plays—this one views Christmas through the eyes of American soldiers and their families over four centuries. O’Connell’s characters ponder the reasons for war and the moral dilemmas it inspires, touching on American conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the current Iraq conflict. The players include Trish Moalla Crist, Elijah Dies, Greg Grimsley, Joel Higgins, Grant Houston, Rebekah Lyons, Dan Millard and Eric Ventress. Nov. 30-Dec. 15 at Darkhorse Theater —MARTIN BRADY
MusicHIDDEN AMONG HEROES CD RELEASE PARTY While deeply informed by screamo, Murfreesboro’s Hidden Among Heroes explore the sound’s boundaries. Their music is based in the searing, metal-inflected churn of Ryan Chesney and Anthony Mitchell’s guitars, singer Chris Reeves’ raw guttural growl and the alternation of operatic rumble, bottom-end breakdowns and melodic vocal interludes—all genre trademarks. The differences are around the edges—including Ben Korous’ phenomenal drumming. He elevates the entire enterprise with arresting syncopation, color and furious power. Their debut, Black As the Sails, is bolstered by an array of subtly unusual but rewarding choices, such as handclaps on “Rock Bottom in Stones River” or cowbell on “Hogan Knows Breakdowns.” While often indistinguishable from legions of acts inspired by Thursday and Poison the Well, there’s enough creativity here to inspire hope that they might eventually step beyond a style past its freshness date. 5 p.m. at Rcktwn —CHRIS PARKER
SATURDAY 12/1
MusicTHE PROTOMEN Video game-inspired bands have carved out a substantial niche in the underbelly of pop culture, but few have matched the detail and complexity of Nashville’s The Protomen. The band is comprised of seven members, each claiming a purely robotic heritage and never breaking character long enough to lead you to believe otherwise. With the exception of the occasional ironic Hall & Oates cover, their repertoire consists entirely of a fully realized arena-ready rock opera inspired by the Mega Man video game series. Complete with costumes, onstage theatrics and layer upon layer of synth and guitar, The Protomen portray a band of rebel insurgents on a crusade against an evil, fascist mad scientist. Though the most successful stops on their national tours have been at comic book conventions, Protomen have yet to play a home show that didn’t reach capacity. Friday night’s performance should prove no exception. 9 p.m. at The End —SETH GRAVES
Hail Freedonia!DUCK SOUP There must be a mistake—someone sent over surveillance tapes from the Rumsfeld war room. The Marx Brothers’ funniest movie by a mile, their 1933 gas attack on diplomacy, decorum and the solemnity of war movies is The Great Dictator’s mangy, happily low-minded cousin, an ambulance-chasing scoundrel with a quiver full of insults and the conscience of an exploding cigar. See Groucho as Rufus T. Firefly, the less-than-Lincolnesque president of Freedonia, declare war because, after all, “I’ve already paid a month’s rent on the battlefield.” See the brothers re-create their classic mirror routine, in between bouts of verbal ping-pong and Groucho’s wrecking-ball courtship of dowager Margaret Dumont. Under the crackling direction of comedy ace Leo McCarey, the result can leave you feeling you’ve just huffed a Reddi-Wip can the size of a cement mixer. It’s this week’s Family Weekend Classics matinee at the Belcourt, recommended for ages 5 and up—but do you really want to drop the curtain and show them the real adult world that soon? Noon Dec. 1-2 at the Belcourt —JIM RIDLEY
MusicDIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND Doesn’t today’s world make you wanna holler? The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina made New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band wanna remake Marvin Gaye’s classic protest album What’s Going On, putting their fury of horns on each of Gaye’s melodies and enlisting rappers on most tracks to convey New Orleans’ fury. On the title track, a trombone holds down the verse, Chuck D horns in on the chorus and a sample of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin charges, “Let’s get off our asses and do something.” Though other brass bands have imitated their penchant for fusing Dixieland jazz, R&B, funk and hip-hop, with this album the Dozen reclaim their spot as one of the most forward-thinking and innovative brass bands to come out of Crescent City. Go just to hear the sousaphone player. And get off your ass and do something. 9 p.m. at Mercy Lounge —MAKKADA B. SELAH
FIRST SATURDAY
PLATE TONE PRINTSHOP For December, Twist throws a curveball, abandoning its schedule of installation-based shows for something completely different. Established in 2004, the Plate Tone Printshop is a community printmaking studio for fine art printmakers. Providing camaraderie and promoting nature-friendly printing methods, Plate Tone members explore a variety of techniques including etching, collagraph, solarplate, monoprint, monotype, silkscreen, polyester plate lithography and marbling. This group show will feature work by Jenny Baggs, Marleen De Bock, Kaaren Hirschowitz Engel, Pam Haile, Lee Ann Hawkins, Lou Horner, Susan Hulme, Linda Illingworth, Patricia Jordan, Reesha Leone, Lesley Patterson-Marx and Jaime Raybin. In addition to the workshops and demonstrations, Plate Tone exhibitions are part art show, part membership drive, in keeping with their mission to create “a vibrant local printmaking community.” The show runs through Jan. 26; opening reception, 6-9 p.m. at Twist Art Gallery —JOE NOLAN
SELF SERIES & EXTREMELY SUPERFICIAL Dangenart Gallery serves up a double for December’s Art Crawl, presenting two shows of work that explore the place where the subject of a piece and its medium become indistinguishable. In Self Series, Laura Young photographs the drawings she creates on her own body. Referencing body-art traditions and self-portraiture, Young’s insistence on presenting a document of her draftsmanship—instead of the thing itself—makes palpable the distance that arises between an artist’s intentions and a viewer’s understanding. Extremely Superficial is a group show of work that “examines the two-dimensionality of art by bringing the deeper reality to the visual surface.” Participating artists include Donna Meeks, Rob Tarbell, Nuala Sawyer and Michael Kelley. Sawyer’s photographs are particularly notable for their use of collage and double exposure to remake traditional nudes. Extremely Superficial runs through December 23; Self Series shows for one-night-only; opening reception, 6-9 p.m. at Dangenart —JOE NOLAN
RICHARD HEINSOHN’S THE PARADOX OF CHANGE Many of Heinsohn’s exuberant abstract paintings start with a series of vertical lines in bright colors set on a dark ground, overlaid with splotches of color that can be as dense as confetti. The strong contrasts between the bright verticals and the background create energy in the paintings, as do the explosions of color on the surface. The show runs through Dec. 21; opening reception, 6-9 p.m. at Estel Gallery —DAVID MADDOX
PAUL RODEN AND VALERIE LUETH’S ASSEMBLING UTOPIA With TAG homeless for the time being, Estel Gallery is lending them space for their shows this month and next. (Then, from February through July, TAG will use the Dangenart space in the Arcade while gallery owner Daniel Lai takes a sabbatical to concentrate on his own artwork.) TAG’s December show features husband-and-wife artists Roden and Lueth collaborating on a series of woodcut prints, as well as a series of small, elaborate drawings by Lueth. The show runs through Dec. 21; opening reception, 6-9 p.m. at Estel Gallery —DAVID MADDOX
SUNDAY 12/2
MusicJOSE GONZALEZ Are they Björn with it? Is it something in the air, the water or the universal health care? Whatever it is that makes the Swedish preternaturally adept at pop music, it seems that nurture, rather than nature, is the driving force. José González—whose name belies his family’s South American roots—has his fellow Swedes’ knack for melody, even if his is a more august, introspective kind than, say, the off-kilter romanticism of I’m From Barcelona (who are, of course, from Jönköping). In fact, comparisons to Nick Drake and Elliott Smith weren’t uncommon when González’s last album, the excellent and haunting Veneer, hit U.S. soil courtesy of Parasol’s imprint A Hidden Agenda in 2003. Neither as enigmatic as Drake nor as claustrophobic as Smith, González writes elliptical, almost incantatory folk songs whose melodies seem to float above his deft nylon-string guitar accompaniment. 9 p.m. at Mercy Lounge —STEVE HARUCH
MusicDOLORES O’RIORDAN If some of The Cranberries’ more political recordings now sound a touch naive, time hasn’t diminished the luster of Dolores O’Riordan’s beautifully melancholic singing. The Irish band’s 1993 Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? stands as a classic example of the decade’s cautious optimism, while their synthesis of folk melodies and celestial dream-pop endures in the work of contemporary groups such as Minipop. On her latest, Are You Listening?, O’Riordan sings as well as ever, and there’s a pained undertone to her takes on big subjects such as death and aging. With tasteful production by Dan Broadbeck and Youth, Are You Listening? works as classic pop, but its concerns are adult. The record’s opener, “Ordinary Day,” illustrates O’Riordan’s artistry. “Life is more intricate than it seems,” she sings. A song about everyday life’s endless possibilities, it’s a daydream with teeth, and all the more gorgeous for it. 8 p.m. at 3rd & Lindsley —EDD HURT
L’Chaim!JEWSICAL! THE MUSICAL Touring members of Chicago’s Second City make a one-night Music City stand with this revue of sketches and songs in celebration of Jewish life and culture. The material, drawn from the famed comedy theater’s archives, is under the direction of longtime SC artistic consultant Sheldon Patinkin and includes funny takes on sons who don’t call their mothers, matchmaking in the Internet age and what happens when Mary and Joseph get into couples therapy. Complimentary latkes are also on the bill. Dec. 2 at Gordon Jewish Community Center, Bellevue —MARTIN BRADY
Holiday MusicMICHAEL McDONALD If Santa went through a modern-day makeover, he might end up looking a bit like Michael McDonald. The former Doobie Brother, who recently slimmed down, has the snowy white locks and facial hair, but his is neatly trimmed into a goatee and swept-back ’do that befits a soulful, generous elder statesman. McDonald is highlighting his yuletide connection with a concert billed as “A Classic Holiday Evening,” in which the singer will apply his sweet-smoked voice to holiday standards and works from the classic rock ’n’ soul canon. McDonald has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years with his silky smooth covers of Motown classics, proving himself adept at reconfiguring well-known tunes into something that goes down like hot-buttered rum. For this one-off concert, he’ll lightly roast a collection of popular chestnuts with a tasteful, slightly funky touch. 7:30 p.m. at the Ryman Auditorium —MICHAEL McCALL
MusicCASS McCOMBS Singer-songwriters can build whole careers out of dredging up and polishing seemingly mundane details of their own biography. Cass McCombs is building a career—though a decidedly underground one—out of finding new ways to tell lies about himself. His third album Dropping the Writ is full of moments such as those in “That’s That,” where he sings about being involved with an older woman and then cleaning toilets in a Baltimore club—though he says the story isn’t that important. His catchy songs are a mesh of folk, ambient noise and straight-ahead rock. McCombs has also admitted that he prefers not to reveal much about himself in the press, which, in this age of information overload, is welcome relief. 9 p.m. at Mercy Lounge —WERNER TRIESCHMANN
MusicBEN LEE Aussie singer-songwriter Ben Lee’s successful 15-year run in the music business began at age 14, when his teenage alternarock outfit Noise Addict caught the attention of the Beastie Boys and Thurston Moore. In the intervening years, he’s made a name for himself on several fronts, releasing six solo albums, starring in a popular indie film and carousing with celebrity girlfriends such as Claire Danes and Ione Skye. Lee spent the past three years recording over 80 songs, then whittling and perfecting them down to 12 for his latest, Ripe. With guest performances by the likes of Mandy Moore, Nickel Creek’s Sarah Watkins and members of Rooney and Good Charlotte, the title feels appropriate due to the fact that, despite a decade-and-a-half of critically acclaimed output, Lee is now sweeter, less green and more edible to pop music consumers than ever. 9 p.m. at Exit/In —SETH GRAVES
Church LadiesCHRISTMAS BELLES Kaine Riggan’s Nashville Dinner Theatre gets into the seasonal swing with this comic tale—co-authored by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and former Golden Girls scriptwriter Jamie Wooten—about a group of Texas ladies trying to launch a Christmas musical at their church. Riggan directs a seasoned cast of locals, including Cinda McCain, Ann Street, Alan Lee, Kay Gobbell, Linda Sparks and gospel singer Cheryl Jackson. Nov. 30-Dec. 16 at Donelson Senior Center for the Arts —MARTIN BRADY
MONDAY 12/3
MusicSTOLL VAUGHAN Cadging his delivery from Dylan, tossing off tightly knit narrative couplets with a wry dispassion, Stoll Vaughan plays ambling Americana that ranges effortlessly from rollicking folk-blues to rustic mid-tempo strolls leaning to the Texas side of the country trail. The Lexington, Ky., singer-songwriter also draws inspiration from Van Morrison’s soulful roots. It’s a fine mesh that he continues to hone on last year’s Love Like a Mule, the follow-up to his 2005 debut, Hold on Through Sleep and Dreams. It’s a tremendously well-executed step forward that nicely expands on his country-folk debut, adding humidity and warmth to the dusty air. (Credit members of My Morning Jacket and Over the Rhine among others.) While Vaughan is somewhat callow, his rapid musical maturation and promising songwriting instincts suggest an artist capable of something special. 8 p.m. at the Basement —CHRIS PARKER
New BookstoreSHERLOCK’S BOOK EMPORIUM AND CURIOSITIES Defying conventional hand-wringing about the imminent death of print culture, former software programmer Steve Guynn has gone to the opposite extreme. In Lebanon, some 25 minutes east of Nashville, he has opened the largest new independently owned and operated bookstore in the state. And what a bookstore: Not only does it boast a wide selection of new releases, organized unconventionally to spotlight debut authors as well as niches of interest, it features used books and rare titles from Guynn’s own collection, including first editions of every H.G. Wells novel. Indeed, there may not be another store of any kind in Middle Tennessee that so reflects an individual’s tastes and personality: Everywhere you look are cases and displays of vintage movie/TV memorabilia (dig the Man from U.N.C.L.E. board game and the Day The Earth Stood Still poster signed by director Robert Wise), along with a New York deli serving three-inch-thick Reubens, a hobby shop with model-train paraphernalia, and a surprisingly plush screening room that projects classic films and TV series (and on Sundays, sports) from open to close. For directions, visit the bare-bones website sherlocksbooks.com or call 449-9807. Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday at 200 Maddox-Simpson Pkwy., Lebanon. —JIM RIDLEY
MusicKELLY CLARKSON Onetime American Idol winner Clarkson publicly warred with label head Clive Davis after he attempted to pressure her into recording poppy outside material (like “Since U Been Gone,” the ultra-catchy 2004 Clarkson smash penned by Swedish hitmaker Max Martin) on her new album. She refused. My December was released in June to sluggish sales, a canceled arena tour and a deeply disturbing consensus in the pop press that Davis has been proven right—Clarkson should chuck her dreams of being taken seriously and instead sing whatever is handed to her. My December is indeed more intimate and less immediately accessible than Clarkson’s previous albums, but at what point did we give up on the idea that an artist who has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide has earned the right to follow her own muse? 7:30 p.m. at Ryman Auditorium —CHRIS NEAL
TUESDAY 12/4
A Little Night MusicKRISTEN COTHRON With an amber, sultry tone and an expanded vocal range that she uses with dynamic subtlety, Cothron applies late-night jazz chops to contemporary adult pop. She’s the rare young talent who cares more about expressing a mood and a story than simply showing off her voice. While her relaxed, come-hither purr pulls listeners in, it’s the depth of the songs and how well she puts them across that brings people back time and again. She’s been touring wider since the release of her fine independent album, Love Letters From a Fool, and she recently completed a stylish video for the song “Dangerous,” turning in a modern Southern gothic clip that seems inspired by Craig Brewer’s films. In a rare hometown treat, she brings together her full band for a special gig. 7 p.m. at 3rd & Lindsley —MICHAEL McCALL
Mixing Up the MedicineDONT LOOK BACK An unforgettable all-access pass behind the scenes of Bob Dylan’s ’65 British tour, D.A. Pennebaker’s landmark 1967 rock-doc all but invented the form—it also presages the music video with its oft-copied “Subterranean Homesick Blues” clip (watch for Allen Ginsberg in the background). Pennebaker hangs with Dylan and his entourage (including Joan Baez, Alan Price and the droll Bob Neuwirth) as they move through a blur of indistinguishable hotel rooms and concert halls, pursued by highbrow journalists who want to talk to the oracle. The concert footage of the young Dylan in his punky prime is electrifying, but the most fun comes from the privileged glimpses of his sadistic wit. Exhausted and literally sick of being analyzed, Dylan plays fearsome head games with a hapless Time reporter and a middle-aged interviewer, while folk-rocker Donovan drops by Dylan’s room to play a wispy ballad for the gang—only to have his host smile coolly, ask for the guitar, then dash off a little something called “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” See ya in hell, folkie. The other priceless offstage moment belongs to Albert Grossman, Dylan’s manager, who provides a casual lesson in how to weasel extra money out of the BBC. It’s nice to know the Sex Pistols didn’t invent great rock ’n’ roll swindles. The movie screens two days only, an excellent companion piece not just to Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There (which did blockbuster business in Hillsboro Village over Thanksgiving weekend) but also the Dylan concert film The Other Side of the Mirror—about which we speak with famed documentarian Murray Lerner on p. 65. Dec. 4-5 at the Belcourt Theatre —JIM RIDLEY
Axis and AlliesRICK ATKINSON Readers may be forgiven for becoming lost among the multitude of World War II books—they are more numerous than tanks in Patton’s Seventh Army. Thankfully, Rick Atkinson gives readers history as it should be written, and surely makes other authors olive green with envy. His latest, The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943–1944, is the second in Atkinson’s planned Liberation Trilogy and a worthy successor to his Pulitzer Prize-winning An Army at Dawn. Beginning with a secret conference between Churchill and Roosevelt in the spring of ’43 and ending with the capture of Rome in June of ’44, The Day of Battle covers the action with the flair of a war correspondent armed with all the revelations of the last 63 years. The reception, discussion and book signing are free and open to the public. 5:30 p.m. at the Main Library —CHRIS SCOTT
WEDNESDAY 12/5
MusicGARY TALLEY An original member of Memphis pop group The Box Tops, Gary Talley made his mark as guitarist on hits such as “The Letter” and “Soul Deep.” After The Box Tops dissolved in 1970, Talley worked in Memphis and Atlanta studios with the likes of Ace Cannon, Jerry Butler and Billy Joe Royal. Moving to Nashville in 1981, the Bluff City native played on Chips Moman-produced sessions by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Tammy Wynette. He’s also toured with Billy Preston and the re-formed Box Tops, whose superb 1998 reunion record, Tear Off!, demonstrates Talley’s chops as a player and songwriter. A well-known guitar teacher, Talley specializes in techniques designed to aid aspiring songwriters. Tonight’s set, part of Debi Champion’s Writers’ Night, offers an opportunity to see a first-rate musician with a rare breadth of experience, and an underrated songwriter whose credits include Keith Whitley’s 1988 hit “Flying Colors.” 7 p.m. at The Commodore —EDD HURT
MusicSHAWN CAMP AND VERLON THOMPSON Best known—at least in Music Row offices—as country songwriters, both Camp and Thompson keep their bluegrass connections up with semi-regular appearances before the Station Inn faithful. Both may have scored cuts (hits even) with country artists, but in this context what counts is that both have written for ’grass kingpin Del McCoury. Indeed, Camp, who got his start as a bluegrass fiddler, recorded an entire album of the stuff at Station Inn, and while his elastic voice strays from the mainstream, he’s an engaging enough singer to have earned plenty of bluegrass airplay. Thompson sounds as though he’d be more at home at the Bluebird, but his writing is sturdy and straightforward enough to fit the bluegrass world, and together, the two have no trouble relating to the Inn’s sometimes picky denizens. 9 p.m. at Station Inn —JON WEISBERGER
MusicTHE SILVER SEAS The Silver Seas (formerly The Bees U.S.) are indebted to the gauzy, baroque warmth of ’70s soft rock: guitars ring and chime, a 12-string strum moves to a jazzy percussive shuffle around languid pools of shimmering keys. And frontman Daniel Tashian’s engaging baritone croon casts a spell like Cardinal and the Pernice Brothers. The arrangements amble with the gentle push of understated rhythms lurking low the mix, allowing Tashian and keyboardist Jason Lehning’s buoyant melodies to bubble forth like effervescent candy. While the dulcet sparkle is a central motif, the rootsy jangle of The Byrds, British Invasion-bred R&B and other rustic flavors percolate through their pretty, occasionally jaunty, second album, High Society. The local quartet recently underwent a name change, assuming the current moniker in April and re-releasing High Society under their new name in October. This is the second week of a four-week Wednesday residency. 8:30 p.m. at the Basement —CHRIS PARKER
