REGGAE | Mikey Dread & The Dread at the Controls Band
Wed. Jan. 10
The Pour House
$12
Known best among rock fans as the guy who helped steer The Clash deeper into their reggae/dub/funk phase of the late ’70s, renowned singer, DJ, and pioneering audio engineer Mikey Dread (a.k.a. Michael Campbell) is a giant in the modern reggae world. Dread got his start working as a DJ and engineer with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation before hooking up with The Clash during the sessions for their Black Market Clash album, the slow-grooving “Bank Robber,” and several reggae tracks on the band’s triple album, Sandinista. Through the late ’70s and ’80s, Dread’s radio show became known as “Dread at the Controls” (as featured in the recent BBC/Bravo TV documentary, History of Reggae Music). In recent years, the Dread at the Controls Band has toured extensively through North America and Europe. This one surely be a highlight for the Pour House. Check more at www.mikeydread.com. —T. Ballard Lesemann WEDNESDAY
ROCK/AMERICANA | Randall Bramblett Band
w/ All Purpose Remedy
Fri. Jan. 12
The Pour House
$10
With stints as a member of Sea Level and Traffic, as well as an ongoing solo career under his belt, Athens’ Randall Bramblett is well-schooled in lending his Southern R&B-infused musicianship to a variety of styles. Some of these pairings benefit from Bramblett playing at his most smooth and clean, but his gruff, smoky vocals and cutting lyricism come through just as well when plugged straight into the box with minimal studio adornment in the way. Bramblett’s latest, Rich Someday, provides ample evidence of this as the third in winning string of solo outings including 2004’s Thin Places and 2001’s No More Mr. Lucky. With a great four-on-the-floor band (guitarist Davis Causey, bassist Mike Steele, drummer Gerry Hansen, and guitarist Mike Hines) behind him, Bramblett delivers plenty of ingeniously pessimistic lyrics and lets instruments like worn-in Silvertone axes and soulful Hammond organs do his bidding. The interplay between Randall and longtime collaborator Davis Causey is above par here, as well, with the two bouncing sinewy blues licks and Stax-inspired solos off one another at the ready. See www.randallbramblett.com for info. —Michael Andrews FRIDAY
BLUEGRASS | Packway Handle Band
Sat. Jan. 13
The Village Tavern
$6
Hoping to catch a ride on the rising wave of young bluegrass bands, Athens, Ga.-based Packway Handle Band are putting in the hours to make it big. Throughout January, they’re holding down a weekly slot at renowned Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta, then taking to the road on the weekends. They’ve also released two albums in two years, the most recent of which, (Sinner) You Better Get Ready, is a tight-knit offering that features four-part vocal harmonies throughout and some bluesy flute playing on the haunting track “Wade in the Water.” Their live shows include everything from traditional numbers to unexpected bluegrass renditions of “Like a Prayer” and other pop hits. PHB’s cohesive, high-energy style make for some damn good Friday night dancin’ grass. See www.packwayhandle.com for more. —Stratton Lawrence SATURDAY
ALT-Rock/PUNK | Eve to Adam
Tues. Jan. 16
Cumberland’s
$5
Led by the Sassaris brothers — singer Taki and drummer Alex — guitar-heavy alternative-rock quartet Eve to Adam have been cranking out some highly aggressive stuff since forming in 1997 in N.Y.C. With guitarist Gaurav Bali and bassist Riv, Eve to Adam have been sharpening their chops and touring the Northeast and East Coast behind their latest LP, Queens to Eden — a dense blend of modern rock hooks and classic rock swagger produced by Sean E. Demott (The Bangkok Five) and Paul Lani (Megadeth). “Our live shows are volatile and spontaneous,” says Taki. “The chemistry of the band is apparent in our fervent musicianship and high energy shows. We live in the moment, and feed off each other and the audience, so it’s a different show every night.” Check www.evetoadam.com for more. —TBL TUESDAY
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