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By Tara Jayant
Staff Writer
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pH Balance
Taking its name from the initials of singer Pam Howe, pH Balance has thrived for
several years on the local scene. The band has gained recognition as one of the best
trip-hop acts in the South. Howe lends her intimate voice to a "balance" of guitar and
organ, while Chris Burt, Kevin Vines and Tony James contribute to a powerful rhythm section. Blurring the borderlines between funk, Portishead-style trip-hop and jazz, pH
Balance creates a unique sound thanks to the personal poetry of Howe's lyrical vocals.
Their self titled debut was released in 1999, but the band has only been touring extensively
for about a year. That might change, though; last year at Music Midtown they played
alongside popular bands, and the group is planning to perform over 150 shows this year.
(Note: According to the FAQ on http://www.tripnotic.de, trip-hop is defined as "a blend
of electronica and hip-hop, urban and ethereal, street and ambience," usually accompanied by a female vocalist.)
King Lear Jet
The name may sound obscure and Shakespearean, but Robert C. Lee and bandmates
have played Atlanta clubs for six years. Inspired by mellow alternative bands such as Wilco, Lee, Christopher Miller, Christopher Rowell and Andrew Simmons created a low
key pop sound edged with electronica. Their style is infused by bright keyboard and remains quirky enough to separate them from the masses of folksy, oddly named indie
bands. The band's debut album, Press On Good Captain, has been featured on radio stations throughout the country, and KLJ has consistently been acknowledged by Creative
Loafing on best-of lists. The band is soaring on with a new album, Gold Dust Sing, expected to reach stores this summer.
Jennifer Nettles Band
The mature, cohesive sound of this Atlanta band transcends chick rock stereotypes.
Lead singer Jennifer Nettles has been serious about music all her life, and her Southern
upbringing is revealed in the band's bluesy, jazzy sound. However, Nettles is never content
to restrict herself to one style, and her latest recording, Gravity: Drag Me Down, reveals a
shift towards a modern blending of rock numbers and pop tunes, as well as the signature
sound of her debut Story of Your Bones. The Jennifer Nettles Band is widely regarded as
one of the best live acts in Atlanta, and judging from the popularity of Gravity and steady
touring, the band will achieve unprecedented recognition this year. JNB has performed at
the 1999 Lilith Fair, as well as at smaller venues across the Southeast. Nettles' sensual vocals truly carry the music with the help of Mike Cebulski, Wesley Lupold, Scott
Nicholson and Brad Sikes. On Gravity: "[Life] is about struggle and tension and release
and challenge and celebration and depression and lightness.... I think that's what this record
is, an exploration of that dichotomy, those highs and lows," explains Nettles.
Myssouri
A moody dreamscape of dark but always melodic songs, Myssouri's Furnace Songs is
simply deep. This instrumental band names a kaleidoscope of influences ranging from Johnny Cash to Pink Floyd, and somehow melds them into an intense and poetic listening
experience. Essentially heavy rock with a Western tinge, mystical songs like "Floorless Jig"
and "Landlocked Blues" transport the listener with reflective, somber lyrics to match. Lead
singer Bradley names numerous novelists and poets whose styles he traces in the thoughtful
lyrics he sings, and even a casual listen to this music reveals that Myssouri is definitely set
apart from other local bands. Live performances are frequent and always a classic rock experience.
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