TRANSCENDENTAL SWING
At 8 p.m. Thursday, July 21
Sentient Bean, 13 E. Park Ave.
Former Savannah resident Brendan Polk, a pianist who spent a few years as the local wunderkind before heading off to the music program at Florida State University, is the centerpiece of this hipster modern jazz trio (the others are bassist Robin Sherman and drummer Ryan Burd). Downbeat once called Polk - whose swinging style has augmented Equinox, the Teddy Adams group, Skyelite and others ‘round here - an "Outstanding Jazz Performer." See myspace.com/brendanjazzpiano
BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE
With To Speak of Wolves
At 7 p.m. Friday, July 22
City Church, 125 MLK
You have to admit, the phrase "Christian death metal" feels just a tad ... oxymoronic? But this Georgia-based hardcore band plays exactly that. But BTA is also incredibly popular, and is considered one of American metal's most progressive bands, using instruments as diverse as horns and Indian sitars to augment their (increasingly non-traditional) pile-driving wall-o-guitars sound.
According to Brent Duckett, the band's drummer: "The name comes from the Biblical principle that we were created in God's image. And, we were called to be conformed to His image. Archetype means the intended form. The Christ is the best of the best."
Guitarist and singer/songwriter Seth Hecox recently told an interviewer: "Our relationship with Jesus Christ works and moves through everything we do, especially our music and lyrics. But taking a narrow focus on faith only alienates people. Exploring what true faith means in the context of tough issues provides a lot of meat for lyrics especially ... As Christians, we believe in a wholistic approach to living and enjoying life, and that includes the fact that we're organic beings, we're spiritual beings and we have no place giving over our joy as humans to serve machines or discarding the body to elevate the mind." See celestialcompletition.com
CHECK IT OUT
It's a typically eclectic weekend at the Jinx, with the Flat Tires (North Carolina's power-riffing punk hillbillies) on Friday, July 22, and a triple-metal bill with Guzik, Savages and Manray the following night ... Silver-painted gizmo rockers The Protomen are back at the Wormhole on the 22nd, with a fully-realized, guitar-and-gonzo rock opera ... Jacksonville's Saltwater Grass, mixing a strangely warm concoction of funk, heavy blues and Florida-coast country, has a date at Loco's on the 22nd ... Chelsea Lynn LaBate (aka Ten Cent Poetry) graces us again with a July 21 show at Huc-a-Poos on Tybee Island ....
