Friday, January 27, 2012
Concert Announcement Country megaticket announced for 2012
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:48 AM
It's almost time to dust off your cowboy boots and clean up your hats... Live Nation today announced the six concerts that will be included in this year's country megaticket, which goes on sale on Feb. 3 at 10 a.m.
It's available online only through megaticket.com and includes:
• Sugarland
(I guess this further delays my dream of a Jennifer Nettles Band reunion.)
• Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker and Thompson Square
(Hootie!)
• Toby Keith, Brantley Gilbert
(Ya think his stage will look like a pickup truck again?)
• Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan
(The latest next big thing in country music.)
• Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Eli Young Band, Edens Edge
(Do these bands ever stop touring?)
• Brad Paisley, The Band Perry
(If you like your country served with a splash of wit.)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Opinion Nashville Scene publishes 12th Annual Country Music Poll
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Our sister paper in Nashville, The Nashville Scene, has released its 12th Annual County Music Poll. As the editors tallied the results, it became clear that 2011 was dominated by Miranda Lambert the solo artist vs. Miranda Lambert, member of the trio Pistol Annies.
The result was something of a split decision. Pistol Annies, Lambert's trio with Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, won the Album of the Year voting with their debut effort, Hell on Heels, which established a comfortable lead over Lambert's No. 2 album, Four the Record. The title track from the Pistol Annies' album was voted the No. 2 single — edging Lambert's No. 3 "Baggage Claim" but falling short of Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter's No. 1 "You and Tequila." Pistol Annies were voted the Best Group or Duo and the Best New Artist, but Lambert was named the Best Female Vocalist, Best Songwriter and Artist of the Year.
Music journalist Geoffrey Himes' annual list has become country music's version of legendary rock crit Robert Christgau's influential Village Voice "Pazz and Jop" poll, which has run in some form since the early '70s and focuses on pop and rock.
The Scene's results include the top 30 albums, top 20 singles, top 10 reissues, top 10 male and female vocalists, top 10 live acts, top 10 songwriters, top 10 duos or groups, top 5 new artists and the 10 artists of the year. You can read more about their decisions here and find the results here.
Live Reviews Live review: Young and in the Way, Weekend Nachos
Posted by Jenny Lou Bement on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Young and in the Way, Weekend Nachos
The Milestone
Jan. 23, 2012
The Milestone floor was marked with trails of blood as the night came to a close at the Young and In the Way LP Release show on Jan. 23. It wasn't a shock considering Young and In the Way's blackened ferocity has gained a large following in Charlotte since their debut in 2009. With opening acts Iron Flag, Weekend Nachos and Full of Hell, the show was almost begging for some out-of-hand moshing.
That energy was evident early. On tour from Chicago, Weekend Nachos were second on the bill. With the fervor and tenacity which most headliners exude, Nachos proved dangerous as an opening act. When the first notes struck, the floor transformed into chaos as patrons slammed against one another to the grinding melodies speckled with sludge. Adorned with a Bart Simpson t-shirt, Weekend Nachos' vocalist prowled the stage, blasting his vocal cords' power over the intense, driving breakdowns as people flew across the floor. And to think — the rowdy members of the crowd were only warming up.
By the time Charlotte's Young and In the Way took the stage as the headliner, spectators were so enraged with the cathartic release of shoving and hardcore dancing that it nearly seemed a risk just to step out on the floor. People were jumping, pumping themselves up, before the band had even begun. Needless to say, as soon as the music started, people were shoved in every direction so fast and ferociously that those surrounding the stage creeped backwards to avoid getting clobbered. It was a scene that continued throughout the band's set.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Live Reviews Live review: The Young Electric
Posted by Alison Angel on Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Live Review: The Young Electric
Tremont Music Hall
Jan. 19, 2012
Established verterans and fan favorites like Madina Lake and Hawthorne Heights brought the crowd to Tremont Music Hall last Friday, Jan. 19, but the little-known four piece The Young Electric created so much buzz that they turned the indifferent audience into screaming fans by the end of the set.
The four rockers from Provo, Utah, that form The Young Electric could have been utterly forgettable, playing in the middle of such a heavy lineup. But the band owned it as the members walked out on stage in their black getups, sending out the vibes of shy school boys until they completely transformed when the first notes rung out. Though they looked lost and scared while setting up, they completely changed when the lights hit them. The lead singer skulked along the side of the stage, hiding behind his curtains of black hair, before resembling Gerard Way as he leapt up onto the speakers in an effort to get every person in the crowd dancing. It was as though the first guitar chord flipped a switch and brought him to life.
From the moment The Young Electric began playing their unique blend of light rock and screamo, every eye turned to the stage and more than a few people matched the band scream for scream as the band restored the energy which had been drained from the room by the seemingly out-of-place first band, Charlotte’s The Local Traumatic.
