Since The Fray opened up the Uptown Ampitheatre at the N.C. Music Factory earlier this summer, Greenville, the neighborhood that surrounds the venue has been well within earshot of all the acts.
Now, some would some would say, "That's awesome , you got to hear Counting Crows for free," while others, and possibly the majority, feel like they're stuck at the stoplight next to the car with subwoofers, in their own home.
The recent Chickenfoot performance forced me and my folks to have to yell over the music just to hear each other in the living room, but like most things that have changed around here, lots of Uptown Ampitheatre's neighbors are taking things in stride.
Jokes like, "it sounds like motherfuckin' Kiss outside," and the realization that more young black people know Sammy Hagar from his Cabo Wabo Tequila than Van Halen or Chickenfoot kept me smiling. What else could've sparked my parents to talk about Hagar's appearance on Emeril Live way back?
Having lived in the neighborhood since the early '90s, I think people are happy to have our new neighbors at the Music Factory, considering it was just an abandoned factory by the railroad tracks before. They're just dying to hear someone they know or like perform. Watching a predominantly black community react to the noise from Uptown Ampitheatre instantly makes me think about this:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/5GRLcsr5Ej8/
(Take the black barbershops reaction to John Mayer on electric guitar, multiply that by our entire neighborhood and you have our general feels towards on the matter):
O.A.R. will perform at the Uptown Amphitheatre on Oct. 14 with Elmwood. Tickets go on sale on Sept. 2.
Each Friday, we bring you reviews of 10 recently-released CDs done in 10 words each:
Robert Glasper Double Booked Pianist goes the route of traditional jazz for snappy songs.
Mew No More Stories Danish trio, NIN opener offers up some interesting, dreamy music.
AT s/t Quirky folk songs sound as if recorded in someones basement.
Tye Banks Living a Dream Raleigh rapper known for Captain Flouride, writing Carolina Hurricanes song.
Jack Ingram Big Dreams & High Hopes Award-winning, recent record-breaker releases his latest country effort.
The Elms The Great American Midrange Fourth album from Indiana group sounds like charged up Mellencamp.
John Lefebvre Psalngs Canadian singer kinda sounds like a poor mans Neil Young.
The Jaded Rakes Three Songs Sounds like Wilco on one song, Flaming Lips on next.
Paris Keeling End of Ride Rock veterans get help from the likes of Don Dokken.
Waitiki 7 Adventures in Paradise Contemporary version of Hawaiian music commemorates 50th year of statehood.
Chickenfoot w/ Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam
Uptown Amphitheatre
Aug. 27, 2009
The Deal: Supergroup Chickenfoot shreds Uptown Amphitheatre with the help of Davy Knowles and a special guest.
The Pitbull concert at The Fillmore scheduled for Oct. 22 has been moved to Oct. 13. Tickets purchased for the original date will be good for the new date.
R&B singer Calvin Richardson has seen the ups and downs of the music industry.
The North Carolina native sold 100,000 records 10 years ago but was still dropped from Uptown Records. His second album, on the other hand, went certified gold earlier this year. But through all that, he never forgot where he came from.
So when it came time to shoot a video for his new record, Charlotte was the first place that came to mind. Richardson sat down with CL at his "Woman's Got To Have It" video premiere party at the Sunset Club on Monday night to talk about his new album Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack, that dropped on Tuesday.
Creative Loafing: So where are you from in North Carolina?
Calvin Richardson: Well originally Im from Monroe, North Carolina but Ive been in Charlotte for so long so thats what Im claiming; thats home for me now.
So youre not new to this, everybody knows you sold 100,000 10 years ago ...
Yeah, I sold 100,000 10 years ago and my second album just went gold, officially, in February. I dropped another one thats out there last year, and its still out there working. But I got another one getting ready to drop ...
Lets talk about the journey real fast, from 99 to 2009, how did everything go? Explain that trip.
From '99 to 2009, it was just a lot of hard work. A lot of set ups and set backs to me, it was a learning lesson for me. I grew a lot in the business. Now, I just feel like Im more seasoned as far as the business goes.
Do you appreciate it more with the struggles you went through?
Oh, I definitely appreciate it, everyday, like I said, I dont take nothing for granted anymore. When you come into the music business, it's easy for you to have a perception of the game like youre going to be an overnight success and for some people thats true. Like you can get on American Idol, but I didnt have those outlets and stuff like that but you cant build no house without no foundation thats going to stand, so thats what I am.
So youre as much apart of N.C.s soul roots what can you say about the state and the kinds of artists we put out? You got Anthony Hamilton, you got Jodeci, you got people like that and you fit right in with them. How do you feel to be among that crew?
I mean it feels good. They are the keepers of real music ... WE are the keepers of real music, not just they, but thats what we do. You know I grew up with K-Ci and Jo-Jo. And you know Anthony hes doing his thing, and hes keeping it real as well, so its all good man to be a part of that elite crew from North Carolina.
So what can people look forward to on the album coming out tomorrow?
Tomorrow I have 11 songs on there, that were some of Bobby Womacks greatest hits that I felt like, you know, he had some many, so I picked 11 songs that I felt like would really make a statement and introduce people that dont know anything about Bobby Womack to who he is, to his music, to his greatness and so thats what youre going to get. Youre gonna get "110th Street," "Stop On By," "Im Through Trying to Prove My Love to You," "Hairy Hippy," "Love Has Finally Come At Last," "American Dream" ... did I say "Daylight"? (laughing) I can go on and on, until I get to 11 of course, but thats basically what youre going to get.
Why Bobby Womack?
I say, why not? I mean Bobby Womack is the greatest storyteller of my time, our time, that I know of and my style is just so similar to Bobby Womacks. My first album that I recorded 10 years ago, I did a cover of I Wish You Didnt Trust Me So Much and who would know 10 years later Id go back and do a whole cover of Bobby Womacks songs man just to pay homage and tribute because thats whos shoulders Ive been standing on for the last 10 years.
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Live Nation's Wednesday Blow-Out Sales are continuing today until midnight with $10 all-in lawn tickets and $15 all-in reserved tickets for a number of shows. They're also doing $10 all-in tickets for clubs, such as The Fillmore.
Here's what's available:
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre $10 lawn and $15 reserved for Crue Fest 2 and Lil Wayne tickets
Uptown Amphitheatre $10 lawn tickets for Chickenfoot and $10/$15 for Heart
The Fillmore $10 tickets for Edwin McCain, Blues Traveler, Down, Pitbull, Mitchel Musso, Secondhand Serenade, KMFDM and David Allan Coe
What happened to the days when an ENTIRE album was good?
Ok, pop quiz What was the last album you bought? Easy question, right? Now, a harder one When was the last time you enjoyed an album so much you could listen to it end-to-end? Harder, right?
While youre thinking, it seems that the days of a good ALBUM may be behind us. For three main reasons:
1. In the digital/internet age, people can download just their favorite songs if an artist has a couple good hits, its considered a successful album.
2. Todays albums just arent that good from beginning to end.
3. Todays artists just arent as good. Or at least that which makes the heavy rotation on radio airwaves.
I remember in the not-so-distant past that when you wanted to get your favorite song, you had to shell out $15-$20 bucks for the whole CD. Now, an album is like an elementary school dodge-ball game. The best songs get picked quickly, and the other, not-so-talented players, are left on the bench.
If youre like me, you want the ability to put in one CD and let it play able to enjoy the entire experience. Today, youd better build your own play list to accomplish such a feat.
So, if you find yourself in the same quandary as me, I offer you the following list of great ALBUMS to listen to. Without further ado, here they are in no particular order:
* AC/DC's Live I intentionally left greatest hits albums off the list but a couple live albums make the cut. Nothing more fun than AC/DC at full tilt.
* Michael Jackson's Thriller Easiest pick on the list. You could re-release this album brand new, and itd be number one all over again (and not just because Michael left us).
* Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. There may be better Bruce songs than on this album, but no album is better cover-to-cover. May explain why seven of the 12 tracks were top-10 hits.
* Johnny Cash's At Folsom Prison The second live album on the list but this captures the Man in Black in his heyday finest.
* U2's Joshua Tree Yup.
* Elvis' The Sun Sessions Notice a trend occurring on this list? They dont make em like they used to.
* 2Pac's All Eyez on Me Rap makes an appearance with this trend setter.
* Pearl Jam's Ten You may not appreciate grunge, but can still appreciate Pearl Jam.
* The Beatles' Revolver Hardest part is which album makes the list.
* Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. See: Beatles.
* Prince's Purple Rain Yes, its a soundtrack. And yes, its awesome.
Whatd I miss? Which Clapton, Wonder, southern rock or legend did I leave off? And dont say Pink Floyd.
So try an album out for a change, your OCD will appreciate the time off...
Silversun Pickups are coming to The Fillmore Charlotte on Oct. 10. An Horse and a yet-to-be-announced act will open the show. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Aug. 28.
Note Cage the Elephant are opening other gigs for the band, but not in Charlotte... I'm not happy about that.
The Good: This album delivered more than its fair share of "oooh" lines. On "Killaz," Royce Da 5'9 spits "you fuckin with a killa/take your body, rape your body, dump it in the river/turn myself in then, beat the case for it then/turn around and put 'I really did it' on my Twitter" not into murder rap but I had to admit that was clever.
All four styles meshed well but didn't break away from their distinctive regional sounds (Royce Da 5'9 - Detroit, Ortiz - New York, Budden - New Jersey and Crooked I - California).
The lyrical segues between verses put you in the mind of old school joints and made sure you we're never confused about who's on the mic. "Not Tonight," "Onslaught 2" and "Cut You Loose" are all solid. "Cuckoo" is far from a single but still hot, biting Jay-Z's "No Hook" over a hip-hop-meets-horror beat. "Pray" is a very truthful and autobiographical track with a great beat by RealSon, hot even without a Budden verse. "Raindrops" could be the theme song to a single parent upbringing, with Novel doing his best Jodeci on a Death Row-hook impression.
The Bad: The problem with lyricists is they have trouble turning hot lines into hot songs, and Slaughterhouse is no different. It says something that the most nod-worthy track, "The One," was a lyrical lightweight. Slaughterhouses empty lyrical threats were better suited for a freestyle on the corner than a studio album. I wish Pharaoh Monche had a verse on Salute rather than just singing the chorus. Some of the hottest tracks from the Internet bootleg weren't on the retail but could've definitely made the album better.
The Verdict: Chances are you'd never hear any of their songs on the radio below the Mason-Dixon but fans of lyricism will proclaim its glory while people just looking for good hip-hop will only bump it every now and again.
INFO:
Artist: Slaughterhouse
Label: E1 Music
Release Date: August 11, 2009