setlist
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Augustana
Posted by Alison Angel on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Throughout their 25-song set at the Visulite Theater on Monday, Feb. 6, Augustana frontman Dan Layus was never without a smile on his face as he belted out lyrics that make up the band’s nine-year history. It was quite a different sight from the frontman of two years ago — an alcoholic who couldn’t seem to see the brighter side of life.
With this tour, Augustana makes it clear that those days are long gone. Despite a lineup that has been in constant turmoil and being dropped from their label, Epic, after six years, the band is back with a new set of songs reflecting their contentment with life and a mellow attitude which is reflected in every song.
The foursome took the stage without a word. Only the low whine of a lone guitar chord announced the band's presence as they launched into “Hey Now” from their 2008 album Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt.
With lyrics like “Now we’re bleeding for nothing... We’re damned at the end and we’re damned at the start,” Layus showcased his attitude as a songwrtier and his crew blossomed with a steady guitar rhythm carrying them forward. Constant smiles on their faces indicated that although the same sweet melodies drive their music, they are not the same band that wrote those words so long ago.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Tool
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Tool
Bojangles Coliseum
Feb. 4, 2012
The last time Maynard James Keenan and Co. were in town — July of 2009 at Charlotte's Bojangles Coliseum — the Tool singer felt under-the-weather and the band shuffled through the same setlist they'd been playing for a couple of years. Fast forward to Saturday, Feb. 4, at the same venue and the songs and setlist both received breaths of fresh air leaving a sold-out venue satisfied.
Quietly taking the stage to the steady opening rumble of "Hooker with a Penis," Keenan sang through a megaphone, offered sporadic dance moves in his black t-shirt and jeans and ended the song with a quick courtsy.
"Hooker" has re-entered the band's setlist for their current tour for the first time since 1999. While more than half of the songs played were also played at that 2009 show — "Jambi," "Stinkfist," Schism" and "Aenema" among them — fans were also treated to a few new ones, including radio favorite "Sober," the more obscure "Intension" and fan favorite "Pushit."
Monday, November 28, 2011
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Puscifer
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Puscifer w/ Carina Round
Ovens Auditorium
Nov. 27, 2011
Donning a cowboy hat, black button-down shirt and dark jeans, Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan hauled a small Airstream trailer on to the empty Ovens Auditorium stage. He slowly unpacked a couple of chairs and a folding table and began a short, poetic spoken word diatribe about sustainability in the current state of the world. As bandmate Carina Round exited the trailer to help set up more chairs and pour some wine (probably Keenan's own brand), Keenan began to talk about the value of creativity, ending with "Here at Puscifer, we believe in being creative with every breath you take."
Those talks set the tone for a night of music that was high on creativity —Â from a 30-minute mockumentary interlude to short skits between songs — and the band's own musical paintings that drew from its two albums for an 18-song journey.
The night started with "Green Valley" and "Tiny Monsters" before kicking into high gear with "Vagina Mine." Various videos ran in the background while a hanging LED screen showed occasional mock advertisements such as one for the Arizona Border Patrol with the slogan, "We put the 'Panic' in Hispanic."
Monday, November 14, 2011
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Brandi Carlile
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Brandi Carlile w/ The Secret Sisters
Knight Theatre
Nov. 11, 2011
"I've been looking forward to this show for the entire tour so far," Brandi Carlile told a sold-out Knight Theatre crowd. "I thought I'd be playing in coffee houses and small places for a few people and you sold out the McGlohon Theatre so they had to move it to a bigger venue. It's amazing."
Carlile hit the stage dressed in black, a silk scarf around her neck, as she rolled through song after song during her solo performance. Her vocals held the spotlight for the duration of the night — from the opening notes of "Follow" through an a capella version of "What Can I Say" to the final encore. While she mentioned her missing bandmates — Tim and Phil Hanseroth — a few times, Carlile also noted that this solo tour has been a good idea and one she was initially hesitant to do.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Foo Fighters
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Foo Fighters w/ Social Distortion and The Joy Formidable
Time Warner Cable Arena
Nov. 8, 2011
Kurt Cobain may have hated being a rock star and the fame that goes along with it, but his bandmate, Dave Grohl, absorbs every ounce of it he can. Grohl, the former Nirvana drummer, brought Foo Fighters to Charlotte on Nov. 8, and played the role of rock frontman to his best abilities for more than two-and-a-half hours.
Dressed in black pants and button-down shirt, his hair hanging in his face, Grohl unleashed the lyrics, "These are my famous last words!" from "Bridge Burning" as the band kicked of an energetic set packed with raucous screams and heavy-handed rock.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Jayhawks
Posted by Kathleen Johnson on Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Jayhawks
McGlohon Theater @ Spirit Square
Oct. 29, 2011
The sun still shines. The rain still falls. And everything’s alright forever when Mark Olson and Gary Louris of the Jayhawks sing together. Thank goodness for small consistencies. Something to bank on in these uncertain times, ya know?
Such was the case Saturday night at a nearly sold-out McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, where a very appreciative crowd drank in a stellar performance by the recently reunited alt-country pioneers from Minnesota. Long overdue, warmly received and definitely reaffirming in its “return to form-ness,” the quintet’s Charlotte visit was, simply, top flight.
The band blew into town in full-on reunion mode: Olson’s back after bailing in the mid-1990s due to the familiar “burned-out on the grind” factors; there’s a new CD, the excellent Mockingbird Time (a rich, complex effort that although lacking in the immediate hook/pop gratification department, yet gets better with each listen); and a long string of well-received shows in the U.S. and Europe this past year, with more to come.
And, yes, all the “not missing a step,” “it’s like they never left,” and “they sound as good as always” platitudes surely do ring true for this appearance.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Joshua James
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Joshua James w/ HoneyHoney
The Evening Muse
Oct. 7, 2011
Joshua James steps up to the microphone and a soft, raspy voice starts to sing. As the emotion starts to pour from his lips, veins strain in his neck and his thin frame rocks up to his toes. His eyes close as he sinks further into the poetic music. If you only catch a glimpse of the 25-year-old with an acoustic guitar, you might lump him together with countless other folk artists, though his music and performance clearly transcend the genre.
There's a restrained intensity when James performs while his music is hypnotic enough to draw the listener in. There wasn't much banter between songs as he was more transfixed on the task at hand — 12 heartfelt songs from his two albums — 2007's The Sun Is Always Brighter and 2009's Build Me This — as well as a couple of new tunes and covers.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Photos / setlist Live photos, setlist: Incubus
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Sun, Sep 18, 2011 at 7:50 PM
Incubus
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sept. 16, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Photos / setlist Setlist, photos: Grace Potter
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Mon, Aug 29, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
The Fillmore Charlotte
Aug. 26, 2011
Grace Potter hit The Fillmore Charlotte last Friday night for a sold-out show packed of her bluesy rock. Hard to believe that the last time she was in town for a headlining spot, she was packing the Visulite. I guess that Avett Brothers opening spot paid off. She's getting more popular and her style has gone a bit glam, but it's not like she's compromised her artistic integrity. This is the same Grace Potter that was playing to a couple hundred at The Visulite — her vocal abilities remain intact.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live review: My Morning Jacket
Posted by Jeff Hahne on Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 11:08 AM
My Morning Jacket w/ Neko Case
Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre
Aug. 21, 2011
The Deal: After eight years away, My Morning Jacket finally makes a return to the Queen City though the show gets delayed by rain.
