WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12
LEMURIA Here’s an intriguing indie-pop trio that tips its hat to Superchunk and the Breeders, with rolling guitars, a fab female vocalist, and a heap of solid tuneage in tow. They’re intriguing because the trio are in sync the way a proper indie rock combo oughta be, and apparently joined at the hip, musically that is. They’ve got a slew of EPs and singles, self-released as well as on hip indie label Asian Man. With The Mongoloids, Meth Mountain, Calormen, and Gambit. $10-$21. The Milestone. www.themilestoneclub.com. (Samir Shukla)
THURSDAY, JAN. 13
THE BASTARD SUNS The Atlanta combo’s punk rock, laden with chunks of ska and reggae, and even Pogues-like pub burners, has been tearing up the charts for the past several years. OK, so they’re not on the charts, but bloody well should be with its evolving stack of good-time punk tunes that keeps fists pumping and booties swaying. Also on the bill are: Bracing for Impact, Swift Kicks, and Under Attack. $6-$9. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (Shukla)
GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER Sean Lennon, the only child from the union of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, isn’t worried about any preconceived notions about his music. Regardless of what you might think, his new band with girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl is worth a listen. The duet style conjures up She & Him similarities but in an alternate folk universe. $15. The Evening Muse. www.theevening muse.com. (Jeff Hahne)
FRIDAY, JAN. 14
MYSTIC VIBRATIONS Lead singer and guitarist Ric Williams transplanted his rasta roots to the U.S. in the early ’90s, and since then his quartet, Mystic Vibrations, has warmed souls at pubs, clubs, and festivals up and down the East Coast with sinewy guitar lines and plenty of those requisite positive vibrations. This gig kicks off the monthly “Reggae at the Lake” concert series. $8-$10. Amos’ at the Lake. www.amosatthelake.com. (Shukla)
THE DIRTY GUV’NAHS The Tennessee combo weaves Southern rock, blues and soul into heady, big-sound American rock. They are obviously well-versed in songwriting chops, with fully realized songs that populate their shows, as well as the fine sophomore recording, Youth is in Our Blood, which was released last summer. With Chobey Badgio Band. $8-$10. Double Door Inn. www.doubledoorinn.com. (Shukla)
TEMPERANCE LEAGUE It seems like it’s getting harder and harder to find good garage rock these days, so you should feel lucky if you’re in the Charlotte area. Singer Bruce Hazel and the guys in Temperance League have got some of the best you’ll find these days. Heartfelt, sweat-soaked songs for the blue-collar working man that sit well on the listener. On this night, they’re opening for fellow garage rockers Reigning Sound. Better crack open a PBR, this one’s gonna be good. Also with Little Bull Lee and The Unawares. $8. Visulite Theatre. www.visulite.com. (Hahne)
SATURDAY, JAN. 15
STEVE AOKI Hey hipsters, bow to your leader! Aoki is a party DJ extraordinaire and jet-setting entrepreneur who’s made his mark spinning and producing records and in fashion as well, while becoming the face of hipsters and electronic music to casual observers. Since founding Dim Mak Records, he’s released music by MSTRKRFT, Klaxons and more but his high-energy party sets and absurdly large underground following are still the main draw. Porter Robinson, Kevin Focus and Your Dirty Habit open. $20-$35. Neighborhood Theatre. www.neighborhoodtheatre.com. (Mike McCray)
MIKE STRAUSS Strauss, a straight-up nice guy and a fixture on the roots/rock and songwriter scenes for almost a decade now, doesn’t always get his just desserts for the meat-and-potatoes rock ‘n’ roll he dishes out regularly. (Yes, that was the most horrible food-fusion of metaphors in history). Doesn’t seem to bother Strauss, however: he keeps delivering solid platters that only seem to grow in scope as the years go by, with hints of jazz and gospel and Appalachian musics even elbowing themselves into the mix as of late. Free. The Comet Grill. www.cometgrillcharlotte.com. (Timothy C. Davis)
TRANSMISSION FIELDS Charlotte’s quartet hasn’t let a deal with Spectra Records get in the way of exploring new directions and new band members. Shortly after signing with the label, the band began looking for a keyboard player and found Kaitlyn Kennedy (who performs as Electric Coma on her own). What has her voice and talents brought to the band? Only one way to find out. With Rayland Baxter. $8. 8 p.m. The Evening Muse. www.theeveningmuse.com. (Hahne)
SUNDAY, JAN. 16
BATTLE OF THE BANDS It’s like what every band in a movie is practicing for, except for real. Watch nine bands compete to win Gorilla Productions Battle of the Bands. Acts include Soup, The Metric System, Eskatones, Goodnite Swim, A Vision of Silence, Before the Ancients, Matter of Fact, Stride Wore Black and The Bridge, The River. The production company has been hosting battles all over the country with Charlotte being one of many places to catch bands competing nationwide. $10-$12. Tremont Music Hall. www.tremontmusichall.com. (McCray)
MONDAY, JAN. 17
THE LESSER PAULS This Charlotte trio defines typical genres. Combining elements of folk, punk, indie rock and even jazz, Kenni Falls, Ben Henry and Ian Stroupe unleash their musical whims upon those in the room. It can be quirky, it can be intense, it can be over before you know it (at least one song clocks in under one minute.) With The One Through Tens. $3. Snug Harbor. www.snugrock.com. (Hahne)
This article appears in Jan 11-17, 2011.
