PostedByJeff Hahne
on Sun, May 20, 2018 at 11:45 PM
Carolina Rebellion
May 4-6, 2018 Rock City Campground at Charlotte Motor Speedway
For the 8th year, Carolina Rebellion rolled into the Charlotte, NC area (one year at Metrolina Expo, one year in Rockingham, NC and the last six years at Charlotte Motor Speedway) with a multi-day metal extravaganza.
While numerous bands have played the festival multiple times, each year brings forth moments that stand above the rest. If you weren't at this year's three-day event, here's the top 5 moments you missed:
1. The Fever 333 brought the politics of Rage Against the Machine with the energy of a F5 tornado to Carolina Rebellion. Singer Jason Aalon Butler made a name for himself with his previous band, letlive, but The Fever 333 brings the fury to a new level. The band performed from the middle of the circle pit, did their best to tear up the stage (literally) and Butler even dragged the entire drum riser a few feet on his own. The band's 30-minute set on Sunday was the highlight of the entire festival.
It begins with a brief history lesson on hip-hop before kicking into a groove and jumping right into the story of one JaH Monte. The Charlotte rapper's new Barry Espy-directed video for the song "Thornton Avenue Lords" is actually "two songs in one," JaH Monte says.
"This song was the intro to my project Real Life (South West Side Akron Story)," he tells us. "Almost the first half of the song goes into a story about steps I took to get back on my feet after leaving jail." Those steps led to JaH Monte's current domestic life in Charlotte, and in the video you see his daughters jumping up and down on a bed and having fun. (Trivia sidenote: one of those daughters was recently or youngest guest to ever appear on CL's Local Vibes podcast.) Later in the video, JaH Monte is at a basketball court, "reminiscing on old memories and trying to relive those times."
It's two steps forward and some horrific remembrances of things past. And it's a terrific video. Enjoy this CL video premiere.
Video shot by Barry Espy, on Instagram at @eastespy. Hit up JaH Monte at @jahmonteogbon.
PostedByJeff Hahne
on Sun, May 13, 2018 at 6:57 PM
Odesza, Kimbra, Kasbo
Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre May 10, 2018
While there are plenty of big-name DJs playing smaller clubs around Charlotte, few can sell out one of the Queen City's larger music venues. Odesza packed the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre on Thursday night for a packed house of 5,000. It was a great night - for music, for weather, for having a great time. Fans danced all over the venue as the EDM duo brought plenty of lights and energy to make it memorable. Strong sets by openers Kasbo and Kimbra set the tone early. Kimbra, whose style and singing are reminiscent of Bjork, is quickly making a name for herself and should be watched closely. As for Odesza, they were mostly silhouettes against an intense lighting backdrop — but the visuals were no less stunning.
While this year's Carolina Rebellion lineup features plenty of acts who have been here/done that in past years of the hard rock and heavy metal festival, there's always acts which stand out.
The 2018 edition, taking place at the Rock City Campgrounds at Charlotte Motor Speedway from May 4-6, is being headlined by Alice in Chains, Shinedown, Muse, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch and Queens of the Stone Age, but the real gems lie further down the card.
Here's 5 must-see artists for the 2018 Carolina Rebellion:
1. Baroness - Georgia's Baroness brings a melodic brand of metal that' fits like a glove at any festival. The hypnotic band effortlessly rocked Bonnaroo five years ago and is at the top of my must-see list this weekend.
2. Clutch - Clutch commands attention every time they hit the stage. Singer Neil Fallon always lets the songs take center stage and does his best to get the crowd going. They're the perfect mid-day set for Sunday.
3. Greta Van Fleet - Fans of classic rock will be impressed by this young band's style. Conjuring up the vibes of Led Zeppelin, this Detroit rock band pays homage to the good ol' days and does it really well.
4. The Fever 333 - Jason Aalon Butler may be one of the most energetic frontmen you'll see all weekend. He made a name for himself with the band letlive and brings that same energy to his new post-hardcore band.
5. Crowd surfers - They're not a band, but watching the crowd surfers at every stage of Carolina Rebellion is sometimes as entertaining as the shows themselves. Keep an eye out for the random guy in a banana or another random costume.
Honorable mentions: Don't miss the visual spectacle of In This Moment's artistic performance; Bad Wolves have quickly made a name for themselves with a cover of The Cranberries' "Zombie"; the nostalgia factor of Billy Idol is 10 times greater than last year's Def Leppard headlining set.
PostedByJeff Hahne
on Mon, Apr 30, 2018 at 9:29 PM
Kate Nash w/ Miya Folick
The Underground April 29, 2018
Indie-pop singer Kate Nash teased the audience on Sunday night with a quick glimpse of her hit single, "Foundations." It quickly energized the crowd before she cut song short and cruised into the rest of her set. If you only wanted to hear the hit single, you'd have to wait until the end of the night to hear the rest. In the meantime, you were given a dose of her songs, old and new, while Nash danced around the stage and kept the small crowd entertained. Sure, Beck was playing out back at the Amphitheatre, but Nash captivated her own audience just the same. Opener Miya Folick belted out her own set of tunes and impressed with her vocal range. Don't miss this dynamic duo's next tour stop.
Kate Nash setlist Play
Foundations Tease
Mouthwash
Life in Pink
Sister Acoustic
Dickhead
Agenda
We Get On
Mariella
Twisted Up
Musical Theatre
Nicest Thing
Always Shining
Hate You
Foundations
Merry Happy
PostedByJeff Hahne
on Mon, Apr 30, 2018 at 9:08 PM
Twiddle w/ Midnight North
The Underground April 28, 2018
For Twiddle's Mihali Savoulidis, the guitar isn't just a musical instrument. It's an extension of his body. Twiddle may be new on the jam scene but Savoulidis offers effortless playing that's impressive to watch and hear. Intricate melodies and intense emotions come through in every note. Sure, there's occasional noodling, but it's few and far between. Most often, he's serving the band's catchy rock songs. The band's Charlotte debut was impressive - though they should be playing bigger venues. The night's opener, Midnight North, offered solid rock vibes. The band is fronted by the son of the Grateful Dead's Phil Lesh, Grahame Lesh. Catch either or both the next time they're in town.
Charlotte rapper Indigo Jo has released his brand new EP IN, which includes "CLT," his bounce-worthy shout-out to the west side of Charlotte. Contributor Emiene Wright mentioned the song in her April 4 Creative Loading profile, "Indigo Jo's Truth is Subject to Revision." Check out "CLT" here, then listen to the rest of the EP. It's a keeper.
PostedByJeff Hahne
on Wed, Apr 18, 2018 at 10:23 PM
Wolf Alice, The Big Pink
Visulite Theatre April 17, 2018
British rock quartet Wolf Alice rolled into Charlotte with little fanfare but a whole lot of heart. It took a few songs to get warmed up, but once they did, singer/guitarist Ellie Rowsell and company thrilled the packed Elizabeth venue. Not much for banter, the band let their songs do all the talking, conjuring up elements of '90s alt-rock while driving emotions with vocals. It didn't matter if you heard the songs before or not, Wolf Alice's music commands attention and conjures up feelings without the emo umbrella. I'm not sure if the band's played Charlotte before, but it's a band you don't want to miss the next time you get a chance.
Setlist
Heavenward
Yuk Foo
You're a Germ
Your Love's Whore
St. Purple and Green
Don't Delete the Kisses
Planet Hunter
Bros
Lisbon
Silk
Beautifully Unconventional
Formidable Cool
Sadboy
Space & Time
Moaning Lisa Smile
Victims of a Life
Fluffy
At just 20 years old, Charlotte singer and rapper Raheeme will be rocking the Spectrum Center Friday night along with rapper Genuwine, hip-hop R&B band Guy and other '90s music luminaries during Power 98's 90's Block Party.
In early March Raheeme performed outside the Spectrum during CIAA 2018. During his impromptu showcase atop a mobile billboard truck, he caught the eye of R&B singer Tank, who taped the performance and broadcast it on his Instagram live feed. Tank, who also will be on Friday Block Party bill, wound up inviting Raheeme to open the show — inside the arena.
"Even though I've performed on the same stage as Rick Ross, YFN Lucci, Boosie and Wale, I've never performed at a venue and stage as massive as Spectrum Center," Raheeme says. "I'm ready and excited to have a good time and give the audience a great show."
Raheeme's latest release is B!tch I'm Ra!, a 5-song mixtape of freestyling over Drake, Jaden Smith, Migos and more. Earlier this year, Raheeme released the 15-song mixtape Made It, and prior to that, the collection You Were Rite. Now, Raheeme is prepping for his first official album for Charlotte's BNR Records. "By the looks of it, it might get pushed back from the projected late July release," he says. "I need this album to touch as many hearts as possible."
You may know Raheeme best from his breezy single "Where You Been," which has gotten good play on Power 98. Watch the video here...
PostedByJeff Hahne
on Sun, Mar 25, 2018 at 11:14 PM
K. Flay, Yungblud
The Underground March 23, 2018
While K. Flay's brand of hip-pop fuses pop sensibilities with hip-hop cadences, it's her energetic live performance that had the sold-out Underground crowd singing and cheering for the duration of her set. The 32-year-old singer finds the right balance of stage stalking and freestyle dancing that commands attention from the opening notes. She needed to put forth a strong performance after the stellar opening set from Yungblud. Fresh off his U.S. television debut the night before on Seth Myers, Yungblud exudes the same raw energy of Cage the Elephant's Matt Schultz. It won't be long before he's on a sold-out headlining run of his own.