Hot Times in The Old Town 

And summer without great tunes just wouldn't be summer, now would it? While Charlotte continues the struggle to make itself a top-notch music city (though the caliber of local bands is at an all-time high), there are still plenty of shows in the area to whet your musical whistle between Memorial and Labor Days.

Music Events
The revamped Room continues its strong indie-rock booking with a couple of shows that match anything Chapel Hill's Cat's Cradle might offer, including post-rock popsters Longwave (produced by Dave Fridman, Flaming Lips) and local heroes Mersey Sound on June 11, and a smokin' double-bill June 23 featuring Charlotte's own Dynamite Brothers opening for Austin-based Grand Champeen, known for their explosive "Mats-meet-Husker-Du-meet-Superchunk live shows. Bring a helmet.

And since summer's the perfect time for road trips, there's a pair of don't miss shows coming up in June at a couple of our favorite out-of-town venues (at least until a Charlotte club can land these types of quality acts). Mighty indie popsters The Shins visit the friendly confines of Chapel Hill's Cat's Cradle on June 14, with the deliciously dark Glands (Athens) and SubPop newbies Rogue Wave (San Francisco) in tow./And for the more sedate-but-literate set, songstress extraordinaire Aimee Mann brings her dark-but-beautiful melodies to the spic-and-span Orange Peel in Asheville on Tuesday, June 15, with Julian Coryell opening. Contact www.catscradle.net or www.orangepeel.com for info.

The annual Uncle Sam Jam at Dixie's Tavern June 25 features a nice bill this year, including bad-girl Liz Phair, pop-meisters Fountains of Wayne, radio-friendly The Calling and up-and-comer Josh Kelley. Contact www.dixiescharlotte.com for more information.

Tonic's First Annual Lush Boat Party takes place on Lake Norman July 10. The lake-faring dance party features DJs Bill Patrick and Dennis Rodgers of the Philly/NYC-based 112 Crew, who promise to deliver an eclectic mix of techno/house grooves rich enough to float anyone's boat. Boarding for a maximum of 150 revelers begins at 2pm, the cruise lasts from 3-8pm. Tickets are available through www.spinfoil.com.

For our jam band friends with a few days to kill, SmileFest runs July 22-25 at the Van Hoy Farms Family Campground in Union Grove, about an hour-and-a-half drive from downtown Charlotte. Billed as "4 Days of Peace, Love & Music" (where've we heard that before?), the lineup includes Galactic, the Derek Trucks Band, Keller Williams, Tony Rice Unit, Burning Spear, Acoustic Syndicate, and a host of others. A $100 ticket will get you all four days (camping included), and there's a see-another-show/free night promotion being run by several NC venues, including the Neighborhood Theatre. For more info, try either www.smilefest.com or www.neighborhood.theatre.com.

Skate kids and punkers of all stripes should get a buzz from this year's Vans Warped Tour "04 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on August 2. A 40-band testosterone extravaganza, the show features established names Bad Religion, Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards, the Vandals, and the Bouncing Souls, as well as up-and-comers like Melee, Sugarcult and Simple Plan in the all-day slamdance. Tickets available through www.ticketmaster.com.

The Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue, a veritable who's who of great contemporary Americana artists, rolls into the Paladium at Carowinds on August 13. The short-but-sweet tour (only 14 dates) is all ups, no downs, and features sets from the legendary Emmylou Harris, the Appalachian-influenced duo Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, the divine Patty Griffin, and roots favorite Buddy Miller. Given the nature of the tour, expect to see plenty of sitting-in on each other's sets. Tickets available through www.ticketmaster.com.

The Neighborhood Theatre (511 E. 36th Street, 704-358-9298) hosts the Queen of the Arts NoDa Fest on June 5, an arts festival with live music on an outdoor stage next to the venerable old theater. The show runs from noon-9pm, and features music from local acts David Childers & the Modern Don Juans, Gigi Dover, Abe Reid & The Spike Drivers, the Scott Jeffrey's Band and Bellyfull, as well as Great Britain's Laughing Gravy and Charleston, SC's Soap. The Theatre is also hosting one of this summer's most intriguing live shows on July 31, a mammoth ensemble set by three top-notch local bands, Pyramid (eight members), Sea of Cortez (six members) and the Houston Brothers (three members). The entire cast will be playing a 90-minute set together, re-shaping songs from each bands' catalogue into a symphonic din. Each group has their own infectious sound and unique instrumentation, making this mad idea an instant contender for Gig-of-the-Year honors.

Music/Dance Venues
The cozy confines of NoDa's The Evening Muse (3227 N. Davidson Street, 704-376-3737) makes it one of Charlotte's most comfortable venues to hear live music. Innovative booking and a top-notch sound system afford music-goers an opportunity to hear local, veteran and up-and-coming folk and rock artists in an intimate, smoke-free environment that rivals any big city, small-club music experience. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the Muse offers light, simple-but-perfect-for-summer kitchen fare (sandwiches and salads), beer on tap and wine to supplement the music. With as many as four or five acts playing early and late shows every night, the Muse has become a cornerstone of the local music scene.

Tonic (1427 E. 4th Street, 704-347-2582), Charlotte's premiere dance club, has gained a reputation with visiting DJs not just up and down the East Coast, but even overseas, largely based on a custom-built sound system that rivals any club's, anywhere. An increasingly popular stop for some of the world's best-known DJs and home to some of Charlotte's best electronica musicians, Tonic's musical mix includes techno, acid jazz, funk, house, ambient, lounge and a host of others. The club's comfortable environment includes an easy-access long bar, low-slung sofas, a get-better-acquainted "Red Room," and a Japanese-style, open-air sunken patio that offers a chill-out atmosphere suitably laid-back for those hot summer nights.

The perfect pre- or post-gig hangout for both musicians and music-lovers alike, The Penguin's (1921 Commonwealth Avenue, 704-375-6959) Southern-food fare, beer specials, liquor drinks and central location are all great draws -- but it's the jukebox that adds that little something extra to time spent there. Featuring old school blues and country, soul classics, punk masters and take-no-prisoners rock & roll, the Penguin's atmosphere is just right for discussing the merits of that night's show, or debating whether Eddie Cochran or The Who did the better version of "Summertime Blues." The Penguin is also home to the best local July 4th celebration in town, the annual 4th of July Pig Pickin', complete with fireworks and live music.

No longer an afterthought on Charlotte's music scene, the revamped Room (1812 Montford Drive, 704-527-4511) has become the premier venue for indie rock in town. Offering a welcome respite from the oh-so-predictable nostalgia-driven/radio rock/jam band/dance fare that dominates so many local bookers' wish-lists, as well as the painfully dull hipster wannabe scene at other clubs, The Room has featured an impressive array of shows this year from rising talents, critics' darlings and local favorites, including out-of-town performers like the Rosebuds, the Dagons, the Standard, Califone and Marah. Food service will soon join the menu, the ratty rug is gone, and plans for an outdoor patio are in the works.

While the Tuesday Americana Showcase nights at The Double Door Inn (218 E. Independence Boulevard, 704-376-1446) are still sorely missed, the Independence Boulevard saloon remains one of the city's best places to hear live music, be it blues, zydeco, reggae, roots or the occasional rock & roll show. Celebrating its 30th year in Charlotte, the DDI offers precise sound no matter what kind of act is pouring it all out on stage, thanks to legendary soundman Les Moore. It may be the grande dame of live music venues in the city, but a good show at the Double Door is all that more memorable for having been held there.

Hot Restaurants
In Dilworth and Birkdale, Dolce Gelato, Flavors of Italy (1710 Kenilworth Avenue, 704-332-7525 and 16916 Birkdale Commons Parkway, Huntersville, 704-892-3116) will pleasantly cool you off with a choice of dozens of freshly made gelatos from stracciatella, a creamy vanilla gelato drizzled with dark chocolate, to apple pie. Choosing only one flavor is difficult, so opt to pair flavors like hazelnut and chocolate in a single serving.

Didn't get those tickets to the summer Olympics? No matter. Grab a seat at Greek Isles Restaurant (200 East Bland Street, 704-444-9000) in SouthEnd and order up a flaming Saganaki appetizer, a bottle of Gaia Greek wine, and any of their Elinika Specialte dishes.

For several years NoDa and Plaza Midwood have been the centers for the late hour imbibers, but the patio at Elizabeth's Hawthorne's New York Pizza & Bar (1701 E. 7th Street, 704-358-9339) is proving a popular meeting place for drinks and pliable New York-styled pizza.

In south Charlotte, Ilios Noche (Providence Road, 704-814-9882) continues to push the creative envelope in this small Greek-Italian spot complete with wood-burning stove and owned by two CIA chefs. Plus if you are heading out for a day trip and need a to-go picnic, they open at 9am.

In the Lake District, Mooresville's Prickly Pear (761 N. Main Street, 704-799-0875) offers an innovative take on modern Mexican cuisine and is the Lake District place to cool the throat with a Margaritas or crisp white wine and the soul with jazz on Saturday nights.

Town (701 West Trade Street, 704-379-7555) has been one of Charlotte's most talked about spots since opening in Third Ward last winter. The a la carte menu offers dozens of choices for the do-it-yourself eater. If it's too hot to be in your kitchen, you can watch these pros in their kitchen from the sidewalk through large windows facing the street. -- Ann Wicker