THURSDAY 7.1
Moanin' Michelle Malone -- The decade and a half worth of recorded history behind Malone is pretty damn solid. Last year's Stompin' Ground is about as good as it gets. Her words are pointed and shaped in the ethos of a Southern poet. What are you waiting for? If you haven't seen Malone's punchy-folk, Southern-proud, country leanin' rock, and snappy guitar playing, then get off yer ass and go see her. The Evening Muse (Shukla)
FRIDAY 7.2
Matone -- Although one of their originals, "Any Flavour You Like," is a laid-back jazzy instrumental, the name pretty much sums up their musical outlook. Matone lay down a happy-go-lucky groove toned with tropical rhythms, psychedelic flourishes and a tight-knit, Dead-styled jam. The players are in tune with their chosen instruments, and make it known to the listener. Visulite Theatre (Shukla)
Miles Maeda -- One of the pioneering members of Chicago's club scene in the early 90s, along with Derrick Carter and Mark Farina. Currently celebrating his 6th year in residency at Smartbar, he's been central to the house scene there along with familiar names like DJs Colette and Heather. Maeda's approach is a holistic one, as the certified Yoga instructor incorporates those principles into his shows, and actually runs a program -- DJ Evolution -- designed for DJs interested in integrating their performances. Tonic (Schacht)
Sever the Tie / Tribe of More -- Do a Google search for Severthetie.com, and you'll get all sorts of weird results: Science Fiction sites, self-help, and a whole satchel-full of bad poetry. The guys in Sever the Tie don't specialize in bad poetry, to be sure (well, they may -- it's sometimes hard to make out some of the lyrics). Currently preparing a five-song EP to be sold at shows, the guys in Sever the Tie specialize in hardcore-rooted sonic brutality, but they're more agile than you might think, going through more time changes in a short period of time than a Concorde jet. (Davis) / Tribe of More -- What these youngsters lack in the lyrical department, they make up for in spirit. Local rockers take cues from Metallica and add shards of throaty metal, guitars and double-bass percussion. The music is still gelling, but they're hungry, and are able to goad fists into clenching, raised positions for the most part. Also on the bill tonight: Astrid Haven, Deviant, and Strychnine. Tremont Music Hall (Shukla)
SATURDAY 7.3
Bellyfull -- The mostly instrumental groove-rock band understands jazz. This is key in taking different strains of music and putting it all into the collective. Songs like "D Funk" with its layered bass and keys playing hide and seek with the guitar and percussion give Bellyfull their signature. The keyboardist can be subtle or lays it on thick when necessary, without falling into noodly, smooth-jazz traps. Neighborhood Theatre (Shukla)
David Childers and the Modern Don Juans -- David Childers might resemble a bear physically, but a better musical description might be a chameleon. Now recording yet another CD, this time at Cougar Camp Studios, Childers has now taken to making the kind of early-rock inspired record that John Lennon would no doubt approve of: fast, loud, and full of conviction. It's still got all the first-rate songwriting you've come to expect, of course. You just might have to dig in the feedback a bit more before you find it. Comet Grill (Davis)
David Olney/Lindsey Horne -- In what's now become something of an Apocryphal band-booking tale, it is said that the late Townes Van Zandt once rated Nashville singer-songwriter David Olney as "one of the best songwriters I've ever heard," and listed him as one of his favorite musicians ever (alongside Mozart, Lightnin' Hopkins and Bob Dylan). Depending on your opinion on whether or not Townes was sober when he said this, this ought to be one worth checking out. / Lindsey Horne seems to be blossoming nicely into the Charlotte music scene, with each show attracting more and more converts to her ethereal Kate Bush-meets-Sam Phillips keyboard-driven balladry. And for good reason. She's already one of the best homegrown talents we have. The Evening Muse (Davis)
Malcolm Holcombe -- An acoustic tornado of blues, folk, and country, all filtered through Holcombe's unique vocal stylings -- part growl, part howl -- and frenetic, half-finger picked, half-strummed guitar playing. The Weaverville native tends to leave the uninitiated staring in disbelief at the stage long after he's packed up and moved on to the next gig -- no, you haven't seen anything like it. He's a true original, though comparisons to Tom Waits and John Prine provide a ballpark idea of what you're in for. Rodi, Gastonia (Schacht)
SUNDAY 7.4
Bembeya Jazz -- Now in it's 13th year, the Pride Sunset Jazz Series moves to Frazier Park near Gateway Village downtown. The series features a concert every Sunday in July from 5-9pm, and organizers start it off right with this legendary and influential band from Guinea in West Africa. Founded in 1961, Bembeya Jazz is a huge band with multiple guitars, horns and drums, and a rich sound that includes touches of jazz, blues and Cuban influences as well as traditional West African and Afro-pop music. The standout musician is guitarist Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabate, a virtuoso with fluid hands and a bell-clear tone. Opportunities to see bands like this in Charlotte don't come around often enough. Frazier Park (Brian Falk)