WEDNESDAY 8.18
The Dead — Bobby Weir, Phil Lesh and Co. attempt to keep the Grateful Dead spirit alive without their de facto leader, the long-since-deceased Jerry Garcia. See our story in this issue. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Davis)
Mission19 — Ryan McConeghy (vocals, lead guitar) and Joe Nolan (vocals, guitar, mandolin) formed Mission19 in Fort Collins, CO, during their college days. Now the pop-rockers have left behind the frat parties and are ready to take on the greater musical world. They will likely do it with “oh so catchy” hooks, melodies and harmonies tightly wound and played with a smile. Mission19 are playing a 5-night stand. Buckhead Saloon (Shukla)
THURSDAY 8.19
Anaïs Mitchell — Winner of the Kerrville Folk Festival “New Folk” award in 2003, Anaïs’ music references old-time country, labor ballads, and plain old coffeehouse folk, as well as most of the “one-name-required” female singers: Joni, Dar, Ani, Rickie (Lee), Lucinda and Gillian. To these ears, some of the more political-leaning stuff lacks a little depth, but Mitchell’s way with words — as well as her bell-clear voice — suggests she may well be able to drop the surname soon enough. The Evening Muse (Davis)
FRIDAY 8.20
Burrito Deluxe — This super group of sorts includes Garth Hudson (The Band) and pedal-steel innovator “Sneaky” Pete Kleinow (Flying Burrito Bros.), along with Charlottean Carlton Moody, Rick Lonow and Stick Davis. See our story in this issue. Neighborhood Theatre (Shukla)
Carlota n’ Rock — This show, the first of its kind in Charlotte, features local Hispanic bands Bakaolo Star, La Marea, and La Rúa. For more information, turn to our See & Do section this week. Skandalo’s (Schacht)
Joyce Cooling Group — This Bay area guitarist has won myriad awards, and her influences range from Charlie Byrd bossa nova to Stevie Ray Vaughan blues (albeit a quieter version). A typical performance combines jazz, pop, funk and a dose of polyrhythmic world beats. This is for smooth jazz aficionados only — and ones with some scratch, too; tickets are $42.50. Not everybody’s cuppa, but no one can say Ms. Cooling doesn’t have chops — with Wes Montgomery as a major influence, it’s hard not to. Spirit Square (Schacht)
SATURDAY 8.21
The Benjamin Circle DVD release party/The Gold Coast — The Circle are a Charlotte-born quartet that defies categorization, though their instrumentation (and MP3s) suggest a jazzy world beat, middle Eastern and Latino-infused IDM: Guitar, turntables, trumpets, cello, percussion and voice. The songs are more like suites, lengthy workouts that build momentum and often include several different textures. / Vance Carlisle’s group returns to the stage after a brief hiatus with a mysterious promise to shake shit up (think new songs). Anchored by accent-makers Rodney Lanier (assorted guitars) on one side and Bruce Hazel (assorted keys, guitar) on the other, The Gold Coast make a lush, atmospheric racket without ever losing sight of The Song — whatever it might be. With Columbia’s Kings of Mexico. Visulite Theatre (Schacht)
BR549 — A boffo, touring flesh jukebox of classic country, rockabilly and hillbilly music, the boys in BR549 — Junior Samples fans all — have dropped the hyphen (from BR5-49) and added two new members. The current configuration is comprised of original members Chuck Mead, “Hawk” Shaw Wilson and Donnie Herron, along with newbie Chris Scruggs (grandson of Earl) and bassist Geoff Firebaugh. Expect plenty of high energy, electro/acoustic boot-scootin’ boogie, no pesky crumpled dollar bills required. Neighborhood Theatre (Davis)
Murdercycle — Composed of former members of the late and lamented Ublisch and Seducer, Murdercycle are a tricked-out mix of hardcore punk and drop-tuned sonic boom, all tied together with a hint of Southern psychedelia — phased guitars, wah-wah, and enough attitude that Ronnie Van Zant would probably buy ’em a beer were he still alive. (Or kick their ass. Who can tell?) With Pigfish, Dirty Box, and Dr. Hourai. Queen City Underground (Davis)
Red Letter Agent — These Atlanta rockers are able to make guitars soar in unison with heaps of melodic crunch, all laden with a lead singer who wails like Bono and is also able to soften a tune with mellow crooning. The rocking new Under Starlight EP is out now and continues down the band’s fairly original, modern Brit-rock path. With Bellglide. The Room (Shukla)
Richard Buckner — One of our most engaging singer/songwriters and a true road veteran pays us a visit playing songs from his upcoming record, Dents & Shells. See our story in this issue. The Evening Muse (Schacht)
WEDNESDAY 8.25
Dawn Kinnard — Gracing us again with her melodious voice and bittersweet country/folk songs, Ms. Kinnard has her band in tow this time: James Harton on piano and bass keys, and utility player Mason Neely on drums, lap steel and whatever else is laying around. Kinnard is headed over to Europe in October, where we surmise the welcome will be a warm one — they love their Americana (hold the Bush, please) over in Europa. The Evening Muse (Schacht)
DJ Logic — Jason Kibler, aka DJ Logic, brought jazz into the hip-hop fold earlier than most other like-minded DJ’s. His take on dance music has an immediate aura of warmth. He can do the rock thing, too, as he has worked with Vernon Reid, Body Count and others. The Anomaly is the latest creation of this top-notch music weaver. Opening for John Mayer and Maroon 5. Read more about Mayer in our See & Do section. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Shukla)
Josh Lederman Y Los Diablos — A Boston-based folk-rock bar band with plenty of rollicking numbers marching alongside Irish jigs and gritty, punk-laced rockers, Los Diablos even dip into the Cajun on occasion, knowing as they do that nothing goes better with a large lager than a little accordion music. If you dig the Pogues and/or Jason and the Scorchers, this’ll fill your glass pretty close to the rim. Double Door Inn (Shukla/Davis).
This article appears in Aug 18-24, 2004.
