WEDNESDAY 12.29
Derek Trucks Band — Guitarist Trucks is a fabulous slide guitarist but his nimble fingers can go beyond the confines of slide blues and blues-rock with jazzy overlays and world rhythms. Trucks’ work transcends any specific genre, whether he’s playing an electric, acoustic, or even a sarod (a guitar-like sister of the sitar). The recently released double-live CD, Live at Georgia Theatre, is an adventurous document reminiscent of work by Trucks’ other gig, the Allman Brothers Band. DTB’s version of “Freddie’s Dead” covers the musical gamut in which Trucks dwells. Visulite Theatre (Shukla)
Hardcore Lounge — Brothers Chris and Wes Johnson have fleshed out the decor in their plush musical pad with new bassist Marco Heeter (The Yokeys, The Skeeters, Fester) joining Brian Reynolds on drums, Clint Presley on guitar, Charron O’Brien on vocals and Mary Massie on flute. As eclectic as ever, the Brothers Johnson have always done the Travelogue Rock thing well — sometimes including slide shows of their world-traveling endeavors — but they’ve recently begun incorporating those experiences into the music itself, to fine effect. With Roger’s Southern Heritage. Double Door Inn (Davis)
Secret Lives of the Freemasons — Asheville’s SLOTF make their agenda
known with sliced and chopped riffs that bounce around between hardcore and
melodic punk. They’re a part of the loose-knit local collective called Divisional
Media. Also on the bill are the like-minded Sold America and In Remembrance
of Me. SK Netcafe (Shukla)
FRIDAY 12.31
The Avett Brothers — The red-hot Avetts are releasing their second
(!) live album, Live Volume II — part of which was recorded at the Neighborhood
Theatre — at tonight’s New Year’s bash. Fresh off a string of great national
press, the bearded barnyard bards will likely come close to selling out the
joint again, thanks to their friendly/folky/frantic/fratboy take on traditional
acoustic music and bluegrass. With Danielle Howle and Just About To Burn. Neighborhood
Theatre (Davis)
DJ Dave Mothersole — Dave Mothersole spins deep, funky house and melodic techno at famed Club Fabric in London. He’s been cutting his chops since the late 80s and is coming over the pond to spin tunes for New Year’s Eve revelers in the Queen City. There are also a stack of regional DJs spinning tunes, including Kris Krause, Jeff Nagel, Brian Stockholm and Tobre. Menage Ultra Lounge (Shukla)
Unalaska/Horse Thief/Calabi Yau — Tired of paying $50 to drink crappy champagne with the Downtown/Dockers crowd on New Year’s Eve? Then head on down to Tuckaseegee Road’s Milestone club and kick it with the Rocker crowd. Along with the bands listed above — three of the finest original music acts in Charlotte, in this writer’s estimation — you also get to see the ball drop (and likely feel your balls drop) with the like-minded Almighty Flying Machine, The Paragraph, The Ages, Devil Music Inc., Ghost Town Law, October Surprise, YayHooray, Heartwood, and Solid Gold Wreckers. Milestone (Davis)
SUNDAY 1.2
Elevator Action — The Charlotte trio released one of the best records
of the past year. It’s Your Addiction (on Charlotte-based MoRisen Records)
is a pumping middle-finger-up at much of the inane teenybopper crap inhabiting
the radio airwaves. Elevator Action cranks the amps with raw 70s abandon while
layering it with just the right amount of classic glam-rock shenanigans. The
result is garage rock that doesn’t let up till something blows up in the joint.
With Hazardous Pedestrians, Driving East and Last November. Tremont Music Hall
(Shukla)
TUESDAY 1.4
The Flaming Tsunamis — The Connecticut band is rumbling through town
with their frenzied blend of funk-influenced ska, kick in the groin hardcore
and classic punk. The youngsters are on the road working their phat new record
Zombies Vs. Robots! (on kill.normal.records). It’s the “cool band name
of the week” gig. The Carcinogens and Capulet will get thing rolling for the
night. SK Netcafe (Shukla)
Silencio — Think of the Triplets of Bellville battling it out with
Mothra, neither winning, just an on-going timeless saga. That is the sound and
fury behind Silencio, a very talented four top from Ohio. They work with such
an extraordinary array of sounds — abstract, down tempo jazzy rhythm and grooves
to experimental chaotic punches in the head (clearly influenced by noise & hardcore).
On tour with Ohio buddies Rats into Robots, former members of To Dream of Autumn.
With Shadows in the Silence, Hell or High Water and A Blackmale. (Lydia Marlon).
Milestone
WEDNESDAY 1.5
Jason Isbell — The youngest (and perhaps most talented) member of the
Drive-by Truckers, Jason Isbell is well worth seeing on his own, especially
when accompanied by little more than an acoustic guitar, cigarettes, and a cold
beer. DBT songs like “Outfit” and “Goddamn Lonely Love” have made him a critical
darling, but look for Sirens of the Ditch, out early next year on New
West, to make him a full-blown roots-rock reverend. The Evening Muse (Davis)
This article appears in Dec 29, 2004 – Jan 4, 2005.
