If someone asked me how much live music I witnessed this year — in my role as Creative Loafing‘s music editor — I’m not sure I’d have a clear-cut answer.
If we’re talking about concerts, I’d guess I attended more than 100. If we’re talking about the number of bands — including local and national artists at various Charlotte-area venues and at spots across the country (like Voodoo Festival in New Orleans and Bonnaroo) — it’s easily more than 200 total this year.
So, how could I possibly sum all of that up? I’m not sure that I can. Instead, I’ve put together this collection of roughly 70 photos (in this week’s paper and online at Clclt.com/music) from some of the concerts I attended in 2009.
From the first show that I went to in January — Nicolette Emanuelle, The Hot House Hefftones and S.O.Stereo at The Evening Muse — through the festivals, summer concerts at outdoor amphitheaters, small clubs, large indoor venues … it was a long year full of variety. Narrowing down the shots wasn’t easy either. For each photo that you see here, I probably have another 20 from that show or of that band that I didn’t pick for this edition. Hey, maybe one day I’ll write a book.
Anyway, I hope these photos showcase a bit of the variety of music and performers that I was lucky enough to see and hear at close range over the last year — the sweat, the screams, the intensity, the enjoyment — all through the lens of my camera.
This article appears in Dec 15-21, 2009.
