Mobile
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concert Announcement / News Concert announcement: Meat Puppets
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Meat Puppets will perform at The Visulite Theatre on Dec. 1.
Friday, September 11, 2009
News / Mike McCray Another MJ Tribute...
Posted By Mike McCray on Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 11:43 AM
In honor of my alma mater, North Carolina A&T, getting a big 19-10 win over Winston-Salem State last weekend, I thought I'd share a Michael Jackson tribute our band, the Blue & Gold Marching Machine, performed almost a year before his death. Hey, its a reason the movie Drumline was based on our school. Enjoy!
10-in-10 CD Reviews / News 10-in-10 CD reviews
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Each Friday, we bring you 10 reviews of recently released CDs done in 10 words each.
The Proclaimers Notes & Rhymes — I would probably walk 5,000 miles... away from this band.
Maserati Passages — Athens, Ga., group releases disc of rare instrumental indie tracks.
Polvo In Prism — Indie rock is all over the place sometimes, yet cohesive.
Guy Mendilow Band Skyland — Songs transcend musical boundaries and finds influence from almost everywhere.
Simple Minds Graffiti Soul — Doesn’t sound like this Scottish band has lost ‘80s influence.
Os Mutantes Haih or Amortecedor — Reunited, innovative Tropicalia band continues down a unique Latin road.
Infected Mushroom Legend of the Black Shawarma — Jonathan Davis, Perry Farrell guest on (long) electronic rock album.
Drivin N Cryin The Great American Bubble Factory — Years of experience creates radio-friendly rock with slight edge.
Boys Like Girls Love Drunk — Sophomore effort full of pop-rock with an ‘80s twist.
Miley Cyrus The Time of Our Lives — I’m definitely ready for her 15 minutes to be up.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Opinion / Eric Mullis / News Can a white guy really sing the blues?
Posted By Eric Mullis on Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 3:58 PM
I went out to Find Your Muse Open Mic on Monday night and checked out a good number of talented musicians. One of them was a young white guy — maybe 17 or 18 years old — who wore something of a suit, a black leather hat and a pair of bright red converse shoes. His first song was a conventional ballad and was quite good.
His second song stood out because it was a blues. Not a blues form, but a blues in the sense that it was slow and its lyrics were depressing. In the refrain, he sang about “how much death he had seen” in a deep gravely voice, a voice that was surprising to hear welling up out of a white teenager with wavy blond hair and loud shoes. The crowd gave him a resounding round of applause when he finished the song.
What to make of a young white kid singing such a blue song about death? I suppose it depends on what kind of aesthetic ideal you have in mind when you see the performance.
Concert Announcement / News Concert announcement: Wolfmother
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Wolfmother and Thenewno2 (featuring Dhani Harrison) will perform at The Fillmore Charlotte on Nov. 3. No word on ticket sales.
News / Opinion / Jeff Hahne Ellen joins 'Idol'
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM
They've announced Paula Abdul's replacement... and it's... Ellen?
That's right, they've replaced the incoherent blabbering of Abdul with a comedian/talk-show host. Great choice.
That's like putting David Hasselhoff as a judge of a talent competition. Oh, wait...
So, now you have record executive Simon Cowell — the only one who gives constructive criticism and tells it like it is, Randy Jackson — a former Journey bass player and record producer who prefers to just call everyone "dawg" and say "it was alright for me," Kara DioGuardi — a songwriter who wrote a horrendous first single for last season's winner, and Ellen who prefers to make jokes than offer any real opinion.
DeGeneres will sit on the judge's panel after the auditions are completed.
Nice choice, Idol. Looks like you've finally jumped the shark... (if Sanjaya's run didn't do it for you already).
Opinion / Mike McCray / News An ode to the rap concert chaperone
Posted By Mike McCray on Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Here's to you, rap concert chaperone.
Some people would call you overprotective, but we know you only mean the best. We know that this is your way of taking an active interest in your child's life (and making sure your daughter doesn't end up leaving with the guy dressed just like the rapper on stage that night).
We know you've gone the extra mile to buy good tickets, then chauffeur your kid and crew to the concert, even being cool enough to drive around the parent drop off section because we know, seeming cool is all you want to do tonight.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Jason Younger / News Where to take those out-of-towners
Posted By Jason Younger on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 10:38 AM
One of the most common questions I get asked from friends from out of town is “What the hell is there to do in Charlotte?” Or some similar version to that.
The thought by many of those new or visiting the area is that there just aren’t that many cool, unique places to go in Charlotte, or at least they haven’t heard of any. I, as most of you, beg to differ.
Charlotte might not be New York City, but you can have a helluva time for a fraction of the Big Apple price. You just have to know where to go of course. But have no fear, here’s a list of the “must-see” places in the Queen City where a visitor (or regular for that matter) needs to make an appearance. In travel guide style, of course:
THURSDAY
We’ll start on a Thursday night to make sure we hit all our stops.
Area: Derita
Location: Puckett’s Farm Equipment — What better place to hear real southern rockabilly and country than in an old building that used to sell farm equipment? Grab a PBR draft in a plastic cup for a buck, sit back and enjoy. If you don’t feel the essence of southern hospitality here, you ain’t gonna anywhere.
FRIDAY
Now that we’ve gotten you acquainted, let's crank it up a notch.
Area: NoDa
Location: Start at the Rat’s Nest. Grab a free beer from the bathroom, roam the aisles and find a classic concert tee from George Jones, Willie Nelson or even New Kids on the Block. Grab a pair of used cowboy boots (wear ‘em out the rest of the night — blend, baby, blend) and head over to The Evening Muse or Neighborhood Theatre (or on a Gallery Crawl night both). Enjoy some of the finest acts around and once the show is over, if you're lucky, the boys at the Rat’s Nest will be banging out the country covers out back (with, of course, more bathroom beverages).
SATURDAY
Check the latest Creative Loafing and pick the best act at Visulite, Tremont Music Hall, Amos’ Southend or Snug Harbor. After the show, head to the Thirsty Beaver for a night cap (and maybe get lucky and hear the house-band Loose Lugnuts pound out outlaw country covers), then head over to the Penguin Grill for some grease, another beer or three, and the best people watchin’ in town.
SUNDAY
Head over to The Original Pancake House for the perfect beer sponge (with a fruit topping of your choice). Tell stories of the weekend... Or at least what you remember.
Complete the above and consider yourself a member of the Royal family. Of course, fearless readers, I probably forgot something/somewhere. Let me, and the rest, know what other royal places are out there.
Special thanks to Kirk “Underground” Andrews for contributing to this post.
Concert Announcement / News Concert announcement: Matisyahu
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Matisyahu will perform at The Fillmore on Nov. 11. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Sept. 18.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist / News Live review: Heart
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Heart w/ Tonic
Uptown Amphitheatre
Sept. 6, 2009
The Deal: Classic rockers bring along radio favorites.
The Good: Tonic is one of theose bands who you've probably heard, but can't name one song off of the top of your head. It's the "Ohhhhh yeah... I know that song..." factor. So, of course, there was a big sing along during "If You Could Only See."
Heart hit the stage with "guns blazing." Nancy Wilson walked out to the front of the stage (sadly, the only time any band member strayed far from their microphone stand) and kicked off the opening riff to "Barracuda." Not a bad start to a set that lasted roughly an hour and a half.
Ann Wilson's voice may have cracked once or twice, but damn if she doesn't have one of the best female voices in rock. She also found a moment to play flute on "Love Alive."
Nancy spent plenty of time jumping up and down and kicking out a leg in true rock style as she ripped through a cover of Led Zepplin's "Immigrant Song," and their own "Crazy On You."
Adding in a cover of The Who's "Reign O'er Me" that showcased the vocals once again, the band's encore included a cover of Zepplin's "Going to California" (with the name changed to Carolina) before a show-closing "Magic Man."
The Bad: If you saw Heart open up for Journey last year, you pretty much saw the show they played on this night. The good part is they sounded just as strong as they did a year ago.
The Verdict: It's always great to go to a show thinking you'll know three or four songs by a band and then know most of the setlist. Heart's catalog runs deep and is worth checking out.
Heart setlist
Barracuda
Never
Kick It Out
Straight on for You
Love Alive
Mistral Wind
Immigrant Song
Back to Avalon
These Dreams
What About Love
Alone
Reign O'er Me
Crazy On You
Encore
Going to California
Magic Man
-
Rain doesn't dampen the party with Kesha and Macklemore
Both sets cut short as storms roll through Charlotte, N.C.
-
Live review: Fiona Apple, The Fillmore (9/26/2012) 16
Fans ate it up, but it was a trainwreck of tragic and frustrating proportions.
-
Frank Ocean tops Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll
Annual critics list creates requisite buzz
