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Friday, April 9, 2010
10-in-10 CD Reviews / News 10-in-10 CD reviews
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 11:46 AM
Each Friday, we bring you 10 recently released CDs reviewed in 10 words each:
Codeine Velvet Club Codeine Velvet Club — New project from Fratellis’ Jon Lawler steeped in ‘60s style.
Finger Still in Boxes — ‘90s Raleigh band releases compilation of its guitar rock songs.
Downchild I need a Hat — Canadian blues group hasn’t changed much 40 years after forming.
Dick50 Lateshow — Delbert McClinton’s rhythm section releases an album of its own.
Bodeans Mr. Sad Clown — Ninth album features more of folk harmonies that fans love.
Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez The Deep End — SNL vocalist gets help from TV bandmates for latest album.
Martin Sexton Sugarcoating — Talk about an identity crisis — no two songs sound alike.
MC Frontalot Zero Day — If TV’s Carlton Banks rapped, it would sound like this.
Various Artists Latin Party — Collection includes tracks by variety of artists for danceable mix.
Ayler Young Back in the City — Son of two poets brings style to pop-rock tunes.
News / Mike McCray / Local Leak Local Leak: Haji Basim's "I Rocked A Letter"
Posted By Mike McCray on Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 11:02 AM
Charlotte may not be able to produce a rapper ready for the big time, but there's something in the water around here that kicks out good, soul artists consistently.
Haji Basim is a rising acoustic soul artist calling the Queen City home after performing a ton down in Atlanta, up in Seattle and all over the East Coast. His musical exploration as a student at Johnson C. Smith University was the driving force behind the blend of urban folk music he does now and you'll hear influences of folk, soul, hip hop, flamenco, bossa nova and neo soul in his songs.
The singer/songwriter grew up in a deeply religious home where secular music was a no-no but you could never tell with the sincerity in his music and lyrics. We got his latest song, "I Rocked A Letter" this week and had to share it with you.
Haji Basim - I Rocked A Letter <-- Click here to play.
This track rocks like a soulful lullaby, that fits perfectly with this good weather we've been having. Basim described the origins of the song as "meeting someone and feeling things about them from the very beginning, that words would seem unable and to soon to convey." I don't know about the women you all know, but I'm sure most of them would take this sort of thing over a plain, old 'I like you' any day.
For those that missed him last Friday at The Evening Muse and his listening party last Saturday, you can check out his new album, Urban Folk, Acoustic Garden, Vol. 1, here.
News Big Boi finally gets a release date
Posted By Mike McCray on Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Big Boi from Outkast finally announced a release date for his long awaited solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The son of Chico Dusty.
Fans can get the album that's been nearly a decade in the making in stores on July 6, Big Boi announced via Twitter late Thursday afternoon.
FINALLY!
Concert Announcement / News Three Days Grace concert moves locations
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 10:41 AM
This Sunday's Three Days Grace concert with Chevelle and Adelita's Way has been moved to the Uptown Amphitheatre from Bojangles Coliseum.
Tickets are still available for $39, plus fees. All previously purchased tickets will be honored.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Opinion / Mike McCray / News Bobcats success + a memorable soundtrack
Posted By Mike McCray on Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 1:50 PM
After a close win over the the former Charlotte Hornets last night, the Charlotte Bobcats are in the playoffs for the first time ever. Luckily, I get the opportunity to look back at one of my favorite movies as a kid and, arguably, one of the best soundtracks of the last 15 years, because of it's close ties with the team.
Space Jam starred Bobcats majority owner Michael Jordan and came out in 1996, better known as 4th grade for me. The soundtrack for the movie went 6x platinum, hitting double-platinum within two months of it's release.
What was crazy about this album was how good it was, especially the music for a fairly silly, kids movie. No teeny boopers on this one, luckily it was pre-Britney Spears and the Boy Band boom, this album had really good artists singing good songs, only a few actually pertained to basketball.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Mike McCray / Local Leak / News Local Leak: Pradigy GT's "Believe"
Posted By Mike McCray on Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 5:34 PM
I can remember being a last second replacement judge for my college radio station's beat battle a few years ago and having some dude named Pradigy continually blow the other judges and I away round after round with his production that was just a notch above everybody else in the competition. Well that guy is a Charlotte native and he's back home performing with his band, Pradigy GT.
The band, who describes their sounds as Jimi Hendrix's and Kanye West's lovechild, didn't even have a name yet when they did their first show and features Pradigy on guitar and vocals, Huff on guitar, Phinesse on bass, Cannon on drums and Nikki C. on keys. They've recently been doing gigs and pushing their single, "Believe," all over town (it's currently in rotation over at Power 98).
Pradigy GT - Believe [<-- Click to listen]
The inspiration behind "Believe" is as much a personal challenge as it was President Barack Obama.
"The idea of playing guitar while rapping... I didn't know if it could be done because of the timing of rapping and timing of guitar playing," said Pradigy. He tried things out with his drummer and bass player, with whom he'd jam with every weekend before, and after things got dope, they learned his solo album, converting the studio tracks to something for live instrumentation.
Inspired by election of Barack Obama is when they went from being, "Pradigy & Friends" to Pradigy GT (Grand Touring) and have been grinding since. "In my mind, it means the big show," said Pradigy. "I felt like it was a bigger level of hip-hop than the normal stuff I was doing before the band, so I wanted to make sure people recognized that."
You can catch Pradigy GT in concert tonight at Bad Dog at 7 p.m., April 16 at UNC Charlotte and April 25 at The Money in Rock Hill, S.C. "Believe" is also available now on iTunes.
Opinion / Jeff Hahne / News The 'smell my finger' microphone position
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 4:49 PM
I've noticed it more and more lately... there are a number of hip-hop artists who have one finger on their upper lip while spitting rhymes.
Now, I get that you want to keep a consistent position of the mic while you're talking into it, but doesn't that finger get a little freakin' annoying? Are you trying to remember what kind of sandwich you ate earlier in the day? Maybe there's some other reason you're smelling your finger... I don't know.
I've noticed that Jay-Z seems to be the one to constantly and consistently do this:
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Just thought that it was a bit odd... so, what's the reason?
News / Concert Announcement Bonnaroo announces Café artists
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 4:12 PM
They've announced the café artists for this year's Bonnaroo festival. Among those playing are Charlotte's Paper Tongues and Ramseur Records artist Samantha Crain, former Everybodyfields singer Jill Andrews, the side project of the band Clutch known as The Bakerton Group and Imelda May, who made a big splash at this year's Grammys.
The full list includes — Alyssa Bonagura, Angus & Julia Stone, Boy Crisis, Danny Barnes, Dawes, Elizabeth Cook, Elmwood, Everest, Frank Turner, Frontier Ruckus, Harper Simon, Imelda May, Jessie Baylin, Jill Andrews, Joe Robinson, Jonathan Sexton & The Big Love Choir, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, Joshua James, Kevin Devine, Lissie, Mike Posner, Morning Teleportation, Orgone, Paper Tongues, Red Cortez, Royal Bangs, Samantha Crain, Sarah Jarosz, Supagroup, Tamarama, Tiny Animals, The Bakerton Group, The Bridge, The Constellations, The Devil Makes Three, The Middle East, The Moondoggies, The RBC, The Young Veins, Truth & Salvage Co., Warpaint
Opinion / Jeff Hahne / News Cover bands — making money off those with talent
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 3:44 PM
It should come as no surprise that I'm not a fan of cover and tribute bands — at least 99% of them — for a variety of reasons. You're not going to open Creative Loafing any time while I'm the music editor to see a big feature story written on a cover band.
First, they're taking money away from the bands that write original music. Drawing fans who want to hear the music they like live on stage instead of sitting home, listening to the radio and hearing the same thing.
Actually, they're also taking money away from the people who wrote the songs. I'm sure members of cover bands spend countless hours downloading music illegally, too.
If they had a lot of musical talent, they'd write their own stuff. Doing it because it pays the bills is a terrible excuse. How about having some musical integrity and making money off of something you created yourself?
Meanwhile, they all seem to have taglines. Liquid Pleasure is "America's #1 Party Band" while The Swinging Richards is the "Premium Party Band." The Maxx just hopes you "Do it to The Maxx."
And where's the truth in advertising? Who's Bad bills themselves as the "Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band." Why not say, "Who's Bad — Now that he's dead, we can make more money!" Appetite for Destruction is a Guns N Roses Tribute Band, but maybe they should say, "Appetite for Destruction — Making money off of Guns N Roses' talent for years." Perhaps Slippery When Wet the Bon Jovi Tribute could say "Slippery When Wet — Why be original?"
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Mixtape review: Pac Div's Don't Mention It
West Coast trio drops new mixtape after Church League Champions was one of 2009's best.
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Beloved Charlotte School of Rock Instructor Dies
