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Monday, April 25, 2011
News Bridges, Browne spotlight Benji Hughes
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 9:49 AM
I was reading Rolling Stone (April 28, 2011 edition) over the weekend, which is their Best of Rock 2011 Special Issue.
In it, there's a brief feature in which they ask Jackson Browne about the Best New Roots music. His response includes:
Benji Hughes, from North Carolina, is also an unbelievably good singer-songwriter. He looks like he stepped out of the back cover of an Allman Brothers record in 1975. He's wickedly funny but also utterly romantic. Music is just so alive and kicking under the radar right now.
Then I was reading the latest Esquire magazine, with Jeff Bridges on the cover, and it talks about Bridges spotlighting a few musicians that he really likes. The first one mentioned — Benji Hughes.
He sits behind his desk, starts up his Mac, and begins scrolling through music and movie files. He stops whenever he sees someone he likes — Benji Hughes, Bo Ramsey, Greg Brown, Johnny Goodwin, peeking out from between Johns Fogerty and Hammond. Then he finds what he's looking for. He presses play.
You can read the article here.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Live Reviews / News Live review: Dancing on the Dark Side
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Dancing on the Dark Side
Neighborhood Theatre
April 21, 2011
What happens when a group of Charlotte musicians band together with a visual artist and a troupe of dancers to recreate one of the greatest classic rock albums of all time? One hell of a night.
All of this came together under the Dancing on the Dark Side moniker last night at the Neighborhood Theatre and I wish I knew everyone's name to compliment them directly.
When I heard this was going to happen, I thought, "Great idea. But can they pull it off?" The answer is a definitive "hell, yes and with stunning accumen and ability."
Let's start with the music which was spot on, tight as can be and powerful as needed. Singer Shana Blake shined on "The Great Gig in the Sky." Singer Gabe Britton also offered a rock-solid vocal performance of his own through most of the night. Music director and drummer Eric Mullis did a fine job coordinating with musicians from Actual Proof, Chasing Edison, Automatic Chi and Incognito Mosquito.
With the musicians off to the left side of the stage, the backdrop was a sea of visuals created by Mike Wirth Art that transfixed the audience with seas of colors, and images — from the sublime to the frantic.
And then there were the dancers filling the space in between — visual artists using their bodies as the canvas to portray the words being sung and the notes being struck. It was choreographed by Mineko Shannon and danced by Melissa Word, Nathalie Anne, Nia Galas, Caitlyn Swett, Blakeney Bullock and Colton Southworth. It's no wonder that they received regular standing ovations — whether flying solo or dancing as a group, using hoops or simple expressions to get the points across.
This was an event that exuded the word multi-media and has the audience transfixed. A thunderous round of applause broke out at the end and I'm sure many were wishing Pink Floyd had recorded a double-CD instead in order to make it last that much longer. There was no encore needed, the performance itself was one fantastic display that stood from start to finish.
Let's just hope this wasn't a one-off and that they will either present it again or, perhaps, tackle another album.
10-in-10 CD Reviews / News 10-in-10 CD reviews (4/22/2011)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Claire Ritter The Stream of Pearls Project — 18 mellow piano songs as tribute to bodies of water.
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Unida Cantina — Album blasts forward with energetic whirlwind of rock ‘n’ roll.
Tracy Nelson Victim of the Blues — Horrible vibrato during sustained notes sadly deteriorates soulful blues vocals.
Richard X. Heyman Tiers/And Other Stories — DIY multi-instrumentalist releases double-album full of classic styles.
Rebecca Pronsky Viewfinder — There’s some country flair infused into her lush folk style. (Appearing at FemmeFest on May 21.)
Daphne Willis Because I Can — Album kicks off in funk before settling down in style.
Kimberly Caldwell Without Regret — Finalist from second season of Idol releases her pop debut.
A Rooster for the Masses No One is Ready — Raleigh alt-rock band soaks in ‘90s style, indie ethic.
David Michael Low Bid on a Dream — Bluesy, storytelling style is a bit too scatterbrained in lyrics.
Tom Glazer A Treasury of Civil War Songs — I would prefer Civil War songs that sounded more dated.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Videos / News Beastie Boys' 'Make Some Noise'
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Beastie Boys released the video for the first song, "Make Some Noise," from its upcoming album, Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2, yesterday and it's got tons of guests...
Seth Rogen, Danny McBride and Elijah Wood appear as young versions of the trio, and there are cameos by Will Ferrell, Jack Black, John C. Reilly, Ted Danson, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Buscemi, Chloe Sevigny, Rainn Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Orlando Bloom and more.
Check it out -
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Concert Announcement / News 2011 Food Lion Speed Street performer announcements begin
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 2:40 PM
The 2011 Food Lion Speed Street, taking place in Uptown Charlotte on May 26-28, has announced a handful of performers that will be at this year's event.
Josh Turner will be performing on the Coca-Cola Stage in front of the NASCAR Hall of Fame at 9:30 p.m. on May 27.
Everclear will be performing at 9:30 p.m. on May 27 on the Miller Lite Stage.
Starship featuring Mickey Thomas will peform on the Coca-Cola Stage on May 28 at 8:15 p.m. They will be followed by Eddie Money at 9:45 p.m.
Clay Walker will perform on the Miller Lite Stage at 9:30 p.m. on May 28.
UPDATE: Rose Royce will perform on the Coca-Cola Stage on May 26 at 9 p.m., followed by Midnight Star at 9:45 p.m.
Pat Green will play the Miller Lite Stage on May 26 at 9 p.m.
Videos / News "Weird Al" takes on Lady Gaga
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 12:00 PM
"Weird Al" Yankovic has redone "Born This Way" for his own song "Perform This Way." Simply put, it's hilarious and quite genius. Sadly, but not surprisingly, Lady Gaga didn't approve of the cover. So, Yankovic released it anyway via YouTube.
Doesn't Lady Gaga have a sense of humor?
Enjoy!
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Live Reviews / News Live review: Hunx & His Punx, Shannon & The Clams, David Liebe Hart, '97 Bulls
Posted By Jenny Lou Bement on Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Hunx & His Punx, Shannon & The Clams, David Liebe Hart, '97 Bulls
The Milestone
April 17, 2011
The Deal: When David Liebe Hart of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show came into town for Casserole Fest, I must admit, the entire night was a bit blurry due to over-celebration. I was disappointed that I didn't pay complete, utter attention to his performance because I was such a fan of his work on the show and interested to see what he was doing on his own accord. When I found out he was on tour again, this time with a full back-up band, I was severely relieved that I would have another opportunity to experience the radically bizarre performance he is known to put on. In order to avoid going into the night partially blind because I wasn't familiar with the headlining bands on the bill, I researched Oakland, Calif. bands Shannon & the Clams and Hunx & his Punx and was astounded by how much I was impressed with them. Paired up with Gastonia's '97 Bulls, I had the feeling that there was a genuinely interesting night ahead of me.
Live Reviews / News Live review: Blue Man Group
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Blue Man Group
Belk Theatre
April 19, 2011
I'm not too sure how to describe the Blue Man Group... there are three blue men on stage — apparently intelligent, somewhat alien and naive, yet very rhythmically sound. There are touches of humor, lots of music and drumming and elements of the bizarre or disgusting — depending on how you look at it.
Last night's show was started with some brief performance introductions courtesy of two scrolling red windows at the top of the stage — they told people video and photography was prohibited, but also introduced special guests in the audience including a gold medal winner and citizen space traveler.
The Blue Men were introduced to the crowd the same way they would exit for the encore via hammering away on oil drums that were covered in paint.
Between musical bits where the men were hammering away on a variety of drums and PVC piping, were elements of humor that had hints of camp, but none of the cheese. One skit saw the inclusion of a female audience member who was fed a few twinkies with unique results. Another skit had the men chomping down on Cap'N Crunch, while another had a Blue Man catching a ridiculous number of marshmallows in his mouth. Another still instructed the audience on the basic rock movements such as fist pumping, raising the roof and, finally, shaking your ass.
News / Concert Announcement AthFest headliners announced
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Held in downtown Athens, Ga., from June 22 to June 26, AthFest has been showcasing talent for 15 years.
This year's performers include headliners Futurebirds, Centro-Matic, Guadalcanal Diary, Chickasaw Mudd Puppies and Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
News Next noise ordinance meeting tomorrow
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 1:57 PM
The Community Safety Committee has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, at 2 p.m. in Room 280 in the Government Center, 600 East 4th St..
The City Attorney's office will present its new revisions to the noise ordinance. No vote will be taken.
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Band thrills packed Charlotte venue with hard-rocking set.
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Wolf Alice delights, energizes Charlotte crowd 1
North London rock quartet fills Visulite with raw emotions.
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Former Charlotte on-air staple passes away 4
Nate Quick dies from liver complications.
