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Friday, March 9, 2012
News 'Disco Inferno' singer Jimmy Ellis dies in Rock Hill
Posted By Mark Kemp on Fri, Mar 9, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Here's a report from today's Charlotte Observer:
James T. "Jimmy" Ellis - who grew up in a shotgun shack on Pond Street in Rock Hill's Crawford Road neighborhood - died Thursday. He was 74.But his signature song, "Disco Inferno," will live forever.
"Doesn't matter where you go, who they are," said Johnny Ellis, Jimmy's younger brother. "everybody knows when they hear the words, 'Burn that mother down!' and 'Burn, baby, burn,' that the song is 'Disco Inferno.'
"And the man with that voice who sang that song was Jimmy Ellis."
The song took off after it was featured in the movie "Saturday Night Fever" in 1977, and on the subsequent movie soundtrack that sold 15 million copies as it stayed atop the charts for half a year.
For more, see my tribute to Ellis in today's CLog.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
News Kalu Asian Kitchen arrest renews interest in noise ordinance
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 1:30 PM
After Jason Vicks, owner of Kalu Asian Kitchen on 6th Street in Uptown Charlotte, was arrested for violating the Charlotte noise ordinance on March 3, 2012, his attorney, Ken Harris, announced he is calling on the city to rescind the ordinance.
The noise ordinance, which was passed in May of 2011, limits the decibels and hours that amplified noise is allowed within the city limits. Harris did not clarify which section of the ordinance led to Vicks' arrest.
A press release sent out by Harris reads:
"I am today calling on Charlotte city officials to rescind the new noise ordinance in that the ordinance is poorly constructed and allows for the arbitrary citation and arrest of Charlotte citizens," Harris states. "The ordinance further allows for citizens to be cited based on the number of complaints rather than the amount of sound generated. Resultantly, an entity that generates outdoor sound that affects hundreds of downtown residents may avoid citation while an indoor sound emitter affecting tens of residents may be cited and arrested."Attorney Harris goes on to say, “All citizens, black and white, should be concerned when a law can be applied in an arbitrary manner," says Harris. "In any municipality, there must be a balance between the rights of the individual and the rights of the business owner."
Live Reviews Live review: Kill Your Mules, The Milestone, 3/1/2012
Posted By Jenny Lou Bement on Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Kill Your Mules
The Milestone
March 1, 2012
Charlotte trio Kill Your Mules was nearly done with their set when the crowd was thrown for a loop. Local Filipino Elvis impersonator RenElvis, clad in a bedazzled one piece v-neck suit, joined the band for a rather bizarre, energetic cover of Elvis Presley's "That's Alright." The audience soaked up every lip curl and shake of his hips.
Though the band had teased to the later appearance of a fourth band member earlier in its set, no one in the crowd expected this. It was an interesting curve ball from a band whose hybrid sound includes hints of the B-52s, the Doors and the Ramones.
Frontman Preston Drum remained enthusiastic and animated throughout the band's 35-minute set as he danced with the vigor of James Brown and sang in a voice that Fred Schneider would consider copyright infringement. His hollow, warm, top-throat vocals led the band's jams along with synth-induced keyboards paying homage to an era that is often overlooked by music enthusiasts - dancing, punk-rock from the '80s and early-90s.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Concert Announcement Edward Sharpe, Polyphonic Spree, Jane's Addiction coming to Charlotte
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 4:28 PM
A couple of quick concert announcements today —
• Jane's Addiction will bring their "Theatre of the Escapists" to Charlotte's Ovens Auditorium on May 23, 2012. Tickets go on sale on March 9 at 10 a.m.
• The Polyphonic Spree are coming to the McGlohon Theatre on May 28.
• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes will perform at the Fillmore Charlotte on May 16. Tickets go on sale on March 9 at noon.
News Taking Back Sunday singer shatters leg
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 3:32 PM
When I heard Taking Back Sunday singer Adam Lazarra broke his leg over the weekend due to a tree falling, my assumption was that the Charlotte resident was injured during the storms that spawned tornadoes in the area.
Actually, he was in Michigan where the band is working on its next studio album. Not exactly what you'd expect from someone who jumps around on stage. Lazarra is expected to be in a cast for the next four to six weeks.
He posted the following photos via his Twitter:
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