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Friday, June 20, 2014
Live Reviews Live review: Cage the Elephant, The Fillmore (6/19/2014)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Jun 20, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Cage the Elephant
The Fillmore
June 19, 2014
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- Cage the Elephant
Members of the sold-out Fillmore crowd held up Cage the Elephant singer Matt Shultz in the air as sweat poured down his body. Belting out the chorus of the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" to Cage's frantic "Sabertooth Tiger," he suddenly fell forward and crowd-surfed his way back to the stage. It was a move that capped off a night during which Shultz, and the audience, never stood still.
Even after the final distorted notes rang out and cymbals finished crashing, Shultz continued the chorus as the crowd filed out of the steamy venue. Cruising through 15 songs in just over an hour is a quick pace, but Cage the Elephant never ceases to amaze and puts its stamp on music as one of the best live acts around.
While there were times last year when Cage, who opened up for Muse, got swallowed up by the cavernous Time Warner Cable Arena, this time around, the Kentucky rockers looked right at home in the smaller setting. The band was within arm's reach of the sweaty throngs of fans singing along to every word.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Live Reviews Live review: John Butler Trio, The Fillmore (6/15/2014)
Posted By Michael Walsh on Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 1:52 PM
John Butler Trio
The Fillmore
June 15, 2014
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- John Butler Trio
"You guys are getting hammered by frackheads." Australian guitarist John Butler took a break in his trio's blistering set to express solidarity with world citizens under assault from frack-happy politicians, be it Aussie PM Tony Abbott or Governor Pat McCrory.
"I call them frackheads because they're just like crackheads," he told the crowd. "They're addicted to oil. You can't trust them, because they'll rip you off, and the only way they'll get better is if we all sit their asses down and have an intervention." Butler's heartfelt activism drew a healthy round of cheers and applause, but it was dwarfed by the crowd's wildly enthusiastic response to the John Butler Trio's shit-hot playing and stellar songcraft.
No worries, as the Aussies often say. Though one-time-busker Butler's grounded and genuine populism is part of his appeal, the good-sized crowd that filled more than two-thirds of the Fillmore was there to boogie, sway and be entranced. Butler and his band mates - drummer Grant Gerathy and bassist Byron Luiters - didn't disappoint. The groove was in the pocket, and the audience was in the palm of Butler's hand.
Live Reviews Live review: Elton John, PNC Music Pavilion (6/14/2014)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 12:53 PM
Elton John
PNC Music Pavilion
June 14, 2014
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- Elton John
When musicians who have been around for more than a few decades walk onto a stage, the night usually goes one of two ways. Either the performer will go through the motions and "phone it in" while looking generally bored, or you'll get a show like that of Paul McCartney's: a long night full of hits with a legend who genuinely appears as if he is having an absolute blast on stage and never gives you a moment to doubt his sincerity. Elton John's performance at PNC Music Pavilion on Saturday falls in the latter category.
Wearing a blue, sequined jacket emblazoned with red, yellow and silver streaks and the words "Rocket Man" across the back, 67-year-old Elton John strode toward his piano, waving briefly. During the first song "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," he often looked at the crowd and smiled. But it wasn't until the song's conclusion that John stood up, pumped his fists and summoned for massive applause. It was an act he'd do throughout the night, perhaps even a bit too much - though, you can't blame a guy who performs seated for getting up to move a bit as often as he can. And those brief glances at the audience are needed from a pianist who shows his side profile for much of the night.
Music First notes (6/16/2014): Casey Kasem dead at 82
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Editor's Note: First Notes is a weekly update of recent happenings in the world of music.
* "American Top 40" host Casey Kasem died at age 82 of complications from dementia on Sunday.
* NPR is streaming the new Phish album, Fuego.
Music / Live Reviews Live review: Deniro Farrar, Tremont Music Hall (6/13/2014)
Posted By David Turner on Mon, Jun 16, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Deniro Farrar, Well$
Tremont Music Hall
June 13, 2014
Deniro Farrar walked onto the Tremont Music Hall stage while taking off his shirt to reveal a chest full of tattoos and a better view of the braids flopping over his head. The rapper, like a number of other acts throughout the night, calls Charlotte his home and constantly reminded the crowd of this fact. But the need for such proclamations seemed odd, if this is truly one's "hometown."
The crowd ebbed-and-flowed with each new rapper who walked into the spotlight as people would embrace the new performer or fall back from the stage.
A few weeks ago, Deniro released his first major label album, Rebirth, which is filled with harsh reality raps that detail the issues of his day-to-day life in strikingly real ways. He peppered those tracks among his set along with higher tempo songs, like last year's "Big Tookie" that received a rapturous response.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
News We're back!
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Sun, Jun 15, 2014 at 10:49 AM
For music blog items including live reviews between January 2013 and June 2014, click here to go to the archives.
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Live review: Fiona Apple, The Fillmore (9/26/2012) 16
Fans ate it up, but it was a trainwreck of tragic and frustrating proportions.
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Frank Ocean tops Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll
Annual critics list creates requisite buzz
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Rain doesn't dampen the party with Kesha and Macklemore
Both sets cut short as storms roll through Charlotte, N.C.
