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Wednesday, August 27, 2014
WTF Wednesday WTF Wednesday (8/27/2014): ISIS, the defunct metal band, is being confused with ISIS, the militant Islamic group
Posted By Patrick Wall on Wed, Aug 27, 2014 at 10:19 AM
Take a look at the photo above. That is ISIS, the now defunct Boston-based band that helped pioneer post-metal, which paired heavy metal’s blunt attack with post-rock’s skyscraping panoramas.
There is, of course, another ISIS making headlines these days — the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a jihadist group and self-identified Muslim caliphate that’s has slaughtered Christians, Yazidis and other Muslims who aren't members of the Sunni Islamic sect and that’s claimed responsibility for the beheading of American journalist James Foley.
One would think the two would not be easily confused.
And yet.
Monday, August 25, 2014
First Notes First Notes (08/25/2014): Suge Knight shot — no, this isn’t a headline from 1996
Posted By Patrick Wall on Mon, Aug 25, 2014 at 2:14 PM
Editor's Note: First Notes is a weekly update of recent happenings in the world of music.
• One-time rap mogul Suge Knight was shot six times Saturday night at an MTV Video Music Awards pre-party on the Sunset Strip hosted by Chris Brown. As of Sunday night, Knight was still in the intensive care unit, but he’s expected to recover. It’s not the first time the former Death Row head honcho’s been shot at a VMA-related event: In 2005, he was shot in the leg at a party hosted by Kanye West. It’s also not the first L.A. rap-related shooting in which Knight’s been involved.
• On Thursday, Henry Rollins wrote a pretty scathing column for the LA Weekly titled "Fuck Suicide,", in which he criticized people who have committed suicide. On Saturday, he took it back. In other depression-related music news: Swans’ Thor Harris talked about his struggles with depression in a short film.
• Mark David Chapman, the man who shot John Lennon (and the subject of a pretty great ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead song, was denied parole on Friday. It’s the eighth time Chapman’s been denied parole since his 1981 sentencing; he’ll be eligible for parole again in two years.
• That ALS-donation ice bucket challenge that’s sweeping social media — and that, like, every celebrity musician is doing — right now? Yeah, Grimes hates it, too.
• Some dude convinced the Los Angeles Police Department, who’d arrested him after he attempted to rob a Rite-Aid, that he was Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland. Which raises two questions: First, why would anyone want to pretend to be Scott Weiland? Second, did he really think that would get him out of trouble?
• NPR wonders: Who the hell likes music festivals, anyway?
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Videos Foo Fighters Sonic Highways trailer released
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 2:11 PM
The full-length trailer for Foo Fighters Sonic Highways has been released. The HBO series is not only a look at the creation of the Foo Fighters' new album, but a look at the roadmap of American music. The series premieres on HBO on Oct. 17 at 11 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live photos: Nothing More, Amos' Southend (8/19/2014)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 12:03 PM
Nothing More w/ Sleepwave, A Course of Action, Ghostpilot
Amos' Southend
Aug. 19, 2014
San Antonio, Texas, quartet Nothing More brought its unique brand of hard rock to Amos' Southend on Aug. 19, 2014, enthralling the small crowd for the duration of the band's hour-long set. A majority of rock fans were probably across town watching Motley Crue perform on their final tour, but that's the past and Nothing More is the future.
Nothing More's use of two drums, a percussive vocal style — singer Jonny Hawkins hits his throat and chest at times to create rhythmic patterns in his voice — and a bass rig that allows three band members to play it at once could be considered a gimmick if it didn't work so damn well.
Hawkins, a former drummer, uses a small drum kit at the front of the stage to accent many songs' beats; though he never stands still for long. Leaping on top of the kit, getting up close to the crowd and making full use of the stage, his presence commands attention.
The band played most of its self-titled album that was released earlier this year on Eleven Seven Music. It's the third time they've played Charlotte this year — once as an opening act for Chevelle and on the main stage of Carolina Rebellion.
The show also featured Sleepwave (featuring Underoath frontman Spencer Chamberlain), A Cause for Action and Ghostpilot.
Setlist
Christ Copyright
Mr. MTV
The Matthew Effect
60
Bass solo
This is the Time (Ballast)
First Punch
If I Were
Friendly Fire
I'll Be OK
Salem
Encore
Jenny
Sex and Lies
WTF Wednesday WTF Wednesday (8/20/2014): Super Bowl eyes pay to play halftime show
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 10:48 AM
The Super Bowl is narrowing its search for a halftime act for 2015's giant sports event and Rihanna, Katy Perry and Coldplay are on the top of the list.
Here's the catch: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that acts are being asked to pay to play. The report claims NFL employees have already approached and “asked at least some of the acts if they would be willing to contribute a portion of their post-Super Bowl tour income to the league, or if they would make some other type of financial contribution, in exchange for the halftime gig.”
It's no surprise that artists aren't exactly welcoming the idea. So we ask, WTF, NFL? Have you ever seen the numbers of the ad revenue for Super Bowls?
The average annual Super Bowl ad revenue is between $213 million to $292 million. And now the NFL wants to make more via the bands that play the halftime show?
If the NFL executives want to make people happy, they'd just hire Weird Al.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
News Fillmore lands on list of popular U.S. music clubs
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Charlotte's Fillmore has been named the 18th most popular venue in the U.S., according to Billboard magazine's annual list of best-attended clubs. The Live Nation venue has had more than 20 sold-out concerts so far this year, including Arctic Monkeys, Young the Giant, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Pentatonix, Weezer, Juicy J, Chevelle, Modest Mouse, Bastille, Tamar Braxton, Jack White, The Head and the Heart, Cage the Elephant and Lindsey Stirling.
Attendance at the Fillmore between May 1, 2013, and April 30, 2014, totaled 133,212. Orlando, Florida's House of Blues tops the list at 339,470 attendance. Second on the list is the House of Blues in Boston (322,755), followed by Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club (268,727), the House of Blues in Dallas (222,988) and the House of Blues in Chicago (211,446).
Regionally, Atlanta's Tabernacle was No. 8 (185,769) and the Myrtle Beach House of Blues was No. 20 (129,528).
Monday, August 18, 2014
Photos / Live Reviews Live review: LeAnn Rimes, Uptown Charlotte (8/17/2014)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 2:40 PM
Pride Festival f. LeAnn Rimes
Uptown Charlotte
Aug. 17, 2014
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- LeAnn Rimes
When LeAnn Rimes was first announced as the headliner for the 2014 Charlotte Pride Festival, I was a little confused. Her name conjured up the whining tone of her country music song "Blue" — a stark contrast to last year's dynamic duo of pop singer Mya, who danced the night away, and Big Freedia who held a twerking contest.
News / First Notes First Notes (8/18/2014): Oderus Urungus gets a Viking funeral, more
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Aug 18, 2014 at 1:58 PM
Editor's Note: First Notes is a weekly update of recent happenings in the world of music.
* The costume of Gwar singer Oderus Urungus was set ablaze in a Viking-style funeral during last weekend's annual Gwar B-Q. Urungus was the alter-ego of musician Dave Brockie who died at age 50 earlier this year.
* North Carolina rapper J. Cole visited Ferguson to show support for the Mike Brown protests. He talked with protestors and visited different locations in town, including the spot where Brown died and the gas station where looting occurred last week.
* Justin Timberlake upset, well, the Internet when he referred to Madonna as a "ninja." The word is commonly used instead of a derogatory n-word. Timberlake sent out a Tweet saying, "A happiest of Bdays to my mother chucking ninja, @Madonna!! Hope you have a great one, M!" The Tweet has since been deleted.
* Drake and Lady Gaga did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. At least, I assume it was for ALS, because Lady Gaga doesn't say a word, and doesn't look happy about it, either.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Photos / Live Reviews / setlist Live review: Panic! at the Disco, Uptown Amphitheatre (8/13/2014)
Posted By Alison Angel on Thu, Aug 14, 2014 at 10:15 AM
Panic! at the Disco
Uptown Amphitheatre
Aug. 13, 2014
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- Panic! at the Disco
Panic! At the Disco’s The Gospel Tour hit the Uptown Amphitheatre on Wednesday night and successfully showed the Queen City just how much the band has evolved in its 10-year run — as people, as a band and musically. Parlaying mostly between songs from their first album and the most recent release, Panic! reminded fans why they’ve stuck with the band for the last decade despite the group only retaining one original member (and four albums that differ so stylistically that it sometimes reflects those departing members).
Three songs in, lead singer Brendon Urie was drenched in sweat and looked ready to pass out, but assured the waiting crowd he was "just getting started. I know I look like I'm done." He then stripped off his shirt, making everyone (girls and guys alike) swoon.
When you've got a backlog of songs as stylistically different as Panic!, a live show in which they must be merged seems like it would be a challenge. But it doesn't come off that way. For 22 songs, the four piece tore through high-energy punk, electro pop and synthesized beats that definitely showcased their Las Vegas roots. Opening with "Vegas Lights" and "Time to Dance," Urie's voice ran the gamut, and he continued on for the entirety of the 90-minute show hitting every low note, every high note and everything in between without seeming like he was even trying. The guy hit Freddie Mercury's high note while covering "Bohemian Rhapsody" without trying, for goodness sake - he's not just the face of the band, he's what helps to define it.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Videos New Avett Brothers video celebrates 10th visit to Red Rocks
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 1:36 PM
Concord's The Avett Brothers have released a 14-minute video commemorating their 10th visit to the legendary Red Rocks music venue in Colorado. Produced by Crackerfarm, the footage includes performance clips, interviews and even a bit of Bob Weir, who recently canceled all of his tour dates.
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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
