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Tuesday, December 29, 2015
News Tremont Music Hall property awaiting sale closure
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Dec 29, 2015 at 1:59 PM
There have been a handful of rumors and discussions floating around the Charlotte music scene ever since Tremont Music Hall closed its doors on Dec. 19, 2015. Did the venue have to close? Could it have been sold? Can another music venue still open in the location?
We spoke with property owner Larry Hicks to clear the air and find out what's in store for the 400 W. Tremont Ave. location.
"My understanding is they're going to build a storage facility there," Hicks says. "Of course, it could be another six months." He is currently waiting to close the deal which would sell the property.
So, does that mean Tremont Music Hall didn't have to close?
"Well, they could have stayed there another month or so," Hicks says. "As long as it was open, they could have gone month to month. I wouldn't want to run a business like that though — not knowing when it would have been over with. He was there a year longer than I thought he'd be."
Hicks says Tremont owner John Hayes and the music venue were "wonderful tenants" and he wishes the venue could have remained open, but Hicks might not have been able to give much notice on when the doors would need to be shut. When concerts are booked sometimes months in advance, it becomes difficult to offer guarantees (money given up front to secure dates and fees) for concerts knowing they might have to be cancelled.
"I'm selling the property," Hicks says, noting that a new lease wasn't possible. "I'm 75 years old and I've had enough of it. I love to travel and want that building cleared off my plate so I can do other things. I've always loved Myrtle Beach."
We spoke with property owner Larry Hicks to clear the air and find out what's in store for the 400 W. Tremont Ave. location.
"My understanding is they're going to build a storage facility there," Hicks says. "Of course, it could be another six months." He is currently waiting to close the deal which would sell the property.
So, does that mean Tremont Music Hall didn't have to close?
"Well, they could have stayed there another month or so," Hicks says. "As long as it was open, they could have gone month to month. I wouldn't want to run a business like that though — not knowing when it would have been over with. He was there a year longer than I thought he'd be."
Hicks says Tremont owner John Hayes and the music venue were "wonderful tenants" and he wishes the venue could have remained open, but Hicks might not have been able to give much notice on when the doors would need to be shut. When concerts are booked sometimes months in advance, it becomes difficult to offer guarantees (money given up front to secure dates and fees) for concerts knowing they might have to be cancelled.
"I'm selling the property," Hicks says, noting that a new lease wasn't possible. "I'm 75 years old and I've had enough of it. I love to travel and want that building cleared off my plate so I can do other things. I've always loved Myrtle Beach."
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Live Reviews / Photos / setlist Live review: Metric, The Fillmore (12/16/2015)
Posted By Pat Moran on Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 1:57 PM
Metric
The Fillmore
December 16, 2015
Roaring out of the gate, Metric sailed into the one-two-three punch of the buzzing and ominous ‘Lie Lie Lie,” the bedazzled and stomping “Youth Without Youth” and the slashing and cyberpunk “Help I’m Alive.” It was only at the conclusion of the final tune’s sheets of metallic guitar that front woman Emily Haines addressed the crowd with an exuberant “Hello Charlotte!” Did I mention that she started the set dressed as a peacock?
Equal parts outlandish and stylish, Haines had strutted onstage earlier in her plumed, coal black big-bird attire, before shedding her feathers for a simpler goth-rock outfit of black shorts, black hat and black leather jacket. It made perfect sense for Metric, who play theatrical, thoughtful and tuneful modern rock - a mix of new wave, synth pop, and post punk, layered with the glam rock riffing of T. Rex on steroids. Though the band’s most recent album, Pagans in Vegas, signals a shift toward moody and introspective electronics, on Thursday night, Haines and crew were in full tilt arena rock mode.
The Fillmore
December 16, 2015
Roaring out of the gate, Metric sailed into the one-two-three punch of the buzzing and ominous ‘Lie Lie Lie,” the bedazzled and stomping “Youth Without Youth” and the slashing and cyberpunk “Help I’m Alive.” It was only at the conclusion of the final tune’s sheets of metallic guitar that front woman Emily Haines addressed the crowd with an exuberant “Hello Charlotte!” Did I mention that she started the set dressed as a peacock?
Equal parts outlandish and stylish, Haines had strutted onstage earlier in her plumed, coal black big-bird attire, before shedding her feathers for a simpler goth-rock outfit of black shorts, black hat and black leather jacket. It made perfect sense for Metric, who play theatrical, thoughtful and tuneful modern rock - a mix of new wave, synth pop, and post punk, layered with the glam rock riffing of T. Rex on steroids. Though the band’s most recent album, Pagans in Vegas, signals a shift toward moody and introspective electronics, on Thursday night, Haines and crew were in full tilt arena rock mode.
Interviews / Videos New music video series coming to CL in January
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 11:46 AM
Starting Jan. 5, 2016, we'll be premiering a new music profile series hosted by Lara Americo. Each episode in the series, which is called Untitled, will be broken up into two parts — one with a live performance a la the Tiny Desk concert series, and one with an interview.
Check out the trailer, and be sure to come back on Jan. 5 for the first episode:
Check out the trailer, and be sure to come back on Jan. 5 for the first episode:
Monday, December 14, 2015
Live Reviews Live review: Lera Lynn, Visulite Theatre (12/12/2015)
Posted By Alison Angel on Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 1:33 PM
Lera Lynn
Visulite Theater
Dec. 12, 2015
Lera Lynn brought a much more mellow vibe to the city Saturday night when she and her three-piece band stepped up to the mic. In her last tour appearance before a month-long holiday break, Lynn managed to completely captivate and transport show-goers at the Visulite to another world, making everyone feel as if they were perhaps nursing a drink in ‘The Black Rose” and losing themselves to the beat.
For those not in the know, on season two of HBO’s True Detective, Lynn was often seen playing a singer in the show’s key bar room set, providing atmosphere for the hit television series and pulling double duty as a composer. Lynn almost single-handedly lends the True Detective its trademark musical atmosphere with her sultry voice.
On top of this year’s musical success from that work, Lynn ‘s second album, The Avenues, was covered by NPR’s ‘All Things Considered,’ and the record appeared in top albums of the year lists ranging from the Huffington Post to Rolling Stone magazine. To say she’s got a pretty impressive resume is putting it lightly, and that’s just from the last two years alone.
Visulite Theater
Dec. 12, 2015
Lera Lynn brought a much more mellow vibe to the city Saturday night when she and her three-piece band stepped up to the mic. In her last tour appearance before a month-long holiday break, Lynn managed to completely captivate and transport show-goers at the Visulite to another world, making everyone feel as if they were perhaps nursing a drink in ‘The Black Rose” and losing themselves to the beat.
For those not in the know, on season two of HBO’s True Detective, Lynn was often seen playing a singer in the show’s key bar room set, providing atmosphere for the hit television series and pulling double duty as a composer. Lynn almost single-handedly lends the True Detective its trademark musical atmosphere with her sultry voice.
On top of this year’s musical success from that work, Lynn ‘s second album, The Avenues, was covered by NPR’s ‘All Things Considered,’ and the record appeared in top albums of the year lists ranging from the Huffington Post to Rolling Stone magazine. To say she’s got a pretty impressive resume is putting it lightly, and that’s just from the last two years alone.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
News Charlotte rapper Lute signs to J. Cole's Dreamville label
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Dec 8, 2015 at 12:05 PM
Over the summer, Charlotte rapper Lute announced that he had finished recording a followup to his stellar debut album, West 1996, entitled West '96 Pt. II: Still Slummin'. But then things got quiet. Perhaps for good reason.
Over the weekend, J. Cole released a mixtape entitled Revenge of the Dreamers II. Featured on the nine-track album is a reworked version of Lute's song, "Still Slummin'." Then came word that Dreamville Records has signed Lute to a deal.
Lute is a former member of Forever FC, the Charlotte hip-hop collective which has since disbanded. The group was also featured on Vol. 6 of CL's Homebrew music series.
Congratulations, Lute. We can't wait to see where this leads you.
Over the weekend, J. Cole released a mixtape entitled Revenge of the Dreamers II. Featured on the nine-track album is a reworked version of Lute's song, "Still Slummin'." Then came word that Dreamville Records has signed Lute to a deal.
Lute is a former member of Forever FC, the Charlotte hip-hop collective which has since disbanded. The group was also featured on Vol. 6 of CL's Homebrew music series.
Congratulations, Lute. We can't wait to see where this leads you.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Concert Announcement Disturbed, FFDP and The Scorpions to headline Carolina Rebellion in 2016
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Dec 7, 2015 at 5:05 PM
Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch and The Scorpions will headline the 2016 Carolina Rebellion music festival being held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord on May 6-8. Expanded to three days next year, the full lineup by day is:
MAY 6
The Scorpions
ZZ Top
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3 Doors Down
Sixx AM
Collective Soul
Pop Evil
Between the Buried and Me
Parkway Drive
Black Stone Cherry
Hellyeah
Sick Puppies
Filter
Candlebox
Aranda
Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown
New Year's Day
Avatar
Lacey Sturm
Glorious Sons
From Ashes to New
IPrevail
MAY 7
Five Finger Death Punch
Shinedown
A Day to Remember
Lamb of God
Megadeth
Ghost
Anthrax
Bullet for My Valentine Clutch
Sevendust
P.O.D.
The Sword
Escape the Fate
Saint Asonia
Trivium
Wilson
Red Sun Rising
Texas Hippie Coalition
Audiotopsy
Monster Truck
Failure Anthem
Wild Throne
MAY 8
Disturbed
Rob Zombie
Deftones
Alice Cooper
Bring Me the Horizon Cypress Hill
Pennywise
Yelawolf
Asking Alexandria
The Struts
Babymetal
August Burns Red
Turbowolf
Enter Shikari
Thousand Foot Krutch
Hands Like Houses
Code Orange
Raveneye
MAY 6
The Scorpions
ZZ Top
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3 Doors Down
Sixx AM
Collective Soul
Pop Evil
Between the Buried and Me
Parkway Drive
Black Stone Cherry
Hellyeah
Sick Puppies
Filter
Candlebox
Aranda
Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown
New Year's Day
Avatar
Lacey Sturm
Glorious Sons
From Ashes to New
IPrevail
MAY 7
Five Finger Death Punch
Shinedown
A Day to Remember
Lamb of God
Megadeth
Ghost
Anthrax
Bullet for My Valentine Clutch
Sevendust
P.O.D.
The Sword
Escape the Fate
Saint Asonia
Trivium
Wilson
Red Sun Rising
Texas Hippie Coalition
Audiotopsy
Monster Truck
Failure Anthem
Wild Throne
MAY 8
Disturbed
Rob Zombie
Deftones
Alice Cooper
Bring Me the Horizon Cypress Hill
Pennywise
Yelawolf
Asking Alexandria
The Struts
Babymetal
August Burns Red
Turbowolf
Enter Shikari
Thousand Foot Krutch
Hands Like Houses
Code Orange
Raveneye
Friday, December 4, 2015
Live Reviews Live review: Nick Lowe, Visulite Theatre (12/3/2015)
Posted By Pat Moran on Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 2:43 PM
Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets
Visulite Theatre
Dec. 3, 2015
After a trio of tunes, including the luminous “People Change”, performed solo on acoustic guitar, Nick Lowe made a promise to the Visulite Theatre crowd: “We have a funny, funky show for you.”
Credit the amiable and dapper tunesmith with truth in advertising. After a jaunty ramble through “A Dollar Short of Happy,” the luchadores arrived to augment Lowe’s catchy brand of pop ‘n roll. Dressed in snappy suits and their customary Mexican wrestling masks, surf guitar slingers Los Straijackets backed Lowe on a rockin’, rubbery version of “Winter Wonderland.”
It only got weirder and more wonderful after that. Thundering drums and duel cascading tremolo guitars snaked through the rambunctious Chet Atkins-styled shuffle “Raging Eyes,” a winsome and welcoming “Christmas at the Airport” and other gems from Lowe’s and his former band Rockpile’s catalog.
Threaded through the holiday themed extravaganza were “some carefully selected toe-tappers” - Lowe’s words, not mine. Stand outs among those boppin’ rockers were the loose-limbed lament “Not Too Long Ago,” delivered with verve, reverb and passion, and a snappy yet silken “Cruel to be Kind.”
The crowd went crazy on “Cruel,” perhaps Lowe’s best-loved song. “It’s still a good tune, isn’t it?” Lowe queried with a mischievous grin.
Visulite Theatre
Dec. 3, 2015
After a trio of tunes, including the luminous “People Change”, performed solo on acoustic guitar, Nick Lowe made a promise to the Visulite Theatre crowd: “We have a funny, funky show for you.”
Credit the amiable and dapper tunesmith with truth in advertising. After a jaunty ramble through “A Dollar Short of Happy,” the luchadores arrived to augment Lowe’s catchy brand of pop ‘n roll. Dressed in snappy suits and their customary Mexican wrestling masks, surf guitar slingers Los Straijackets backed Lowe on a rockin’, rubbery version of “Winter Wonderland.”
It only got weirder and more wonderful after that. Thundering drums and duel cascading tremolo guitars snaked through the rambunctious Chet Atkins-styled shuffle “Raging Eyes,” a winsome and welcoming “Christmas at the Airport” and other gems from Lowe’s and his former band Rockpile’s catalog.
Threaded through the holiday themed extravaganza were “some carefully selected toe-tappers” - Lowe’s words, not mine. Stand outs among those boppin’ rockers were the loose-limbed lament “Not Too Long Ago,” delivered with verve, reverb and passion, and a snappy yet silken “Cruel to be Kind.”
The crowd went crazy on “Cruel,” perhaps Lowe’s best-loved song. “It’s still a good tune, isn’t it?” Lowe queried with a mischievous grin.
Photos Remembering singer Scott Weiland
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 10:51 AM
Aug. 1, 1993. Suntan Lake, New Jersey. That was the first time I saw Stone Temple Pilots live. I was home from college for the summer and a bill featuring STP, The Flaming Lips and Butthole Surfers was just too good to pass up. STP was the meat in this concert sandwich and though a light rain might have been part of it, a good number of people left after STP's set, before the Surfers hit the stage. I can still remember that show all these years later, partially because of Weiland, his megaphone and ability to capture a crowd's attention.
I saw the band's frontman, Scott Weiland, a few times after that in the Charlotte area — most recently with his band the Wildabouts at Carolina Rebellion earlier this year. Weiland also played a solo show at The Fillmore in 2013 and with Stone Temple Pilots at then Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in 2008.
Weiland was always a stellar performer, though he was constantly the subject of drug rumors and was never really shy about battling demons of addiction. One can only speculate about the cause of death after Weiland was found dead on his tour bus last night at age 48.
I saw the band's frontman, Scott Weiland, a few times after that in the Charlotte area — most recently with his band the Wildabouts at Carolina Rebellion earlier this year. Weiland also played a solo show at The Fillmore in 2013 and with Stone Temple Pilots at then Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in 2008.
Weiland was always a stellar performer, though he was constantly the subject of drug rumors and was never really shy about battling demons of addiction. One can only speculate about the cause of death after Weiland was found dead on his tour bus last night at age 48.
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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
