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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Opinion / Eric Mullis / News Venturing out of your comfort zone
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 10:15 AM
It’s often remarked that Charlotte can be a compartmentalized town — you can stay in your neck of the woods and rarely find the need to venture into other areas. You could live in the University area, for example, and never desire to check out Plaza Midwood or Dilworth since everything you need is in the University area.
After playing music in Charlotte for the last few years, I’ve noticed that the area music venues also tend to draw the same crowds. Some folks like to hang out at the Double Door, others call Snug Harbor home, and so on.
There are a few reasons why this happens.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
News / Opinion Rock Hall of Fame nominees announced
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 11:00 AM
The nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been announced. They are:
Alice Cooper
Beastie Boys
Bon Jovi
Chic
Neil Diamond
Donovan
Dr. John
J. Geils Band
LL Cool J
Darlene Love
Laura Nyro
Donna Summer
Joe Tex
Tom Waits
Chuck Willis
What do you think? Should Donna Summer be included in the "Rock and Roll" hall of fame? What about the Beastie Boys — they play rock instruments sometimes — or LL Cool J? Neil Diamond?
I think the definition of rock has gotten to be somewhat all-encompassing, but it seems more like this is becoming a "music" Hall of Fame — more than just a rock one.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Videos / Opinion / News Remembering Tupac Shakur
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 3:38 PM
With today marking the 14th anniversary of his death at age 25, after battling six days to survive gunshot wounds sustained on the strip in Las Vegas, people all over the World are remembering Tupac Shakur.
Tribute stories, blog posts and tweets have been circulating since midnight with people reflecting on his impact and relevancy over a decade later. Others waxed poetic on where they were or how old they were when Pac died (I was 2 weeks shy of 10 years old + in the barber shop when I found out) and have been sharing their favorite songs of his.
Just this weekend, I had a drunk friend of mine claim to have studied this for three years and lay out his 2Pac conspiracy theory. Using the uncut version of 2Pac's "Made N*ggaz" video. He pointed out the depiction of Biggie Smalls' death, the fact that all of Shakur's iconic tattoos were gone in the video (I argued they were covered up) and the existence of a team of Federal investigators to track down where he really is. Obviously, I'm not one for conspiracy theories.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
On TV / Awards / Opinion / Jeff Hahne / News Remember when the VMAs were cool?
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 11:04 AM
The MTV Video Music Awards show will air this Sunday night at 9 p.m. Remember when it was cool? I remember watching them — usually around the time when we'd go back to school — because you cared who won. You wanted to watch amazing performances. You could also expect to see a surprise or two, or even an off-the-wall collaboration.
I remember back when Tom Petty came out to sing with Guns N Roses. I remember Pee Wee Herman coming out to start the show after his arrest. I recall, unfortunately, Michael Jackson walking out to kiss Lisa Marie Presley. However, I can't say I remember much of anything about the last, oh, 10 years or so of VMAs.
So, what can we expect this year? Eminem is set to kick off the show. I'm sure Lady Gaga will wear at least two or three different and bizarre outfits and probably walk away as the night's big winner.
Outside of that, does MTV even play any videos anymore? They sure don't on MTV. They used to on MTV2, but that seems to have gone the way of reality TV, as well. I heard there's an MTV3 out there, but no one is watching.
You're probably wondering who's even nominated... So, here is a complete list (along with my comments):
Friday, September 3, 2010
Opinion / Jason Younger / News Bad music vs. no music — which do you prefer?
Posted By Jason Younger on Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 8:42 AM
A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I loaded up our Toyota Corolla with our 11-month-old, a 12-year-old diabetic pug, and approximately 98 percent of the things we own, and made the short trek down to Folly Beach, S.C., for a week of sun, fun and diapers.
If you’ve never been to Folly Beach, it’s about 15 minutes outside of Charleston, and is the type of small beach town, where you park your car when you arrive and you don’t get back in it until you leave. Everything
is that close. Folly Beach has an Asheville sort of vibe — artsy, hippy, but great all the way around.
Where else can you play such fun games like; guess what that guy’s neck tattoo says, watch 3-year olds kick their mom in the throat, and then my personal favorite – watch said 3-year old get its ass beat in public. Fun times!!
Anyway, while we were there I noticed there was live music literally everywhere; the pier, any restaurant in the area, the hotel, the hotel bar, the middle of the street – wherever. And as the week progressed, I begin to ask myself the all important question – “Is bad live music better than no live music?”
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Videos / Opinion / News Danielle Staub can't sing
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 11:00 AM
OK, people, let's go over this again — just because you have a reality show, doesn't mean that you can sing, or that you should make an album. Sweet baby Jesus, you ladies need to stop trying to do this!
I'm speaking to you — Paris Hilton, Heidi Montag and, now, Danielle Staub.
The Real Housewife of New Jersey recently appeared on a morning television show to "sing" the remix of her song "Real Close." Sometimes, you almost wish a person would lip synch... So, I now present to you, the freshest turd in the toilet:
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Opinion / Eric Mullis / News Live vs. studio recordings
Posted By Eric Mullis on Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 10:36 AM
My band is at a crossroads.
We put out a studio CD last summer that we ended up being happy with. A local sound engineer with experience recording jazz-fusion groups and — believe it or not — experience recording vibes did a bang-up job and gave us a great sounding CD.
Since then, we’ve changed quite a bit and have added a guitar player that gives us more of an edge and our live shows have gotten more energetic. Folks have been telling us that we should do a live recording for our next CD so the energy of our live show will get captured and the CD will better represent us.
Like anything, there are pros and cons.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Live Reviews / Opinion / setlist / Jeff Hahne / News Remembering Stevie Ray Vaughan - 20 years later
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 12:20 PM
It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed in a helicopter crash while en route to Chicago.
One of my favorite songs by him is "Pride and Joy" and I always remember seeing his acoustic performance on MTV which was part of their unplugged series:
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I was also fortunate enough to catch SRV in concert — July 7, 1990, at the Garden State Arts Center (now the PNC Arts Center) in Holmdel, N.J. He was on a co-headlining tour with Joe Cocker and on that night, SRV opened for Cocker.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Videos / Opinion / News From money shots to hip-hop
Posted By Mike McCray on Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 2:38 PM
I've mentioned before that the market for hip hop is flooded to an almost Biblical proportion. While there's talent floating amongst the debris, the chaos only seems to expand begging the question, is there room for everybody in hip-hop?
The most recent phenomenon to hit social media and hip-hop blogs isn't teens with shitty beats, catchy hooks and Webcam dances or grizzled ex-cons making a go of it legally through music, but rather adult film stars who've gone taking (and giving) shots on camera to taking shots over beats. Most notably actor Brian Pumper, who may be best known for his breaking in of Lawrence Fishburne's daughter and his eerie resemblance to G-Unit rapper, Lloyd Banks, has jumped in the studio to record diss records towards Rick Ross and Jay-Z. Needless to say, I'd personally stick to doing chicks on video — that's not such a bad lot in life.
Also spitting 16's is actress Pinky. Best known for her tan-lined assets and bright pink hair, her mixtape, Fuck You Pay Me, features the Oakland-born MC dropping lyrics like, "I'm a bad bitch, yes I'm a bad bitch. Why you mad at me? Cause you ain't got no ass, bitch..."
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Live Reviews / Opinion / News Live Review: The Swelly Life Tour
Posted By Mike McCray on Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 1:25 PM
The Swelly Life Tour: Chiddy Bang, Donnis & XV w/ Dow Jones
Tremont Music Hall
Aug. 18, 2010
The Deal: American alt hip-hop acts bring international hype and flavor back to the States and Tremont Music Hall on Tuesday night.
The Good: For a crowd that was modest in size, they more than made up for that in enthusiasm. Seemingly unfazed by the sweltering heat and lack of personal space, they rocked wholeheartedly for everybody from the openers to the headliners.
Once again Dow Jones continued his reign as Charlotte's de facto opening act (a reign that will continue next week at The Fillmore opening for Nas & Damian Marley). He was again the beneficiary of an absolute dream of a crowd. Their participation was amazing, especially considering they weren't familiar with the material.
Two weeks removed from signing with Warner Bros, XV might have been the real star of the show. His high-energy set was extremely engaging and fans were treated to songs ranging from South inspired crunk, "Gobstoppers," to sampling The Pixies "Where Is My Mind?" for his "Nevermind." Arguably the best set of the evening, easily the most surprising, he was engaging and interactive in a way I wish more hip-hop artists were during live shows. His All-V track (think Jay-Z's 22 2's but with the letter V) was a nice touch.
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Antiseen plays Tremont Music Hall with the Belmont Playboys (2/25/12)
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Live Review: Soweto Gospel Choir
Review of Soweto Gospel Choir's performance in Charlotte.
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Charlotte singer-songwriter Bart Lattimore releases the ultimate 'dad' video 1
Lattimore and Modern Primitives drummer Phillip Gripper collaborate on "That's What Daddies Do."
