Mad Tea Party w/ JT and the Dragpipes

Puckett's Farm Equipment

July 9, 2010

The Deal: Charlotte rockabilly quartet opens for Asheville uke-abilly duo.

The Good: The night got started with Charlotte rockabilly quartet JT and the Dragpipes comprised of guitarist/singer Jem Crossland, guitarist/singer Tommy Ray, bassist Drew Badger and drummer Rusty Cloninger. While it was only the band's third performance ever, you could easily see the comfort level and ease of performing. Where some bands might show their nerves, these guys not only appeared to be relaxed, but also — if there were any mistakes — you didn't notice. Exchanged smiles were witnessed as Crossland and Ray switched up vocal duties while both let their guitars speak for themselves with gritty solos and revved up riffs. I'd keep an eye out for these guys, perhaps at the next Cash Bash.

Mad Tea Party were the headliners, offering their unique brand of rockabilly that's generally established around the ukelele. Ami Worthen (who switches up the uke with a guitar) shows plenty of smiles while she strums and sings beside guitarist/drummer Jason Krekel who uses two kick drums and a cymbal in a one-man-band style. The lyrics can be simple, but it's got a good energy to tap your feet to or get up and jive should the mood move you.

The Bad: That more people don't get out to the small Derita club to check out music more often — though the small crowd of about 40 appeared to enjoy every note that night.

The Verdict: Mad Tea Party always puts on a fun show with a unique spin on the familiar rockabilly sound. As for JT and the Dragpipes, they may be new on the scene, but I'm hoping they'll be around for a while.

DudeFest 2010

NoDa

June 26, 2010

The Deal: Inaugural DudeFest descends on NoDa neighborhood for long day of music and fun.

The Good: From beer tastings and wing eating contests, to a dunk tank and plenty of music — the first-ever DudeFest Charlotte rocked into NoDa and left its mark. Along with being a fundraiser for Save the Ta-tas and Pints for Prostates, it was a great way to hear a lot of local and regional talent.

Dylan Gilbert got the night started at the Neighborhood Theatre with a 30-minute set. His honest approach, sincere vocals and instrumental talent was on display for a toned-down set — compared to what I have seen in the past.

Jeremy Current started off the night at the Evening Muse. The talented singer-songwriter joined his band in wearing fake mustaches in celebration of "dudes" — but didn't take anything away from his music.

While the indie-pop of gogoPilot followed Current, I made my way to the Neighborhood Theatre to see M4 Messenger, who appeared to have a great time on stage. The band is still tweaking its lineup since the death of its guitarist, Rich Parris, but heart means a lot for the group.

Transmission Fields continues to impress with its brand of rock — they followed Messenger with an energetic set showcasing songs from its latest album. The band is quickly building a solid following and more and more people are paying attention.

Newest band member Jay Garrigan seemed to enjoy every moment as well — jumping around and adding as much in backing vocals as he did on keyboards and guitar.

Leslie rocked the stage outside of Salvador Deli starting at 10:30 p.m. with their brand of bluesy Southern rock.

Big Mamma D brought her House of Burlesque to the Neighborhood Theatre for some classic dancing, prancing and stripping. The show from her and the girls is always entertaining in the classic style of performing.

Truckstop Preachers rocked a packed Evening Muse next — with the deer head, a Johnny Cash cover and plenty of PBR to go around.

The night wrapped up with a set by Evelynn Rose who showcased their new drummer and plenty of songs from their upcoming album, Like Royalty. Singer Joseph William's growing vocals continue to shine as his band's musicianship grows tighter. They're getting ready for a long summer tour, but be sure and catch them the next time they're in town. It's clear that the quartet is putting a lot into their music and performances these days.

The Bad: That more people weren't out enjoying it. I also have to wonder how many people were aware of the Neighborhood Theatre bands — the Muse and Salvador Deli had good crowds, but people seemed to be few and far between at the Theatre.

The Verdict: Sure, the crowd wasn't as big as expected or hoped for, but you've gotta give credit to Joe Kuhlman and the organizers of DudeFest for taking a chance on what should be a fantastic annual event. Will there be another?

Anders Osborne

Double Door Inn

June 17, 2010

The Deal: New Orleans guitarist saunters into the Double Door Inn and proceeds to blow the doors off the place.

The Good: Around 9:30 p.m., singer/guitarist Anders Osborne and the rest of his trio walked up on to the stage and from the moment the first notes rang out, the nearly sold-out crowd was mesmerized. Osborne kicked off his set with "On the Road to Charlie Parker," stretching the four-minute song out to roughly 15. His next song was another of roughly 10 minutes and found Osborne facing his speaker — one hand on the body of his guitar, the other on the neck — searching for a range of feedback and losing himself in the moment.

The show went that way for the next two hours and Osborne, sweat dripping from his arms, found time to slow things down, but it was the upbeat, down and dirty blues growls that seemed to get the most attention. He played with ease all night, floating from one song to the next and stirring up emotions while at the same time, losing himself and the audience in a sea of jams that went on for minutes. Song names — I couldn't tell you. Like the rest of the crowd, I found myself staring in awe as Osborne shook his head, effortlessly strummed, plucked and flicked notes out of his Fender... his soulful vocals piercing the humid air.

The Bad: That he's flown under the radar for so long...

The Verdict: You should have been there. If you weren't, keep an eye out for the next time he's in town — and buy your tickets early.

Toby Lightman and Aslyn

Double Door Inn

June 16, 2010

The Deal: Duo of singer-songwriters perform at the Double Door Inn for a small, but focused, crowd.

The Good: The night started out with a set by Toby Lightman, who played a number of songs, in addition to a couple as a duet with Aslyn and a few by request. She also returned to help out Aslyn during the later set. While Lightman offers more poetic songs done via acoustic guitar, Aslyn is more of a romantic, pop singer behind her piano.

Lightman's first two albums were released on Atlantic Records and she now releases albums on her own label, T Killa Records. Aslyn was signed to Capital Records and now releases music on her own, as well. The duo have been touring together pretty consistently for the last year and pair nicely together. Both singers have the ability to convey emotion and bring forth power when needed, though they usually stay in a "soft and sweet" register during their songs.

The Bad: Attendance.

The Verdict: The 45 or so in attendance were focused on every song and called out requests when asked. Both singers showcased their abilities and moments of gratitude toward the audience seemed genuine and heartfelt. I definitely see the duo as a better fit at the Evening Muse than the Double Door, as most in the crowd were seated for the duration of the performances.

Otis Taylor

McGlohon Theatre

June 16, 2010

The Deal: Banjo/guitarist/trance blues conductor Otis Taylor rolls into the McGlohon Theatre for a quick set of great music for small crowd.

The Good: Taylor rolled right into his set after a quick warmup song by the rest of his band. The soft-spoken singer created a blues club mood in the acoustically-excellent theatre. He soldiered on through technical problems to give the audience a look at his diverse sounds — starting with banjo, switching to electric banjo and then guitars. Taylor noted that he doesn't keep a setlist and often plays whatever song he's in the mood for. As expected, "Ten Million Slaves" and "Hey Joe" were included, as were a number of songs from his most recent album, Clovis People Vol. 3. Taylor made his way into the audience at one point, playing harmonica along the way.

The Bad: Probably that there weren't more people in attendance, but those who were there — roughly 75 or so — surely got their money's worth. The crowd also tended to be a little quiet, simply soaking in the music — but had a poor response when Taylor was looking for audience participation. Sound problems hampered the set early on. Moments of quiet when Taylor needed to switch instruments, seek audience feedback or tune his guitar often ran long and became a bit of a mood killer.

The Verdict: A short but sweet 90-minute set that allowed people to get home early, or make it out to another show. Taylor switched instruments often and gave a diverse look at his repertoire.