Janoskians
The Fillmore
Sept. 23, 2014

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• Janoskians and one of the dance battle contestants.

The Janoskians (Just Another Name Of Silly Kids In Another Nation) are a comedy YouTube quintet from Australia that's known for Jackass-like pranks and boy-band-esque songs. So, what do they do live? I'd say not much.

Members Beau Brooks (21), Daniel Sahyounie (19) and James Yammouni (18) hit the stage first for a short DJ set — they played a bunch of hit songs, got the crowd to sing along and filmed themselves with the audience. The few hundred teenage girls in attendance screamed nonstop.

2014 Funk Fest
Metrolina Expo Fairgrounds
Sept. 12-13, 2014

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• Outkast

Friday's hot afternoon got started with a set by local hip-hop collective Forever FC. From there it was a good mix of classic hip-hop by Salt-n-Pepa, a stunning-yet-shortened set by Fantasia, another classic performance by Doug E. Fresh (now I understand why he's so popular during CIAA each year), an energetic set by B.o.B and then the band everyone was waiting for.

An hour-long weather delay, and an hour-long set changeover after B.o.B did little to dampen the spirits of those in attendance as soon as Outkast hit the stage full-force with "B.O.B." While early reviews of Outkast were lack luster, recent opinion has been glowing and the Atlanta hip-hop duo lived up to all the hype with an outstanding performance that never let down.

Saturday's weather wasn't quite as warm, but things heated up with War in the afternoon. The '70s funk outfit were a solid warm-up for the early evening hip-hop 'n' soul of The Roots. Ice Cube ran through hit after hit during his hour-long set and light rain didn't slow down LL Cool J who closed out the evening with a hits-heavy set of his own.

When Funk Fest was first announced, many didn't believe that Outkast would actually make it to the Queen City for a performance, but this weekend's event left many believers wanting more.

Slideshow Funk Fest 2014

39 slides

Funk Fest 2014

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2014 Weenie Roast f. Weezer, Foster the People, Fitz & The Tantrums and more
PNC Music Pavilion
Sept. 6, 2014

Another Weenie Roast, another summer come and gone. The 2014 Weenie Roast featured a great lineup with a solid mixture of talent to keep Charlotte entertained in what would otherwise be just a long, very hot, day. Bands like Foster the People, Fitz and the Tantrums, Fuel and Wild Cub made appearances this year, but here's a few of this Weenie's not-to-be-missed shows (and if you missed them? You missed out).

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• Weezer

Grouplove w/ Portugal. The Man
The Fillmore
Sept. 3, 2014

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• Portugal. The Man

After the "monsoon" had passed and the band Typhoon had gotten all 11 of its members off stage, Portugal. The Man kicked off their set with a brief rendition of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" leading into their own "Purple Yellow Red & Blue." It wasn't the only cover song PtM threw into their set as they later riffed off of Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger."

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.

Slideshow Nothing More at Amos' Southend, 8/19/14

15 slides

Nothing More at Amos' Southend, 8/19/14

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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

Panic! at the Disco
Uptown Amphitheatre
Aug. 13, 2014

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• Panic! at the Disco

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.

Carnivores Tour f. Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, AFI
PNC Music Pavilion
Aug. 12, 2014

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• 30 Seconds to Mars

Thirty Seconds to Mars primarily showcased songs from their newest, self-released record Love. Lust. Faith. Dreams. "We put this record out ourselves, with no label behind us," singer Jared Leto told his fans. "So go buy it on iTunes, download it illegally if you don't have the money, I don't care, just go get it." And while Leto’s actor side does come out with a bit of dramatics at times (he was donning a crown and priestly robes and giving off a Jesus-like air), he manages to sell the hell out of those new songs with near-flawless vocals. And the dramatics definitely work in his favor on such sweeping rock anthems like staple "Do or Die." He makes the drama work in his favor and it works hard.

Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden
PNC Music Pavilion
Aug. 7, 2014

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• Nine Inch Nails

That didn't end up being the band's final performance. After a brief club "farewell tour, Reznor reconvened NIN into something a bit more electronic and revived the band for a new era. Last year, the group performed at the Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit in Asheville and I walked away with mixed emotions.

Last night, at PNC Music Pavilion, I soaked in the band's nearly 90-minute set with a newfound appreciation for Reznor's artistry and music. I knew that the band wouldn't put on a performance like 'Roo, but I didn't expect them to. Reznor ended that era of Nine Inch Nails and has modernized it. Instead of pounding bass drums, there's pounding bass. Electronic backdrops form the song textures instead of churning distortion-filled guitar riffs as Reznor's emotion-fueled lyrics drive forth.

Monumentour Fall Out Boy, Paramore, New Politics
PNC Music Pavilion
July 23, 2014

• Photo by Jeff Hahne
• Paramore

The “Monumentour” rolled into Charlotte Wednesday night at the PNC Music Pavilion to an almost sold out show and put on what can only be described as a spectacle.

Despite the crippling heat and humidity, hardcore Fall Out Boy and Paramore fans pressed into the outdoor arena and rode through an almost three hour show by feeding almost exclusively off of the two bands' energy. Denmark-based newcomers New Politics offered an appetizer to tide fans over until the main event, but the question remained: which of the two top charting bands would be the real “headliner” on this co-headliner tour?