Member of two area bands releases solo debut, plays Muse Friday

Charlotte-based musician Philip Hamrick recently released his solo debut, "The Ceiling." He plays Evening Muse's 8 p.m. show Friday, June 17 with Ian Thomas. But if you knew Hamrick from his work in acoustic trio Not a Sparrow or the roosty pop duo Miles Apart, which also featured his wife Rachel, then "The Ceiling" might come as a surprise. The 11-track collection is a rocking affair that touches on the urgency and charm of the Replacements while honing in on something a little more current.

There are shades of other artists like Ryan Adams and Canada's Sam Roberts, but none are present enough to make a clear comparison. That's not a bad thing. The Asheboro native's album is big on meaty pop hooks, raspy vocals, enough distortion to keep the guitars heavy, and slower moments that hint at his past work. His bio describes him as a "recovering folk singer." The term is amusing, but accurate.

Tickets for the show are $8 to $10. www.eveningmuse.com