Thursday, May 2, 2013

This week's hot concerts

Spin Doctors/Paper Tongues
6 p.m. Friday, May 3, Fountain Plaza, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $5. www.ncmusicfactory.com
On the heels of “If the River Was Whiskey” - its first album in eight years - the “Two Princes” band kick off the nostalgic Friday Live! concert series. The 8-week series features acts from the last three decades as well as newer ones like Charlotte’s Paper Tongues, who are a force live.

Chris Botti
8 p.m. Friday, May 3, Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. $19.50-$74.50. www.blumenthalarts.org
The contemporary jazz trumpeter’s romantic, classically-influenced renditions of ballads win Grammys and rank him among the top selling jazz instrumentalists. That’s because he plays the instrument with the expression and subtlety of a gifted vocalist and lyricist. 


Tim McGraw
7 p.m. Friday, May 3, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 707 Pavilion Blvd. $40.75-$84.70.www.livenation.com
Country’s most played artist of the 21st century (at least the first decade) isn’t short on hits with well over 30 No. 1 singles. Expect an artist reinvigorated by a new label and a new album (“Two Lanes of Freedom”) on the second night of his Freedom Tour. With Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft.


Capital Cities
8 p.m. Friday, May 3, Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $19. www.livenation.com
The L.A. electro-pop duo wrote commercial jingles before joining forces to make bouncy, breezy dance tracks. Its “Dancing with Strangers” tour is its first North American headlining trek and leads up to its album’s release in June. With Gold Fields.

Peter Murphy
9 p.m. Friday, May 3, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $25/$75 VIP. www.tremontmusichall.com
With the outcome of his recent arrest looming until later this month, the goth-father continues his celebration of 35 years of Bauhaus - the seminal late `70s/early `80s group he fronted and who recorded goth classics like “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” His set consists exclusively of Bauhaus’ material.

Carolina Rebellion
11 a.m. Saturday, 12 p.m. Sunday, May 4 and 5. Rock City Campgrounds, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 7301 Bruton Smith Blvd. $79.50 single day/$139 weekend pass (camping is additional). www.carolinarebellion.com
The hard rock/metal fest is back in the Queen’s City with Saturday’s headliners Limp Bizkit, Deftones, and Alice in Chains and Sunday’s - Soundgarden, Bush, Rise Against - heading up a bill that also features In This Moment, Volbeat, Sevendust, All That Remains, Steel Panther, Buck Cherry, Three Days Grace, Papa Roach, Halestorm and many more.

Lyle Lovett
7:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. $29.50-$124.50. www.blumenthalarts.org
Tim McGraw isn’t the only former Curb Records artist in town this week who gleefully jumped ship. Texas songwriter Lovett ended his own 27-year association with the controversial country label with 2012’s not so subtle (mostly) covers collection, “Release Me.” He exercises newfound freedom on tour with his Acoustic Group.

Clutch
7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St. $20-$25. www.etix.com
The heavy blues-based rock band is high on grooves and renewed energy on its tenth album, “Earth Rocker.” The record is stacked with hard-charging, up-tempo numbers that promise to translate well live. With the Sword and Lionize.

Mickey Hart Band/African Showboyz
7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, Neighborhood Theatre, 511. E. 36th St. $25-$30. www.ticketfly.com
The Grammy winning Grateful Dead drummer weaves trippy world and electronic music with a style of rock that bridges the Dead and Peter Gabriel on his latest album, “Mysterium Tremendum.” His Worlds Within Tour hits on all points of his career and features show stopping guests the African Showboyz from Ghana.

The Joy Formidable
7 p.m. Thursday, May 9, Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $18-$20. www.visulite.com
With its second album, “Wolf’s Law,” the Welsh trio takes the buzz of its debut to the next level by creating a unique mix of Sabbath and Queen-like riffs, ethereal Lush-style vocals, a shoegazer-y wash of fuzz, Flaming Lips’ knack for invention, and plenty of memorable hooks. 

Ryan Bingham
8 p.m. Thursday, May 9, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $22.50-$25. www.ticketfly.com
The Oscar winning country singer-songwriter hasn’t let awards (for his work in “Crazy Heart”) and mainstream associations dull his edge or temper the jagged twang of his sound. His electric guitar-driven latest album, “Tomorrowland” is his most rocking yet.