Lil
Wayne/T.I./2 Chainz
7
p.m. Friday, July 26, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
$38.75-$158.75. www.livenation.com
Just
months after being hospitalized, reportedly surviving a coma, and still
recurring death rumors, the controversial Lil Wayne is alive, still ruffling "Amerika's" feathers, and headlining the America’s Most
Wanted Festival (both its headliners have served jail time) with fellow Southern
hip-hop icons T.I. and 2 Chainz as well as Oakland’s G-Eazy.
Drivin’
n’ Cryin’
The
Southern alt-rock vets took a different approach with its latest release -
instead of an album its four EPs that focus on different aspects of its
psychedelic, punky, garage, folk-rock history. The final chapter is set for
October and a documentary, “Scarred But Smarter: the life and times of Drivin’
N’ Cryin’,” is premiering around the country. With Porcelain Mary and Darlings of the Underground.
Beyonce`
8
p.m. Saturday, July 27, Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St.
$59.90-$276.20. www.ticketmaster.com
For
those of us that have seen previous tours, some aspects of The Mrs. Carter
World Tour like her all female band and her biggest hits will be familiar, but
reviews indicate daring new production and a few deeper cuts. Of course it’s
doubtful with the actual singing, choreography, and costumes that Bey could put
on a bad show.
Davey
Suicide
The
Hollywood industrial dance metal quintet mixes Marilyn Manson, Ministry and
Motley Crue tackling social and political issues and compelling teen angst with
sexed-up glam guitar throwbacks. Frontman Davey Suicide was named Number 41 on
“Kerrang” magazine’s list of “50 Greatest Rock Stars Today.” With the Bear the
Bunny, Defiled, and the Beautiful Chaos.
Mona
One
of the highlights of this year’s Coachella festival, this Nashville rock
quartet released its sophomore album, “Torches and Pitchforks,” last week.
Imagine early Kings of Leon’s Southern garage soul filtered through a steady
diet of U2, the Clash, and Queen.
Psychedelic
Furs/Space Hog
The
legendary new wave band has luckily graced Charlotte annually for the past few
years. This time it plays its string of dreamy, alternative pop classics
(“Heaven,” “Love My Way,” “The Ghost in You”) at a new venue. Fellow Brits
Spacehog, who scored a hit with “In the Meantime” in the `90s and reunited in
2008, are along for the ride. With Cement Stars.
Paper
Bird
Thursday,
August 1, US National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway. Free. www.usnwc.org
This
harmony-driven septet may follow in the bootprints of fellow Denver folk-pop
group the Lumineers, but its bluesy and bluegrassy strings, psychedelic
production, and multiple vocalists give it a rootsy originality as if Crosby
Stills and Nash were jamming with the ghost of `50s girl groups like the Paris
Sisters.
Molotov
For
almost two decades the Latin Grammy winning quartet has been seamlessly mixing
classic rock, hip-hop, punk, blues, and funk into its amped up Spanish language
rock like Mexico’s answer to Beastie Boys, the Black Keys, Cypress Hill, and
Rancid all rolled into one.