Crystal
Bowersox
8
p.m. Friday, August 2, Don Gibson Theater, 318 South Washington St., Shelby,
$22.50. www.dongibsontheater.com
Some
of “American Idol’s” most memorable personalities aren’t its winners (Pickler, Daughtry) and while this bold blues singer may not have won
the prize she’s released two albums and will play the title role on Broadway
this fall in “Always, Patsy Cline.”
Sy
Arden
This
Charlotte singer-songwriter, guitarist and visual artist celebrates the release
of her wild new “Baby Mama” video. Arden has personality to spare and her music
and art are as unique as she is. So expect lots of humor and heart from her
latest endeavor.
Dokken
Anchored
by Don Dokken and drummer "Wild" Mick Brown, the hair metal holdout
continues to make new music (2012’s “Broken Bones”) while the solid band stokes
nostalgic flames with old favorites like “Into the Fire,” “Burning Like a
Flame,” “In My Dreams,” and “Dream Warriors.”
Grown Up Avenger Stuff/Today the
Moon, Tomorrow the Sun
10
p.m. Friday, August 2, Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $8. www.visulite.com
The
female-fronted family band has been burning up the road since SXSW, touring the
country with its unique brand of heavy alt-rock and creative arrangements - as
if riot grrrl matured with its `90s influences intact. It’s paired with
Atlanta’s dreamy modern rock quartet who’s playing its first Charlotte
show in nearly a year.
Rick
Estrin & the Nightcats
The
recent Blues Music Awards recipient for Best Harmonica Player served in San
Francisco’s Little Charlie & the Nightcats for over 30 years before he and
his bandmates forged their own band after Charlie’s retirement. The hopping
vintage blues, jazz, western, and surf on its second album, “One Wrong Turn,”
has garnered raves.
Fantasia
8
p.m. Saturday, August 3, Bojangles’ Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.
$40.85-$52.15. www.ticketmaster.com
Her
post “American Idol” life may have been as rife with drama as a reality series,
but the Charlotte-based vocal powerhouse manages to hush naysayers by
delivering inventive and relatable R&B albums that demonstrate her
evolution and are each better than the last. With 112.
Najee
8
p.m. Saturday, August 3, Halton Theater, CPCC, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. $30. http://tix.cpcc.edu/events/najee
The
versatile veteran sax and flute player straddles contemporary jazz with urban
soul and funky R&B having helped usher in the smooth jazz movement in the
`80s. His collaborative “The Smooth Side of Soul” is the Grammy winner’s
latest. The show is almost sold out.
BeaSoliel
avec Michael Doucet
8
p.m. Saturday, August 3, Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. $22-$25. www.neighborhoodtheatre.com
The
Grammy winner is one of the most popular Cajun groups in the world. A favorite
of Garrison Keillor, the group explores a different strain of American roots
music that’s vibrant and colorful and rooted in Louisiana’s rich history.
Matchbox
20/Goo Goo Dolls
7
p.m. Tuesday, August 6, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
$32-$111.75. www.livenation.com
Although
its well over a decade since these bands ruled radio, Rob Thomas and company
continue to crank out infectious pop-rock songs on the latest album “North”
while Johnny Rzeznick’s Buffalo trio holds steady with its latest Top 10 album,
“Magnetic.”
The
Tea Club
Imagine
Coheed and Cambria’s intellectual arrangements, Flaming Lips’ trippy invention,
and the psychedelic harmonies of Blitzen Trapper scoring a trip through a folksy Wonderland. That nears the ballpark of this progressive New Jersey outfit whose songs tell
stories with shifting tempo and direction and swirls of guitar, synth and
vocals. With fellow Jersey act Thank You Scientist.
Speedy
Ortiz
If
you miss the lo-fo nature and frank songwriting of `90s acts Liz Phair,
Pavement, and Helium, then this Massachusetts’ indie guitar rock combo should
strike your fancy. Vocalist Sadie Dupuis is a poet with a voice that recalls
Phair and the Butchies’ Kaia Wilson while the guitars are mathy, angular, and distorted.
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