Surviving members of the Grateful Dead began the first of five Fare Thee Well shows at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California this weekend. Original members Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir will take their final bow at Soldier Field in Chicago July 5 after a three-night run with Bruce Hornsby, Trey Anastasio and Jeff Chimenti joining them for two sets each night.
If you can't make it to one of those five shows, it is available on pay-per-view, in some movie theaters, and via YouTube through Apple TV, Android, Chromecast, IOS, Samsung and Panasonic smart TVs, XBox 360, XBox One, PS3, PS4, and WiiU as well as being broadcast on Sirius/XM's Grateful Dead channel. The cost for the YouTube broadcast for the Chicago dates is $29.95 a night.
Locally fans can warm up for those final nights at Smokey Joe's on Monday where Grateful Dead Tribute band Other People will be joined by members of Charlotte's Moonshine Racers and former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten who'll play an opening set at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.
For me, the Grateful Dead's legend both died and exploded with the death of Jerry Garcia. I was never really a fan - although I lived with a guy with a Steal Your Face skull tattoo on his upper arm for a year and a half. Yet I find many memories are tied to the band. As a child I was put-off by the cover of 1971's "Skull and Roses" which scared me as I thumbed through my dad's record collection. The Grateful Dead were also huge at my high school, embraced by the kids from wealthy families who I suppose wanted to shake their preppy upbringing and clean-cut image. High school social structure determines so much of our young opinions. I secretly had a crush on one such deadhead and I never uttered a word of it to anyone.
The Grateful Dead became more of a presence in my world in March of 1995 when they played three shows at Charlotte Coliseum. One of my boyfriend's friends stayed with us that week. I'm not sure if he bought a ferret in the parking lot, but he came home with one shuffling around in his backpack.
Later that year my father had his first heart attack - possibly the same day as Jerry Garcia. It seems like it was the day before or after. My memory's a little fuzzy I've told the story so many times. Two overweight, bearded, long haired hippies loved by many despite their flaws with music running in their blood (my father's ties to the bluegrass community made his funeral a standing-room-only service). The list of ailments that contributed to both my father and Jerry Garcia's decline were similar - drug addiction, weight problems, sleep apnea, diabetes.
Jerry died that day. My father lived another eight years. I remember being relieved that if it had to be one old hippie, that it wasn't my old hippie.
I never quite embraced the Dead's music, but I've embraced the people. I've had close friends that followed them in those last years. I've interviewed several musicians with ties to the band starting with Dead historian David Gans back when I first started covering music as Bob Weir on his birthday (Me: You're doing an interview on your birthday?).
When I volunteered during Arc Overnight at WNCW in Spindale, I often hit the air right after Uncle Dave's Dead Air show. He left the station in May, but one Christmas night 13 years ago he came to my rescue. After I was nearly carjacked at the Morehead Street exit on my way home from WV to pull an all-nighter at the station, he stepped up and covered my shift even though he'd already been there for hours on a holiday. I was too shaken up to drive. I don't think I drove alone at night until a month and a half later when I resumed my shift.
I didn't even have to ask him to stay. Again and again I'm reminded that Dead people are often good people, so I'm glad they can enjoy this final bow. They're lucky that 20 years later they can still have that. I know my own favorite bands would never require the same big, grand international farewell. Siouxsie who?
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Charlotte loses unique artistic voice as Andy the Doorbum heads West
After April's arts invasion, during which Andy Fenstermaker (aka the Doorbum) not only acted as artist in residence at Snug Harbor (another club where he manned the door) but carryied out unusual acts of public performance art around the city. He wasn't alone in this. He curated a whole month of visual and musical exhibitions that included artists he'd befriended during his many travels. One of those artists was Los Angeles-based sculptor and photographer Sarah Sitkin, who has since become Fenstermaker's fiance.
Fenstermaker will join Sitkin in L.A. after detours through his native Pennsylvania where he'll help his father build a cabin on the family land and Ireland where he is setting up an art show with Amy Bagwell (mistress of Charlotte Wall Poems and CPCC professor).
Fenstermaker grew up in Gaston County and aside from extensive touring, he's lived here his entire life (aside from that one year in Pennsylvania). One of April's Art Invasion slogans was "Change Is Coming." Three months later it is here.
He recognizes the foreshadowing of the statement he created. But while Charlotte is losing an integral part of its underground arts scene it also seems like a place like L.A. may appreciate Andy the Doorbum's originality and vision more than the banking capital of the South. Although the other side of that argument is that Charlotte needs residents like Andy to push the envelope and create subversive statements that even his audience might not always "get."
I'm sure I cackled over lunch at Pinky's as he shared stories of explaining to police just what he was doing dragging a tree limb up and down Central Ave. while (I imagine) dressed in one of his costumes with his face painted ("Do you have a place to stay sir?"). He pointed to the story about his art invasion in Creative Loafing and said the folks at Snug would vouch that he worked there. The initial assumption is that someone coloring that far outside the lines must be crazy. Nah, he just has big thoughts he actually follows through on. How strange a place it would be if we all did?
Fenstermaker is a beloved figure in the community. He may look like a freaky character with his red curls and unkempt beard shooting in all directions wearing t-shirts of his own design, but get to know him, witness one of his performances, or listen to one of his records and you'll likely find yourself charmed.
Andy has made an impact on my family in a big way, which I've mentioned on this blog before. My husband went back to school after having a conversation with Andy at Snug Harbor one night. Although I joke that he took career advice from someone named Andy the Doorbum, my husband is happy about his decision.
His music has also put me in the mindset of certain characters and situations when working on my books. It helps get me to that mental place I need to be to write. I titled a chapter after one of his songs and consider him one of the inspirations behind the book.
Art begets art - a sentiment I think he'd approve of.
Those at his going away party Sunday will witness his evolution of art begetting art. He plans to start the show from the door booth where he recorded his first album then move chronologically through his different projects and collaborations over the years ending with his Alien/Native Movement. The show is likely to sell out, so buy tickets in advance.
Although he no longer has family here, Fenstermaker expects he'll return from time to time to perform and visit with friends. So it's not goodbye forever although he has shed much of the possessions and work he accumulated while living here. He even burned old journals in an exercise of renewal that kicked off the residency at Snug Harbor. That was even before he knew that change would mean a cross country move.
Tickets to Sunday's show are $5-$7. Friends Hectagons, Bo White, Robert Childers, and Nerve Endings will also play.
(Photo by Sarah Sitkin)
Thursday, June 25, 2015
This week's hot concerts
Surfer Blood
The early summer concert series ends with the indie guitar-rock headliner
that’s wherewithal has been tested leading up to the release of its new album, “1000
Palms.” Guitarist Thomas Fakete left the band recently to undergo cancer
treatment and in May donations to his medical fund were stolen from the band’s
van along with gear.
Groove 8
The Charlotte jazz-funk act celebrates ten years together with
the release of a digital compilation called “Decades.” Now sharing members with
Bette Midler, Prince, and Paul Simon’s bands, the group will be joined by two
Detroit musicians during its annual trek to San Francisco and a late summer
tour overseas.
The Rippingtons
As the contemporary jazz group led by guitarist/composer Russ
Freeman approaches its 30th anniversary in 2016, the band continues
to explore oft-revisited geographical inspiration while delving into themes
through unique collaborations - from scoring the Weather Channel to working
with Black Label Society guitarist Zack Wylde.
Malcolm Holcombe
The country-folk singer-songwriter (think NC’s answer to Guy
Clark-meets-Tom Waits) marks 20 years of music by rerecording favorite tracks
from his 11 releases with frequent band members at RCA Studios in Nashville for
the new CD and DVD “The RCA Sessions.” It stands as a fine collection and
career overview.
Charlotte 1960’s Rock n’ Roll Reunion
For the third year running author and photographer Daniel Coston,
who chronicles the history of `60s rock n’ roll in his book with musician Jake
Berger, reunites Aiken, SC’s Mod IV and Durham’s the Bondsmen for the first
time in over 45 years along with the Kinksmen and Berger’s band Mannish Boys.
Andy the Doorbum
Before heading West to join his visual artist fiancé in L.A.,
Charlotte’s resident noir folkie-turned-performance-artist revisits his past
from the door booth where he started through his latest guerilla-art inspired
persona on stage with collaborative stops in between. The city is losing a
unique voice in underground art with his departure.
Def Leppard
The English rock giants who weathered the death of guitarist
Steve Clark, drummer Rick Allen losing an arm, and the onset of grunge, can’t
be held down for long. It announced this week that guitarist Vivian Campbell,
who is being treated for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, is back on stage after missing
only the first two days of the tour with Styx and Tesla.
Merle Haggard
Tuesday 7:30 p.m., Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.,
$20-$59.50/$74.50 VIP, www.blumenthalarts.org
The country music legend has influenced everyone from mainstream
stars like George Strait and Gretchen Wilson to roots rockers the Avett
Brothers. His legacy and influence is actually mentioned in several songs by
other artists. At age 78 he continues to tour often.
Chrisette Michele
The R&B singer and reality television star takes a break from
working on her fifth album - an experience which she’s been sharing with fans
via her YouTube Vlog - for a run of tour dates. Inspired by current racial
strife in the US, she promises an album that reflects music’s place within the
turmoil she’s witnessing in the news.
Daughtry
Before hitting Camp Lejeune to celebrate the 4th with
the troops, the rockers return close to home to kick off the holiday weekend.
The Carolinian singer continues to diversify his resume. He was booked to play
a drug addicted musician on a Fox pilot this season, but the show remains in
limbo since the network passed on the “Empire-esque” series.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
CLT rapper drops infectious new EP at monthly Southern hip-hop night
You can also catch him live this weekend at Clture Fest at ChopShop, where he'll perform early in the day. The eclectic indie rock, roots and hip-hop lineup features several Carolina artists include the Love Language, TOW3RS, RBTS Wins, and Susto along with Charlotte's Miami Dice, Serfs, Rapper Shane, Pullman Strike, Elevator Jay, Modern Primitives, Stereoloud, the Tills, Late Bloomer, and Susto. Philly's Man Man and Utah's Desert Noises will headline.
He will also perform an afternoon set at Snug Harbor July 4th celebration with Rapper Shane and Three 6 Mafia's acclaimed female emcee Gangsta Boo.
You can check out "Sum'na Say" at Elevator Jay's Bandcamp site or his Soundcloud page. He's offering it as a free download, but it will also be for sale on iTunes and under Bandcamp's Name Your Price program. He may even give some copies away at the listening party tonight.
Although I've only had a couple days with it, so far "Sum'na Say" is pretty terrific. It's always a good sign if I'm listening to something and my husband asks if I have a download of it to share. What I think caught his ear was just how catchy and smooth it is. He praised the melodies and ventured that it was as good as any current hip-hop he'd encountered lately.
My favorite tracks so far are "Ride Out" and "Chicken Wangz." Both coast on that smooth, timeless quality that I think encompasses the idea of transcending genres, which Rapper Shane mentioned to me while describing his friend's new EP.
Check out the links and Elevator Jay live this weekend at Chop Shop.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Weenie Roast taps old and new favorites for 20th anniversary
Following 2014's festival (technically its 14th, which was capped by a fun, nostalgic performance from Weezer) this year's bill finds another act that made its name in the `90s - Stone Temple Pilots - in the headlining slot. The entire lineup reflects the station's mix of `90s grunge and mainstream alternative rock, which emerged at the same time as WEND was solidifying its format, and current rock and pop-rock favorites with a bit of Americana thrown in for good measure.
Blues Traveler and Live join STP to fill the `90s quotient, while Passion Pit, Bleachers, Atlas Genius, X Ambassadors, IAMDYNAMITE, Langhorne Slim & the Law, Kopecy, Catfish & the Bottlemen, and alt-rock stalwart MuteMath (who came along during the decade between STP and Bleachers) give the 20th Weenie youthful spark.
Stone Temple Pilots and Live no longer feature original vocalists Scott Weiland and Ed Kowalczyk. STP features Chester Bennington of Linkin Park on vocals. Chris Shinn, formerly of the band Unified Theory and son of former Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn, now fronts Live.
Pre-sale starts Tuesday at 10 a.m. The pre-sale password is "Weenie." A limited number of lawn seats will be available for $10.65. Gold Circle and pit tickets will also be available. General sales start Friday at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com and at LiveNation ticket sellers.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
This week's hot concerts
Juicy J
The Oscar
winning veteran Three 6 Mafia rapper is enjoying the attention of a new
generation of hip-hop and pop fans through collaborations with Wiz Khalifa,
Nicki Minaj, and Katy Perry. He continues the youthful star collabs on his
upcoming 2015 album.
Chris Stapleton
This Kentucky musician spent 15 years writing tracks for everyone from George Strait to
Adele and two of those in Grammy nominated bluegrass band the Steeldrivers. So
it’s no wonder his solo debut “Traveller” is lighting up the charts and
critics’ early 2015 best lists.
Beatles Tribute Night
Saturday 7:30 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.,
$19.80-$30, www.blumenthalarts.org
The annual tribute to the Fab Four presented by the folks behind
the 25-year running Tosco Music Parties features 15 artists covering Beatles’
songs in a variety of styles. The three-hour concert is usually a sell-out that
boasts local musicians amped to take a break from their own material to pay
homage to one of their favorite artists.
The Weepies
The married folk pop duo - go-to collaborators for artists like
Mandy Moore whose songs have been used in numerous television shows and during
Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign - weathered wife Deb Talan’s breast cancer
diagnosis shortly after the birth of their third child. In remission since
2014, the band returns with “Sirens” its first album in five years.
Antiseen
Sunday
6 p.m., Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave., $12-$15, www.tremontmusichall.com
Not all dads want to golf or grill, so the veteran Charlotte
Southern punk stalwart offers an alternative to cap your Father’s Day
activities - an early evening hardcore punk rock show with probably blood
splatter for the metal, hard rock, and possibly pro-wrestling-loving dad in
your life. With No Anger Control and Hookers.
K Flay
During last summer’s Warped Tour Bayside singer Anthony Raneri
mentioned that this female indie rapper/songwriter stopped him in his tracks
with her performance. Now she’s turning heads with her smart mix of hip-hop and
indie rock opening for bands like Third Eye Blind and AWOLNATION this summer.
Here she plays a rare solo date.
Colony House
After opening for fellow Southern pop-rockers NeedtoBreathe at
Uptown Amphitheatre last month the Tennessee trio, which features Christian
music giant Stephen Curtis Chapman’s sons Caleb and Will on vocals and drums,
respectively, returns for a headlining gig showcasing its expansive, emotive
dreamy guitar pop.
Betty Who
The 23-year-old Aussie wowed fans of public displays of romance
when her track #1 dance single “Somebody Love’s You” went viral during a gay
fan’s flash-mob marriage proposal in 2013. She’s gained cred with LGBT fans
through Pride events, a Logo NewNowNext award and a song on “Glee” and
relatable pop on her debut album “Take Me When You Go.”
Natalie Cole
After tackling everything from pop music to her father’s catalog
on the groundbreaking “Unforgettable,” the veteran singer received multiple
Latin Grammy nominations for her 2013 collection of Latin standards which she
revisits live. Having learned from her father Nat King Cole and friends like
Frank Sinatra,
Michael Franti & Spearhead
After last summer’s yoga-themed outdoor tour, the activist/band
leader is back indoors promoting positivity with the summer tour’s “Once A Day”
which is also the name of the first single from his upcoming album. The
genre-splicing singer/guitarist explains that the song and tour encourages
people to share and spread love at least once every 24 hours.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
This week's hot concerts
GBH
The street punk stalwart approaches the 40 year mark with the long
running lineup of founders Colin Abrahall and Jock Blyth, drummer Scott Preece,
and bassist Ross Lomas, who published a frank and refreshing look the band’s
history with his 2013 autobiography. With California hardcore political street
punks Total Chaos.
Force MDs
The R&B vocal group’s 1985 ballad “Tender Love” - an early
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-written hit from the “Krush Groove” soundtrack - was
a Top 10 smash that perfectly captures the essence of `80s R&B. Like peers
New Edition, the group, which is now a trio having lost three members in the
`90s, bridges doo-wop and hip-hop.
Sun Bones
Friday
10 p.m., Crown Station, 1423 Elizabeth Ave., Free, www.crownstationpub.com and Sunday 6 p.m., Tin
Roof, 210 E. Trade St., Suite 286, Free, www.sunbones.com
This indie-rock four-piece from Tuscon, Ariz. emits the warmth of
the desert with rich, layered vocal harmonies and sunbaked soul that bathes in
psychedelia and quirky pop. It recalls the wacky invention of Talking Heads or
Arcade Fire led by Roy Orbison and mines the unpredictability of Violent Femmes
and Vampire Weekend.
Lana Del Rey
The controversial, somewhat polarizing singer-songwriter and
modern day lounge throwback treats fans to unreleased favorites, a couple of
covers, and torchy tracks from her two smash albums and moves past the `60s
glamour and uneven early performances on her headlining Endless Summer Tour.
She’s joined by Grimes.
Summerland Tour
Saturday 7:30 p.m., Uptown Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music
Factory Blvd., $27.50-$42, www.livenation.com
Everclear’s Art Alexakis continues to celebrate `90s rock with
this annual nostalgic summer tour that features hit-heavy sets from Everclear,
Fuel, Toadies and American Hi-Fi - all of who continue to make new music and
release new records that trade in the same post-grunge guitar rock that made
them radio staples.
Flogging Molly/Gogol Bordello/Mariachi El Bronx
Consider it a mini world music festival with the Irish-American folk-rock-meets-pub-punk
of Flogging Molly, the Eastern European gypsy rock of NYC’s Gogol Bordello, and
the Americanized Mariachi alter-ego of L.A. punk band the Bronx. All three are
known as live powerhouses who don’t steer too closely to tradition.
Charlie Wilson
The voice of the Gap Band ( “You Dropped the Bomb On Me”)
overcame drug addiction and homelessness in 1995 and more recently prostate
cancer to enjoy a big comeback for his work with Snoop Dogg and Kanye West
(Wilson is all over “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”), with big solo hits
and BET’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Americana needs creative contrary women like Hurray for the Riff
Raff’s frontwoman Alynda Lee Segarra, who brings knowing intelligence and a
feminist wink to songs that hold a mirror to current American culture while
embracing its traditions. The band returns with Clear Plastic Masks following
this weekend’s Bonnaroo performance.
Anthony D’Amato
The New Jersey-bred singer-songwriter is a burst of literary cool
having studied with a poet professor at Princeton and worked as an NYC
publicist. His musically uplifting, if somewhat lyrically dark songs, are what
grab listeners attention and suggest he may be the most refreshing young
songwriter since Josh Ritter.
The War on Drugs/the Everymen
With its third album, “Lost in a Dream” embraced as one of 2014’s
biggest indie-rock releases and a fixture on Sirius/XM, the Philadelphia
folk-psych-rock sextet demonstrated what Fleetwood Mac or Springsteen might
sound like as a young indie band now. Live force the Everymen brings theatrical
big band presence as an opening act.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Manilow says farewell to CLT with hit-filled Vegas-style show
Barry Manilow hasn't made a habit of playing Charlotte. Fans have been treated to his show only once or twice a decade, so it's no wonder they turned out in droves for his "One Last Time!" tour Saturday at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his solo career, opened the show with a half hour set that included an instrumental rendition of "Let It Go" from "Frozen" prompted by his nieces and a medley of hits he grew up with.
He talked up Manilow who took the stage half an hour later (it was probably the most punctual show I've ever been to) in a brocade red pleated jacket and black shirt and slacks. Although he was thin, admitting he lost weight on the road while tightening his belt at one point, he didn't appear to be pushing 72. His birthday is June 17. He was agile, hopping on his piano during the medley and running through light choreography with his backup singers.
Backed by a band that was a mini orchestra that included flute, a busy percussionist, and three animated backup singers whose youth and enthusiasm for the material elevated the action on stage, Manilow kicked his set off with the road anthem "It's a Miracle" followed by"Could it Be Magic." The rapt crowd joined in for "Can't Smile Without You" and waved the glow sticks they'd been handed upon entry during "Jump Shout Boogie."
My first memory of Manilow is the 1978 HBO concert special at the Greek Theatre, which aired in 1979. The memory is fuzzy. I was three and remember later specials from Stevie Nicks and Olivia Newton-John better, but Manilow was a star. If you were born around the same time as I was you might not realize how big a star he was and still is. The arena wasn't packed, but thousands of glow sticks swayed to "Looks Like We Made It" and each song save a couple ballads had many on their feet, singing along and dancing.
My friend and I pondered why could we hear Manilow so well when he was holding his microphone at chest to stomach level? Could he be lip syncing? He held the mic that way even when addressing the crowd between songs, so it didn't seem like it. A text to my husband - a live sound engineer - confirmed that it could just be the type of microphone used or the amount of compression on his vocals.
 |
| Barry Manilow performs on stage during the One Last Time Tour at United Center on February 14, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) |
Smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his solo career, opened the show with a half hour set that included an instrumental rendition of "Let It Go" from "Frozen" prompted by his nieces and a medley of hits he grew up with.
He talked up Manilow who took the stage half an hour later (it was probably the most punctual show I've ever been to) in a brocade red pleated jacket and black shirt and slacks. Although he was thin, admitting he lost weight on the road while tightening his belt at one point, he didn't appear to be pushing 72. His birthday is June 17. He was agile, hopping on his piano during the medley and running through light choreography with his backup singers.
Backed by a band that was a mini orchestra that included flute, a busy percussionist, and three animated backup singers whose youth and enthusiasm for the material elevated the action on stage, Manilow kicked his set off with the road anthem "It's a Miracle" followed by"Could it Be Magic." The rapt crowd joined in for "Can't Smile Without You" and waved the glow sticks they'd been handed upon entry during "Jump Shout Boogie."
My first memory of Manilow is the 1978 HBO concert special at the Greek Theatre, which aired in 1979. The memory is fuzzy. I was three and remember later specials from Stevie Nicks and Olivia Newton-John better, but Manilow was a star. If you were born around the same time as I was you might not realize how big a star he was and still is. The arena wasn't packed, but thousands of glow sticks swayed to "Looks Like We Made It" and each song save a couple ballads had many on their feet, singing along and dancing.
My friend and I pondered why could we hear Manilow so well when he was holding his microphone at chest to stomach level? Could he be lip syncing? He held the mic that way even when addressing the crowd between songs, so it didn't seem like it. A text to my husband - a live sound engineer - confirmed that it could just be the type of microphone used or the amount of compression on his vocals.
Manilow dueted posthumously, Natalie Cole-style with Judy Garland and showed a clip from his appearance singing "Mandy" on "Midnight Special" in 1975 before picking up the smash hit on piano. That led to the obligatory supersized medley that included 13 songs including "Bandstand Boogie," "New York City Rhythm," "Read 'Em and Weep." "Daybreak" and "I Write the Songs" (which oddly enough he didn't write) found Manilow backed by a local choir.
He didn't tease folks with an encore, instead stepping off stage for a moment then announcing he'd forgot one before launching into "Copacabana" (of course). Some who'd sprinted for their cars when he stepped off stage were seen running back to their seats as the song started.
Not only was Manilow punctual, his crowd was probably the politest I've ever encountered at a concert. The kind crowd seemed to understand the concept of shared joy and experience that takes place at a concert. I saw no beer slinging, although it was served, or seat-related beefs. Maybe the attitude is reflective of the music. Given his age and the rarity of his Carolinas performance, this is one farewell tour that means it, but Manilow left the crowd pleased he'd visited "One Last Time!"
Thursday, June 4, 2015
This week's hot concerts
Shovels & Rope
Friday
6 p.m., NC Music Factory Fountain Plaza, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd., $8
Having already sold out two Charlotte venues and opened for the
Avett Brothers on New Year's Eve 2013, this Charleston-rooted husband and wife brings its
boot stomping, harmony-driven folk to Friday Live! It may end up being the biggest attraction the early summer concert series' biggest draw yet.
William Fitzsimmons
Few singer-songwriters have as interesting a backstory to draw on
as this Illinois-based artist who is a soul stirring and intimate live
performer. On his latest EP “Pittsburgh” the former mental health therapist was inspired by the loss of his grandmother and
returning to his hometown.
Milo Greene
Named for the fictional booking agent the band created to secure early
gigs, the L.A. outfit started out writing soundtrack music. The songs on its new
album “Control” are modern pop with a soulful electronic edge that you could,
yes, imagine scoring a scene on The CW.
George Clinton
Following the 2014 release of Funkadelic’s latest album “First Ya
Gotta Shake the Gate” and the publication of the Kannapolis-born father of
funk’s memoir, the legendary Parliament Funkadelic returns for its annual
Charlotte party.
Geto Boys
Willie D., Scarface, and Bushwick Bill present the
Office Space Tour as a tribute to Mike Judge’s use of its music in the cult
classic 1999 film. Knocturnal’s weekly hip-hop night offers a
chance to see the controversial rap pioneers in a very setting before it starts work on a new album.
Temples
The British psychedelic rock band was hailed as the next big
thing early on by Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr, and its 2014 debut album “Sun
Structures” delivers on the hype with lush, orchestral, harmony dense rock n’
roll that recalls colorful `60s psych while injecting that with
contemporary rock touches.
Third Eye Blind/Dashboard Confessional
Wednesday 7 p.m., Uptown Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music
Factory Blvd., $27.50-$49.50, www.livenation.com
After four years spent touring solo acoustic, recording covers,
and focusing on his folk-rock band Twin Forks, Chris Carrabba plugs in again
with his beloved emo-rock band. The co-headlining tour precedes the release of
Third Eye Blind’s new album “Dopamine,” which is out June 16.
Eternal Summers
Roanoke, VA isn’t known for a happening indie-rock scene, but this trio's new album “Gold and Stone” could ignite one. The band's charming rock is awash in a haze of noisy yet dreamlike shoegazer distortion and delicate vocals
that marry the beauty of early Lush with the lo-fi feel of Superchunk and the
Softies.
Shakey Graves
The proximity of Bonnaroo makes this a rich time of year for Charlotte fans of several
genres. Alejandro Rose-Garcia (aka Shakey Graves), for instance, warms up for the festival with a stirring combination of gospel-infused
folk, gritty blues, and inventive rock n’ soul.
Royal Blood
Since kicking off its first US tour at Tremont Music Hall last summer prior
to the release of its self-titled debut, this UK duo has opened for Foo
Fighters, won over crowds at Fuji Rock, Coachella, and Rock in Rio and won Best
British Group at the Brit Awards. Not bad for a duo that combines sludgy hard
rock riffs with the modern blues of the White Stripes.