This week's hot concerts

Ed Roland

6 p.m. Friday, May 31, NC Music Factory Fountain Plaza, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $5. http://ncmusicfactory.ticketleap.com

The Collective Soul frontman shakes up the rock format slightly with his group the Sweet Tea Project relying on rootsier, (partly) acoustic instrumentation which still mines the same sort of modern Southern rock songwriting that the Atlanta singer is best known for.

Randall Bramblett

10 p.m. Friday, May 31, Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $15. www.doubledoorinn.com

The multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter may not be a household name, but he’s one of those writer/musiicans that household names like Bonnie Raitt turn to when in need of a smart track, which indicates his own albums - like the just released “The Bright Spots” - are often unsung gems.

Aaron Lewis

11 p.m. Saturday, June 1, Coyote Joe’s, 4621 Wilkinson Blvd. $20-$23. www.coyote-joes.com

The Staind frontman took his knack for peppering Staind's melodic metal with every-man angst to country radio for 2011’s “Country Boy” and its follow-ups “Endless Summer” and “Forever.” The move seems to be working as he returns to the local country hot spot.

Summerland Tour

7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 2, Uptown Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $27-$57.85. www.livenation.com

After a warm reception for its outing with Lit and Sugar Ray last summer, Everclear leads this `90s rock tour for the second year. The lineup is a heavier one this time with `90s radio staples Live, Filter, and Sponge filling out the bill.

Wednesday 13

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont St. $13-$15. www.ticketfly.com

The China Grove-native infuses camp and cult into his unapologetically fun brand of horror rock, which trades on punk, metal, and `70s and `80s rock n’ roll picking up where early Misfits left off while riffing on practically every slasher film or monster movie you can think of.

Ours

9 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Rd. $15-$17. www.themilestoneclub.com

After a five-year wait, the moody rock band (best known for 2002’s modest modern rock hit “Sometimes”) returns with the PledgeMusic-funded “Ballet the Boxer” album. Ours’ frontman Jimmy Gnecco has a voice that can stop you in your tracks - making the group a force live. With Greensboro’s Luna Arcade.

Face to Face

7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St. $17-$20. www.etix.com

With its second post-reunion album hitting on influences like the the Clash and the Jam, the Southern California punk band - influential in their own right on pop-punk acts like blink 182 - returns to Charlotte for its first headlining show here since the early `90s when it played the long-ago-closed Pterodactyl.

Aaron Carter

8 p.m. Thursday, June 6. Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St. $17-$20/$67-$70 VIP. www.ticketfly.com

At only 25 and well over a decade since his biggest hits, the former teen heartthrob and more recent Broadway lead returns to the club stage to relaunch his music career with the intimate After Party Tour and a tentative new hip-hop and dance flavored album later this year.

Hobex/Greg Humphreys

9 p.m. Thursday, June 6, Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $12. www.doubledoorinn.com

The Southern soul outfit led by former Dillon Fence frontman Humphreys - who opens with material from his new solo album “Bohemia” - plays its first Charlotte show in four years and a rare club set at that. 

Doc about Charlotte band premiers on YouTube

A short documentary about Charlotte garage rock quintet Temperance League was posted on YouTube today. The mini doc was produced by "Shuffle Magazine" and Salisbury-based Six Foot Kitten as part of the Take One series. Filmed in September, it features three live performances and the group talking about its self-titled, full-length debut album.

The band is led by songwriter Bruce Hazel and features area music vets Shawn Lynch, David Kim, Chad Wilson, and Jay Garrigan. The group plays Charlotte frequently and opened for Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band at Time Warner Cable Arena in April. It's readying its next album for release in the fall. The language is mostly appropriate for sensitive ears, but there is one case of profanity in the last song.

Remodeled Neighborhood Theatre up and running

NoDa residents, music fans, and local musicians from bands like the Catch Fire and the Loudermilks gathered Wednesday as the remodeled Neighborhood Theatre reopened its doors after having to relocate four concerts earlier this month (including Foals and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead) in order to complete renovations and procure operating licenses. 

With the bulk of the renovations complete, the New Neighborhood Theatre (as it’s known on Facebook) revealed a snazzy, modern new bar and a more sophisticated look.

Although the bar had a soft opening last weekend, Wednesday’s open house featured live music on the big room stage by Charlotte singer-songwriter Reeve Coobs with Jason Atkins. The first official show is Saturday’s New Familiars concert with Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove and the Trainwrecks, who will perform at an after party in the bar area - something that will happen frequently at the venue. A small raised stage will be erected in the front corner of the front room.

The layout is basically the same, but the bar is now the centerpiece of the front room. The bar, which includes seating, is situated along the wall between the large front room and the concert hall and is accessible from both sides.

The bathrooms feature new toilets, sinks, glass tiles, and wood framed mirrors and the stage features new lighting and sound equipment. But the bar is definitely the centerpiece. The sleek bar, which looks like a cross between a high-end restaurant bar and what the original theater might have resembled when it was built as a movie house in the `40s - changes the look of that front room along with local artwork that lines the front room (many pieces are by artists that live in the surrounding neighborhood).

The raised VIP sections in the concert space are gone. The floor is partially seated as before. Gregg McCraw, who books and promotes concerts at numerous Charlotte venues under the name Maxx Music and will handle that aspect of the Neighborhood, said a VIP section will be created in the balcony and will feature a dedicated bar of its own. He hopes to complete that project between Saturday’s show and the venue’s second - Jesse y Joy - on June 7.  

McCraw is relieved to have the venue open. It was announced in March that he would take over managing the theater along with Evening Muse owner Joe Kuhlmann and another partner. McCraw is now the only one of the three still involved. Real estate developer Tyler Foster owns the building and the name and is taking part in the renovations as well. 

London, England-native Alex Shaw has signed on as general manager. He worked next door at Sanctuary for four years before moving to Bask, the now closed NC Music Factory restaurant. He is also  tended bar and handled social media under Neighborhood Theatre's previous management team.   

“I wanted to come back. It seemed like a great opportunity to carry on the legacy of the (old) Neighborhood Theatre and do something new and exciting,” says Shaw, who moved to Charlotte nine years ago. He’s looking forward to business as usual. 

“The last month has been relatively trying. I’m not a construction worker or a construction boss. I’m a bartender,” he laughs.

McCraw says patrons can look for the calendar to fill up soon. He announced this week that Toad the Wet Sprocket will play the theater July 19.

You can keep up to date on continuing changes to the theater here - https://www.facebook.com/NeighborhoodTheatre. 

This week's hot concerts

Steel Wheels

8 p.m. Friday, May 24, McGlohon Theatre, 345 N. College St. $17.50. 704-372-1000.

Nope it’s not a Rolling Stones tribute,but a twangy Virginia bluegrass quintet built on four-part harmonies, lively stage shows, and a modern spin on tradition. The band is touring in support of its new album “No More Rain.” Singer-songwriter Ana Egge opens.

Dustin Hofsess

8 p.m. Friday, May 24, Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $10. 704-376-3737.

On his new instrumental album, “Short Stories” this versatile and nimble guitarist weaves jazz, classical, blues, progressive, rock, and ethereal experimental touches. The album, which is his first solo release after years playing with other artists, includes impressive spots from George Porter, Jr. of the Meters on bass and fellow Monday Night Allstar and famed local percussionist Jim Brock.

Billy Don Burns

9 p.m. Friday, May 24, Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $10. 704-376-1446.

The unsung Nashville songwriter’s songwriter that eluded fame despite A-list artists like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Mel Tillis recording his songs should finally catch some name recognition with the upcoming documentary, “Talk About Crazy.”

Eric Britt

8 p.m. Friday, May 24, Volume Lounge, 1801 Commonwealth Ave. $5. 704-333-9197; http://www.ebrittmusic.com/greener-music

His Athens indie-rock band Hazel Virtue was a fixture in the Southeast in the `90s bridging jangly alt-pop with Live-like grooves and vocals. Now Savannah’s Britt takes a romantic folk-pop approach that’s lighter on angst on his new solo album “Greener.”

The New Familiars

8 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36^th St. $12-$15. www.neighborhoodtheatre.com

The remodeled NoDa venue, which had to push back its opening a few weeks, holds its first official show. Fittingly locals the New Familiars, who were somewhat of a fixture at the old theater, headline the revamped venue.

Frank Bang & The Secret Stash

9 p.m. Thursday, May 30, Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $8-$10. www.doubledoorinn.com

On his new album “Double Dare” (out this week) Buddy Guy’s former sideman plays mean, swampy slide guitar like he’s driving a getaway car and, during slower tracks, hiking across the spooky desert in the sweltering sun when that car runs out of gas. Either way his dirty blues shows ample heart and grit.

Truth & Salvage Co.

8 p.m. Thursday, May 30, Chop Shop, 399 E. 35^th St. $12. www.chopshopnoda.com

This transient Nashville-based sextet of Southern rockers (three of whom previously lived in Asheville) is a favorite of Black Crows’ Chris Robinson (who produced its first record) and remains tied to the NC mountains. The group recorded its upcoming sophomore album there with Band of Horses’ Bill Reynolds.

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra

8 p.m. Thursday, May 30, Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $12-$15. www.eveningmuse.com

If you dog steel drums chiming poolside but wondered how the instrument would morph in other musical settings then look to Asheville’s Scales. His ensemble can’t escape the sunniness of the instrument on its upcoming full-length album, but he places the steel pan into lively jazz-fueled instrumentals where he fluidly struts his stuff. 

Food Lion Speed Street revs up with local acts

The 19th Annual Food Lion Speed Street Festival starts tomorrow. In addition to headliners like SWV, Jamey Johnson, and Survivor, the free three-day music festival and NASCAR fan event exposes audiences to some of the area's local talent. Sol Fusion and Charlotte hip-hop-infused alternative rock outfit Pradigy GT (pictured) take the stage first on Thursday. SWV and Jon B headline.

The gig is a big deal for locals that are accustomed to playing for smaller crowds at more intimate venues. 

"Four years ago our first show was in a small NoDa club. Since then we have opened for Snoop Dogg, been in a national magazine ad campaign for Musician's Friend, performed on TV, (and) had our songs spun on local and national radio, but we have never played the biggest stage in our home city," says Pradigy Musicman comparing Speed Street to his group's accomplishments thus far. "We have wanted this opportunity since the beginning."

Two acts were chosen through Speed Street's Race to Stardom competition. Mooresville’s Landon Parker Band, who won in the country category, opens for Johnson and Randy Houser Friday. Winning rock band Blu Avenue does likewise for Survivor and Sister Hazel Saturday along with Chris Sanchez and `80s glam metal tribute Hair Nation. 

Live music begins at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information check out www.600festival.com. 

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(photo courtesy of BNR Promotions)

Neighborhood Theatre open house Wednesday

The recently remodeled Neighborhood Theatre had to postpone its official opening four times earlier this month, but the popular NoDa music venue will reopen its doors Wednesday to allow customers to take a peak before its first official show Saturday.

Charlotte singer-songwriter Reeve Coobs (pictured) will perform during a free open house Wednesday at 8 p.m.

In addition to new sound and lighting equipment and new bathrooms, the theater has a new look. The bar, which is accessible from the concert hall side now, looks like a modern art throwback to what I imagine it may have looked like when the venue first opened as a movie theater in 1945. The silver ceiling tiles are a nice touch. There's also new artwork gracing the bar area.

If you can't make the open house the New Familiars play Saturday with Brock Butler and the Train Wrecks. Tickets are $12 to $15. The website, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com, remains the same.

Beach band helps symphony celebrate 4th

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the red, white, and blue with Celebrate America! at South Park's Symphony Park on July 4th. The patriotic program will also include an opening set by Lake Norman area beach music band, Lakeside Drive - and really, what's more American than beach music?

Although Lakeside Drive gigs each weekend from Cornelius to Belmont to Monroe, the Symphony Park show marks its first inside the city limits, reports sax player Jason Barker (pictured above with band).

At its heart a horn-driven beach music sextet whose singles have charted on multiple beach music charts, Lakeside Drive is also a working band that plays a mix of popular oldies, rock, R&B, soul, and disco - everything from "Stagger Lee" to "Rolling in the Deep." It'll be interesting to see what makes it into their 45-minute set during the symphony gig.

The group also writes original music. Its debut album should be out around the end of summer. You can read more about the group online here and stream music here.

Tickets for Celebrate America! are $10 for adults. Children under 18 are admitted free. Lakeside Drive takes the stage at 7 p.m.