Cassandra Wilson
Friday
8 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., $20-$59.50,
www.blumenthalarts.org
With the release of her tribute to Billie Holiday, “Coming Forth
By Day,” days away (it’s out April 7 to commemorate Holiday’s 100th
birthday), the renowned jazz singer brings Holiday’s music to the stage. The
album features what may be the most eclectic cast on record - Wilson, Yeah Yeah
Yeah’s Nick Zinner, T-Bone Burnett, string arranger Van Dyke Parks, and Nick
Cave’s rhythm section as well as Wilson’s regular collaborators.
Delta Spirit
On its fourth album, “Into the Wide,” this Brooklyn transplant does
a lot of things well. Reverb soaked guitars and grand production create a big,
expansive sound, while singer and gifted lyricist Matt Vasquez’s twangy, fiery delivery
can come off as Ryan Bingham leading Coldplay or a modern rock mashup of Neil
Young and the Boss.
Daddy Issues
With breathy, feminine vocals, surf rock guitar, a retro girl
group vibe and riot grrrl humor and lyrics, this Greensboro indie quartet may
have ruled K Records if it had existed in the `90s. Instead we’ll settle for
NC’s lo-fi answer to Dum Dum Girls with wicked, winking sass.
Bakalao Stars
Almost a year after releasing its third album, “Afro Dijiak,”
long-running Splanglish rock purveyors continue to keep local Latin rock alive
in Charlotte 13 years after getting its start. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a
livelier live unit as the quintet charges through seamlessly intertwined
reggae, ska, hip-hop and self-described tropical rock.
Boney James
Saturday 8 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.,
$45-$70, www.blumenthalarts.org
The veteran jazz saxman, who started his career as a sideman for
Morris Day, the Isleys, and Teena Marie, gets back to those mainstream pop and
soul roots on the upcoming album “futuresoul” (out May 4). He took inspiration
from youngsters like Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith and called on Mint
Condition’s Stokley and Dwele to collaborate.
The Moms
Delivering the irreverence of the Dead Boys or the Germs with the
hook-laden excitement and pop appeal of early Weezer or Nerf Herder and a dark
sense of humor and irony, this Jersey band make drunk-punk that’s much better
than that self-coined description indicates. (Warning: A few choice words and dark adult humor in video).
Crobot
This rising Pennsylvania psychedelic metal combo carries on the
`70s rock tradition of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, adds stoner rock riffs
and the hip-shaking groove of blues-based rockers like Clutch and Maylene, and
tops it with vocals that combine the howl of Chris Cornell and Dio and a
fictional fantasy element that’s retro but refreshing.
Coal Chamber
Wednesay 7 p.m., The Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory
Blvd., $33.58, www.livenation.com
Thirteen years after its last album, “Dark Days” and 12 since its
breakup, the `90s nu-metal band - which returned to touring in 2011 and
reunited with all the members of the old lineup in 2013 - will release “I.O.U.
Nothing” in May. Fans can get a preview on this tour with Filter, Combichrist,
American Head Charge, Saint Ridley and Daywrecker.
Jess Klein & Rod Picott
Hot on the heels of her new live album, “Bootleg,” acclaimed
singer-songwriter Klein - whose voice blends the earthiness and grit of Lucinda
Williams and Bonnie Raitt and the unique timbre of Susannah Hoffs - joins
construction worker-turned-troubadour Picott - whose songs have been covered by
writing vets like Fred Eaglesmith and Ray Wylie Hubbard - for a string of East
Coast dates.
Posts
