Vibes blog

Switchfoot Frontman Jon Foreman’s crooning tempers the San Diego-based band’s Christian rock and power pop. Credit this combo for, um, evolving their sound over the past decade into a varied and eclectic pop-rock that appeals to listeners outside the Christian music fold. It’s that forward gazing post-grunge ethos, mixed with straight alt.rock and melodic vocals that help keep the band heads above herd. With 3 Doors Down. Bojangles Coliseum (Shukla)

Ten Out Of Tenn Ten artists from Tennessee will perform original and classic holiday tunes. Those playing are: Erin McCarley, Matthew Perryman Jones, Butterfly Boucher, Griffin House, Tyler James, K.S. Rhoads, Trent Dabbs, Katie Herzig, Andy Davis and Jeremy Lister. Visulite (Hahne)

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The Cool and the Deadly Dub done right can be soothing and otherworldly. This NYC trio wields a double-edged sword, one that’s occasionally punk on one side and mostly island-dubbed on the other. The Brooklyn dub posse is touring in support of the new CD, Rudeboys Revenge, a recording laced with psychedelic touches, sinewy reggae, rock, Cumbia and global rhythms. Also on the bill: IED, Dirty South Skallywags, and The Not Likelys. Milestone (Samir Shukla)

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David Byrne Forget Chinese Democracy – the comeback of the year was the recorded reunion of David Byrne and Brian Eno. The two had only sparingly worked together since the early days of Talking Heads, most notably on the seminal field-rock salvo My Life In The Bush of Ghosts. On Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (available online-only), Byrne and Eno have made each other’s best record in years – and one of the this year’s best, period. It’s the sound of two men enough at home in their own skin to make the goosebumps rise on ours. Nice to know that acting your age doesn’t mean you can’t still help define ours. Ovens Auditorium (Timothy C. Davis)

Jukebox the Ghost There are plenty of bands out there with “Ghost” in the title, but this one recently hit my radar thanks to local music scenester Don Koster. Originally known as The Sunday Mail, the band reformed under the new monicker after a two-year hiatus. The Philly-based trio – whose piano helps give them a Ben Folds vibes – plays its own brand of indie pop and released a debut CD earlier this year, though they already have plans to hit the studio again early in ‘09. The Evening Muse (Jeff Hahne)

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Shinedown Singer Brent Smith wails and croons on Shinedown’s post-grunge groove that tips hats to Soundgarden and, to a smaller extent, Creed. On its third recording, The Sound of Madness, the Florida band isn’t afraid to blast out of the gates with full-on rockers and then hit the brakes and slow it down with moody, somber ballads. Not exactly groundbreaking, but they’ve evolved nicely over the course of three recordings and touring. With Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Amos’ Southend (Shukla)

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Scott H. Biram With a banged-up guitar belching out tangled mess of blues, rock, hillbilly, punk and Texas country, Biram shows all you need sometimes is a blazing guitar, booze and raggedy amplifiers to stir up a ruckus. He’s a one-man rocker, cranking a raw and dusty sound with occasional assist from harmonica and foot-stompin’ percussion. Also on the bill: Trouble Walkers, Biggy Stardust and His Wretched Hive. Snug Harbor (Samir Shukla)

Jubal Kane A straight up harmonica-fronted, guitars-fueled blues band that understands the genre, both the gin joint partying blues as well as slow-burning jams. The NC band’s blues boogie rockers are balanced with crying guitar slow numbers reminiscent of classic 70s outfits. Their slower numbers like “Buckwheats Blues” are rather sinewy, served up with just a hint of psychedelic touch. Double Door Inn (Shukla)

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Tyler Ramsey For a while there, the lanky Ramsey was merely a promising indie-folkie from Asheville with a nice voice and John Fahey-like finger-picking chops. Then he found himself opening for Band of Horses just as that act’s career arc took off, and shortly after that he wound up in the lead guitar chair touring the world and basking in Ben Bridwell’s big-bearded beneficence. All that doesn’t change the fact that this year’s A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea is a fine example of new space-folk. Late show at The Evening Muse (Schacht)

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Eyes of the Elders While it’s technically Eyes of the Elders with Stump Dickens –they’re gonna get that pirate ship rockin’ regardless of the name. If you haven’t seen the Eyes/Stump combo before, it’s basically Eyes of the Elders with a live band backing the duo up, including violin, guitar and drums. Not to say Eyes of the Elders isn’t strong on its own, but when they get a live band to join them, it’s like going from rabbit ears to satellite TV. With Lou Ford. Snug Harbor (Jeff Hahne)

Richie Havens Seeing Richie Havens act (and sing and pick a number) in director Todd Haynes’ schizo-Dylan biopic I’m Not There caused Your Humble Host here to go on a (legal!) downloading jag, most notable copping the stirring folk-fuled wake-up call Alarm Clock. The first man to go on at Woodstock, Havens, whether because of his penchant for of-the-moment covers, Beatlesiana, or sick-fast strumming, hasn’t necessarily been afforded the adoration another look (like, say the one I gave him) might suggest he deserves. No, Havens will never have the depth, the arc, of a Bob Dylan. Then again, not a lot of new Babe Ruths or Louis Armstrongs around, either. McGlohon Theatre (Davis)

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3Oh!3 This nutty duo, harking from the cool climes of Boulder, Colo., is comprised of Sean Foreman and Nathanial Motte. Using the area code of their hometown as a funky moniker they scrounge and splatter a funky mishmash of electronica, rap and general goofiness. There are scads of hip-hop bravado and self-promotion sprinkled with ballady interplay and toasty beats. Notoriously popular on MySpace and the Warped Tour, the blokes can get old pretty quickly, though. Also on the bill are Innerpartysystem and Chain Gang of 1974. Tremont (Shukla)

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The Houstons It’s been said before, but it bears repeating – the Faircloth brothers make beautiful music together. For those who caught The Houstons in their recent full-band mode and thought they’d seen it all, well, think again. No offense to the talented folks who chipped in along the way, but there’s something in the fraternal harmonies that really only pops – dare we even say, rocks? – in the two-piece set-up. Plus there’s the kick of watching brother No. 1 finesse the keys with one hand and keep time on the trap with the other (did we mention the singing?), while brother No. 2 fills in the guitar and bass textures using all four limbs (again, often while singing). Verily, a sight – and sound – to behold. With Bruce Hazel & Some Volunteers. Snug Harbor. (Schacht)

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Live Nation, one of the country’s largest music promotion companies, is coming to Charlotte.
Rick and Noah Lazes of the Ark Group, the development team behind the North Carolina Music Factory, made the announcement today.

“We now have Live Nation on board and they’re going to put the music in the Music Factory,” said Noah Lazes. “Live Nation is going to bring a 2,000-seat live music club from San Francisco called the Fillmore as well as operate the 5,000-seat outdoor boutique amphitheater.”

The Fillmore in San Francisco became legendary in the 1960s after holding concerts by The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Otis Redding, The Who and Cream. In 2008, Live Nation began to lease and operate the Fillmore and recently started a campaign to expand the Fillmore brand name by establishing clubs in other cities — New York City (Fillmore at Irving Plaza), Denver (Fillmore Auditorium), Miami (Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theatre), Detroit (Fillmore Detroit) and Philadelphia (Fillmore at the TLA).

Rick Lazes said with the addition of Live Nation and the Fillmore night club, mid-level acts that would normally bypass the Queen City will be more likely to come and perform here.“These acts would normally bypass Charlotte because of the venue. You either went from a 600-800 seat club or to the arena. On the concert side, Verizon Amphitheatre is 18,000 seats, so if you’re a mid-level act you’re only going to sell 5,000 to 6,000 seats and you don’t want to play to an empty arena.”

The Lazes envision The N.C. Music Factory to become Charlotte’s version of Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta — where Rick said the intimate outdoor music venue sells out before the acts are even announced every season.

“Live Nation is the biggest concert promoter in the world and they can just route talent through Charlotte now,” said Rick.

But the Lazes are being realistic about this new venture with Live Nation. “With anything new, it’s a building process. It’s going to take some time to develop that clientèle. But the level of talent that we’re going to bring here is going to make concerts more desirable to come see,” said Noah.

And concerts aren’t the only thing that entertainment seekers will be able to get at the factory. Along with Live Nation, the Lazes have gotten some marquee clubs and restaurants to set up shop in the Q.C. Butter from New York is coming. (“Straight from the pages of People magazine,” said Noah Lazes.) Wet Willie’s, a popular restaurant and bar across the Southeast, is also coming.

“All of these places are owned and operated by the real people,” said Noah.

The ultimate goal of the N.C. Music Factory, according to Noah, is to turn Charlotte into a destination city, much like Atlanta where people will get in their cars and just drive into town to spend the weekend.

(Written by Cheris Hodges. Additional reporting by Jeff Hahne)

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