Vibes blog

Pat McGee Band McGee’s sway-along and sing-a-long rock is melodically in sync with radioland yet the gents are rootsy and road-tested enough to fend off negative criticism. The tight musicianship, along with thoughtfully crafted songs, acoustic riffing and multipart harmonies, makes the McGee band’s contemporary pop a perfect fit on date night. Visulite (Samir Shukla)

Missy Raines & the New Hip The Tennessee quartet sounds like a jazz ensemble playing a smoky watering hole in the wee hours, while other times they crank the bluegrass with mandolin and flat-picked guitar, the kind that gets toes tapping on a rickety front porch. Bassist/vocalist Missy Raines and her scrap band are warm and cozy, yet rather adventurous in their acoustic creations. The Evening Muse (Shukla)

The Eastern Seaboard The New York/Charlotte-based free jazz trio (plus cellist Ben Kennedy on this night) opens an Eastern swing with this cozy date. Eastern Seaboard music pulses with sinister mystery, traditional melodies upended by free-form explosions and pin-drop-quiet breakdowns. Their inspirations include all manner of musicians: Sonic Youth, Lester Young, Chicago post-rock, Boards of Canada, ’60s free jazz, Joe Strummer — they’re even recording with Mark Ospavot, who’s worked with Magik Markers and Parts and Labor, among others. Century/Patchwerk Playhaus (John Schacht)

Tim Reynolds and TR3 He spent most of the summer touring with his friend Dave Matthews, but now Tim Reynolds is heading back out with his solo project — they play their own stuff as well as some obscure covers. Reynolds guitar work is usually the star of the show. Neighborhood Theatre (Jeff Hahne)

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Jonathan Richman Whether it’s from his Modern Lovers guise, his solo work or even his Conan O’Brien cameos and appearance in the movie There’s Something About Mary, Jonathan Richman’s open-hearted take on pop and punk has influenced a slew of modern performers, including The Violent Femmes, They Might Be Giants, Ween, Weezer, Art Brut and others. Mind you, few of those artists approach the wide-eyed artistry and aw-shucks emotionalism (to further a phrase) of the man, but then again, they’ve all sold a shitload more records than homey, too. That said, good luck scorin’ a ticket. The Evening Muse (Timothy C. Davis)

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Autopassion Recent N.C. émigrés, this quintet now calls Brooklyn home (what up-and-coming band doesn’t?) and that would seem to fit their aesthetic: melodic pop rock with elements of the Strokes, Interpol, and the Walkmen clearly discernible. This year’s Sit Back and Make a Difference managed to be more fun than fluff, and points toward a promising future — so long as they can figure a way how to stand out from the wild roving packs of indie bands clogging the borough’s streets. With Brother Reade and promising local Matthew Paul Butler. Snug Harbor (John Schacht)

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Chrome/Helios Creed Guitar god Helios Creed’s creepy guitar manipulations, drones, distortions, psychedelic blasts and layers of sounds have influenced a long list of musicians. He joined San Francisco’s industrial-punk-acid rock band Chrome in 1977 and has since worked with the band as well as solo while guesting with umpteen indie and alterna rockers and noisemakers. Highly recommended. The Smoking Rocks and Clang Quartet. Milestone (Samir Shukla)

Luna Halo Nashville alterna rock band’s got the looks and the chops, and, though not groundbreaking, they can write catchy as heck tunes to boot. Former North Carolinian Nathan Barlowe leads the band’s melodic rock with a punky edge. The moody dual guitars, rife with the aforementioned chops, are ready for radio hitland. Also on the bill: Run Run Run and Brandon Kirkley & the Firecrackers. Tremont (Samir Shukla)

Ashes Divide The former songwriter for A Perfect Circle may have “dropped the Maynard,” but his talents still rock on. And while the Tool frontman may be missing, that’s not to say that Billy Howerdel isn’t proving that he can stand on his own. His comfort as a frontman is continually growing and he should be in great form by the time this show rolls around. Opening for Seether. Amos’ Southend (Jeff Hahne)

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Phil Lesh and Friends I sometimes think seeing a member of the Dead family is akin to what folk say about sports like soccer and hockey. You can appreciate them in perfectly-portioned, as-product form on your television, but to be best enjoyed, you need to be there to experience everything firsthand – the sleight-of-hand, seat-of-the-pants improvisation; the interaction between players; and the interaction between the players and those who are there to watch them. And if you want to see Dead people, the suitably-sweatbanded Phillip Chapman Lesh is yer man. There’s an old Deadhead truism that goes, “If Phil’s on, the band’s on.” Also, keep an eye out for Phriend Jackie Greene, an up-and-coming singer songwriter with a mass of unruly bangs and a penchant for petulant Americana that recalls Ryan Adams (another Phil fan). With The Allman Brothers Band. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Timothy C. Davis)

The Allman Brothers Band If Phil Lesh isn’t a reason to check out this concert, then the headliner should be. If you aren’t familiar with the Allmans, that’s the first reason you should be at this show. The second reason – great Southern rock sparked on by the incredible dueling guitar talent of Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes, but that’s not to overshadow any of the rest of the boys. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Jeff Hahne)

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FRIDAY, OCT. 3

Raphael Saadiq Saadiq’s here as part of The Sol Kitchen Music Series, and his brand new album, The Way I See It, suggests the former member of the platinum R&B trio Tony, Toni, Tone member has, as that group sang, indeed “done it again.” From the red-lensed, Motown-fonted cover, to the appearance from former Hitsville, USA house drummer Jack Ashford, The Way I See It is about as old soul (in the spiritual sense) as neo-soul gets. Bring yer hankies. Amos’ Southend (Timothy C. Davis)

The Sea of Cortez With a week-long stint at Mitch Easter’s Fidelitorium last spring, the instrumental-octet laid down basic tracks for their official debut and have been in the tweaking process on-and-off since then. Built around a four-guitar lineup (including lap and pedal steel), keys, vibes, accordion and two percussionists and bass, SoC songs surge and ebb with south-of-the-border flavors and Gypsy waltzes, occasionally igniting into maelstroms of sonic mayhem. It’s dramatic and soundtrack-worthy music from some of Charlotte’s best musicians. With The Old Ceremony and Lindsey Horne. Visulite. (John Schacht)

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Mark Lassiter Band No fancy tricks here. Lassiter’s nicely written pop songs jump out of the boombox toned with guitars, piano touches and a tightly woven rhythm section. The North Carolinian writes acoustically-tinged songs the old-fashioned way – wrapped in melody, stuffed with rhythm and sung with sweet vocals and chorus. With Fat Cabbage. Visulite (Samir Shukla)

Shwayze The 22-year-old rapper hit the mainstream with his debut album featuring Cisco Adler, who is probably best known for a “ballsy” photo that circulated the Internet and left everyone that saw it scarred for life. The duo has starred in an MTV series, Buzzin’, and were a part of the most recent Vans Warped Tour. It’s laid back acoustic hip-hop that is likely to win over the Sublime set. With Laze & Royal. Tremont (Jeff Hahne)

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John Hammond Blues legend Hammond has been plucking the guitar for more than four decades. His encyclopedic output of American blues and folk are revealed in his live gigs with an acoustic, or electric, guitar cradled like a third arm with the harmonica wrapped around his neck adding accents. Hammond’s road-hardened voice breathes life into country blues to roadhouse blues. His most recent recording, Push Comes to Shove, shows he hasn’t slowed down a bit. Evening Muse (Samir Shukla)

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Another sign that times are hard.

According to CNN, Ed McMahon will star in two viral rap videos for FreeCreditReport.com, a financial Web site owned by credit bureau Experian.

What we can look forward to:

“When I retired, I was famous,” McMahon raps in the video. “I had money and glory/I bought a house for 6 mill/I thought nothing could touch me/Until my credit went south, and debt started to crunch me/Next thing I know, instead of playing gin rummy, I was scrambling just to make ends meet/It wasn’t funny.”

After being joined by two scantily clad women, McMahon continues: “Got a bump from the media chumps, but that was temporary/Wife with bad credit was scary, so I got wise/I may have fallen, but I got back up/Now I’m back on the attack, like a ninja swinging nunchucks/I told the haters, ‘Go on, take a hike’/It’s my show now, and I can do what I like.

The big question on everybody’s mind: Will he outdo Soulja Boy?

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Well, Kanye West’s temper makes another appearance in the headlines. He was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday, where it appears he and his manager wrestled a photographer’s camera away and smashed it. See the video.

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