Vibes blog

Eyes of the Elders
Snug Harbor
Nov. 7, 2009

The Deal: Eyes of the Elders performs its entire new album, EOE, and old favorites in front of recent and long-time fans.

The Good: Who knew the electric fiddle was so hip-hop? The fact that they could fit nine people with microphones and instruments on the tiny stage at Snug Harbor and still perform with any stage presence was amazing. The energy was awesome and because the venue was so tight it allowed lots of interaction with fans. Where else could you pass a rapper a beer on stage? Every musician really got a chance to shine during the show. Eyes of the Elders managed to squeeze in some theatrics as well, whether it was Uncle Fox rapping through a megaphone or stripping down to a dress + skateboard shoes, it was all entertaining.

The Bad: The band and sound people never figured out the right balance of band and emcees, one was always drowning out the other. Your best bet would be to learn the lyrics before you get there because you won’t catch many of ‘em at the show. I’m all for a great show and great band but the length was outrageous. 22 more songs after playing the whole new album? Jesus!

The Verdict: The Roots shouldn’t be looking over their shoulders just yet but Eyes of the Elders are definitely a band everybody should see. Amazing show and musicians who leave every ounce they have on the stage. No one could say they didn’t their monies worth.

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Warren G w/ Kidz in the Hall & U-N-I
Amos’ South End
Nov. 5, 2009

The Deal: Strange lineup brings G-Funk and Midwest hip-hop to the South.

The Good: U-N-I didn’t approach their set as an opening act and rocked it like the headliners. Double-O from Kidz in the Hall held down a keyboard, beat pad, drum stick and the mic, you have to appreciate that kind of multi-tasking, while Na’ledge made sure his MC duties weren’t overlooked. Warren G brought the G-Funk back complete with someone lighting a blunt in the front row and the tribute to Nate Dogg, who’s in therapy after suffering multiple strokes, was a very bright spot and probably the most engaging part of the show. Rarely do you see the bigger performers watch the openers from the audience instead of chillin’ back stage, props to Kidz in the Hall for that, they definitely gave fans a great opportunity to press the flesh.

The Bad: Did anybody know about this concert? Whether it was the strange combination or lack of promotion, sparse would be an understatement and even the performer’s attempts to embrace the intimacy came off kind of sad. With all the extra space people felt the urge to do too much. With every single comment in the crowd being audible on stage, there was a lot of drunken interruptions and did we really didn’t need you to crip walk to every Warren G song Malibu’s Most Wanted? Warren G’s new material got a lot of blank stares before the crowd finally went along with it.

The Verdict: Really really awkward show, more because of the crowd than the artists. U-N-I are definitely a group to watch now. Kidz in the Hall probably should have headlined considering they are a little more relevant and the old heads who came for Warren G had to work in the morning. Don’t know if it’s a winning combination but it’ll work for short tour.

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Wolfmother w/ Heartless Bastards, Thenewno2
The Fillmore Charlotte
Nov. 3, 2009

The Deal: Reformed Aussie band hits The Fillmore for hard-rockin’ set, bringing along Heartless Bastards and Thenewno2. (more…)

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The third and final day of Voodoo Festival got under way with blue skies and perfect temperatures hovering around 70 degrees. A few people were still wandering around in Halloween costumes, but most had returned from their post-zombie ways.

I made it to the festival grounds just in time to see The Pogues start their brand of Irish rock. Singer Shane MacGowan, in all of his toothless glory, slurred and stumbled his way through the set. Rumors of band infighting went unfounded – some people said there as a bandmate, Spider Stacy, who was escorted or left the stage, but all members could be see on stage at the end of their set.

While Shooter Jennings was on one of the side stages, the Fleur de Tease burlesque show got underway in the Bingol Parlor. Kind of like Big Mama D’s brand of entertainment in Charlotte, the ladies showed off their bodies with class and decorum. (more…)

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If there was one can’t-miss day at this year’s Voodoo Festival, Saturday was it. I walked into City Park around 2 p.m. to catch the end of Dan Dyer’s set on the Voodoo Stage and things got progressively better for the rest of the day.

Mates of State were on the PlayStation Stage dressed like The Captain and Tennille, after all, it was Halloween.

All kinds of people were in costumes – from the sexy to the sublime. Couch potatoes, Waldo, hot dogs, the blockheads from Gumby and plenty of zombies. There was an effort at the end of the night to set a record for the largest gathering of zombies.

Next up on the Voodoo Stage was MuteMath, who played a good mixture of their two albums. Drummer Darren King walked out on stage for his regular ritual of duct taping his headphones on. (more…)

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The 2009 Voodoo Experience kicked off in New Orleans on Friday, and what started out as a hot and sweaty day quickly cooled off in temperature and heated up sonically.

Thanks to far walks, slow transportation and the help of a man in a golf cart, I finally got checked in around 3 p.m. and made my way out into the festival grounds at City Park.

It’s definitely a different setting, yet similar setup when compared to Bonnaroo. There are two main stages that are on opposite sides of a track. A few smaller stages are set out among the trees and pathways. Odd sculptures dot the landscape.

I caught a snippet of the set by The Vettes – rock fronted by a female, that sounded pretty good from a distance. Next up, across the way, was The Cool Kids who hinted at the hip-hop that was yet to come that night. (more…)

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KMFDM with Angelspit

The Fillmore

Oct. 28, 2009

The Deal: Industrial music pioneers, KMFDM, performs at The Fillmore. Sydney, Australia-based band Angelspit opens.

The Good: KMFDM! Fronted by Sascha Konietzko and Lucia Cifarelli, – who controlled the beats and sang – along with guitarists Jules Hodgson and Steve White, and drummer Andy Selway, the band emerged on stage and immediately began blasting off industrial beats with “D.I.Y.” The group played an assortment of powerful tunes, both in English and German. Konietzko smoked a cigarette during most of the show. Highlights included “Bait & Switch,” (side note: This song features lyrics from the Christmas hymn/carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”) off of the groups 2009 album Blitz, as well as other pulsating melodies like “Hau Ruck,” (meaning “Heave-ho” in German), “Looking for Strange,” “Megalomanic,” and a much heavier version of “Free Your Hate” off of 2005’s Hau Ruck. KMFDM played more than 14 songs and came out for two encores, after the crowd loudly chanted “KMFDM sucks.”

The Bad: Opening act Angelspit was a bit of a disappointment. Comprised of two members (Destroyx and Zoog), the band delivered throbbing industrial beats, without any real impressive elements. It was hard to hear the lyrics to the songs, as most of the members’ vocals were drowned out by the music. In addition, the audience was quite small at the start of the concert (during Angelspit), but by the time KMFDM arrived on stage more folks had arrived. Hmmm…I wonder why they came so late?

The Verdict: Go see KMFDM the next time they are in town. Get there late if Angelspit is opening.

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Jewel w/ Meiko
The Knight Theater
Oct. 28, 2009

The Deal: Folker gone country artist Jewel brings along new sensation Meiko for acoustic/vocal showcase. (more…)

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The Mars Volta
Oct. 22, 2009
The Fillmore

The Deal: Progressive rockers perform energetic hour-and-45-minute set for a crowd of roughly 700.

The Good: The band hit the stage and opened with “Inertiatic” and what seemed to be one never-ending song for nearly two hours after that. The music was fast, furious and non-stop for the duration as guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López picked, strummed and riffed his ass off.

Singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala hit every note and danced his ass off — kicking the microphone around, flipping the stand in the air, giving James Brown’s footwork a run for its money and simply being one of the most entertaining frontmen in music these days.

The band seemed to hit its peak with the mellow “The Widow” toward the end of its set, as most in the crowd sang along. Bixler-Zavala only addressed the crowd once, mentioning the band’s origins in At the Drive-In. “A lot of people weren’t happy when we started this band,” he told the crowd. “But life is about creating visions between the faithful and the morons.”

The Bad: The small crowd.

The Verdict: A visual and sonic experience that’s hard to describe, and a definite “must see.”

Setlist
Inertiatic
Goliath
Cotopaxi
Roulette
Viscera
Halo
Eunuchs
Ilvana
Teflon
Drunkship
Luciforms
The Widow
Wax Simulacra

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Social Distortion
Amos’ Southend
Oct. 21, 2009

The Deal: So Cal rockers make long-awaited return to the Carolinas. (more…)

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