Needtobreathe w/ Serena Ryder, Matthew Mayfield
Visulite Theatre
Oct. 8, 2009
The Deal: South Carolina rockers perform sold-out all-ages show at the Visulite, bring along label mate Serena Ryder and Alabama-based singer-songwriter Matthew Mayfield. (more…)
The Deal: The Brooklyn-born soul crooner Maxwell put on a big-budget concert at Time Warner Cable last night (Tuesday, Oct. 6). Vocalist Chrisette Michele and acclaimed rapper Common served as the opening acts.
The Bad: It was pretty obvious from watching Michele and Common perform that the two artists were not used to playing arena-sized rooms; both of them seemed to struggle to make contact with an audience that was far removed from their sight and touch. Michele strained at times in order to belt out tunes at a higher volume, perhaps psychologically trying to compensate for the distance from the fans. And Common, in at least one instance, was forced to lean off the large, V-shaped stage to hold a concertgoers hand for a bit that usually calls for him to make face-to-face contact with one lucky female ticket holder.
The Good: Although, Michele and Common struggled, Maxwell seemed right at home on the massive set, which was rigged with giant, moving video screens and several secret trap doors. And the audience made no bones about its love for the dude, throwing panties at, grabbing the legs of and handing flowers to him as he dashed, dived and danced dramatically around the stage. Truth be told, the dude displayed a ton of charisma. Hell, I even spotted a few seemingly straight guys (they were paired-up with women) who looked like they wanted to give old Maxie a tug job. Anyway, in terms of his setlist, most of the material he sang was from his new disc, but he did a ton of old stuff and saved probably his biggest hit, “Ascension,” for the encore.
Cameos: Underground soul singer Bilal (of “Soul Sista” fame) served as a background singer for Common — but the vocalist seemed a bit more subdued than usual. He’s known for running around the stage like a madman, but last night, he either stood in place and sang or slowly shuffled backstage between songs. Weird. Also, another underground soul star by the name of Muhsinah worked the background for Common, punching beats on a laptop-like machine and providing supporting vocals. When she was done performing, she sat in the audience and watched Maxwell … and no one, it appeared, knew who she was. Cool.
The Verdict: Common and Chrisette Michelle struggled, but Maxwell killed it.
Blink-182
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Oct. 6, 2009
The Deal: Reunited punk-pop rockers tear through a whole bunch of songs in quick time. (more…)
A great night last night at the Neighborhood Theatre, as we passed out more than 350 CDs to people supporting local music.
Thanks go out to the Neighborhood Theatre, Ansley and Eric-Scott and all the staff for helping us put the event on and get everything running so smoothly.
Thanks to Dolph Ramseur, Divakar, Gina Stewart, Brian Reed, Micah Davidson and Hugh Southard for being a part of the panel that discussed the local music scene and what we can do to make sure people know it’s alive and well.
Thanks to the bands — Bums Lie, Actual Proof, Scoot Pittman Trio, Pradigy GT, Raised by Wolves, Evelynn Rose and Heywire — for their great performances.
CDs will be put in stores — still for free! — starting early next week.
Support local music!
Black Crowes w/ Truth & Salvage Co.
The Fillmore Charlotte
Sept. 30, 2009
The Deal: Black Crowes bring along Truth & Salvage Co. for a show at The Fillmore. (more…)
Rob Thomas with Carolina Liar and OneRepublic
Uptown Amphitheatre
Sept. 29, 2009
Photo by Jeff Hahne
The Deal: Rob Thomas, lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, performs at Uptown Amphitheatre in support of his sophomore solo album Cradlesong. Opening acts include Carolina Liar and OneRepublic. (more…)
Motorhead with Reverend Horton Heat, Nashville Pussy
The Fillmore Charlotte
Sept. 11, 2009
The Deal: Motorhead, Reverend Horton Heat, Nashville Pussy and a whole lot of speakers hit the Queen City. (more…)
Heart w/ Tonic
Uptown Amphitheatre
Sept. 6, 2009
The Deal: Classic rockers bring along radio favorites.
The Good: Tonic is one of theose bands who you’ve probably heard, but can’t name one song off of the top of your head. It’s the “Ohhhhh yeah… I know that song…” factor. So, of course, there was a big sing along during “If You Could Only See.”
Heart hit the stage with “guns blazing.” Nancy Wilson walked out to the front of the stage (sadly, the only time any band member strayed far from their microphone stand) and kicked off the opening riff to “Barracuda.” Not a bad start to a set that lasted roughly an hour and a half.
Ann Wilson’s voice may have cracked once or twice, but damn if she doesn’t have one of the best female voices in rock. She also found a moment to play flute on “Love Alive.”
Nancy spent plenty of time jumping up and down and kicking out a leg in true rock style as she ripped through a cover of Led Zepplin’s “Immigrant Song,” and their own “Crazy On You.”
Adding in a cover of The Who’s “Reign O’er Me” that showcased the vocals once again, the band’s encore included a cover of Zepplin’s “Going to California” (with the name changed to Carolina) before a show-closing “Magic Man.”
The Bad: If you saw Heart open up for Journey last year, you pretty much saw the show they played on this night. The good part is they sounded just as strong as they did a year ago.
The Verdict: It’s always great to go to a show thinking you’ll know three or four songs by a band and then know most of the setlist. Heart’s catalog runs deep and is worth checking out. Ann summed up it up best when she asked the crowd, “Isn’t this better than sitting home and watching the news?”
Heart setlist
Barracuda
Never
Kick It Out
Straight on for You
Love Alive
Mistral Wind
Immigrant Song
Back to Avalon
These Dreams
What About Love
Alone
Reign O’er Me
Crazy On You
Encore
Going to California
Magic Man
Lil Wayne w/ Young Jeezy & Soulja Boy
Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
Sept. 4, 2009
The Deal: “America’s Most Wanted” tour slides into Charlotte obviously referring to the teenage girls that want them, not their criminal records.
The Good: Probably the most time-conscious rap concert I’ve ever been to. The opening acts kept it brief, even Soulja Boy, sticking to this hits and skipping the highly unknown and unnecessary album cuts. Young Jeezy has mastered his “trap” star shtick, masterfully going through a set that include old hits and new. Actually did better with a band than a DJ, wouldn’t be surprised to see him use them more in the future.
Lil Wayne is officially a bonafide rock star, putting together a brilliantly, yeah I said brilliantly-choreographed stage show that lasted for roughly two hours and featured “un-rap” things like a excellent backing band, lots of pyro and explosions and lights that made me forget I was at Verizon Wireless for a while. He was the ringmaster of a circus on Friday and he let all the other elements shine while still showing he was in control. I was blown away by the execution.
Nicki Minaj’s ass also deserves a round of applause, although it could probably give itself one. Yeah, that good.
The Bad: Like most rap concerts, the bass drowned out the artist nine times out of 10, making it hard to hear any actual lyrics and forcing people to rap along with a familiar tune. Soulja Boy’s set was forgettable (Gucci Louie followed by Gucci Bandana left me all Gucci’d out). Without Drake, the Young Money All-Stars were mediocre stand-ins and the mini-concert in the middle of Lil Wayne’s set was frustrating. “Man Fans” were as creepy as ever! Hard to be a thug when you take your shirt off and scream another grown man’s name, just saying.
The Verdict: Shockingly good. Soulja Boy is huge but he can learn a thing or two from Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne about how to tear through a set, mixing singles, album cuts and mixtape hits, and leave the crowd blown away.
Young Jeezy setlist
Get Allot
Who Dat
Bottom of the Map
My Hood
Bang!
Go Crazy
Trap Star
Get Your Mind Right
Trap Or Die
Put On
Live In This Club verse (w/ live band)
I Luv Your Girl (w/ live band)
I’ma Do Me Remix (w/ live band)
Dey Know Remix (w/ live band)
I Luv It (w/ live band)
Go Getta (w/ live band)
Soul Survivor (w/ live band)
Black President (w/ live band)
Lil Wayne setlist
A Milli
Got Money
Sky is the Limit
Phone Home
S.L.U.
Mr. Carter
Go DJ (w/ DJ 4our5 blended w/ Nolia Clap)
Fireman
Money On My Mind
Get Money (Biggie Cover)
Ambitionz As A Ridah (2Pac Cover)
Black Album Interlude (Jay-Z Cover)
Best Rapper Alive (w/ Lil Wayne guitar solo)
Walk This Way Cover (w/ Lil Wayne on guitar)
Medley of tracks from his rock album, Rebirth
I’m Me
Turning Me On Remix
Kush
Pop Bottles
Get Back To The Money
We Takin Over (w/ Birdman)
I Run This Bitch
I’m Paid
YOUNG MONEY MINI-CONCERT
I’m On It (backing band returns)
Let The Beat Build
Comfortable
I’ma Diva Remix
Mrs. Officer
Lollipop
Tie My Hands
Shoot Me Down
My Life (from Game’s album)
Every Girl – Finale
MJ Tribute – I’ll Be There & Billie Jean
Down w/ The Melvins, Haarp, Evil Army
The Fillmore Charlotte
Sept. 5, 2009
The Deal: Supergroup Down brings along The Melvins, Haarp and Evil Army for heavy metal gig at The Fillmore. (more…)
