Vibes blog

Here’s a list of the winners from last night’s Awards show:

Lifetime Achievement Awards — James Foxx, James McGill
Special Recognition — Al Gardner, NC Music Hall of Fame, Jared Stamey, Jody Sullivan, Julia Dixon
World Music Artist — Tsunami Wave Riders
Blues Showcase – Donna Duncan
Country Showcase – Jeff Luckadoo
R&B Showcase – Ida Divine
Hip Hip Showcase – McKeve
Breakout Band – Lyra Shines
Gospel Showcase – The Jones Brothers
Rock Band – Simplified
Jazz Band – Groove Masters
Female Vocalist – Julia Bullock (Lyra Shines)
Male Vocalist – Clee Laster (Simplified)
Music Publication – The Carolina Promoter
Radio DJ – Divakar
Producer’s Choice – Dre Money
Marching Band – Harding University High School
SonicBids Country – CiCi Jansen
SonicBids Pop – Matt Annecharico
SonicBids R&B – Cagle & Nash
SonicBids Jazz – Daniel D
Recording Studio – Studio East
Small Music Venue – Puckett’s Farm Equipment
Charlotte Festival – Blocktoberfest
Singer/songwriter – Bobby Ray
DJ- Club – Mike Soden
Junior Pop Artist – Jaz

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Here’s a list of the winners from last night’s CMA’s. (Is it CMAs or CMA Awards? Isn’t it Country Music Awards? Therefore, CMA Awards is Country Music Awards Awards? Or maybe it’s Country Music Association. Anyway….)

Single of the Year — “I Run to You” by Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year — “In Color” by Jamey Johnson
Vocal Group of the Year — Lady Antebellum
New Artist of the Year — Darius Rucker
Album of the Year — Fearless by Taylor Swift
Vocal Duo of the Year — Sugarland
Music Video of the Year — “Love Story” by Taylor Swift
Male Vocalist of the Year — Brad Paisley
Female Vocalist of the Year — Taylor Swift
Entertainer of the Year — Taylor Swift
Musical Event of the Year — Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
Musicians of the Year — Mac Macanally

Here’s a look at the monologue from last night:

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“I know that for some musicians, writing songs is like therapy and the way they get their emotions out,” says Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Robert Francis. “But for me it’s more than an outlet — it’s a way to keep me from completely losing my mind.”

Meet Robert Francis. When reading the above quote you might think that this is just another artist trying to sound good in an interview. Not this time. I had the opportunity to speak with Francis before his show in support of Noah and the Whale in Pontiac, Mich., and one thing is for sure – Robert Francis puts everything he has into his music, and he does it well. When speaking with him, I learned that he had just gotten out of the van after driving for six hours to the Michigan show. From there he would be off to Toronto, and then make the drive over to New York City for a 3-day gig. Let’s just say that’s a whole lot of van time.

The first thing you notice when talking with Robert is his humble, down-to-earth view on life and his career. Throughout the interview he repeatedly thanked me for my time and for the praise I gave him for his album Before Nightfall. When I asked him about the theme of the album, looking back on a failed relationship, Francis said, “It’s all about being comfortable in one ’s self. Accepting reality as it is, especially when you’ve been haunted by something for so long. This record puts all that to rest.” (more…)

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Mike Posner may be living the dream.

During the week, the J Records recording artist is a senior sociology major at Duke University, recording his debut album during free time and touring on weekends.

How many students can sit through a midterm one day then be in the studio with some surprisingly big names days later? It’s like the best of both worlds. Being inside the college bubble during the week and then having the opportunity to step out and be a star. What more could a 21-year old ask for?

Posner’s newest mixtape, One Foot Out The Door, features guest appearances by Kid Cudi, 3Oh!3, Bun B and Saigon, to name a few, and what’s even cooler is instead of searching blog sites trying to find a link to download the whole thing Duke University made the whole mixtape, and Posner’s previous one, available free to download on their iTunesU. (more…)

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The Pick Up The Phone Tour 2009, has been cancelled due to the hospitalization of Justin Furstenfeld, lead singer of the tour’s headlining band Blue October. The tour had a scheduled stop at The Fillmore on Oct. 23.

Furstenfeld is being treated for suffering from an extreme mental anxiety attack. His doctors have ordered that the tour — which was committed to reducing the stigma associated with mental health, depression, and suicide — be cancelled to allow for his recovery.

Tickets purchased for the Oct. 23 concert at The Fillmore Charlotte can be refunded at point of purchase starting Friday, Oct. 23. Tickets purchased via phone or online will be refunded automatically.

“Mental health diseases are unpredictable,” says Furstenfeld. “And on the eve of this tour in support of a cause that means the world to me, I am in need of time to heal from a setback in my own personal life, which is severe enough for me to seek hospitalization. I hope that my action to seek the strength and safety of treatment will inspire others that are suffering to do the same.”

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Lenny Kravitz has canceled his upcoming show at the Fillmore on Oct. 27 due to a vocal injury. Refunds will be given at point of purchase.

Said Lenny Kravitz in a press release – “I’m very sorry and disappointed to not be able to pay my fans in North Carolina a visit. I was looking forward to returning to Charlotte and perform for everyone there. I look forward to coming back when I head back out on the road in the US next year.”

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CL music contributor Mike McCray sat down with NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. before he jumped in the DJ Hero Chevy for the Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday. There was a free demo of the game, which drops Oct. 27, for fans as well as a DJ Hero showdown between Martin + Mike after their interview (Video tomorrow).

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Tuesday night during VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors, Def Jam, the legendary hip-hop label and event honoree, was referred to as the Motown of Hip-Hop.

A fitting description considering that both labels have been the face of black music for the last 50 years, placing it squarely in the forefront of American culture. Both championing the cause that ‘our music and our sound,’ can be financially viable.

After watching the history of Def Jam play out on stage Tuesday, I started to wonder which label had a stronger first 25 years? Not just who had the bigger impact, but which one was still the most relevant and successful after a quarter-century in business.

Both had to overcome unique issues, whether it was Motown having to solve the dilemma of the black artist in America and dealing with overt racism and discrimination in integrating the mainstream music industry. Or Def Jam’s less difficult fight to prove that what they were selling was actually music and not just noise.

But no one could deny that either label had talent. Just look at the rosters. (more…)

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Soul songstress N’dambi has been belting out tunes for years now — first as a background singer for Erykah Badu and then as a solo artist, releasing acclaimed CDs like Little Lost Girl Blues and her newest one, Pink Elephant, among many others. Despite her vast musical resume, however, she’s probably best known for sporting one of the biggest and coolest-looking Afros in the industry. Check her out when she hits Charlotte on Sat., Oct. 17 and you’ll get to hear her crisp-yet-funky vocal stylings — and catch a glimpse of her beautiful ’do, too. $20. 8 p.m. Utopia SoundStage, 10210 Berkeley Place Dr. 704-765-4131. www.thesolkitchen.com.

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Live Nation is offering a 2-for-1 ticket deal today only for a variety of shows coming to The Fillmore.

Among the shows are:

Oct. 15 — Blues Traveler, Simplified (rumored to be sold out)
Oct. 20 — Queensryche, Lita Ford
Oct. 23 — Blue October
Oct. 28 — KMFDM
Nov. 4 — Dethklok, Mastodon
Nov. 8 — Foreigner
Nov. 10 — Honor Society
Nov. 22 — Roger Daltrey
Nov. 23 — Megadeth, Machinehead
Dec. 6 — David Allan Coe
Dec. 10 — LMFAO, Shwayze
Dec. 17 — Dashboard Confessional
Jan. 19 — Anvil

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