Off For the Weekend

We weren't sure at first, but my comrades and I are going to ignore the winter weather advisories flooding the area and we're going to see Of Montreal at The Orange Peel. Needless to say, I'm as pumped up as a gas station at Lowe's Motor Speedway to see this show.

Tomorrow, I'll be catching Between the Buried and Me and others in Charlotte. Get ready for some shots from this concert weekend, and pray we don't get stalled by this gnarly weather.

Later!

Song of the Day

**11/30/09

Band of Skulls - Friends

-------------Band of Skulls must have a friend who's been secretly sending their music to record labels and vampire authors. The British rock trio were suprised the movie's music supervisors even knew who they were. Nonetheless, the slow-bopping tambourine tapper "Friends" pledges allegiance to bar hopping and weekend devotions to best pals with more commercial appeal than the band may have expected. They played up Thanksgiving at The Neighborhood Theater, a hometown venue in Charlotte, NC, and if my tummy wasn't so obese with greenbean casserole and stuffing, I'd have seen them. Get "Friends" from the New Moon soundtrack (sorry...I wish it was on another album). But if you want to hear more Band of Skulls, check out "Death By Diamonds and Pearls" and "I Know What I Am" from their debut album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey.

http://www.myspace.com/bandofskulls/

Song of the Day

**11/16/09

Between the Buried and Me - Obfuscation

--------------As I listened to the opening riffs to "Mirrors," the first track of BTBAM's October 27th release, The Great Misdirect, I thought to myself, question mark? Are these the same hardcore hometown heroes that I have died over not seeing at the Orange Peel this past Halloween? They've gone softer than butter in an EasyBake!

Then the album launched into "Obfuscation," and I breathed a sigh of relief. Course BTBAM wouldn't let me down - an offensive amount of chugging percussion, Tommy Rogers throwing mouthfulls into the mic, and lengthy, beautifully executed interludes. The band nailed this number at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina in September, giving fans a first taste at what was to come on the album. I'm confident that whether or not you're a fan of Between the Buried and Me's pre or post 2005 lineup change, you'll enjoy The Great Misdirect. The moral of the story - never judge an album by its first track.

http://www.lala.com/#artist/Between_The_Buried_And_Me/more/songs

Photos from Thrice and Brand New

Here they are! All these shots were taken with a Canon Powershot SD1100 IS, and even if you do know what that means, you probably have a savvy-enough knowledge of photography to know that this is a very mediocre camera. But hey, I'm a blogger, not Annie Leibowitz! Enjoy.

Song of the Day

**11/9/09
Young Soul Rebels - Shot
---------ATTENTION: All fans of The Fratellis, The Hives, The Kinks, The Kooks, you get the idea - Young Soul Rebels is your new, pearly gateway to brit-punk heaven. Young Soul Rebels are a quintet of blokes from Brighton, who brighten up the cloudy and somewhat seriousness of punk with some rascally fun.

Funny story behind this discovery of music, or musicovery. I saw the name Young Soul Rebels on the Billboard charts backing up a remake of War Child's "I Got Soul." When I Googled YSR, I ended up coming across this band. Peculiar how the world wide web can lead you to an entirely different world than what you expected!

In other news, Brand New tonight. It's been on the bucket list of bands for many music lovers around me, and I wish deeply that they could go with me to share in the experience. Take it from me - when you're going to see the right band for the right time in your life, the journey is beyond meaningful. Enjoy Young Soul Rebels, and if you're going, I hope to see you at the show!

Incubus and Duke Spirit Tonight

**8/12/09

-----Just thought I'd dash off a quick post about Incubus tonight. They're currently on tour with Duke Spirit and are promoting their latest greatest hits album, Monuments and Melodies released in June. Take a listen to tracks such as "Megalomaniac," "Warning," "Dig," and "Black Heart Inertia." If you're within 127 miles of Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre in Charlotte, then get to the show!

Jason Mraz - The Gratitude Cafe Tour

The Music Factory of Charlotte, N.C. played a very rainy host to southern soul rocker G Love and Mr. Wordplay himself, Jason Mraz. Following the next leg on the Gratitude Cafe tour, fans were given a rather wet welcome -a downpour of rain,booming thunder, and lightning pitching through the sky.

Many rainsoaked concertgoers with spirits more than dampened made their way out the venue, while the rest took shelter under thin plastic ponchos, overhangs, and a makeshift coffeehouse representing the real Gratitude Cafe.

When it looked like the concert would be a no go, it was announced to 5,000 fans that G Love and Mraz would play an exclusive acoustic session at The Fillmore, an indoor venue able to cram in 1,500 people.

Needless to say I bolted from the stands, risking broken ankles, bruised limbs, and beatings from lots of frustrated, drunk husbands/boyfriends/douchebags to get in line. After riotous shoving and nearly losing my fedora, I made it inside. Those fortunate enough to make the 1,500 cut were nothing short of elated. Despite the slippery floors, a post-rain stench, and wet clothes, the crowd couldn't have been happier.

G Love (minus the Special Sauce for the session) opened the show with freewheeling, freestyling southern soul. Blasting on his harmonica and tapping his feet like a spider, G Love entertained the crowd with laid back odes to cold beverages and booty calls.

Of all the concerts I've been to, "relaxing" has rarely made an appearance on my list of adjectives to describe them. However, Mraz's set was nothing short of refreshing. He spoke of sunshine in the midst of rain, relishing in his chance to clear his mind and soul throughout the set. Indeed Mraz's more popular tunes, "The Remedy," "You and I Both," and "Curbside Prophet" went off the constructed studio recording in favor of experimental breakdowns and whispered improvisations.

Mraz, Toca, and the gang performed music from his latest album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, within an easy-going atmosphere and nonchalant joy. An energizing "Live High," "Make it Mine" and "Butterfly" sparked head bobbing and swaying, while a positively adorable rendition of "Lucky" magnetically brought couples together. Singing the female vocals was Elise, a manager of The Gratitude Cafe who happened to have the perfect pipes for the duet.

After six hours of standing (four of them waiting for the show to start), the concert was a breath of fresh air. I was able to check out The Music Factory, The Fillmore, and catch Mr. A-Z in action. If the tour is heading your way, grab some tickets and a poncho - just in case.

Song of the Day

**7/21/09

Mike Garrigan (Collapsis) - Automatic

------------If anyone ever happens to be passing through Charlotte, North Carolina, check the calanders of Amos' South End, Neighborhood Theatre, or The Evening Muse. Chances are you'll be able to catch Mike Garrigan, a Greensboro guitar man with a heart full of soul and a new album on the horizon. "Automatic" is one of Garrigan's most notable works, which he sang as the former frontman of his band, Collapsis in 2000. "Automatic" reached #28 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts back in the day, and though Collapsis is on hiatus, Garrigan keeps the tough-love apology on his set list. Get it from Collapsis' 2000 album, Dirty Wake.

Song of the Day

**7/5/09


Harvard - Red Dress
----------------In every issue of Alternative Press magazine, two pages of rock research are given to the up-and-coming movers and shakers for today and tomorrow's scenesters. One group most recently included is Harvard, the prog-rock sludgy band from Charlotte, North Carolina. While in their hometown, the members of Harvard can be found judging local battle of the bands tournaments and "in the lab (as it says on their Myspace page)" recording a fresh demo. "Red Dress" floats unevenly and mystically through jaunted guitars and discordant vocals. True, it may seem like a mess, but any fans of Circa Survive will dig it.

http://www.myspace.com/harvard (Photo by Patrick Emmons)

Song of the Day

**2/22/09

Snagglepuss - Secretly Shy

---------Even if they don't have a big-time record label or even a tour situated for the summer, Snagglepuss reps the Queen City's flair for colorful, punk-inspired rock that grabs all kinds of positive attention from local listeners. The band is a jiggsaw puzzle of unique characters, beginning with Hope Nicholls, a boutique-owner by day, saxophonist and lead vocalist for Snagglepuss by night.

"Secretly Shy" has the construction of the Talking Heads and all the makings of a killer Yeah Yeah Yeahs beat. Check out their Space, and get "Secretly Shy" off their second studio album, The Country Club Sessions.

www.myspace.com/snagglepusslovesyou

John Mayer at Verizon Wireless

John Mayer played the Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre in 2007 with Ben Folds. I was excited enough for his opener! I was sitting drastically far away, and I had to have taken about 200 pictures. Constantly taking pictures, I never really stopped to focus on the actual shot. But here I think I found a few winners.