The Charlotte music scene

[ah59396]

I didn't see a good topic on this, so I figured I'd start one.  Charlotte is generally "lacking" in the culture of music, at least from a national perspective.  When compared to our usual rivals (Austin, Nashville) we get crushed.  That said, I think Charlotte is coming along nicely and recently has made some noise, both in terms of the venues it has and the bands it is producing.

 

I'm going to see Matrimony on Saturday night at the The Fillmore, they recently signed with Columbia records and it will be their CD release concert.  

 

http://charlotteexclusive.com/2012/blogs/charlotte-music-and-entertainment/obey-your-guns-charlottes-newest-band-matrimony-is-on-the-rise/

 

 

The video for "Obey Your Guns" is a nice testament to the city, highlighting a lot of very recognizable parts of Charlotte and helping portray some of it's "grit".

 

Any other "up and coming" bands out there I don't know about?  What about music venues, both well-known and underground?  I would think "The Milestone" would be our most prominent underground venue.  

 

Discuss.

[CLTProductions]

This Charlotte Dance Music scene is alive and rocking. I am very impressed with the caliber of artists we get in this city. Some of the upcoming shows (for those that know who these people are): Krewella, Tiesto, Dirty South, BT, Tritonal, etc.....and thats on top of the major artists like David Guetta and Calvin Harris, who have already been here. Thanks Sugar Society! 

[nonillogical]

Austin and Nashville crush EVERYONE for cities of less than 1 mil, so I don't think its a terribly fair comparison. We might not have a ton of artists to have made it big yet, but that's not the primary factor I would judge the music scene by. We have pretty healthy scenes with multiple shows just about every night for jam bands, indie rock, edm, and metal, and apparently our hip hop scene is just starting to come into its own.

 

As far as venues go, I actually have to say we have it better than most cities of our size, and definitely deserve more frequent tour stops from some bands than we get. 

 

Large: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Time Warner Cable Arena, Bojangles Coliseum, Uptown Amphitheater 

Mid size & Theaters: The Fillmore, Ovens, Knight Theater, Belk Theater, Neighborhood Theater, Chop Shop, Tremont, Amos' Southend, Symphony Park, Grady Cole (yes it gets used for concerts now and then), White Water Center even has a stage with frequent shows now

Small: Visulite (my favorite venue anywhere, still), Double Door, Milestone, Snug Harbor, Evening Muse, Roux

Plus all the clubs that host djs and all the bars/lounges that host frequent small shows

[HopHead]

I agree... comparing Charlotte to Austin and Nashville for music is apples to oranges. Heck, they topple a lot of cities much larger than them. 

 

As far the bands we get, I guess it's all on your preference, I think Charlotte does pretty well. Then again, I lived in Richmond, VA for years and almost no big acts came to town. Always had to drive up to DC/NOVA or sometimes VA Beach to see most national tours. I've since seen all those bands in Charlotte since I've lived here: Foo Fighters, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Coldplay, Chili Peppers, Muse (later this summer), among some of them. Yea, I know my taste is all over the place but you get my point. If bands do say 10 shows in the US, Charlotte probably isn't on that list. However, if they do 20 or more, Charlotte is on that list 7-8 times out of 10. All in all, I'm just glad I don't have to go very far anymore. 

 

My favorite venues based on size:

 

Large: Time Warner Cable Arena

Midsize: Uptown Ampitheater, Fillmore and Ovens

Small: Evening Muse

 

I know Verizon gets a lot big summer shows, but I'm not really a fan of going there. Every time I've been up there it's a disaster between parking, traffic and some drunk chic spilling beer or puking all over the lawn so you can't sit down (long story). I have to REALLY like a band to go there. If I do, I'll buy actual seats.

[ah59396]

I enjoy the Uptown Amphitheater the most.  I enjoy the atmosphere there, and they generally pull bands I like.  Maybe Austin and Nashville aren't the best comparisons.  What about Jacksonville & Indianapolis?  Would they be considered more "peer" city oriented, at least in this regard?

[nonillogical]

I feel like this is a place to add that Neighborhood Theater's recent renovations, while all good ideas and a great result, I think have temporarily hurt the draw of mid-size acts to that venue, either because of the downtime during renovations, or the new management company itself. They seem to be struggling to line up shows with a lackluster calendar right now, while the always-evolving Chop Shop has picked up some of the slack in the genres where NT used to be the defacto choice. I love NT so I hope they get their momentum back.

I enjoy the Uptown Amphitheater the most.  I enjoy the atmosphere there, and they generally pull bands I like.  Maybe Austin and Nashville aren't the best comparisons.  What about Jacksonville & Indianapolis?  Would they be considered more "peer" city oriented, at least in this regard?

For music that comes out of here and those cities? No clue. But we definitely have more pull these days than they do as a tour stop for mid to large venue bands.

[ScottCLT]

Matrimony is awesome! I first saw them a few years ago at an Open Mic night at the Gin Mill. They were great there, and it has really amazed me to see them grow into the national scene. They were already on a Ford or Chevy commercial - can't recall which one. There are some other local bands that I like too. 

 

Avett Brothers (duh):

video for us UPers - about urban development, and eventual decay. Beautiful video - it's stop motion of a painting being painted over itself)

 

Dylan Gilbert:

http://www.rawkblog.net/2011/11/premiere-dylan-gilbert-i-was-young/ (my favorite song of theirs)

noticeably filmed in charlotte)

 

The Noises 10 (now defunct unfortunately, but the lead singer is doing some solo work). They were one of my favorite bands when they were together - not just from Charlotte, but in general:

 

Serfs:

http://serfs.bandcamp.com/

 

Andy the Doorbum:

http://andythedoorbum.bandcamp.com/

[RiverwoodCLT]

We also have the Booth Theater and Stage Door Theater.  I saw Charlotte Squawks "Ninesense" 2013  Wednesday night.  It covered Charlotte well in bikes-airport-Randolph road-County commission-Homeland-Governor Style-Goodbye Harry Jones-We got the Knights and more.

[ScottCLT]

Matrimony has a great new song and video out called "Golden City." See if you can pick out the areas of Charlotte they are filming at...

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=TDRX6QeQEj8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DTDRX6QeQEj8

CMT (though I would not consider this a country song) has a write-up about it...

http://www.cmtedge.com/2013/06/28/matrimony-captured-a-golden-moment-in-new-video/

[Urbanity]

Sort of on/off topic for this thread - but it would be great if the ARK group was given development rights for the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (and surrounding acreage in U-City area to make a NCMF North focused more on the college/Independent music scene.  

 

Unlike the NCMF proper this would have less focus on the idea of higher end (Label or Osso) and more like an old fashioned CBGB club instead where the music acts were less known but a great place for a burgeoning music scene where people could get their start.  Lots of open warehouse/minimal type decor  performance spaces

 

I think it would be a huge success so close to UNCC and easily pull in Concord residents.  Hell I could image when/if they ever extend the BLE beyond UNCC it would stop there on way to CMS and Concord Mills.

 

Anyway - just wishful thinking.

[nonillogical]

Sort of on/off topic for this thread - but it would be great if the ARK group was given development rights for the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (and surrounding acreage in U-City area to make a NCMF North focused more on the college/Independent music scene.  

 

Unlike the NCMF proper this would have less focus on the idea of higher end (Label or Osso) and more like an old fashioned CBGB club instead where the music acts were less known but a great place for a burgeoning music scene where people could get their start.  Lots of open warehouse/minimal type decor  performance spaces

 

I think it would be a huge success so close to UNCC and easily pull in Concord residents.  Hell I could image when/if they ever extend the BLE beyond UNCC it would stop there on way to CMS and Concord Mills.

 

Anyway - just wishful thinking.

That would be pretty cool, but there's not much around the Amphitheater so it would have to be new construction and probably lack the charm of NCMF as a destination. I would prefer that IF an urban-ish district is established around the BLE on Tryon, that a small music venue or two are part of the development. That part of town does need a music venue that can draw a bigger show than just a bar, but I think it would be better off to be pretty centrally located or off the BLE if your focus is the college crowd.

[Twin Citian]

What are the best venues for checking out local bands?  My musical tastes are pretty broad so, I'm up for checking out anything.  Thanks.

[nonillogical]

What are the best venues for checking out local bands?  My musical tastes are pretty broad so, I'm up for checking out anything.  Thanks.

Most venues are going to also have some regional acts mixed in with the local, but I'd say check out Evening Muse, Double Door, Visulite (a little bigger, sometimes local stuff though), Chop Shop, and Snug Harbor. 

[ah59396]

Most venues are going to also have some regional acts mixed in with the local, but I'd say check out Evening Muse, Double Door, Visulite (a little bigger, sometimes local stuff though), Chop Shop, and Snug Harbor. 

 

 

That's an excellent line up of venues.

[Twin Citian]

Most venues are going to also have some regional acts mixed in with the local, but I'd say check out Evening Muse, Double Door, Visulite (a little bigger, sometimes local stuff though), Chop Shop, and Snug Harbor. 

 

Thanks nonillogical!!  Much appreciated.

[Bourbarian]

Matrimony is awesome! I first saw them a few years ago at an Open Mic night at the Gin Mill. They were great there, and it has really amazed me to see them grow into the national scene. They were already on a Ford or Chevy commercial - can't recall which one. There are some other local bands that I like too. 

 

Avett Brothers (duh):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEr9gMYdkHI (great video for us UPers - about urban development, and eventual decay. Beautiful video - it's stop motion of a painting being painted over itself)

 

Dylan Gilbert:

http://www.rawkblog.net/2011/11/premiere-dylan-gilbert-i-was-young/ (my favorite song of theirs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkNkw5LENDM (video noticeably filmed in charlotte)

 

The Noises 10 (now defunct unfortunately, but the lead singer is doing some solo work). They were one of my favorite bands when they were together - not just from Charlotte, but in general:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuodVLtcpnE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQ8WH1sUVU

 

Serfs:

http://serfs.bandcamp.com/

 

Andy the Doorbum:

http://andythedoorbum.bandcamp.com/

 

 

What are the best venues for checking out local bands?  My musical tastes are pretty broad so, I'm up for checking out anything.  Thanks.

 

Oh, oh, I can help here!

 

Twin Citian, ScottCLT's recommendations are a great starting point. Serfs are rad. Dylan Gilbert just released a new rock opera as Hectorina, and it's great. Swing by Lunchbox Records and buy a copy, they have CDs and vinyl.

 

http://hectorina.bandcamp.com/

 

Andy the Doorbum is amazing if you're serious about having "broad" tastes. I think he describes himself as end of the world music. Start with "The Man Killed the Bird..." and work your way backwards. He's a sincere guy and Charlotte's lucky to have him.  

 

If you can make it, go to the Neighborhood Theater this Saturday for the Junior Astronomers album release show. JA are a local band releasing their first album on a national label. They're joined by Bo White, who is an institution in CLT music, Museum Mouth from Wilmington, and It Looks Sad..., who I know nothing about. JA and their fans put on a fun show.

 

http://juniorastronomers.bandcamp.com/album/i-had-plans-for-us

 

Recess Fest is this month, and it's a great time to A) get to know some regional acts, and B) visit almost every venue in Charlotte. The lineup is a bit weaker this year IMO, but tickets are only $15 for the whole weekend.  If you can only go for one night, go to the Milestone on Friday (7/26) to see Old Flings from Asheville (nostalgia rock if you were a 90s kid), Late Bloomer (CLT), and Joint D (CLT). This is a punk heavy show, cash only, and wear closed toe shoes. Don't chicken out when you get there. Milestone is the best place in town (not just the best music club), and it's full of sweethearts despite its appearance. 

 

http://oldflings.bandcamp.com/

 

http://recessfest.blogspot.com/p/schedule.html

 

Be on the lookout for a copy of Crowd Surfer. It's a free monthly newspaper dedicated to local music, and it's fantastic. 

 

Charlotte has a great local scene if you're willing to dig in. 

[nonillogical]

This is a weird post but I felt compelled to share. The Chop Shop and one of my favorite bands got a shout-out from none other than Anderson Cooper yesterday. On his Ridiculist segment, he decided to analyze a song by Man Man that is surreally inspired by Wolf Blitzer. Its hilarious. 

 

Charlotte/Chop Shop plug is at the end. It was a great show btw, and the improvements to the Chop Shop have made it a venue to be reckoned with.

 

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/20/ridiculist-wolf-blitzer-is-man-mans-man/

[ScottCLT]

This is a weird post but I felt compelled to share. The Chop Shop and one of my favorite bands got a shout-out from none other than Anderson Cooper yesterday. On his Ridiculist segment, he decided to analyze a song by Man Man that is surreally inspired by Wolf Blitzer. Its hilarious. 

 

Charlotte/Chop Shop plug is at the end. It was a great show btw, and the improvements to the Chop Shop have made it a venue to be reckoned with.

 

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/20/ridiculist-wolf-blitzer-is-man-mans-man/

Yeah, I saw that this morning. Meant to post it. That was hilarious! Hate I missed the Man Man show...didn't even realize that they were in town. And at the end of the segment, the "Who the hell is Wolf?" clip put me in hysterics...

[rugger62]

Heard this was going to be on Charlotte Talks yesterday but I haven't listened to the broadcast yet.

http://wfae.org/post/sounds-charlotte-local-music-scene-rebroadcast