Friday, December 9, 2011

This week's hot concerts

Jazz Funk Xmas Jam

8 p.m. Friday, December 9, Chop Shop, 399 E. 35th St. $10. www.chopshopnoda.com

Charlotte fusion ensemble Groove 8 heads up a unique holiday concert featuring rap, soul, funk, and jazz from hip-hop artists Yogo Pelli and Phive, saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield (of Anthony Hamilton’s band), and soul rockers Lucky Five.



Nora Jane Struthers

8 p.m., Friday, December 9, Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $10-$12. 704-376-3737.

There’s something sinister and bookish under the sweet vocals, crisp, restrained instrumentation, and literary lyrics of this up and coming new grass-tinged folk singer who's a former high school English teacher (check out the twisted murder ballad in the above video).

The Fray

8 p.m. Friday, December 9, Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $37.50. www.ticketmaster.com

The piano-pop hit makers who opened the Fillmore’s neighboring amphitheater two summers ago returns for the WKNX Kissmas concert (interestingly tickets are also nearly half what some seats were at the outdoor show).

Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion

7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11, Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. $10-$12. 704-358-9298.

She’s folk music royalty (her grandpa was Woody and dad is Arlo) and he was part of `90s Chapel Hill alt-rock outfit Queen Sarah Saturday. Today, they’re a dreamy folk-rock duo returning to his Carolina roots for the holidays.



Rachael Yamagata

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $17-$20. 704-358-9200.

A favorite of TV music directors who place her adult contemporary songs on shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” she divides her hushed, breathy alto between innocent and sultry over intimate piano pop or, at one point, a wicked channeling of the Eurythmics and Concrete Blonde (listen above).


Mr. Gnome

9 p.m. Wednesday, December 14, Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St. $7. www.etix.com

This married Cleveland duo create dynamics-driven, experimental art rock that recently caught the attention of “Rolling Stone” who called its third album, “Madness in Miniature,” “Rust Belt scrappy and dreamily explosive.”



Chatham County Line

7 p.m. Thursday, December 15, Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. $15/$30 VIP. 704-358-9298.

The Chapel Hill act delivers two sets – one of its traditional acoustic bluegrass and a second electric set that’ll serve as a reunion for guest drummer Zeke Hutchins who also reunites with the aforementioned fellow Queen Sarah Saturday alumni Johnny Irion who opens the show.

1 comment :

  1. Of Good Nature plays Saturday night @ Small Bar at the NC Music Factory. Great up and coming band, plays a mix of rock with a reggae vibe. Check them out!!

    ReplyDelete