Sunday, December 29, 2013

Charlotteans' Top 10 Albums of 2013 Part 5

We close out our week celebrating the music that moved us in 2013 with two NASCAR drivers, a noted Charlotte music photographer, the frontman for a Charlotte-based national act, and a caterer to the stars. A couple couldn't come up with 10 favorites for 2013, but I wanted to post their contributions as well. Thanks again to everyone that participated. 


Daniel Coston, photographer/author
Of McCartney’s "New" he says, "If this record had been made by an unknown 25-year-old for New York City, this album would have made everyone’s top ten list."
Jason Isbell "Southeastern"
Reeve Coobs "What Love Is All About"
NC Love Army "We Are Not For Sale"
Temperance League "Rock n’ Roll Dreams"
Beach Fossils "Clash the Truth"
Deer Tick "Negativity"
Chris Stamey "Lovesick Blues"
Paul McCartney "New"
Josh Ritter "The Beast in Its Tracks"
David Bowie "The Next Day"

Michael Waltrip, NASCAR driver
Tim Dugger "Tim Dugger"
Darius Rucker "True Believers"
Blake Shelton "Based on a True Story"
Duck the Halls "A Robertson Family Christmas"
Florida Georgia Line "Here’s to the Good Times"
Chase Rice "Ready Set Roll"
Luke Bryan "Crash My Party"
Lady Antebellum "Golden"
Tim McGraw "Two Lanes of Freedom"
The Band Perry "Pioneer"

Jimmy Brown, Matrimony
Haim "Days Are Gone"
London Grammar "If You Wait"
Arcade Fire "Reflektor"
Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"
Haerts "Hemiplegia"
The Avett Brothers "Magpie & The Dandelion"
Kendrick Lamar "Good Kid: M.A.A.D City"
Portugal The Man "Evil Friends"
Foxygen "We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic"
Phosphorescent "Muchacho"

Melissa Myer, Food to Die For, concert caterer 
Myer caters for bands and their crews at The Fillmore, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Time Warner Cable Arena and other regional venues.
Black Sabbath “13”
Motorhead “Aftershock”
David Bowie “The Next Day”
Clutch “Earthrocker”
Dave Grohl and Various artists “Sound City Real to Reel”
Temperance League “Rock n' Roll Dreams”

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., NASCAR driver, 2013 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year
Garth Brooks “Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades of Influences”
Casey Donahew “Standoff”
Blake Shelton “Based on a True Story”
Chase Rice “Ready Set Roll”
Justin Moore “Off the Beaten Path”

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Charlotteans' Top 10 albums of 2014 Part 4

This year I asked notable Charlotte music fans, musicians, promoters, and other folks that work in arts and entertainment to submit their own Top 10 albums of the year. Each day this week I'll post a handful of these. 

Anthony Hamilton, Grammy winning R&B singer
The recent Grammy nominee included fellow nom Fantasia's single "Lose to Win" on his best list.
Drake "Nothing Was The Same"
Bruno Mars "Unorthodox Jukebox"
Rihanna "Unapologetic"
Fantasia "Lose To Win"
Jay Z "Magna Carta Holy Grail"
Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience"
Big Sean "Hall Of Fame"
TGT "Three Kings"
John Legend "Love In The Future"
"The Best Man Holiday" Soundtrack

Cameron Lee, CLTure, BrewzFest, and marketing for Plaza-Midwood Community Radio and "Shutter 16"
Rhye "Woman"
Phoenix "Bankrupt!"
Vampire Weekend "Modern Vampires of the City"
Killer Mike + El-P "Run the Jewels"
Chvrches "The Bones Of What You Believe"
Danny Brown "Old"
Avett Brothers "Magpie and Dandelion"
The Range "Non Fiction"
Foxygen "We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic" 
Mikal Cronin "MCII"

Reeve Coobs, singer-songwriter
Coobs' 2014 debut, "What Love Is All About," appears on one of our other participant's Top 10 list later this week. 
Lucius "Wildewoman"
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors "Good Light"
The Civil Wars "The Civil Wars"
Shovels & Rope "O' Be Joyful"
Charlie King "I Am Here"
Bhi Bhiman "Substitue Preacher"
The Lone Below "The Lone Below"
Devon Sproule & Mike O'Neill "Colours"
Patty Griffin "Silver Bell"
Steafán Hanvey "Nuclear Family"

Friday, December 27, 2013

Charlotteans' Top 10 albums of 2013 Part 3

I asked notable Charlotte music fans, musicians, promoters, and other folks that work in arts and entertainment to submit their Top 10 albums of 2014. Each day this week I'll post a handful of these. Here's the third round with two longtime Charlotte rock musicians and a producer/engineer and music manager that's worked with Anthony Hamilton, Grown Up Avenger Stuff, and Matrimony.

Bruce Irvine, Grammy winning producer/recording engineer
Queens of the Stone Age "…Like Clockwork"                                                                           
J Cole "Born Sinner"
Matrimony "Montibello Drive"                                                                                       
Beyonce' "Beyonce'"
Haim "Days Are Gone"
MS MR "Secondhand Rapture"
Listener "Time Is A Machine"                                                                             
Wallpaper "Ricky Reed Is Real"                                                                           
Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"                                                            
Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience"

Bruce Hazel, singer Temperance League
Jim Jones Revue "The Savage Heart"
Bob Dylan "The Bootleg Series Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait"
Jeff Lynne "Longwave"
The Loudermilks (self titled) (will be released officially in 2014)
David Bowie "The Next Day"
Hugh Cornwell "Totem & Taboo
David Byrne and St. Vincent "Love This Giant"
Shoes "Black Vinyl" (Reissue)
Joint Damage "Strike Gently"
Elvis Costello and The Roots "Wise Up Ghost"

C.R. Rollyson, bassist, the Sammies
The longtime Charlotte musician notes his No. 1 "feels like a note to self."
Kurt Vile "Wakin on a Pretty Daze"
Beach Fossils "Clash The Truth"
Gene Ween "Gener's Gone"
BRMC "Specter At The Feast"
Black Angels "Indigo Meadow"
Queens of the Stone Age "...Like Clockwork"
Surfer Blood "Pythons"
Franz Ferdinand "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action"
!!! "Thr!!!er"

Sensual Harassment "Escape From Alpha Draconis"

This week's hot concerts


Charlie Wilson
Friday  8 p.m., Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., $60.20-$148.05, www.ticketmaster.com
At 60 the former Gap Band singer remains a vital source in soul with a still successful solo career and his work with Kanye West and other artists introducing him to a new audience. He’s back after headlining the rain-soaked Funk Fest in September .

Lou Reed Tribute
Friday  10 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St., $5, www.snugrock.com
With the recent passing of alternative rock granddaddy (and it feels funny to call the eternally hip musician “granddaddy”), musicians Dave & the Strange, The Sammies, Jack Magic, Andy the Door Bum, Hope Nicholls and members of Babyshaker team up to honor his memory.

Blue Dogs/Radney Foster
Saturday  8 p.m., Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., $15-$25, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com
The Charleston roots music institution was mixing bluegrass and rock long before it was fashionable. It teams with acclaimed songwriter Foster who’s work has been influential for country singers like Darius Rucker.

American Aquarium
Saturday  8 p.m., Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., $12-$14, www.visulite.com 
Raleigh’s answer to the Drive-By Truckers-meets-Steve Earle. It's impressive latest album “Burn. Flicker. Die” was, not surprisingly, produced by former Trucker Jason Isbell. It ventures west before embarking on a national tour in early 2014.

Gregg Allman
Monday  8 p.m., The Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., $47, www.livenation.com
After participating earlier this month in band mate Warren Haynes’ annual Asheville Xmas Jam, the Allman Brother is back in NC for a more intimate solo set that serves as a warm up for New Year’s Eve.

The Avett Brothers/Shovels & Rope
Tuesday  8 p.m., Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St., $51.70-$73.70, www.ticketmaster.com
The now internationally-known Concord group makes a long, long-awaited return to Charlotte and to hometown New Year's Eve concerts - once a tradition. Charleston married duo Shovels & Rope also finally returns to town after enjoying its own national climb with appearances on "Letterman," "Austin City Limits," and touring with the Lumineers. 

John Tosco’s 4th Annual Variety Show
Tuesday  8 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St., $14.50-$34.50, www.blumenthalarts.org
The producers of the Tosco Music Parties and Beatles tributes gather different kinds of acts for this family-friendly variety show, which includes dogs, aerialists, a magician, puppets, dancers, mime, a barbershop quartet, a juggler, comedian, and cirque act.

Unknown Hinson
Tuesday  9 p.m., Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., $20, www.visulite.com
Charlotte’s own hillbilly vampire, who voices “Squidbillies’” Early Cuyler on the side, made a triumphant comeback earlier this year after losing his wife. The humorous, honky-tonkin’ original rings in the New Year.

The Spongetones
Tuesday  9:30 p.m., Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave., $12, www.doubledoorinn.com 
Although vocalist Jamie Hoover and bassist Steve Stoekel have been busy this year with their side duo with residencies and online, the full classic pop foursome is back to rock in the New Year for the Double Door crowd.

Benji Hughes
Tuesday  10 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St., $10, www.snugrock.com
Although the  notorious Charlotte singer-songwriter and Plaza-Midwood fixture has been relatively quiet on the national front since releasing his 2008 solo debut double album, word is new record(s) are in the works. Given the holiday bets are on for a wilder show than normal - and that’s saying something.


Thursday, December 26, 2013

Charlotteans' Top 10 Albums of 2013 Day 2

This year I asked notable Charlotte music fans, musicians, promoters, and other folks that work in arts and entertainment to submit their own Top 10 albums of the year. Each day this week I'll post a handful of these. Here's the second batch. 

Don Koster, Independent bookings and promotions
Koster and his wife Laurie, whose list ran earlier this week both submitted twenty favorite full-lengths as well as EP releases. Here’s 10 of those.
Futurebirds "Baba Yaga"
Jason Isbell "Southeastern"
Tim Easton "Not Cool"
Mount Moriah "Miracle Temple"
Howlin' Brothers "Howl"
Mandolin Orange "This Side of Jordan"
Black Lillies "Runaway Freeway Blues"
Pacifico "Without Heroes"
Leagues "You Belong Here"
Camera Obscura
"Desire Lines"

Charles Whitfield, Integrated Marketing Group and Business Development/CBS Radio
Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience Vol. 1"
The Foreign Exchange "Love in Flying Colors"
Robert Glasper Experiment "Black Radio 2"
J Cole "Born Sinner"
Drake "Nothing Was the Same"
Will Downing "Silver"
Maysa "Blue Velvet Soul"
George Duke "Dream Weaver"
Boney James "The Beat"
Jeff Lorber Fusion "Hacienda"

Caleb Konley, professional wrestler/PWX Heavyweight Champion
Queens of the Stone Age "...Like Clockwork"
Arctic Monkeys "AM"
Black Angels "Indigo Meadow"
Kanye West "Yeezus"
Deerhunter "Monomania"
John Legend "Love in the Future"
Cage the Elephant "Melophobia"
Portugal the man "Evil Friends"
Lorde "Pure Heroine"
Mac Miller "Watching Movies with the Sound Off"


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Charlotteans' Top 10 albums of 2013

This year I asked notable Charlotte music fans, musicians, promoters, and other folks that work in arts and entertainment to submit their own Top 10 albums of the year. Each day this week I'll post a handful of these. 

Wilson, TV and radio personality, WCCBNews Rising
Paul McCartney "New"
David Bowie "The Next Day"
The Avett Brothers "Magpie and the Dandelion"
Haim "Days Are Gone"
Savages "Silence Yourself"
King Krule "6 Feet Below the Moon"
Parquet Courts "Light Up Gold"
Lorde "Pure Heroine"
Melt Yourself Down "Melt Yourself Down"
M.I.A "Matangi"

Garrett Leister, bassist, HRVRD
Savages "Silence Yourself"
Chelsea Wolfe "Pain is Beauty"
The National "Trouble Will Find Me"
Thee Oh Sees "Floating Coffin"
Atoms for Peace "AMOK"
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds "Push the Sky Away"
Arcade Fire "Reflektor"
Sigur Ros "Kveikur"
Still Corners "Strange Pleasures"
Cult of Luna "Vertikal"

Laurie Koster, Independent bookings and promotions
Both Koster and her husband Don were so enthusiastic they picked 20 top albums each as well as favorite EPs. Here’s ten each.
Junip "Junip"
Jake Troth "Double Black Diamond"
Tauk
"Homunculus"
Yes the Raven
"Love is Covered in Dust"
Tom McBride "Morning in Glen Burnie"
Gregory Alan Isakov
"The Weatherman"
Escondido "The Ghost of Escondido"
Humble Tripe "The Giving"
Paul Speer
"Ax Inferno"
Trent Dabbs
"The Way We Look at Horses"