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Thursday, August 11, 2016
Live Reviews / Music Motion City Soundtrack graces a Charlotte stage for the last time
Posted By Alison Angel on Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 2:11 PM
It was a bittersweet moment for Motion City Soundtrack fans in Charlotte on Wednesday as the band took the Fillmore Charlotte stage for one last performance.
This tour, appropriately titled “So Long, Farewell,” marks the end of an era for a generation that came up on the Vans Warped Tour in its prime. Energy was high, but slowly dwindled by night’s end as the crowd realized the group that defined them from their tweens onward was really gone for good.
Motion City Soundtrack made a name for themselves nearly 20 years ago thanks to thought-provoking pop-punk songs that somehow manage to be upbeat while sparking a dialogue on mental health. The band consists of singer and guitarist Justin Pierre, guitarist Joshua Cain, keyboardist Jesse Johnson, bassist Matthew Taylor and drummer Tony Thaxton. They released their official debut “I Am the Movie” in 2003 on Epitaph Records and have been releasing and touring nonstop ever since.
Until now, that is. Fans across the world were heartbroken to hear that the 2016 tour would be their last.
After sets by openers Great Big Pile of Leaves and Roswell Kid, Motion City Soundtrack hit the stage and charged into “Back to the Beat,” an impressive fast-paced jam that furiously set the tone for the rest of the evening. The group raged through their extensive catalogue of songs, playing fan favorites back-to-back without pausing or missing a single note. These guys have been performing together for two decades, after all. By this point, their live performance is a well-oiled machine.
The entire 90-minute show was really just for their beloved fans. Pierre rarely stopped to chat between sets (“I’m trying to get better about it,” he told the crowd sheepishly), but when he did, it was to profusely thank every person in the room for sticking with them til the end. “I hope you feel lots of feelings about feelings,” he quipped.
They’ve always had a way of bringing their music to life on previous tours, but perhaps the sound resonated so much more on Wednesday night because they group knew it was the final curtain call. Each song seemed driven by a manic energy, the band feeding off of the audience and the audience responding in kind. The Fillmore, maybe half full at the start of the show, practically shook as Motion City Soundtrack’s devoted fans screamed the words back to their heroes. Now that’s some serious band love.
They ended their regular set with “Everything is Alright,” possibly the most upbeat song ever written about having an anxiety attack. The crowd screamed the words back to them, negating the need for Pierre’s amazing vocals (he happily chimed in anyways). After the demands of the crowd took hold, they returned for a three song encore, the very last time Charlotte got to see them perform together as a group. Every fan knew how special this moment was, dancing ferociously and begging for more before the inevitable conclusion.
Motion City Soundtrack ended up playing an impressive 22-song set that spanned six studio albums. It was like a greatest hits concert from a band in its heyday. If you missed it, you missed a historic moment in the life of a band that defined a generation.
Setlist
1. Back to the Beat
2. Cambridge
3. Capital H
4. Her Words Destroyed My Planet
5. True Romance
6. It Had to Be You
7. Make Out Kids
8. Time Turned Fragile
9. L.G. FUAD
10. Last Night
11. My Favorite Accident
12. This Is For Real
13. Attractive Today
14. Broken Heart
15. Better Open the Door
16. When “You’re” Around
17. Hold Me Down
18. A Lifeless Ordinary (Need a Little Help)
19. Everything is Alright
Encore
20. Anything At All
21. Even If It Kills Me
22. The Future Freaks Me Out
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Culture / Music / News Milestone begins fundraising campaign for lifesaving renovations
Posted By Ryan Pitkin on Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 11:53 AM
One of Charlotte's most iconic music venues is asking for help from its supporters today in an effort not to become the most recent in a long list of Charlotte venues to shut its doors as of late.
Late Tuesday night, owners of The Milestone in west Charlotte posted a video and a GoFundMe page to raise money for renovations that they say are needed in order for the long-standing venue to keep its doors open.
Carlos Espin, known for his 14-year effort to bring the Area 15 warehouse near NoDa to where it is today, is set to buy the property where The Milestone sits, but said the building needs major renovations costing $150,000 to keep bands coming to the Enderly Park venue as they've been doing since 1969.
Needed renovations include replacing two roofs, one of which hasn't been replaced since the building went up in 1904. In fact, the building itself hasn't been renovated in those 112 years.
"We don't have 14 years at The Milestone," Espin said in a video posted on the GoFundMe page.
On that page, current co-owner Stephanie Hughes wrote about the history of The Milestone, which has hosted mainstream bands like Nirvana, R.E.M. and Melissa Etheridge to punk icons like Bad Brains, Black Flag and Fugazi.
"In the past year, the face of the local music scene in the Queen City has changed dramatically, with the loss of Tremont Music Hall, The Chop Shop and Tommy's Pub," Hughes wrote. "One could call the west side institution, The Milestone Club, the underdog of the music scene, that one constant that has been a haven for up-and-coming musicians since 1969."
She continued, "With a history as legendary as The Milestone's, the rickety Tuckaseegee Road club has managed to survive the eras of new wave, grunge, hardcore, post-punk and everything in between, lived to tell the tale, but not without its share of battle scars. Undoubtedly, the structure has seen better days since the original building was constructed over 100 years ago. The Milestone Club is badly in need of repair to continue to be the constant the city of Charlotte needs."
In a Facebook post from co-owner Jonathan Hughes announcing the GoFundMe campaign, he humbly asked the music community for a helping hand.
"It’s not anyone’s fault," Jonathan wrote. "It’s not the city screwing us or anything... it’s just time taking a toll on things. We don’t want to ask for anyone’s help. We’ve always just gotten by... but that said... we’ve always gotten by. We’ve never paid our rent late. We’ve never had our utilities cut off. We’ve never not paid a band what they were promised or earned. We’ve done it honest and we just want to keep giving our hearts and efforts back to you guys."
Within just a half day of the GoFundMe page going up, Espin had already raised about $6,500, but much more will need to come rolling in to do what's needed to keep The Milestone alive.
"I'm stepping up, doing what I need to do to keep The Milestone open for another 47 years, and I hope you'll step up and respond as well," Espin said in the video.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Arts / Music / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, May 13, 2015 at 11:31 AM
* Dollar Signs continues its Wednesday night residency at Snug Harbor.
* A Community Blood Drive is being held at Johnson & Wales University.
* Wyatt Cenac is at the Comedy Zone.
* Zipline and Dine at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
* The NoDa Brewing Run Club meets at Noda Brewing Company.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Arts / Music / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Monday
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, May 11, 2015 at 12:09 PM
• Find Your Muse Open Mic at the Evening Muse
• Skew The Masters at Ciel Gallery: A Fine Art Collective
• Knocturnal at Snug Harbor
• Body Emellishment at the Mint Museum Uptown
• Monday Night Allstars at Double Door Inn
Monday, June 23, 2014
Music Andy the Doorbum releases new song/video
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 2:17 PM
Charlotte singer/songwriter Andy the Doorbum has released a wonderfully weird video for his song, "Evocation: The Beast of Change," from his upcoming album, The Fool.
Featuring plenty of white and black body paint, the video is a teaser for the album, due out on Friday with a release party that will be unique in its own way.
A "ceremonial procession" for the album is scheduled to take place at a warehouse behind CHP Audio, 2301 Distribution St. on Friday night. Only a couple of tickets are left for the event, which is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. sharp with no late seating available. Tickets, for $20, include a copy of the new album.
Judging by the new video, there are sure to be some interesting stories coming out of the show.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Music Funk Fest announces Outkast as headliner
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Jun 13, 2014 at 12:04 PM
Funk Fest, being held at the Metrolina Expo on Sept. 12-13, 2014, will be headlined by Outkast, according to the event's Facebook page. Other performers include LL Cool J, The Roots, Fantasia, Salt N Pepa, Doug E. Fresh, War and Morris Day and the Time.
In January, Outkast announced its reunion, stating they would perform at 40 festivals this summer. It looks like Charlotte's Funk Fest is one of them.
Funk Fest tickets go on sale June 20 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Music / Live Reviews Live review: The Head and the Heart, The Fillmore (6/11/2014)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Jun 12, 2014 at 10:36 AM
The Head and the Heart
The Fillmore
June 11, 2014
- Photo by Jeff Hahne
- The Head and the Heart
As the final notes from "Rivers and Roads" dissipated into the air of the sold-out Fillmore, the lights dimmed and The Head and the Heart's crew prepared the stage for a scheduled four-song encore. As the crowd cheered and broke into chants of "one more song!" the minutes ticked by. After roughly 10 minutes, the lights came on and a Fillmore employee took to the stage and informed the crowd the show was over. A few boos were heard as nearly 2,000 attendees shuffled out of the N.C. Music Factory venue.
On Twitter and Facebook, fans expressed their displeasure saying they were "bummed" and disappointed. The band took to social media:
Charlotte- please read this about our show tonight. We are so sorry to have been shutdown. We had many songs left. pic.twitter.com/aRthTnkGrg
- The Head & The Heart (@headandtheheart) June 12, 2014Rumors quickly spread that there was a bomb threat and people blamed the venue for not doing more. If the rumors are true, why blame the venue for ending a show and getting people out of the venue? Did patrons want them to "yell fire" and get people to panic and run? Fans should instead be blaming the person who made the threat for ending the show early.
The Fillmore, on Thursday morning, issued the following statement:
"After the band's final song, an apparently intoxicated individual on our property outside the venue claimed he had put a bomb on the property. Charlotte police apprehended the individual, deemed the threat non-reliable but nonetheless, in the interest of safety, a decision was made to end the show without an encore."
If the show had continued, The Head and the Heart was scheduled to play a new song, "Springtime," "Summertime," "Let's Be Still" and "Down in the Valley." As it stands, fans were left a bit confused and dispirited.
Music 106.5's 2014 Weenie Roast lineup announced
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, Jun 12, 2014 at 9:45 AM
106.5 The End's Summer Weenie Roast lineup features Weezer, Foster the People, Wild Cub and J Roddy Walston and the Business. Taking place on Sept. 6, 2014, at PNC Music Pavilion, the lineup for the event's 14th edition is rounded out by Foster the People, Foxy Shazam, Fitz and the Tantrums, IAmDynamite, Bear Hands, The Pretty Reckless, Big Data Sir Sly, Fuel and Charlotte's Flagship. Presale lawn tickets for $10.65 begins today at 10 a.m.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Music First notes (6/9/2014): Psy hits karaoke with Snoop Dogg
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 1:20 PM
Editor's Note: First Notes is a weekly update of recent happenings in the world of music.
* His "Gangnam Style" video has received more than 2 billion hits, so it's no surprise that Psy's latest video, "Hangover" featuring Snoop Dogg, has received more than 5 million in less than a day. Of course, the duo's appearance and singing karaoke together was more entertaining.
*There's a lot of chatter online about a possible Kinks reunion and tour.
Music / Live Reviews Live photos: Hooterfest, Chop Shop (6/7/2014)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 11:45 AM
Hooterfest
Chop Shop
June 7, 2014
From the opening notes of heavy rock band Butterfly Corpse to the closing set of humorous folk by Smelly Felly, the third annual Hooterfest benefit show for the Carolina Raptor Center showcased a variety of local music. Radio Lola offered blues-driven rock and No Anger Control brought punk angst, while Tattermask and Something Clever brought more heavy rock to the NoDa venue. Here's a slideshow from the event:
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His name was Blake 2
A young activist gone too soon.
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Question the Queen City: Charlottetown Mall and its nearly forgotten time capsule
A child's coffin contained relics of the past that stood neither the test of time nor the elements
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Question the Queen City: The unsolved death of Delette Nycum 2
The trial that followed was nothing short of a Charlotte version of the O.J. Simpson spectacle.
