Arie and Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) along with representatives from Billboard, Virgin Records, Capitol Records, Def Jam, Epic Records and Hits Magazine. In addition to the panel discussions and showcases, a job fair and several industry parties will also take place during the conference. Charlotte acts Bridge and Justincase are showcasing at the conference. Other participating regional acts include Athenaeum, Drill 187, Transmission, Hot Lava Monster and Eliot James and the Snakes. Admission for the 3-day showcase (Thursday-Saturday) is $25. For more details, call the Atlantis office at 770-499-8600 or check out www.atlantismusic.com.
Charlotte's On Tour Agency is hosting monthly networking events on the first Thursday of each month from 6-9pm at Rudino's Pizza & Grinders (2000 South Blvd.). The next one will be held August 7 and the topic will be "Publicity." Admission is always free (and Rudino's offers $1 domestics!). For more details, call the On Tour office at 704-333-7077 or go to www.ontouragency.com.
Tabasco Hottie is back in action after an 18-month hiatus. Original members Maureen Roth, Michael Carinelli and Kelly Morse are currently teamed up with drummer Darrell Ussery (Lou Ford, Phil Lee) and bassist David Woods (Dank Flail). They're playing tonight (Wednesday, July 16) at the Double Door Inn.
Etheric have plans to record live when they appear at the Steeple Lounge on Friday, August 8. They're bringing in Chris Kress from Charlottesville, VA, to do the recording. (Kress has recorded the Dave Matthews Band live.) In addition to a full-length live CD the band hopes to release from the upcoming recording, they've started pre-production work for a studio album that's also being produced by Kress. You can catch the band in town this Friday, July 18, at Tremont Music Hall.
The Moonshine Racers have a lot going on these days. The bluegrass outfit has added a new bass player, Rick Stapleton (The Woodies) from Lenoir, NC. Their former bass player, Tim Connard is currently playing with the Eric Lovell Band and with Dave Rhames and the Westchesters, but will occasionally sit in with the Racers as a special guest.
The band's guitarist, Cito Giulini is nearing completion of his new multimedia studio in North Charlotte, The Doghouse Studio. Projected opening date is early September. Upon the studio's completion, the band will finish work on their first CD, tentatively titled Skyline Motel.
And Racers guitarist/vocalist Fudd McKinney has started hosting live music every Wednesday on the patio at Casco Bay Fish House (located behind Michael's at Park Road Shopping Center). Recent performers include Renelvis, Gigi Dover and Eric Lovell, members from F-150, Dave Rhames, Liberty, and the Southern Tradition Bluegrass Band. The music starts around 7pm and in case of inclement weather, the music moves inside. Call Casco Bay at 704-716-3474 for details. For more info on the band, go to www.moonshineracers.com.
Jeff Lowery of Pterodactyl Club and 13-13 fame has opened an intimate lounge bar on Montford Drive in the former location of Fosters. The new bar is called Jeff's Bucket Shop and he's planning to incorporate live acoustic music on Tuesday nights. Interested musicians can drop off a promo package at 1601 Montford Dr. or contact Lowery at 704-525-0425.
After two years with the band, Vance Carlisle has left First Night On Earth to pursue his own music more seriously. The split was amicable, although it has been rumored that objectionable foot odor may have been a contributing factor to Carlisle's departure from the band.
Hipshack (Scott McCloud, Calvin Carter and Keith Hicks) are now the "house band" at Aquavina every Thursday night. They play from 5-9pm each week. The band will also be heading up to Washington, DC, this week to perform at the United States Tennis Fed Cup Quarterfinals.
Around the region: Packages for the Rock Boat 2003 are currently available. Rock Boat is a four-day cruise set for Labor Day weekend that allows music fans to hang out with some well-known artists. Cowboy Mouth, Dexter Freebish, Sister Hazel, Angie Aparo and Edwin McCain are among the list of performers who will be on the cruise. For more info, go to www.therockboat.com.
Popular regional act Mandorico is calling it quits after playing together for eight years. The band's final appearance in Charlotte will be Friday, August 1, at the Visulite Theatre. Members Jesse Lauricella, Alan Marcha, Dennis Baraw and Chimo Harmon have plans to head into the studio next month to record songs for a new project that is yet to be named. The new band will also begin a showcase tour in November. Musicians interested in collaborating with the new project can contact the band via email at mandorico@hotmail.com. All info about the new band will also be linked to the old Mandorico website, www.mandorico.com.
