Eric Mullis of Actual Proof @ the Neighborhood Theatre
October 1st, 2009 - In celebration of the richness and diversity of Charlotte's live music scene, Jeff Hahne & Creative Loafing together with the support of CD Warehouse, Highland Brewing and the Carolina Live Music Society released the latest volume of "homebrew". As stated inside the CD cover, Homebrew, vol 3 is the latest release of the CD sampler of fantastic, independently released music from around the Queen City. It includes Folk, blues, rock, hip-hop, alternative, americana & jazz - it's a taste of everything.
To bring emphasis to the release and further the communication of the true gift we in Charlotte enjoy in the availability, diversity and integrity of our live music environment, several artists celebrated Thursday night by providing a free concert performance hosted at the Neighborhood Theatre.
Photos of the nights performance.
Just prior to the beginning of last nights free concert there was a short panel discussion about the Charlotte music scene. Hosted by Jeff Hahne the theme of the discussion took form after the purpose of the evening, etc. was discussed. The theme boils down to the fact that we have a great thing going and how does Charlotte's music 'scene' communicate the richness available to the growing population of Charlotte. Of course there are always impediments, but the general action required of us all is to continue to communicate what a wonderful opportunity is available to everyone who wishes to witness live music here in the Queen City. Several towns across america can define their "music scene" as being a dialect of Blues, Jazz, Grunge, Country, or an endless list of other genres. The concensus, and truth, is that Charlotte has a splendidly diverse music scene that defies a label, other than perhaps active or artistically rich. As the performers who came to the Neighborhood Theatre this night adequately demonstrate, Charlotte is a music town which prides itself on supporting multiple genres. If you like it, its here. Keep it live!
Music fans @ the homebrew concert - Neighborhood Theatre
Kicking things off for the night was the Charlotte group Bums Lie. Featuring a Punk, Raggae, Pop mixture Bums Lie was an excellent choice for leading off. Upbeat, rhythmic, the foursome warmed up the audience and got the juices flowing. Check out Bums Lie and their music here.
Actual Proof followed with their wonderful Jazz fusion/funk sound. Primarily instrumental and led by Eric Mullis on his MalletKat, Actual Proof had everyone on their feet warming the dance floor. With Silas Aldridge on keys, Philip Berley III plays bass, and Scott Brower rounds out the group on drums.
Photos of the nights performance
The resoundingly popular singer-songwriter Scoot Pittman, with his long time playing partners, Tony on Bass & Brickhouse on drums, brought their down home country cookin to the stage next. It was good to hear such a diverse audience sing the words to Scoots song - Fatback from his hit CD Lake Montonia Road.
Up next was one of my favorite Charlotte music discoveries for 2008. Pradigy GT will expand your horizons and modify your musical perspective. Pradigy brings a very trendy hip-hop style to a rock-pop based upbeat band with catchy lyrics and impeccable timing integrating the vocal arrangement between Pradigy and Phinesse who also plays bass. You can't help but dance with these guys on stage.
Kyle Dussault - Keyboards - Raised By Wolves
From here, as the night was getting later, the tone of the music began a slight heading change as the transition to rock n roll began. To begin the transition, Raised By Wolves performed next. Raised By Wolves is made up of CT Stephenson on vocals and guitar, Grant Funderburk plays lead guitar, Bobby Gellespie on Bass, Kyle Dussault on keyboards with Charlie Heard keeping time on the drums.
Kicking it into high gear was the very popular group Evelynn Rose. They rocked the house with their high energy rock and enthusiastic delivery. The calls for encore and "one more song" were long and loud at the end of their set - but their is a schedule to keep and Jeff had to keep things on time. The good news is these guys have been playing a lot lately and you should be able to catch a show sometime in October if you missed this or want more! Evelynn Rose is Joseph William on lead vocals and high octane energy, Joshua Wade thumps the bass with an equal energy setting a high mark for beat time, Chris Black simply shreds his lead guitar forging the rock ahead, and Jimmy Jack pulls it all together with an exhaustingly busy evening on drums.
Photos of the nights performance
The honor of closing out this patently Queen City free musical event went to the local group Heywire. In meeting the bands lead singer - although not the only vocalist in the group - before the set, Michael Deeb described the band (after a slight pause) as Rock Americana with a roots twist. We both chuckled understanding that covers just about anything. However it really was a good description of what I was in for. James Dabbs was smokin' hot on the slide guitar, supported by Ashley Peeples on bass and some pretty incredible vocals, with Aaron Kaufman on drums completing the band.
The opportunity to hear seven different bands from diverse music genres was a great opportunity. The selection was representative of the diversity found in Charlottes music scene and is exactly what the contents of homebrew, vol 3 is meant to communicate. The CD contains 18 tracks from local Charlotte musicians and its free. Keep an eye out for your free copy as it provides a great sampling of what we have as a local treasure.
Keep it live,
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