MARCH 19, 2009 ISSUE
Brewer’s Briefs
Any time I attend or participate in a musical event—whether as a spectator, a performer or whatever—I always try to find new inspiration for this column. Last week, I escaped to San Francisco, a city as famous for its contribution to the American music scene as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Austin. During the next few weeks, I’ll shed some light on my Bay Area experiences, beginning with this week’s homage to The Fillmore.
In case you are unaware, The Fillmore is one of the oldest, most historic rock clubs in the country. Rock promoter extraordinaire Bill Graham first began hosting events there in 1965 before moving to a bigger venue across town, which he dubbed The Fillmore West (Graham also opened The Fillmore East in New York). The original Fillmore began having shows again in the 1980s before the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake intervened.
Reopened in 1994, The Fillmore is a music lover’s dream. After entering and ascending the steps, a greeter welcomes you to The Fillmore, as has been the custom since the 1960s. Step into the hallway outside the performance hall and pictures of icons from the 1960s to the present stop you in your tracks. From Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead, to Wilco and Ben Harper, the large color shots tell only some of the story of the music witnessed there.
Walk up the stairs on the left side of the hallway and you approach the lounge and mezzanine, where psychedelic concert posters virtually cover the walls. Music nerds like me could stand there for hours soaking in the names, dates and images. But alas, there are bands to see and hear. And even though the views were cool, it sounds like crap in the mezzanine.
The hall itself is a grand room with deep red walls and curtains framing its large, elevated stage. Two rows of four or five chandeliers running from the stage to the back wall provide the light in the auditorium between sets. The big square room holds close to 1,200 people—a size many fans and musicians would argue is just about right for maximum enjoyment.
Tune in next week for some impressions of the show.
This Week…
-This Thursday, March 19, world-renowned instrumentalists Victor Wooten and J.D. “The Groove Regulator” Blair will combine to form one of the best rhythm sections you’ll ever see at Legends. Wooten obviously needs no introduction. Blair’s résumé includes stints with Bootsy Collins, India.Arie, Lyle Lovett and Shania Twain. Yep, that Shania Twain.
-This Friday, March 20, Dragonfly Theater & Pub will be the place to be if you want to shake your thang as Gerald Manysides (DJ Piss and smallwonder) and DJ UnpredictaBull take to the turntables. These guys know how to get a room full of people moving and sweating, so be sure to put on some extra deodorant and get moving.
-He can flat out boogie when he’s by himself, but when it’s the Matt Walsh Band, the guitarist and blues shouter can really get the house rockin’. This Saturday, March 21, the pride of Statesville will return to the High Country for a show at Twigs.
Next Week…
-I’m pretty awful when it comes to describing indie rock bands, but Raleigh sextet Annuals just rock. Fresh off five shows at national summit South-By-Southwest in Austin, the band will bring their progressive and percussive epic rock back to their home state for a show at Legends on Tuesday, March 24.
-Voted the Best Band in Charlotte in by Creative Loafing, Americana purveyors The New Familiars will return to Boone Saloon on Wednesday, March 25. Mixing roots instruments, pop sensibilities and rock energy, The New Familiars work hard on stage, finding new converts at each show.
-And now for something completely different. Charleston, S.C.’s The Defilers will bring a taste of the Low Country to the High Country when the psychobilly band descends on Canyons Friday, March 27. Landing somewhere between Johnny Cash, Jason & The Scorchers and Steve Earle, the band probably won’t be taking any requests for Jimmy Buffet songs. So don’t ask.
On The Horizon…
-Do you like to dance? Do you like to give to charitable causes? Does this blurb read like one of those commercials from the Art Institute? On Thursday, April 2, the High Country Women’s Fund will host Pop Rocks featuring ‘80s band The Design at the Dragonfly Theater & Pub. You can’t resist putting on those leg warmers and busting a move to ‘80s music, so don’t even bother trying.
-Power trios might not be the hottest thing going in music today, but don’t tell that to Luther and Cody Dickinson and Chris Chew. Better known as The North Mississippi Allstars, Chew and the Dickinson brothers regularly steamroll audiences with their greasy, rumbling blues-rock. The Allstars, along with the Hill Country Revue, will play Legends on Thursday, April 16.
-While roots music fans of all stripes will be down the mountain grooving at MerleFest, the Boone Fairgrounds will host Rock2Raise, a benefit concert for Alzheimer’s research on Saturday, April 25. Bands currently slated to participate include Simplified, Do It To Julia and Sunny Ledfurd. More performers will be announced soon.
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