Country

The latest incarnation of the band has been touring for more than 20 years, including founding member Bill Payne. Shaun Murphy, who played with the band since 1993, appearing on five albums, left the band this past February and will not be replaced.

After 20 years, it's no surprise the co-founders of the band Bloodkin have been through their share of ups and downs. Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter first started playing music together when they were in elementary school. Though the duo has had different bandmates over the years, they've released eight albums and are currently fueled by a new-found sobriety that has sparked new life into a band that was just about written off by its primary players.

Hot off his tour serving as lead axeman for the Black Crowes, Luther Dickinson returns to the band he calls home, the North Mississippi Allstars with drumming/percussionist brother Cody and bassist Chris Chew, for a tour in support of Do It Like We Used to Do.

The Deal: Willie Nelson joins up with Asleep at the Wheel for a collection of songs picked by the late Jerry Wexler.

The Deal: Remixers and producers offer new interpretations of classic Johnny Cash songs.

The Avett Brothers w/ Auld Lang Syne and Jason Webley
Belk Theatre
Dec. 30, 2008

The Deal: The Avett Brothers return to Charlotte for the first night in a sold-out, two-night New Year's Eve stand.

The Good: Auld Lang Syne warmed up the crowd as the first opener and were a little mellow in comparison with what was to come. Jason Webley was up next and got his feet stomping, the crowd involved and screamed his heart out. Even though he broke a guitar string, the show went on and he did his best to bring some energy out in the theatre.

You could tell the crowd was excited for The Avetts before they even hit the stage. There was an energy of anticipation for the whole night, and when the first notes finally rang out, the crowd broke into a frenzy and sang along with every word. While you may have thought it was full-on crowd participation for the opening song, it was en masse for "Paranoia," the second song of the night. The Avett's sister, Bonnie, came out to sing "Swept Away" and gave a nice female, family harmony to the song. Paleface and Mo made an appearance for three of the songs, including the first encore song. People who were yelling out for "Salvation Song" all night were rewarded at the end of the encore as Bonnie returned to join in with the band. It always amazes me that the band is able to keep up that energy each and every time I see them...but that's probably why their following continues to grow. Foot stomping, screaming, strumming -- it's always one hell of a live show to witness.

Last night I was ready to announce "last call" when I put on Letterman to check out the music guest. There loomed Jamey Johnson, this truck-driving fella with a rich, burly voice. He recounted a conversation with his WWII-vet granddaddy ... and I nearly had to wipe a manly tear from my eye. Titled "In Color," the song is moving without being maudlin, and Johnson, who co-wrote the number, delivers the touching lyric with old-school, outlaw authority -- and charm. Fatherly charm. Big brother charm. Two old pals with lots of battle scars sharing a bear-hug charm.

But "In Color" is not the most gripping song on Johnson's breakthrough disc That Lonesome Song. That honor goes to the nearly six-minute long "High Cost of Living (Ain't Nothing Like the Cost of Living High)," another original. Here's this mainstream country singer -- Johnson's on Mercury -- candidly singing about his past struggles with cocaine. The lived-in lyrics and the shackled-but-ever-present demons in his voice place the song on par with the best by fellow and former Nashville rebels Waylon, Willie, Hag and Cash.

Ass-stomping local punk-blues power trio Roppongi's Ace have posted new tracks on their MySpace page. Here's what the band wrote in a recent blog post:

Record in 1/09! Demos up now

Hope y'all get a chance to listen to the new tracks. They're still in demo form and are a little rough around the edges-the masters are done and should be up soon. Look for the new record in early January and a whole bunch of new dates to be posted soon! - RA

Singer/guitarist/fiddler Alex Spoto has been away at college (Brown, last we spoke; yep, he's a thinker), causing the recent band hiatus. But you can witness Roppongi's Ace rip it up Dec. 28 at Crowbar and Dec. 31 at Skipper's Smokehouse. Here's what I wrote about Roppongi's spectacular summer of 2007 farewell gig at the Skipperdome:

Another sign that the recession has been going on a lot longer than a month: Two local record stores are going bye-bye. In fact, Open Mind Music -- which moved to Market Street a couple years back in the hopes of staving off extinction -- is already gone, having shuttered its doors last month. (The store will apparently sell its remaining underground hip-hop, freaky techno, and oddball rock at the Other Shop on Divisadero and online.) Now comes the news that the 24th Street location of Streetlight Records is going kaput after the holidays.