It’s our peak summer concert season now that August is in full swing, and oh is it full-steam-ahead! The buzz around town is weighing heavily on shows like Incubus with Deftones and Death From Above 1979 at PNC Pavilion August 9, but there’s tons of other great stuff right below the surface. 
There’s a lot to reminisce over this week with some great throwbacks and honorable mentions, including Sister Hazel at Cat’s Cradle in the Raleigh/Durham area on Friday, August 7, along with young mountain-bluegrass artist Christian Lopez Band. The infamous Shaggy will be at Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte accompanied by friends and a live band, and Def Leppard tribute band Hysteria at Amos’ Southend with Mare’s Leg. Also on Friday evening around Charlotte, The Milestone delivers some progressive metal including Umbra, Shadow of the Destroyer and Green Fiend, while Christina Perri steals the show over at The Fillmore. Slingshot Dakota is accompanied by Shell, Petal and Alright at Snug Harbor, and there’s an interesting level of metal debuts at Tremont Music Hall involving Colossus, Everthrone, Old Scratch and The Body Bags. The Evening Muse hosts a unique co-bill Friday night with Quincy Mumford & the Reason Why along with Matt Mackelcan, and Visulite Theatre opens its doors to Coddle Creek and The Hashbrown Belly Boys.
Purgatory 65 returns to Amos’ with “Fetish Fairytales” on Saturday, August 8, featuring Valentine Wolfe, Wolfling, Art to Life & Virgin Iron, Fire & Fury and Marilyn Chen of Liquid Sky. Underground music scene native King Callis is joined by fellow MCs Inf, The Other Guy, Ellis, RatheMC, Joey Gallo and DJ Drop at The Milestone, while Miami Dice makes up a lineup featuring Joshua Cotterino, Patabamba and DJ A-Huf at Snug Harbor. The QC hosts the Bon Jovi cover band Slippery When Wet, at The Fillmore, while country and rock collaboration Josh Brannon Band team up with alt-country mix Kenny George Band at Double Door Inn. Tremont Music Hall holds Punk Rock Picnic 8 featuring Swell Friends, The Commonwealth, No Anger Control, Chalkies, The Bleeps, Random Conflict, Corporate Fandango, Turd//Cutter, YARBS and Aloha Broha. Also on Saturday, The Evening Muse treats us to a plethora of local talent including Queen City duo of electric folk capability, Bless These Sounds Under the City, the dark and moody Sam the Lion, and Charlotte-native Jesse Tyler, and will be followed up by a later set with singer/songwriter Justin Cross and Atlanta indie-alt group von Grey.
On Sunday, August 9, take the mic at Snug Harbor’s karaoke night, Bone Snugs-N-Harmony; check out the rhythmically-addictive Failure with HUM at Neighborhood Theatre; or swing by The Evening Muse for some singer/songwriter delight with Peter Bradley Adams and Irish singer Lisa Lambe. Knocturnal continues to keep Monday nights about hip hop on Monday, August 10, at Snug Harbor, while The Monday Night Allstars give you anything you want at Double Door Inn. Find Your Muse Open Mic Night at The Evening Muse this week features the musical compilation of singer/songwriter Jesse Stockton, Moonlight Company. In the Raleigh/Durham area Monday evening, check out Lauryn Hill at Carolina Theatre, or take advantage of a second night to check out Death From Above 1979 with The Bots at Ritz Raleigh.
The relatable and approachable Howie Day will be at The Evening Muse Tuesday, August 11, with Casey Buckley, while Sinners & Saints join Swedish-American artist Sofia Talvik and Sy Arden at Snug Harbor. Bill Hanna Jazz Jam covers another week at Double Door Inn. Back in Raleigh, Col. Bruce Hampton visits The Ritz Wednesday, August 12, along with Aquarium Rescue Unit. A heavy rock and metal panel featuring Take the Fall, Awake At Last, Shiva’s Destruction, Isolate the Unknown and Prelate will be over at Tremont. Snug Harbor’s August residency STEREOLOUD is joined this week by Joneses, Maf Maddix, Aswell, DJ Ray and Collectr. Electro-punk crew Math the Band compile a night with The Emotron, Dollar Signs, Smelly Felly, DJ Wyley B and Pants’ Flying Taco Circus at The Milestone.
Thursday, August 13, includes an array of punk, electro, metal rock and more. Check out punk group The Giggitys at The Milestone with Mr Gold and Van Huskins; Brandon Flowers at The Fillmore; SHIPROCKED! at Snug Harbor; or electrifying duo Chuck Burns & Ty Rone at Double Door Inn with folk rock singer/songwriter Nathan Storey, Ross Adams and NYC folk rock band Wildbone. The progressively styled lineup of Prawn, Dikembe and aggrocragg will be at Neighborhood Theatre Thursday night, while Tremont features more metal including The Aristocrats, Travis Larson and Hephystus. Foxtrot & The Get Down joins Jen Foster at The Evening Muse, and Cat’s Cradle closes out the week with heavily blended industrial and heavy metal courtesy of Neurosis, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth and SUMAC.
We welcome any thoughts on this week’s shows and tips for upcoming shows or not-yet-mentioned venues. Leave a comment here, use hashtag #Shutter16, or email us at info@shutter16.com with subject title “What’s New This Week.” If you’re in a band or know of a band or artist that may like to work with us, please forward that inquiry along as well. Don’t forget to use hashtag #TWITFROMTHEPIT to share perspective of your show experiences.