R.I.P. Charles Hairston

Charlotte soul singer Charles Hairston died on Monday, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 61. Hairston was known in the area for his vibrant, rich voice--which he put to good use as the frontman of Double Door Inn staples The Monday Night All-Stars.

A straightforward message left on Hairston's Myspace reads,

Charles Hairston passed away February 23, 2009 after battling cancer since last year. He was loved by so many and will be greatly missed. Over a half centry of Experience has produced a master vocalist extraordinaire. Decades of experience by performance and Evolution of popular music has brought Charles to the top of the game. "The love for my craft as well as the love of my audience creates a one on one experience,collectively and individuality at every show. In other words when you leave my concert you feel as if every song that was performed was song especially for you. Go to a Charles Hairston show with the understanding that your going to be entertained by a God Given Talent that expresses a kind of love and joy that we all sometimess need to feel."

Charlotte Observer reporter Tonya Jameson wrote two obituaries for Hairston, one for the Observer, and one for her own blog.

Benji Hughes sings on the televesion

Benji Hughes, the Charlotte-based crooner who released his double-album debut last year andgraced the cover of Shuffle #3, will make his television debut with a performance tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live on the ABC network.

Lunchbox Records celebrates three years

Charlotte-based Lunchbox Records has reached its third year of successful operation, spitting in the face of the music industry's wings-ablaze descent to what seems like inevitable bankruptcy. If ever there were cause for celebration, this is it. And what better way to do so, than to throw not just a show, but two--including what might turn out to be the best punk show you're likely to see all year.

The festivites kick-off with an in-store show at Lunchbox's Central Avenue headquarters, featuring Graf Orlock (CA), Lewd Acts (CA) and Lowbrow (Charlotte).

Then, it's time for the main event at The World Famous Milestone Club. The show will be headlined by the long-running (and p4k-endorsed) Fucked Up and Raleigh's HC-revivalist heroes Double Negative. Local support comes in the form of Grids (featuring Lunchbox clerk Rob Davis) and Planet Piss (featuring Lunchbox honcho Scott Wishart).

Fuck yeah.

Reminder: Black Congo NC says sayonara tonight

Eric Deines (left, shirtless) is leaving N.C. for Indiana, which means the dissolution of Black Congo NC, the band Deines (a sometime Shuffle contributor) fronts, and which was featured in our most recent issue. The band bids its final adieu tonight at Snug Harbor. The loss of BCNC is a bummer for Charlotte, for sure.

Also, if you're in the neighborhood early, check out Raleigh's Whatever Brains at Lunchbox Records around 8 p.m.

Cast Your Bruce Hazel and Some Volunteers Ballot by Dec. 12!

Just when you thought you were done voting -- here is your chance to support someone else you might like. He may not be a matinée idol like Barack Obama, but we happily endorse the gravel-voiced Bruce Hazel, his volunteers, and their music.

Hazel and his crew are one of the thirteen remaining bands vying for the honor of "Best Unsigned Band in the World," as deemed by Genya Ravan's Sirius Satellite program, "Goldie's Garage." Just click on it to register, which you must do to vote. The next round of voting runs through Friday, Dec. 12.

The top three bands will head to NYC to play live on January 17th 2009 at PIANO’S, and the winner of this live show gets a record deal with Little Steven's Wicked Cool Records.

For more info, visit www.wheelerstmusic.com or www.foolsbrigade.org.

Party Tomorrow

FRIDAY, DEC. 5 @ THE WORLD FAMOUS MILESTONE CLUB, CHARLOTTE, N.C.

CALABI YAU (LAST SHOW EVER!)
THANK GOD
KING TUT
THE CURTAINS OF NIGHT
GRIDS
BATTLE BEASTS

ALL FOR FREE!

Fare thee well, Black Congo NC

The saying holds true and all good things must, indeed, come to an end. Charlotte's Black Congo NC will play its final show Dec. 12 at Snug Harbor with Yardwork and Snagglepuss. Black Congo front man (and Shuffle contributor) Eric Deines has announced his departure from the Queen City to pursue new endeavors in the frozen plains of Bloomington, Ind.

So far BCNC has left only a cryptic note confirming the band's demise: "OUR LAST SHOW EVER! probably," reads a description of the show's listing on Black Congo's Myspace.

Check out Black Congo before it's too late. The band will play three more shows, including the final show at Snug Harbor. Dates below.
Dec. 5 @ Nightlight, Chapel Hill, NC
Dec. 6 @ Chalet 2000, Charlotte, NC (Kinnikinnik's 3rd Annual Winter Warm-Up)
Dec. 12 @ Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC

The Have And The Have Nots release EP

Charlotte duo The Have And Have Nots announced the release of their debut EP, Vanity Of Vanities. Recorded by Bo White (Calabi Yau, Yardwork, Black Congo NC), the EP will bear the Kinnikinnik imprint and will be celebrated with a Nov. 30 release party at Snug Harbor. Matthew Paul Butler opens with his full band, The Beards of Power.

The Avett Brothers' Carolina Christmas

Newly signed American Records artists The Avett Brothers announced a series of holiday-time shows in North Carolina. First the band will hold a three-night stand at The Orange Peel in Asheville, Dec. 26-28, then the trio rings in the new year with a two-night stand at Charlotte's Belk Theatre Dec. 30 and 31. Tickets for all five shows are on sale Friday (Nov. 7) at 10 a.m. Seeing as The Avetts' recent N.C. shows have all sold out, a "good luck" is in order to anybody hoping to snag tickets.

Free mixtape from Big TReal

Big TReal, the self-proclaimed "best MC in 17% of the world," has released The Return of Joe Grizzly, a new18-track mixtape as a free download. Production credits include N.C. heavyweights Khrysis and 9th Wonder, while guest verses come compliments of Skyzoo, Kam Moye (Supastition) and Big Remo.

Download The Return of Joe Grizzly here.

More David Byrne dates announced

David Byrne, as previously reported, is bringing his "Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno" tour to Raleigh. But he'll also be playing in Charleston and Charlotte, as the tour extends into the winter. The Raleigh show is Dec. 8 at Meymandi Concert Hall. Byrne's bus will then head south to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, Dec. 9, and then back up to the Old North State for a show at Charlotte's Ovens Auditorium Dec. 10.

This tour, which features no opening act, is in support of the latest Byrne/Eno collaboration, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. Tickets for the Raleigh and Charleston dates go on sale Friday.

R.I.P. The Young Sons

Charlotte pop-rockers The Young Sons are no more. Citing irreconcilable differences, the band dissolved without ever releasing its promised album, Hearts, Inc. The band's Myspace page has been wiped clean, with a promise to become the Web home of a new band. Details are yet to be announced.

Regarding the break-up, The Young Sons issued the following statement.

the young sons are over

hey everyone,

it's been a long time coming, but as of this past weekend, we ended the young sons. suffice it to say that there were many obvious irreconcilable differences, and none of us had the heart to carry on with it the way things were.

john, mike and i really wanted to see the full young sons album "hearts inc." come out on itunes, as we spent a good deal of time and energy on that recording, and it only seems logical to have the album exist as an artifact of the band that was, and of this past year together. at the time of writing this, justin williams has decided that of the 12 songs we recorded, he's taking half (the 6 he principally wrote), and not allowing us to release the record in full. it's a shame, because the rest of us can't wait to get on with our lives and new projects, and frankly, could care less about holding on to these jams in any way other than as a document of the group that is no more.

so maybe one day you'll be able to have the option to own that one and only full-length by the young sons. and maybe not.

at any rate, this page is going to be another music page for my new album and band, and will no longer have anything to do with the young sons.

i will post some new music in the next few days and make some other announcements soon. thanks to everyone who supported this band, hard as it was on us all. it meant the world to me, and i'm so glad those relationships are still in tact and fruitful.

later.

jon

The Sammies play Brooklyn Vegan's CMJ showcase

The Sammies, fresh off the Sept. 23 release of sophomore LP, Sandwich, have been pegged to play Brooklyn Vegan's showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York Oct. 21 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The Queen City quartet plays alongside hype-magnets Ponytail and "singing DJ" Jens Lekman.

Brooklyn Vegan has the following to say:

The Sammies are a North Carolina band whose new album Sandwich became a slight obsession recently. I'm glad I didn't judge the book by its cover and that they said yes to coming up and playing the show.

Tickets are $15 and go on sale Tuesday. CMJ badgeholders admitted on a first-come-first-served basis. Drink specials promised.