For the 500 music fans who crowded into NoDa's Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte, N.C., for the third-annual "Spread Your Wings" Benefit Concert for Breast Cancer, the event was somewhere between a Texas two-step at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth and the rolling energy of an indoor Woodstock festival.
Billed as "Texas Meets The Carolinas," the concert lived up to advance billing providing high energy music and one of the most exceptional Americana music concerts ever seen in Charlotte or the Southeast. When the evening was over, almost $17,000 was raised for the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Charlotte.
Local band The Stragglers opened up, enthusiastically received by the audience, giving evidence that Bob Wills and Texas swing music have a welcome home in Charlotte. By the time the group finished its "Ghost Riders In The Sky," it was clear to the audience that an outstanding evening of music was in store.
The Avett Brothers' alt-country mixture of old-time bluegrass, pop melodies, folk, rock n' roll and ragtime filtered through an in-your-face attitude brought the house to it's dancing feet. To witness the trio's robust bluegrass roots and broad-ranging appeal, after exhilarating bluegrass they delivered haunting lyrics and soulful harmonies in "Pretty Girl from Annapolis," a cut from their new CD Carolina Jubilee.
Next up was singer-songwriter-guitarist Malcolm Holcombe playing his unique brand of powerful country-blues guitar with the energy of Richard Thompson and primitive power of John Prine. Somewhere between country and folk, Holcombe's guitar playing and down-to-earth lyrics are mesmerizing and hungry for a place in his audience's hearts and minds.
Cast Iron Filter's bluegrass energy and musical enthusiasm are dubbed "Iron Grass." A must-see live act with the intricate instrumentation of traditional bluegrass and thumping rhythms of modern rock, Cast Iron Filter's songs explode with focused energy, clever lyrics and serious musicianship. There's just not a more powerful bluegrass duo around than mandolinist Mike Orlando and lead singer Dustin Edge.
Playing a full set as the last act of the concert to a largely-on-their-feet full house, The Gourds proved why they are "one of the most revered bands in Austin, Texas," with a coast-to-coast audience, many of whom made a pilgrim to Charlotte to witness a fabulous performance. Playing superior music reminiscent of Bob Dylan's legendary backup crew The Band, The Gourds' energy and irreverence are matched by their audience's thirst for good-natured Americana music with an edge.
There may never be another "Spread Your Wings" Benefit Concert for Breast Cancer like this one, but the 2003 audience loved the experience and the Komen Foundation of Charlotte has a new group of educated supporters. Organizers Bob Graham, Missi Ivie and Maxx Music share Charlotte's home run championship for the 2003 Americana music season.