Concert Review: Rancid @ The Fillmore Charlotte, NC 9/10/2013

The up and coming band, The Interrupters, were a great opening for the show.  The foursome out of LA, lead singer Amie Allen and the Bivona brothers, Kevin, Justin and Jesse, were the spark that set the evening off.  They sang songs from their soon to be released debut CD on Hellcat Records.  Two faves of mine were "A Friend Like Me" and the high energy, "Liberty".  They didn't disappoint in getting the crowd warmed up.  Keep an eye out for there CD but until then you can check them out on Youtube.

Tim Timebomb and Friends, led by Tim Armstrong, have been doing a song a day on Tim's site and Youtube. They have done over 300.  They did cover's of oldies and Tim Armstrong's songs.  They brought the tempo up and started the fire with songs like "She's Drunk All The Time", "30 Pieces of Sliver" and the Hank Williams Sr. song, "My Bucket's Got a Hole in it".  Armstrong as always was a music storyteller.  The audience constantly moving to the music went into a frenzy when Tim came down from the stage to the front of the crowd.  Fans clambered forward to touch him and rub his head like a modern day, musical Buddha.

20 year veterans, Rancid, hit the stage sounding even stronger than they did in the 90's.  The fire ignited and the crowd went wild.  Soon the bodies were flying overhead and the pit was in full swing. Songs like "Nihlism", "Ruby Soho", "East Bay Nights" and "Time Bomb" never grow old.  The whole show was high energy and the crowd sang along on several songs, including "Fall Back Down".  The band stood up to their legendary status. They will be releasing a new CD sometime in October. They haven't released a CD since their 7th "Let the Dominoes Fall" in 2009.

Lars Frederiksen

Tim Armstrong

Matt Freeman

Branden Steineckert

It was an amazing event and my second time seeing Rancid this year.  Did not prepare a more in depth review because I went to this concert to dance my ass off.  More than a concert, it was a group of friends doing what they love to do the most, making great music.

See ya in the pit!!!