The raucous side of all things Irish to perform in Charlotte

By Debby Jet Jennings - special to The Herald

From now through midweek, much of the world will go green for St. Patrick’s Day, exalting all things Irish. The raucous side of the Emerald Isle will be laid bare by Iron Cordoba via their The Curse of the Brawling Irish bash Saturday at the Ultimate Gym in No Da, Charlotte’s arts district.

The party, presented by Nasty Productions, is a madcap mix of rockin’ music as rendered in burly originals, choice covers, twisted parodies and other assorted shenanigans. It’s also a fundraiser for the N.C. Firefighter Burned Children’s Fund.

Iron Cordoba features Jay Tilyard, vocals and guitar; Ryan Weaver, keyboards; Aaron Jacks, guitar, sax and vocals; Bob Davis, guitar and bass; Dave Alvey, bass; Toby Weaver, guitar and fiddle; Jeff Patterson, drums and percussion; and Kevin Luke, drums.

This talented troupe is joined by other singers, musicians, dancers, assorted terpsichorean wonders and walk-on performers focused on wild and crazy entertainment. Zany costumes are de rigueur, considering the boxing ring locale. Let the luck o’ the Irish rule with Iron Cordoba Saturday at The Ultimate Gym, behind Fat City, 401 E. 35th St. in Charlotte. Get more event details at myspace.com/ironcordoba. For more on the N.C. Firefighter Burned Children’s Fund, visit ffbcf.org.

More merrymaking develops as The Moons celebrate with a CD release party and concert at the Sylvia Theater in York. The Moons, based in Rock Hill, feature brothers Wes Clark, guitar, bass and vocals; and Zack Clark, lead guitar and bass; Drew McGuffin, drums; and Tanner Caldwell, bass and lead guitar. Caldwell stated that they are “a blues folk-rock band” who “love playing live” and “love playing rock n roll.”

They cite influences including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dylan, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams and The Band, to account for a sound similar to Cream, Jimi Hendrix and The Hawks.

Further musical illumination will radiate from tunes off the new CD.

The Moons have vowed that each audience member attending will receive a free copy of their new CD. Bark at The Moons Saturday night at the Sylvia Theater, 27 N. Congress St., downtown York. Call 684-5590ý or check sylviatheater.com for more. Check myspace.com/wesmoons and sonicbids.com/TheMoons2 for more on the band.

“May the road rise to meet you” and “May the wind be always at your back” as you venture out for live music this weekend and beyond.

Tonight: Dan Plowden Band at Tropical Escape Café, Rock Hill; Smilin’ Dogs at McHale’s On Main, Rock Hill; Weekends at The End Zone, Rock Hill; Mother’s Finest, Rough Draft at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; The Fabulous Kays at Elwood’s Music Hall, Charlotte; Grown Up Avenger Stuff, Electric Coma, Simple Machines at Smokey Joe’s Café, Charlotte; Darden Smith, Megan McCormick; Girls, Guns and Glory, Middle Distance Runner, Janet Robin at The Evening Muse, Charlotte; Acoustic Syndicate at the Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Lenny Federal Band at Comet Grill, Charlotte; Matter of Fact at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, Charlotte; Annual Young Talent Show at the Great Aunt Stella Center, Charlotte; The Press, PPR, U.S. Royalty, Andy The Door Bum at the Milestone, Charlotte; Ani DeFranco, Eric McKeown at the Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Whiskey Tail Outlaws, Wiggle Wagon at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte; Deadstar Blues at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Guam High, Spring Tigers, The Spalding Grays at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Eastern Sky, Ghost in the Machine at The Hot Box, Lancaster; Uphonik at Wild Wing Café-Epicenter, Charlotte; and Big Sam at Double Door Inn at the Lake, Cornelius, N.C.

Saturday: Mac Comer at McHale’s on Main, Rock Hill; The Moons at Sylvia Theater, York; Southern Culture on the Skids, Aqualads at the Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Graveyard Boulevard, Klown, Backseat Confidential at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Muzak Battle of the Bands at the Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Iron Cordoba Curse of the Brawling Irish at The Ultimate Gym-NODA, Charlotte; Truckstop Preachers, Tremors at Elwood’s Music Hall, Pineville-Charlotte; Tim Clark at the Double Door at The Lake, Cornelius; Case Federal and the Agents, Crackers and Snackmeat at the Common Market, Charlotte; AFI, The Loved Ones, Scarlet Grey at The Fillmore, Charlotte; The Anonymous Band, Discordian Society at the Double Door Inn, Charlotte; 42-Tribute to Coldplay at Amos Southend, Charlotte; The Wax Guru’s at Boardwalk Billy’s-Crown Point, Charlotte; Wicked Powers at Come Grill, Charlotte; The Wizard at Crossroads Pub-Steele Creek, Charlotte; Roxic at Easy Eddie’s, Huntersville, N.C.; Katharine Whalen’s Parlour Folk Troupe at The Evening Muse, Charlotte; 500 Miles to Memphis, Appalucia Powersolo, The Smokers at The Milestone, Charlotte; Federal Clan Kings, The Lenny Federal Band, Part Time Blues Band at Morehead Street Tavern, Charlotte; Garry Pffaff and the Heartwells at Wild Wing Café-Epicenter, Charlotte; The Nite Krawlerz at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte; Sea of Dogs at Pura Vida, Charlotte; and Kelly Murray at Smokey Joe’s Café, Charlotte.

Sunday: Benefit for Haiti, with Rockstar, Marty Faulkner and Company, Jealous Enemies, Push, more at Double Door at the Lake, Cornelius; The Wood Brothers, Joe McGuinness at the Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Chylde, Curtains of the Night, The Have and The Have Nots, NAAM at the Milestone, Charlotte; and Screens, French Door at Snug Harbor, Charlotte.

Monday: Monday Night All-Stars at the Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Find Your Muse Open Mic at The Evening Muse, Charlotte; Bruce Peninsula, Worst Case Ontario at Snug Harbor; and Ladies of Soul Tribute, Sounds of Sai at House of Jazz, Charlotte.

Tuesday: Butch and David at McHale’s on Main, Rock Hill; Open Mic at Sammy’s, Pineville; and Reverend Peyton’s Band, Buck Mountain Stranglers, Moses Cherry at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte;

Wednesday: Kellee, Matter of Fact, Soul Watt at McHale’s on Main, Rock Hill; St. Patrick’s Day Party/First Anniversary Party with The Oneppo Band at The End Zone, Rock Hill; and St. Paddy’s On Main in Old Town-Rock Hill.

Thursday: Beau James at Tropical Escape Café, Rock Hill.

And that was, “all she wrote.”