Janet Jackson a force in her own right

She’s back! Janet Jackson returns with a new album and tour – coming live Friday to PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte. In truth, Jackson has never really been gone, just out of public view for a few years.

The younger sister of pop icon Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson is a singer/songwriter/producer/actor/ dancer/humanitarian and a force in her own right – so much so, she is most often referred to as just Janet.

Whereas brother Michael is considered the “King of Pop,” Janet could easily be seen as the princess of pop, funk and soul. According to Billboard, she has sold more than 100 million albums. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) lists her as the 11th best selling female artist in the U.S.

Curiously, at times Janet seems more fierce, even more formidable than her late brother, and she makes that point in her hit “Control,” one of the 30-plus hits and new songs on her current tour set list. As for the new tunes, they are from Janet’s new album “Unbreakable,” due for release in early October.

Janet is all about the performance, which is as essential as the music in her live show. With a dazzling, chameleon-like style, her forte has always been spectacular music video production numbers. She is the only artist with Grammy nominations across multiple genre categories, thanks to her compelling choreography skills.

Janet’s “Unbreakable” tour kicked off Aug. 31 in Vancouver for its first leg. which includes the Charlotte date. Prepare to be amazed in multiple ways by her show Friday at PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd., Charlotte. For more information, call 704-549-1292 or 704-549-5555 or go to ticketmaster.com/venue/114764. For more on the music, visit janetjackson.com.

Elsewhere

Later in the week, swear your metal allegiance with Motorhead live at The Fillmore in Charlotte. The music of Motorhead has been classified as everything from metal and hard rock to punk rock or speed metal, and more.

Front man/bassist Lemmy Kilmister maintains it is just “rock and roll.” Along with Phil Campbell on guitar/backing vocals and Mikkey Dee on drums, he sings vigorously of war, gambling, good versus evil, and power, among other topics.

Ranked as No. 26 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, Motorhead is celebrating its 40th anniversary by touring in earnest. Roar with the ever-defiant Motorhead – touted to be “Loudest Band in the World,” with enough attitude to circle the globe multiple times – on Wednesday, with guests Anthrax and Crobot at The Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte. Call 704-549-555 or check fillmorecharlottenc.com for concert details. For more on the music, go to imotorhead.com.

Upcoming

Friday: Angel Incident at The Handlebar, Catawba; Oneppo Brothers Band at John’s Place, Fort Mill; Say We Can Fly, Wind in Sails, Messenger Down, more at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Anitra Jay at Crown Station Coffeehouse, Charlotte; The Breakfast Club, Gump Fiction at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Cadillac Three at Coyote Joe’s, Charlotte; Smilin’ Dogs at McKoy’s, Charlotte; Sunidhi Chauhan at Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte; Skinny Lister, The Mendes at Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Swim in the Wild, Heyrocco, more at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Charlotte Symphony Pops “Singin’ In The Rain” at Belk Theater, Charlotte; Sasha Masakowshi in The Jazz Room at Stage Door Theater, Charlotte; New Junk City, The Bleeps, more at Milestone, Charlotte; Southern Experience Band at Rocky Bar & Grill, Spindale; Benefit with Grande Nino, Aloha Broha, more at The Chop Shop, Charlotte; Johnnyswim at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Dance Box Sessions Tony Lucca, Castle Creek at Evening Muse, Charlotte; Matt Tucker at Bootlegger’s Saloon & Dance Hall, Charlotte; Shana Blake Band at Jack Beagles, Charlotte; Janet Jackson at PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte.

Saturday: Travis Powell & Austin Irby at Sylvia Theater, York; Oneppo Brothers Band at Pineville Tavern, Pineville; Charlotte Battle of the Bands at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Heavy Metal Fest with Mocktallica-Metallica Tribute; Among The Living-Anthrax Tribute; Hell Awaits-Slayer Tribute; Tornado of Souls-Megadeth Tribute at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Brennan Leeds at Crown Station Pub, Charlotte; Silver Wings at Comet Grill, Charlotte; Grown Up Avenger Stuff, more at Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Toleman Randall, Dust & Ashes, Commonwealth on Broadway at Double Door, Charlotte; Weyes Blood, Landless at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Installation at Milestone, Charlotte; Will Hoge, Dru Blast, Taylor Centers at EpiCenre, Charlotte; Tosco Music Party at Knight Theater, Charlotte; Saddle Brown at Riverview Raw Bar & Chil, Gastonia; Borgeous at Label-NC Music Factory, Charlotte; The SYNDicate at Texicali Taco & Tequila Bar-NC Music Factory, Charlotte; Bending Fate at Stooge’s, Mint Hill; Southern Experience Band at Rocky Bar & Grill, Spindale; Bullfrog Moon at Cornelius Drafthouse, Charlotte; ALS Fundraiser with Roulette, Horsefly, Small Talk Assassin, Butterfly Corpse, more at Chop Shop, Charlotte; Matt Tucker at Bootlegger’s Saloon & Dance Hall, Charlotte; The Lone Bellow at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Nathan Angelo, Dwayne Shivers at Evening Muse; Chris Trapper; Charlotte.

Sunday: Jonny Craig, Travis Garland, Falling through April, more at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Farewell Summer Fest at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Jeff Austin Band, more at The Rabbit Hole, Charlotte; Pokey LaFarge, Escondido at Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Business People, Bad Karol at Snug Harbor, Charlotte.

Monday: 3 Piece Bucket Open Mic at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte; Open Mic with Whitney Rose at Evening Muse, Charlotte.

Tuesday: David Lieve Hart, Saturos, more at Snug Harbor, Charlotte.

Wednesday: Thompson Brothers Band at Sycamore Brewing, Charlotte; Over the Rhine at Visulite Theatre, Charlotte; Megan Jean & The Klay Family Band, Pirates Canoe, Savannah Valentino at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; A Dog called Horse, more at The Rabbit Hole, Charlotte; Yarbs, Cabron, Mr. Gold at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Motorhead, Anthrax, Crobot at The Fillmore, Charlotte; Cherub, Hippie Sabotage, Shooka at Chop Shop, Charlotte; Gaelic Storm at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte.

Thursday: Mitch Hayes at Comet Grill, Charlotte; Jamey Johnson at The Fillmore, Charlotte; Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch at PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte.

“And that was all she wrote.”

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Janet Jackson a force in her own right."