GUA’s melodic muscle saves the day
Look! Up on the stage, ready to strike – it’s Grown Up Avenger Stuff, live Saturday at The Visulite Theatre in Charlotte. Blasting forth in 2009, this band is honor bound to the indie/DIY code of guts and grit and well armed with a love for making music.
GUAS’ calling is clearly hard-edged rock with melodic muscle to save the day. No building leaping or locomotive races, just solid rock and pop power that leans alternative, with garage rock and punk principles.
Based in Charlotte, this five-piece juggernaut features Deirdre Kroener, vocals; Hunter Thomsen, bass; Tyler Thomsen, percussion and John Thomsen, guitar. Thanks to Kroener’s spunky lead vocals, their sound is not unlike Paramore.
Live, GUAS draws energy, not afraid to create their own environment through visual elements including black lights with day glow. Along with a clever dark intensity that flashes melodic, the band takes off on its mission aimed at “saving the world one song at a time.”
Touring makes that possible. They’ve played just about every stage in Charlotte and hit the national festival circuit, including prestigious South by Southwest. Their latest CD release is “Sparkleton” and lyrics from one track tell a big part of their story: that they’re “here today to remind you all keep the beat.”
Join forces with Grown Up Avenger Stuff live, along with Madre Padre and Mon Abyss, Saturday at The Visulite Theater, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. Call 704-358-9200 or check visulite.com for show details. For more on the music visit grownupavengerstuff.com and find them on facebook.
Discover the new and possibly innovative R&B sound of JMSN live Wednesday at The Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte. JMSN (aka Christian Berishaj) is a multi-talented singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, mixer and videographer.
Discover JMSN live plus Rochelle Jordan Wednesday at The Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St., Charlotte. For more information call 704-942-7997 or visit neighborhoodtheatre.com.
Elsewhere
Friday: Khaos Kings at Last Call, Great Falls; Angel Incident Unplugged at Six Pence Pub, Baxter-Fort Mill; Wayland LIVE with A Course of Action, Halden Vang, Analog Daze, Perfect Strangers at 181 Main Event Venue, Gastonia; Hip Hop Massive Vol. 1 at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Sunday Best, Corey Hunt Band at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Michael Wolfe at EagleSpeak Coffee House, Charlotte; Brandon Stiles at Tin Roof, Charlotte; Warsong, Margolnick, Millenial at Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Miami Dice, Chiffon, Blank Ocean at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at McGlohon Theater, Charlotte; The Monterreys, Queen City Rejects, Kill Matilda, more at Milestone, Charlotte; Britt Stokes & Isaac Mathews at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte; Jody Edwards & Co. Acoustic at Cru Wine Shop, Charlotte.
Perfect Strangers Acoustic at Moochie’s Tavern, Matthews; Ingrid Michaelson, Greg Holden at The Fillmore, Charlotte; Luminox at Label-NC Music Factory, Charlotte; The Werks, Marvelous Funkshun at Chop Shop, Charlotte; Shovels & Rope, Caroline Rose at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Nathan Angelo, Matt Hires; Tragic Thrills, Jon Lindsay; at Evening Muse, Charlotte.
Saturday: Tantrum at Luke’s Sports Bar & Grill, Rock Hill; Angel Incident Unplugged at Cousy’s, Catawba; Nita B at Comet Grill, Charlotte; The Mosart Band at EagleSpeak Coffee House, Charlotte DSR, Body Bags, Fill-Ins, No Power No Crown, The Commonwealth at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Hair Nation, Dr. Feelgood, Fire at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Toleman Randall, Grey Revell at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Black Market, Alright, Maple Stave, Pet Names, more at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Rockstar at Big Al’s Pub, Charlotte.
Heroes at Last at RiRa, Charlotte; Random Conflict, Lipschitz, Aloha Broha at Milestone, Charlotte; Province of Thieves at Moochie’s Tavern, Charlotte; Queen City Conscious Market with Heroes at Last at Heist Brewery, Charlotte; Kongos, Sir Sly, Colony House at The Fillmore, Charlotte; The Funk Bishops at Texicali Taco & Tequila Bar – NC Music Factory, Charlotte; Tyler Farr at Coyote Joe’s, Charlotte; JT & The Drag Pipes at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte.
Intrepid Artists International 20th Anniversary: Tishamingo, Simplified, Steepwater Band, Selwyn Birchwood Band, more at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Culture Initiative 6: Frames – An Art & Social Experience at Chop Shop, Charlotte; Colby Dobbs Band, Time Sawyer, Annabelle’s Curse at Evening Muse, Charlotte.
Sunday: Wake The Sun, Eyes Eat Suns at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Charlotte Blues Society with Raisin Cain Band at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Audra McDonald at Knight Theater, Charlotte; Fifth on the Floor with Matt Woods at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte.
Monday: Glen Hansard at Knight Theater, Charlotte; Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Tyga at Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte; Knocturnal at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Open Mic with S.S. Web at Evening Muse, Charlotte.
Tuesday: Lord Dying, Vulture, Greevace, more at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Joe Buck at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Jeffrey Lewis, Diane Cluck, Dollar Signs, Grey Revell at Milestone, Charlotte.
Wednesday: Crying Wolf at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Hectorina presents Collywobble: A Rock Opera (Act Two) at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; JMSN, Rochelle Jordan at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Genevieve at Evening Muse, Charlotte.
Thursday: Music of the 1920s: Blues, Cornets, and All That Jazz at Frances May Barnes Recital Hall-Winthrop University, Rock Hill; Primer 55, Poor Man’s Fame, The Heming Way at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Chuck Johnson & The Charlyhorse at Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Brent & Co. at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Joe Moorhead at Tin Roof, Charlotte; Rob Nance & The Lost Souls, The Moon & You at Evening Muse, Charlotte.
“And that was all she wrote.”
This story was originally published February 5, 2015 at 5:31 PM with the headline "GUA’s melodic muscle saves the day."