The Show:
We arrived at Fillmore Charlotte just before the second of the three bands on the bill were hitting the stage. The duo, unfortunately named An Horse held the crowds attention with their melodic indie pop set. Though these two are from Queensland Australia, we noticed Cranberriesesque sound to their set.
Next up were Southern California's Silversun Pickups. Do SSPU really need any introduction at this point? The Smashing Pumpkins/Pixie inspired foursome ran through an impressive 12 song set including songs off Swoon, Carnavas, and even their early EP Pikul.
The band played with plenty of energy, but the big question was what did they think of the newest Fillmore. At one point between songs lead singer Brian Aubert took a minute to give the audience his off the cuff venue revue: "This place is pretty fucking new, right? It is pretty fucking beautiful isn't it?".
The Venue:
The 20000-square-foot facility is housed in a former warehouse in the new "N.C. Music Factory" in uptown Charlotte. The Factory project houses an 5,000 person capacity outdoor amphitheater, restaurants, a nightclub, and the 2,000 person capacity Fillmore.
Warning, this is a LiveNation venue. What does that mean? Expect strict rules on cameras, extensive lines, and overpriced concessions, right? Overpriced concessions yes (by the way who eats chili dogs at a rock show?), however lines were non existent and camera rules were relaxed if you were discreet. The venue itself is a four tier front to back standing room only space. Bars are located in the four corners of the building, restrooms are sparkling clean (for now) and the space is downright airy. On the far side of the venue there was a small VIP area in plain sight, complete with a private bar. The VIP area hardly seemed worth the extra cash, unless you absolutely wanted to sit down and see the show.
Tickets were $31 per ticket, which isn't $10 cover, but isn't arena rock absurd either. It actually seems like a very fair price to see a great act in a small venue.
How to Get There:
Well, don't try to walk to the Fillmore Charlotte, the area that houses the venue is "up-and-coming" and a bit out of the way. Parking is plentiful and free and traffic jams upon entrance and exit were non existent. Cabs were plentiful after the show, and public transportation does serve the area: W 5T St & Irwin Ave numbers 1, 86 are a little less than a half mile away.
Where To Stay:
Since the Fillmore is so new to town, we suggest staying somewhere new as well. Yes, all of Charlotte is for the most part new, but the recently opened Epicentre is a great place to hit up both pre and post show. Check out the aloft Charlotte at Epicenter for reasonable and appropriate digs.
Where To Eat:
If you have some time, try Alexander Michael's in the 4th Ward. Al Mike's can get extremely busy on the weekend, so budget plenty of time to sit down and try their tasty cajun fries. One more good thing about this neighborhood house turned restaurant? It is smoke free, which isn't always the case in Charlotte.
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