Screaming Females & Late Bloomer @ Milestone

I have 2 people to thank for this show. Firstly, my cousin-in-law (is that a title), Slade. His bands are playing here next week, so I got on the Milestone website to see what else plays here. Out of nowhere - the Screaming Females. Stoked! The other person to thank is someone I don't know, Carson Daly. His awesome Last Call With Carson Daly highlighted the Screaming Females a while back and I thought they were great. This show highlights great music as well as interviews extremely interesting people. Not sure I would have heard of this band were it not for the show.

The Milestone is what a music venue should be.  About 40 years old and not a piece of work done to it since opening.  A small, low to the ground stage, where the bands load out the back door straight into their vans.  A single floor fan is duct taped to the ceiling and barely is there a space on the wall that is not covered in graffiti or bands' stickers.  I also only paid $4 for a beer and a bottle of water (a big fuck you to all the Vegas venues who've been ripping me off for 10 years).

Locals Late Bloomer opened.  There was nothing in their show that blew me away but it seems to me that this is the bar that gives local bands a place to play.  I can't not love the Milestone.

After hanging in the crowd during the opener the Screaming Females stepped up and tore it up.  I wish I had a familiarity with their music, but I and a good size crowd got a lesson in rock tonight.  Singer Marissa is an absolute powerhouse.  Her guitar playing is dynamic, her voice booms, she loves what she is doing and she is fantastic at it.  Her energy was literally drawing people towards the stage.  And the band are tight - perfecting their craft over the years to put on a great gig.  I wanted to get my hands on a setlist so I could look for the songs they played.  Looks like I'll have to just go through the catalog.  I hope this band comes through town again soon.  Or least close enough that I can make the drive to see them.

The Crap Facts

This is my 354th concert.
Milestone is the 95th venue I've seen a concert.
This is my 7th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 7th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 162nd concert in the USA.
Late Bloomer are the 420th band I've seen.
Screaming Females are the 421st band I've seen.