Melvins @ The Visulite

After the fiasco of missing Billy Bragg last week, because I had Covid, it's good to be back at a concert again.  

I arrived at The Visulite just in time to get earplugs in, as Buzz walked off stage after doing a sound check.  I had a great spot in the small front area, right in front of Buzz.  And it's a good size crowd (considering it's Charlotte on a Tuesday).  It was only 10 minutes later the Melvins were back on stage, to a pretty good sized crowd.  As much as I love to see the Melvins, I still know so few songs, except for anything off the Houdini album.  The Flipper cover Sacrifice was a great start and it wasn't long before the much loved Lizzy was played.  Man that's such a good song.  And it plays even better live.  The Melvins dynamics remind me a lot of Dinosaur Jr on stage.  Buzz is all business (like J. Mascis), while Steven is having his own private party - especially covering (?) Red Kross' Charlie - (like Lou Barlow), and in between Dale drives and balances the 2 (like Murph).  It's a great dynamic, though it makes it hard to keep your eyes on just one performer.  My other highlight came close tot he end of the set with a Hooch and Honey Bucket double.  I'd pay money just to see Honey Bucket on it's own - an absolute all time favorite song - and tonight did not disappoint.  If Covid hadn't made me so tired all the time I'd go to Greenville tomorrow night just to hear that song.  Just over the hour mark, Melvins finish with With Teeth and a pretty good sized Charlotte crowd had been suitably rocked.

This is the 3rd time I've seen the Melvins in Charlotte, as well as a Buzz solo show.  They are one of few bands that always include Charlotte on their tours (as well as doing a show at the Cat's Cradle) and I am forever grateful.  Most bands tend to play Chapel Hill or Asheville and skip Charlotte, but I'm sure it won't be long till the Melvins come back through town, and I look forward to being there.

Melvins setlist

The Crap Facts:

This is my 479th concert.
This is my 12th show at The Visulite
This is my 95th show in Charlotte
This is my 113th show in North Carolina.
This is my 282nd concert in the US.
This is my 10th Melvins show.