Weekend in Music Photos: Ben Folds, Violent Femmes, KISS

Ben Folds & Violent Femmes

CMCU Ampitheatre; Aug. 8, 2019

As Ben Folds himself said, one of his songs that’s getting the most attention these days only has two words. “Moscow Mitch” was performed only a few songs into the night’s set, but was a definite highlight for its simplistic humor that says so much. Folds, a North Carolina native, entertained the packed Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre as part of a co-headlining show with the Violent Femmes. The Femmes played earlier in the night and got the crowd with plenty of singalongs and nostalgia.

Check out a slideshow from Thursday. All photos by Jeff Hahne.

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”115″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]Violent Femmes setlist
Adam Was a Man
Blister In The Sun
Black Girls
Kiss Off
Gone Daddy Gone
Jesus Walking on the Water
Old Mother Reagan
Prove My Love
I Held Her in My Arms
Love Love Love Love Love
American Music
Add It Up

Ben Folds setlist
Annie Waits
Battle of Who Could Care Less
Moscow Mitch
So There
Levi Johnston’s Blues
Do It Anyway
Still Fighting It
You Don’t Know Me
The Ascent of Stan
Landed
Brick
Underground
Rockin’ the Suburbs
Not the Same

Encore
Army

KISS

PNC Music Pavilion; Aug. 10, 2019

Back in 2001, KISS embarked on what it called its “Farewell Tour.” The band toured the world and planned to retire. While it was the final tour with the band’s original lineup, it wasn’t the last goodbye. KISS is currently touring the world on its “End of the Road World Tour” that is expected to the be last hoorah that will take the iconic rock ‘n’ rollers into 2021. While Paul Stanley (67) and Gene Simmons (69) are the band’s only original members, it’s not hard to imagine the band keeping at it for another decade or so. After all, a 76-year-old Mick Jagger is still going strong.

Either way, fans packed Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion for what could be the band’s last appearance in the Queen City. Playing hit after hit, fans roared through the night — from the opening notes of “Detroit Rock City” to the final confetti fiesta of “Rock & Roll All Nite.” KISS hasn’t changed much over the years — aside from the stint without makeup. This farewell featured all the pyro, smoke and tongue-wagging fans expect. For those filling the outdoor concert venue, it was one last chance to rock and roll all night and party every day.

Check out a slideshow from Saturday below. All photos by Jeff Hahne. 

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”114″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]Kiss setlist

Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
Say Yeah
I Love It Loud
Heaven’s on Fire
War Machine
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
100,000 Years
Cold Gin
God of Thunder
Psycho Circus
Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll
Love Gun
I Was Made for Lovin’ You
Black Diamond

Encore

Beth
Crazy Crazy Nights
Rock and Roll All Nite