Photo courtesy of Rob Laughter, Bluegrassy
Raleigh, NC is blessed with a number of fine performing arts venues, but Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts is special. Opened in 2001, it is designed specifically for musical performances, and is the home of the North Carolina Symphony. I have attended many performances there…operas, choral and symphony concerts–I have even heard my kid’s choir perform there. The acoustics are great, the sight lines are excellent. It’s a great venue, and Raleigh is lucky to have it. So, when I heard that Hot Rize was performing there last week (11/15/2018) as part of their 40th Anniversary Tour, I thought it would be a good time to go back to Meymandi. I was glad that I did.
Hot Rize was joined by special guests Andrew Marlin and Eli West, and the show also included a set from Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers. It was a great evening. Andrew and Eli played a range of tunes that showcased their songwriting, vocal and instrumental skills. It was fun to watch them interact, listen and play together.
Hot Rize had a great performance, playing songs from their latest album as well as their older songs that are wonderful to hear again and again. For me, one of the best parts of the evening was watching the band’s stagecraft–they make it look easy, but then we all know that there is a great deal of work and experience behind that ease on stage. To see a great review and stunning photos from the evening, check out Bluegrassy’s review.
In addition to the fine performances, it was a real treat to be able to experience this performance in a hall with great acoustics and excellent sound support. It’s fun to listen to bluegrass on a back porch, but it’s really nice to be able to experience it in a venue that was designed to optimize the performance.
The show was made possible by Pinecone, the Piedmont Council of Traditional music, which provides so many options for great musical performances in the Triangle. Kudos to Pinecone for bringing fine performers to Raleigh and booking them into great venues. If you want to hear other bluegrass performers perform in this symphony hall, there will be more chances this season.