Ok, before I start talking about how incredible Kinky was live, I have to give a few shout outs:

1. The Neighborhood Theatre. I love to see live music there…it’s the perfect size, cozy but not too small, the staff is super cool, there’s no smoking and…now they serve liquor! It’s like a home away from home.

2. Eva Fina kicked ass! And I’m not just saying that because the guitarist is my husband. They were really, really good. They’ve come a long way since their La Rua days with a fresher, electronic sound, and much better stage presence. They really need to start playing more.

3. Boombox was also very good. I had heard a few songs on their myspace page, but had never seen them live. Their guitarist is a character…he has this huge redneck mustache and was wearing this track suit and a bandana…my friend an I dubbed him the “hip-hop hick”.

Now to the meat and potatoes: Kinky. I have said this before, and I will say it again, it is one of the best live concerts I’ve ever seen. They just don’t stop, not for one second. My favorite is the bass player, who spins around on stage as he plays…it almost looks like he’s break dancing.

And then…there’s the accordion player. Have you ever seen someone rock out on an accordion before? Kinky was my first experience and it’s amazing. The accordion is a very cool instrument, despite what Steve Urkel may suggest. It creates a wonderful visual image because it’s almost as if it actually dances to the music it plays.

But what was most incredible about this show, were the people. The place was not full by any means, but I have never seen such a diverse crowd enjoy themselves at The Neighborhood Theater. Just as Kinky fuses rock, electronica, hip-hop, and Latin rhythms, the audience blended races, ethnicities, ages, and social classes…and that’s the kinda Charlotte I like to see

-By Ailene Jardines