Kevin Smith, Martin Lawrence take the stage this week in the Triangle
A filmmaker-actor and an actor-comic top the list this week. There’s also some folk, roots-rock and post-hardcore on the way for a varied sonic attack.
Kevin Smith
The details: Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham. Tickets start at $39.50. 919-560-3030, carolinatheatre.org
When Kevin Smith was in the throes of suffering a heart attack in 2018, the filmmaker couldn’t help but think of unfinished business. “The last movie I’ll have made is ‘Yoga Hosers,’” Smith told the Spokesman-Review in a phone interview. “I had to go out on another note and fortunately I survived. We made ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.’”
Smith, 49, will talk about the film making process after the film is screened. One never knows how long Smith will go with a Q&A. Smith chats for so long that it’s ironic that he portrays “Silent Bob.”
“I should win an Academy Award, because for me to play Silent Bob, that’s some serious acting,” Smith cracked. “I’m glad someone finally noticed. I’m a better actor than people think.”
Martin Lawrence
The details: Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh. Tickets start at $41.50. 919-467-7825 or pncarena.com.
After two decades of non-stop work, particularly as an actor, Lawrence finally slowed it down about five years ago. Lawrence, 54, doesn’t tour as much as he used to, and he’s one of those uncommon entertainers, who is a wildcard on and off screen. The in-demand comic is often too busy for stand-up due to his acting career. Lawrence’s latest blockbuster, “Bad Boys for Life,” is currently screening and tearing it up at the box office. However, Lawrence, who has the capacity to surprise, took fans aback with his performance in Harmony Korine’s latest film, “Beach Bum” as a quirky Vietnam Vet.
“Harmony just called me,” Lawrence explained to GQ. “I’d never met Harmony. He just called me and was like, ‘You’re in the movie, Martin.’ It was like I couldn’t tell him no. He was just like, ‘So we got this part for you and it’s funny...He gave me no way out.’”
Arlo Guthrie
The details: Feb. 14, 8 p.m. Carolina Theatre. Tickets start at $39.50.
Arlo Guthrie has penned a number of classics, such as “Massachusetts” and “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre.” It’s hard to believe the song turned 50 last year. “’Alice’s Restaurant’” is still the same in most ways,” Guthrie explained to Encore last year. “We laughingly refer to it as ‘the same old garbage.’”
The Drive-By Truckers
The details: Feb. 18, 8:30 p.m. Cat’s Cradle, 300 E. Main St., Carrboro. Buffalo Nichols will open. Tickets start at $26. 919-967-9053 or catscradle.com
“The Unraveling,” Drive-By Truckers’ latest album, is a companion project to 2016’s “American Band.” The latter touched on the state of the union but “The Unraveling” goes deeper and is the freewheeling Georgia band’s darkest effort. The content and banter in-between songs should make for a potent show.
Thrice
The details: Feb. 14, 7 p.m. Cat’s Cradle. Tickets start at $26.
The post hardcore band is back with “Palms,” a dramatic and at times meditative project. After 20-plus years, the former screamo band has matured but is as dark as ever.
David Wilcox
The details: Feb. 15, 8 p.m. Motorco Music Hall, 723 Rigsbee Ave., Durham. Rowdy will open. Tickets start at $20. 919-901-0875 or motorcomusic.com
Asheville’s ace folk singer-songwriter is back with a gem, “The View from the Edge.” The clever veteran remains a terrific storyteller and is worth seeing, just for his unique acoustic guitar playing.