Inside Charlotte’s punk rock time capsule
Plus: The news of the week — Drama at City Hall; Cutbacks at Johnson & Wales University; Four local arts groups lose NEA money; Can lawmakers fix N.C. health care?
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Off the Beaten Path: Tucked away on Tuckaseegee Road, The Milestone Club has been shaking walls and shaping Charlotte’s music scene since 1969.
Editor’s note: This occasional series is devoted to discovering the hidden corners and unexpected stories in Charlotte and the surrounding region. Have a suggestion? Contact series editor Doug Miller at coach@millerswimming.com
By Daniel Larlham Jr.
Traveling west on Tuckaseegee Road, you might pass an unassuming two-story brick building, white with green trim. Beneath its two center windows, “MILESTONE” is painted in matching green.
With its modest one-story annex and worn fence, the place could easily look closed to anyone who doesn’t know better.
I stepped through the back door of The Milestone Club on a recent Sunday and instantly felt I wasn’t in a place I’d been before — more like one others had tried to imitate. Even while talking to the doorman, you can hear music pouring from the adjoining building, the sound vibrating underfoot and, if it’s loud enough, in your chest.
The Milestone Club has been the place for Charlotte's alternative music scene since 1969. Bands come in from the front door, the audience comes in from the back. (Daniel Larlham photo)
Between sets, the place feels more like a college basement party than one of those sterile, packed venues. You squeeze past elbows for a beer, lounge on a worn couch with strangers in black and catch whiffs of sweat and incense. But when the music starts, everyone turns the same way.
“Give it up!” shouted the lead singer of Cadaver Delende, a Deathcore band from Greensboro, urging the crowd to applaud the bands before and after them.
It was during their set — the fourth of the night — that I really began to feel the place. Their crushing riffs sent a few fans into a purposeful mosh, and at one point, they even pulled someone from the crowd, handed them the mic and let them scream. Even with a smaller audience, the unexpected happens here.
If you drive by at just the right time, you might catch a flurry of black shirts hauling gear between the front door and a van. That’s your cue: pull into the lot, grab your tickets, and catch a show at The Milestone Club.
This historic venue at 3400 Tuckaseegee Road hosts live music several nights a week. It’s everything it needs to be — a bar with cold drinks and a stage for loud, raw sound. It’s dark, a bit damp and only slightly warmer or cooler than the air outside. But it’s comfortable, welcoming and full of character. Since 1969, this century-old building has been home to Charlotte’s alternative music scene.
Tickets usually run $10–$15, with a $5 surcharge for anyone under 21. Drinks are just as reasonable — we paid $20 for four beers, tip included.
Greensboro Deathcore band Cadaver Delende playing night three of Blood Sugar Fest Magic III on April 27. (Daniel Larlham photo)
In my opinion, The Milestone has some of the most comfortable, broken-in couches, benches and barstools I’ve ever sat on.
What elevates the music is the ever-present sense of history. According to its website, thousands of bands have played here — The Circle Jerks, Black Flag, even Nirvana. The building wears that legacy proudly. Stickers and graffiti cover nearly every surface, especially in the bathrooms. Even D.C. punk legends Bad Brains left their mark, now framed — crookedly — on the wall.
But what truly makes The Milestone special is the people. Young and old, from all walks of life, gather here for the same reason. Some are regulars, others are first-timers, but everyone is open to conversation — including the bands. With no green room, performers hang out, enjoy the music and chat before their sets.
Then the band takes the stage, already familiar with faces in the crowd, and plays with an added layer of connection. The room erupts — moshing, cheering or standing still, mesmerized. And in that moment, surrounded by sound and sweat and stickers, you realize you’re now part of its story, too.
The Milestone Club is, in many ways, the platonic ideal of a punk venue — a gritty, living time capsule that’s become increasingly rare. It’s the kind of place you usually see only in movies. Don’t miss it.
Daniel Larlham Jr. can be reached at larlhamjr@gmail.com
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This week in Charlotte: Charlotte’s white-hot house trend; College seniors face tough job market; City proposes no tax rate hike; Supreme Court election contest ends
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
Johnson & Wales cutbacks: (Business North Carolina) Johnson & Wales University said it is cutting 91 staff and faculty positions, or 5% of its workforce. The cuts will take place in its Charlotte, Providence and online divisions. The university’s chancellor said the cuts were needed “to put the university on a sustainable path.”
CMS budget request: (Observer) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools presented a $2.1B budget proposal to Mecklenburg commissioners that calls for operating costs to increase 1% and for the county to provide $28.3M more than last year, to a total of $668M.
Bye-bye to PowerSchool: (WBTV) North Carolina plans not to renew its contract with PowerSchool, the student information system used in N.C. public schools. Beginning in July, it will switch to a system called Infinite Campus, which state officials say is more modern and comprehensive.
Politics
Supreme Court election contest ends: (Associated Press) Republican N.C. Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin conceded last November’s election to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs. The decision will leave Republicans controlling the court by a 5-2 majority, the same as before the election.
City council members refute corruption claims: (Ledger 🔒) A dispute over a police chief settlement and vague corruption claims by a council member has stirred drama at Charlotte City Hall, but beneath the heated rhetoric lies more political posturing than actual scandal.
Local news
Arts grants cutbacks: Four local arts organizations — Charlotte Ballet, Three Bone Theatre, McColl Center and JazzArts Charlotte — said their National Endowment for the Arts grants were rescinded because of cutbacks in Washington.
No tax hike: (City of Charlotte) The Charlotte city manager unveiled a $3.6B proposed budget Monday that does not include a city property tax increase, although it calls for some fee hikes.
Business
AvidXchange sold for $2.2B: (Ledger 🔒) Homegrown Charlotte tech company AvidXchange is being acquired for $2.2B to TPG and Corpay, taking the fintech company private again. We look at what’s likely to happen next.
Office building purchase: (Biz Journal, subscriber-only) Tennessee-based real estate firm Highland Ventures has purchased an aging 19-story office building at 525 North Tryon St. in uptown for $24M.
Sports
Luxe trips to watch the Panthers: (Axios Charlotte) The founder of the Carolina Panthers fan group Roaring Riot, Zack Luttrell, is starting a new company that organizes trips to away games featuring travel in private jets, stays at high-end hotels, private meals with former Panthers and tickets to stadium suites. The cost is expected to be around $10,000 per person per game.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Monday
Can N.C. lawmakers fix our health care headaches?: North Carolina lawmakers are debating a wave of reforms to fix the state's expensive and confusing health care system, aiming to cut costs, improve billing transparency and speed up insurance approvals.
Plus: Humanities nonprofit sees big funding cut; Lovin' Life Music Fest grooves despite weather hiccup; Toppman reviews Charlotte Ballet's 'Carmen'
Wednesday (🔒)
College seniors are entering an unstable job market: As the job market cools in 2025, many college seniors are graduating without offers, facing tough competition and fewer openings despite months of applications.
Plus: Higher profits for Duke Energy as bills rise; NEA grants cut; Breweries to celebrate Meck Dec
Friday (🔒)
Charlotte’s white-hot house trend: Across Charlotte, a flood of homes — old and new — are being painted white, driven by trends popularized by HGTV and social media. But critics say the look erases character and damages the brick.
Plus: New tactic in reducing panhandling; Understanding this week’s City Hall blowup; 40 Over 40 awards
Ways of Life (🔒)
Joe DePriest, a beloved North Carolina journalist and “collector of people,” is remembered for his warmth, storytelling gifts and deep devotion to his wife, friends and community. He died from cancer and pneumonia on April 30 at 81.
Fútbol Friday
Coach defends Zaha over recent criticism: Despite some criticism for his demeanor and social media posts, Charlotte FC star Wilfried Zaha remains one of the team’s top performers, attracting defenders, leading the league in fouls drawn and earning strong ratings, with coaches and analysts urging patience as he regains form.
Toppman on the Arts
Charlotte Ballet’s “Carmen”: The performance dazzles visually but lacks emotional depth. The strong corps de ballet and live orchestra are highlights.
Three Bone Theatre comes to a good 'End' in one-act drama: Three Bone Theatre’s powerful staging of “…What the End Will Be” explores love, identity and reconciliation across generations, with a standout cast bringing depth and honesty to Mansa Ra’s emotionally resonant script.
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