New releases this Spring from The Rosebuds and The Comas

Two of the Triangle's most acclaimed indie rock bands, The Rosebuds and The Comas, have new albums hitting stores in April.

Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp, better know as The Rosebuds, will release the follow-up to 2005's Birds Make Good Neighbors on April 10. The album is titled Night of the Furies. Prior to the release the band will support Yo La Tengo for five shows on the East Coast before heading to Russia to play a one-off show opening for Ian Brown. The band will then return to the states and continue touring in the south through March and make their way to SXSW in Austin, TX.

Former Chapel Hill rockers, now residing in Brooklyn, The Comas will release their first album for Vagrant Records on April 17. The album, Spells, will feature 10 songs produced by Bill Racine (Mates of State, Mercury Rev, Rogue Wave). The band signed with Vagrant in 2005 after releasing two albums on the North Carolina based label Yep Roc. Like The Rosebuds, The Comas will be making a stop at SXSW in March. No other tour dates have been announced.

The Rosebuds will open for Yo La Tengo at Cat's Cradle on February 6 and will headline at Kings on March 6. Keep posted for more tourdates for both bands as well as media previews once we get closer to the release dates.

Download The Rosebuds on iTunes


Download The Comas on iTunes

Annuals turn "Brother" into video

Trees, a hole in the ground, shadows and a rock band. That's right folks, Annuals has made a video.

Pitchforkmedia.com has released the first music video from local indie rock phenoms on YouTube. The video is for the song "Brother" from Be He Me.

Pitchfork also reports that Annuals will join Kaiser Chiefs and The Walkmen for 6 shows on their North American tour in April.

Annuals seem to be an unstopable force right now. They definitely win the award for busiest band in the Triangle.




Download Be He Me on iTunes

Just in time for Mother's Day...

Surprise mom with tickets to 70s rock god Rod Stewart, performing at Raleigh's RBC Center Friday, May 4.

Stewart is currently touring on his latest, Still The Same...Great Rock Classics of Our Time, an album of covers. But I'm sure he'll still pull out some of his classics.

Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Feb. 3. at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.


Download Rod Stewart on iTunes

Local radio's salvation

For as much as I complain about the state of local radio, it's only fair to acknowledge what is (at least in my opinion) the best radio station in the Triangle, NCSU's WKNC 88.1.

Show some support for the only local station that plays real music by checking out their Double Barrel Benefit this weekend at King's in downtown Raleigh.

Friday's show will feature The Old Ceremony, The Mountain Goats, Megafaun and The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers.

Come back Saturday to see Annuals, The Nein, Future Islands and Tiger Bear Wolf.

Tickets are just $6 in advance at Etix or $8 at the door.

Feels like the 100th time

Another show has just been added to Alltel Pavilion's growing schedule. That's right kids, 70s/80s rock giant Foreigner will bring their brand of adult pleasing rock/pop back to Raleigh on June 15. One can only assume they'll be playing all the old hits including "Hot Blooded," "Cold As Ice" and "Feels Like The First Time" plus many more.

Additional artists, on sale date and other information is not available at this time, but we'll let you know when it is.

I'll leave you with this brilliant Foreigner lyric:

"You don't have to read my mind, to know what I have in mind
Honey you oughta know
Now you move so fine, let me lay it on the line
I wanna know what you're doin' after the show."
-from "Hot Blooded"


Download Foreigner on iTunes

The Shins: This album will change your life

OK, that's taking it a little far. But The Shins' latest release, Wincing the Night Away, is definitely a decent way to spend 41 minutes.

"Sleeping Lessons," the album's opening track, comes to the listener as if through a dream, slowly building to a drum and electric guitar crescendo before fading away.

The first single, "Phantom Limb," may be my new favorite song with its distinctive head-bopping chorus and layered vocals.

While the album takes a definite step outside The Shins' established comfort zone (see: "Sea Legs"), fans old and new won't be disappointed by their latest effort.

Besides, if you squeeze a 7 out of Pitchfork, how bad can it be??


Download Wincing the Night Away on iTunes

Shows are stacking up

Concert schedules in the Triangle are really starting to heat up. Here are some of the recent big name additions to the schedules.

• Pete Yorn with Minibar and Moses Mayfield at Lincoln Theatre - March 27 - tickets on sale January 26
  
• The Decemberists with My Brightest Diamond at Meymandi Hall - April 3 - tickets on sale February 2
  
• TV on the Radio with Noisettes at the Cat's Cradle - April 15 - tickets on sale now
• Widespread Panic at Alltel Pavilion - April 20 & 21 - tickets on sale March 2

Get your tickets early because tickets to these shows will go fast and keep checking back for more updates on new shows. Also, don't forget to check our new calendar for the latest updates.

The Fray is coming to Cary

Just hours after The Fray's show at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, a Cary venue has announced another performance by the Denver-based group.

The Fray will perform at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary Wednesday, April 27. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster this Saturday, Jan. 27. Cost is $27.50 for lawn and $39 for reserved seating.

Download The Fray on iTunes

Brand new music calendar!

Ever wish all the information on the best Triangle concerts could be found in one convenient online calendar? Wish no more!!

See that little link in all caps over to the right that says "Triangle Music Calendar"? Click it, and you'll find a roundup of all the best area shows.

Do you have a band and want your shows published on our calendar? Let us know! E-mail triangle_music@hotmail.com with your calendar submission.

Annuals perform on Conan

So last night was the big night for local band Annuals. Here's a video of their performance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Good job, guys (and gal)!

Annuals, "Carry Around"



Download Be He Me on iTunes

Annuals on Conan — TONIGHT!

I know things are a little crazy in the Triangle today (Ohmygod there's a teensy bit of snow on the ground!!! Quick—get in the car and brake needlessly in I-40!), but really people, there are more serious issues at hand.

Raleigh band Annuals will make its national debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight, so set your Tivos for 12:35 a.m.

In the meantime, here's a freebie: a completely legal download of Annuals' "Brother."

Download "Brother": http://www.acefu.com/MP3s/brother.mp3

Download Be He Me on iTunes.

Waiting for spring

The area hasn't even seen it's first flake of snow but already the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary is gearing up for the 2007 season.

First on the docket? Tony Rice with Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas. Not sure who Rice is but according to AKUS's web site he's "acoustic music's most influential modern master."

Tickets are $27.50-43.50 and go on sale this Friday at your favorite Ticketmaster outlet.

Download Tony Rice on iTunes



Download Alison Krauss on iTunes

Kicking ass and taking names

Cary Ann Hearst is one person I would not want to face in a brawl.

Off stage, she's as sweet as could be, but put the woman in front of a microphone and a fire comes out of her like you wouldn't believe.

Hailing from Charleston, Cary Ann may just be the modern day version of a southern belle. The region could do a hell of a lot worse.

Cary Ann and the Gun Street Girls — Ash Hopkins on bass, Evan Bivins on drums and Lee Barbour on the guitar — drew a respectable crowd at the Soapbox on Front Street in Wilmington Saturday night along with fellow Charlestonians Leslie.

If you've never heard of these guys, you should seriously check them out. Cary Ann has this whole gritty southern rock thing going on — think Johnny Cash meets Dolly Parton meets AC/DC. Leslie, on the other hand, just embodies rock.

But hey, don't take my word for it. Check out the video clips below, recorded at the show Saturday night.

Cary Ann Hearst — "Trouble About My Soul"



Cary Ann — "Happy Woman Blues"



Leslie — "Rosebird"



Leslie — (...I don't know what this song is called. Any tips??)



Download Cary Ann Hearst's album Dust and Bones on iTunes.

Three local acts, one really cheap show

Be sure to check out Roman Candle, Bull City and Running Lights at Duke Coffeehouse next Saturday, Jan. 20. Tickets are a mere $4 (or $2 with a Duke student ID). Doors at 8:30, show at 9:30.

This is your last chance to see rising stars Roman Candle before they head across the pond for some shows in London in February.

Annuals live session. Download now!

The good people at daytrotter.com have brought us a brand new live session, this time featuring Raleigh/Chapel Hill buzz band Annuals. The band stopped by Daytrotter Studios at the end of their last tour to record the session. Click the link below to listen and download four live versions of songs from Be He Me and read the story of their sleepless adventure on the day of the session.

Annuals Daytrotter session

Also, don't forget to check out the band on Late Night with Conan O'Brian on January 18 and at the Cat's Cradle on January 22 (the band will be opening for The Dears).

Best of 2006

Hello, and welcome to 2007! But before we can officially move on and enjoy the new year, it's time to recap our favorite music moments of 2006.

Valerie's Favorites

Top 3 albums
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat
David Mead, Tangerine
Butch Walker, The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the Let's-Go-Out-Tonites!

Guilty Pleasure of '06
Teddy Geiger, Underage Thinking. (Love Monkey was a great show, OK??)

Nostalgia of '06
Jump Little Children, Live at the Dock Street Theatre
This album captured Jump's last three performances together before they broke up at the end of 2005.

Best Concerts
The Old Ceremony at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, Oct. 7
Ben Folds at Meymandi Hall in Raleigh, March 30
Nickel Creek at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, Sept. 19


Kevin's Picks

Top 3 albums
The Killers, Sam's Town
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat
Will Hoge, The Man Who Killed Love

Local album of '06
Annulas, Be He Me

Best Concerts
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, Mar. 24
The Films at Music Farm in Charlston, Apr. 14
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers at Alltel Pavilion in Raleigh, Sept. 10


So let's hear your opinion. Think we have no taste or that there's something obvious we left out? Comment below. And here's to more great music in 2007.