Another obligatory Dave Matthews Band post

All right kids, bust out your Rainbow sandals and get together the caravan, because Dave Matthews Band is coming to town!

The band announced its annual summer tour this week and stops include Raleigh's Walnut Creek Tuesday, Sept. 18 and Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre the following night.

Tickets go on sale April 28 at 10 a.m. for the general public but are already on sale for Warehouse fan club members. But if you still pay for a membership to the DMB fan club, you didn't need me to tell you that.

Will tickets fly as fast as last year? Who knows. Also, does anyone care? Shrug.

Another big show skips the Triangle for the Triad

The Cat's Cradle just announced that they will be presenting Bloc Party at the Millenium Center in Winston-Salem on June 2. This follows the announcement that they will also present Modest Mouse at the Special Events Center in Greensboro on May 4.

This new trend of skipping the Triangle for the Triad is due to a lack of mid-size venues in the Triangle. Check out David Menconi's post, "Passing us by," from a few days ago for information on on this new trend.

Bloc Party tickets will go on sale on March 31 at 10am via etix.com. Modest Mouse tickets are on sale now via tickets.com.

New shows in the Triangle

There are a few new shows worth noting in the Triangle. Check it out.

• Wolfmother at Disco Rodeo - April 24 - tickets on sale now via etix.com
• Jay Clifford (formerly of Jump, Little Children) at Cat's Cradle - May 3 - tickets on sale TBA
• Dr. Dog at Schoolkids (Raleigh) - May 9 @ 4pm - Free in-store
  

Also, for those who haven't heard, Ben Folds and James Morrison have been added to John Mayer's July 31 show at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre. Folds will join Mayer for the entire US leg of Mayer's summer tour. It'll be interesting to see how Mayer's fans respond to Folds' music.

Keep checking the Triangle Music calendar for daily show updates.

Buyer beware: Les Paul would not be proud

UPDATE: For the full story, check out the article I wrote for The Cary News.

If you thought counterfeit goods were limited to Fendi handbags and Air Jordans, think again.

A Lillington man was arrested and charged Friday with two felony counts of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark for selling counterfeit Gibson guitars.

Steven F. Sexton, 48, better known as "that asshole who sold me a shitty guitar" to some in the area, advertised the guitars as Gibon Les Paul models. The guitars were counterfeits of specific Les Paul models, complete with Gibson logos.

One victim, a 15-year-old in Cary, found out the guitar he purchased from Sexton was a fake when he noticed it sounded like crap and took it to a guitar shop, according to a report from the N.C. Secretary of State.

Five counterfeit Les Pauls were seized upon a search of Sexton's property. Two other victims also turned over the fakes they'd purchased to help with the investigation.

I guess sometimes a great deal just isn't what it seems.

Wilco's Sky Blue Sky hits one note from beginning to end

Wilco's highly anticipated new album, Sky Blue Sky, in usual Wilco style, is quite a leap from previous releases. While the album is vaguely reminiscent of Wilco's early records, A.M. and Being There, the album adds some jammy tones to their progressive sound.

The album is much less diverse the previous two Wilco records. It is very mellow and doesn't really digress from that sound at all. At the same time, some of the album's speed crazy, jam band-like guitar riffs seem really out of place. They remind me of a dreadful time that I had to sit through a Dicky Betts show.

The album does have a few saving graces though. The album's title track, "Sky Blue Sky," is a beautiful tune with an Jon Brion-esque, quirky pop melody that is very refreshing and very different for Wilco.

Where the album really hits is stride though, is the last three tracks.
"Waken" is an amazing quirky pop tune which may be the best track on the record. "What Light," (click the song title to download) the first song released from the new record, bears a stunning resemblence to some of Dylan's early records. It's a soulful tune complete with pedal steel and vocal harmonies that really soothe the soul. The last track is the beautiful "On and On and On." It's a very dynamic piano tune that moves very symphonically and resembles a number of tunes on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Overall, the new Wilco record is just average. I've come to expect more from Wilco over the years and this record delivers a sound that lacks the innovation that previous records offered.

Sky Blue Sky will be out on May 15 via Nonesuch Records.


Download Wilco on iTunes

Achin' for Aiken?

Don't lie, you know you can't get enough of....whatever his "big single" was. Well, you're in luck because Raleigh's favorite sexually ambiguous American Idol runner-up will be appearing at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary for one night only August 10.

No details as of yet, but we'll keep you posted!


Download Clay Aiken on iTunes

Review: Of Montreal at Cat's Cradle

Every once in a while a show will leave me speechless. Other times, I'll have a few dozen sputtering, incomplete thoughts that have no real point. Such is the case with Of Montreal, who played to a sold out crowd last night at Cat's Cradle.

Despite the fact that I don't own one of their albums, I love these guys (and gal). And I've learned well that going into an Of Montreal show, you never quite know what you're going to get. Last night's show was no exception, but I should note that everyone did keep their clothes on. Mostly.

One thought that wouldn't escape my mind during the show is that I'd absolutely love to be there when the band is picking out their concert attire. I imagine the dialogue to go something like this, "What a great ivory suit jacket. I'll pair it with a fuchsia ascot and this stainless steel Marvin the Martian helmet I've got lying around." Seriously. But you've got to give them credit for the elaborate lengths — and heights — they reach. Like when front man Kevin Barnes climbed atop a ladder to become the world's tallest Chiquita banana lady in gold lamé. I sincerely apologize for the lack of photos on that one.

I'll admit that there are certain things I "don't get" about these guys. (Maybe it was the subtle guy-on-guy action involving a man in a white full body suit.) But you don't have to be one of the cool kids to know that dance music with great lyrics, a good beat and a captivating performance will win the crowds every time.


Download Of Montreal on iTunes

Put on your dancing shoes and get down with The Rosebuds

The Rosebuds are back and they're ready to make you dance. Download "Get Up Get Out" from their forthcoming album, Night of the Furies, and see if it doesn't make you move. The album comes out on April 10 and is available for pre-order at mergerecords.com.