Paul McCartney, The Killers, The Cure, Superchunk to play Coachella

After much speculation and anticipation, the organizers of the Coachella Festival in Indio, CA announced the 2009 line-up today. Headliners will include Paul McCartney, The Killers and The Cure though there are a ton of great performers on all three days. Our own local indie rock royalty Superchunk will play a set on Saturday, April 18.

If you plan to go out to Indio for the festival, you can put your 3-day pass on layaway by paying 50% now and the rest in April. Not a bad call on the part of the organizers to get people to buy pricey festival passes in tough economic times. Tickets are available here.

Friday performers:
Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Beirut, The Black Keys, Girl Talk, Silversun Pickups, The Ting Tings, The Crystal Method, Ghostland Observatory, Crystal Castles, The Airborne Toxic Event, We Are Scientists, N.A.S.A., Patton & Rahzel, M. Ward, The Presets, The Hold Steady, A Place to Bury Strangers, Felix de Housecat, Buraka Som Sistema, Ryan Bingham, Bajofando, Peanut Butter Wolf, Noah & the Whale, White Lies, The Bug, Alberta Cross, Los Campesinos!, Craze and Klever, Molotov, Switch, Gui Boratto, Steve Aoki, The Aggrolites, Genghis Tron, People Under the Stairs, The Courteeners, Cage the Elephant, Dear and the Headlights

Saturday performers:
The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, MSTRKRFT, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Atmosphere, Mastadon, TRAV$DJ-AM, Henry Rollins, Crookers, Turbonegro, Hercules and Love Affair, Superchunk, Glasvegas, Dr. Dog, Drive-By Truckers, Booker T & the DBT's, Amanda Palmer, The Bloody Beetroots, Surkin Para One, Calexico, Liars, Bob Mould Band, Junior Boys, Zane Lowe, Electric Touch, Blitzen Trapper, James Morrison, Drop the Line, Glass Candy, Thenewno2, Gang Gang Dance, Billy Talent, Ida Maria, Airel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Zizek Club, Cloud Cult, Tinariwen

Sunday performers:
The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Throbbing Gristle, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn and John, X, Antony & the Johnsons, Roni Size Reprazent, Public Enemy, Jenny Lewis, Groove Armada, Paolo Nutini, Christopher Lawrence, Lykke Li, The Kills, Okkervil River, M.A.N.D.Y., Clipse, Sebastian Tellier, Fucked Up, Perry Ferrell, The Horrors, Late of the Pier, K'naan, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Supermayer, No Age, Vivian Girls, Shepard Fairey, Themselves, Friendly Fires, The Gaslight Anthem, The Knux, Mexican Institute of Sound, The Night Marchers, Marshall Barnes

of Montreal announce tour, Cradle tickets on sale

The Cat's Cradle's website finally confirmed today that of Montreal will return to the venue on April 13. We first found out about this show on Wednesday. Tickets are on sale now for $18 via etix.com.

It turns out that once again, the band will kick off their tour in the Triangle. Check out of Montreal's other dates on their US tour below.

of Montreal - "Id Engager" (mp3)

of Montreal US dates:
04.13.09 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
04.14.09 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar
04.15.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
04.16.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
04.17.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
04.19.09 - New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
04.20.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise
04.21.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise
04.22.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
04.23.09 - Covington, KY - Madison Theater
04.24.09 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
04.25.09 - Norman, OK - Norman Music Festival

The Killers bring life and M83 to Myrtle Beach

So what happens when you tell yourself that you will never go to the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach ever again? You acquiesce because The Killers are coming to town.

Plagued with various dysfunctional characteristics – most notably a grievous sound issue and a penchant for destroying photographic opportunities - I was uncertain how things would play out in this venue. But despite everything my faith was, at least for the night, restored.

Starting things off for the night was the French group, M83. Having supported Kings of Leon on their UK tour last year, M83 is making a support run for The Killers during the current US leg of their world tour. Fronted by Anthony Gonzalez, they burst through an interesting and atmospheric display of sound, including tracks from their fifth and most current release, 2008’s Saturdays = Youth. Having known nothing of this band before the show, I was quite intrigued by their style and intensity, and plan on wading through their catalogue to see what else they have to offer.

The switch from opener to headliner was smooth and swift, a fact not lost on me considering past experiences I have had at this venue. In very short order, The Killers were on stage and in direct command of everyone. Like an intense handshake, they greeted the crowd with "Human," the first single from their recent release, Day & Age. The next few hours were blistered with unbridled pomp as they coursed through 16 song set that rarely seemed to let up. Delivering the majority of their new album, they punched in and out with tracks from their previous releases — though “Shadowplay” was the only track to appear from Sawdust, apart from the more melodic and somber version of “Sam’s Town;” a nice soft touch in the midst of a bombastic storm. Seemingly exhausted, they disappeared from stage for what was probably the shortest pre-encore hiatus I have ever witnessed, and soon came back to let the sold-out crowd have another round, giving it all for four more songs.

After everything was over, I was not surprised at how awake, yet exhausted I had become. The Killers had taken a venue that I have come to loathe and made all of its faults irrelevant for one night. They gave just as an intense performance in that small place as they would if it held 30,000 people. The sound issues did not exist for them. They grabbed the audience and did not let go until they were done. I, for one, am ready for the next go round, whenever it may be.


The Killers set list:
Human
Losing Touch
Somebody Told Me
For Reasons Unknown
Smile Like You Mean It
This is Your Life
Joyride
I Can’t Stay
Bling (Confession of a King)
Shadowplay
Neon Tiger
Spaceman
Sam’s Town (Sawdust version)
Read My Mind
Mr. Brightside
All These Things That I Have Done
-----
Bones
The World We Live In
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
When You Were Young

Old music from Reverse (Ivan Howard's old band) - "Another No"

While digging through some old albums, I came across Reverse's self-titled album. Reverse was Ivan Howard's band in Wilmington, NC prior to The Rosebuds. There are early elements in the music of what would later become The Rosebuds sound.

I had the pleasure of seeing Reverse live back in 1999 (I think) at the Cucalorus Festival in Wilmington. I can't remember much about the show except that it was packed and a lot of fun.

Anyway, enough rambling, here's one of my favorite tracks from the album, "Another No." Enjoy.

[photo from album liner notes]

Reverse - "Another No" (mp3)

Capitol Records to release The dB's I.R.S. albums digitally

From February 10 to March 17, Capitol Records will release much of the I.R.S. Records catalog digitally for the first time reports Rolling Stone. Records by Stewart Copeland, Dread Zeppelin, Gary Neuman, Over the Rhine and many others will be released, but the big news for the Triangle is that The dB's albums Stands For Decibels, Repurcussion and The Sound of Music is will be available. Currently, the only dB's albums available to download Ride the Wild TomTom and the band's Christmas compilation Christmas Time Again as well as the single "What Became of the Brokenhearted."

The albums will go up on iTunes, Amazon MP3 and other download services but it's not clear when during the month plus timespan that the records will be released, but at least they'll be online soon.

[UPDATE: The dB's first two albums Stands For Decibels and Repurcussion were first released by UK label Albion before being re-released by IRS in the late 80's.]

Related posts:
The dB's among star-studded line-up paying tribute to R.E.M.
Photos: Ivan Howard, Superchunk, The dBs @ UNC early vote rally

New Ben Kweller music video - "Fight"

Ben Kweller's new countrified album Changing Horses will be out on Tuesday, February 3 and he'll play the Cat's Cradle on March 1 with The Watson Twins. To get an idea of what both of those things might sound like, check out Kweller's new video for "Fight." It's a funny little video that sees the band's bus driver go to jail for speeding while the guys are out fishing. Hijinks ensue. Watch it below.

Tickets for the Cradle show are still on sale via etix.com.

Peter Bjorn and John set for the Cradle too [UPDATED]

Here's another big show coming to the Cat's Cradle found via etix.com. Swedish popsters Peter Bjorn and John will return to Carrboro on May 4. Like the of Montreal date, there's no ticket info or additional info available yet. We'll bring you the info once we have it. The trio last played the Cradle in September 2007.

Peter Bjorn and John and preparing to release their new album Living Thing in the US on March 31. You can still download the killer new track "Nothing To Worry About" on Kanye West's blog.

Peter Bjorn and John - "Nothing To Worry About" (mp3)

[UPDATE: The Cat's Cradle show was removed from the Cradle's eTix calendar and there has been no word on whether or not this show will happen. We'll keep you updated though.]

Peter Bjorn and John North American dates:
04.21.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe
04.22.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre
04.23.09 - Chicago, IL - Metro
04.24.09 - Newport, KY - Southgate House
04.25.09 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Theatre
04.26.09 - Ottawa, ON - Capital Music Hall
04.27.09 - Montreal, QC - Le National
04.28.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise
04.29.09 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
04.30.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
05.01.09 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe
05.02.09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

Of Montreal returning to the Cradle

It looks like of Montreal is returning to the Cat's Cradle in April. There has been no official announcement via of Montreal or the Cat's Cradle website, but etix.com currently has the band listed to play Carrboro on Monday, April 13. The show is currently listed on the site as "Off sale online," but we'll let you know when the details are announced.

The band last played the Triangle last October, prior to the release of their latest album Skeletal Lamping. The show was at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, so the band will have to scale back their stage show to accomodate the smaller Cradle stage they used to play. Check out a video from the Durham show below to see of Montreal in all their decadence (thanks to YouTube user TainTasTic).

New music from Youth Group - "All This Will Pass"

Australian band Youth Group will finally release their fourth album The Night is Ours in the US on April 7. The album has been out in Australia since June of 2008. Check out a catchy track from the new album below titled "All This Will Pass." The song has a very Morrissey vibe to it which really works.

Youth Group - "All This Will Pass" (mp3)

Chatham County Line plays Session in Studio B

Chatham County Line stopped by NBC 17 studios back in December to play a "Session in Studio B." During the performance, the band ripped through "The Carolinian," "Country Boy/City Boy," "Chip of a Star" and "Let It Rock" from their most recent album IV. Watch the performance below.

Oh, and apparently The Raconteurs have opened the door for more mainstream country acts. Who knew?

The band will be joining Norwegian star Jonas Fjeld on his upcoming tour of Norway and will rehearse on stage at the Berkley Cafe in downtown Raleigh on February 12. Tickets for the Raleigh show are on sale now for $10 via etix.com. Chatham County Line played on Fjeld's new album Brother of Song which does not have a US release date. Thanks to On the Beat for this info.



Related posts:
Chatham County Line to play benefit for Columbus County Schools
Tift Merritt, Chatham County Line make the AMA's top of 2008

Paul McCartney to sit down with Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert's Comedy Central comedy/chat show has become a popular stop for high profile musical guests. Wilco, R.E.M., Neil Young and others have been guests on the show and now Paul McCartney will join the list. He will appear on the The Colbert Report tomorrow night, Wednesday, January 28 at 11 PM EST. It will be McCartney's only late night talk show appearance to promote The Fireman's new album Electric Arguments.

In other McCartney news, today the Amoeba's Secret EP was released in the US. It features four tracks recorded live at McCartney's Amoeba Records in-store in Los Angeles in June 2007. His performance of "I Saw Her Standing There" from the EP is nomiated for a Grammy for "Best solo rock performance." He'll also perform at the awards show. Fellow Brits Radiohead are also slated to perform. The Grammys will air on CBS on Sunday, February 8 at 8 PM EST.

About a 100 Love Language CDs available now

Stuart McLamb, frontman of The Love Language posted on MySpace earlier that he has about 100 copies of the band's new self-titled album which you can now order from him. He says the album is not due out until March 17, which contradicts the February 10 date I posted a few days ago which is the date Amazon had posted.

You can get the CD now for $12 by mailing a check, you know those paper thing that people sometimes still use, to:

Stuart McLamb
103 Ayr Court
Cary, NC 27511

We would just like to point out that he's making his address public, not us. He might want to consider setting up a PO Box.

Check out the review and photos of The Love Language with The Rosebud and Megafaun here.

Springsteen and the E Street Band to play Greensboro on world tour

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have a new album out today, Working on a Dream, and a world tour set to kick off April 1.

Springsteen and his band will play the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, May 2. Tickets go on sale for that show on Feb. 6 while tickets for most of the tour go on sale, conveniently, a day after their Super Bowl XLIII halftime performance this Sunday in Tampa.

I'll admit I just had to go to the Super Bowl's website to find out who's playing in the big game, but I'll definitely be tuning in at halftime. Check out the band's full schedule below.

Bruce Springsteen dates:
02.01.09 - Tampa, FL - Super Bowl XLIII
04.01.09 - San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
04.03.09 - Glendale, CA - Jobing.com Center
04.05.09 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
04.07.09 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
04.08.09 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
04.10.09 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Arena
04.15.09 - Los Angeles, CA - LA Memorial Sports Arena
04.21.09 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden
04.22.09 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden
04.24.09 - Hartford, CT - XL Center
04.26.09 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
04.28.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Spectrum
04.29.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Spectrum
05.02.09 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
05.04.09 - Hempstead, NY - Nassau Veterans Mem. Col.
05.05.09 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
05.07.09 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
05.08.09 - University Park, PA - Bryce Jordan Center
05.11.09 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
05.12.09 - Chicago, IL - United Center
05.14.09 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center
05.15.09 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
05.18.09 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
05.19.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
05.21.09 - E. Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
05.23.09 - E. Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
05.30.09 - Landgraaf, Holland - Pink Pop Festival
06.02.09 - Tampere, Finland - Ratinan Stadion
06.04.09 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Stadium
06.05.09 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Stadium
06.07.09 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Stadium
06.09.09 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
06.10.09 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
07.02.09 - Munich, Germany - Olympiastadion
07.03.09 - Frankfurt, Germany - Commerzbank Arena
07.05.09 - Vienna, Austria - Ernst Happel Stadion
07.08.09 - Herning, Denmark - Herning MCH
07.11.09 - Dublin, Ireland - RDS
07.16.09 - Carhaix, France - Festival des Vielles Charrues
07.19.09 - Rome, Italy - Stadio Olimpico
07.21.09 - Turino, Italy - Olimpico di Torino
07.23.09 - Udine, Italy - Stadio Friuli
07.26.09 - Bilbao, Spain - San Mames Stadium
07.28.09 - Benidorm, Spain - Estadio Municipal de Foietes
07.30.09 - Sevilla, Spain - La Cartuja Olympic Stadium
08.01.09 - Valladolid, Spain - Estadio Jose Zorrilla
08.02.09 - Santiago, Spain - Monte Del Gozo

Elle Macho rocks for Lake Fever Sessions

What happens when David Mead, Butterfly Boucher and Lindsay Jamieson join forces? You get Elle Macho, a quirky, rocking band laced with attitude. The band have only played shows in the Nashville area, but they recently recorded a session at Lake Fever Studios. The sessions are aptly titled "Lake Fever Sessions." Watch the band play "Sweet Pancello," "Car Crash" and "Bombs" below. You can also download the tracks via noisetrade.com for free if you email five friends about the music or pay-what-you-want.

Roman Candle also recently recorded a Lake Fever Session. We'll let you know when it goes live.

Death Cab for Cutie hit Davidson on spring tour

Death Cab for Cutie is returning to North Carolina, but not as close to the Triangle as one might hope.

The band will make a stop at Davidson College with Cold War Kids and Ra Ra Riot on Thursday, April 9.

Death Cab is still riding high on the wave of last year's Narrow Stairs, nominated for Grammy awards for best alt rock album and best rock song for "I Will Possess Your Heart." Winners will be announced at the ceremony on Feb. 8 on CBS.

03.07.09 - Miami, FL - Langerado Festival
04.07.09 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre *
04.08.09 - Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall * [Tickets]
04.09.09 - Davidson, NC - John Belk Arena/Davidson College *
04.10.09 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace *
04.11.09 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre * [Tickets]
04.12.09 - Tulsa, OK - The Brady Theater *
04.13.09 - Omaha, NE - Holland Theatre *
04.15.09 - St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkings Auditorium * [Tickets]
04.17.09 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom * [Tickets]
04.18.09 - East Lansing, MI - Breslin Events Center/Michigan State University * [Tickets]
04.19.09 - Waukesha, WI - Van Male Fieldhouse/Carroll College *
04.24.09 - Spokane, WA - McCarthey Athletic Center/Gonzaga University*
04.25.09 - Boise, ID - The Morrison Center *
04.27.09 - Sacramento, CA - Memorial Auditorium *
04.29.09 - San Diego, CA - RIMAC Arena/UC San Diego * [Tickets]
05.01.09 - Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall #
05.02.09 - New Orleans, LA - Contemporary Arts Center #
05.04.09 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium # [Tickets]
05.05.09 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall # [Tickets]
05.06.09 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre # [Tickets]
05.07.09 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live # [Tickets]

* with Cold War Kids and Ra Ra Riot
# with Matt Costa and Ra Ra Riot

The Rosebuds, Megafaun and The Love Language play to packed Cradle

The Rosebuds played to a sold out plus crowd Saturday night at the Cat's Cradle and brought local powerhouses Megafaun and The Love Language along for the fun.

The Love Language kicked off a night with a killer set of indie pop tunes that won the crowd over. The seven piece group rolled through their set with little problem even though frontman Stuart McLamb said he was feeling a little under the weather. These guys are by far one of the best bands in the Triangle right now. The band's self-titled debut album is due out February 10 via Bladen County Records. They also recently recorded a session for Daytrotter which we'll let you know about once it's posted. I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys in the N&O's Great 8 this year.

The Rosebuds, Bowerbirds play 'In a Van'

La Blogotheque, the people who bring us the great "Take Away Shows," filmed a new series of performances in September 2007 which have been dubbed the "In a Van Sessions." Vincent Moon shot the videos which include a performances by The Rosebuds, Bowerbirds, The Walkmen, Sons and Daughters and others.

Watch The Rosebuds play "Bluebird" and Bowerbirds play "La Denegracion" below. You can also download each video as well as an mp3 of each performance via the "In a Van Sessions" page.

Glasvegas cancels Cradle show

Glasvegas has canceled their upcoming show at the Cat's Cradle on March 25. So far it looks like the Cradle date is the only canceled show, but it's hard to say since it's still listed on the band's various sites. The Cat's Cradle's website says tickets purchased via etix.com will be refunded automatically.

Glasvegas isn't the only UK act to cancel a Triangle show recently. The Ting Tings canceled their Lincoln Theatre date back in October. The Tings are playing the Cat's Cradle on March 21. So far, that show is still on.

Though Glasvegas won't be coming here, check out their new session for The Interface here.

Pre-sale info for Fleetwood Mac at Greensboro Coliseum

For those of you looking for tickets to Fleetwood Mac's show at the Greensboro Coliseum on April 26, the pre-sale started today via Ticketmaster. It will run through 10 PM on Sunday, January 25. The password for the sale is HITS. Tickets are available here.

The public on-sale date is Monday, January 26 at 10 AM.

Related posts:
Fleetwood Mac add more dates, 2 NC shows
Fleetwood Mac 'Unleashing' tour in 2009

The Physics of Meaning hit the road

The Physics of Meaning are gearing up for a busy month. The band will hit the road on February 5 for a month long tour to support their new album Snake Charmer and Destiny at the Stroke of Midnight.

The tour kicks off on February 5 in Chapel Hill at the Nightlight with Lost in the Trees and Albina Savoy. The band then move on to the Green Bean in Greensboro and the rest of the country. Check out the dates below.

The Physics of Meaning - "Aeroplanes and Hurricanes" (mp3)
The Physics of Meaning - "Why Can't We Fall in Love Forever? (Anything is Possible) (mp3)

The Physics of Meaning tour dates:
02.05.09 - Chapel Hill, NC - Nightlight
02.06.09 - Greensboro, NC - Green Bean
02.07.09 - Easley, SC - Steddy's
02.08.09 - Athens, GA - Farm 255
02.09.09 - Tuscaloosa, AL - Egan's
02.10.09 - Baton Rouge, LA - Red Star
02.11.09 - New Orleans, LA - Circle Bar
02.12.09 - Austin, TX - Hole in the Wall
02.13.09 - McAllen, TX - The Incubator
02.14.09 - Dallas, TX - Evan's Place
02.15.09 - Dallas, TX - The Cavern
02.16.09 - Lubbock, TX - Rocky La Rue's
02.18.09 - Tempe, AZ - Chyro Arts
02.19.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Senor Fish
02.21.09 - Long Beach, CA - The Prospector
02.22.09 - San Francisco, CA - The Hemlock
02.23.09 - Portland, OR - Ash St. Saloon
02.24.09 - Seattle, WA - High Dive
02.25.09 - Nampa, ID - Flying M Coffeegarage
02.26.09 - Provo, UT - Velour
02.27.09 - Denver, CO - Lion's Lair
03.01.09 - Chicago, IL - Darkroom
03.02.09 - Bloomington, IL - Art Hospital
03.03.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillo Box
03.05.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
03.04.09 - State College, PA - Bar Bleu
03.06.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Green Line

[photo by Lara Khalil]

Related posts:
Independent's 'The Triangle's best 40 songs of 2008'
The Physics of Meaning set to release new album
The Physics of Meaning featured on Daytrotter

Be our Twitter buddy!

After saying "Hey, we should have a Twitter account" for oh, the last year or so, it's finally happened. Follow us over at twitter.com/trianglemusic to get the latest with out, you know, actually coming to the website first. And we promise to never Rickroll you with tinyurl's.

Stream Franz Ferdinand's new album

Franz Ferdinand's first new album since 2004's You Could Have It So Much Better is due out next Tuesday, January 27 but you can hear it now. Stream the new album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand on the band's MySpace page.

The band will play an in-store at Amoeba Music in Hollywood on January 30 at 7 PM (10 PM EST) that will stream live on Amoeba's website. So look for that and a US tour which will probably skip the Carolinas later in the year.

Joan Jett to play Downtown Live

Ever wanted to see a bunch of people singing along to "I Love Rock N Roll?" You'll have your chance on July 11 when Joan Jett and The Blackhearts play Raleigh Downtown Live. We normally have some smart ass things to say about the Downtown Live performers, but I don't have anything on this one. Joan Jett is pretty damn cool.

Here's the updated schedule:
05.30.09 - Candlebox
06.13.09 - Filter
07.11.09 - Jaon Jett and the Blackhearst
07.25.09 - The Charlie Daniels Band

Related posts:
Two more Downtown Live headliners announced
Candlebox to kick off Downtown Live in 2009

The Ting Tings Cat's Cradle ticket info

We brought you the info about The Ting Tings spring tour last week, but at that time we didn't have ticket info for the Cat's Cradle show. Now we do. Tickets for the March 21 show will go on sale this Friday, January 23 via etix.com for $15.

Check out The Ting Tings tour dates here.

Merge Records signs Telekinesis

Merge Records has added a new band to their roster. They recently signed Seattle based act Telekinesis. The band is the project of songwriter Michael Benjamin Lerner who plays most of the instruments on the recordings. On the road, he plays with three bandmates.

Merge will release Telekinesis' debut album titled Telekinesis! on April 7 which was produced by Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla. Download "Coast of Carolina" from the album below. The track is a great, catchy little song.

The band has a busy tour schedule ahead of them which will see them tour a lot with Ra Ra Riot and then with Say Hi (formerly Say Hi To Your Mom). There's no Carolina dates on their schedule yet, but maybe we'll at least see the guys at this summer's XX Merge Festival.

Telekinesis - "Coast of Carolina" (mp3)

Telekinesis tour dates:
02.21.09 - Vancouver, BC - Richard’s On Richard’s *
02.24.09 - Portland, OR - The Doug Fir *
02.25.09 - Seattle, WA - Neumo’s *
02.27.09 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent (Noise Pop Festival) *
02.28.09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre *
03.01.09 - San Diego, CA - The Loft *
03.02.09 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar *
03.13.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo #
03.14.09 - Las Vegas, NV - Beauty Bar (Neon Reverb Festival) #
03.15.09 - Tuscon, AZ - Plush #
03.18.09 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.19.09 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.20.09 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.21.09 - Austin, TX - SXSW
03.22.09 - Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe #
03.23.09 - Nashville, TN - The End #
03.24.09 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn #
03.25.09 - Richmond, VA - Plaza "Duckpin" Bowl #
03.26.09 - Washington, DC - Black Cat #
03.27.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s #
03.28.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Bell House #
03.29.09 - New York, NY - The Mercury Lounge #
03.30.09 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs #
04.02.09 - Columbus, OH - Circus #
04.03.09 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen #
04.04.09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry #
04.05.09 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown #
04.06.09 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive #
04.07.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court #
04.08.09 - Boise, ID - Neurolux #

* w/ Ra Ra Riot and Cut Off Your Hands
# w/ Say Hi

Annuals giving away show, museum tickets

Annuals is giving away some extra culture along their current tour. They are giving away museum passes for each city along with tickets to their show. They held a similar giveaway when they released the Wet Zoo EP last year.

Enter the giveaway here.

Along with tickets to the Cat's Cradle show on January 31, the winner will receive tickets to the UNC's Ackland Art Museum. Not a bad deal at all.

If you're not lucky enough to win, tickets for the show are still available via etix.com.

Check out Annuals current tour schedule below.

Annuals tour dates:
01.21.09 - Iowa City, IA - Maintenance Shop
01.22.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
01.23.09 - Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop
01.24.09 - Toronto, ON - El Mocambo
01.25.09 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
01.27.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
01.28.09 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
01.30.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
01.31.09 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
02.02.09 - Raleigh, NC - Schoolkids Records *
02.06.09 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre
02.07.09 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
02.08.09 - Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
02.10.09 - New Orleans, LA - The Parish
02.11.09 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
02.12.09 - Houston, TX - Walter’s on Washington
02.13.09 - Austin, TX - The Parish
02.14.09 - Dallas, TX - Pontiac Garage
02.17.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room
02.18.09 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah
02.19.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
02.21.09 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s
02.23.09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
02.24.09 - Vancouver, BC - Pit Pub
02.25.09 - Seattle, WA - TBA
02.27.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
02.28.09 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
03.02.09 - Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar
03.03.09 - St. Louis, MO - The Gargoyle
03.04.09 - Newport, KY - South Gate House
03.06.09 - Nashville, TN - Grimey's *
03.06.09 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
03.07.09 - Atlanta, GA - Criminal Records *
03.07.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl

* In-store performance.

Related posts:
Triangle bands gear up for SXSW
Schoolkids moving plans, in-stores announced
Annuals play phenomenal set for Spinner
Annuals perform for NBC 17

Yep Roc signs The Soundtrack of Our Lives

Local record label Yep Roc Records has announced that they will release The Soundtrack of Our Lives' new double album Communion. The 24 tack album from the Swedish group will be out in the US on March 3.

Check out the band's cover of Nick Drake's "Fly" at the bottom of the below. The track will be included on Communion.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - "Fly" (mp3)

The band will play a few US dates shortly after the album's release, though they're no where near the Triangle. Check out the dates below.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives US dates:
03.09.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
03.13.09 - Chicago, IL - Double Door
03.15.09 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
03.16.09 - West Hollywood, CA -Troubadour

[photo by Fredrik Wennerlund]

Brian Jonestown Massacre sets dates, play Carrboro

Psychedelic rockers the Brian Jonestown Massacre are set to hit the road in March and April for a run of dates that will include two stops in North Carolina. They will play the Cat's Cradle on April 7 and the Orange Peel in Asheville April 7. Tickets for the Cradle show will go on sale this Friday, January 23 via etix.com for $15. Orange Peel tickets go on sale on the January 23 as well but via TicketWeb at noon for $15.

Brian Jonestown Massacre released their first album in four years last April titled My Bloody Underground. Check out "Just Like Kicking Jesus" from the album on the band's MySpace page.

Brian Jonestown Massacre dates:
03.16.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia *
03.17.09 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
03.20.09 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
03.21.09 - Seatlle, WA - Neumo's
03.24.09 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
03.26.09 - Minneapolis, MN - The Fine Line
03.27.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
03.28.09 - Chicago, IL - The Metro
03.29.09 - Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop
03.30.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre
04.01.09 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
04.02.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise
04.03.09 - Northampton, MA - Pearl St.
04.04.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
04.06.09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
04.07.09 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
04.08.09 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
04.10.09 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
04.11.09 - Memphis, TN - Exit/In
04.13.09 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
04.14.09 - Austin, TX - Emo's
04.16.09 - Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse

* w/ Primal Scream

Stream Bruce Springsteen's new album 'Working on a Dream'

We've covered Bruce Springsteen a lot recently, which is a bit weird, but he has kept the PR machine burning. After releasing a few free downloads from his new album Working on a Dream, NPR now has the entire album streaming on their website. So if you're inclined, go check out the album and see what you think.

Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream (stream)

In other Springsteen news, he performed at Sunday's "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial in DC as part of Barack Obama's inauguration festivities. Watch him play "The Rising" with a gospel choir and "This Land is Your Land" with the legendary Pete Seeger below. HBO will be reshowing the concert in it's entirety at 1 PM and 9:30 PM. You can watch in online as well here.

"The Rising"



"This Land is Your Land"


Related posts:
Bruce Springsteen gives away another free song
New Bruce Springsteen video - "My Lucky Day"
Bruce Springsteen's new single FREE, today only

Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves open for Morrissey

Massachusetts singer/songwriter Eli "Paperboy" Reed and his band The True Loves will join Morrissey on some of his upcoming US dates including the Durham date. Eli Reed plays soul music in the classic tradition with a groove, horns and a lot of swagger. Check out a video of Reed and The True Loves performing on Later with Jools Holland below to get the gist of his sound.

Reed's current release Roll With You came out in April on Q-Division Records. He is expected release his third album in the fall via his newly signed deal with Virgin Records.



Related post:
Morrissey to bring 'Tour of Refusal' to Triangle

Neko Case to tour, play with Crooked Fingers in Raleigh

Indie songstress and New Pornographer Neko Case is set to play Raleigh in April. She'll be touring in support of her forthcoming album Middle Cyclone which will out on March 3 via Anti- Records. Download "People Got a Lotta Nerve" from the album at the bottom of the post.

Case will bring Crooked Fingers (aka Eric Bachmann) with her when she plays Meymandi Hall on April 7. Crooked Fingers just released a new album in October titled Forfeit/Fortune. Check out a track from that album below too.

Tickets for the show will go on sale Friday, January 23 at 10 AM via the Progress Energry Center box office and Ticketmaster for $22 or $25.

This date will accompany more tour dates which haven't been announced yet, but check below for a short list of dates I've been able to find. It's unclear if Crooked Fingers will be out for the entire run but we'll add more dates and info as it comes in.

[UPDATE: More US dates added. Crooked Fingers will open all the dates but Austin, TX.]

[UPDATE 2: Even more US dates added. May and June dates without Crooked Fingers.]

Neko Case - "People Got a Lotta Nerve" (mp3)
Crooked Fingers - "Phony Revelations" (mp3)

Neko Case tour dates:
03.31.09 - Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ
04.02.09 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse [Tickets]
04.03.09 - Savannah, GA - Trustees Theater
04.04.09 - Birmingham, AL - WorkPlay Theatre
04.06.09 - Richmond, VA - Toad's Place
04.07.09 - Raleigh, NC - Meymandi Hall [Tickets]
04.08.09 - Washington D.C. - 9:30 Club
04.09.09 - Washington D.C. - 9:30 Club
04.10.09 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre [Tickets]
04.11.09 - Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center [Tickets]
04.13.09 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre [Tickets]
04.14.09 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre [Tickets]
04.16.09 - Montreal, QC - Le National
04.17.09 - Toronto, ON - Trinity St. Paul's United Church [Tickets]
04.18.09 - Toronto, ON - Trinity St. Paul's United Church [Tickets]
04.20.09 - Ithaca, NY - State Theater of Ithaca
04.22.09 - Charleston, WV - Charleston Civic Center
04.23.09 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall [Tickets]
04.24.09 - Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre [Tickets]
04.25.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
04.26.09 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre [Tickets]

05.28.09 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre [Tickets]
05.29.09 - Boulder, CO - Chautauqua Auditorium
05.30.09 - Denver, CO - The Ogden [Tickets]
05.31.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Gardens
06.03.09 - Vancouver, BC - The Vogue [Tickets]
06.04.09 - Seattle, WA - The Paramount
06.05.09 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
06.07.09 - Eugene, OR - MacDonald Theater
06.09.09 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield [Tickets]
06.12.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theatre
06.14.09 - Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Festival

Triangle bands gear up for SXSW

A number of bands Triangle bands are currently among the over 1,000 bands announced to play the annual South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin, TX in March. Below you'll see the current list of area bands that will make the trek. There are still more bands yet to be announced, so we'll keep an eye out for more local acts. For the complete current list of performers, go here.

SXSW Music will take place from March 18 to 22.

Local acts playing SXSW:
Annuals
Black Skies
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Colossus
The Love Language
The Moaners
Patty Hurst Shifter

New music form M. Ward - "Never Had Nobody Like You" (feat. Zoey Deschanel)

Check out "Never Had Nobody Like You" from M. Ward's upcoming album Hold Time. The poppy tune features backing vocals by Ward's She & Him counterpart Zoey Deschanel. The song is quite different from the album's title track which surfaced with a music video last week.

Hold Time will be out on February 17 via Merge Records.

M. Ward - "Never Had Nobody Like You" (mp3)

Related posts:
Stream M. Ward's new album 'Hold Time'
New M. Ward video - "Hold Time"
Prefix picks Merge's best albums
Merge announces new M. Ward album

Chatham County Line to play benefit for Columbus County schools

Chatham County Line will play a show in February that's very near and dear to me. They will play a little town called Whiteville, population 5,600 and my hometown. Don't know where that is? Don't worry, most people don't. It's about 45 minutes west of Wilmington and most known as pit stop on the way to the local beaches.

The show will be at Whiteville High School's Bower Performing Arts Center at 7 PM on February 7. All of the proceeds will go to benefit the four Columbus County high schools that have seen their budgets but due the awful economy. Specifically, the money will go to help the arts programs at the schools. Unfortunately in tough times, the arts are always the first programs to suffer budget cuts.

The concert is being billed as "The Concert Event of the Year for Columbus County!" and trust me it is. Nothing cool ever happens in Whiteville.

Tickets are available here for $12.50. For more info check out ccl2009.com. If you feel inclined, take a road trip and help the cause.

The Avett Brothers play "St. Joseph's" in a sky bucket

While The Avett Brothers were at the Jackson Hole Music Festival in Wyoming last year, a Paste Magazine editor convinced the band to film a live performance in a sky bucket. The result was great performance "St. Joseph's" from The Second Gleam with the world passing by behind them. These guys really seem at the top of their game musically in mellower situations.

Watch the video here.

Don't forget, The Avetts will be opening for the Dave Matthews Band at Walnut Creek on April 22. Check out more on that here.

Fiction Family, an unlikely pairing that works

Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek and Jon Foreman of Switchfoot are an unlikely duo, but when the two came together to form Fiction Family, their musical sensibilities meshed into a great sound. The project was originally started during each members down time from their respective bands, but with Nickel Creek on an indefinite hiatus, a full-length album came to be.

The self-titled album is a mostly an acoustic guitar driven affair but the use of piano, drums, drum machines and a variety other instruments fill out the tracks. Watkins and Foreman split lead vocal duties on the songs which doesn't feel forced or strange. Their voices and songs blend together to create a single sound reflective of a band rather than two individual songwriters.

Nickel Creek fans may recognize the song "Not Sure" which Watkins played regularly on the band's last tour. It's a great song that deserved to make it on one of Watkins' records.

The album's first single is a poppy tune called "When She's Near" which is reminiscent of Jon Brion (download the song at the bottom of the post). A funny little video was filmed for the track by which you can see here.

The album's tracks are like a roller coaster of emotion from upbeat and poppy to somber to slightly aggressive to whimsical. Fiction Family is a strong offering from two young music veterans. It is delightful and well worth your time and money.

Fiction Family will released on Tuesday, January 20 via ATO Records. Stream the entire album now via Rhapsody.

Fiction Family - "When She's Near" (mp3)
Fiction Family - Fiction Family (album stream)