Will Hoge's Carrboro show canceled

Bad news for anyone planning to catch Will Hoge's show at the Cat's Cradle this Saturday, October 3. The show has been canceled. Here's the statement about the cancellation on Will's website.

The show scheduled for this Saturday, October 3 at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC has been canceled.  Our apologies to all the fans who purchased tickets and to all of you planning to attend.  Efforts are already underway to reschedule the date.  Thank you to Frank and the staff at Cat's Cradle for their understanding - we  look forward to working with you soon.  Rescheduled date to be announced soon.

I'm guessing he received an offer that he just couldn't turn down, because he's not one for canceling shows without a damn good reason. We'll let you know when the rescheduled date is announced.

Ryan Gustafson and the Sundowners will now be playing a free show at the Cradle on Saturday, October 3.

New XX Merge video: Lou Barlow - "Goodnight Unknown"

This week we have the fourth installment of Converse's XX Merge "Take Away" video series. This one features Lou Barlow performing the song "Goodnight Unknown" from his forthcoming Merge release of the same name due out next Tuesday, October 6. The video features Barlow playing sitting next to a brick wall in Carrboro and at one point during the video, you can hear a train whistle. It's a fantastic performance which you can watch here.

You can stream Goodnight Unknown for a limited time via NPR. Check out Lou Barlow's upcoming tour dates after the break.

Video: Avett Brothers perform "I and Love and You" on Letterman

The Avett Brothers kicked off the release of I and Love and You last night with an excellent performance on the Late Show with David Letterman. They played the somber title track from the album and Dave even seemed impressed at the close of the show (though he could have just had a few seconds to kill). Watch the performance after the break.

I also came across a video on YouTube of a guy opening his uber-deluxe edition of the band's new album. It looks really nice, but I wouldn't spend $89 on it. Check out that video here.

Stream 'Score! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Remixes'

The new Merge remix album dubbed Score! 20 Years of Merge Records: The Remixes we told you about last week is now available to stream in full. The album won't be out until November 17, but head over to mergerecords.com to give it a listen. The +/- remix of The Rosebuds' "Bow To the Middle" and Mark Robinson remix of The Magnetic Fields' "Washington D.C." are two of my favorites so far.

While you're over at Merge's site, check out streams of 17 other releases including The Clientele, Polvo, The Clean, Destroyer and others. Also, check out info on the new Merge companion book here.

The Get Up Kids apologize for emo music while on reunion tour

The Get Up Kids may not have started emo, but they're willing to take the blame.

"If this is the world we helped create, then I apologize," guitarist James Suptic told Drowned in Sound earlier this summer. The Get Up Kids reunited last year after a three-year hiatus. "Honestly, I don't often think about the state of 'emo.' The punk scene we came out of and the punk scene now are completely different. It's like glam rock now."

Emo has its roots in the mid 1980s, but reached critical mass early this decade with bands like The Get Up Kids and Jimmy Eat World—who honestly, I never thought of as emo because what is "emo" in my head annoys the crap out of me. (see: Dashboard Confessional)

Ponderosa playing at Slim's tonight, free EP download

Atlanta/Athens band Ponderosa will roll into the Triangle tonight for a show at Slims in downtown Raleigh. The show is scheduled to start a 9 p.m. according to Slim's MySpace page, but they sometimes start later than advertised. Tickets are just $3 and local lads Red Collar will also play.

Ponderosa could be classified as southern rock, but that doesn't do them justice because the quality of the songwriting transcends the southern rock genre. The band are giving away an EP titled Moonlight Revival which you can download here. Though it's called an EP, there is a full ten songs including a few live tunes at the end.

Check out a few photos of Ponderosa when they opened for Butch Walker at the Lincoln Theatre in March right here.

WXDU's annual record fair tomorrow, maybe

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, September 26) will see the annual WXDU Record Fair returning to the Duke Coffeehouse. The annual sale features vinyl dealers from across the area selling their wares for the music loving masses. This year, WXDU will be selling some inexpensive vinyl as well to benefit the station. The Only Burger truck will be there too, so you can grab a bite and pick up some music.

The sale will go on from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless the weather is bad, which the forecast suggest it very well may be. If the rain does come, the fair will be rescheduled for the following Saturday, October 3.

Bombadil perform 'Tarpit' tunes for Daytrotter

Bombadil may not currently be able to perform live shows due to Daniel Michalak's tendonitis, that didn't keep the group from recording a session for Daytrotter to promote their latest album Tarpits and Canyonlands. The band session is currently available to download here, which features four songs.

The set list is "Kate and Kelsey," "Oto the Bear," "So Many Ways To Die" and "Cavaliers." The stripped down versions of the songs are quite good, especially "Oto the Bear" which replaces the album's piano riff with guitar.

New music video from The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"

The Avett Brothers are throwing out new content at warp speed as the release of their new album I and Love and You has come within reach. We now have the first official music video for the album's title track. It's part live performance and part rural band footage. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's a fitting video for the song. Watch the video after the break.

In addition to the music video, two more parts of the album's video series are online now. You can check out the clip for "Kick Drum Heart" after the break thanks to Jambase.com. You can watch the clip for "Laundry Room" over at Paste's website. Check out the other videos in the series here, here and here.

Not that I have to remind you, but I and Love and You will be released this Tuesday, September 29.

Performances from XX Merge festivities hit the web

While the XX Merge Converse "take away" series still has three more videos to roll out, the big kahuna has hit the web. It turns out we didn't have to wait long to see the results of all those cameras positioned around the Cat's Cradle and Memorial Hall of those nights in July.

A boatload of videos are now available to view over at Bablegum.com including performances by Superchunk, She & Him, Spoon, American Music Club, Telekinesis, Polvo, Pipe, Richard Buckner, Wye Oak, The Clientele, The Ladybug Transistor, Destroyer, Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, Oakley Hall and Imperial Teen.

So if you were there, go relive at great five nights of music and if you were not there, go check out what you missed. I'm still hoping these performances and many more make their way to a DVD in the not-to-distant future.

The Whigs and The Features announce fall tour, play Chapel Hill

Two southern bands, The Whigs from Athens, GA and The Features from Nashville, TN, are teaming up for a fall tour that will kick off at the end of October. The end of the run will bring the two bands to Chapel Hill's Local 506 on Monday, December 14. Tickets for the show are on sale now for $10 via etix.com.

The Whigs latest album is 2008's Mission Control. The Features latest album Some Kind of Salvation was released in July by 429 Records, Kings of Leon's new imprint. Download mp3s from both albums and check out the full tour schedule after the break.

Stream new albums from Lou Barlow & The Clientele

Merge Records has two new albums coming out on Tuesday, October which are both available to stream in full right now.

The first is Lou Barlow's Goodnight Unknown which is streaming over on NPR's website. The second is The Clientele's Bonfires On the Heath which is streaming on Merge Records' website.

Check out photos and reviews of both artists sets at XX Merge in July here and here. Download an mp3 from each album after the break.

Deer Tick, Lucero, Whatever Brains play Schoolkids in October

We mentioned that I Was Totally Destroying are launching their new album Horror Vacui at Schoolkids Records next month, but the in-stores keep rolling in.

Whatever Brains will stop by on Friday, October 2. Lucero will celebrate the release of their new album 1372 Overton Park on Monday, October 5.

Deer Tick will swing by on Monday, October 19 for an afternoon set before their show at Local 506 later that night. And last, local band Wedlock will play Schoolkids on Friday, October 23.

Check out a streamlined schedule with times below.

New XX Merge video: Telekinesis - "Tokyo"

The third installment of Converse's XX Merge take-away video series is now available online. This one features Telekinesis (Matthew Lerner) playing "Tokyo" with Matthew Caws of Nada Surf in an alley in Carrboro on July 26. It's quite the groovy performance. You can check our post on their XX Merge set at the Cat's Cradle here.

NPR also recently posted a Tiny Desk session featuring Telekinesis. You can watch the stripped down performances of "Plankton," "Coast of Carolina," "I Saw Lightning" and "Rust" after the break.

Telekinesis are currently in Europe where they'll hook up with The Rosebuds for a tour that will keep them busy through October. The Rosebuds have been documenting their current Chinese adventure on their Tumblr blog and will likely continue the posts during the European tour. Be sure to check it out.

Stream The Avett Brothers' album 'I and Love and You' + two new videos

After a long wait for Avett Brothers fans, they will finally be able to own the band's major label debut I and Love and You next week (September 28 to be exact). But, if you just can't wait one more week, head over to NPR's website to stream the entire album.

Also, the fifth and sixth videos from the video series have been released. Check out the clip for "Perfect Space" here, via Rolling Stone and "Ten Thousand Words" below thanks to The Huffington Post. You can also peruse the tour dates below, which amazingly, still does not include a Triangle date.

Album Review: Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk

Monsters of Folk, a collaboration between Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes, Jim James of My Morning Jacket and M. Ward, should end up having a unique place in supergroup history. The group didn't launch the members' careers like many indie collectives have and it didn't come into being after they had achieved fame.

Monsters of Folk came together during a 2004 tour before much of the indie world had taken notice of them. However, before the group could record an album together, their careers skyrocketed. Bright Eyes took off with I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, My Morning Jacket with Z and M. Ward with Post - War. Five years later, the group decided it was finally time to get in the studio.

Merge releases the Score! Remixes track list

There's been so much going on with Merge this year, we almost forgot about the Merge remix album. We first mentioned it back in January with the other initial news of the anniversary festivities. After all this time though, it's back on our radar because the track list and released date has been announced.

The remixers include Caribou, Xiu Xiu, Junior Boys, +/- and others. The remixees include everything from the bigwigs like Spoon, Arcade Fire to lesser known bands like Guv'ner and Pram. Locals groups The Rosebuds and Polvo even get the remix treatment on the release. Check out the full track list after the break.

Mars Volta hitting the in road in October, coming to Raleigh

Texas prog-rockers The Mars Volta are gearing up for a North American tour in October in support of their new album Octahedron. If the schedule remains as it is now, the North American leg of the tour will come to an end in Raleigh at the Disco Rodeo on Friday, October 23. Tickets for the show are will go on sale this Friday, September 25 at 10 a.m. here.

Check out the video for "Since We've Been Wrong" as well as the full tour schedule after the break.

Trekky Records Collective host stripped down show in Carrboro

Scrappy do-it-yourselfers Trekky Records are gearing up to host a stripped down, "evening with" show featuring members of some of their excellent bands. The event will happen this Sunday, September 27 at Milltown in Carrboro.

The show will start at 7 p.m. an will be free. The performances will feature members of Lost in the Trees, The Never, Embarrassing Fruits, Butterflies and Vibrant Green. They have promised an evening featuring new songs as well as some embarrassing covers from the members old high school bands. This sounds like a fun way to spend a Sunday evening.

Check out some mp3s of the featured bands after the break.

Mac and Laura end trio of Triangle 'Our Noise' events in Raleigh

Merge Records founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance wrapped up their trio of Our Noise release events in the Triangle Thursday night at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. After a brief introduction by the N&O's music critic David Menconi, the duo kicked things off with a performance of "Cool."

Laura read a portion of the book about the infamous van fire during a cross-country trip in 1989, which Mac followed with a reading about Matt Suggs. He followed the reading with a trio of performances including Matt Suggs' "Where's Your Patience Dear?," Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)" and The Magnetic Fields' "Come Back From San Francisco." Check out videos of the latter two songs after the break.

Mac followed his Magnetic Fields cover with a passage from the band's chapter in the book in which Stephin Merritt shows off his particular brand of "charm." Laura then read a passage from the Neutral Milk Hotel chapter before the duo played "Throwing Things."

Album Review: Liam Finn + Eliza Jane - Champagne in Seashells

For his latest effort, Liam Finn is joined by his childhood friend and muse Eliza Jane. The duo have put forth Champagne in Seashells, a delightful five-song EP.

The EP is appropriately titled. Throughout the track list, bubbly melodies tickle the ear wrapped in the analog waves of studio effects and fuzz. Finn supplies the listener with variations on funk, pop, and late 60’s Beatles rock

“Plane Crash” begins with slowly building verses that make me think that Liam Finn is the missing member of Sgt. Pepper's brigade. It explodes into violence and confusion just halfway through. “Long Way To Go” ups the funk factor and is heavy on the back beat.

Avett Brothers release parts 3 and 4 of video series

The Avett Brothers have released parts three and four of their video series celebrating the release of their new album I and Love and You out on September 29. These videos featuring the songs "Head Full Of Doubt, Road Full Of Promise" and "And It Spread" were featured on My Old Kentucky Blog and Relix magazine's website respectively. Check out the videos after break.

Check out parts one and two of the series here.

Jon Wurster to join Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar on Kerouac tour

Drummer extraordinaire and Superchunk member Jon Wurster will be joining Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar on their upcoming tour. The brief tour is in support of the soundtrack for One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Kerouac's Big Sur which features 12 original songs penned by Gibbard and Farrar based on the prose o of Jack Kerouac's novel Big Sur.

Other than Gibbard, Farrar and Wurster, the band will also feature Nick Harmer of Death Cab For Cutie and Mark Spencer of Son Volt. The tour only features four dates and the Triangle is not among them. The closest show is actually in New York. Check out the dates after the break.

Ben Gibbard/Jay Farrar tour dates:
10.23.09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre [Tickets]
10.24.09 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
10.26.09 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
10.28.09 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

Mac and Laura launch 'Our Noise' in Durham with performance and Q&A

Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance stopped by The Regulator Bookshop in Durham last night to to celebrate the release of Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records.

The evening started with a duo performance of "Driveway To Driveway" followed by Laura reading a letter she wrote after Merge's five year anniversary. The letter's theme was essentially "How did we get here?" and here they are fifteen more years later from that point.

Mac then read a passage about Matt Suggs from the book and followed it with a performance of Suggs' song "Where's Your Patience Dear?" Mac then played the Lambchop song "Theöne" followed by a passage from the book about Lambchop. It was a beautiful tribute to two Merge artists who have been with the label for many years. Watch videos of the performances after the break.

New XX Merge video: The Clientele - "Bonfires on the Heath"

It feels like we've been taken back to July, because new Merge Anniversary content just keeps coming. Now, Converse and Merge Records have posted the second video of their Take Away Shows-esque video series. This one features The Clientele performing the title-track from their new album Bonfires on the Heath, due out on October 6.

The video starts with drummer Mark Keen gathering twigs to fashion himself some makeshift brushes to play his snare. It's a nice little nod to the guerrilla nature of video series.

Watch the video here.

The Merge Records Companion to hit shelves this fall

Just in case anyone was under the impression that Merge Records was winding down their 20th anniversary celebration...they're not.

Everyone's favorite Durham-based record label announced a companion for your record collection today — The Merge Records Companion. The CD-sized volume clocks in at 350 pages and features photos of every CD, record, EP, 7-inch, DVD and yes, cassette, that Merge released over its first 20 years, along with essays from label founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance.

The limited edition book is available for pre-order now for $15.98 with all proceeds going to the charities chosen by the 14 SCORE! curators. It will ship to land in mailboxes on Nov. 3, so if you like to do your Christmas shopping early this is a perfect option.

And don't forget, tonight is the first book signing and reading by McCaughan and Ballance for Our Noise. Event dates and times are below.

Sept. 15 - 7 p.m. - The Regulator Bookshop - Durham
Sept. 17 - 3:30 p.m. - Bull's Head Bookshop - Chapel hill
Sept. 17 - 7:30 p.m. - Quail Ridge Books & Music - Raleigh
Oct. 2 - 7 p.m. - Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe - Asheville

Telekinesis kills at Tir Na Nog, covers ELO

Telekinesis was at it again in Raleigh on Monday night, this time playing a free show at Tir Na Nog. It was a late show, but that didn't keep a nice-sized crowd from showing up.

The set was the same has the BugFest set on Saturday, with one key addition. Michael convinced Ivan during the acoustic portion of the set to sing Electric Light Orchestra's "Can Get You Out of My Head" with him. It was a great cover accompanied by a story Michael told about he an Ivan bonded over their love of ELO.

Now Telekinesis and The Rosebuds will embark on a month-long European tour, though The Rosebuds will make a brief stop in China (yes, China) before they make their way to Europe. We wish them safe travels and packed clubs.

Kanye West and Lady Gaga coming to Greensboro on 'Fame Kills' tour

Only hours after Kanye West made an ass of himself at the Video Music Awards last night and Lady Gaga gave a bizarre performance and donned numerous strange outfits, the two have announced the dates of their "Fame Kills" Tour. The tour will kick of in Phoenix on November 10 and while the tour won't make it's way to the Triangle, it will be just up I-40 at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Greensboro show will happen on Saturday, December 12. Ticket information is not available yet.

If you haven't seen Kanye's latest act of jackassery, check out the video after the break.

Album Review: A.A. Bondy - When The Devil's Loose

When listening to an album, it's often easy to over analyze. It's easy to get caught up what an artist means. But sometimes it's better to listen to songs as a whole and not to dissect them. A.A. Bondy's new album, When the Devil's Loose, is a great reminder of this.

With his new album, A.A. Bondy has crafted 10 gorgeous songs. The lyrics are elusive, but the music is beautiful and speaks for itself. While the album never ventures past mid-tempo or mezzo forte, it is well paced and avoids the doldrums that plague so many singer-songwriter albums. The most upbeat and best song, “I Can See the Pines are Dancing," is perfectly placed in the number six spot and propels the album to a strong finish with "The Mercy Wheel" and “The Coal Hits the Fire."

There will be inevitable comparisons to Ryan Adams. The timbre of A.A. Bondy's voice is similar and the tones of their music aren't far apart, but there are key differences. A.A. Bondy is calmer and lacks the cavalier attitude. His music isn't confrontational and conveys the feeling of a deep sigh on the mountain side.

A.A. Bondy will play with Sean Bones and Marmoset at Local 506 in Chapel Hill tomorrow, Tuesday, September 15. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.

Telekinesis and The Rosebuds rock BugFest

An event called BugFest organized by The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences isn't exactly where you'd expect to find two of Merge Records' best bands, but that's where they were Saturday afternoon.

The Rosebuds took the downtown Raleigh stage facing the capitol building at about 4:30 p.m. Unfortunately, due to heavy traffic for NC State's football game, I arrived a bit late for their set, but still got to see a groovy show. They even busted out "Kicks in the Schoolyard" from their 2003 debut as a request, which was particularly nice.

After The Rosebuds I wandered the museum checking out some of the exhibits since there were two hours until Telekinesis would come on. There was a young band playing mostly covers after The Rosebuds which I'll take the fifth on out of politeness. I'll just say that "Sweet Home Alabama" and Weezer's "Pork and Beans" were involved.

First two Avett Brothers 'I and Love and You' video clips

The Avett Brothers have released the first two videos of their thirteen part video series hyping the release of their new album I and Love and You, out on September 29. There will be a video for each track rolling out one at a time. Right now you can watch the clip for "I and Love and You" (via Spinner) and "January Wedding" (via Spin) below.

Each video features the band talking about the song as well as fans talking about their love of the band, including a pretty tough looking dude discussion how the music makes him emotional.

Works Progress Administration's Raleigh show loses line-up, increases ticket price

So the big supergroup Works Progress Administration show slated for September 17 at the Lincoln Theatre has undergone some big changes. First, the band's line-up that night will not feature big names like Benmont Tench (of The Heartbreakers), Pete Thomas (of The Attractions) and others that Lincoln Theatre originally touted on it's schedule. The line-up is still strong, but features just Glen Phillips, Sean Watkins, Luke Bulla, Tyler Chester and Jerry Roe.

Another incredibly odd change, is the price of tickets have gone up after already being on sale for two months. The show is now billed as partially seated and tickets will cost you $16 instead of the original $12. Is the group worth $16, sure. But you can't raise the price after the show has been on sale for months. Something fishy is going on somewhere.

On a more upbeat note, local band The Shucks have been added to open the show.

Chat with Mac & Laura on Gawker.com at 1 p.m.

Can't make it to one of Mac and Laura's local events next week for Our Noise? The duo, along with the the book's author John Cook, are doing a live chat at Gawker.com at 1pm today.

They will be taking questions from Gawker's famed snarky commenters along with Hugo Lindgren, the deputy editor of New York magazine and long-time Merge and Superchunk fan.

[UPDATE: Check out the transcript of the chat here. It was a really informative chat, including a bit about what Mac, Laura and John Cook's kids like to listen to.]

Telekinesis and The Rosebuds play free shows in Raleigh

Michael Lerner, the brainchild behind the band Telekinesis, has been in the Triangle for a few days gearing up for an upcoming European tour. He will cap off his time here with a few free shows in the area.

First, Telekinesis will stop by WKNC on Friday, September 11 at 12:45 p.m. to perform a few songs. You can listen at 88.1 FM or tune in online here.

Next, both Telekinesis and The Rosebuds will play BugFest in downtown Raleigh near the capitol building on Saturday, September 12. The show is free and will also feature sets by Graffiti Monkeys, The Pneurotics, Gambling the Muse and Sandbox Band. Check out the set times and additional information here.

And finally, Telekinesis will play another free show in Raleigh at Tir Na Nog on Monday, September 14.

Ivan of The Rosebuds will be playing bass with Telekinesis at all of the shows, much like he did at XX Merge. Try to make it out to at least one of the shows and if you haven't picked up his debut album Telekinesis!, check it out. It's full of pop-flavored goodness.

Telekinesis - "Coast of Carolina" (mp3)

New XX Merge photos and video online now

Is it just us, or is XX Merge the festival that never ends?

Merge launched some new content on the XX Merge site today, including more photos from the five day celebration.

Also today on Converse.com, an XX Merge sponsor, you can check out the first of six takeaway performances. One will be posted every week, with the first being Superchuck performing a stripped-down version of "Crossed Wires."

We'll look forward to seeing footage from The Rosebuds' impromptu show at Jackpot among others in the coming weeks.

Alela Diane and Marissa Nadler hit the road, play Carrboro

Two folky female singer songwriters, Alela Diane and Marissa Nadler, are teaming up this fall for a co-headline tour. The ladies will stop in Carrboro at the ArtsCenter on Monday, November 9. Tickets are on sale now via etix.com for $10.

Diane's new album To Be Still was released in February and Nadler's latest album Little Hells was released in March. Check out mp3s from both albums and the full tour dates after the break.

Matisyahu announces big fall tour, plays Raleigh

The most famous Orthodox Jewish rapper around is heading out on a massive tour in October to support his new album Light. Of course, I'm talking about Matisyahu. The tour will bring the unique musician to Raleigh's Lincoln Theatre on Tuesday, November 10. Ticket information is not available yet, but we'll let you know when it is. Tickets are on sale now via etix.com for $23.

Follow the link after the break to download the song "Smash Lies" from the new album for the low cost of an email address. You'll also find the full tour dates too.

New music video from Wye Oak - "Sight, Flight"

Maryland duo Wye Oak have released a new music video for the song "Sight, Flight" from their excellent new album The Knot. The video first appears to be the story of a couple on the rocks, but then takes a sharp turn and turns into a psychedelic take on the album's title. Check it out below.



Wye Oak are touring with Blitzen Trapper this fall as well as playing some other shows along the way. The tour stops at the Cat's Cradle on Friday, October 9. Tickets are on sale now for $10 via etix.com. Check out the full tour schedule after the break.

Ryan Adams to release new digital 7" on September 11

It looks like Ryan Adams is prepping his first post-Cardinals release since announcing his split with the band earlier this year. The new music will be a digital 7" released on September 11 via Adams' online store using the label name PAX.AM. The a-side is "Lost and Found" and the b-side is "Go Ahead and Rain."

You can order it for just $1.49 there's currently no way to sample the music before you purchase it. I guess we're just expected to trust that it's quality material and one of Adams' weird, metal or rap or other miscellaneous projects.

Album Review: Paul Burch - Still Your Man

On his seventh album, Still Your Man, Paul Burch challenges what it means to be modern. There is no auto-tune or any of the other gloss that's slathered on today's country music. In fact, these 14 tracks play like a survey of old honky-tonk and rhythm and blues styles. Burch's fantastic songwriting and small musical touches blend with this timeless sound and result in an album that is both contemporary and classic.

Burch's influences come together on this album. He was lucky enough to grow up with a grandmother who was a program director for a D.C. Area AM pop station in the 1950's who helped introduce him to artists like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. In 49 minutes, Still Your Man winds back and forth between everything from dry, bluesy rock (“Like A Train”) to delicate pop love songs (“Vena Amore”).

Dawes touring with Langhorne Slim, playing Carrboro

We brought you the info about Langhorne Slim's upcoming tour a few weeks ago and now it's been confirmed that one of the best "new" bands around will open the tour. That band is Dawes from Southern California. Two of the four members were in a band called Simon Dawes who released a great album titled Carnivore in 2006. The band dropped "Simon" and added a little twang reminiscent of The Band.

Dawes' debut album North Hills is due out September 29 via ATO Records, though the album already available via iTunes. Download the second track from the album "Love Is All I Am" below.

Book review: Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records

Undertaking a book documenting the history of Merge Records is not small feat, but author John Cook with the help of Merge co-founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance managed to do just that, and remarkably so.

Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records breaks Merge's 20-year history into easily digestible pieces, documenting the label through the eyes of the bands whose releases bears Merge's trademark "potato stamp" (with the exception The Magnetic Fields' album The Charm of the Highway Strip—and yes, there's a story there). There are many chapters dedicated to the bands who serve as the original backbone of the label; Superchunk, Matt Suggs (of Butterglory and White Whale), Neutral Milk Hotel, The Magnetic Fields, Spoon, Lambchop and Arcade Fire each tell their own stories. Jeff Magnum of Neutral Milk Hotel did not participate in the making of the book, but his intriguing rise to stardom is told through those close to him during his active years.

A.A. Bondy stopping in Chapel Hill on September tour

Singer-songwriter A.A. Bondy is hitting the road for a brief headlining tour next week to promote his brand new album When the Devil's Loose. The tour stops in Chapel Hill at Local 506 on Tuesday, September 15. Tickets are $8 in advance via etix.com. Sean Bones and Marmoset will open the show.

Download the fantastic, lush folk song "I Can See the Pines Are Dancing" from Bondy's new album (which is out now) below. Also check out the tour dates while you're down there.

Annuals prep 'Hi-Hat' EP, tour with The Dear Hunter

It seems that Annuals has been fairly low-key this summer, but they're about to return with a new EP and tour. The EP is titled The Hi-Hat EP, and is tentatively scheduled to be released in early November. We'll bring you more details once they're available.

The band will hit the road for about a week in late October in anticipation of the release. They will be out with The Dear Hunter for the entire tour. Check out the dates below.

Annuals tour dates:
10.25.09 - Vienna, VA - Jammin’ Java
10.27.09 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
10.28.09 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom [Tickets]
10.29.09 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church [Tickets]
10.30.09 - Rochester, NY - Water Street Music Hall [Tickets]
10.31.09 - Hamden, CT - The Space
11.01.09 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club

Everybodyfields' Jill Andrews to play The Pour House

If you're still mourning the loss of the Everybodyfields, you'll be able to get a bit of a fix soon.

Jill Andrews, who has struck out solo since the band's break up, will play The Pour House on Saturday, October 17.

The show is 21 and up, and tickets are $8 in advance, $10 day of show.

Jill Andrews tour dates:
09.03.09 - Blowing Rock, NC - Canyons BR
09.04.09 - Johnson City, TN - Down Home
09.05.09 - Lexington, SC - The Watershed
10.02.09 - Flat Rock, NC - The Back Room @ Flat Rock Wine Shop
10.09.09 - Knoxville, TN - WDVX Blue Plate Special
10.16.09 - Winston-Salem, NC - The Garage
10.17.09 - Raleigh, NC - The Pour House
10.22.09 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
11.14.09 - Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine Cafe
11.19.09 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic

Jackson Browne announces fall dates, coming to Durham

The Durham Performing Arts Center (or DPAC) has snagged another aging classic rock radio mainstay. Jackson Browne has just announced a fall tour kicking off on November 1 that will stop at DPAC on Wednesday, November 11. Ticket information is not available yet, but we'll add it once it is. Tickets will be $30, $40 or $55 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 25 here.

[UPDATE: Browne will be performing solo on the tour.]

For now, check out an old performance of his classic tune "Running on Empty" from a 1979 concert below along with the complete tour schedule. Browne's latest album is 2008's Time the Conqueror.

Beautiful new video from The Rosebuds - "Life Like"

Videographer Jason Arthurs, best known for his videos for the N&O's annual Great 8 feature, has shot and released a beautiful performance he filmed of The Rosebuds. Ivan and Kelly are sitting on a floor with a number of candles in-between them playing the title track from the 2008 album Life Like. It was beautifully shot and it sounds amazing. Watch and enjoy below.

[found via The Independent]

Rural Alberta Advantage coming to Durham on fall tour

One of Saddle Creek's newest bands, The Rural Alberta Advantage from Toronto, Ontario, are hitting the road this fall in support of their recently re-released debut album Hometowns. The tour will bring the group to the Duke Coffeehouse in Durham on Saturday, October 3. Fellow Canadians The Lovely Feathers will open the show.

Download two songs from Hometowns below as well as a song from The Lovely Feathers album Fantasy of the Lot.

New music from The Clean - "Tensile"

With the release of The Clean's new album Mister Pop just a week away (September 8), Merge Records has been kind enough to share another new song with us. We have the ninth track, "Tensile" available to download below. It is a dreamy, droney, bass-driven song topped off with some processed, other worldly vocals. It's quite groovy.

Check out the song "In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul" which we posted last month here.

You can stream Mister Pop for a limited time on Mergerecords.com.

The Clean - "Tensile" (mp3)

Troika schedule announced, 3-day passes on sale

On Monday, the Troika Festival announced the initial schedule for this year's 3-day event slated for November 5, 6 and 7. It will all kick off on November 5 at 7pm at a yet-to-be-determined venue with a free show by Megafaun and The Beast. You won't need a pass to see this show.

Among the many great shows going on at various venues, one on Friday certainly grabbed my attention. Like the kick-off event, the venue is not announced yet, but will feature The Love Language, Hammer No More the Fingers, Brett Harris and The Huguenots. That's a hell of a local line-up. The whole line-up this year is really impressive though.