Thursday, June 30, 2011

Rocky Votolato & Matt Pond PA announce September tour, coming to Raleigh

Singer-songwriters Rocky Votolato and Matt Pond must have enjoyed their tour together earlier this year, because they're doing it again this September, except this time Votolato is brining a band along. He says it's his first full-band tour in almost five years.

The tour will stop at Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Thursday, September 22. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $12.

Votolato is letting fans pick his set list for the tour. You can vote on his website, and the top 12 songs is what he'll play in September. His latest album is True Devotion, released in 2010.

Shirlette, the Dynamite Brothers & friends bring soul to Duke Gardens

All photos by Kevin Norris
With a little help from an impressive roster of friends, Shirlette Ammons and the Dynamite Brothers unleashed their new collaboration on a large, receptive Duke Gardens crowd Wednesday evening.

The group took the stage and launched into a funky set of R&B music, mixing songs from their debut album And Lovers Like and other songs from the Dynamite Brothers catalog. Each song on And Lovers Like features guest performers, many of which were on hand to reprise their roles.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Megafaun releasing new album in September, watch a teaser video

The new full-length album from local trio Megafaun is coming this fall. The self-titled album, the follow up to the 2010 mini-album Heretofore, will be out on September 20 via Hometapes.

Details of the album are not available yet, but the band has released a little 57-second teaser video which features a bit of a new song, which sounds pretty cool. They recorded the album at Justin Vernon's studio in Wisconsin, which can be seen in the video.

You may recognize some of the scenery from the video of Ivan Howard, Brad Cook, Michael Lewis and Mike Noyce performing an ELO cover during the Gayngs rehearsals in September 2010. If you haven't seen that video check it out HERE.

Wilco announces new album & tour, coming to Raleigh

Wilco is back and ready to release their first new album on their own label dBpm Records. It's titled The Whole Love and will be out on September 27, which is the same day that the band's tour stops in the Triangle.

They'll play the Raleigh Amphitheater on Tuesday, September 27. Yep Roc Records has confirmed that Nick Lowe will open the show. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 15 via the usual places for $30 or $40.

The band have released the first single from the album, "I Might," which you can stream below along with the b-side "I Love My Label," a cover of their future touring companion Nick Lowe.

Richard Buckner & David Kilgour team up for summer tour, coming to Carrboro

Labelmates and incredible singer-songwriters Richard Buckner and David Kilgour are teaming up to take their new albums on a short tour this summer. Kilgour released Left by Soft in April and Buckner will release Our Blood on August 2.

They'll play the ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Wednesday, August 24. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $14.

Download the song "Diamond Mine" by David Kilgour and "Traitor" by Richard Buckner below.

Peter Holsapple sets up Durham residency in July

Photo by Kevin Norris
Veteran singer-songwriter Peter Holsapple, best known as one of the founders of The dB's, will be setting up shop at Motorco Music Hall in July. It's a bit weird to call it a residency since he calls Durham home.

He'll play the venue's Bloody Brunch every Sunday from July 3 to July 24. The shows are free and start at 1 p.m. The area's excellent food trucks are generally there serving up great food, so come hungry.

Check out a few of Holsapple's solo tunes via the widget below. The shows will feature just him and his guitar, so who knows what songs he might pull out from his extensive catalog and elsewhere.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Wild Beasts announce fall tour dates, coming to Carrboro

U.K. indie rockers Wild Beasts just released their third album Smother in May and after a few summer dates on this side of the pond this summer, they'll return to North America this fall for a full tour to support it.

The tour will bring the band to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, September 21. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, July 2 via etix for $15.

Check out the music video for the hypnotic song "Albatross" from Smother below.

Toad the Wet Sprocket announce summer tour, coming to Carrboro

1990s pop rock hit makers Toad the Wet Sprocket are hitting the road this summer in support of their compilation All You Want, featuring re-recorded versions of the band's hits. Columbia Records controls most of the back catalog, so the new recordings give the band control of the old songs.

Back to the tour. Along with their hits, the band will be playing some new songs at the upcoming shows that will be featured on the band's first album of new music since 1997.

The tour will bring the band to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, August 10. Mark Kano of Athenaeum will open the show. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, June 30 via etix for $22.

Album Review: Shirlette and the Dynamite Brothers - And Lovers Like

On the cover of And Lovers Like, a collaboration between Durham Poet/musician Shirlette Ammons and Chapel Hill’s Dynamite Brothers, the name of the album is overwhelmed by names of the EP’s many contributors. At first, the list of names, which includes Kelly Crisp and former Carolina Chocolate Drop Justin Robinson, seems like it will overshadow the music, but as the album progresses the sum becomes greater than the parts.

Shirlette and the Dynamite Brothers flow freely between genres starting mostly with rock, hip hop and R&B early on before transitioning to more reggae and dub. While the more rocking upfront tunes like “The Shakes” and Nevamind” are good, the tone of the album is a better match for the slower pace and smokey drum and bass of dub.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Surfer Blood, Wye Oak, Free Energy, Hooray For Earth & more to play free Raleigh festival

The new Triangle media company deja Mi is sponsoring a free two-day mini-festival in at six venues in downtown Raleigh on July 22 and 23. It's called deja Fest and is being organized in cooperation with the Hopscotch Music Festival. It's really like a mini-Hopscotch.

The bands featured over the two nights include Hooray For Earth, Surfer Blood, Wye Oak, Active Child, Free Energy and many more, including a bunch of local bands.

The venues will be Tir Na Nog, The Pour House, Slim’s, Kings Barcade and Neptunes Parlour on Friday and then outside and inside Lincoln Theatre on Saturday. Check out the full schedule below.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks announce fall tour, coming to Saxapahaw

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks are gearing up to release a new album on August 23 titled Mirror Traffic, and will hit the road this fall to support it.

The band will play the recently opened Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw (about 15 miles west of Chapel Hill) on Saturday, October 1. Tickets are on sale now via TicketFly for $17.

Download the rocking pop song "Senator" from Mirror Traffic below.

Mike Doughty & His Band Fantastic announce fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Singer-songwriter Mike Doughty, former frontman of Soul Coughing, is hitting the road this fall with His Band Fantastic to support his new album Yes and Also Yes, which doesn't have a release date yet.

The tour will come to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, October 25. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 1 via etix for $16.

Until some music is available from the new album, check out the music video for "Rising Up" from Doughty's last album, Sad Man Happy Man, below.

Video: Archers of Loaf perform "Wrong" & "Harnessed in Slums" on 'Late Night'

Archers of Loaf hit late night television on Friday night, playing a couple of classic tunes for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The band sounded phenomenal as they ripped through "Wrong" from Icky Mettle (which is being re-released by Merge Records on August 2). They stuck around for a bonus performance of "Harnessed in Slums." Check them both out below.

Archers is playing two sold out shows at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on August 19 and 20. Check out photos and a review of the band's first reunion gig at the Cradle back in January HERE.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Towers (T0W3RS) covers Lonnie Walker's "Summertime"

Up-and-coming Carrboro band Towers (written as T0W3RS) features a smorgasbord of local talent, Derek Torres of Lake Inferior, Sam Logan of The Huguenots and Alex Maiolo and Karen Blanco of Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies.

The band recently took Lonnie Walker's tune "Summertime" out for a spin with a little help from members of Lilac Shadows, many of which are the same folks. They gave the song a electro pop finish which sounds fantastic. Download the song via the widget below.

Win tickets to Shirlette & The Dynamite Brothers at Duke Gardens

Shirlette and the Dynamite Brothers will celebrate the release of their new album And Lovers Like with a show at Duke Gardens next Wednesday, June 29. A collaboration between Durham poet Shirlette Ammons and Chapel Hill band The Dynamite Brothers, the show will also feature special guests Justin Robinson, Adrian Duke, Shana Tucker, Pierce Freelon, Jocelyn Ellis, Juan Huevos and Yahzarah.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email us at trianglemusicblog at gmail dot com with "Shirlette tickets" in the subject line no later than noon on Monday, June 27. We will notify the winner that afternoon.

The band will take the stage at 7 p.m. Tickets to the show are $10 or $5 for Duke students and employees and, as always, children 12 and under are free.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Moogfest 2011 adds 11 new performers including Moby

Much like last year, Moogfest is rolling out their 2011 lineup in waves, and the second wave has just hit the shore.

11 performers have been added to the lineup, most notably, chrome domed electronic superstar Moby. Other additions are Amon Tobin, Dan Deacon, Kode9, The Antlers, Atlas Sound, Glasser, Beak>, Stickmen, Lunzproject (Tim Story and Hans Joachim-Roedelius) and Wham City Comedy Tour.

With all of those additions, the festival says that even more additions are still to come, so we'll keep you posted once the lineup grows again. Check out the full, updated lineup below.

Hammer No More the Fingers rocks Duke Gardens

All photos by Kevin Norris
Hometown trio Hammer No More the Fingers took to the Duke Gardens stage in Durham Wednesday night, filing hot evening air with their energetic alt-pop.

The crowd was already excited for the band to play, but kids and adults alike got even more excited when the band took the stage and announced that there was free ice cream snacks available in a cooler at the front.

The band wasted no time, blasting through the 15 songs of the main set, one after the other. Their riffy rock was tight, as they played songs new and old, including "Fingernails," "Shutterbug" and "Poison Apple." They also took the opportunity to play a few new songs.

Adele reschedules tour, adds show in Durham

After battling with vocal issues that forced her to cancel much of her North American tour, including a show at in Asheville, Adele has announced a new fall tour, and it's something fans in the Triangle can be very happy about.

Adele will perform at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 8. Presale tickets will be available at adele.tv on July 20 at 10 a.m. and will go on sale to the general public on July 22 at 10 a.m.

Many shows have been rescheduled with a venue change, presumably to allow for larger capacity since her latest album, 21, has exploded in recent months. A full tour schedule is below.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Cymbals Eat Guitars announce tour with Hooray For Earth, coming to Chapel Hill

New York rockers Cymbals Eat Guitars are hitting the road this fall in support of their new album Lenses Aliens, due out on September 14. Hooray For Earth will be along for the ride as the opening act.

The bands will come to Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Monday, September 26. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $10.

Hooray For Earth just released a new album titled True Loves. Check out the title track from the album below. Cymbals Eat Guitars covered Superchunk's "Detroit Has a Skyline" for the A.V. Club last year. Check out the performance HERE.

Video: Bon Iver rocks late night television with new songs

The new expanded Bon Iver lineup, featuring Justin Vernon backed by an eight-piece band, rocked late night television on this week, promoting their brand new album Bon Iver, Bon Iver.

On Monday night, the band played The Colbert Report. Vernon sat down for a quick chat with Stephen Colbert, then played a stunning version of "Calgary." The band stuck around for a bonus performance of the classic "Skinny Love." Check out both performances below.

Then on Tuesday, the band hit Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and performed "Holocene." Check out that performance below too.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Miniature Tigers announces September dates, coming to Chapel Hill

Indie pop band Miniature Tigers will hit the road on a short tour this September as they make their way to Austin, TX for the Austin City Limits Festival.

The tour will bring the band back to Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Sunday, September 11. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $10.

The band's latest album is Fortress, released in 2010. Check out an acoustic performance of the song "Bullfighter Jacket" from the album below.

The Blind Boys of Alabama announce new dates, coming to Raleigh

Acclaimed gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama have been making music for more than 70 years. Though many of the founding members have passed on, the group has continued to march forward, with founding member Jimmy Carter on lead vocals.

The Boys still tour hard and will be coming to the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Thursday, October 6. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $25 (standing) or $35 (seated).

The group's latest album, Take the High Road, was released in May. Check out the music video for the title track below, which features the country group The Oak Ridge Boys.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Fleet Foxes announce September tour with The Walkmen, coming to Raleigh

Washington indie folk stars Fleet Foxes are hitting the road hard in support of their recently released sophomore album Helplessness Blues. After hitting the UK in August, the band will come back to the states in September for a big tour with The Walkmen.

That tour will come to the Raleigh Amphitheater on Wednesday, September 21, which adds another great show to the venue's impressive second season. Tickets go on sale on Friday, June 24 at 10 a.m. via the Progress Energy Center box office and via Ticketmaster and LiveNation. Price points are not available yet.

New music video from The Rosebuds - "Woods"

The first music video from The Rosebuds' new album Loud Planes Fly Low is here, and it's for the rocking tune "Woods."

The video features only Ivan Howard, juxtaposing a pixelated black and white, webcam looking singing shots with footage of Ivan surfing. The video was directed Steve Choo who also directed the video for "Life Like" (which you can check out HERE). Watch the video for "Woods" below.

The Rosebuds will return to Raleigh on Friday, July 29. Tickets are available via the Progress Energy Center box office or via Ticketmaster and LiveNation.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Album Review: Pink Flag - King of Scene EP

Pink Flag's new EP, King of Scene, is a mixed-bag of promising pop punk and experiments that are better in theory than in execution.

The EP kicks of with the title track and right away we can here the good and the bad. "King of Scene" has a bouncy mix of pop, punk, jazz and even a little Broadway. There's a unique energy, but it's diminished by a mix that makes the vocals sound distant.

"Kill Yr TV" oscillates so sharply between driving punk rock and a Latin groove that the listener can never fully commit to either and settle in. I like the idea of these contrasting styles, but Pink Flag makes the transitions much too jagged.

Wild Flag announces debut album & fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Indie supergroup Wild Flag has been touring since late 2010, and now they're almost ready to unleash their first full-length album.

Merge Records will release their self-titled album on September 13. The album's first single, "Romance," will debut on WMFU on Saturday, June 18 between 3 and 4 p.m. We'll bring you the song once it hits the web. Stream the song below.

Wild Flag will hit the road on a hefty tour following the release, which will bring them back to the Triangle. They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, October 21. Tickets are available now via etix for $15. Eleanor Friedberger will open the show (download the song "My Mistakes HERE).

Win tickets to Hammer No More the Fingers at Duke Gardens

Durham's own Hammer No More the Fingers will play Duke Performances' Music In The Gardens next Wednesday, June 22.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email us at trianglemusicblog at gmail dot com with "HNMTF tickets" in the subject line no later than noon on Monday, June 20. We will notify the winner that afternoon.

The band will take the stage at 7 p.m. Tickets to the show are $10 or $5 for Duke students and employees and, as always, children 12 and under are free.

Britney Spears expands Femme Fatale tour, coming to Raleigh

Britney Spears will be working her way across the country this summer with her Femme Fatale tour, which kicked off last night in Sacramento, and today she has announced two dates in North Carolina.

Britney will bring her stage show to Raleigh's RBC Center on August 24 and Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena on August 25. This will be her first stop in Raleigh since 2001's Dream Within A Dream tour, back with the RBC Center was just the Entertainment & Sports Arena.

Tickets will go on sale next Friday, June 25, at 10 a.m. The opening act for these shows is TBA, though Nicki Minaj will be opening all preceding dates.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

[Canceled] Friendly Fires announces fall tour, coming to Carrboro

British dance pop group Friendly Fires released their sophomore album Pala in May, and this fall they're coming back to North America for a tour in support of it.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, October 4. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $15.

[UPDATE: The show at the Cat's Cradle has been canceled. Refunds will be given at the point of purchase.]

Parkington Sisters bring folk charm to Duke Gardens

All photos by Kevin Norris
The five sisters that make up the the Cape Cod quartet the Parkington Sisters came straight from the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, Tenn., to perform at Duke Gardens in Durham on Wednesday evening.

The quintet was greeted by a warm crowd and downright pleasant weather for the Triangle in mid-June. They flowed through a set of easy going tunes that blended folk, pop and classical music, featuring up to four simultaneous string players during some songs.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

New music video from Hammer No More the Fingers - "Leroy"

Durham trio Hammer No More the Fingers is known for making somewhat odd music videos, and now they're back with a new one.

The band have released a clip for the song "Leroy" from their latest album Black Shark, which features the band being antagonized by a mysterious, hooded figure. Check it out below.

The band have a ton of regional tour dates scheduled, including a stop at Duke Gardens in Durham on Wednesday, June 22. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance HERE or at the door.

Earth, Wind & Fire announces 40th anniversary tour, coming to Durham

Legendary 1970s funk band and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Earth Wind & Fire are hitting the road on their 40th anniversary tour will come to the Triangle this fall.

They'll play the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) on Sunday, September 18. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, June 24 via the usual outlets for $46.50 to $86.50.

Check out the the awesome, dated visual effects in the band's video for the classic song "September" below.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tim Kasher announces summer dates & new EP, coming to Chapel Hill

Singer-songwriter Tim Kasher, frontman of Cursive and The Good Life, is hitting the road again late this summer with a full band and a new EP in tow. The 7-song EP is titled Bigamy: More Songs From The Monogamy Sessions and will only be available on the tour and via Saddle Creek Records website.

The tour stops at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Saturday, August 27. Tickets are available now via etix for $10.

Download the song "I'm Afraid I'm Gonna Die Here" from Kasher's latest full-length album The Game of Monogamy via the widget below.

The Music Tapes releases 'Purim’s Shadows' EP & kazoo

The quirky, experimental songwriter Julian Koster, who records under the moniker The Music Tapes, surprised fans by releasing a new digital EP today, June 14, titled Purim's Shadows (The Dark Tours of the World).

The EP is available to download via the usual digital outlets, but if you order it from Merge Records, you have the option of getting a special Music Tapes kazoo. The special kazoo package includes an extra song not included on the standard version of the EP.

Stream the entire EP now via Merge's website. Check out photos and review of The Music Tapes sets in 2009 at XX Merge and on the caroling tour HERE and HERE.

Tapes 'n Tapes announce summer/fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Minnesota rockers Tapes 'n Tapes released their third full-length album Outside in January, and they're hitting the road on another big tour this summer and fall to support it.

The band, who played the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro back in February, will come back to the venue on Monday, October 3. Howler will open the show and tickets are available now via etix for $14.

Check out the music video for the song "Freak Out" from Outside below, which is also available to download.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Dntel announces summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by Brian Tamborello
Electronic musician Danny Tamborello, who performs under the name Dntel (and is also half of the group The Postal Service), is hitting the road in August in support of his latest releases, the EPs After Parties 1 and After Parties 2.

The tour will come to Kings in Raleigh on Saturday, August 20. Geotic and The One AM Radio will open the show. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $8.

Check out the eight-minute song "After Parties" from After Parties 1 and "Aimless" from After Parties 2 below.

Album Review: The Ladybug Transistor - Clutching Stems

Throughout their 16-year career, The Ladybug Transistor’s records have been incredibly consistent in quality and style. Clutching Stems subtly departs from the pastoral style the band has cultivated over six previous albums.

This new album is more somber and even urgent at times. This isn’t music to lie in the grass to like past albums; it’s music to ride a bike to. The lush, organic arrangements the band is known for remain, but here the band puts them into motion.

The Rosebuds receive warm welcome at King's

The Rosebuds and their many friends packed King's Saturday night to celebrate the release of the band's fifth studio album, Loud Planes Fly Low.

The band meandered through a set of songs off their new album, speckled with standards like "Leaves Do Fall," "Cemetery Lawn" and "Nice Fox." Nearly every song in the set was coupled with a dedication to one of the band's friends in the house, many of whom are local music fixtures on their own such as BJ Burton and Brad Cook of Megafaun.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Win tickets to the Parkington Sisters at Duke Gardens

The Parkington Sisters will bring their blend of harmonic folk to Duke Gardens on Wednesday, straight from this weekend's Bonnaroo festival.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email us at trianglemusicblog at gmail dot com with "Parkington Sisters tickets" in the subject line no later than noon on Tuesday, June 14. We will notify the winner that afternoon.

Tickets to the show are $10 or $5 for Duke students and employees and, as always, children 12 and under are free. Click here for the series' full lineup.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Win tickets to The Rosebuds' sold out show at King's

There's nothing we love more than a ticket giveaway, so here's a great way to celebrate the weekend.

Email us right now at trianglemusicblog at gmail dot com with "Rosebuds tickets" in the subject line to win a pair of tickets to see The Rosebuds' SOLD OUT show tomorrow night at King's!

The first person to email us with their favorite song on The Rosebuds' new album, Loud Planes Fly Low, will be our winner. We'll update this page when we get confirmation from the winner. Congratulations, Rachel!

Thanks to our friends at Merge for offering the giveaway, and Happy Friday!

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic announces 2011 shows, coming to Raleigh

The massive Parliament Funkadelic led by the 69-year-old Kannapolis-born funk lengend George Clinton is still hitting the road hard each year, and this fall they'll come back to the Triangle.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Friday, September 2 as part of the African American Cultural Festival. Tickets for the show will go on sale on Friday, June 17 via etix for $30. VIP tickets in the balcony will be $45.

Check out the video Clinton's classic song "Atomic Dog" below, which you're sure to hear in Raleigh in September.

Sondre Lerche rocks the Cat's Cradle

All photos by Kevin Norris
Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche stopped at the Cat's Cradle Thursday night, just two days after the release of his new self-titled album.

The show was an energetic and musical triumph, adding more rock energy to both the new songs and catalog favorites. After opening with the mellow "Ricochet," he launched into the upbeat "Private Caller" and the energy stayed high throughout most of the set.

Acoustic based tunes like "Two Way Monologue" were given an extra jolt of energy, or the Phantom Punch treatment (his high-energy 2007 rock album), as Lerche stayed on electric guitar most of the night.

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Gillian Welch announces summer tour, coming to Raleigh & 4 other NC cities

It's been eight years since Gillian Welch released the album Soul Journey, and after all these years, she's finally back with the follow-up, The Harrow & the Harvest, out on June 28. A big summer tour will follow, bringing Welch and her cohort David Rawlings to North Carolina for five shows.

First, they'll play the amphitheater at the North Carolina Museum of Art right here in Raleigh on Wednesday, August 3. Ticket info isn't available yet, but we'll let you know once it is. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $35 (general admission) or $22 (reserved).

TRKfest announces 2011 lineup, Bowerbirds, Mount Moriah & more

The annual music festival TRKfest, put on by local label Trekky Records, is set to return for it's fourth year on Saturday, August 13. It will be down at Piedmont Biofuels it Pittsboro and as always, feature a slew of local bands.

The initial lineup features Bowerbirds, Mount Moriah, Midtown Dickens, Hammer No More the Fingers, Embarrassing Fruits, Ryan Gustafson, Yardwork, Brice Randall Bickford, Butterflies and Vibrant Green. More bands are still to be announced, and we'll keep you posted as they're added.

Fight the Big Bull brings funky, experimental sounds to Duke Gardens

All photos by Kevin Norris
The 9-piece Virginia brass band Fight the Big Bull made their way south Wednesday evening to share their groovy, experimental music with a sweltering crowd at Duke Gardens.

Many may remember the band from their massive contribution to Megafaun's Sounds of the South shows at the Hayti Center in Durham last year (see photos and a review of one of those shows HERE).

This time, the band were showcasing their own music which blends jazz, swing, experimental and likely any number of other categories. What comes out of the blender of styles is something unique. It's a showcase of rhythm and space.

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Dex Romweber Duo to release 'Is That You in the Blue?' in July

Venerable rockabilly singer-songwriter Dexter Romweber is preparing to release a new album this summer with his older sister Sara Romweber, better known as the Dex Romweber Duo.

The new album is titled Is That You in the Blue? and will be out on July 26 via Bloodshot Records. It was recorded with Rick Miller of Southern Culture on the Skids who is also featured on the album along with members of The Old Ceremony and Savage Knights.

2011 Hopscotch Festival adds 14 bands, 1 venue & rolls out schedule

Titus Andronicus
The Hopscotch Music Festival has added 14 new bands to the 2011 lineup, bringing the total performers up to 150.

The new additions are Titus Andronicus, Times New Viking, Vivian Girls, Coliseum, White Ring, Pepper Rabbit, Bass Drum of Death, Diamond Rings, Xray Eyeballs, D-Town Brass, The Hairs, Brain Flannel, North Elementary and Temperance League.

Tvek was originally scheduled to perform, but has had to cancel their tour including the Hopscotch performance due to a family wedding.

The Rosebuds strip down 'Loud Planes' at Schoolkids

All photos by Kevin Norris
The Rosebuds stopped by Schoolkids Records early Tuesday evening to celebrate the release of their brand new, deeply personal album Loud Planes Fly Low (check out our review of the album HERE).

The band performed as a quartet, with Daniel Hart (of Physics of Meaning and St. Vincent) on violin and Logan Matheny (of Roman Candle) on drums. The band is still ironing out the new songs, but they sounded great, especially with the addition of the violin, which utilizes a variety of pedals to replicate the larger string section on the album.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Video: The Mountain Goats cover "Boxer" by Jawbreaker

The Onion's A.V. Club have been rocking their way through a new round of their Undercover series where bands come in and cover songs from prepared list.

This week's video features The Mountain Goats covering the 1994 punk song "Boxcar" by Jawbreaker. John Darnielle and the Goats rip through and awesome version of the tune. Check it out below.

For comparison, check out the original version of "Boxcar" from the album 24 Hour Revenge Therapy below as well.

Electric Six announces hefty fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Detroit rockers Electric Six are heading out on a hefty fall tour in support of their latest album Zodiac, released last year.

The band will hit the always happening Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, October 24. Los Angeles band Kitten will open the show. Tickets go on sale on Friday, June 10 via etix for $12.

Stream the song "Clusterfuck" from Zodiac below. Also check out the music video for "Chinatown" by Kitten below too, which is quite the groovy little new wave number. The band might give the headliners a run for their money live.