Album Review: Imperial Teen - Feel the Sound

In 2007, Imperial Teen addressed the obvious on The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band: it’s different being an adult in a rock band. Five years later, the band gets over its mid-life crisis and makes a statement with Feel the Sound.

Opening track “Runaway” is the gateway drug to the rest of the album. Nearly all of the other tracks are growers. It takes a few listens to appreciate the slightly obscured vocals and the slow simmering fuzz of songs like “Hanging About” and “The Hibernates,” but “Runaway” is an instant hit.

Spiritualized announces North American tour, coming to Carrboro

Acclaimed British psychedelic rock band Spiritualized will release their seventh full-length album Sweet Heart Sweet Light in the U.S. in April and will hit the road in May to support it.

The tour will stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, May 12. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday, February 2 via Etix for $18.

Check out the song "Soul on Fire" from Spiritualized last album, Songs in A&E, below.

Jeff Mangum revisits Neutral Milk Hotel classics in Chapel Hill

Monday night brought the once reclusive Jeff Mangum, songwriter and mastermind behind the band Neutral Milk Hotel, to Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall for a solo acoustic performance of some of his former band's classic songs.

Mangum started the set with "Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2" and the raucous "Holland, 1945" and proceeded to play the majority of the band's classic 1998 album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. The show also included "Little Birds," featured on a 7" with the recently released deluxe edition of the Aeroplane.

Ben Folds returning to Raleigh with NC Symphony

It's shaping up to be a busy year for Ben Folds. He's in the studio through March with bandmates Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee working on a new Ben Folds Five album, due out as early as this spring with a tour to follow. But before that, the piano meister is returning to the Triangle for a pair of dates with the North Carolina Symphony.

Folds will take the stage with the symphony at Meymandi Concert Hall on March 22 and 23 for what is being advertised as two different concert programs to put an "epic twist" on selections from his 15-year career.

Feist expands 'Metals' tour, coming to Raleigh

Canadian singer-songwriter Leslie Feist, aka Feist, has announced new North American tour dates following last year's release of Metals and has added the Triangle to her schedule.

Feist will play Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium, presented by Cat's Cradle, on Thursday, May 3. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 3, with a presale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Click through to check out Feist's latest video for "The Bad in Each Other" and a list of tour dates.

Ted Leo to play solo show in Durham

Singer-songwriter Ted Leo is becoming a regular Triangle visitor lately. He played a solo set in Chapel Hill in May and a show with his band the Pharmacists in Raleigh in October and now he's coming back again.

Leo will play an intimate solo set at the Duke Coffeehouse in Durham on Saturday, February 18. Ticket info and other details are not currently available, but we'll keep you posted.

Check out a video of Leo covering The Waterboys' "Fisherman's Blues" at Local 506 last May below.

WKNC presenting Double Barrel Benefit day party & market

This year's WKNC Double Barrel Benefit concert at The Pour House (which you can read more about HERE) is taking a page from the Hopscotch Music Festival playbook by hosting a day party and market.

There will be music at Tir Na Nog on Saturday, February 4 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with sets by Patrick Phelan (of Luego), Jeff Crawford, Baobab, Magnolia Collective, Driftwood and Juan Huevos. The show is free and open to all ages.

There will also be a market set up at Tir Na Nog featuring art, clothing, jewelry and music from local charities, businesses and artists. There will also be raffles for WKNC merchandise and concert tickets, including tickets for the Hopscotch Music Festival. The market starts an hour before the music, at noon, and will continue until 5 p.m.

Ben Folds Five start work on new album, eyeing spring release

Legendary Chapel Hill piano rock band Ben Folds Five have officially started to work on their first new album since 1999's The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.

On Wednesday (January 25) Folds' Tweeted a photo of the band at work (which you can see on the right) saying "It's happening fo sho - Day 1 in studio with Robert and Darren through March." If that's not exciting enough, the music is expected out as early as this spring as Folds stated in a later Tweet.

Dinosaur Feathers announces new album & tour, coming to Raleigh

Brooklyn indie band Dinosaur Feathers are gearing up to release their sophomore album on April 10 titled Whistle Tips. Before the album even hits shelves, the band will be on the road which will bring them back to Raleigh (they played the Hopscotch Festival last year; see photos and a review HERE).

Dinosaur Feathers will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Saturday, March 3 with Grandchildren. The show is co-presented by Diggup Tapes and tickets will be $3.

Stream the fantastic song "Untrue" from Whistle Tips below.

New music from Superchunk - "Blinders" (slow version)

Local indie mainstays Superchunk have been laying low lately, but they've got a new free song to give away.

The track is "Blinders," which was actually released as a b-side to "Crossed Wires" in 2009, but the new version is slowed down, hence it being dubbed "slow version." Download or stream the song below.

Superchunk doesn't have any shows scheduled right now, but frontman Mac McCaughan will play an intimate solo set at The Cave in Chapel Hill on Saturday, February 11, opening for Tonk.

This Week's Local Band Local Beer: Richard Bacchus, Maldora & Prison Book Club

This week's (January 26) free WKNC Local Band Local Beer show at Tir Na Nog in Raleigh features a trio of rock bands, two from Raleigh and one coming all the way from West Virginia.

Richard Bacchus & the Luckiest Girls will headline with Maldora and Prison Book Club (from Shepherdstown, WV) getting things started. Check out some music from Bacchus below along with a full stream of Prison Book Club's self-title album.

As always, the show is ages 21 and up and the music starts at about 10 p.m.

The Budos Band & Charles Bradley announce spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Venues across the south are going to get a heaping helping soulful R&B in April when Daptone label mates The Budos Band and Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires team up for a short tour.

They'll make a stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, April 9. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $20.

Bradley's debut album No Time For Dreaming, released last year, made Rolling Stone and Mojo's best albums of 2011 lists. Check out the music video for the stellar song "Heartaches and Pain" from the album below.

Natalie Merchant to perform with NC Symphony in Raleigh

Photo by Mark Seliger

Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant is set to come to Raleigh this spring for a special performance with the North Carolina Symphony. They'll perform songs from her latest album Leave Your Sleep as well as other selections from her catalog. The performance is one of only three shows she has scheduled so far this year.

The show will take place at Meymandi Hall at the Progress Energy Center on Tuesday, May 29. Tickets are on sale now via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $28 to $79.

Merchant was last in the Triangle in August 2010 at DPAC promoting Leave Your Sleep. Check out our review and photos from the show HERE.

Bruce Springsteen announces 'Wrecking Ball' Tour, coming to Greensboro

Bruce Springsteen will release his seventeenth studio album on March 6 titled Wrecking Ball, and will hit the road with The E Street Band this spring to support it. The tour will be the first since the passing of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, and there has been no mention of whether someone will fill his role for these shows.

The second stop on the tour is at the Greensboro Coliseum on Monday, March 19. Tickets will go on sale on  Friday, February 3. Tickets will go on sale via the box office and Ticketmaster outlets at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 3 for $35, $68 or $98.

Check out the song "We Take Care of Our Own," the opening track from Wrecking Ball, below.

Album Review: Onward, Soldiers - Monsters

As would be expected from a band with a name implying forward motion, Wilmington's Onward, Soldiers breaks new ground on its second album, Monsters.

As the record kicks off with "Telling Nobody," the first thing that jumps out is how open the sound is. Percussion and keyboard drives the songs on Monsters rather than guitar. This frees the guitar to play more melodic lines and allows the sound to resonate more.

"Telling Nobody" is a buoyant, bouncy pop song and it's followed up with the flamenco styling of "Nighttime Sky." This isn't even the most jarring style jump. The funky groves of "Monster" lead into the bright twang of "Cry." It sounds like everyone in a disco all of the sudden started line dancing.

M. Ward releasing 'A Wasteland Companion' in April

After announcing a national tour, it comes as no surprise that singer-songwriter M. Ward is about to release a new solo album. A Wasteland Companion, the follow-up to 2009's Hold Time, will be out on April 10 via Merge Records.

The album will feature 12 new songs recorded in six different cities, Portland, Omaha, New York, Los Angeles, Austin and Bristol, UK. It features a plethora of musicians including Ward's She & Him counterpart, Zooey Deschanel, on vocals. Check out the full track list below.

As we mentioned last week, Ward will play Page Auditorium on Duke's campus in Durham on Tuesday, May 15. Lee Ranaldo will open the show. Tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 30 HERE for $28 or $22 (or just $5 for Duke students).

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt bringing solo acoustic show to Durham

After spending about a week together on the Cayamo Cruise in February, singer-songwriters Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt will bring their solo acoustic show to land in March.

The pair will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 15 in what the venue is calling "the acoustic show of the year." Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 28 via the box office and Ticketmaster for $32.50 to $82.50.

Lovett's new album, Release Me, will be out on February 28. Hiatt's latest album is 2011's Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns. Check out the song "Damn This Town" from Dirty Jeans below.

Miniature Tigers headlining The Modern Art Tour, coming to Chapel Hill

Miniature Tigers are gearing up to release their third full-length album, Mia Pharaoh, on March 6. To support the release, the band will headline The Modern Art Tour in March, which will also feature Geographer, The Chain Gang of 1974 and Pretty & Nice.

The tour will come to the Nightlight in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, March 21. Tickets will go on sale soon via Etix for $10. Pre-sale tickets are available now HERE.

Check out the racy video for "Female Doctor" from Miniature Tigers' forthcoming album below. Geographer also has a new album, Myth, due out on February 28. Check out the song "Life of Crime" from the album HERE.

Islands announces new album & tour, coming to Chapel Hill

Canadian indie rock band Islands will release a new album titled A Sleep & A Forgetting on Valentine's Day, February 14. A tour will kick off in Los Angeles on the same day, which will quickly make it's way to the Triangle.

They'll play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, February 21. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $9.

[UPDATE: Lost in the Trees have announced that they will play a warm-up set opening the show, so get there early, because it's probably going to be packed.]

Cass McCombs, Frank Fairfield wow the crowd at Haw River Ballroom

Photos by Justin Weber

On a night after The New York Times told the world about the secret that is Saxapahaw, NC, concert goers trickled in slowly to the Haw River Ballroom and whether is was the rain or the wait for the NYT-recommended diver scallops at the General Store that slowed them down, I can’t say. The cavernous three-story ballroom made the crowd seem smaller than it was. What the fans lacked in quantity they made up for in quality; they were engaged, polite and appreciative.

Headliner Cass McCombs mistook that politeness as a sign to play a more relaxed set. It was perfect for those wanted to sit on the bench and bathe in the sounds of steel guitar, but for those crowded toward the stage it was still a Friday night. Fortunately for those folks, McCombs realized he needed to pick things up and played the more rocking “Bradley Manning” before closing out his set with yet another relaxed, gorgeous tune, “County Line.”

St. Vincent announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Photo by Tina Tyrell

Indie singer-songwriter St. Vincent is hitting the road this spring in support of her latest album Strange Mercy and will be making her way back to the Triangle.

She'll hit the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, May 23. Tickets will go on sale via Etix soon for $17.

St. Vincent performed on Conan last week, playing the excellent song "Cheerleader" from Strange Mercy. Check out the performance below, which includes a nod to Elvis Costello's infamous 1977 Saturday Night Live performance of "Radio, Radio."

Good Old War announces tour with The Belle Brigade, coming to Carrboro

Philadelphia indie folk band Good Old War are releasing their third full-length album on March 6 titled Come Back as Rain and will hit the road on a hefty spring you rot support it. The Belle Brigade and Family of the Year will open throughout the entire tour.

The bands will stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, March 10. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, January 21 via Etix for $12.

Stream or download the song "Calling Me Names" from Come Back as Rain below. Check out the music video for "Losers" from The Belle Brigade's self-titled album and a stream of Family of the Year's St. Croix EP below as well.

Elton John extends March tour, coming to Raleigh

Elton John has enjoyed a widely acclaimed career over the past five decades, complete with dozens of gold and platinum albums, 29 consecutive top 40 hits and the number one selling single of all time. After a nine-year absense, he's returning to the Triangle this spring with a tour that will celebrate his most popular songs.

John will perform at Raleigh's RBC Center on Friday, March 16. Tickets start at $37 and will be available beginning Friday, January 27, at 10 a.m. via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out a promo video for John's current Las Vegas show The Million Dollar Piano below.

M. Ward announces spring tour with Lee Ranaldo, coming to Durham

Singer-songwriter M. Ward is hitting the road in May with Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth opening each show. Ward's latest solo album is 2009's Hold Time and last played the Triangle the same year, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Merge Records (check out the review HERE).

The tour will bring Ward and Ranaldo to Page Auditorium on Duke's campus in Durham on Tuesday, May 15. Tickets will go on sale on at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 30 HERE.

Download or stream Ward's cover of the Buddy Holly classic "Rave On" from Hold Time below.

The Features kick off winter tour in Chapel Hill

All photos by Kevin Norris

Nashville rockers The Features rolled into Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Wednesday night to kick off their winter tour.

The band roared through a set heavy on their latest album Wilderness, released in July. Highlights included the danceable tune "How It Starts" and the cheeky "Big Mama's Gonna Whip Us Good."

New music from Midtown Dickens - "Only Brother"

Durham folk band Midtown Dickens are getting ready to release their third album, Home, via Trekky Records on April 3. It was recorded with Scott Solter, who has worked with Spoon, St. Vincent and the Mountain Goats, at his studio in Monroe.

Stream or download the fantastic fourth track from Home, "Only Brother," below. Check out a teaser video for the album below as well.

A release show for the album has not been announced yet, but will certainly happen. We'll keep you posted once it's announced.

Video: Megafaun plays synthed up tunes for Moog

Megafaun stopped by the Moog Sound Lab in Asheville recently to play a few songs using only Moog products. The result is a stunning performances of "Hope You Know" and "State/Meant." Watch the former below and the latter on Spin.com.

As we mentioned last week, the band will wrap their forthcoming spring tour at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Saturday, April 14. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $12.

Also, the band will play the Central Park School benefit show at Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Saturday, January 28 with Mount Moriah and The Beats. Tickets are available HERE for $10.

Mates of State announces February tour, coming to Durham

Indie pop duo Mates of State are hitting the road in February for a short tour in support of their latest album Mountaintops and you guessed it, their coming to the Triangle.

They'll play the Casbah in Durham on Wednesday, February 22. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15. An opener has not been announced yet.

Check out the awesome hand painted, rotoscope animated music video for "Palomino" from Mountaintops below.

Joan Osborne announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Singer-songwriter Joan Osborne, best known for her 1995 hit "One of Us," is getting ready to release her eighth studio album on March 27 titled Bring It On Home. A tour will follow the release which will bring her to the Triangle.

She'll play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Monday, April 9. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 27 via Etix for $22 (standing) or $30 (seats).

Bring It On Home is a collection of some of Osborne's favorite blues songs. Check out her version of "Shake Your Hips," an old Slim Harpo song, below. There's also a short video about the album below as well.

Album Review: First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar

Klara and Johanna Söderberg’s passion for American folk and rock is evident on their second album under the name First Aid Kit, The Lion’s Roar.

The album rises on the strength of its fantastic singles, “The Lion’s Roar” and “Emmylou,” which happen to be the first two tracks on the album.

The title track is both bold and haunting thanks to the mix of driving percussion and mysterious flute that feels more than a little Zepplin-esque. The chorus is anthemic and shows that these women know that a well-placed “Goddamn” never hurts.

The Boxer Rebellion announces spring tour, coming to Durham

British band The Boxer Rebellion are coming back to the states this spring in support of their 2011 album The Cold Still.

The band will play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Saturday, April 21. Tickets will be $12 in advance and will be available HERE and at the box office. Pre-sale tickets are available now from the band's website.

Check out a performance of the song "The Runner" filmed at the band's London show at Shepherd's Bush Empire in September below.

Win tickets to Cass McCombs at Haw River Ballroom

Cass McCombs is on a cross-country tour in support of two new albums released in 2011, Wit's End and Humor Risk. The singer-songwriter will make a stop in Saxapahaw at the Haw River Ballroom on Friday, January 20, and we're giving away a pair of tickets to the show.

For your chance to win, email trianglemusiccontests at gmail dot com no later than noon on Wednesday, January 18, with "Cass McCombs tickets" in the subject line. We will notify the winner that afternoon. Congratulations, Jimmy R.!

Tickets to the show are $15 and available through Ticketfly. Frank Fairfield will open the show.

Damien Jurado announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Seattle singer-songwriter Damien Jurado is gearing up for the release of his tenth studio album, Maraqopa, due out on February 21. After touring Europe, he'll come back to North America in the spring to support the release.

He'll play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 22. JBM will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Download or stream the song "Nothing is the News" from Maraqopa below.

Future Kings of Nowhere & Kingsbury Manx headlining Double Barrel Benefit 9

WKNC's annual Double Barrel Benefit concert is heading back to The Pour House this year after moving to Kings Barcade last year. This festivities will take place on February 3 and 4.

The Future Kings of Nowhere will headline on Friday, February 3 with Birds and Arrows, Organos and MAKE. The Kingsbury Manx will headline of Saturday, February 4 with Gross Ghost, Naked Gods and Heads on Sticks.

Two-night passes are currently on sale HERE for $15. Single day tickets will be $10 at the door.

Megafaun announces spring tour, heading back to Saxapahaw

After closing out 2011 with a new album and multiple tours, Megafaun are not taking it easy too long. The band are already planning a hectic 2012, criss-crossing Europe in February and then coming back to the states for another national tour.

The band must have enjoyed their November gig at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, because the new tour will come to a close there on Saturday, April 14. Ticket info is still TBA Tickets are on sale now HERE for $12.

As we previously mentioned, Megafaun will also play the benefit for the Central Park School on Saturday, January 28 with The Beast and Mount Moriah. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $10.

Coldpay announces new 'Mylo Xyloto' dates, heading to Charlotte

British superstars Coldplay are coming back to the U.S. this summer in support of their latest album Mylo Xyloto. Unfortunately, as of now, they're opting to skip the Triangle this time.

The band will be heading to Charlotte though, playing the Time Warner Cable Arena on Tuesday, July 3. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 21 via LiveNation/Ticketmaster outlets.

Check out the music video for "Paradise" as well as a performance of "Hurts Like Heaven" from the Ed Sullivan Theater below.

Patti LaBelle announces 2012 dates, coming to Durham

R&B legend Patti LaBelle is hitting the road this spring to play a few shows in the south which includes two North Carolina gigs.

She'll play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Sunday, April 15. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 20 via the box office and Ticketmaster.

Two nights before hitting Durham, Friday, April 13, LaBelle will play the Crown Center in Fayetteville. Tickets for that show have been on sale for a while, but some tickets are still left and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.

This week's Local Band Local Beer: The Small Ponds & The Tender Fruit

This week's free Local Band Local Beer show at Tir Na Nog, on January 12, will feature two fantastic local folk / Americana bands. The Small Ponds and The Tender Fruit will take the stage.

Checkout music from both bands below, including the entire 2010 album Flotsam & Krill by The Tender Fruit, which was produced with a little help from Phil Cook and Justin Vernon.

The music will start at about 10 p.m. and the show is ages 21 and up.

Portlandia: The Tour hits the road, coming to Durham

After selling out their original tour dates in a matter of minutes, Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen have announced they'll bring Portlandia: The Tour to six more cities, including right here in the Triangle.

The tour will stop at Durham's Carolina Theatre on Wednesday, February 22. We will update with ticket information when it becomes available. Update: Tickets are $30 and go on sale Thursday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.

Much like their show on IFC, the tour will feature Brownstein, who readers will know from Sleater-Kinney and, more recently, Wild Flag, and Armisen performing live music and comedy sketches, presenting special clips from their show's second season, and even bringing a few special guests on stage.

Chairlift announces spring tour, coming to Chapel Hill

New York electro pop duo Chairlift are gearing up to release their sophomore album Something on January 24 via Columbia Records. A tour will follow in the spring that will bring the band to Chapel Hill.

They'll return to Local 506 on Friday, April 20. Nite Jewel will open the show. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Stream the songs "Sidewalk Safari," "Amanaemonesia" and "Met Before" from the new album below.

Buddy Guy announces spring tour, coming to Durham

Blues legend Buddy Guy, named by Rolling Stone as the 23rd greatest guitarist of all-time, is still going strong at 75 years old and will play a handful of headlining dates across North America this spring in addition to taking park in the Experience Hendrix Tour (stopping in Greensboro in March).

He will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Wednesday, April 18. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 13 via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $37 to $67.

Guy's most recent album, 2010's Living Proof, won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Check out the music video for "Stay Around a Little Longer," a duet with B.B. King, from the album below.

Lost in the Trees releasing new album in March, hear "Red" now

A Church That Fits Our Needs cover

At long last, orchestra pop group Lost in Trees are releasing their second full-length album this spring. The album, titled A Church That Fits Our Needs, will released by Anti- Records on March 20. Check out the complete track list below.

NPR has debuted the first new music from the album, a song titled "Red," which you can stream below. It is a stunning track that should easily start getting the band even more national attention than they've gained over the last few years.

Also, check out a video about the making of the new album below, which includes insights into the tragic event, the death of Ari Picker's mother, that inspired much of the album (that's her on the album cover).

Album Review: White Cascade - EP2

Raleigh’s White Cascade continues to evolve on their second EP, the simply named EP2.

The band’s growing Kraut-rock influences give their music shape. Clear, repetitive and persistent beats on opener “30 Seconds” make things less amorphous and more structured, less My Bloody Valentine and more Joy Division. The added momentum helps to keep the listener engaged.

Despite this evolution, White Cascade retains the shifting colors of shoegaze. “You Got It” slowly morphs into a dance-worthy track. These opposing styles make for compelling listening. “It’s getting inside my head,” sings vocalist Guess on “30 Seconds” and listeners are likely to share this feeling.

Fanfarlo announces new album & tour, coming to Carrboro

British indie pop band Fanfarlo, led by Swedish singer-songrwriter Simon Balthazar, are hitting the road again this spring in supper of their sophomore album Rooms Filled With Light, due out on February 28.

The tour will stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, March 9. Tickets will go on sale soon via Etix for $15.

Check out the music video for "Shiny Things" from Rooms Filled With Light below.

Corrosion of Conformity announces new album & tour, playing Raleigh

Corrosion of Conformity cover

Legendary Raleigh metal band Corrosion of Conformity will release their first new album since 2005's In the Arms of God in February. The new album, simply titled Corrosion of Conformity, will be released on February 28 via Candlelight Records.

The album was recorded at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Los Angeles, with additional vocal recording taking place in Raleigh. Longtime collaborator John Custer produced and mixed the album with the band.

A tour will commence in March, which will include a big hometown show at the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, March 3. Torche, Valient Thorr and A Storm of Light will open the show. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Delta Spirit announces spring tour with Waters, coming to Carrboro

California indie band Delta Spirit are gearing up for the release of their new self-titled album due out on March 13. As is the custom, the band will hit the road immediately following the release with Waters opening all of the shows

The tour will stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, April 3. Tickets will be on sale soon via Etix for $12. Pre-sale tickets are available now via the band's website.

Download the song "Devil Know's Your Dead" from Delta Spirit's 2010 EP The Waits Room via the widget below. Check out our review of Waters' debut album Out

Win tickets to The Features at Local 506

Tennessee rockers The Features are making their way across the country in support of last year's release, Wilderness, and will play Chapel Hill's Local 506 next Wednesday, January 18.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, email trianglemusiccontests at gmail dot com with "The Features tickets" in the subject line no later than 3 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11. We will notify the winner that afternoon. Congratulations to our winner, Jim G.!

Tickets to the show are $8 adv/$10 day of and available via etix. Girl in a Coma will open the show.

Megafaun, The Beast & Mount Moriah to rock for Central Park School

The annual Central Park School for Children benefit show, which raised about $9,000 last year to help build and maintain art facilities for the school, is about to happen again in a few weeks.

The show will take place at Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Saturday, January 28. Megafaun, The Beast and Mount Moriah are set to play. Student bands from the school will kick off the event, which starts at 6 p.m. Before the show, the students will be coached by members of the evening's headlining bands.

Ticket info is not listed yet, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $10.

Van Halen announces massive 2012 tour, coming to Greensboro

As expected, rock stars Van Halen are hitting the road on a big U.S. tour this year after releasing their first new album with frontman David Lee Roth since 1984 (released in the same year). The new release titled A Different Kind of Truth will be out on February 7.

The tour will stop at the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, April 21. Ticket info is not available yet, but tickets for some shows on the tour will go on sale on January 10. We'll keep you posted when the info is available.

Check out an odd little teaser trailer for the tour that features the songs "Jump," "Panama" and "Hot For Teacher" below.

Carolina Chocolate Drops releasing 'Leaving Eden' in February

North Carolina's own Carolina Chocolate Drops are set to release the follow-up to their Grammy winning 2010 album Genuine Negro Jig next month.

The new album produced by Buddy Miller is titled Leaving Eden and will be out on February 28 on Nonesuch Records. It will feature 15 songs with the usual mix of traditional tunes, covers and originals. Check out the full track list below (the songwriters are in parenthesis).

The band will be on tour in 2012 which includes a show at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill on Friday, February 3 with Luminescent Orchestrii.Tickets are on sale HERE for $29 to $69.