Thursday, February 28, 2013

Camera Obscura announces summer tour, coming to Saxapahaw

Scottish indie pop band Camera Obscura are releasing their first album in four years on June 4 titled Desire Lines. The band will come to North America in support of the record this summer and will make a stop in the Triangle.

They'll play the Haw River Ballroom on Saxapahaw on Friday, July 12. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 8, via Ticketfly for $17.50.

Check out photos and a review of Camera Obscura's show at Duke Gardens in June 2010 HERE.

New music video from Mount Moriah - "Bright Light"

Mount Moriah's new album Miracle Temple was released this past Tuesday via Merge Records and the band has released a new music video for album's second track, "Bright Light." Check out the video below.

You can stream all Miracle Temple in its entirety via Merge's website or buy it at one of the Triangle's fantastic local record stores.

As we've mentioned a few times before, Mount Moriah will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, April 12 with Mac McCaughan and Airstrip. Tickets are available via Etix for $10.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

HRVRD releases new album, extends spring tour

Up and coming Charlotte band HRVRD (once known as Harvard) released a new album this month titled From the Bird's Cage and the band will spend much a big chunk of the spring on tour supporting it.

The band will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Monday, April 8. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out the music video for the fantastic song "Black Creme" from From the Bird Cage below.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Born Ruffians signs with Yep Roc, announces spring tour

Canadian band Born Ruffians has joined the roster of North Carolina label Yep Roc Records, which will release the band's new album Birthmarks on April 16. The band will hit the road to support the album in the spring which will include a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Tuesday, April 23. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $10.

Check out the song "Needle" from Birthmarks below along with the album track list and the band's current tour schedule.

Album Review: The Dead Tongues - Desert

Four and a half years since his last acclaimed solo record (Donkey LP), Ryan Gustafson, as The Dead Tongues, returns to his strength with the spectacular Desert.

The wait was worth it. Desert is stewed to perfection. It’d be easy to group this record in with all the other dark Americana coming out of the south recently, but it sets itself apart with brighter harmonies reminiscent of 70s folk rock accented with hints of Gustufson’s experiences in Max Indian, The Light Pines, Mandolin Orange, and his experimental project The Daughter Is Ambiguous.

Gustafson is clearly the star, but the organ steals some spotlight on Desert. The instrument is allowed a ton of range from low-key, soulful accenting (“Exit Song”) to soaring lead voice (“The Desert”).

Monday, February 25, 2013

The National preps new album, announce summer tour

Photo by Kevin Norris
Indie rock heavyweights The National have announced that they will release a new album, the follow-up to 2010's High Violet, in May. They haven't released further details about the album but the band will be hitting the road in late spring/early summer to support it which will bring them back to Raleigh.

The band will play the Red Hat Amphitheater on Monday, June 10. Dirty Projectors will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 1 via the Progress Energy Center box office and Tickemaster.

Check out photos and a review of The National's show at Memorial Auditorium in October 2010 HERE.

Imagine Dragons extends spring tour, coming to Raleigh

After a big 2012 and selling out most of the shows on their early 2013 tour, Las Vegas band Imagine Dragons have added new North American dates in late spring that will bring the band to the Triangle.

The band will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Wednesday, May 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, via Ticketmaster for $22.50 to $39.50.

Check out the music video for the "Radioactive" from the band's debut album Night Visions below. The video features actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Alexandra Daddario as well as puppets from the Puppet heap Studio.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Free Energy announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by Dominic Neitz
Philadelphia power pop band Free Energy finally released their sophomore album in January titled Love Sign and the band will hit the road this spring and will make a stop in the Triangle on their way back up from South By Southwest.

They'll play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Thursday, March 28. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $8.

Check out the music video for the song "Girls Want Rock" from Love Sign below.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Les Claypool's Duo de Twang announces spring tour

Quirky singer-songwriter, bass player and Primus frontman Les Claypool is hitting the road this spring on a short tour with his Duo de Twang project which also features Marc "MIRV" Haggard. The pair play stripped down versions of songs from Claypool's hefty back catalog.

The tour will stop at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Monday, April 22. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 22, via Ticketfly for $22.

Check out a video of the duo performing the Primus tune "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" below.

Mount Moriah to celebrate 'Miracle Temple' with free in-store

Photo by Andrew Synowiez
Mount Moriah's highly anticipated sophomore album Miracle Temple will be released on Tuesday, February 26 (check out our album review HERE) but the band won't be playing a big hometown gig in the Triangle until they hit the Cat's Cradle on April 12.

Fear not, though, because the band have scheduled a free in-store performance at Bull City Records in Durham on the release date, February 26. The band will play at about 6 p.m. and the Pie Pushers food truck will be there, too.

Check out the band's tour schedule below and stream Miracle Temple in its entirety HERE.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

John Cale first confirmed Hopscotch 2013 performer

The 2013 Hopscotch Music Festival is still over three months away, but tickets have been on sale since February 1 and the first first two price points for three-day passes have already sold out.

The festival named its first performer late last week and it's a doozy. Legendary musician, singer-songwriter and founding member of The Velvet Underground Jon Cale will headline a show at the Memorial Auditorium one night of the festival, September 5-7. The night has not been confirmed yet.

The 70-year-old rocker released a new album last year which is brilliantly titled Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood. Check out the music video for "Face to the Sky" from the album below.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Album Review: Mount Moriah - Miracle Temple

If Mount Moriah’s self-titled debut was born of feelings forged in a fiery passion, then the band’s follow up, Miracle Temple, shows the effects of erosion and time on those feelings.

The intensity of Heather McEntire’s painful tales of love has waned. Miracle Temple is more reflective — although still biting — and digs deeper into the foundations of failed lovers by examining places and the past.

The subject of “Younger Days,” not satisfied with “small-town summer malaise,” is blinded by the chase and big city lights. The “timid debonair” in “Rosemary” can’t seem to stay in one place. “Those Girls” are just testing the water. “At the time you don’t mind being an experiment. Oh, but the morning’s another story,” she sings.

The Postal Service extends reunion tour, coming to Raleigh

One of the biggest tours of the year so far is The Postal Service reunion featuring Benjamin Gibbard, Jimmy Tamborello and Jenny Lewis. After already selling out the most of the shows that will make up the first leg of the tour, new dates have been added which includes a stop in the Triangle.

The Postal Service will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Friday, June 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 23 via Ticketmaster for $25 to $45.

UPDATE: Ra Ra Riot will open.

UPDATE: Due to Tropical Storm Andrea, the concert has been moved to Walnut Creek. Due to the larger size of the venue, general admission tickets are being made available via Ticketmaster for $35 plus fees. The Walnut Creek lot will open at 5:30 and venue doors at 6:30. Ra Ra Riot is scheduled to take the stage at 7:30 with The Postal Service at 8:30.

Tickets purchased for the Red Hat Amphitheater show will be honored night of show at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion – no exchange necessary. Patrons who purchased general admission pit tickets will be relocated to the general admission pit at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion. Patrons who purchased reserved seats will be relocated to general admission seating in sections 1-3 and 5-8 in the pavilion. Patrons who purchased lawn tickets will be relocated to general admission seating in sections 4 and 9 of the pavilion.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Band of Horses announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

South Carolina rockers Band of Horses have added new dates to their forthcoming spring tour in support of their latest album Mirage Rock, released last year.

The band will make a stop at The Ritz in Raleigh on Wednesday, May 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 23, via Ticketmaster.

Check out the music video for the uptempo rocker "Knock Knock" from Mirage Rock below.

Shabazz Palaces announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Seattle experimental hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces are hitting the road this spring in continued support of their 2011 debut Black Up.

The group will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Tuesday, April 30. Their Sub Pop labelmates THEESatisfaction will open. Tickets are on sale today, February 15, via Etix for $12.

Download or stream the song "Swerve...the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)" from the album Black Up below.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Generationals announces new album 'Heza' & spring tour

Young indie pop band Generationals are gearing up for the release of their sophomore album Heza which will be out on April 2 via Polyvinyl Records. The band will hit the road on month-long spring tour that will bring the guys back to the Triangle.

They'll play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Sunday, April 14. Splashh will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out the song "Spinoza" from the album Heza below.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Youth Lagoon announces new album, big spring tour

California singer-songwriter Trevor Powers, better known as Youth Lagoon, will release his sophomore album on March 5 titled Wondrous Bughouse. He'll hit the road on a big spring tour to support it which will bring him back to the Triangle.

Youth Lagoon will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, May 4. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 15, via Etix for $15.

Check out the song "Mute" from Wondrous Bughouse below.

!!! announces new album, spring tour

California indie rockers !!! (Chk Chk Chk) are releasing a new album on April 30 cleverly titled THR!!!ER and they'll hit the road on a North American tour in the spring to support it.

The band will return to Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Sunday, May 19. Sinkane will open. Tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Friday, February 15 HERE for $14.

Check out the groovy song "Slyd" (pronounced "slide") from THR!!!ER below.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

New music videos from Chris Stamey's new album 'Lovesick Blues'

Chris Stamey released his highly anticipated and much lauded new solo album Lovesick Blues last week and he has released a series of music videos for four songs from the album.

The videos are for the songs "Occasional Shivers," "If Memory Serves," "Astronomy" and "Lovesick Blues." Each video features performance footage of Stamey as well as other images appropriate to the vibe of each song. Check out all four videos below.

Album Review: Gray Young - Bonfre

Raleigh’s Gray Young wastes little time on its third LP, Bonfire.

The opening track “Canopy Reflected” spends about 30 seconds on atmospheric intro before launching into a purposeful drive to the climax. The trio constructs larger than life sheets of sound, but they aren’t indecipherable. Each part is distinct and well-executed.

Bonfire rarely loses focus. The second track, “Firekit,” keeps the tempo up and doesn’t bother contemplative and often masturbatory conventions of the instrumental post-rock genre. This is common for Gray Young. Seven of the 10 songs on the album are under three and a half minutes.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Widespread Panic announces June tour, two nights in Raleigh

Long-running jam band and regular Triangle visitors Widespread Panic are hitting the road this June on a short tour that will bring them Raleigh for two nights.

They'll play the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown on June 8 and 9. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 22, at the Progress Energy Center box office and via Ticketmaster.

Check out a video of Widespread Panic performing "Surprise Valley" at the Bonnaroo Festival in 2011 below.

Redd Kross announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by Jon Krop
Veteran California rockers Redd Kross are hitting the road this spring is support of their latest album Researching the Blues released last summer.

The band will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Thursday, April 4. Ticket information is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $13.

Check out the cheesy, Kiss-esque makeup and green screen antics of Redd Kross in the music video for "Stay Away From Downtown" from Researching the Blues below.

Friday, February 08, 2013

The Black Keys & Flaming Lips extend tour, coming to Raleigh

The Black Keys will be joined by The Flaming Lips on a tour beginning this spring that will bring the pair to Raleigh.

The bands will play the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek on Thursday, July 11. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 15 for $31 to $61.

The past year has been another big one for the Ohio-based rock band, culminating with this weekend's Grammy Awards, where they're nominated for five awards, including album and record of the year.

Twin Shadow announces the 'True Story' spring tour

Twin Shadow will hit the road again this spring on a North American tour in support of his latest album Confess. This tour will be a bit different, though, because each night will feature one true story told by either George Lewis Jr (aka Twin Shadow) or his father. That's why it's been dubbed the True Story Tour.

Twin Shadow will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, June 16. Elliphant will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 12, via Etix for $15.

Check out the music video for a live version of "The Ones"performed on KCRW below.

Thursday, February 07, 2013

Birds and Arrows releasing 'Coyotes' in March

Triangle folk/Americana band Birds and Arrows are back this spring with a new album titled Coyotes which they release on March 19. The album features twelve new songs from the trio. Check out the track list below.

The album features a bunch of special guests including Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five, Dirk Shumaker of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and James Wallace of Mount Moriah. Check out four new songs from the album, "Firefly," "Coyotes," "Safety," and "Life Like Life" HERE.

New music from Mikal Cronin - "Shout It Out"

Back in November, Merge Records announced that they had signed singer-songwriter Mikal Cronin and now they've confirmed that the new album, MCII, will be released on May 7.

Check out the catchy song "Shout It Out" from the album below.

Cronin has announced a few tour dates, but there are no east coast dates yet. We'll let you know when he announces a Triangle show which he will inevitably do.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

The Besnard Lakes announces new album, spring tour

Canadian indie rock band The Besnard Lakes are gearing up for the release of their fourth full-length album on April 2 titled Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO. The band will hit the road to support the release and will be making a stop in the Triangle.

They'll play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, May 1. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out the song "People of the Sticks" from Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO below.

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Beyoncé announces The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour

Fresh off of her big performance at the Super Bowl, Beyoncé has announced a new tour dubbed The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour and while she won't be coming to the Triangle, she will be making a stop in the Queen City this summer.

The pop star will play the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte on Saturday, July 27. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 15, via Ticketmaster for $47 to $252 (ouch).

Check out Beyoncé's Super Bowl half time performance which includes a Destiny's Child reunion below.

Album Review: Samantha Crain - Kid Face

“I had a deal with man and God. One let me down and one did not so I made my way back home. Oh, I thought I’d never go back,” Samantha Crain sings on “Never Going Back,” the opening track of her new album, Kid Face. Freed from her romantic relationship, the native Oklahoman reflects on the relationship’s collateral damage (“Taught to Lie”), her own world view (“Churchill”), and the state of the world today (“Somewhere All The Time,” “Ax”) as she takes stock of her first 26 years.

“What is spare time? I spend all of mine trying to figure this out,” Crain jokes on “The Pattern Has Changed” as she wonders what to do without a hectic tour schedule. The wit continues on “Paint.” “I’m almost young this year now that I’m older,” she sings. These smaller, but real issues provide balance to the weightier moments like “For the Miner” when she asks “Did you get used it or are you still up with the demons all night?”

Monday, February 04, 2013

Fun. announces big 2013 tour with Tegan and Sara

2012 was a huge year for the young pop band Fun. and they'll ride that success into 2013 when they embark on a big U.S. tour this summer and fall with special guests Tegan and Sara.

The tour will come to the Red Hat Amphitheater (formerly the Raleigh Amphitheater) in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday, September 25. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Saturday, February 16, via Progress Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $26 or $40.50.

Check out the music video for Fun.'s latest hit "Carry On" from their album Some Nights below as well as the video for "Closer" from Tegan and Sara's new album Heartthrob.

James Blake preps new album, announces spring tour

British electronic musician and singer-songwriter James Blake is getting ready to release a new album this year and will announce details of it soon, but he has already rolled out plans for a big North American tour this spring which will bring him to the Triangle.

He'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, May 13. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $22.

Check out the music video for the song "Lindisfarm" from James Blake's self-titled album below.

Friday, February 01, 2013

William Tyler announces spring tour, coming to Durham

Photo by Will Holland
As we told you last fall, Merge Records singed singer-songwriter and guitarist William Tyler and will release his new album Impossible Truth on March 19. Tyler has now announced a spring tour to support the release which will come to the Triangle.

He'll play The Pinhook n Durham on Thursday, April 11. Ticket information is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

Check out the song "Cadillac Desert" from the album Impossible Truth below.