Friday, June 28, 2013

Mountain Goats, Bombadil, Chris Stamey, Dex Romweber & more to play Eno Festival

Photo by D.L. Anderson
The 34th annual Festival For the Eno will take place next Thursday and Saturday (July 4 and 6) at the Eno River Park in north Durham and this year the festival boasts a fantastic lineup of local music.

Among the hefty lineup are Chris Stamey and the Fellow Travellers, Dex Romweber Duo and Tom Maxwell and Minor Drag on July 4 and then the Mountain Goats, Bombadil and John Howie, Jr. and Rosewood Bluff on July 6. Check out the full lineup and schedule HERE.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Cold Cave announces September tour, coming to Chapel Hill

Dark synth pop band Cold Cave are hitting the road this September on some new tour dates in support of some new singles released in the last year (check out one of those singles, "Oceans With No End," below).

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel  Hill on Saturday, September 7. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Cold Cave played one of the best sets of Hopscotch 2011 at The Pour House. Check out photos and a review of the set HERE and some photos of their set opening for Divine Fits at Lincoln Theater last year HERE.

Hopscotch 2013 schedule released, start your planning

With the 2013 Hopscotch Music Festival just a little more than two months away, the festival has just released the full schedule for the three-day event so music fans can start planning their trek through downtown Raleigh.

There is only one venue change this year. White Collar Crime is out this year (it closed) and the Kennedy Theater on East South Street is in. Check out our easy-to-read schedule HERE (it's a PDF file). We'll update our schedule closer to the festival to feature our recommended sets to catch.

Also worth noting is that you can now purchase single day tickets for $65 each night or City Plaza only tickets for $40 each night HERE along with 3-day passes with are still available.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Love Language to celebrate 'Ruby Red' with Raleigh in-store

A few days before the official release of their highly anticipated third album Ruby Red, The Love Language will be playing a free in-store performance at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh.

The band will hit the store at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, and the album will be available to purchase on that day ahead of the official release date. It's sure to be packed that day so you'll probably want to get there early if you want to actually be inside the small store as the band plays.

Ruby Red is also available to pre-order from Schoolkids now and those who order it and buy a ticket to the Cat's Cradle release show at the same time will get a copy of the Black Mountain Demos cassette while supplies last.

Langhorne Slim & The Law announce fall tour

Singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim and his band The Law are hitting the road this fall on a big headlining tour in support of his latest album The Way We Move, released last year.

The tour will hit the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Friday, September 27. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 28, via Ticketfly for $16.

Check out the band performing a stripped down version of "Someday" from The Way We Move in Germany below.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Aimee Mann announces fall tour, coming to Saxapahaw

Singer-songwriter Aimee Mann is hitting the road again this fall as a trio in support of her latest album Charmer, released last fall. She'll return to the Triangle in October but this time she'll be stopping a little west of Orange County.

She'll play the increasingly popular Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Monday, October 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 28 via Ticketfly for $25.

[UPDATE: Ted Leo will open the show with a solo set.]

Father John Misty announces fall solo tour

Joshua Tillman, aka Father John Misty, and his band just rolled through the Triangle last month in support of his latest album Fear Fun and he's already planning to come back our way when embarks on a solo tour this fall.

He'll return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro sans band on Friday, October 25. Kate Berlant will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 18, via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out Tillman performing a solo version of the song "Hollywood Forever Cemetery" at Amoeba Records in Los Angeles last fall below.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis announce fall tour

One of 2012's biggest breakout acts Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are riding the huge success of their debut album The Heist and their hit single "Thrift Shop" well into 2013 as they duo are planning a big arena tour this fall.

They'll make a stop at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Tuesday, November 19. Talib Kweli will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 19 via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $35 to $45.

Check out the duo's music video for the poignant single "Same Love" featuring Mary Lambert below.

Matrimony releases major label EP, coming to Chapel Hill

Up and coming Charlotte alt-folk band Matrimony just released their first major label release on Columbia Records earlier this month, an EP titled Montibello Drive. The band will be on the road this summer in support of the EP and they'll make a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Friday, July 26. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out the music video for "Obey Your Guns" from the Montibello Drive EP below.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Alabama Shakes announces September dates, coming to Cary

Soulful up and coming rockers Alabama Shakes have had quite a meteoric rise since the release of their debut album Boys & Girls last year. When the band rolled through the Triangle last year they played the Cat's Cradle and sold out the club. Now they've announced new fall dates which will bring the band back to play venue with a capacity more than six times that of the Cradle.

The band will play Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Friday, September 20. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 28, via the venue box office and Etix for $30 or $40.

Check out a video of the band's fantastic performance of the song "Always Alright" on Saturday Night Live earlier this year below.

Eagles extends History of The Eagles tour into the fall

Folk rock mainstays the Eagles have just extended their History of The Eagles tour into the fall and the new dates include a stop in the Triad.

The band will play the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, November 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, via Ticketmaster.

Check out the trailer for the documentary History of The Eagles below which is out now on Blu-ray and DVD. Check out a crowd shot performance of "Hotel California" from a show earlier this year below as well.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Duke Performances announces 2013-14 season, Nick Sanborn, Bombadil, Joe Henry, Chick Corea & more

It's that time of year again where local performing arts groups start announcing their plans for the next year. Duke Performances has offered one of the best programs around for quite a while now and this season's lineup includes some ambitious new programs as well as a quite a few familiar faces.

Highlights of the 2013-14 season include gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama, country singer-songwriter Guy Clark and Mandolin Orange, Nick Sandborn's Lend Me Your Voice, Love's Infrastructure featuring music by Bombadil and puppetry by Torry Bend, jazz star Pat Metheny and his Unity Group, Joe Henry and Over the Rhine and jazz great Chick Corea.

Cheap Trick announces 2013 dates, coming to Durham

The always touring classic pop rock band Cheap Trick are spending much of 2013 touring North America and Japan. They've just added some new September dates that will bring them to the Triangle this September.

The band will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Tuesday, September 17. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 24, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $46 to $100.

Check out a video of the band performing their hit "I Want You To Want Me' at SXSW in 2010 below.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Album Review: The Mantles - Long Enough To Leave

The Mantles are happy where they’re at. The San Francisco band makes music when it wants and how it wants. As such, they waited 4 years to release their sophomore record, Long Enough To Leave.

On Long Enough To Leave dreamy California pop mixes with 90s college rock, but it isn't using either as a crutch. The Mantles aren’t nostalgic for the past and their songs feel modern compared to other bands that lean on these styles.

Certain songs lean more in one direction than the other. “Bad Design” and “Reason’s Run” are guitar-driven and light on melody while “Raspberry Thighs” and “Marbled Birds” sway with a wash of colors.

Phosphorescent extends 2013 tour, coming to Carrboro

Singer-songwriter Matthew Houck and his band Phosphorescent are hitting the road this on a big tour this summer and fall in support of his sixth album Muchacho released earlier this year.

The tour will bring the band back to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, September 16. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out a video of Phosphorescent performing the song "Song For Zula" from Muchacho for KEXP in Seattle below.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

[UPDATE] Drake announces big fall tour with Miguel

Hip-hop superstar Drake will release his third full-length album Nothing Was the Same sometime later this year and he has just announced a big fall with rising star Miguel dubbed Would You Like a Tour?

The tour will make a stop at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Sunday, November 3. Future will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 28, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $49.75, $69.75 or $99.75.

[UPDATE 10/26: Drake has canceled his Raleigh show on November 3 due to a "scheduling conflict" according to a LiveNation press release. Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase. Tickets purchased online or by phone will be automatically refunded. Drake's Charlotte show on November 2 will still take place and some tickets are still available.]

Jack Johnson announces new album, intimate fall tour

After saving the day this past weekend by filling in for Mumford and Sons at Bonnaroo, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson has just announced an intimate fall tour in support of his forthcoming album From Here To Now To You where 100% of the profits will go to charity.

The tour will make a stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Thursday, October 3. Tickets will be distributed through random lottery. Head HERE to to put your name in the hat to get tickets now (you have until 10 a.m. on Monday, June 24 to enter). Winners will be given the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets.

Check out the first single, "I Got You," from Johnson's new album From Here To Now To You below.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Washed Out announces new album, late summer tour

Singer-songwriter Ernest Greene, better known as Washed Out, will release his sophomore album on August 13 titled Paracosm and he'll be hitting the road on a tour late in the summer in support of it.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, September 23. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out the lyric video for the song "It All Feels Right" from Paracosm below.

Mac DeMarco cooks up something good with Lonnie Walker and Gross Ghost at Kings

Photos by Justin Weber
Mac DeMarco is sitting on the stage floor in front of a packed house at Kings Barcade fixing a guitar string he broke in the middle of his set opener “Cookin’ Up Something Good." He’d arrived five hours late and there was no time for a proper sound check before the show. He looks tired and at the edge of frustration – a rare sight for the goofy and go-lucky DeMarco.

He asked the crowd to bear with him and quickly his band – Peter Sagar (Guitar), Pierce McGarry (Bass) and Joe McMurray (Drums) – launched into a series of gags that ended with McGarry singing his “Medieval Tale.”

The crowd laughed, DeMarco smiled, finished tuning and what could have been speed bump turned into a launching ramp.

Friday, June 14, 2013

King Khan & The Shrines announce fall tour, coming to Durham

King Khan and The Shrines recently signed to Merge Records who will release the band's new album Idle No More on September 3. The band will hit the road on a big fall tour to support it and they'll be making a stop in the Triangle.

They'll play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Saturday, November 2. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll let you know when it is. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $14.

Check out the newly released song "Born To Die" from the Idle No More below.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Dawes, Shovels & Rope sell out sweltering Cat's Cradle

All photos by Kevin Norris
California americana rock band Dawes have become regular visitors to the Triangle over the last few yeas and each time they come back it the crowds grow larger. On Wednesday night the band rolled into town with Shovels and Rope and played a sweltering, sold out show at the Cat's Cradle.

Dawes released their third album in April titled Stories Don't End and the band played a lot of new songs during the night, starting with their opening number "From a Window Seat." The band sounded as tight as ever and it's easy to see why they've been called on to perform with legends like John Fogerty and Robbie Robertson.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

New music from The Love Language - "Pilot Light'

After announcing their long-awaited third album Ruby Red in April and releasing the first new song from the album, "Calm Down," in May, The Love Language are back with another new song.

This one is the beautifully lush closing track "Pilot Light" which features some stellar strings and sounds like it will work well as as Ruby Red's last statement. Check out the song below.

Ruby Red will be released by Merge Records on July 23. The band will play a big release show at the Cat's Cradle on Friday, July 26, with Eternal Summers and The Critters. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Neko Case announces new album, 2013 tour plans

Singer-songwriter Neko Case has just announced plans to release the follow-up to her acclaimed 2009 album Middle Cyclone. The new album, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, will be out on September 3 and she'll hit the road to support it.

She'll play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 26. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, June 14, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $25, $35 or $45.

Check out the song "Man" from the new album below which features some fantastic guitar work by M. Ward.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Album Review: Future Bible Heroes - Partygoing

With Partygoing, Stephin Merritt resurrects his side project Future Bible Heroes 11 years after the release of its last album.

Joined by Magnetic Fields band mate Claudia Gonson and DJ Christopher Ewen, Future Bibles Heroes sound like, well, The Magnetic Fields. This side project leans more on electronic instruments, but it can’t escape the dominant influence of its core member (similar to the relationship between The Mountain Goats and The Extra Glens/Lens).

This isn’t a bad thing. Listeners looking for a Magnetic Fields fix are in luck. Partygoing, sporting plenty of bittersweet one-liners and ironies, holds its own against Merritt’s more well-known work.

John Fogerty announces fall tour, coming to Durham

Legendary Creedence Clearwater singer-songwriter and guitarist John Fogerty is hitting the road this fall in support of his brand new album Wrote a Song for Everyone which features a collection of his classic songs performed with folks including Foo Fighters, Dawes and My Morning Jacket.

The tour will stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 21, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out Fogerty's recent stellar performance of "Someday Never Comes" with Dawes on the Late Show with David Letterman below.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Sigur Rós extends 2013 world tour, coming to Raleigh

Icelandic post rock, art pop icons Sigur Rós have just extended their massive 2013 tour in support of their forthcoming album Kveikur, due out next week in the U.S., on June 18, and they'll be coming to the Triangle for a big show.

The band will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Saturday, September 21. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 14 via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $25 to $49.50.

Check out a video featuring the title track from the new album Kveikur below which features the visuals that accompany the band as they play live.

The Postal Service revisits 'Give Up' at Walnut Creek

After leaving their unexpectedly successful electro pop supergroup dormant for about eight years, The Postal Service revived their lone album Give Up for a tenth anniversary reissue and a big reunion tour that rolled into Raleigh on Friday night.

The show was moved from the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown to the big shed at Walnut Creek due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea making their way through the Triangle. On numerous occasions Gibbard thanked the crowd for following them out into the "woods" so the show could go on. The bigger venue seemed like it might be tough for the band but they thrilled the packed crowd with sounds many have been wanting to hear for quite a while.

Friday, June 07, 2013

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy announces fall dates, coming to Durham

Veteran swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is spending 2013 doing what they always do, touring. They're celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the band's "arrival on the music scene" and will be stopping in the Triangle this fall.

They'll play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Saturday, November 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 7, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $33 to $48.

Check out the music video or "Mr. Pinstripe Suit" form the band's 1998 album Americana Deluxe below.

The Dodos announce new album, big fall tour

San Francisco indie rockers The Dodos are releasing their fifth full length album on August 27 titled Carrier and they'll be hitting the road on a big fall tour in support of it.

They'll make a stop at Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Wednesday, October 2. Dustin Wong will open. Tickets will go on sale at noon today, June 7, via Etix for $12.

Check out the song "Confidence" from Carrier below. Also check out photos and a write-up of The Dodos set at Hopscotch in 2011 HERE.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Nine Inch Nails announces new album, fall tour

Trent Reznor has announced the release of the new Nine Inch Nails album, Hesitation Marks, which will be released on September 3. He'll take the band on a big North American tour this fall which will make a stop in the Triangle.

Nine Inch Nails will play PNC Arena in Raleigh on Monday, October 21. Godspeed You! Black Emperor will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 21, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out the song "Came Back Haunted" from Hesitation Marks below.

The Love Language announces first 'Ruby Red' tour dates, big hometown show

With the release of The Love Language's third album Ruby Red about a month and a half away (July 23), the band has announced the initial tour dates in support of the album which includes a big hometown show the week it hits shelves.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, July 26. Eternal Summers and The Critters will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 7, via Ticketfly for $12.

If you haven't already checked it out or if you want to listen again, check out the song "Calm Down" from Ruby Red below.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

New music from Superchunk - "FOH"

As we told you last month, local indie icons Superchunk are gearing up for the release of a new album on August 20 titled I Hate Music and now they've released the first new song from the album.

Check out the tenth track from the album titled "FOH" below. It's Superchunk at its best with high energy, big guitars and catchy hooks.

Since we originally told you about the album and the subsequent tour, bassist Laura Ballance announced that she will not be joining the band on tour due to worsening issues with hyperacusis (hearing damage). She is still in the band and will continue to record with them. Bassist Jason Narducy will join the band on their upcoming tour. You may have seen him in recent years playing with Bob Mould and Telekinesis.

Joe Satriani announces 2013 tour, coming to Durham

Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani released his 14th studio album last month titled Unstoppable Momentum and he has embarked on a big world tour in support of it which includes a North American leg in late summer and the fall.

The tour will stop at the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Tuesday, September 24. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 7, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $38 to $88.

Check out the music video for "A Door Into Summer" from Unstoppable Momentum below.

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Album Review: Eleanor Friedberger - Personal Record

Eleanor Friedberger’s follow up to her 2011 solo debut, Personal Record, bests its predecessor in nearly every way.

Personal Record is more confident, more sure-footed. After a strong debut on Last Summer, Friedberger doesn’t need to prove herself outside of the context of the Fiery Furnaces and sounds totally unburdened.

Last Summer, with its focus on locales in and around Brooklyn, feels like the obligatory tour one gets from a friend when visiting their new place in comparison to Personal Record. The new collection of songs is — pardon the obvious — much more personal. It’s the conversation that happens late into the night after the tour is out of the way.

Monday, June 03, 2013

Evangelicals announce summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Oklahoma indie rockers Evangelicals are hitting the road on a short summer tour this month which will bring the band to the Triangle.

The band will open for Lilac Shadows at Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Saturday, June 15. Companion and Jenny Besetzt are also on the bill. Tickets will be $6 at the door.

Evangelicals hasn't released a new album since 2008's The Evening Descends. Check out the music video for "Midnight Vignette" from the album below.