Friday, August 30, 2013

Saint Rich announces fall tour, coming to Durham

We told you back in July about Merge Records releasing the debut album from Saint Rich (featuring Delicate Steve bandmates Christian Peslak and Steve Marion) titled Beyond the Drone on October 1. Now the band has extended their fall tour in support of the album to include a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play The Pinhook in Durham on Sunday, October 6. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

Check out Saint Rich's new music video for the song "Officer" from Beyond the Drone below.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Walk the Moon announces fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Ohio alt-pop band Walk the Moon released their self-titled major label debut album last year via RCA Records and the band are hitting the road in late summer and into the fall which and they'll make a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, September 28. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out the music video for the band's catchy single "Tightrope" from the album Walk the Moon below.

Ben Bridwell's solo project Birdsmell announces fall tour

Band of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell has announced a short solo tour this fall under the name Birdsmell where he'll be playing some new songs as well as reworked versions of songs from the band.

The tour will kick off in the Triangle when he plays the back room at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, November 2. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out a video of Bridwell performing the Band of Horses song "Ode to LRC" solo in Charleston in 2009 below to get a bit of an idea of what the solo tour might be like.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Wale & Ace Hood to play UNC's homecoming concert

UNC has hosted some big concerts to celebrate homecoming in recent years including J. Cole, The New Pornographers and Passion Pit, and this year won't be any different.

On Saturday, November 2 the school will host hip hop stars Wale and Ace Hood at Carmichael Auditorium. Ticket information is not available yet but general public tickets are usually made available after students have been given first crack at them. Once we have more information we'll let you know.

Check out the music video for Wale's latest single "Poor Decisions" featuring Rick Ross and Lupe Fiasco from the forthcoming compilation Self Made Vol. 3 below.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Album review: Golden Suits - Golden Suits

With his debut self-titled solo record, Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles alum Fred Nicolaus ventures out on his own under the moniker Golden Suits.

Golden Suits draws from Nicolaus’ previous work and various influences. The melodies recall Grizzly Bear, but Nicolaus makes them more buoyant. There’s no exact genre to describe the sound, but imagine a scrubbed and polished version of the psych folk from Department of Eagles.

The songs sound simple, but they’re not bare. Rather, the simplicity comes from the clean and clean orchestration. The distinct lines of each part create an open, inviting sound. “I Think You Would Have Been Mine” is a great example with repetitive percussion and guitar rhythms supporting Nicolaus’ vocals and free-moving strings to create a song that’s is more complex than it lets on.

Hopscotch announces six canceled performers, eight additions

As we've come expect over since the beginning of the Hopscotch Music Festival, when you're bringing so many bands to one place at one time, there are bound to be a few cancellations and last minute changes.

This year six performers have had to pull out of the festival for reasons ranging from health issues and visa problems. Those six are XXYYXX, Loincloth, Riton, Double Negative, Foot Village and Ex Cops.

On the bright side, eight bands have been added to the festival to fill those spots as well as a couple of other spots. The additions are Mykki Blanco, Gent & Jawns, Vattnet Viskar, Hunters, Sannhet, Moon King, Brett Harris, and Skylar Gudasz.

Monday, August 26, 2013

U.S. Royalty announces sophomore album, fall tour

DC indie rockers U.S. Royalty will release their sophomore album this fall titled Blue Sunshine (a specific release date has not been announced) and the band will hit the road in support of it in September.

The tour will make a stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, September 9. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

Check out the title track from the band's forthcoming album Blue Sunshine below.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Manchester Orchestra announces fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Georgia indie rockers Manchester Orchestra and hitting the road the fall touring the eastern half of the US and they'll make their way back to the Triangle.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, November 9. The Front Bottoms will open. Tickets will go on sale at midnight on Thursday, August 29, via Ticketfly for $17.

Check out Manchester Orchestra covering Faces' classic song "Ooh La La" for AV Club's Undercover series below.

Rakim & Bell Biv Devoe to headline The Return of the Legends in Durham

This fall the Durham Performing Arts Center will host a special two-night R&B/hip-hop event for North Carolina Central University's homecoming weekend dubbed The Return of the Masters.

It will take place on October 18 and 19 and will feature ten acts. On Friday, October 18, Rakim will headline will special guests Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Lords of the Underground, Nice and Smooth and Camp Low. On Saturday, October 19, Bell Biv Devoe will headline with special guests EPMD, Brand Nubian, Pharcyde and DAS EFX. 9th Wonder will host the event.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

New music from Roman Candle - "Small Time" + new album out this fall

Triangle expatriates Roman Candle (they now call Nashville home) are returning this fall with a new album titled Debris, their first full-length release in four years. It will feature eleven new songs and although an official release date has not been announced yet, the band has shared a new song from the album.

The superb new tune is titled "Small Time" and you can stream it via the widget below or download it along with an unreleased live song "End of the Road" and two songs from 2009's Eden Was a Garden EP via Noisetrade or clicking download in the widget.

Roman Candle have also released a trailer for Debris which you can check out below as well where the band discuss the process of making the album.

2013 Hopscotch day parties & speaker series announced

With the 2013 Hopscotch Music Festival two weeks away, the festival has just unveiled this year's day parties which are free and will be going on during the day before the festival officially gets started each night on September 5-7. There are also a few events before and after the festival on September 4 and 8.

This year's slew of  parties features sets by Valient Thorr, I Was Totally Destroying It, The Invisible Hand, Shirlette Ammons, Des Ark, Onward Soldiers, Spider Bags, Jack the Radio, Jenks Miller Band, The Tender Fruit, Mandolin Orange, Doug Paisley, Chris Stamey and the Fellow Travellers, Lonnie Walker, Schooner, Kingsbury Manx, Jamaica Queens, Estrangers, Loamlands, Some Army and many, many more. Check out our easy to read schedule HERE.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Cults announces new album 'Static,' fall tour

New York alt-pop band Cults will release their sophomore album Static on October 15 and they'll hit the road on a big North American tour in support of it this fall.

The band will play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Wednesday, October 30. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, HERE for $15.

Check out the song "I Can Hardly Make You Mine" from the new album Static below.

William Tyler extends fall tour, coming to Durham

Photo by Will Holland
Acclaimed guitarist William Tyler has extended his fall tour dates in support of his new album Impossible Truth (check out our review of the album HERE) and he'll be making his way back to the Triangle.

Tyler will play the Duke Coffeehouse in Durham on Sunday, October 20. Tickets will be free for folks with a Duke ID and $6 at the door for everyone else.

Check out a stellar performance of the song "Portrait of Sarah" from Impossible Truth performed for WNYC in April below.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Album Review: Superchunk - I Hate Music

“I hate music. What is it worth? Can’t bring anyone back to this Earth,” Mac McCaughan sings to open “Me and You and Jackie Mittoo,” one of the highlights of Superchunk’s tenth full-length album, I Hate Music.

Other musicians have uttered “I hate music” – both Paul Westerberg and Leonard Bernstein wrote songs titled “I Hate Music” – but it’s often in response to the culture and the expectations surrounding professional musicians.

The Dirty Projectors playing Chapel Hill this fall

After coming to the Triangle earlier this year to play the Red Hat Amphitheater supporting The National, indie favorites The Dirty Projectors will be coming back our way for a headlining show this fall.

They'll play Memorial Hall on UNC's campus on Saturday, October 5. Future Islands will open the show. Ticket information has not been made available yet, but typically students get first crack at tickets before it's opened up to the pubic. We'll keep you posted once we know more.

[Tickets for UNC students will go on sale on Tuesday, September 5 for $15 HERE. Tickets for UNC faculty and staff will be $20 and $35 for the general public but an on-sale date has not been announced and are on sale now.]

Monday, August 19, 2013

Superchunk announce free release day show, releases video for "Me & You & Jackie Mittoo"

Photo by Jason Arthurs
Local indie superstars Superchunk will release their tenth album, I Hate Music, tomorrow and will be celebrating with a free show/party in Durham dubbed I Hate Happy Hour.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, at The Pinhook in Durham. It will serve as a introduction of Jason Narducy as Superchunk's new touring bassist and Laura Ballance will be there tending bar and making a special signature cocktail.

New music video from Bombadil - "Boring Country Song"

Bombadil's fantastic new album Metrics of Affection was released last month and now the band has released a second video from the album for the song "Boring Country Song" (the first video was for "Escalators").

Check out the new video below, which premiered on Rolling Stone's website on Friday. It's a simple performance video featuring the band wearing all white.

The band will play the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in Pittsboro on Friday, October 11. Earlybird tickets are on sale now HERE.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Wide Open Bluegrass schedule released, some showcase lineups announced

With the International Bluegrass Conference, Awards and the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival just a little over a month away, stage schedules have been released for the festival along with the lineups for the Ramble Showcases at the Lincoln Theatre.

Check out the stage schedules for the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival at the Red Hat Amphitheater and the Raleigh Convention Center on September 27 and 28 below.

The Ramble Evening Showcases will take place at venues all over downtown Raleigh on September 24 and 25 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. There will also be artist showcases at the same venues in on September 26-28 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Lincoln Theatre and Pour House have released their nightly lineups which you can check out below.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Janelle Monáe announces The Electric Lady tour

R&B star Janelle Monáe was in Raleigh today (August 15) at radio station k97.5 promoting her forthcoming album The Electric Lady out on September 10 and she has just announced a return to the Triangle for a big show as a part of her fall tour.

She'll play The Ritz in Raleigh on Tuesday, November 19. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 23, via Ticketfly for $22.

Check out the music video for the song "Dance Apocalyptic" from The Electric Lady below and check out Monáe's interview on k97.5 HERE.

Phantogram preps new album, announces fall tour

Indie pop duo Phantogram have spent the summer in the studio working sophomore album that they're expected to announce sometime soon, but they've already rolled out plans for a big fall headlining tour in support of it.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, November 1. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 16, via Ticketfly for $16.

Check out a video of the band performing the song "When I'm Small"from their debut album Eyelid Moves for KEXP a few years ago below.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Lucinda Williams announces late summer tour

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams has announced some new late-summer tour dates which will bring her back to the Triangle. She was last here at the North Carolina Museum of Art in 2011.

This time Williams will play the fantastic Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Wednesday, September 18. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 16, via Ticketfly for $35.

[UPDATE: Lucinda Williams' first show sold out quickly so a second show has been added for Thursday, September 19. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $35.]

Denison Witmer releases new album, announces fall tour

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania singer-songwriter Denison Witmer released a self-titled album (which is actually his ninth full-length album) and he'll be on the road this fall in support of it, including a stop in the Triangle.

Witmer will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Friday, October 18. Ticket are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

Check out the song "Keep Moving Brother, Keep Moving Sister" from the new album Denison Witmer below (you can also download the song by clicking Download under the share button in the widget).

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Album Review: Pere Ubu - Lady From Shanghai

Experimental art punks Pere Ubu have been making challenging, controversial and satisfying music since 1975. Their latest release, Lady From Shanghai, shows that they haven’t run out of steam.

Lady From Shanghai warps the concepts of modern dance music. Pere Ubu takes danceable beats and repetitious choruses and grinds them up with cold, industrial sounds. The effect is isolating and nerve wracking. At its best, it feels thrilling and exotic. At worst, it’s rambling.

The record peaks early on with “Mandy.” It’s off-kilter, but unnatural synths and clarinet mesh with lead singer David Thomas’ sinister vocals. Over 7 minutes, the song builds into a macabre boogie that manages to be as invigorating as it is terrifying.

The Killers rock packed Red Hat Amphitheater

Las Vegas rockers The Killers rolled into Raleigh Monday night for a packed show at Red Hat Amphitheater, their first Triangle show in almost nine years (they played the Cat's Cradle in September 2004).

The band wasted no time getting to the hits as they opened with their biggest U.S. hit "Mr. Brightside" and the momentum continued to build as they rolled right into "Spaceman." Frontman Brandon Flowers acted as the ringleader of the band, pacing the stage and showing off his unique Vegas-influenced flair.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Blanko Basnet releases self-titled debut at The Pinkhook with Speedy Ortiz & Organos

Photos by Justin Weber
“Album release show” may be slowly becoming more sales pitch than celebration to meet fan demand for unique concert experiences, but on Friday night at The Pinhook Joe Hall beamed with pride as his new band, Blanko Basnet, released physical copies of their debut self-titled LP out into the world for the first time.

The new songs written by Hall have a similar melodic lilt to his music in Hammer No More The Fingers, but the compositions are more thoughtful and intricate. Rhythms dance about on songs like “Fencing with Flies” and create an unpredictable sound that will peak listeners interest. Fans still mourning the loss of Annuals will find some solace in Blanko Basnet’s music.

Friday, August 09, 2013

Watch Carolina Chocolate Drops play "Leaving Eden" at Grand Ole Opry

Triangle old-time string band Carolina Chocolate Drops having been touring all the time since the release of their latest album Leaving Eden last February and the band performed the album's title track at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville back in June. Check out the performance below.

Chocolate Drop member Dom Flemons is also featured on Tom Rush's new CD/DVD live release out on Tuesday, August 13, titled Celebrates 50 Years of Music. You can clips of him playing "What I Know" and "Who Do You Love" with Rush below.

The Avett Brothers announce new album 'Magpie and the Dandelion'

The Avett Brothers just released a new album last September titled The Carpenter but they're already eyeing this fall for the release of another new album.

The band will release Magpie and the Dandelion on October 15 and they shared a fantastic new song from the album with NPR on Thursday titled "Another Is Waiting." Check it out HERE. We'll share further details of the album with you once they're available.

The Avetts have yet to come to the Triangle for a show in support of The Carpenter so hopefully we'll see the guys back in support of Magpie. The band's last full band show in the Triangle was at the Cat's Cradle in December of 2010 (the band performed as a duo at Kings in March of last year as part of the Racing the Cure benefit).

Thursday, August 08, 2013

Hey Marseilles announces fall tour, coming to Durham

Seattle indie folk rock band Hey Marseilles released their sophomore album, Lines We Trace, earlier this year (which Amazon has named the 17th best album of 2013 so far) and the band will hit the road on US tour this fall.

The band will make a stop at the Casbah in Durham on Thursday, October 17. The Apache Relay will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out the music video for the song "Heart Beats" from the album Lines We Trace below.

New music from Polvo - "Total Immersion"

Photo by Michael Klayman
We told you about Polvo's forthcoming new album Siberia which will be released on October 1 via Merge Records and now the band have shared the opening track from the album.

It's a six and a half minute rocker titled "Total Immersion" which you can check out below.

Singer and guitarist Dave Brylawski, who is a hardcore UNC sports fan, took some time to talk about the state of the university's sports programs with Grantland. Check out the interview HERE.

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

John Vanderslice releases 'Dagger Beach,' coming to Chapel Hill

Singer-songwriter John Vanderslice just released his ninth album in June titled Dagger Beach and he has announced some new fall tour dates in support of it which will bring him back to the Triangle.

Vanderslice will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Friday, November 8. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $13.

Check out the music video for "How the West Was One" from Dagger Beach below. Also check out a review and a few photos of Vanderslice's show with Crooked Fingers at Kings last fall HERE.

Amos Lee announces new album, fall tour

Singer-songwriter Amos Lee will release a new album titled Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song on October 8 and he'll hit the road on a big fall tour in support of it.

The tour will stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Monday, November 18. Jessica Lea Mayfield will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 9, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $39 to $46.

Check out Lee and his band performing "The Man Who Wants You" from the new album on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Monday night below.

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club announces fall tour

San Francisco rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club released their seventh album earlier this year titled Spector at the Feast and they'll make their way back to the US this fall for a tour in support of it after spending the summer in Europe.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, October 5. Restavrant will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 9, via Ticketfly for $22.

Check out the music video for "Hate the Taste" from Spector at the Feast below.

Emeli Sandé announces fall tour, coming to Raleigh

Rising UK R&B singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé has announced new fall tour dates in support of her debut album Our Version of Events and among the dates is a stop in the Triangle.

She'll play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Friday, October 18. Johnnyswim will open. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, August 9, via Etix for $22.50.

[UPDATE: The Lincoln Theatre show has been cancelled along with some other dates due to a "change in her touring schedule" according to the venue. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.]

Monday, August 05, 2013

Album Review: Scout Niblett - It's Up To Emma

Scout Niblett’s seventh album, It’s Up To Emma, opens with a foreboding two-note pattern and the line, “I think I’m gonna get me a gun, a nice little silver one.”

“Gun,” the album’s opening murder ballad is transportive. Niblett draws the listener into the narrator’s anger and hurt as she fantasizes about a bloody end for her ex. “Maybe you’ll be holding her hand or watching her shitty band,” Niblett sings.

Niblett’s spartan and raw style is the perfect complement for a break-up album. Her voice hardly needs any support or ornamentation from the guitar and drums because she easily twists pain, confusion and defiance together.

The Black Lips announces fall dates, coming to Raleigh

Georgia indie rockers The Black Lips are hitting the road this fall as they head up to New York to screen their new documentary about their tour in the Middle East last year and they'll be making a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Saturday, November 9. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $13.

Check out the music video for "Family Tree" from The Black Lips' latest album Arabia Mountain below.

Friday, August 02, 2013

Loamlands announces debut EP, shares opening track

Loamlands, the post Midtown Dickens band comprised of former members Kym Register and Will Hackney are releasing their debut EP recorded with members of Lost in the Trees and Megafaun serving as the rhythm section.

The EP is titled Some Kind of Light and will be release on September 24 via Trekky Records. It features five tracks and the full track list is available below where you can also check out the fantastic opening track "Another Reason."

The band will play a free show at the Steel String Brewery in Carrboro on Sunday, August 11, opening for Phil Cook as he celebrates the release of his new 12" This Side Up.

Thursday, August 01, 2013

Blitzen Trapper announces new album 'VII,' fall tour

Portland folk rock/alt country band Blitzen Trapper and releasing a new album on October 1 titled VII which will be their first album released by Vagrant Records. The band will hit the road on a big fall tour in support of the album which will bring them back to the Triangle.

The band will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Thursday, September 26. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $16.

Check out the new song "Ever Loved Once" from VII below.

Of Montreal announces new album, fall tour

Kevin Barnes and his art pop group of Montreal are gearing up for the release of their twelfth album Lousy with Sylvianbriar on October 8 and will follow the release with a big cross country tour.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, October 22. Surface To Air Missive will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $17.

Check out the opening track from Lousy with Sylvianbriar, "Fugitive Air," below.