Mötley Crüe announces The Final Tour with Alice Cooper

Glam metal rockers Mötley Crüe are heading out on The Final Tour this summer/fall and they've promised never to reunite again after the tour ends. They won't be stopping in the Triangle so if you want to see the band before they call it quits you'll have to head to the Triad.

The band will play the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday, October 22. Alice Cooper will open. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, via Ticketmaster for $20 to $99. Various pre-sales have already gone live.

Check out a 2011 tour video for the song "Kickstart My Heart" below.

Steve Earle & Shawn Colvin announce March tour

Two fantastic folk rock/Americana singer-songwriters, Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin, are teaming up for a short tour in March dubbed Songs and Stories, Together Onstage. On the tour the pair will take turns playings songs and sharing stories from their catalogs as well as some select covers by some of their favorite artists.

The pair will come to the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Thursday, March 20. Tickets are on sale now via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $35 to $70.

Check out Earle's stellar performance for NPR's Tiny Desk series a few years ago as well as Colvin's performance of "Steady On" for Kink FM in Portland below.

Alice in Chains announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Hard rockers Alice in Chains released a new album last year titled The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here and they're hitting the road on big spring tour in support of it.

The band will return Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Wednesday, May 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, January 31, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $37.13 to $64.30.

Check out the music video for the song "Voices" from The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here below.

Of Montreal announces spring tour, returning to Carrboro

Georgia indie rockers of Montreal, led by the charismatic and occasionally unpredictable singer-songwriter Kevin Barnes, is hitting the road this spring on a big U.S. tour that will bring the band back to their usual Triangle venue.

They'll close out the tour at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, May 18. Dream Tiger will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 31, via Ticketfly for $15.

For our friends in the Triad or those who may want to see the band sooner, they'll also play The Blind Tiger in Greensboro on Monday, March 31. Tickets are available via Etix for $15.

Wye Oak announces new album 'Shriek,' releases "The Tower"

It's been three years since indie duo Wye Oak released fantastic their third album Civilian but now the band is ready to hit the scene again with a new album titled Shriek. The album will be released by Merge Records on April 29.

Check out the song "The Tower" from Shriek below that takes the band's sound in a new direction with a more keyboard and drum driven groove accented by fuzzy bass guitar. It's a big leap from the guitar-based sounds of Civilian.

As we previously mentioned, Wye Oak and Future Islands are touring together in March and will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Wednesday, March 5. Tickets are available via Ticketfly for $16.

The Zombies announce spring tour, returning to Carrboro

Photo by Kevin Norris

Legendary British rockers The Zombies are coming back to U.S. for a spring tour of the south which will bring the band back to the Triangle for what will surely be another fantastic show. Check out a review and photos of the band's show at the Cat's Cradle in 2012 HERE.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, April 18. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, via Ticketfly for $32.

Check out The Zombies playing their hit "Time of the Season" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon back in 2011 below.

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band announce 2014 tour

Just two days after performing at the Grammy's with his All Starr Band as well as his old bandmate Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr has announced a North American tour that will bring him back to the Triangle this May.

Ringo and His All Starr Band will return to the Durham Performing Arts Center on Sunday, June 22. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 31, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $85 TO $175. This year's band includes Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Gregg Rolie and Gregg Bissonette.

Starr and McCartney both performed at the Grammy tribute to The Beatles, which is scheduled to air on CBS on February 9.

Album Review: Hospitality - Trouble

Hopsitality’s sophomore LP, Trouble, responds to the care-free tone of their self-titled debut with a world-weary perspective.

If Hospitality represented the romance of being young and wandering around New York City with your friends, Trouble is the retreat into loneliness and the realization that you’re out of place.

Darker, slower songs come along with the shift in tone. There is a real effort on Hospitality’s part to make this record feel more substantial than the last. Songs are given more time to breathe and develop. This allows for some truly beautiful moments like the angelic trumpet solo on “Sunship.”

Jack Johnson announces 2014 tour, coming to Cary

Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson is hitting the road this spring and summer on a big North American tour in support of his latest album From Here to Now to You released last fall. Johnson visited the Triangle on his intimate solo tour last fall supporting the release, but this time he'll play a much bigger venue.

Johnson will play the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Wednesday, May 21. ALO will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 31, via Etix for $49.50.

Check out the music video for "I Got You" from From Here to Now to You below.

Waxahatchee announces spring tour, coming to Durham

Photo by Kevin Norris

After releasing the fantastic album Cerulean Salt last year, Waxahatchee have announced a big spring tour that in addition to playing the big Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio will include a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play The Pinhook in Durham on Saturday, March 29. Radiator Hospital and Des Ark (solo) will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out photos and a review of Waxahatchee's set at the Hopscotch Music Festival last year HERE. Check out Katie Crutchfield's solo set for NPR's Tiny Desk series below.

Lilac Shadows announce debut album, release title track

After releasing their debut EP back in 2012, local psychedelic pop band Lilac Shadows, led by singer-songwriter Sam Logan, will finally release their first full length album via DiggUp Tapes on February 4 titled No Dark/No Light.

The band have shared the title track from the album which you can stream below. It features a wall of jangly guitars and driving rhythms that take you on a spacey journey. You can check out the full track list below.

The band has three Triangle shows scheduled starting with the album release show at The Carrack gallery in Durham on Saturday, February 8. Midnight Plus One and Matt Northrup will open.

Fitz & The Tantrums announce spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Fitz and the Tantrums are hitting the road again this spring in support of their latest album More Than Just a Dream and they'll make their way back to the Triangle.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 13. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, via Etix for $22.

Check out the music video for "The Walker" from More Than Just a Dream below.

Tokyo Police Club announces new album, spring tour

Canadian indie rockers Tokyo Police Club are gearing up for the release of their third full-length album, Forcefield, on March 25. They'll return from a short UK tour in April and hit the road on a big U.S. tour.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Monday, May 12. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 24, via Etix for $17.

Check out the first two tracks from Forcefield, "Argentina (Parts I, II, III)" and "Hot Tonight" below.

New music from Sylvan Esso - "Coffee"

Up and coming Durham duo Sylvan Esso made a lot of noise in 2013 with their debut single "Hey Mami" / "Play It Right" and some great live shows. Now they're gearing up for the release of a full-length album in May, but first they're releasing another single.

The new tune is titled "Coffee" and you can check it out below. The song will be released with the b-side "Dress" on March 25 via Partisan Records.

We'll have more info on the full-length once it's available along with upcoming tour plans once they announce more shows.

Cage the Elephant, Foals & J Roddy Walston to play free show in Raleigh

To kick off the second season as the namesake of downtown Raleigh's amphitheater, Red Hat will be throwing another free concert at the Red Hat Amphitheater this spring (Silversun Pickups played a free show at the venue last August).

On Friday, May 2, Cage the Elephant, Foals, and J Roddy Walston and the Business will play downtown. No tickets will be needed to attend the concert. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m.

Cage the Elephant released their third full-length album Melophobia in October. Check out the music video for "Come a Little Closer" from the album below.

Chicago & REO Speedwagon announce summer tour

Classic rock summer tour mainstays Chicago and REO Speedwagon are teaming up for another summer outing in August that will bring the pair to the Triangle's big shed.

The bands will play Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 23. Tickets are on sale now via Live Nation outlets for $26 to $126.

Check out Chicago and REO Speedwagon performing a pair of classic songs, "Saturday in the Park" and "Can't Fight This Feeling" respectively, at shows last year below.

Mac DeMarco announces new album, spring tour

Singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco is releasing a new album on April 1 titled Salad Days and he'll hit the road on big spring tour in support of it.

Demarco will play the Duke Coffeehouse on Duke's East Campus on Thursday, April 10. Juan Wauters will open. Tickets will be $7 at the door or free if you have a valid Duke ID.

Check out a live acoustic performances of numerous songs from the forthcoming album Salad Days played on CKUA below.

Rhett Miller announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller is heading out on the road to play some solo shows this spring and he'll be making his way to a smaller room in the Triangle than the band's normal stop.

Miller will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room on Saturday, April 5. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out Rhett Miller performing the songs "Barrier Reef," "The El," "Question," "Out of Love" and "Time Bomb" live at City Winery in New York below.

Juicy J announces the Never Sober Tour, coming to Raleigh

Tennessee rapper and producer Jordan Michael Houston, better known as Juicy J, is heading out on the road this winter on the Never Sober Tour in support of his latest album Stay Trippy.

The tour will make a stop at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Friday, February 28. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 24 via Etix for $22.

Check out the music video for the track "Bounce It" from Stay Trippy below which features Wale and Trey Songz.

Bruno Mars announces new Moonshine Jungle tour dates

2014 is shaping up to be a big year for pop stars hitting the road, and Bruno Mars has joined the ranks of those heading out on big summer tours. He has just announced a new leg of his Moonshine Jungle Tour, which will include a stop in the Triangle.

He will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Saturday, June 14. Aloe Blacc will open. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll let you know when it is. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 3 via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $39.50 to $99.50.

Mars is set to play the Super Bowl halftime show on February 2 where he will be joined by Red Hot Chili Peppers. He is also up for quite a few Grammys this year including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Check out a live performance of "Locked Out of Heaven" (nominated for Song of the Year) filmed in Paris below.

Bastille announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

British pop rockers Bastille had a big 2013 with their debut album Bad Blood and a big hit with the catchy "Pompei." The band have just announced The Good, The Bad Blood and the Ugly Tour Part II and will make a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 13. Wolf Gang will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, January 17, via Ticketmaster for $23.

Check out a performance of the aforementioned hit "Pompei" that was filmed live in London on Halloween last year below.

Katy Perry announces Prismatic North American Tour

Pop star Katy Perry has just announced a big North American leg of her Prismatic World Tour in support of her latest album Prism which will kick off this summer right here in the Triangle.

The tour will start at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Sunday, June 22. Capital Cities will open. A pre-sale for folks with Citi cards will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21. A general on sale date has not been announced yet. Tickets will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 27, for $29.50 to $125.50.

Check out the music video for "Unconditionally," the second single from the album Prism below.

San Fermin announces 2014 dates, coming to Carrboro

Up and coming New York orchestral pop band San Fermin released their self-titled debut album last year and played a fantastic set at the Hopscotch Music Festival (check out photos and a short write-up HERE). The band is about to hit the road again and return to the Triangle.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, March 21. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 17, via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out a live in-studio performance of the stellar tune "Sonsick" from the aforementioned self-titled album below.

Superchunk announces 'Indoor Living' reissue, Saxapahaw show

It's no surprise that Superchunk will be a part of this year's 25th anniversary celebration for Merge Records since Mac and Laura are the founders of the label. Following the recent reissue of Lambchop's Nixon, Merge will reissue Superchunk's out-of-print 1997 album Indoor Living on February 25.

The reissue will be available on LP, CD and as a digital download. There will be new liner notes written by Laura Ballance and the album's producer and engineer, John Plymale. Both the CD and LP will include a bonus download of a concert recorded at Duke University in 1997. Check out the full track lists below.

Dave Matthews Band announces big 2014 summer tour

Big shed mainstays Dave Matthews Band are expected to release a new album, the follow-up to 2012's Away From the World, later this year but before that they'll hit the road on a big summer tour where they'll play two sets each night which is expected to range from full band sets to more scaled back, looser sets (acoustic and electric according to the press materials).

The band will return to Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Wednesday, July 23. The band's fanclub presale starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 16. Tickets will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 7.

Check out a video of the band performing "Rooftop" from the album Away From the World in Argentina in December below.

Album Review: Hiss Golden Messenger - Bad Debt

Bad Debt - originally recorded in 2010 and released in limited quantities shortly thereafter - is the birth of M.C. Taylor’s Hiss Golden Messenger as we know it today. The rare record with the evocative red hand print was made more scarce by a warehouse fire, but it is now available again with an expanded track list thanks to Carrboro’s Paradise of Bachelors label.

M.C. Taylor recorded Bad Debt on a cassette recorder in his kitchen in Pittsboro where he lived at the time, which explains the most obvious sonic difference between this album and its successors. Bad Debt is stripped bare. This is the skeleton upon which all other Hiss Golden Messenger albums are built. There are no drums, strings, or horns. It sounds distant and faded, like an old tape pulled from a box in the attic.

Rob Thomas announces spring tour, coming to Durham

Matchbox Twenty frontman and songwriter Rob Thomas is planning a month long solo tour this spring that will take him to theaters across North America for intimate shows where he'll play career spanning sets.

Thomas will make a stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 1. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out the music video for "Someday" from Thomas' latest solo album, 2009's Cradlesong, below.

Hiss Golden Messenger to play 'Bad Debt' in Carrboro

Photo by Harlan Campbell

As we mentioned a few months back, Hiss Golden Messenger will be reissuing his 2011 album Bad Debt on January 14 and now M.C. Taylor and the gang has scheduled a big release show in the Triangle.

They'll play the album at the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Friday, February 21. Tickets will go on sale today, January 10, via Ticketfly for $12.

You can stream the full album Bad Debt for a limited time via Pitchfork. You can also check out the song "Drum" from the album below.

Paramore & Fall Out Boy announce 'Monumentour'

Pop punk bands Paramore and Fall Out Boy are teaming up for a big summer tour later this year that will take the bands to big sheds throughout North America.

The pair will make a stop at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on Tuesday, July 29. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 17, via Live Nation outlets.

[UPDATE: The date of the show in Raleigh has changed to Tuesday, July 22.]

Drive-By Truckers announce spring tour with Blitzen Trapper

Georgia alt-country mainstays Drive-By Truckers are releasing a new album on March 4 titled English Oceans and they'll hit the road on a big spring tour this spring with Blitzen Trapper.

The two bands will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Friday, March 14. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 10, via Ticketfly for $25.

Check out the fourth track from the forthcoming album English Oceans titled "Pauline Hawkins," below.

Liam Finn announces new album 'The Nihilist,' shares "Snug as Fuck"

New Zealand-raised singer-songwriter Liam Finn is preparing to release his third full-length solo album this spring titled The Nihilist.

The album will be released on April 8 via Yep Roc Records. Check out the complete track list and listen to the album's third track titled "Snug as Fuck" below.

Check out photos from Liam Finn's show with The Veils at Local 506 in 2008 HERE and photos from his show at The Pour House earlier that year HERE.

Bombay Bicycle Club announces new album, spring tour with Royal Canoes

British indie rockers Bombay Bicycle Club have announced that their fourth full-length album So Long, See You Tomorrow will be out in the U.S. on February 4. They'll make their way across the pond in the spring for a tour in support of the album that will include a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, May 12. Canadian indie rockers Royal Canoe will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 10, via Ticketfly for $17.

Check out the fantastic songs "Carry Me" and "It's Alright Now" from So Long, See You Tomorrow below.

Ex Hex announces spring tour, stop in Durham

One of the latest additions to the Merge Records family, DC-based Ex Hex, has announced a big tour for March, including the group's first stop in the Triangle.

The trio will play The Pinhook in Durham on Friday, March 7. Tickets are available now via Ticketfly for $10.

Ex Hex is slated to release a full-length album later in 2014. We'll bring you those details once they're available.

Saint Rich adds Raleigh headline show to 2014 tour

Saint Rich has stayed very busy since the release of their debut album Beyond the Drone last year and in early 2014 they'll spend a lot of time on tour with Dr. Dog. The band has just announced a headline show in the Triangle in the middle of the tour.

The band will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Monday, February 17. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $8.

Watch out Saint Rich's full 27-minute performance for KEXP back in October below.

Weezer announces 2014 tour, coming to Durham

Nerdy pop rockers Weezer look like they're planning to hit the road this summer on a U.S. tour. A show has just been announced in the Triangle at a much smaller venue than the last time they were here.

Weezer will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Thursday, June 5. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 10, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $59.50 to $99.50. When the band last played the Triangle way back in 2002 they played the PNC Arena (which at that time was still the ESA).

The band's most recent album Death to False Metal was released in 2010. Though the band has reportedly been working on a new album though there is no news of it yet. Weezer has spent recent years on tour revisiting some of their earlier work (mostly The Blue Album and Pinkerton). With that in mind, check out a performance of "Buddy Holly" from a few years ago below.

Julianna Barwick announces winter tour, coming to Durham

Experimental ambient singer-songwriter Julianna Barwick released a new album in August titled Nepenthe and she's hitting the road on a winter tour in support of it.

Barwick will play The Carrack in Durham on Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out the music video for the haunting song "One Half" from Nepenthe below.

Those Darlins & Diarrhea Planet announce February tour

Two Nashville rock bands, Those Darlins and Diarrhea Planet, are hitting the road in February in support of new albums released in the latter half of 2013. Those Darlins released their third full-length album Blur the Line in September and Diarrhea Planet released I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams in August.

The bands will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out the music videos for "In the Wilderness" from album Blur the Line and "Ugliest Son" from I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams below.