Paul McCartney rocks Greensboro for the first time

Last night Sir Paul McCartney rolled into Greensboro for the first time on his Out There tour and it was the final date on the North American leg of his 2014 tour.

Before the music even started things got off to a bit of a rocky start. Ticket holders were shut out of the venue as the doors were opened later than scheduled and were then crowded on the concourse and not allowed to enter arena itself once they were inside. Eventually we were all let in and the show only started about half and hour so late.

Merge to reissue M. Ward's 'Transistor Radio' in December

Rounding out a year of fantastic reissues from their catalog as part of their 25th anniversary celebration, Merge Records will close out the year with a vinyl reissue of M. Ward's 2005 album Transistor Radio on December 2.

In addition to the 180-gram vinyl reissue of the album itself, the release will also include a bonus CD with four previously unreleased recordings. Check out one of those recordings, a four-track demo of "Here Comes the Sun Again," below.

The reissue isn't the only release Ward has coming out on December 2. He and Zooey Deschanel, aka She and Him, will release a new album of covers on that day titled Classics. It will be the duo's first release for Columbia Records instead of Merge. Check out their cover of Dusty Springfield's "Stay Awhile from the album below.

John Darnielle to appear on 'Ask Me Another' in Durham

Singer-songwriter, novelist, and Durham resident John Darnielle, of the Mountain Goats, will make an appearance on the popular NPR quiz show Ask Me Another in November. The show airs on Sundays at 1 p.m. on WUNC as well as on other NPR stations around the country. It is also available as a podcast.

The quirky quiz show will record at the Carolina Theatre on Wednesday, November 19. Tickets are on sale via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $22.

Darnielle just released a novel earlier this year titled Wolf in White Van. The Mountain Goats latest album is 2012's Transcendental Youth although Merge Records reissued the band's 2002 album All Hail West Texas in 2013. They are expected to tour again in 2015 and new music will likely also surface then as well.

Wayne Coyne to speak at new films series in Durham

The Carolina Theater is starting a new film series in Durham in December dubbed Film: Acoustic and is hoping to make it a monthly event at the venue in the new year. The series, organized by the Modern School of Film, brings in a celebrated guest to screen a favorite film and then discusses it.

The series will kick off on Monday, December 15, with Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips presenting a 40th anniversary screening of the 1974 Italian film The Night Porter. Coyne is only planning to speak and not perform, according to Indy Week. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 31, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $20.

The Bronzed Chorus to cover 'Siamese Dream' at special Halloween shows

Greensboro rockers The Bronzed Chorus and their friends Owen Burd and Kate Weigand will make their way to the Triangle for two special shows this week where they will cover the Smashing Pumpkins' 1993 album Siamese Dream in its entirety. They go by the name Rocket when they serve as a Pumpkins tribute band.

The first show will be at Tir Na Nog in Raleigh on Thursday, October 30, as a part of the Local Band, Local Beer series. Octopus Jones and Wool are also on the bill. The show is free.

Will Hoge announces fall solo dates, coming to Raleigh

Nashville singer-songwriter Will Hoge has been working on his eighth full-length album which should be out next year, but first he is heading out on the road to play a trio of solo shows this fall to try out some new songs.

One of those solo shows will be at the Southland Ballroom in Raleigh on Thursday, November 20. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Hoge released the first single from his forthcoming album a few months ago titled "Middle of America." Check out the lyric video for the song below.

Umphrey's McGee announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

Indiana prog/jam rockers Umphrey's McGee released their eight studio album earlier this year titled Similar Skin and the band will continuing touring in support of it through the winter as they have just added a ton of new tour dates in 2015.

The band will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14. Tickets will go on sale at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, via Ticketmaster for $25.

Check out the band performing the song "Puppet String" from the new album at the Lockn' Festival last month below.

Cracker announces winter tour, coming to Carrboro

California rockers Cracker will release their tenth studio album, a double album, on December 9 titled Berkeley to Bakersfield and they will hit the road this winter in support of it.

The band will play their first show of 2015 on Friday, January 2, at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $18.

Check out the song "Waited My Whole Life" from Berkeley to Bakersfield below.

The Tender Fruit announces new album, release show, shares prologue track

Local indie folk group The Tender Fruit, led by singer-songwriter Christy Smith, will release a new album that is almost two years in the making on November 22 titled The Darkness Comes.

The band will play an album release show at the Cat's Cradle Back Room on Saturday, November 22. Des Ark and Gross Ghost, the latter performing as an acoustic duo, will open the show. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

The Tender Fruit has released a prologue to the new album, a song not included on it, titled "Burning Houses." The song features Patrick Wolf and Kym Register. Stream and/or download the song below.

Dark Star Orchestra announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

Dark Star Orchestra, the Chicago-based Grateful Dead tribute band that recreates Dead shows in their entirety, has just announced a winter tour and will be coming to the Triangle in February.

The band is among the first new acts booked to play The Ritz in Raleigh since it was officially purchased and exclusively booked by Live Nation. They will play the venue on Saturday, February 21. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 24, via Ticketmaster for $23.

Check out Dark Star Orchestra's full set from the Dark Star Orchestra Jubilee in Ohio earlier this year below.

Dwight Yoakam announces winter dates, coming to Durham

Veteran country singer-songwriter and part-time actor Dwight Yoakam will be out on the road with country superstar Eric Church this winter opening dates on his winter tour. Yoakam will play a few headline shows between the arena dates, including a newly added show in the Triangle.

Yoakam will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Wednesday, December 10. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 24, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $47 to $112. The venue pre-sale started at 10 a.m. today, October 21.

Cold War Kids releases 'Hold My Home,' announce 2015 tour

California rockers Cold War Kids just released their fifth album yesterday titled Hold My Home and they have just announced a big North American tour in early 2015 in support of of it.

The band will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Tuesday, February 5. Elliot Moss will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 24, via Ticketfly for $22.

Check out the music video for "All This Could Be Yours" from Hold My Home below.

Album Review: Flying Lotus - You're Dead!

Steven Ellison, better known by his stage name Flying Lotus, is a renaissance man. Beat maker, rapper, producer, label head, he does it all. And his résumé is just as eclectic as his music. Fusing modern hip-hop with jazz, rock, and electronica, FlyLo is able to create music with great depth and power. You’re Dead! is a prime example of that depth and power. With a myriad of styles and features, You’re Dead! is sporadic and enthralling.

Clocking in at only 38 minutes, the album is one of FlyLo’s shortest releases. However, the shorter run time sacrifices nothing. There is no wasted time over the 19 songs, with each one fading into the next, making the album feel like a few extended track. With the majority of the tracks running about only two and a half minutes, the music on each is dense and tight.

Charli XCX to play free show in Carrboro

Up and coming English pop star Charli XCX, featured on and co-writer of the hit songs "I Love It" by Icona Pop and "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea, and who just scored a big hit of her own with "Boom Clap," is coming to the Triangle next week for a big free show.

She'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, October 28. The show is part of Yahoo's On the Road series. To get tickets you can find the "Yahoo! On the Road Amped Up hub" on NC State's campus at Hunt Library Walkway or at Brickyard on West Broughton Drive on October 23, 24 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You enter the code YOTR3CXS at yahoo.com/ontheroad for a chance to receive a pair of tickets to the show.

Shovels & Rope announce winter tour

The married folk rock duo Shovels and Rope are riding the momentum from the release of their acclaimed new album Swimmin' Time and are gearing up for a new round of tour dates this winter in support of it.

When the duo returns to the Triangle they will play two nights at the Cat's Cradle in Carborro on February 7 and 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 24, via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out the music video for "The Devil is All Around" from Swimmin' Time below.

Review: The War on Drugs at Haw River Ballroom

Photo by Will Jackson

In front of a sold out crowd at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, The War on Drugs performed a spectacular show.

The War on Drugs share an amazing chemistry as a band. All of the band’s pieces, which for this show included two guitars, a bass, a keyboards, drums, and multiple brass instruments, fit together to form one sound. Very seldom does one sound rise above the others and break the ranks. Even as front man Adam Granduciel solos, his guitar doesn’t drown out the rest of the members, just complements them.

Album Review: Ex Hex - Rips

Ex Hex are here to have a good time and they don’t care if anybody joins them or not.

The first album, Rips, from the trio of Mary Timony, Betsey Wright and Laura Harris is 35 minutes of white hot punk and glam-inpired rock and it’s mostly nostalgia free. Ex Hex doesn’t sound like a band that’s paying tribute.

At first, it’s hard to hear past the historic sounds, but with each listen it melts away. After a while, you don’t hear The New York Dolls or Buzzcocks. You hear Timony singing — actually singing — for the first time. You hear Write's rambunctious bass lines. You hear Harris’ razor sharp rhythms on drums (“New Kid” in particular showcases Harris as a total badass behind the kit). You start to hear a band honestly expressing their idea of fun.

Chuck Johnson & Daniel Bachman share two sides of solo guitar at The Pinhook

All photos by Justin Weber

If you’re a fan of American primitive guitar music, there might not be a better place to be than Durham, NC at the moment. With The Pinhook regularly booking solo guitar acts and NC labels like Three Lobed, Bathetic Records and even Merge putting out solo guitar albums, fans from outside the area must be looking at the Bull City thinking we’re spoiled.

Chuck Johnson and Daniel Bachman certainly did nothing to change that assessment. Both played short sets — the show started around 9:20 and was over by 11 p.m. — but showed the breadth of the genre.

Twerps announce full-length Merge debut & new 7"

As we first mentioned a few months ago, Australian indie pop band Twerps signed to Merge Records and now they have announced the details of their debut full-length for the label as well as a new 7" single that will precede it.

The new album titled Range Anxiety will be out on January 27. Check out the music video for the song "Back to You" from the album below.

Speaking of "Back to You," the song will be released as a 7" single on November 4 with the b-side "Always Waiting." The first 100 pre-orders of Range Anxiety from Merge will receive the 7" for free.

Cursive announces 'The Ugly Organ' reissue, 2015 tour

Nebraska rockers Cursive have announced a deluxe reissue of their 2003 album The Ugly Organ and they will hit the road in early 2015 in support of it.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, March 5. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $15.

The deluxe reissue of The Ugly Organ will be out on November 24 and will include a bonus disc/LP featuring b-sides and other rarities from the era. Check out the remastered version of "Art Is Hard" from the album below.

Album Review: Foxygen - ...And Star Power

After just over a year and a half after their acclaimed LP We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, Foxygen is back with their third, full-length release. …And Star Power, the fourth LP from the California duo, sees them “teaming up” with Star Power, a fictional band of their own creation, to complete their most eclectic album yet.

On this 24-song behemoth, the band cycles through multiple genres, including their classic Rolling Stones-inspired rock, folk, psychedelic, punk, and more. The effects of these transitions are lost on the digital version, but each side of genre shift corresponds to a side different side of the record, giving the listener the impression of multiple bands.

Song Premiere: Some Army - "Infinite Mirror"

Photo by Adam Graetz

Carrboro’s Some Army has finally publicly released the first track from their upcoming debut full-length album. Stream the sprawling “Infinite Mirror” below.

It’s been about a year and a half since Some Army successfully funded their Kickstarter campaign for the album, One Stone and Too Many Birds.

In that time, the band worked with Jeff Crawford to record the album at the Fidelitorium in Kernersville and then with Scott Solter (St. Vincent, Superchunk, John Vanderslice, Mountain Goats) for mixing and James Plotkin (Horseback, Tim Hecker) for mastering.

New music from T0W3RS - "Cups"

We mentioned a few weeks ago that T0W3RS will celebrate the release of his new album TL;DR with two big hometown shows and now he has shared another new song from the album.

Check out the danceable synthpop song "Cups" from TL;DR, that is out on November 11, below.

T0W3RS will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room on Friday, November 21, and Kings on Saturday, November 22.

The Who announces massive 50th anniversary tour, coming to Raleigh

Legendary British rockers The Who are heading out on The Who Hits 50! Tour that will celebrate the band's 50th anniversary. The massive North American tour starting in the spring is spilt into two legs but the Triangle will see the show early as we're the fourth stop on the first leg.

The Who will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Tuesday, April 21. Tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Friday, October 17, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $39.50 to $139.50. The fanclub pre-sale starts at on Saturday, October 11, with other pre-sales rolling starting on Monday, October 13.

[UPDATE: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will open the entire North American tour including the show in Raleigh.]

Ex Hex & Speedy Ortiz to play Pinhook sixth anniversary show

Photo by Jonah Takagi

Next month The Pinhook in Durham will mark its sixth anniversary and to celebrate they'll host a big show featuring Washington DC rockers and Merge Records artist Ex Hex as well as Massachusetts indie rockers Speedy Ortiz.

The bands will play the downtown Durham club on Friday, November 7. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out the song "Beast" from Ex Hex's newly released debut album Rips below.

Fleetwood Mac extends On With the Show Tour, adds NC dates

Legendary rockers Fleetwood Mac recently launched their On With the Show Tour, their first shows with Christie McVie since she left the group in 1998. Things seem to be going well because the band have just added 28 shows to the tour in early 2015.

Those new dates will bring the band to the Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday, March 17. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 20, via Ticketmaster and the venue box office for $49.50 to $179.50. Various pre-sales will begin as early as 10 a.m. on Monday, October 13.

The group will also hit Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte on Saturday, March 7. Tickets for that show will also go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 20.

Chatham County Line announces 2014 Electric Holiday Tour

As 2014 enters its final months and the holiday season is right around the corner it's time to get ready for the annual Chatham County Line Electric Holiday Tour. For those not familiar with the tradition, the bluegrass trio strap on electric instruments every December and have some friends join them. This year Johnny Irion, Zeke Hutchins and Jay Brown will be along for the ride.

The four-show tour will wrap up at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Saturday, December 20. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out the group performing "Out of the Running" with Irion, Hutchins and Brown on their 2010 Electric Holiday Tour below.

Garth Brooks announces Greensboro tour dates

Garth Brooks, who kicked off his first world tour in 13 years in Illinois last month, has been slowly unveiling concert dates one city at a time, and today was North Carolina's turn.

Brooks, along with his country star wife Trisha Yearwood, will play the Greensboro Coliseum on November 21 and 22. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. There will be no ticket sales at the venue box office on Oct. 17. Tickets are $57.14 ($67 after fees) and there will be an eight ticket limit per purchase.

The Greensboro tour dates come just days after Brooks will release his first album in over a decade, Man Against Machine, on Nov. 11.

Joshua Radin announces early 2015 tour, coming to Raleigh

Singer-songwriter Joshua Radin is hitting the road in early 2015 on a month and a half long North American tour and he will make a stop in the Triangle in March.

Radin will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Wednesday, March 18. Tickets will be on sale sometime soon via Etix for $20.

Radin's latest album is 2013's Wax Wings. Check out the song "My My Love" from the album below.

Album Review: Caribou - Our Love

Dan Snaith’s latest album as Caribou, Our Love, is a warm, revitalizing and unclassifiable collection of songs.

Overall, Snaith is sticking closer to the dance floor-ready rhythms that he unleashed on 2010’s Swim and through his side project Daphni. What sets Our Love apart is that Snaith refuses to fall into the dance music arms race to see who can create the coolest, slickest neo-soul or biggest, most aggressive drop.

Snaith foregoes these common elements in favor of something less isolating. Throughout Our Love, songs build simply until they reach the expected precipice. Instead of dropping listeners off a cliff, Snaith propels them higher. It’s like inhaling all the way and then discovering your lungs have room for more air, expanding to new dimensions.

Live Nation buys The Ritz, plans million dollar renovation

Chvrches @ The Ritz in April
Photo by Kevin Norris

If you, like us, have been wondering why so many shows scheduled to happen at The Ritz in Raleigh and booked by local clubs Cat's Cradle and Lincoln Theatre have recently been moved to other venues, we now know why.

The Independent is reporting that massive concert promoter Live Nation has purchased the club and plans to spend a million dollars renovating the club. The HVAC has already been replaced and they've updated the interior, bars and backstage area. There are plans to address the sound issues with the room and install permanent sound and lighting rigs. The capacity of the club is supposed to be 2,000 when all the changes are made and Live Nation plans to present at least 80 show a year there.

Trampled By Turtles announces December tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by Zoran Orlic

Minnesota indie folk band Trampled By Turtles released their seventh studio album a few months back titled Wild Animals and they have just announced a short run of shows in December in support of it.

The band will play Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh on Thursday, December 11. Nikki Lane will open. Tickets are on sale now via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $27.50.

Check out the music video for the title track from the new album Wild Animals below.

Guantanamo Baywatch announces fall tour, coming to Durham

Oregon indie surf rockers with one of the coolest band names around, Guantanamo Baywatch, have just announced their final tour dates of 2014 and they will be making a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play Duke Coffeehouse in Durham on Monday, November 10. Specific ticket information is not listed for the show but most shows at the venue are $5 or free for Duke students.

Check out the song "Barbacoa" from Guantanamo Baywatch's latest album Chest Crawl below.

Merge to reissue Portastatic's 'The Summer of the Shark' on vinyl

As we roll towards the end of 2014 the Merge Records 25th anniversary celebration that brought us a music festival, an art show, a 25k race and monthly reissues from the label's hefty catalog will come to an end soon, but there are still a few more reissues on the way. We already told you about October's reissue of East River Pipe's The Gasoline Age, and now November will see a Portastatic reissue.

Merge will release Portastatic's 2003 album The Summer of the Shark on vinyl for the first time on November 4 (election day). Each LP will be on white vinyl and include a download of the album.

Check out the song "Noisy Night" from The Summer of the Shark below along with the full album track list.

Ryan Adams covers "I Want To Know What Love Is," debuts "The Door" on NPR

Singer-songwriter and former Triangle rock star Ryan Adams recently released a solid new self-titled album and while promoting it he covered the Foreigner power ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is" for NPR's World Cafe program. Check out the performance below.

During the set Adams also premiered an unreleased song titled "The Door." Stream that song via NPR.

Adams has yet to return to the Triangle singe his 2005 show with The Cardinals at Meymandi Hall in Raleigh. Here's still hoping that he can find his way back to his former home for another show soon.

Kishi Bashi announces fall dates, coming back to Durham

Photo by Kaden Shallat

Singer-songwriter Kishi Bashi has become a regular visitor to not just the Triangle but specifically Durham, and he'll be making another stop here on his fall tour with special guests Tall Tall Trees.

Kishi Bashi and Tall Tall Trees will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Tuesday, November 18. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 3, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $23 to $44.50.

Check out Kishi Bashi's performance of "Banjo Breakdown" at their show at Motorco Music Hall in June below.

Waxahatchee announces fall tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by Kevin Norris

Indie rockers Waxahatchee are heading out on a short tour opening for Jenny Lewis in November and although the red-headed rocker's tour won't be stopping here, Waxahatchee will play a headline show on a day off in the Triangle.

Waxahatchee will play Kings in Raleigh on Thursday, November 13. Radiator Hospital and Allison Crutchfield will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Check out Katie Crutchfield, aka Waxahatchee, perform an acoustic version of "Coast to Coast" with Mish Way of White Lung for Noisey below. The song can be found on Waxhatchee's latest album Cerulean Salt.