Friday, February 28, 2014

Rick Springfield & Pat Benatar announce summer tour

80s rockers Rick Springfield and Pat Benatar are joining forces this summer for a short tour that will kick off right here in the Triangle.

The pair, as well as Benatar's sideman and husband Neil Giraldo, will rock the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Sunday, June 29. 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 Friday, March 14, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $23 to $82.50. A Live Nation pre-sale will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 13.

Check out a Springfield with the Sound City Players (aka Foo Fighters) performing his hit "Jessie's Girl" on The Ellen Show last year below.

Chatham County Line announces new album 'Tightrope,' shares "Any Port in a Storm"

Raleigh's own superstar string band Chatham County Line is back this year with their first studio album since 2010's Wildwood. The new album is titled Tightrope and will hit stores on May 20 via Yep Roc Records.

The album was recorded at Durham's Sound Pure Studios and features 11 new songs produced by frontman Dave Wilson and the group. Check out the album's third track, "Any Port in a Storm," below.

Chatham County Line hasn't announced any hometown release shows yet for the new album, but we'll let you know when they do.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Man Man announce spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Experimental Philadelphia indie rockers Man Man are hitting the road again this spring in support of their latest album On Oni Pond and they'll return to the Triangle (they played the Cat's Cradle last fall).

This time the band will play the more intimate Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Wednesday, May 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 28, via Ticketfly for $14.

Man Man will also play Ziggy's By the Sea in Wilmington on May 10 and the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach on May 8.

Check out the music video for groovy synth rocker "Loot My Body" from On Oni Pond below.

Hall & Oates to headline Band Together concert this spring

Band Together's concerts in Raleigh raising money for community organizations in the Triangle have become a staple in the area and they've grown bigger and bigger each year. This spring it grows exponentially as the concert moves the area's big shed with a big headliner.

Daryl Hall and John Oates, aka Hall and Oates, will headline the big event at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Saturday, May 3. Robert Randolph and the Family Band are also on the bill along with a local opener (who will be announced after Last Band Standing concert at the Lincoln Theatre on March 1). Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, via Live Nation for $51 to $101. The lawn will not be open, only pavilion seats will be sold. Pre-sale tickets are available now via the Hall and Oates mailing list.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Album Review: Vertical Scratchers - Daughter of Everything

Vertical Scratchers debut, Daughter of Everything, is scattershot, but charming. John Schmersal (Brainiac/Enon, Caribou’s touring band, and Crooks on Tape) and Christian Beaulieu (Triclops!/Anywhere) have created an album all over the place, but still inviting.

The 15 songs on Daughter of Everything average 2 minutes and 7 seconds with eight tracks being under 2 minutes. The first three songs in particular fly by. The frantic pace of the record is energizing and disorienting. The band catches its breath with a few slower, drawn out songs, but they’re only memorable as breaks.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

First Aid Kit announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Swedish folk pop duo First Aid Kit released their acclaimed sophomore album The Lion's Roar in 2012 (check out the album review HERE) and have been rising in the musical ranks ever since. The band will cap their upcoming spring tour with an appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee in June, but they'll stop in the Triangle the night before the big gig.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, June 13. Willy Mason will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 28, via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out the music video for the song "Wolf" from The Lion's Roar below.

New music from Superchunk - "Watery Hands" (Solo Acoustic)

The newly-remastered version of Superchunk's 1997 album Indoor Living is out today, February 25, as a part of Merge's 25th anniversary celebration. To commemorate the release, the band has released a new solo acoustic version of the song "Watery Hands" that you can stream below.

As we previously mentioned, the band will play a big show at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Thursday, April 10. Tickets are available via Ticketfly for $12.

Superchunk will also almost certainly be involved in the the 25th anniversary festival set to take place in Carrboro on July 23-26. We can't wait for the festival since the 20th in 2009 was so amazing. Check out out coverage of that festival HERE.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Wild Belle announces spring tour, coming to Durham

Chicago indie rock duo Wild Belle released their debut album Isles last spring and have been hard at work supporting it since then. They have just announced a new round of spring tour dates that will bring the band back to the Triangle (they played Kings last fall).

This time they'll play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Saturday, May 10. Caught a Ghost will open. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $12.

Check out the music video for "Another Girl" from the album Isles below.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Andrew Bird & the Hands of Glory announce summer tour

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird was just announced as one of the performers at this year's Bonnaroo Music Festival in June and with that comes a string of tour dates around that appearance that will include a stop in the Triangle.

Bird and his band the Hands of Glory will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, June 10. Tickets will go on sale today, February 21, via Ticketfly for $30.

Andrew Bird released a new mostly instrumental EP last fall titled I Want to See Pulaski at Night. Check out the track "Pulaski at Night" from the EP below.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Tori Amos announces 'Unrepentant Geraldines' tour

Singer-songwriter Tori Amos is gearing up for the release of her 14th album, Unrepentant Geraldines, out on May 13, and has just announced a big North American summer tour in support of it which will kick off on July 16 in Vancouver.

The tour will stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, August 20. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 7, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $39.50 to $49.50. Pre-ordering the album from Amos' online store will get you access to pre-sale tickets.

Amos hasn't released any new music from the new album yet, so check out a video of her performing the song "1000 Oceans" at DPAC in 2009 below.

Neon Trees announces 'Pop Psychology' tour, coming to Raleigh

Utah pop rockers Neon Trees are gearing up for the released of third full-length album, Pop Psychology, on April 22 and they'll hit the road on a big North American tour in support of it in May.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Saturday, May 24. Smallpools and Nightmare and the Cat will open. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, February 21, via Etix for $22.

Check out the music video for the song "Sleeping With a Friend" from Pop Psychology below.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Dr. Dog announces spring/summer tour, coming to Carrboro

Philadelphia pop rockers Dr. Dog are hitting the road in the late spring on a tour in support of their new album B-Room released last fall and they're coming to the Triangle.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, June 11. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 21, via Ticketfly for $23.

Check out Dr. Dog's psychedelic new music video for the song "Distant" light from B-Room below.

New Politics to play free Raleigh show in April

The Rock 'n' Roll company, which holds marathons throughout the U.S., is holding their first-ever event here this spring and along with it will come a big concert at the end of the races featuring Denmark via New York band New Politics.

The band will play the Red Hat Amphitheater on Sunday, April 13. The concert is free and open to the public. A start time is not listed, but the races start at 7 a.m. with a seven-hour time limit for the full marathon which would put the end at around 2 p.m. If we get word of an official start time for the show, we'll let you know.

Check out New Politics' latest music video for the song "Tonight You're Perfect" below along with the video for their big hit "Harlem," which you're sure to have heard quite a bit in the last year or so.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Dick Dale announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Seventy-six year old surf rock guitar legend Dick Dale and his band are hitting the road this spring and they'll make a stop in the Triangle.

Dale will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Wednesday, May 7. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, February 28, via Etix for $25 (seats) or $15 (standing).

Check out a video of Dick Dale performing his signature version of the song "Misirlou" at a show in Houston last year below.

EMA announces spring tour, coming to Chapel Hill

Up and coming indie singer-songwriter Erika M. Anderson, better known as EMA, will release a new album on April 8 titled The Future's Void and she'll hit the road on a big North American tour this spring ins support of it.

She'll make a stop at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Sunday, April 27. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out the music video for "Satellites," the opening track from The Future's Void, below.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Born Cages announce March shows, coming to Chapel Hill

New York alt rockers Born Cages led by guitarist and singer Vlad Holiday are hitting the road on a short tour in March leading up to South By Southwest and it will include a stop in the Triangle.

They'll play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Thursday, March 6. Vinyl Thief will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

The band's debut release, The Sidelines EP, came out last summer. Check out the music video for the catchy "Don't Look Back," the EP's opening track, below.

Lionel Richie announces All the Hits All Night Long Tour with CeeLo Green

Legendary soul singer Lionel Richie is gearing up for a big summer tour this year dubbed All the Hits All Night Long and he’s taking R&B superstar CeeLo Green along for the ride.

The pair will play the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Saturday, July 19. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, via Live Nation for $31 to $131.

Check out a video of Richie performing and stripped down version of his hit "Hello" below.

Friday, February 14, 2014

The Old Ceremony & The Love Language team up for big Triangle gig

Two of the Triangle's most popular groups, The Old Ceremony and The Love Language are teaming up for a big show in the Triangle this spring at what's becoming one of the most popular venues in the area.

The bands will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Saturday, April 12. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out a video of The Old Ceremony performing "Magic Hour" at South By Southwest last year below as well as The Love Language's full performance for KEXP last fall.

Cloud Nothings announce new album, big spring tour

Ohio indie trio Cloud Nothings will release their third full-length album Here and Nowhere Else on April 1 and then they'll hit the road on a big spring tour in support of it.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, April 17. Ryley Walker will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out the blistering track "I'm Not Part of Me" from Here and Nowhere Else below.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

The xx announces short spring tour, coming to Raleigh

After wrapping an intimate 11-night residency at a 40-capacity venue in New York this month, British indie rockers The xx will hit the road on a short U.S. tour in April that will bring them to the Triangle.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Wednesday, April 2. Presale tickets are on sale now via Etix for $26 (use the password "coexist").

The band's most recent album is 2012's Coexist, but the band contributed the song "Together" to The Great Gatsby soundtrack released last year. Check out the song below.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Conor Oberst announces new album, spring tour with Dawes

Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst is back this year with his first solo album since 2009's Outer South. The new album Upside Down Mountain will be out on on May 20 via Nonesuch Records. He'll hit the road in May on a big tour with Dawes, both as the opening act and Oberst's band.

The tour will kick off at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Thursday, May 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 14, via Ticketfly for $35.

Check out the song "Hundreds of Ways" from Upside Down Mountain below. In addition to being on the new album, the song will be featured on a 7" to be released on Record Store Day, April 19, with the b-side "Fast Friends."

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Album Review: Water Liars - Water Liars

Water Liars' third full length album is a powerful, confident thesis on the band. It balances country, punk, love, loss and southern identity brilliantly. It is appropriately self titled.

The band’s wide range is on display on Water Liars. The heavy opening lick introduces the band with authority before they make their way to wandering folk (“Swananoa”), a punky variation on 50s rock (“Ray Charles Dream”), and more.

The songs leave enough space to let the resonance settle into small nooks. Lead singer Justin Kinkel-Schuster’s vocals and his duets with drummer Andrew Bryant are the main attractions. On “War Paint” they have the perfect combination of drawl, defiance, and weariness. A line in “I Want Blood” captures the feeling: “Always drifting into battle with a sigh upon my lips.”

Willie Nelson & Alison Krauss & Union Station announce big 2014 tour

Country legend Willie Nelson and superstar bluegrass group Alison Krauss and Union Station are teaming up for a big spring/summer tour that will bring them to both the Triangle and the Triad.

They'll play the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Monday, May 19. The Devil Makes Three will open. Ticket information is not available yet. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 28, via Etix for $49.50 to $59.50.

[UPDATE: This show was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 4, but postponed "due to an unforeseen and urgent health concern that requires immediate attention," according to a press release. All tickets for the original May 4 concert date will be honored at the May 19 performance. A full refund will be offered at the original point of purchase, etix.com, by phone 1-800-514-3849, or the amphitheatre box office, to anyone unable to attend the rescheduled date.]

Monday, February 10, 2014

Bruce Springsteen announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, just released his 18th studio album earlier this year titled High Hopes and he has been in South Africa and Australia promoting it. Now he'll come back to the U.S. in the spring to head out on another tour that will bring him to the Triangle

Springsteen and The E Street Band will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Thursday, April 24. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 22 via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out the music video for "Just Like Fire Would" from High Hopes featuring Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine below.

Billy Joel rocks Raleigh with hits, deep cuts

The Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, returned to the Triangle on Sunday night for a much hyped show that surpassed expectations and made good on Joel's promise to dig deep into his catalog on this tour.

The packed PNC Center erupted when Joel took the stage and launched into the classic "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)." The electricity continued into the synth rocker "Pressure" and then the first curve ball of the night appeared. The deep cut "Sometimes a Fantasy" from the album Glass Houses was the third song in the set and quickly became one of the best songs of the night. Joel had said in an interview last year that when he toured again he didn't want to simply play greatest hits sets and this was the first song of the night that showed he wasn't kidding.

Friday, February 07, 2014

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart announces spring tour

New York indie pop band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are heading down to the South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin in March and they've announced a short tour around the festival.

On the way south they'll stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, March 9. Eternal Summers will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out the recently released music video for the title track from the band's most recent album, 2011's Belong, below.

Twenty One Pilots announce spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Ohio indie pop duo Twenty One Pilots will take their latest album Vessel back on the road this spring as they head out on a big tour that will bring them to the Triangle.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, April 8. NONONO and Hunter Hunted will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today Friday, February 7, via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out the band's ukulele-driven pop ditty "House of Gold" from the album Vessel below.

Thursday, February 06, 2014

OneRepublic announces summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Colorado pop rockers OneRepublic are hitting the road this summer on a big North American tour in support of their latest album Native that will bring them to the Triangle for a big show.

The band will play the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Wednesday, August 13. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, via Live Nation and Ticketmaster outlets.

Check out the music video for the band's latest inescapable hit "Counting Stars" below.

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

Richard Buckner's 'Bloomed' to get deluxe reissue

Following the deluxe reissues of Lambchop's Nixon in January and the forthcoming reissue of Superchunk's Indoor Living in February, the reissue series will continue on in March with a classic Richard Buckner album.

Merge Records will give Buckner's 1994 album Bloomed the deluxe reissue treatment that, in addition to the remastered original album, will include 11 bonus tracks of radio sessions, live performances and recordings of songs from the era that ended up on later releases. The reissue will hit stores on March 18.

Check out the remastered version of "Gauzy Dress in the Sun" from Bloomed below.

New music video from Mandolin Orange - "Morphine Girl"

Local folk rising stars Mandolin Orange released their acclaimed Yep Roc debut This Side of Jordan last year and now they've released a new music video from the album for the song "Morphine Girl." Check out the beautifully shot video below.

Mandolin Orange will head west to play Merlefest in Wilkesboro on Sunday, April 27, alongside acts including Jim Lauderdale, Donna the Buffalo, The Kruger Brothers and many more. Tickets are available HERE.

Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Angel Olsen announces 'Burn Your Fire for No Witness' tour

Singer-songwriter Angel Olsen blew folks away at last year's Hopscotch Music Festival (check out a write-up and photos of her set HERE) and now she's gearing up for the release of a new album on February 18 titled Burn Your Fire for No Witness. As is the custom, a tour will follow the release and it will include a return to the Triangle.

Olsen will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, May 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 7 via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out Olsen's new music video for "Hi-Five" from Burn Your Fire for No Witness below.

Monday, February 03, 2014

James Taylor announces summer tour, coming to Raleigh

One of North Carolina's favorite sons, the amazing singer-songwriter James Taylor, has just announced a big summer tour that will bring him back to the Triangle for big show.

Taylor and his All-Star Band (it's not clear who will be in the band) will play the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Saturday, August 2. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 7, via Ticketmaster and Live Nation outlets.

Check out a write-up and a few photos of James Taylor's free performance at UNC in 2008 when he was out campaigning for then presidential candidate Barack Obama HERE.

New music video from The Love Language - "Faithbreaker"

The Love Language released both their third full-length album, Ruby Red, last year as well as a collection of demos titled Black Mt. Demos but now they've released a new music video for the song "Faithbreaker," which features a version of the song not found on either release.

This sparser, stripped down version of the song fits the lack of light and wintry vibe of the video which you can check out below.

As we previously mentioned, The Love Language will headline the first WKNC Double Barrel Benefit show at the Cat's Cradle on Friday, February.  Hammer No More the Fingers, T0W3RS and Ghostt Bllonde will round out the bill. Tickets are available via Ticketfly for $12.