Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Dodos announce new album 'Individ,' winter tour

San Francisco rockers The Dodos will release their sixth studio album on January 27 titled Individ and then they'll hit the road on a North American tour in support.

The band will return to the Triangle to play The Pinhook in Durham on Monday, February 23. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out the new song "Competition" from the album Individ below.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Merge Records releasing Will Butler's debut 'Policy' in March

Arcade Fire's Will Butler will release his first solo album this spring and he'll stick with Merge Records to get it to the public.

The album it titled Policy and will be out on March 10 in the US and March 16 in Europe. Arcade fire drummer Jeremy Gara played drums on the record and most other instruments except woodwinds and some backing vocals were performed by Butler.

Check out the rollicking rocker "Take My Side" from Policy below along with a short teaser video for the album.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Idina Menzel announces 2015 tour, coming to Raleigh

Actress and singer Idina Menzel, best known these days as the voice of Elsa in Frozen, has just announced a big 2015 tour that will take her across North America from July through early October.

Menzel will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Wednesday, July 22. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 5, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $38 to $99.50. There are various pre-sales that will begin as early as 10 a.m. on Monday, December 1.

In addition to the success of Frozen including the signature song "Let It Go," sung by Menzel, winning the Oscar for best original song, Menzel has stayed very busy starring in a new Broadway musical If/Then this year and releasing a holiday album titled Holiday Wishes.

Ex Hex announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

D.C. rockers Ex Hex have only been a band since last year but in a short amount of time they've worked and toured practically non-stop. They released their debut album Rips earlier this year (check out the album review HERE) and are heading back out on the road on a southern tour in January.

The band will return to the Triangle to play Kings in Raleigh on Saturday, January 3. Birds of Avalon  and See Gulls will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

The band recently performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Check out their performances of "Don't Wanna Lose" and "Hot and Cold" from the show below.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Video: Sylvan Esso plays "Coffee" & "Hey Mami" on Conan

Hiss Golden Messenger weren't the only Triangle rising stars that hit the late night circuit recently. Last week Sylvan Esso made their second U.S. television appearance performing on Conan.

The duo performed the song "Coffee" for the broadcast and then taped a performance of "Hey Mami" exclusively for the web. Check out both performances below.

Sylvan Esso doesn't haven't any Triangle shows currently on their schedule but they will play Charlotte and Charlottesville in the new year. Check out the tour schedule below.

Hundred Waters announces 2015 tour, coming to Chapel Hill

Florida indie rockers Hundred Waters will hit the road again in early 2015 in support of their latest album The Moon Rang Like a Bell (check out our review HERE) and the dates will bring them back to the Triangle.

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Saturday, March 7. Tickets will go on sale at noon today, November 21, via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out Hundred Waters full performance for KEXP in Seattle in July below. The set includes the songs "Murmurs," "Cavity," "Out Alee," and "Down From the Rafters," all from the album The Moon Rang Like a Bell.

Bush announces winter 2015 tour, coming to Raleigh

British 90s alt rockers Bush released a new album last month titled Man on the Run and they have just announced an early 2015 headlining tour that will bring them to the Triangle.

The band will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Wednesday, March 4. Theory of Deadman and Stars in Stereo will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, November 21, via Ticketmaster for $32.50.

Check out the title track from the Bush's new album Man on the Run below.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Church announces 2015 North American tour

Australian alt rock band The Church will release their 25th album in the U.S. on February 3 titled Further/Deeper and will be celebrating their 35the anniversary in 2015. The band has announced a month-long tour of North American in early 2015 that will end at the South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin, TX in March.

Before they hit Austin the band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, March 15. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 21, via Ticketfly for $25.

Check out the song "Vanishing Man" from Further/Deeper below.

Lucero & Ryan Bingham announce co-headline tour

Country punks Lucero will team up with singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham in early 2015 for a monthlong co-headline tour that will bring the pair to the Triangle.

The second stop of the tour is at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, February 18. Twin Forks will open. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, November 21, via Ticketfly for $25.

Bingham will release a new album on January 20 titled Fear and Saturday Night while Lucero's latest release a new double live album this year titled Live from Atlanta. Check out the songs "Broken Heart Tattoo" and "I'll Just Fall" from the aforementioned releases below.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Ingrid Michaelson extends Lights Out: Stripped tour

New York singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson will be setting sail on the Sail Across the Sun Cruise early next year but before she hits the sea she'll hit the road on a short continuation of the Lights Out: Stripped tour named after her latest album Lights Out.

The tour will stop at the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Wednesday, February 4. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 21, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $39.50 with legacy boxes costing $104.54.

Check out the new music video for the song "Afterlife" from the album Lights Out below.

Video: Hiss Golden Messenger plays "Southern Grammar" on Letterman

Last night Hiss Golden Messenger made their network television debut and they showed up in New York ready to throw down.

The band performed the song "Southern Grammar" as a nine-piece on The Late Show with David Letterman and it's was something to see and hear. Letterman himself seemed to love the performance and fawned over the band as he ended the show. Check out the performance below.

"Southern Grammar" is on Hiss Golden Messenger's latest album Lateness of Dancers.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Alt-J announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

English pop rockers alt-J released their sophomore album This Is All Yours earlier this year (check out a review HERE) and the band will hit the road on a brief North and South American tour in the spring in support of it.

The tour will include a return to Raleigh, this time playing the Red Hat Amphitheater on Friday, April 3. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 21, via Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $25 to $35. Pre-sales will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19.

Check out the music video for "Hunger of the Pine" from This Is All Yours below.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Swans announce 2015 tour, coming to Carrboro

Experimental rock band Swans just released a new double album earlier this year titled To Be Kind and they have just announced a new round of tour dates in early 2015 that will bring them back to the Triangle.

Swans will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, March 27. Tickets will go on sale today, November 14, via Ticketfly for $18.

Check out the song "A Little God In My Hands" from To Be Kind below.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Merge to reissue Destroyer's 'Your Blues' on vinyl

Just in case you thought that Merge Records' reissue of M. Ward's Transistor Radio on December 2 was going to be the last of their reissues celebrating their 25th anniversary, they have more coming your way on the same date.

December 2 will also see the reissue of Destroyer's 2004 album Your Blues on vinyl for the first time in the U.S. and Europe. The 180-gram pressing will include, as always, a digital copy of the album as well.

Check out the second track from Your Blues, "It's Gonna Take an Airplane," below. Check out photos and a write-up of Destroyer's killer set at this past summer's Merge 25 Festival in Carrboro HERE.

Zola Jesus announces winter tour, coming to Durham

Singer-songwriter Zola Jesus released her fifth studio album last month titled Taiga and she will hit the road on a big North American tour early next year in support of it.

She'll play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Friday, January 30. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, November, 14, HERE for $15.

Check out the music video for the song "Dangerous Days" from the new album Taiga below.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Sarah McLachlan extends Shine On Tour into 2015

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan released her eight studio album earlier this year titled Shine On and she has just announced the second leg of the tour in support of the album that will commence in early 2015.

McLachlan will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 19. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll let know once it is.

Check out the lyric video for the opening track from Shine On, "In Your Shoes," below.

Sean Watkins announces 2015 tour, coming to Carrboro

Now that Nickel Creek's 20th anniversary reunion tour has wrapped, singer-songwriter Sean Watkins will hit the road in 2015 in support of his latest solo album All I Do is Lie released earlier this year.

Watkins will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Saturday, February 21. Jill Andrews, formerly of the Everybodyfields, will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 14, via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out Watkins playing the song "Wave as We Run" from the new album for the web series The Bluegrass Situation below.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Aesop Rock & Rob Sonic announce 2015 tour

Indie hip hop artist Aesop Rock released a new album this week with fellow rapper Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz under their old moniker Hail Mary Mallon titled Bestiary. Rock and Sonic will hit the road in early 2015 in support of the album and they'll make a stop in the Triangle.

The pair will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, March 2. Homebody Sandman will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 14, via Ticketfly for $20.

Stream the entire new album, Bestiary, from Hail Mary Mallon below.

The Old Ceremony to ring in new year in Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill rock club Local 506 has been teasing their big New Year's Eve show on their website for a few weeks tell folks to wait for the big announcement. Now we know that local favorites The Old Ceremony will be ringing in 2015 at the club on Wednesday, December 31, with Skylar Gudasz.

Tickets for the big show will go on sale at noon on Thursday, November 14, via Ticketfly for $15.

As we first told you about almost a year ago, The Avett Brothers will be hosting their own big New Year's Eve shindig at the PNC Arena in Raleigh. We'll bring you a comprehensive list of New Year's Eve happenings in the Triangle in the coming weeks.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Indigo Girls returning to Durham with orchestra

Folk rock duo the Indigo Girls will make their way back to the Triangle in the spring but this show will be very different that any of their recent stops in the area.

The pair will be joined by the North Carolina Symphony when they return to the Durham Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, April 15. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 14, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $36 to $76. Pre-sales will begin as early as 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11.

Check out a video of the Indigo Girls performing their hit "Closer to Fine" with the Georgia Symphony a few years ago below.

Sturgill Simpson announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

Singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson has been making quite a splash this year with his acclaimed sophomore album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music which has led to multiple late night talk show appearances and bigger shows. Simpson was just in town opening for Jason Isbell at DPAC and now he'll come back for his own show early next year.

Simpson will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Thursday, February 26. Tickets will be on sale soon via Etix for $15.

Check out Simpson and his band performing the song "Living the Dream" on Conan back in September below.

Friday, November 07, 2014

Parquet Courts announce winter tour, coming to Raleigh

New York indie rockers Parquet Courts released a new album in June titled Sunbathing Animal and they'll release another new album under the moniker Parkay Quarts on November 10 titled Content Nausea. The band will take their new albums on the road in early 2015 and will make a stop in the Triangle.

Parquet Courts will play Kings in Raleigh on Monday, January 26. Priests and Whatever Brains will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Stream the band's entire new album Content Nausea below.

New music video from Spider Bags - "Eyes of Death"

As you probably already know, local rockers Spider Bags released their first album with Merge Records earlier this year titled Frozen Letter and they have just released a new music video from the album.

The video is for the album's closing track, "Eyes of Death," and it actually features quite a few eyes of death. Check it out below.

Check out Triangle Music's review of Frozen Letter HERE and a few photos and a review of their in-store at Schoolkids in August HERE.

Thursday, November 06, 2014

New music from Bombadil - "Amy's Friend"

Quirky Triangle folk pop group Bombadil will return with a new album in 2015 titled Hold On and they and their label Ramseur Records has shared the second track from the album titled "Amy's Friend." Check out the song below.

Bombadil has some shows scheduled through the end of the year but none currently scheduled in the Triangle. The closest they'll play is the Tipsy Teapot in Greenville on Wednesday, November 19. Check out the band's full schedule below.

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

New music from Superchunk - "Come Pick Me Up" (Ryan Adams cover)

On November 18 a double-disc release celebrating the Chicago roots label Bloodshot Records will be released titled While No One Was Looking. Among the 38 artists who contributed to the release are Andrew Bird and Nora O'Connor, Ted Leo, Hiss Golden Messenger, the NC Music Love Army, Mike Watt and the Minutemen, Samantha Crain and Ben Kweller. Check out the full track list HERE.

Local indie rock icons Superhcunk have also recorded a cover for the album, an amped up version of the Ryan Adams classic "Come Pick Me Up." Check out the song below.

Lotus announces winter tour, coming to Carrboro

Electro jam band Lotus released a new album earlier this year titled Gilded Age and the band are hitting the road in early 2015 in support of the release.

Lotus will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, February 5. Tickets are supposed to go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 14, via Ticketfly for $19.50 but they appear to be available now via Ticketfly.

Stream the album Gilded Age in its entirety via the playlist below. The band will also release a tenth anniversary edition of their 2004 album Nomad on December 16.

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Twin Shadow announces Eclipse 2015 tour, coming to Carrboro

Singer-songwriter George Lewis Jr., better known as Twin Shadow, has been working on his third album, the follow up to 2012's Confess. Warner Brothers Records is expected to release the album in the new year. He'll hit the road in the spring and will return to the Triangle after playing SXSW in Austin.

Twin Shadow will once again play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, March 28. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 7, via Ticketfly for $16.

Check out Twin Shadow's killer performance of his latest single "To the Top" on Conan back in June below.

Monday, November 03, 2014

Taylor Swift announces massive 2015 tour

Taylor Swift is on her way to break a few records with the first week sales of her new album 1989. and now she has announced her tour plans for the album that will run from the spring through next fall.

Early in the tour Swift will make a stop at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 9. Vance Joy will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 14, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $39.50 to $139.50. Pre-sales will start as early as 10 a.m. on Friday, November 7.

And then in the fall, on Wednesday, October 21, Swift will return to the region to play the Greensboro Coliseum. Vance Joy will open again (and the whole North American tour). Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 27, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster. Pre-sales will start as early as 10 a.m. on Friday, February 20.

New music from Mac McCaughan - "First and Last and Always" (Sisters of Mercy cover)

Superchunk frontman Mac McCaughan released a new recording to celebrate Halloween on Friday that is his stripped down, acoustic take on the title track from UK rockers Sisters of Mercy 1985 album First and Last and Always. Check out the song below.

As we previously mentioned, Portastatic's 2003 album The Summer of the Shark will be rereleased on white vinyl tomorrow, November 4.