Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Smashing Pumpkins & Marilyn Manson announce 'The End Times' tour

This summer the Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson are teaming up for a big summer tour dubbed The End Times Tour that will take them across North America.

The tour will make a stop at the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Sunday, July 26. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 3, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $35 to $75.

Smashing Pumpkins released a new album last year titled Monuments to an Elegy. Check out the new music video for "Drum + Fife" from the album below.

The Rolling Stones announce summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Rock legends The Rolling Stones will head out this summer on a North American tour that will see the aging group come back to the Triangle for the first time since 2005, and back to Raleigh in particular since 1994.

The band will play Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Wednesday, July 1. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on April 13 via Ticketmaster for $69.50 to $350. A presale for Amex card holders will begin April 8.

[UPDATE: The Avett Brothers have been added as the opening act for the show.]

The Stones will reissue their classic 1971 album Sticky Fingers on May 26 with bonus material and previously unreleased outtakes and live recordings.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Ariana Grande announces massive summer/fall tour with Prince Royce

Young pop star Ariana Grande is continuing to ride high on the success of her sophomore album My Everything, released last year, and she will hit the road this summer and fall on a massive North American tour with Prince Royce as support.

The tour will stop at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Thursday, September 24. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $69.50. A fan club pre-sale started today, March 30, and various other pre-sales will begin throughout the week.

Check out Grande's new video for "One Last Time" from My Everything below.

Heartless Bastards announce new album 'Restless Ones,' summer tour with Craig Finn

Ohio garage rockers Heartless Bastards will release a new album on June 16 titled Restless Ones. They will hit the road in support of the album ahead of the release with Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn as support.

Heartless Bastards and Craig Finn will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, June 13. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $16.

Heartless Bastards have set up a new website for the new album Restless Ones that features music from the new album. Check it out HERE.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Gary Clark, Jr. announces summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Texas guitarist and singer-songwriter Gary Clark, Jr. stopped in Raleigh last fall to play Farm Aid but this summer he'll make his was back to town for a proper headlining show.

Clark will play North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh on Wednesday, June 17. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $29 or $40.

Gary Clark, Jr. released a live album last year titled simply titled Gary Clark, Jr. Live. Check out Clark's performance of "Catfish Blues" from Farm Aid in Raleigh last year below. The song can also be found on the live album.

The Both (Aimee Mann & Ted Leo) add spring dates

The super duo The Both, Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, will head down to Atlanta to play the Shaky Knees Festival in May, which is great for fans in the Triangle because they'll make their way here the next day to play a headline show.

The Both will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, May 11. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, March 27, via Ticketfly for $22.

Check out the band's full performance for KEXP last August below that features six songs from their self-titled debut.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Culture Club announces new album 'Tribes,' summer tour

Boy George and the lads of Culture Club will release their first new album in 16 years later this year titled Tribes and the band has just announced a North American summer tour that will bring them to the Triangle.

Culture Club will play Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Tuesday, August 11. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 27, via the venue box office and Etix for $35 to $65.

Check out Culture Club performing their hit "Karma Chameleon" at Edinburgh Castle last year below.

Ingrid Michaelson announces 'Summer Night Out' tour with Jukebox the Ghost

Pop singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson brought her stripped down tour to the Carolina Theatre in Durham last fall, but when she'll bring the full band when she heads on the Summer Night Out tour with Jukebox the Ghost this summer.

Michaelson and Jukebox the Ghost will play the The Ritz in Raleigh on Thursday, June 4. Oh Honey will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 27, via Ticketmaster for $25. The artist and LiveNation pre-sales have already begun.

Check out Ingrid Michael's new music video for "Time Machine" from her latest album Lights Out below. The video features a slew of actors and comedians including Rainn Wilson, Jorge Garcia, Donald Faison, David Koechner, Matt Jones, Brian Baumgartner, Garret Dillahunt, Rob Delaney and Steve Agee.

Neko Case announces summer 2015 tour

After spending much of last year touring with The New Pornographers in support of their latest album Brill Bruisers, songstress Neko Case will head back out on the road this year on a solo tour that will bring her to the Triangle.

Case will return to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh on Friday, June 19. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $26 or $35.

Anti- Records will reissue Case's 2006 album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood on red vinyl for Record Store Day on April 18. Stream the full album below.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Tedeschi Trucks Band & Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings announce 'Wheels of Soul' summer tour

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings will team up this summer on the Wheels of Soul tour that will take them to amphitheaters across the U.S.

One of the stops on the tour will be at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Saturday, July 18. Doyle Bramhall II will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 27, via the venue box office and Etix for $44.50 or $75.

Check out Tedeschi Trucks Band performing "Keep on Growing" at a show from Boston in December and also a video of a full Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings show in Paris below.

Van Halen announces big 2015 North American tour

Rockers Valen Halen will head back on the road on a big North American tour this summer, still with wild man David Lee Roth fronting the group, and they'll make their way to the Triangle in September.

The band will play the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Wednesday, September 9. Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band will open. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 3, via Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

Van Halen will release a new double live album on March 31 titled Tokyo Dome Live in Concert. It was recorded at a Roth-fronted show in Tokyo in 2013.  Check out "Unchained" from the album below.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Lower Dens announces 'Escape From Evil' 2015 tour

Baltimore indie rockers Lower Dens will release their third full-length album on March 31 titled Escape From Evil and the band will be on the road throughout the summer touring in support of it.

Lower Dens will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Wednesday, August 5. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Check out the songs "Ondine" and "To Die in L.A." from the new album Escape From Evil below.

Juicy J announces 'The Hustle Continues' tour

Rapper and former Three 6 Mafia member Juicy J is set to release a new album later this year titled Pure THC: The Hustle Continues and he will head out this spring on The Hustle Continues tour will stop in the Triangle.

Juicy J will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Thursday, June 18. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 27, via Ticketmaster for $28. Pre-sales will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25.

Check out the music video for Juicy J's new single "All I Need (One Mo Drank)" featuring K Camp below.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Frank Fairfield announces spring 2015 tour

Old-time folk singer-songwriter Frank Fairfield will head out on tour for a few shows this spring and will return to the Triangle in April.

Fairfield will play The Pinhook in Durham on Thursday, April 23. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out Fairfield performing "New California Blues" during a session at the Wildwood Music Festival last year below and a review of his show with Cass McCombs at Haw River Ballroom in 2012 HERE.

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club announces 2015 tour

Continuing the legacy of the Cuban institution that was the Buena Vista Social Club, a collective of musicians dubbed Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club that include a few surviving members of the original group, will hit the road this summer and fall on a U.S. tour.

The group will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Monday, October 26. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll let you know once it is.

Check out a video of Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club performing "Candela" with Omara Portuondo and Eliades Ochoa below. A new collection of unreleased Buena Vista Social Club music will be released on March 23 titled Lost and Found.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Album Review: Tobias Jesso Jr. - Goon

Heartbreak is universal. Everyone either has, is, or will experience a deep feeling of heartache and loneliness that accompanies a break up. Tobias Jesso Jr. is suffering from just that, and through his beautiful lyricism, you will swear you were feeling the pain as well.

Break-up albums have been done before, a lot. However, Goon revitalizes the common trope with beautiful piano and instrumental sections paired with his unique voice. Sounding like he was plucked straight from McCartney-era Beatles, Jesso covers topics from wondering how he will live on in the absence of his girl, “Without You,” to cursing her for finding another man, “How Could You Babe,” all while attempting to move on and forget the past.

Phish announces 2015 summer tour, coming to Raleigh

The land's most popular jam band, Phish, is heading out this summer on a big tour, as they do from time to time, and they'll return to their usual Raleigh stop this time around.

The band will play Walnut Creek Amphitheare on Friday, August 14. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, via Ticketmaster/LiveNation for $45 or $65. A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available via lottery, which can be entered HERE.

Last month Phish just released a live show from Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh from December 16, 1999 which can be purchased and/or streamed via Phish's live recording archive.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Chatham County Line announces big Raleigh show

The Triangle's favorite string band, Chatham County Line, has taken to playing mostly seated venues in the Triangle in recent years but this summer they'll return to a noisy rock club for another potential battle with rowdy crowds.

The band will play Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Friday, June 19. Au Pair, featuring Gary Louris of The Jayhawks and Django Haskins of The Old Ceremony, will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $17. Possibly in an attempt to battle the noisy crowds, there will also be an option for what is called "talking section" tickets which will be $85 (not a typo) and have an obstructed view.

Check out the music video for the song "Tightrope of Love" from Chatham County Line's latest album Tightrope below.

Greg Allman & The Doobie Brothers announce summer tour

Southern rock icon Greg Allman will team up with classic rock and rollers The Doobie Brothers for a series of co-headline dates this summer and the pair will make a stop in the Triangle.

The pair will play the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Tuesday, September 1. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $49.50 to $59.50.

Check out a clip of Allman's show in Macon, Georgia earlier this year below.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

David Crosby announces summer solo acoustic tour

Singer-songwriter David Crosby, most notably known as part of Crosby, Stills and Nash for those living under a rock, will head on his own this summer on a month-long acoustic tour that will take him to theaters across the U.S.

Crosby will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Tuesday, June 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $48 to $209.05. An online pre-sale begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 19.

David Crosby released a new solo album last year titled Croz. Check out Crosby and his band performing "Radio" from the album for BBC Radio 4 below.

Fleetwood Mac bring the hits, Christine McVie to Greensboro

The full classic lineup of Fleetwood Mac brought their On With the Show Tour to the Greensboro Coliseum last night and they brought nothing but hits, including all the great Christine McVie classics that her return has brought back to the set list.

The band kicked things off with "The Chain" and the hits poured out throughout the set. Each member's songs balance each other so well. Buckingham brought the intensity with "Tusk," "Big Love," "I'm So Afraid" and "Go Your Own Way." Nicks brings the ethereal magic with "Dreams," "Gypsy," "Sisters of the Moon" and "Gold Dust Woman." McVie brings a her fantastic pop tunes with "You Make Loving Fun," "Everywhere," Say You Love Me" and "Little Lies." They each compliment each other's tunes so well that it makes for a solid, dynamic set.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Shakey Graves announces summer 2015 tour dates

Texas singer-songwriter Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known as Shakey Graves, released his second full-length album last year titled And the War Came. He already had a busy tour schedule this spring and now he has added even more dates that include a stop in the Triangle.

He will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, June 10. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20, via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out Shakey Graves full performance for KEXP last year below.

Meghan Trainor announces 2015 'MTrain' summer tour

Sassy up-and-coming pop singer Meghan Trainor made quite a splash on the pop charts last year with her hit "All About That Bass" and this summer she is heading out on a big tour this summer in support of her debut album Title.

Trainor will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Tuesday, August 18. Charlie Puth and Life of Dillon will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20, via Ticketmaster for $27.50. Pre-sales will start as early as 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18.

Check out the new music video for the song "Dear Future Husband" from Title below.

Monday, March 16, 2015

William Tyler to return to Carrboro on spring tour

Deseret Canyon
In addition to having his 2008 release Deseret Canyon reissued on Record Store Day and playing the big Record Store Day party at Chaz's Bull City Records on April 18, guitarist and composer William Tyler will play another local show less than a week later in Carrboro.

Tyler will play the ArtsCenter on Thursday, April 23. Jake Xerxes Fussell will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Check out the music video for "Waltz of the Circassian Beauties" from Deseret Canyon below.

Robert Plant announces summer 2015 dates with Pixies

Legendary singer-songwriter Robert Plant will hit the road this summer with his band the Sensational Space Shifters on a tour in support of their latest album Lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar released last fall. In June they will head out on a few dates with the Pixies as support that includes a date in the Triangle.

Plant and the Shifters as well as the Pixies will play Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Monday, June 15. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $50 to $80.

Check out Robert Plant and the Space Shifters performing "Turn It Up" from Lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar at the iTunes Festival in London last year below.

Chris Stamey releasing new album 'Euphoria' in June

The dB's founder, singer-songwriter, and producer Chris Stamey will release a new solo album on June 2 via Yep Roc Records title Euphoria. The album features 10 new songs, including one song written by Ryan Adams that Adams himself suggested that Stamey record, the album's opening track "Universe-sized Arms."

Stamey recorded the album with the help of Jeff Crawford at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium studio as well as his own studio, Modern Recording. The song feature a lot of local musicians including Easter, Matt McMichaels, Eric Marshall of Let’s Active, Django Haskins of The Old Ceremony, Tony Stiglitz, F.J. Ventre, and Wes Lachot along with Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub and Pat Sansone of Wilco.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Merge Records & Chaz's Bull City Records team up for Record Store Day event

With Record Store Day just over a month away (it's on April 18 this year) all the details of this year's event are starting to spill out. What will definitely end up being one of the biggest events in the Triangle will be happening at Chaz's Bull City Records in Durham in partnership with Merge Records.

The store will host a big outdoor event on April 18 featuring performances by Merge artists Ex Hex, Mac McCaughan and William Tyler. The festivities will being at 3 p.m. The event will be broadcast live on WXDU and will be available afterwards via NYCTaper. Lagunitas Brewing Company will be on site serving up brews and donations for the Durham Public Schools will be accepted.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Butch Walker announces spring 2015 headline tour

After spending the initial months following the release of his latest album Afraid of Ghosts out opening for the album's producer, one Mr. Ryan Adams, singer-songwriter Butch Walker will head out on a headlining tour this spring and will make a stop in the Triangle.

Walker will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Sunday, May 10. Jonathan Tyler will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 20, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster starting at $24.

Check out the music video for "Bed on Fire" from Afraid of Ghosts below.

Great Lake Swimmers announce new album 'A Forest of Arms, spring tour

Canadian folk rock outfit Great Lake Swimmers will release their sixth studio album A Forest of Arms on April 21 and they'll hit the road this spring on a tour in support.

The band will play the ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Friday, May 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 13, via Ticketfly for $16.

Check out the the song "I Must Have Someone Else's Blues" from A Forest of Arms below.

Patterson Hood coming to Durham for 'Network' screening

Continuing was has become quite the all-star lineup of the ongoing Film Acoustic film series at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, the venue has announced it's latest musician that will appear at the April screening that continues this impressive trend.

The theater will screen the 1976 film Network on Monday, April 13, with special guest Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers. Tickets for the event will go on sale at 10 a.m. on at 10 a.m. today, March 12, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $15.

Check out a trailer for Network below.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

PHOX extends spring 2015 tour, coming to Carrboro

Up and coming Wisconsin indie pop group PHOX released their self-titled debut album last summer. The band has just extended their spring tour and will now be making a stop in the Triangle.

PHOX will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, June 15. Mechanical River will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 13, via Ticketfly for $13.

Check out the music video for "Kingfisher" from PHOX's self-titled album below.

Mavis Staples & Joan Osborne announce 'Solid Soul' tour

A pair of seemingly unlikely cohorts, soul legend Mavis Staples and folk rocker Joan Osborne, will team up for a tour this fall dubbed Solid Soul. The dates are just starting to emerge and the Triangle is one of the stops.

The pair will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Monday, November 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 13, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $34 to $159.35. The venue presale starts at 10 a.m. today, March 11.

A new documentary about Staples titled Mavis! is set to premiere at South By Southwest in Austin this weekend. Check out the trailer for the film below.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Third Eye Blind & Dashboard Confessional announce 2015 summer tour

Pop rockers Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional will team up for a big co-headline tour this summer that will take the groups to venues across North America.

The pair will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 9. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 13, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $27.50 to $49.50. The band presale started today, March 10, at 10 a.m. and the Live Nation presale starts on Thursday, March 12.

Both Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional have not released a new studio album since 2009. Check out Third Eye Blind playing the song "Never Let You Go" and Dashboard Confessional playing the song "Hands Down" at a shows they each played last year below.

Album Review: Will Butler - Policy

Will Butler’s solo debut, Policy, is a conundrum. Its strengths are also its weaknesses.

Butler whips through eight songs and nearly as many musical styles in under a half hour. He cuts on a dime without hesitation. The punky “Take My Side” borrows a little country twang and cedes to the grimy synth and horn filled “Anna” which then gives way to mopey ballad “Finish What I Started.” That’s just the first 10 minutes.

The thrill of these shifts overshadows the songs themselves. Like a comedian performing impressions in rapid succession, Policy is more memorable for the feat of switching than the content filling the space between the transitions. The lurching back and forth provides a rush, but it’s also exhausting. Keeping up with Butler can leave the brain swimming like a long day of multi-tasking.

Monday, March 09, 2015

Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire announce 'Heart and Soul' summer 2015 tour

Classic rockers/funkers Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire are joining forces for the Heart and Soul co-headline tour that will take the pair to big sheds across North American this summer.

The pair will play Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Friday, September 4. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 13, via Live Nation for $25 to $120.

Check out Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire teaming up for a performance of "September" below.

Iceage announces massive 2015 tour, coming to Raleigh

Danish rockers Iceage are hitting the road this year on a giant world tour in support of their third full-length album Plowing Into the Field of Love released last year, and they'll make a stop in the Triangle in June.

The band will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Sunday, June 14. Low Life will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $13.

Check out the music video for the song "Forever" from the album Plowing Into the Field of Love below.

Morris Day and the Time announce spring 2015 dates

Funk soul legends Morris Day and the Time have been around and kicking since the early 80s and this year they're heading back out on the road to play a few shows across the U.S.

The group will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Saturday, May 30. Sheila E. will open. Tickets are on sale now via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $23.62 to $61.09.

Morris Day and the Time recently joined forces with up and coming pop rock trio Haim for a performance of the hit "Jungle Love" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Check out the performance below.

Friday, March 06, 2015

Led Zeppelin concert footage to be screened in Cary

For one night only on Monday, March 30, there will be a special screening of Led Zeppelin concert footage compiled from four concerts, a January 1970 show at Royal Albert Hall, a July 1973 at Madison Square Garden, a May 1975 show at Earl's Court and a 1979 concert at the Knebworth festival.

Amongst the theaters across the U.S. taking part in the screening is Cary's Crossroads Stadium 20 theater. The screening will be held at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale HERE for $15.

Other screening locations in North Carolina include theaters in Greensboro, Wilmington, Concord and Charlotte. Check out the full list of theaters HERE.

Matthew E. White adds new spring 2015 dates

Virginia singer-songwriter Matthew E. White will release his sophomore solo album on Tuesday, March 10, titled Fresh Blood and he has just added some new spring tour dates in May that will bring him back to the Triangle.

White will play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Thursday, May 7. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $13.

Check out the music video for the song "Rock and Roll Is Cold" form the album Fresh Blood below.

Schoolkids Records opens second location in Durham

Over the years every Schoolkids Records throughout the Triangle gradually shut down except for the Raleigh store, which moved up and down Hillsborough Street over the years before landing at its current home in Mission Valley.

Now turning that trend around, Schoolkids owner Stephen Judge is opening a new location in Durham. Judge bought out the inventory of Offbeat Music, which closed this past weekend, and he soft opened the space a new Schoolkids location earlier this week, making the store's first sale on Wednesday. The store will remain at the old Offbeat location in Bright Leaf Square at 905 West Main Street for two months before moving into a different space in the square as its permanent location.


...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead announce 20th anniversary tour

Texas rockers ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead will head out on a 20th anniversary tour this spring that will bring the band to the Triangle.

Trail of Dead will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, May 7. Your Favorite Enemies and Boyfrndz will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, March 6, via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out the music video for the song "The Ghost Within" from the band's latest album IX below.

Thursday, March 05, 2015

New music from the Mountain Goats - "Heel Turn 2"

As we first mentioned back in January, The Mountain Goats are back on April 7 with new album titled Beat the Champ and now they have released another new track from the album.

The new song is the album's sixth track, a dynamic six-minute song titled "Heel Turn 2." Check out the song below.

The band will be playing a big show at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on the day the album is released, April 7, but the show is already sold out. If more tickets are released at some point, they'd be available via Ticketfly or at the Cradle box office.