Mattthew E. White & Ivan Howard collaborate on new 7", announce fall tour

Singer-songwriter and composer Matthew E. White has been busy since the release of his first solo album, Big Inner, last year which included a stellar set at the Hopscotch Festival with a huge ensemble (see photos/review HERE). Now he and his Spacebomb Records Players have joined forces with The Rosebuds' Ivan Howard for a new 7" Howard is releasing under the moniker Howard Ivans.

The 7" features the songs "Red Face Boy" and "Pillows" and it will be out on November 19. Check out the funky, killer tune "Red Face Boy" below.

White and Ivans will hit the road together in December for a few shows which include a stop at Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Saturday, December 14. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

The Flute Flies releases debut album to benefit CyTunes

You may remember a little local supergroup called The Flute Flies who made their debut back in 2008 when they released their debut EP to benefit CyTunes (see more about the charity HERE). The band is comprised of Ivan Howard of The Rosebuds, Reid Johnson of Schooner and Zeno Gill of Pound of Miracles.

The band has finally released their long-awaited full-length album, Yes Means Maybe, digitally via Bandcamp to benefit CyTunes via the pay-what-you-want system (the money will go to he Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University). You can also stream the entire below.

Check out photos from The Flute Flies debut performance at Local 506 in December 2008 HERE.

Avett Brothers, Love Language & many more playing Raleigh benefit gig

This is likely to be one of the most talked about local shows of the year. On Friday, March 23, there will be a three-venue benefit gig in Raleigh dubbed Racing the Cure to support Oliver Gant, a two-year-old battling cancer.

Many great local bands such as The Love Language, Annuals, The Old Ceremony and many more will play the event, but there is one band that stands out amongst the rest. NC superstars The Avett Brothers are set to play a 25-minute set at Kings Barcade during the event, which will surely be packed beyond belief. All bands are donating their time and talent to the event. Check out the full line-up and stage schedules below.

Video: Gayngs perform "Faded High" for 'City of Noise'

The supergroup Gayngs are currently on the road promoting their debut album Relayted and stopped by April Base Studio in Eau Claire, WI to film a performance for MLPS.TV's "City of Noise" series before hitting the road.

Check out the touring incarnation of the band, which includes Ivan Howard, Brad Cook, Joe Westerlund, Justin Vernon and more, killing a performance of the song "Faded High." If you were skeptical about seeing the show, watching the video below just might make you want to buy a ticket.

Speaking of the tour, the show at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro is on Wednesday, Oct. 6. Tickets are $17 and available via etix.

Video: Ivan Howard performs "Eye In the Sky" by Alan Parsons Project

While up in Eau Claire, WI during rehearsals for the upcoming Gayngs tour, Ivan Howard (of The Rosebuds in case you didn't know) took some time to film a video of an acoustic performance of The Alan Parsons Project's song "Eye In the Sky." The result was a beautiful video filmed at sunset and a fantastic version of the 1982 hit.

About a minute in, Howard is joined by Brad Cook (of Megafaun), Michael Lewis (of Happy Apple, Dosh and Andrew Bird) and Mike Noyce (of Bon Iver). I can't repeat enough how cool this performance is.

Don't forget that Gayngs will be performing at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, Oct. 6. Tickets for the show are available now via etix for $17. Check out the rest of the band's tour schedule here.

Gayngs add dates to fall tour, coming to Carrboro

The indie supergroup Gayngs, which we've talked about before, have just added some new dates to their fall tour in support of their debut album Relayted. The band features local heavyhitters Ivan Howard (of The Rosebuds), all the members of Megafaun and ex-Triangle resident and superstar Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver).

The tour will bring their groovy tunes and massive group to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Glasser will open the show. Tickets are on sale now for $17 via etix.

Check out a performance of the song "The Gaudy Side of Town" from the group's debut show in Minneapolis in May below. I don't know if the tour will feature all the elaborate decor and all 23 members of the group like that show, but it will certainly be a show to remember.

Ivan Howard, Megafaun & Bon Iver featured on Gayngs debut album

It what could be described as one of the most intriguing releases of 2010, a group of local musicians joined up with Ryan Olson, Zack Coulter and Adam Hurlburt's ambitious new project Gayngs. The product is an album titled Relayted that was recorded over the last year and features Brad and Phil Cook of Megafaun, Ivan Howard of The Rosebuds and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver among others.

The album features 11 songs, all of which have a tempo of 69 beats per minute. Both Vernon and Howard taking lead vocals on some songs. Once we have some sounds to share with you, we'll let you know.

Relayted will be released on May 11. Check out the complete track list below.

Trekky announces the TRKfest set times

Trekky Records big TRKfest show is going down this Saturday, June 13 in Pittsboro at Piedmont Biofuels. We brought you the initial line-up last month, but now the set times have been announced.

The Never will kick off the day at 2pm at the last band, Megafaun will go on at 11pm. Check out the entire schedule below and enjoy the show. Check out our previous post for more information on the event.

TRKfest schedule:
2:00 - The Never
3:15 - The Strugglers
4:00 - Vibrant Green
4:30 - Mount Moriah/Liza Kate
5:30 - Butterflies
6:15 - Midtown Dickens
7:00 - Embarrassing Fruits
7:45 - Des Ark
8:30 - Pants-off Dance-off
9:00 - Hammer No More the Fingers
9:45 - Ivan Howard
10:15 - Lost in the Trees
11:00 - Megafaun

Trekky gearing up for second annual TRKfest in June

Local record label and music collective Trekky Records is gearing up for their second annual TRKfest. The big show will happen on June 13 at Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, NC. This year's festival will feature Trekky favorites such like Lost in the Trees, The Never and Embarassing Fruits as well as Trekky friends Ivan Howard (of The Rosebuds), Megafaun, Hammer No More the Fingers and others. Check out the full list of bands performing below as well as a list of other fun activities that will be going on.

There are no tickets for the event. There will be a suggested donation of $10. Piedmont Biofuels is at 220 Lorax Lane in Pittsboro.

TRKfest 2 performers:
Megafaun
Lost in the Trees
Ivan Howard (of The Rosebuds)
Embarrassing Fruits
Hammer No More the Fingers
The Never
Des Ark
Midtown Dickens
Butterflies
The Strugglers
Mount Moriah + Liza Kate
Vibrant Green
DJ_TRK

Other fun activities:
Volleyball
Local Art and Crafts for sale
Local food and drinks for sale
Pants-off Dance-off
Human Rubberband
Coffee Sack Race
Cool Kids Yoga Session
Group Bottlecap Mosaic Mural
Information and Literature from local organizations
Tour of Piedmont Biofuels
Free Massages
Free Haircuts
Shadow Puppets
Bliss Tent
Cake Walk

Old music from Reverse (Ivan Howard's old band) - "Another No"

While digging through some old albums, I came across Reverse's self-titled album. Reverse was Ivan Howard's band in Wilmington, NC prior to The Rosebuds. There are early elements in the music of what would later become The Rosebuds sound.

I had the pleasure of seeing Reverse live back in 1999 (I think) at the Cucalorus Festival in Wilmington. I can't remember much about the show except that it was packed and a lot of fun.

Anyway, enough rambling, here's one of my favorite tracks from the album, "Another No." Enjoy.

[photo from album liner notes]

Reverse - "Another No" (mp3)

Ivan Howard, Reid Johnson play solo Friday night

Ivan Howard (of The Rosebuds) and Reid Johnson (of Schooner) will both play solo sets Friday night, December 19 at Rebus Works' special Christmas show. The music will start at 7:30 PM.

The gallery will be having a 5-10-20 sale. That translates to 5-inch art from 10 artists for $20 per piece. Other downtown galleries will also be open late Friday night. Proceeds from Rebus' art sales will be split between the artists and the Interfaith Food Shelter.

Rebus Works is at 301-2 Kinsey Street in Raleigh.

Check out a review and photos of Ivan and Reid playing with their band The Flute Flies at Local 506 here.

[photo by Kevin Norris]

Ivan Howard, Reid Johnson, Zeno Gill form Flute Flies

Ivan Howard (of The Rosebuds), Reid Johnson (of Schooner) and Zeno Gill (of Pox World Empire) have joined forces and started a new project called The Flute Flies. The project was started in order to raise money to pay the medical expenses of the late Cy Rawls. Rawls' friends have laid the groundwork for a service called CyTunes which will feature original music recorded specifically for this cause. The service has not launched yet, but you can read an update on the project here.

You don't have to wait to hear new music from The Flute Flies though. The group have uploaded three songs which you can hear now via MySpace. They're quite good.

Photos: Ivan Howard, Superchunk, The dBs @ UNC early vote rally

Here's the last set of photos from Saturday's early vote rally for Barack Obama at UNC. Included here are photos of Ivan Howard and his NC choir featuring members of Bowerbirds and Megafaun, Superchunk and The dB's featuring Mitch Easter on bass.

[all photos by Kevin Norris]

Ivan Howard set list:
In the Backyard
Get Up Get Out
Boxcar
Life Like
Blue Bird
Nice Fox

Ivan Howard and friends


Superchunk set list:
1,000 Pounds
I Guess I Remembered It Wrong
Cursed Mirror
Detroit Has a Skyline
Throwing Things

Superchunk


The dB's set list (may be a little out of order):
Big Brown Eyes
Dear Valentine
Amplifier
Shapes of Things (The Yardbirds)
Send Me Something Real
V.O.T.E (Public Service Announcement)
That Time Is Gone
Clever
Neverland
Ask For Jill
Excitement

The dB's

Billy Bragg to play Chapel Hill early voting event

This just in from the Portastatic blog: Billy Bragg will play a set at this Saturday's early voting concert in support of Barack Obama. Just another reason to get your butt up early and head out to Morehead Planetarium.

The concert will start at 9am and go until 1pm. And if you live in Orange County you can early vote on site. And if THAT weren't enough, we hear there will even be free donuts. The concert will take place at Graham Terrace, adjacent to the planetarium.

Here's the full lineup, updated with times:
9am Portastatic
9:30 Regina Hexaphone
9:50 Greg Humphries
10:15 Bowerbirds
10:35 I Was Totally Destroying It
11 Megafaun
11:30 Ivan Rosebud
11:50 Superchunk
12:15pm Billy Bragg

Earlier: dBs, Superchunk, Ivan Howard and more to rally for Obama

dBs, Superchunk, Ivan Howard and more to rally for Obama

Merge Records announced today that there will two shows in North Carolina before election day to rally support for Barack Obama. The first show is in Asheville at the Grey Eagle on October 28 and the second is in Chapel Hill at Graham Terrace at UNC on November 1.

The schedule for both shows is like a "who's who" of North Carolina bands including Tift Merritt, Superchunk, Bowerbirds, Ivan Howard (of The Rosebuds), The dBs, Megafaun and many more. Check out the full list below. It should be an awesome time.

The Chapel Hill show will mark the second time that Superchunk has rallied for Obama. The first time was during the primary with Arcade Fire. Check out the review and photos from that show.

Asheville tickets are available starting at 10AM on October 23 UNC-Asheville's Zeis Hall. You get a ticket when you early vote and they'll be given away until they're gone. The show at Grey Eagle starts at 8PM.

The Chapel Hill show is outside at Graham Terrace (adjacent to the Morehead Planetarium early voting site) and there are no tickets. The show at UNC will start at 9AM and run to 1PM.

Asheville, October 28 line-up:
The Reigning Sound
Tift Merritt
Chris Stamey (dBs)
Portastatic
Greg Humphreys (of Hobex)
Electric Owls (ex Comas)

Chapel Hill, November 1 line-up:
The dBs
Superchunk (acoustic)
Ivan Rosebud
Megafaun
I Was Totally Destroying It
Bowerbirds
Greg Humphreys
Regina Hexaphone
Portastatic

Four local songwriters play 'Music on the Porch'

We've mentioned in recent Rosebuds posts that Ivan will be playing solo set at Love House on UNC's campus this Thursday and we now have more details on the show.

The event is called "Music on the Porch" and will feature four local songwriters including Ivan Howard of The Rosebuds, Sara Bell of Shark Quest and Regina Hexaphone, Michael Holland of the late Jennyanykind and Reid Johnson of Schooner. Each songwriter will play some songs and discuss how growing up in North Carolina has affected their music.

The event will take place this Thursday, September 25 from 4 to 6 PM. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. The Love House is at 410 East Franklin Street, at the corner of Battle and Franklin.

So don't miss these songwriters discussing their craft and growing up in North Carolina. It should be a fun and informative two hours.