Damon Albarn announces short US tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by Linda Brownlee

British singer-songwriter Damon Albarn, frontman of Blur and The Good, The Bad and The Queen, as well as the mastermind behind Gorillaz, will release his debut solo album tomorrow, April 29, titled Everyday Robots. Albarn has just added a few US tour dates between his appearances at the Governor's Ball Festival in New York and the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee.

He'll play Memorial Auditorium the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Thursday, June 12. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll keep you posted. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 2, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $42.29. Tickets are on sale via Etix for $40.75.

Check out the music video for "Heavy Seas of Love" from Everyday Robots below along with Albarn and his band's recent performance of "Mr. Tembo" on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Alice in Chains announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Hard rockers Alice in Chains released a new album last year titled The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here and they're hitting the road on big spring tour in support of it.

The band will return Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Wednesday, May 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, January 31, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $37.13 to $64.30.

Check out the music video for the song "Voices" from The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here below.

Queens of the Stone Age announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

Alt rockers Queens of the Stone Age will hit the road for another round of tour dates this winter in support of their latest album ...Like Clockwork and they'll make their way to the Triangle this time out.

The band will play the Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center in Raleigh on Thursday, January 30. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 22, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $36 to $56.

Check out the music video for "The Vampyre of Time and Memory" from ...Like Clockwork below. There's an interactive version of the video which you can experience HERE.

George Thorogood & The Destoyers announce 2014 dates

Mr. Bad to the Bone himself, George Thorogood and his band The Destroyers will hit the road next spring on a short U.S. tour which is a continuation of his 40th anniversary tour and it will include a stop in the Triangle.

George and the guys will play the Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Friday, March 17. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, Friday, September 13, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $37 to $47.

Check out the band performing the song "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" from the 30th anniversary tour back in 2003 below.

Hopscotch 2013 Night 3: Scout Niblett, Lonnie Holley, John Cale

Photos by Kevin Norris

In the small cube of Kennedy Theater, a half-seated, half-standing crowd witnessed the set of the festival from Scout Nibett.

Niblett’s It’s Up To Emma is a brutal album, but the songs reach unbelievable levels of intensity live when paired with her burning stare and ferocious vocal delivery. This was a performance felt in the gut.

Her performance was both terrifying and cathartic. Terrifying because her anger is so palpable it’s easy to believe she might act on her macabre thoughts. Cathartic because the brooding, sparse guitar builds into gargantuan drum hits and cleansing guitar solos. She played the audience perfectly building up the tension until it just had to burst.

Hopscotch 2013 Night 2: High Highs, Local Natives

Photos by Kevin Norris

After leaving City Plaza and finding out that Lady Lamb the Beekeeper's set had been pushed back an hour due to a sudden cancelation of Night Beds, I made my way to Memorial Auditorium to catch a bit of the Australian via New York band High Highs.

The trio was another act to benefit from the natural reverb of the big room as they filled it with the lush, dreamy pop sounds of their debut album Open Season. Frontman Jack Milas' vocals soared over a rich, shimmering guitar and a solid foundation of synths and drums. Check out photos from their set below.

A-Trak & Holy Ghost! added to Hopscotch lineup, Big Boi is rescheduled

Holy Ghost!

The Hopscotch organizers have found a replacement, actually two, for hip hop star Big Boi, who was slated to headline the City Plaza stage on Friday, September 6. The night will now be capped with sets from Holy Ghost! and A-Trak. Gross Ghost and Future Islands will stick kick off the City Plaza show on Friday.

The Big Boi show has been rescheduled as promised and he'll now headline a show at Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, September 21. Folks who purchased tickets solely for the City Plaza show headlined by Big Boi will be contacted by Hopscotch so they can receive a free ticket to the new show on September 21.

The Monkees announce summer tour, coming to Raleigh

The surviving members of The Monkees, Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork, are planning summer tour this year that they've dubbed A Midsummer's Night With The Monkees and it will make its way to the Triangle.

They'll play Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday, July 23. Ticket information is not available yet but tickets should go on sale soon via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out a performance of "Last Train To Clarksville" from The Monkees 2012 tour stop in Cupertino, CA below.

Whitesnake announces summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Rock band Whitesnake, the guys who brought us the 1980s rock anthem "Here I Go Again," are hitting the road this summer on a North American tour that will bring the band to Raleigh (which happens to the birthplace of Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich, who has been in the band since they reformed in 2002).

The band will play the Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center (formerly the Progress Energy Center) on Tuesday, July 30. Tickets are on sale now via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $52 to $67.

Check out the band performing their aforementioned hit "Here I Go Again" from the 2006 DVD Live... In The Still Of The Night below.

John Cale first confirmed Hopscotch 2013 performer

The 2013 Hopscotch Music Festival is still over three months away, but tickets have been on sale since February 1 and the first first two price points for three-day passes have already sold out.

The festival named its first performer late last week and it's a doozy. Legendary musician, singer-songwriter and founding member of The Velvet Underground Jon Cale will headline a show at the Memorial Auditorium one night of the festival, September 5-7. The night has not been confirmed yet.

The 70-year-old rocker released a new album last year which is brilliantly titled Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood. Check out the music video for "Face to the Sky" from the album below.

Hopscotch 2012 Day 3: Versus, Sunn O)))

All photos by Kevin Norris

New York indie rockers Versus took the stage at the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday night which was dominated by Merge acts (Mac McCaughan and Wye Oak were also on the bill). The band rocked through the first few songs of their set which sounded fantastic.

A little later over at Memorial Auditorium, smoke machines filled the dark venue well before drone metal band Sunn O))) took the stage. Backed by a giant wall of amplifiers, the creepy, robe wearing band shook the venue with crushing sounds.

Hopscotch 2012 Day 2: Naked Gods and Yo La Tengo

Photo by Kevin Norris

It was a good night for rock and roll in Raleigh and the comfortably full Tir Na Nog got some of the best.

Boone's Naked Gods owned the small stage in the Irish pub. Singer Seth Sullivan bashed his tambourine with fury in between verses. Guitarist Derek Wycoff bent his guitar every which away to get it to scream and howl.

While Naked Gods’ robust rock is angular at times, it has a very organic sound. The mountains that surround the band’s hometown seem very much a part of their music.

Hopscotch 2012 Day 1: Matthew E. White, Deerhoof, Liars

All photos by Kevin Norris

In just three years, Hopscotch has become one of the most respected music festivals in the country. One reason for this is the truly unique sets its organizers put together. The first night of Hopscotch 2012 was no exception.

In Fletcher Opera Theater, Matthew E. White and 30 other musicians (including the Triangle’s own Phil Cook) recreated White’s adventurous new album, Big Inner, live. White stood center stage straddled by bass, drums and keys. Behind him were sections of strings, back up vocalists, and winds.

Jane's Addiction announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

On again off again rockers Jane's Addiction have extended their 2012 reunion tour, dubbed the Theatre of Escapists Tour, and will be making their way to the Triangle this spring.

They'll play Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 22. The Duke Spirit will open. Tickets will go on sale today, March 9, at 10 a.m. via the Progress Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $40 to $60.

Jane's Addiction released their fourth album The Great Escape Artist in 2011. Check out the band's latest music video for "Underground," the opening track from the album, below.

Feist expands 'Metals' tour, coming to Raleigh

Canadian singer-songwriter Leslie Feist, aka Feist, has announced new North American tour dates following last year's release of Metals and has added the Triangle to her schedule.

Feist will play Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium, presented by Cat's Cradle, on Thursday, May 3. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 3, with a presale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Click through to check out Feist's latest video for "The Bad in Each Other" and a list of tour dates.

Primus preps new album & tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by C. Taylor Crothers

The bizarre, Les Claypool led trio Primus are preparing to release their first album of new material since 1999's Antipop. The album doesn't have a title yet, but is expected to be released in late spring or early summer via ATO/Prawn Song Records.

The band will hit the road in May in support of the album. The tour will bring them to Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 31. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. via the box office and Ticketmaster for $39.50 plus fees. A pre-sale begins on Tuesday, March 8 at 10 a.m. and the password is cheese.

The band offered a free EP ahead of their June 2010 tour rehearsals featuring the songs "Pudding Time," "American Life," "Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread" and "Harold of the Rocks." Download that EP via the widget below for the price of a functional email address.

James and Ben Taylor announce 2011 dates, coming to Raleigh

One of North Carolina's most well-known exports, Mr. James Taylor, is preparing to the hit the road in 2011 with his son and songwriter Ben Taylor by his side.

Taylor has played much bigger venues in the Triangle in the past, but this time he'll be playing the just over 2,200 to 2,300 seat Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh. The show will be on Saturday, March 26. Tickets go on sale on Friday, December 10 at 10 a.m. via the venue box office or Ticketmaster for $77.40 to $98. A pre-sale begins on JamesTaylor.com on Monday, December 6 at 11 a.m.

He won't be playing this at the show in March, but 'tis the season, so stream the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" below which is from his 2006 holiday album James Taylor at Christmas.

Robert Plant announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

Legendary Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant is hitting the road in early 2011 in support of his latest solo album Band of Joy.

The tour will make not just one, but three stops in North Carolina. He'll play Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Wednesday, February 2. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, November 19 at 10 a.m. here for $67 or $47.

He'll also play Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville on Tuesday, January 18 and Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte on Monday, February 7.

Check out the music video for the song "Angel Dance" from Band of Joy below along with the complete tour schedule.

The National play stunning set at Memorial Auditorium

All photos by Kevin Norris

The National strolled onto the stage at Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium Monday night, wowing the crowd with a lengthy set spanning their last four albums.

They kicked things off with the Boxer classic "Start a War" and were joined by a pair of horn players who stuck around for the entire set adding a little extra color to the band's tunes.

The set was heavy on songs from The National's latest album High Violet as well as their breakthrough album Boxer. A few older tunes were big hits in the set too, including the raucous "Abel" and the even older "Available."

Win tickets to The National at Memorial Auditorium

The National will hit Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium on Monday, October 4, in support of their latest album, High Violet, and, with the help of the fine folks at Cat's Cradle, we want to help you go.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email us at trianglemusicblog at gmail dot com no later than Monday, September 27, at noon with "The National Tickets" in the subject line. We'll notify a randomly-drawn winner Monday afternoon.

Tickets to the show are $33-36 and available through Ticketmaster.

Update: This is clearly going to be a popular giveaway, so please, ONE ENTRY PER PERSON, not per email address. Thanks!