Best of 2014: Triangle Music readers' favorites

I say this every year but as much as Justin and I (Kevin) love sharing our favorite music of the year with you all, we love finding out what you guys have been digging throughout the year even more.

This year our readers picked The War on Drugs' Lost in the Dream as their favorite album of the year and the band also nabbed the favorite song of the year with "Red Eyes." Tune-Yards at the Cat's Cradle in October was the favorite show of the year, though The War on Drugs also made that list coming in at number three with their set at the Hopscotch Music Festival.

Review: The War on Drugs at Haw River Ballroom

Photo by Will Jackson

In front of a sold out crowd at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, The War on Drugs performed a spectacular show.

The War on Drugs share an amazing chemistry as a band. All of the band’s pieces, which for this show included two guitars, a bass, a keyboards, drums, and multiple brass instruments, fit together to form one sound. Very seldom does one sound rise above the others and break the ranks. Even as front man Adam Granduciel solos, his guitar doesn’t drown out the rest of the members, just complements them.

Hopscotch 2014 Night 1 Photos: Jenny Besetzt, Lilac Shadows, Drag Sounds, White Laces, The War on Drugs

All photos by Chris Powers

During the first night of the 2014 Hopscotch Music Festival, photographer Chris Powers was on the scene documenting the happenings in downtown Raleigh.

Below and to the right you'll see photos of day parties featuring Jenny Besetzt and Lilac Shadows as well as official nighttime sets featuring Drag Sounds at the Pour House and White Laces and The War on Drugs at Lincoln Theatre. Check out Chris' other photos from night one HERE and HERE.

The War on Drugs add fall dates, new Triangle show

The War on Drugs will be headlining the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, September 4, during the Hopscotch festival but he has already scheduled a return to the Triangle this fall, just a bit to the west.

The band will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Friday, October 17. Peter Matthew Bauer of The Walkmen will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out The War on Drugs performing the song "Red Eyes" from their latest album Lost in the Dream on the Late Show with David Letterman last month below.

The War on Drugs added to Hopscotch 2014 lineup

The 2014 Hopscotch Music Festival lineup has grow one band larger with the addition of The War on Drugs who will return for their second performance at the festival having also played the inaugural festival (frontman Adam Granduciel also joined Megafaun for their day party in 2012; see photos HERE).

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, September 4.

The War on Drugs just released their third studio album, Lost in the Dream, in March. Check out the band's full performance for KEXP back in March below.

The War on Drugs & White Rabbits announce March tour, coming to Raleigh

Upcoming indie band The War on Drugs released their new album Slave Ambient earlier this year and are teaming up with White Rabbits for a co-headline tour in March.

The tour will stop at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Friday, March 9. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, December 9 via Etix for $12.

Download the songs "Baby Missiles" and "Come to the City" from Slave Ambient below. You can also stream the song "They Done Wrong / We Done Wrong" from White Rabbits' latest album It's Frightening below as well.

Destroyer brings mellow grooves to the Cat's Cradle

All photos by Kevin Norris

The Cradle was packed on Thursday night as high-voiced troubadour Dan Bejar, known as Destroyer, came to share his mellow, groove-laden new album, Kaputt, with the masses. Backed by a seven-piece band including saxophone and trumpet, Bejar delivered songs from the album and a few older tunes that thrilled fans.

Bejar was the shy rockstar of the night, not playing an instrument during the set and crouching down or casually shaking a tambourine during instrumental sections, which were plentiful throughout the set. Quite a few of the songs ended with jams.

Destroyer announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro with The War on Drugs

Photo by Ted Bois

Dan Bejar, better known as Destroyer, will be brining his unique voice and a new album's worth of material with him when he returns to the Triangle in April. His new album Kaputt will be out via Merge Records on January 25.

Destroyer will play the Cat's Cradle on Thursday, April 7 with Philadelphia group The War on Drugs. Tickets for the show go on sale on Friday, January 7 via etix for $13.

The show will be part of a full band tour that will bring Bejar's songs to life in a new way. The band is said to feature eight members which should be quite a thing to hear.