Hopscotch 2011 Day 2: Pepper Rabbit at Five Star, Wembley at The Union

All photos by Emily Price

Fresh off the release of their latest album, Red Velvet Snowball, Los Angeles-based Pepper Rabbit packed fans into the bar area at Five Star Friday evening for an energetic set. I only arrived in time to see the last few songs of the set, but the crowd seemed nearly entranced by the duo's synth pop.

Across the Warehouse district, Wembley fans at The Union were a little more low key as the Hillsborough four-piece played a set laced with dreamy, piano-driven tunes as well as more upbeat ones, such as "(Did You Give Him His) Pills," off their EP, You Are Invisible. Though it had been a couple years since I'd seen the group live, their set reminded me why memory has always looked up on them favorably.

Electric Owls to play Chapel Hill with Wembley, North Elementary

Electric Owls, songwriter Andy Herod's project after The Comas, released his/their debut album, Ain't Too Bright in 2009 via Vagrant Records. He is calling Asheville home these days but is planning a return to the Triangle.

Electric Owls will headline a three-band bill at Local 506 on Saturday, Aug. 21 which will also feature local bands North Elementary and Wembley. Tickets info for the show is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted.

If you haven't heard the Owls yet, check out the songs "Magic Show" and "Cannibal Superstar" from Ain't Too Bright below. Herod has a knack for great melodies and lush arrangements which is front and center on the album.

The Comas and Great Northern heat up Local 506

North Carolina ex-patriots The Comas stopped by Local 506 Saturday night with their new friends from Los Angeles, Great Northern.

Hillsborough band, Wembley, opened the show with a short set of spaced-out pop with howling Buckley-esque vocals. The set included the song "Death Incarnate" which can be downloaded on the band's MySpace page along with three other songs.

Great Northern took the stage with an amazing set full of songs from their debut album Trading Twilight For Daylight. The vocals of Solon Bixler and Rachel Stolte blended beautifully throughout the set on "Just A Dream" and the band rocked out on the anthematic tune, "Home."

Great Northern was joined onstage by The Comas' Andy Herod and Nicole Gehweiler towards the end of the set. The two contributed additional percussion and backing vocals.

Great Northern were quick to return the favor as The Comas took the stage. Solon and Rachel quickly hopped on stage at the beginning of The Comas set to add percussion to the band's fuzzed-out, Spells heavy set. As the band rocked through "Come My Sunshine" and "Red Microphones," the temperature continued to rise throughout the set — literally. Guitarist/vocalist Nicole mouthed, "I'm going to pass out" towards the end of the band's set. The Comas played three more songs before leaving the stage. They quickly returned to play "Tonight on the WB" from their previous album, Conductor and one more song before calling it a night.

Fans at the show ignored the heat as the danced and sang along to The Comas set. It was quite different from the usual, arms crossed, apathetic crowd I'm used to seeing at most Cradle/506 shows. It was really good to see people having fun at a show rather than standing still.

Great Northern and The Comas will continue their trek across America for two more weeks before parting ways. The bands seem like old friends even though they only met two weeks ago. Great Northern drummer Davey Latter said when the bands get together "It's like a gang mentality."

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