The Black Keys will launch a big North American tour in late July after spending June "down under" in Australia and New Zealand. The duo just released a new album, Attack & Release, in April and are setting out play it for the masses.
The North American tour will include two North Carolina stops. The one that set off our radar is the Raleigh date at Disco Rodeo on October 5. Tickets for that date go on sale on June 13 for $22. The other North Carolina date is at the ever popular Orange Peel in Asheville. That show is on October 3.
Maybe I'm a sucker for UK bands, but every time iTunes offers up a new track from the UK, I generally have nothing but good things to say. This week's song is no different.
The track is "Let's Dance To Joy Division" from Liverpool band The Wombats. It's a great mix of old school punk and new wave. The song has a great fun vibe and punchy production that really brings the band out of the speakers (or earbuds as the case may be).
The Wombats record, A Guide To Love, Loss & Depression will be out in the US on June 24.
Ben Folds put on a hell of a show Friday night at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre, but the front of the house may not have realized it.
The front third of the audience remained seated for the vast majority of Folds' performance, which included several brand new songs off his forthcoming album as well as old material all the way back to "Underground," off Ben Folds Five's 1995 self-titled debut.
Folds refrained from any knocks on suburbia during his two-hour concert, but he did share concern for the "duckies and turtles" surrounding the amphitheatre on Symphony Lake (yes, that's really its name).
"It's a rock show, but it's in the wilderness so they want to keep the decibel level down so we don't fuck with wildlife," Folds told the crowd early in the set. Actually, Ben, it's because the neighbors got pissy during a Poison concert a few years back, but that's a story for another time.
Folds' shows are known for their crowd participation on songs like "Army" and "Not the Same," but audience members weren't shy to cry out at other times too.
While introducing "Free Coffee," a new song, and explaining how he achieved different sounds — using Altoids tins and a distortion pedal — one particular asshole yelled out "Play the song, motherfucker!"
"I go around the world defending the south all the time," replied Folds, who appeared to be taken aback. "It's ok," he followed, "I like guys who say motherfucker."
Folds shared plenty of stories with the crowd — including an incredibly fake one about his father once blinding a woman with a liquor bottle at a .38 Special show at Walnut Creek.
Folds said he spent the earlier part of his day reminiscing in Chapel Hill. He visited his old apartment and stopped for a slice at Pepper's, where his image hangs on the wall. Only he mistook his likeness for Ryan Adams, commenting "that's one ugly motherfucker" before being corrected. "Thanks for that," he said.
The Cary crowd got its own "Rock This Bitch" moment when someone yelled out a particularly inaudible request. Folds responded by making a song up on the spot — on that ended with him flailing about the stage and (temporarily) breaking his piano (watch a part of the improv below).
Unsatisfied, dozens of fans called out for Folds and his band to play "Rock This Bitch" (a song written on the spot during the recording of Ben Folds Live, and he gave in — sort of.
"I have an idea. I'll play this song and then we won't play it again for a long time," he said before launching into the signature opening chords of "Bitches Ain't Shit," a Dr. Dre song he famously covered and released as a single.
And there, on a warm late spring night, were thousands of white people in the 'burbs singing a chorus of "Bitches can't hang with the streets." What else would you expect from a Ben Folds show?
Set List: new song Gone You to Thank Free Coffee All U Can Eat Landed Hiroshima Annie Waits Bastard Not the Same Theme from "Dr. Pyser" Still Fighting It Army Bitches Ain't Shit Narcolepsy Underground Zak and Sara Kate Rockin' the Suburbs ------------- Effington One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces
The Stills will release their third full-length album titled Oceans Will Rise on August 19 via Arts & Crafts. If the first few tracks are any indication, it's going to be a dark record.
Legendary guitarist Bo Diddley died today at his home in Archer, FL. He was 79. The family said the cause was heart failure.
Diddley was an innovative guitarist who was most known for creating what became known as the "Bo Diddley" beat. The beat was featured on his songs "Who Do You Love?" and "Bo Diddley." The distinct beat was later used by artist from Buddy Holly to U2 to George Michael among many, many others.
His style changed the face of rock and roll and he will be missed.
Check out this old performance of "Bo Diddley."
Here's a more recent clip of Bo Diddley with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers playing "Mona." This is from the Tom Petty DVD High Grass Dogs which was filmed live at the Filmore in San Francisco in 1999.
The Black Keys will launch a big North American tour in late July after spending June "down under" in Australia and New Zealand. The duo just released a new album, Attack & Release, in April and are setting out play it for the masses.
