The Raveonettes announce spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Gazey Danish pop duo The Raveonettes are preparing to release their fifth album in March via Vice Records titled Raven in the Grave, which will be followed by a month long North American tour.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle on Saturday, April 16. Tamaryn will open the show. Tickets go on sale on Friday, February 4 via etix for $15.

No music is available from the new album yet, but check out the music video for "The Last Dance" from their last album In and Out of Control below.

Album Review: Destroyer - Kaputt

Thanks to a steady stream of EPs preceding it, Kaputt has become the most anticipated album of the first quarter of the year.

In the past Destroyer has been aggressive, but this album is calmer and addresses an issue the band rarely has: love. If Streethawk: A Seduction was the boastful facade used to impress another person, Kaputt is the naked emotions of the aftermath.

Daniel Bejar and Sibel Thrasher sing in unison, “I can’t walk away. You can’t walk away,” on “Chinatown.” It’s a tender, but tense moment that blooms into a budding love in “Blue Eyes” where Bejar becomes infatuated with this “permanent figure of jacked up sorrow” and confesses “I want you to love me.”

Mac McCaughan & Phil Cook play solo for Moving Island

 

All photos by Kevin Norris

On Saturday afternoon, a small crowd gathered at the new Raleigh arts space/community center dubbed Moving Island to hear some great musicians perform to raise money for the organization.

Young Volcanoes hit the stage first, playing a set of laid back pop tunes. The quartet was a little rough around the edges, but is definitely a band to keep an eye out for.

Almost an hour after Young Volcanoes wrapped, Mac McCaughan took the stage for a set that was well worth the wait. He hit the ground running with "Crossed Wires" from Superchunk's latest album Majesty Shredding before playing "February Punk," the b-side of "Digging For Something." Mac noted that he wanted to play the song because of its relation to the Raleigh scene, but didn't elaborate further.

Polvo return once again, playing Raleigh

Photo by Ashley Worley

Louder than loud Chapel Hill rockers Polvo will bring their unique sound back to the Triangle in March for one of the band's first hometown shows in a while.

They'll play Kings in downtown Raleigh on Saturday, March 19. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance via etix. There's no word yet on who will open the show.

Polvo released their big released their first album in 12 years in 2009 titled In Prism. If you haven't heard any it, download the song "Beggar's Bowl" from the album below. Also, check out a video of the band performing the songs "Dream Residue," "Work" and "Can I Ride" at XX Merge in July 2009 HERE.

OutKast's Big Boi rocks UNC's Memorial Hall

UNC students who couldn't make it to Moogfest last fall got another chance at seeing one of its headliners this week when rap superstar Big Boi stopped by for a performance. CUAB, the committee responsible for booking on-campus events, had another hit on their hands with Wednesday night's show. While Memorial Hall's formal air made it seem like an odd choice of venue, the show delighted students looking for a great time on a weeknight.

Wichita native XV opened the show, playing to a small but very enthusiastic crowd. Few seemed to know who he was, but none of them cared. His songs were pretty refreshing in comparison to most of the Top 40 hip-hop out there, with samples ranging from The Pixies ("Hey") to dialogue from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ("Willy Wonkavator"). By the time Big Boi hit the stage, the theater was packed.

Vetiver & Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion announce tour

The broad genre folk is the common denominator on a short spring tour that will see California band Vetiver hitting the road with married duo Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion.

The pair of acts will play The Pinhook in Durham on Thursday, March 24. Additional details of the show are not available yet, but we'll keep you posted.

[UPDATE: Tickets are now available HERE in for $11.54 (that includes fees).]

David Dondero & Franz Nicolay announce tour, coming to Chapel Hill

Singer-songwriters David Dondero (named by NPR as one of the best living songwriters) and Franz Nicolay (of The Hold Steady) are teaming up for a hefty seven-week tour that will kick off in Brooklyn on February 25 and cover the country before ending where they started in New York, NY on April 15.

The tour will stop at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, March 1. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $8.

Dondero's new album A Pre-Existing Condition will be released on February 22 via Ghostmeat Records. Download the song "Not Everybody Loves Your Doggie Like You Do" from the album below.

Black Lips & Vivian Girls announce tour, coming to Carrboro

Georgia rockers Black Lips and New York band Vivian Girls are teaming up for a spring tour that will kick off right here in the Triangle.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, April 6. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 28 via etix for $12.

The Black Lips have recored a new album with hit maker Mark Ronson which is tentatively due out in April. Check out a live performance of "Family Tree," which is expected to be on the album, below.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit & Hayes Carll announce tour, coming to Raleigh

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have become a regular visitor to the Triangle. They were last here in October at the Casbah in Durham and are coming back this way on their spring tour with Hayes Carll.

They'll play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Tuesday, April 19. Tickets for the show are supposed to go on sale via etix for $14 on Friday, January 28, but they seem to already be available now.

[UPDATE: Shovels and Rope will open the show, which is the combined talents of songwriters Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent. Don't miss this band, cause they will rock your socks.]

YACHT announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Portland electropop band YACHT is preparing to hit the road this spring to preview new songs from their as-of-yet untitled new album due out sometime this year. Their last album See Mystery Lights was released in 2009.

The tour will bring the duo to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, April 23. Tickets for the show are on sale now via etix for $12.

Check out the music video for the song "Psychic City (Voodoo City)" from See Mystery Lights below.

Mac McCaughan, Phil Cook, Lonnie Walker & more playing arts benefit in Raleigh

Not only is there a benefit show in Durham this weekend, there is also a two-night benefit in Raleigh for the new community education facility dubbed Moving Island. The organization is led by four board members, Chris Riddle (Motor Skills/Old Bricks), Adam Crane, Kelly Crisp (The Rosebuds) and Maria Albani (Schooner/Organos).

The benefit concert, cleverly called Buoyancy Benefit since it's to get the organization afloat, will be at Moving Island, which is located at 804 N. West St. in Raleigh. It will happen on Friday, January 28 starting at 7 p.m. & Saturday, January 29 starting at 3 p.m.

Megafaun, The Old Ceremony & more to play benefit in Durham

This weekend, a plethora of local talent will gather at Motorco Music Hall in Durham to raise money for arts programs at Central Park Charter School and arts programs they sponsor throughout the Durham community.

The event will happen on Friday, January 28 and will feature Megafaun, The Old Ceremony, Midtown Dickens, The Beast and Wigg Report. Megafaun has just been added as a special guest. Student bands will also perform early in the day. The event starts at 5 p.m.

Advance tickets are just $9.19 (that includes fees) or $10 at the door, so get out and support a good cause.

Lil Wayne announces spring tour with Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross & Travis Barker

Lil Wayne has been out of prison since early November and has been staying in the public eye, releasing a hit single called "6 Foot 7 Foot" and appearing on Saturday Night Live with Eminem. Now he's gearing up for a new tour dubbed "I Am Music II" with an army of opening talent including Nicki Minaj Rick Ross and Travis Barker and Mixmaster Mike.

The tour will come to the Greensboro Coliseum on Friday, April 8. Ticket info for the show is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted.

[UPDATE: Tickets will go on sale on Friday, February 4 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Prices are still not available.]

Album Review: Apex Manor - The Year of Magical Drinking

The quiet disbanding of The Broken West in 2009 didn't silence principal songwriter and frontman Ross Flournoy for long. With the help of a new home and the uncommon inspiration of an online songwriting contest, his new project Apex Manor was born.

The album The Year of Magical Drinking will sound very similar to Broken West fans. Flournoy's keen ear for great catchy melodies shine continues to shine with the album.

The album rockets through the first four tracks with pop fury, fuzzed out and shimmering guitars soaring. The song takes a sharp turn with the steady drum machine beat, mellow keys and somber melody on "My My Mind."

NHL All-Star game brings free concerts to downtown Raleigh

The NHL All-Star Game is being held at the RBC Center this weekend, and the celebration is spilling into downtown Raleigh with some free concerts and events dubbed NHL All-Star Wide Open.

First, at the Downtown Raleigh Amphitheater, 3 Doors Down (yeesh) is headlining a show on Friday, January 28 with Performing Assets and  Zamboni's. On Saturday, January 29, the amphitheater will host Chuck Wicks, Airiel Down, Zamboni's, Hank Sinatra, Big Daddy Love and Chris Hendricks. On Friday the music starts at 6 p.m. and on Saturday it starts at 11 a.m.

Ted Leo reschedules solo tour including Chapel Hill

Photo by Matias Corral

We told you about Ted Leo having canceled most of his solo tour due to a family emergency, but now he's rescheduled a lot of the dates including his stop in Chapel Hill.

So now Leo will be coming to Local 506 on Thursday, May 12. There's no word yet on whether Mac McCaughan will be opening the new date, but hopefully he will. Tickets are available now via etix for $10.

[UPDATE: Nashville singer-songwriter Daniel Pujol will open the show.]

Check out a video of Leo performing a solo cover of Liz Phair's "Fuck and Run" below.

Album Review: Deerhoof - Deerhoof vs. Evil

Deerhoof vs. Evil is the tenth album from the influential San Francisco noise-pop group and for the first time in their career, Deerhoof seem content not to beat their listeners over the head with random sounds and unsettling noise just for the sake of saying "Hey, look! Aren’t we weird?"

There are still plenty of jagged rhythms, feedback, synths gone haywire and quirky vocals to keep the listener off-balance throughout the album, but they are more focused and purposeful than on any previous Deerhoof release. Now these ornamental elements help to embellish the foundation of a song rather than obfuscate it.

Stream new albums from Apex Manor, Destroyer, East River Pipe

Merge Records has a bunch of great albums on the docket for this year, the first of which will be Kaputt by Destroyer and The Year of Magical Drinking by Apex Manor, both due out on Tuesday, January 25. Stream Kaputt via Hypem and The Year of Magical Drinking via Merge's website.

Also, East River Pipe's new album We Live in Rented Rooms isn't due out until February 15, but you can head on over to Merge's site and give it a listen as well.

Check out our previous posts about Destroyer, Apex Manor and East River Pipe by clicking each of the preceding names.

The Love Language to play Chapel Hill with Telekinesis

Photo by Cheater Slicks

The Love Language are already set to hit the road with their Merge labelmates Telekinesis in February through March, but they were not on the bill for the Chapel Hill show. Well that's now changed.

The Love Language will headline the show at Local 506 on Sunday, March 13 with Telekinesis now set to open the show. Tickets are available via etix for just $8.

Telekinesis' new album 12 Desperate Straight Lines will be released on February 15. Check out more info on the release and download the song "Car Crash" from the album HERE. Check out photos and a review of The Love Langauge's recent show at Cat's Cradle HERE.

Times New Viking signs to Merge Records, releasing album in April

Photo by Jo McCaughey

Columbus, OH lo-fi rockers Times New Viking have joined the ever-growing roster of Durham-based Merge Records. The band are leaving another indie giant, Matador, who released their last two albums.

Merge will release Times New Viking's new album Dancer Equired on April 26. The first music video from the album is for the song "No Room To Live," which you can watch below. It's a fantastic little animated clip for the laid back tune.

The new record won't be the first time the band has recorded something for Merge Records. They contributed a cover of Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" to the 2009 Covers album which was part of Merge's twentieth anniversary celebration. Stream the cover via the YouTube clip below.

The Mountain Goats announce spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Photo by Steven Dewall

The Mountain Goats new album All Eternals Deck, their Merge debut will be out on March 29 and the tour dates in support of it are coming in.

Darnielle and the guys will celebrate the new album at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, April 8. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 21 at 10 a.m. via etix for $17.

[UPDATE: This show just got even crazier because Megafaun is going to open. You don't want to miss this one.]

Katy Perry announces 'California Dreams" tour, coming to Raleigh

Pop star Katy Perry has become a household name, for better or worse, over the last few years, appearing everywhere from Saturday Night Live to The Simpsons to Sesame Street. Now she's taking her infectious pop to arenas across North America this summer on the California Dreams Tour.

The fifth date of the tour is at the RBC Center in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 14. Robyn and Marina & the Diamonds will open the show (thanks Justin). Ticket details are not available yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Perry's latest album Teenage Dream has sold just shy of one million copies in the U.S. Check out the lastest music video from the album, "Fireworks," below.

Sebadoh announces tour supporting reissues, coming to Carrboro

We just let you know about one Dinosaur Jr. member coming to the Triangle and now another is heading this way a week earlier. Lou Barlow will be taking his old band Sebadoh out on the road this year to support the reissues of their 1994 and 1996 albums Bakesale and Hamacy, due out via Sub Pop this year with tons of bonus tracks.

Sebadoh will come to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, March 27. Tickets are on sale now for $15 via etix.

[UPDATE: Singer-songwriter Richard Buckner will be opening the east coast leg of Sebadoh's tour including the Cat's Cradle show. Check out photos and a review of Buckner's 2009 set at XX Merge HERE.]

J Mascis announces solo tour with Kurt Vile, coming to Carrboro

Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis is preparing to release a new solo album titled Several Shades of Why via Sub Pop Records on March 15. He'll head out on the road on a solo tour in March with singer-songwriter Kurt Vile, who also has a new album due out on March 8 titled Smoke Ring For My Halo.

The tour will stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday April, 10. Tickets for the show will go on sale on Friday, January 21 at 10 a.m. via etix for $16.

Download the song "Not Enough" from Mascis' forthcoming album below as well as the song "Jesus Fever" from Vile's forthcoming release.

The Love Language & Gayngs heading to Indio for Coachella 2011

The Coachella Festival in Indio, CA has become of the most popular and coolest music festivals in the country and the 2011 line-up has just been announced. It features none other that the Triangle's own superstars and one of Triangle Music's favorite bands The Love Language.

This will be another big step for the band whose career is heading upward at a steady pace.

[UPDATE: I just noticed that Gayngs, which most of you know features local musicians from Megafaun and The Rosebuds, is tucked in the schedule too on Friday, April 15. Hopefully this time, no one will disappear with the group's gear (more on that HERE).]

Old 97s plan a busy 2011 tour, coming to Carrboro

Rhett Miller and the gang in Old 97s are gearing up for a busy 2011 in support of their latest album The Grand Theatre, Volume One, released in October via New West Records.

The band will be on the road throughout the winter and spring and will be coming back to the Triangle. They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, April 13. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 21 at 10 a.m. via etix for $18. Teddy Thompson will open the show.

The band are planning to release volume two of The Grand Theatre some time in 2011, but a release date has not been set. Watch a performance of the song "Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You)" from The Grand Theatre, Volume One below.

Interpol announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

New York rock quartet Interpol celebrated the release of their fourth album, which is self-titled, in 2010, which also marked the band's return to Matador Records after a brief stint with Capitol Records.

The band will hit the road on a new U.S. tour this spring that will bring them back to the Triangle for the first time since September 2007. They'll return to the same venue, Disco Rodeo in Raleigh, on Wednesday, May 4. Tickets for the show will go on sale on Friday, January 21 at 10 a.m. via etix for $25.

[UPDATE: New York band School of Seven Bells will open the show.]

Check out the music video for the song "Barricade" from Interpol's new album below.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings announce new tour, coming to Raleigh

The undeniably amazing classic soul sound of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings will be rolling through country early this year and will bring the group back to the Triangle.

The band last played the Cat's Cradle in May 2010 and this time will be heading east to play Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Saturday, March 26. Tickets for the show will be $25 in advance and should be available via etix soon.

Check out the excellent black and white music video for the song "If You Call" from the band's lastest album I Learned the Hard Way below.

Album Review: Tennis - Cape Dory

Longing for a past vacation will lead most folks to peruse their trip pictures or just daydream, but not husband and wife duo Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore. Instead, they formed Tennis and wrote their debut album, Cape Dory.

Tennis combine 60s pop, a yacht rock aesthetic, and misty lo-fi production to create an album full of reflective pop songs. The album opens with Moore asking, “Take me somewhere,” and follows that up with two to three minute snapshots of their trip.

On “Marathon” we learn that “Coconut Grove is a very small cove” and that Riley and Moore “arrived at high tide” and weren’t sure if they’d make it out alive. There’s something appealing about the simplicity of the storytelling and the sparse nature of the music. It feels like sitting in someone’s living room watching a slide show, except the hosts aren’t trying to show off. They genuinely enjoyed their trip enough they can’t hold back.

The Love Language play ferocious set at the Cradle

All photos by Kevin Norris

Now that we've covered the Archers of Loaf reunion, it's time to get back to the reason a sold out crowd gathered at the Cat's Cradle on Saturday night in the first place. Local superstars The Love Language took the stage before a crowd of ravenous young fans ready to hear their favorite band.

Unlike the Libraries album release show at the Cradle in July 2010 which felt like a jubilant hometown gig, this show felt more urgent and angsty. The band experimented with different arrangements of songs and sounded like a band who had spent the better part of 2010 on the road perfecting their chops.

Reunited Archers of Loaf play an explosive set at the Cat's Cradle

All photos by Kevin Norris

The legendary Chapel Hill band Archers of Loaf reunited at the Cat's Cradle Saturday night in an opening slot for The Love Language. We'll get to The Love Language's set in a separate post, but Archers of Loaf's fiery set deserves its own space.

They came out swinging with the song "Audiowhore" and didn't let up. The entire twelve-song set was comprised of the band's earliest three releases Icky Mettle, Vs the Greatest of All Time and Vee Vee.

Ted Leo cancels solo shows including Chapel Hill

Some bad news for everyone looking forward to seeing Ted Leo perform his solo show at Local 506 on February 5 with Mac McCaughan opening. Leo has canceled most of his upcoming solo shows due to a family emergency.

Local 506 is working to reschedule the show and plans to honor tickets that have already been purchased for the new date. We'll certainly keep you posted when and if a new date is announced.

Lost in the Trees re-releasing 'Time Taunts Me' in February

After a busy 2010 which saw the retooled re-release of All Alone in an Empty House, Lost in the Trees are now preparing to re-release their original EP Time Taunts Me, this time as a full-length album.

Three songs, "Ballroom Dancing," "Utterly Alone" and "Lamp Post," will be added to the original seven (check out the full track list below). Trekky Records will release the new version on their signature vinyl, CD and mp3 download package on February 1. You can pre-order it now HERE.

Download the new version of "Tall Trees" below which sounds fantastic. Lost in Trees are currently on the road with fellow Trekky band Butterflies and will also be opening a few shows for Neko Case in February. Check out the schedule below.

The Baseball Project announced star-studded second album

The band known as The Baseball Project featuring Steve Wynn, Scott McCaughey, Linda Pitmon and Peter Buck are preparing to the release the follow-up to their 2008 debut. The aptly titled Volume 2: High and Inside will be released on March 1 via Yep Roc Records.

The band is already full of heavy-hitters as it stands, but the album will feature a slew of guests and fellow baseball fans including Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie, Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, Ira Caplan of Yo La Tengo, Robert Lloyd and Chris Funk and John Moen of The Decemberists.

Stream the songs "Panda & the Freak" and "Don't Call Them Twinkies" from Volume 2 via the widget below and check out the album's full track list below that.

British Sea Power announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro

The Brits of British Sea Power just released their fifth full-length album on January 11 titled Valhalla Dancehall, and now the band has announced a new North American tour in support of the release this spring.

Towards the end of the tour, the band will stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, April 18. Tickets for the show are on sale now via etix for $12. A Classic Education will open.

Download the fantastic, rocking pop song "Who's in Control" from Valhalla Dancehall below.

Videos: The Love Language perform "Heart To Tell" & "Sparxxx" on the beach

The Love Language's show at the Cat's Cradle on Saturday, July 15 is now sold out, but there's still some excellent videos that everyone can enjoy.

Back in August, the band filmed a performance under Johnny Mercer's Pier in Wrightsville Beach and two songs have now been posted online. Watch the band perform "Heart To Tell" and "Sparxxx" on the beach below. The view is fantastic and the sound is quite good, especially considering the surroundings.

Stay tuned for photos and a review of the band's Cat's Cradle show with a super exciting special guest at the beginning of next week.

Death To False Hope Festival hosting 49 bands on 3 stages

We first mentioned the Death To False Hope Festival happening in Durham on January 21 and 22 back in October when pop punk band Less Than Jake was announced as a headliner. Now the full schedule of the festival has been released which will feature 49 bands on three stages at Motorco Music Hall and Fullsteam Brewery.

Bands slated to play include Hammer No More the Fingers, Off With Their Heads, Supervillians, Maple Stave, Jason Kutchma, I Was Totally Destroying It, Red Collar, Last Year's Men and Pink Flag. Check out the full stage schedule with times below.

Two-day tickets are available HERE for $25 plus a small fee. Also, Motorco is a membership club, so if you don't have a membership, you'll have to pay $3 to join.

A Place To Bury Strangers announces March dates, coming to Durham

A Place To Bury Strangers, whom some call the loudest band in New York, are hitting the road in March on a U.S. tour, still supporting their 2009 album Exploding Head.

The tour will bring them to Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Friday, March 11. Hooray For Earth and Free Electric State will open the show. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $11.24 (that includes fees).

Check out the music video for A Place To Bury Strangers' music video for "I Lived My Life To Stand in the Shadow of Your Heart" below & read our review of Hooray For Earth's latest release Momo HERE.

The Jackets set up residency at Motorco in January

Durham pop rock band The Jackets, which features Chatham County Line members John Teer and Chandler Holt, are setting up shop for the month of January at Motroco Music Hall in Durham.

The residency will have the band play five times throughout the month, starting on Sunday, January 16. One of the five shows, on Sunday, January 23, will be an acoustic set also featuring Django Haskins of The Old Ceremony.

All of these shows will be free and you can check out the full schedule below with times, because the Sunday sets are in the afternoon.

Album Review: Modern Skirts - Gramahawk

Athens, Georgia band Modern Skirts is ready to break out beyond their hometown with their newest album, Gramahawk.

There’s a rawness to the album that gives it a buzz. These songs feel plucked from the mind of the band.

The record captures individual moments like a fender bender and an obsession for Jane Child, but there isn’t really an cohesion among them. In this case, the lack of cohesion adds to the sporadic and infectious energy. Gramahawk feels off the cuff and of the moment.

2011 WKNC Double Barrel Benefit night two lineup

We brought you the lineup of the first night of WKNC's annual Double Barrel Benefit show before the official announcement yesterday, and today, thanks to a tip, we have the lineup of the second night at Kings in Raleigh on Saturday, February 5 before the official announcement too.

We've been told that Saturday night will feature sets by Hammer No More the Fingers, Yardwork, King Mez, HaLo and Kid Future.

Tickets for each night of the Double Barrel Benefit will be $10, or you can get a two-day pass for $18. Tickets should be available sometime today, January 11, via etix.

Carolina Chocolate Drops to play NCMA in August

We're still a long way from summer, but it's not too soon for the folks at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh to be booking their summer concert series. The always busy, and now Grammy nominated, Carolina Chocolate Drops  are the second band to be announced for the series. Bela Fleck was the first and will play on Saturday, June 4.

The Carolina Chocolate drops will play the outdoor stage on Saturday, August 27. Ticket details for the show is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted once they are.

If you don't want to wait that long to see the Drops, you can head over to Greensboro on Saturday, March 12 where they'll be playing the Triad Stage. It's their only other show in the area unless you want to go all the way out to Brevard in April.

2011 WKNC Double Barrel Benefit night one lineup

Photo by Rob Oliver

With February quickly approaching, it's about time for WKNC's annual Double Barrel Benefit concerts in downtown Raleigh. After being at The Pour House for the past few years, the show is moving up Martin Street to Kings, the event's original venue, on February 4 and 5.

The Friday, February 4 line-up has just been announced and is a doozy featuring The Old Ceremony, Bright Young Things, Luego and Cassis Orange.

Tickets for the two nights will go on sale on Tuesday, January 11 via etix. The line-up for night two will also be announced tomorrow, January 11. We'll keep you posted with additional details as they're available, so stay tuned.

Mac McCaughan to open for Ted Leo in Chapel Hill

Photo by Kevin Norris

If you needed more incentive to check out Ted Leo's upcoming solo show in Chapel Hill on Satruday, February 5, here it is. Mac McCaughan of Superchunk and Portastatic is now set to open the show.

Tickets for the show are still available via etix for $10. For more details on the Ted Leo tour, check out our previous post HERE.

Watch a rather nice video of Mac performing "Noisy Night" at XX Merge in 2009 below to get a taste of what you're in for, though I don't believe you'll be hearing the sweet sounds of Margaret White's violin at the 506.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart announce spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Photo by Pavla Kopecna

New York based 2010 breakout band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are hitting the road this spring and are planning to have a new album out ahead of the tour. Their sophomore release Belong is due out in late March via Slumberland Records.

The tour will bring the band to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, April 2. Twin Shadow will open the show and tickets will go on sale soon via etix for $12.

Stream the first single from Belong titled "Heart In Your Heartbreak" below, which is available now on a 7" vinyl with the b-side "The One," which you can also stream below.

Marnie Stern & Tera Melos announce tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by David Torch

Excellent songwriter and indie rock guitar shredder Marnie Stern is hitting the road in February on a co-headlining tour with shredding experimental rockers Tera Melos.

The tour will bring the bands to Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Tuesday, March 1. Ticket info is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted.

[UPDATE: Tickets are $8 in advance and on sale now via etix.]

Superchunk is coming back to the Cradle in March

Photo by Jason Arthurs

After having the release show for their new album Majesty Shredding at the Nasher Museum in September (check out photos and a review HERE), the band will return to the Cat's Cradle.

They'll play the Carrboro venue on Friday, March 4. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 7 via etix and other locations for $14. Veelee will open the show.

The show will lead the band up to New York, where they'll play two shows at the world famous Radio City Music Hall opening for Bright Eyes on March 8 and 9. New Merge band Wild Flag also on the bill.

January line-up of Local Band Local Beer at Tir Na Nog

The January line-up for Local Band Local Beer at Tir Na Nog is slow coming this month, but the first show has finally been announced and apparently it still is.

2011 will kick off with I Was Totally Destroying It playing the free series on Thursday, January 6. Additional special guests are promised, but have yet to be announced.

[UPDATE: Apparently someone at WKNC was misinformed and announced that I Was Totally Destroying It was playing Local Band Local Beer without actually asking the band. The band emphatically announced via Twitter & elsewhere that they are not playing the show saying "We don't know how this rumor got started or why it is "official"--- no one asked us!"

The T's and Anitbubbles will be playing on January 6. The January 20 show has also been announced and will feature a groovy show featuring The Tomahawks and Naked Gods.]

Norman Blake & Euros Childs' band Jonny sign to Merge, give away 4-song EP

Norman Blake, of Teenage Fanclub, and Euros Childs, formerly of the band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, have formed a new group that are simply called Jonny. The band have signed to Merge Records who will release their self-titled debut album on February 1 digitally and April 12 physically.

The band have already released their first music video for the sugary sweet pop song "Candyfloss," which you can watch below.

Merge is currently giving away a free 4-song EP of tracks that didn't make the album which you can download as a zip file HERE. Check out the full album track list below.

Mike Watt + the Missingmen announce spring tour, coming to Chapel Hill

Veteran indie rocker Mike Watt and his band The Missingmen are preparing to release a new album titled "hyphenated-man" on March 1. Watt has dubbed it his third opera, which features thirty short tracks which are all supposed to be the pieces of one big song.

The album will be supported with a hefty two-month tour which will bring the trio to Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Monday, March 28. Ticket info is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets will be $9 in advance.

The Missingmen were last in the Triangle in August at the Cat's Cradle serving as Lou Barlow's band. Check out a review and photos of that show HERE.