Michael McDonald announces 2015 tour, coming to Durham

Singer-songwriter Michael McDonald will be bringing his rich baritone voice to the Triangle when he hits the road hits the road the spring for a few shows.

McDonald will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Tuesday, June 9. Tickets will go on sale now via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $47 to $154.63.

Check out McDonald and his band performing "Taking It to the Streets" from the DVD/blu-ray The Dukes of September from the tour of the same name in 2012 with Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs below.

Toro y Moi announces new album 'What For?,' spring 2015 tour

Singer-songwriter Chad Bundick, better known by the stage name Toro y Moi, will release his fourth full-length using that moniker on April 7 titled What For? and he'll hit the road on a big spring tour in support of it.

Toro y Moi will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, May 12. Keath Mead will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, via Ticketfly for $18.

Check out the song "Empty Nesters" from the new album What For? below.

Lisa Loeb announces spring 2015 tour, coming to Durham

Bespectabled singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb's 1995 hit "Stay (I Missed You)" seems poised to live forever, regularly beating featured in TV show and films, most recently featured in the trailer for the excessively cheesy Hot Tub Time Machine 2, though sung by actor Craig Robinson. Loeb has continued to release the new music over the years, most recently her 2013 album No Fairy Tale.

Loeb will hit the road to play some U.S. shows this spring and she'll stop at the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Tuesday, May 12. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $37 to $52.

Check out Loeb's 2014 EPK below that pretty much covers what Loeb has been up to for the last two decades in just two and a half minutes.

Mikal Cronin releasing new album 'MCIII' this spring

Singer-songwriter Mikal Cronin will release his third full-length album this spring, his second on Merge Records, appropriately titled MCIII. The album will be out on May 5 and you can check out the song "Mind Made Up" from it below.

The first 500 preordered copies of the LP from Merge Records will be pressed on clear vinyl and a limited number of clear vinyl copies will be available at indie records stores on the release date.

Cronin has announced a few North American dates so far but not Triangle date is on the books yet. We'll let you know once he announces his return to the area.

Kaiser Chiefs announce spring 2015 North American tour with Priory

English rockers the Kaiser Chiefs are working on their sixth studio album that is due out sometime this year and they are coming to this side of the Atlantic in the spring on a North American tour with support from Priory.

The bands will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, May 9. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, via Ticketfly for $22.

Kaiser Chiefs just released a new single titled "Falling Awake." Check out the song below.

Album Review: Viet Cong - Viet Cong

On their first full-length LP, Viet Cong effectively fuses modern post-punk with new and inventive sounds. Utilizing airy guitars and synthesizers, instruments that normally have no place in this type of music, Viet Cong has created a unique, standout album in a genre where it is easy to get lost.

The album opens with the distortion heavy and muffled “Newspaper Spoons.” Primitive drumming is accompanied by seven lines of repeating lyrics and a squealing guitar. Suddenly, all quiets and a spacey synth seamlessly becomes the focal point of the track.

Mark Knopfler announces new album 'Tracker,' fall North American tour

British singer-songwriter, guitarist, and Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler will release his eighth solo album on March 17 titled Tracker and he has just announced a big North American tour in the fall that will bring him to the Triangle.

Knopfler and his band will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Thursday, October 22. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 30 via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $81.50 to $131.50. Pre-sales will start as early as Wednesday, January 28.

Check out the song "Beryl" from Knopfler's new album Tracker below.

Album Review: Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass

Natalie Prass’s self-titled debut on Richmond, Virginia’s Spacebomb Records feels fantastic and very grounded all at once.

Vibrant orchestra arrangements greet the listener with lush strings and sparkling winds. It’s colorful and harkens back to a grander style of pop. Prass’s friend and Spacebomb owner Matthew E. White’s style is evident here.

Natalie Prass runs the gamut of 70s AM radio throwback sounds. “Bird of Prey” fizzes with a tense jazz led by trumpets and flutes. “Why Don’t You Believe in Me” draws from soul and funk and mixes it with the blues.

Sufjan Stevens announces spring tour supporting new album 'Carrie & Lowell'

Acclaimed indie singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens will return this spring with his first new full-length studio album in almost five years titled Carrie & Lowell. It will be out on March 31 and he'll hit the road on a big North American tour a few weeks later.

Stevens will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $40.

Carrie & Lowell is said to be Stevens' return to his folk roots. The music featured in the trailer for the album certainly backs that up that claim. Check out the trailer below.

Neko Case coming to Durham for third Film Acoustic event

Following in the footsteps of Wayne Coyne and Lucinda Williams (whose event is tonight, January 26), the third presentation of the Film: Acoustic series at the Carolina Theatre in Durham will feature singer-songwriter Neko Case.

The screening will be on Monday, February 23, and feature the 1984 film Repo Man. The discussion about the film will not only include Case, but also executive producer of the film Michael Nesmith.

Tickets are on sale now via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $15. Check out the trailer for Repo Man below.

Two Gallants announce new album 'We Are Undone,' spring tour

San Francisco rockers Two Gallants will release a new album on February 3 titled We Are Undone and they'll hit the road on a monthlong North American tour this spring in support of it.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Monday, May 4. Blank Range will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out the song "Incidental" from the new album We Are Undone below.

Rush announces 40th anniversary tour, coming to Greensboro

Even though last year was the official 40th anniversary of when drummer Neil Pert joined Rush in 1974, the band chose to wait until 2015 to celebrate the milestone with a big North American tour. They will be playing music from their entire 40-year catalog and have also stated that this could be their last big tour.

The band will play the Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday, May 28. The on sale date is has yet to be announced but tickets will be $46 to $126. The entire tour is expected to go on sale on Friday, January 30.

Check out a video of Rush performing "Tom Sawyer" in Cleveland in 2011 below.

Mötley Crüe announces last leg of 'The Final Tour,' coming to Raleigh

When rockers Mötley Crüe announced last year's "The Final Tour" and made a big deal about dissolving the band once the tour ended in November, it seemed like they might actually be done. But the band has now announced another "final" leg of The Final Tour for this summer and fall, bringing Alice Cooper back along for the ride.

The pair will stop at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Friday, August 28. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $20 to $99.50. The fan club pre-sales have already started.

Check out the music video for a new Mötley Crüe song titled "All Bad Things" below.

The Mountain Goats to release 'Beat the Champ' in April, announce spring tour

After releasing their first two albums for Merge Records in back to back years with All Eternals Deck in 2011 and Transcendental Youth in 2012, The Mountain Goats are ready to return with their third album on Merge this spring.

Darnielle and the gang will release Beat the Champ on April 7. Check out the killer cover art to the right and listen to the fantastic song "The Legend of Chavo Guerrero" from the album below.

In addition to announcing the album the band has also announce a spring tour in support of it. They'll return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro the day the album comes out, Tuesday, April 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 23, via Ticketfly for $20.

"Weird Al" Yankovic announces massive 2015 'Mandatory Fun' tour

Comedian and musician "Weird Al" Yankovic had one of his best years in quite a while last year with the release of his 14th studio album Mandatory Fun which parodied popular songs such as "Happy," "Royals," Fancy," and "Blurred Lines" among others. It was the first comedy album to hit the number one spot on the Billboard albums chart since 1963.

Now Yankovic will take his return to stardom on the road in 2015 with a massive world tour. He will make a stop at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Thursday, June 18. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 30, via the venue box office and Etix for $35 to $45.

Check out the music video for the song "Word Crimes," a parody of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," below.

Album Review: Sleater-Kinney - No Cities To Love

Sleater-Kinney’s No Cities To Love is a force of nature. It’s 32 minutes of pure empowerment capable of making its listeners plow through every obstacle in their way.

Despite the 10 years that have passed since their last album, the 8th album from the indie rock legends isn’t a nostalgia trip or some radical experiment. These 10 songs feel like a natural extension of the Sleater-Kinney discography coming when it is needed the most.

No Cities To Love repeatedly mentions being held back or restrained — on “Price Tag” the narrator squeezes into her clothes and on “Surface Envy” she talks about guilt weighing her down — and then breaking free. These escapes are powered by self-worth, self-belief and self-efficacy.

Interpol announces 2015 spring & summer tour dates

New York indie rockers Interpol released their fifth full-length album in the fall titled El Pintor and the band has just announced a slew of new tour dates this spring and summer that will take the band across North America.

The band will play The Ritz in Raleigh (assuming the repeatedly delayed renovations are done by then) on Friday, May 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 23, via Ticketmaster for $28.

Check out Interpol performing the song "All the Rage Back Home" from El Pintor on the Late Show with David Letterman below.

Jenny Lewis announces spring 2015 tour

Indie rock darling Jenny Lewis will hit the road this spring in support of her latest album The Voyager, produced by Ryan Adams. She'll stop in the Triangle for a headline show in the midst of some dates opening for Adams, though he'll be skipping his old stomping ground as usual.

Lewis and her band will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Monday, May 4. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 23, via Ticketfly for $25.

Check out the Lewis performing the song "She's Not Me" from The Voyager on KCRW last fall below.

Mates of State announces spring 2015 dates

Husband and wife indie pop duo Mates of State haven't released a new album since 2011's Mountaintops but they have been working on a new album that will be their eighth full-length. They are hitting the road this spring and they'll make their way to the Triangle in April.

The band will play The Pinhook in Durham on Saturday, April 4. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 23, via Ticketfly for $12.

Mates of State released a live cover of "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus late last year. Check out the video below.

NC Symphony to play the music from the films of Tim Burton

Just in time for Halloween this year the North Carolina Symphony will head to Durham for a special performance where they will present the music of famed composer Danny Elfman The symphony will specifically be playing Elfman's music from the Tim Burton films that he has scored including Batman, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Alice in Wonderland.

The performance will be at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 20. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 23, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster. The Friends of DPAC pre-sale will begin on Wednesday, January 21, for $45 to $85.

Check out a video below of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performing a medley of songs from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Elton John announces early 2015 tour dates

Legendary singer-songwriter Sir Elton John has just announced a few early 2015 tour dates during a break from his regular gig at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and he'll make a stop in North Carolina.

The tour will bring John to the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville on Wednesday, March 11. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 23, via Ticketmaster for $36 to $136.

Check out a performance of "The Bitch is Back" from John's Vegas show The Million Dollar Piano below.

Fall Out Boy & Wiz Khalifa announce summer tour

Pop rockers Fall Out Boy, who have a new album out on January 20, titled American Beauty/American Psycho, will team up with rapper Wiz Khalifa this summer on a big co-headline tour dubbed the Boys of Zummer. Hoodie Allen will open the entire tour.

The tour will stop at the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Saturday, July 18. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 23, via Live Nation and Ticketmaster for $27 to $69.75.

Check out the music video for the title track from Fall Out Boy's new album American Beauty/American Psycho below.

The Kooks announce spring 2015 North American tour

Photo by Stephanie Sian Smith

British rockers The Kooks released their fourth studio album in the fall titled Listen and the band will cross the Atlantic this spring for a North American tour. They'll play a trio of shows in Mexico before heading north for a short series of U.S. dates.

Instead of playing the Triangle or even Charlotte, the lads will head east to Wilmington to play Ziggy's By the Sea on Thursday, May 7. Joywave and Young Rising Sons will open. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 16, via Etix for $20.

Check out the music video for the song "Bad Habit" from the album Listen below.

All Time Low announces new album, spring 2015 tour

Maryland pop punks All Time Low will release their sixth full length album on April 7 titled Future Hearts and this spring they'll hit the road on a big U.S. tour in support of it.

The fourth stop on the tour will be at The Ritz in Raleigh on Saturday, April 18. Issues, Tonight Aliv, and State Champs will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 16, via Ticketmaster for $25.

Check out the music video for the new single "Something's Gotta Give" from All Time Low's the album Future Hearts below.

Delicate Steve announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Jersey rockers Delicate Steve, led by singer-songwriter Steve Marion (also part of the duo Saint Rich), will hit tour the U.S. this spring and they'll make a stop in the Triangle.

Delicate Steve will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Sunday, March 15. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out the band performing the song "Afria Talks to You" from the band's 2012 album Positive Force at the South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin in 2013 below.

Dave Matthews Band announces 2015 summer tour

Veteran jam poppers the Dave Matthews Band has just announced a summer tour that will keep the band crisscrossing the country playing amphitheaters from May until September. Each night of the tour the band will be playing two full sets.

They'll return to Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on Friday, May 22. Tickets will on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 13. The band's fan club will have access tickets starting on Thursday, January 15.

Check out a video of the band's full set from Santiago Chile in December 2013 below.

Eric Church announces 'The Outsiders' spring tour

North Carolina born and raised country star Eric Church had one of the top selling albums of 2014 with his fourth studio album The Outsiders and he has now extended his world tour in support of the album into the spring.

Church will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Thursday, April 23. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll update this post once it is.

Check out the music video for the song "Talladega" from The Outsiders below.

Waxahatchee announces new album 'Ivy Tripp,' spring tour

Merge Records announced last month that singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield, better known as Waxahatchee, had joined the label's ever-expanding roster. Now her first release for Merge has a title and a release date.

The new album is titled Ivy Tripp and it will be available on April 7. Check out the song "Air" from Ivy Tripp below.

Waxahatchee will hit the road on North American tour in support of the album in the spring. They'll play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Saturday, April 11. The Goodbye Party will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $13.

No Love, Mac McCaughan, Body Games & more round out Double Barrel lineup

Last month WKNC announced that Spider Bags and Eternal Summers will headline the two shows comprising this year's Double Barrel Benefit in Raleigh and Carrboro. Now the rest of the lineups have been released.

Joining Spider Bags at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Saturday, February 7, will be No Love, Mac McCaughan and Lonnie Walker. Joining Eternal Summer at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, February 14, will be Body Games, Museum Mouth and Elvis Despressedly.

Two-show passes are on sale now via Etix for $22. Tickets for just the Raleigh show are on sale now via Etix for $12. Tickets for just the Carrboro show are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Video: Hiss Golden Messenger plays "Lateness of Dancers" for Yours Truly

While in San Francisco recently M.C. Taylor, aka Hiss Golden Messenger, stopped at a friend's apartment to film a solo performance of the title track from his album Lateness of Dancers for the music site Yours Truly. Check out that performance below.

Hiss Golden Messenger will release a new three-song EP titled Southern Grammar on February 3 via Merge Records. It will feature the songs "Brother, Do You Know the Road," "He Wrote the Book," and a live version of "Southern Grammar" that showcases the Hiss Golden Messenger touring band.

Of Montreal announces new album, big US tour

Georgia indie rockers of Montreal will release a new album on March 3 titled Aureate Gloom and they'll hit the road starting next week on a big U.S. tour that runs into the spring.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, March 6. Yonatan Gat will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $17.

Check out the newly released track "Empyrean Abattoir" from the new album Aureate Gloom below.

K. Michelle announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

R&B singer and VH1 reality star K. Michelle released her second album last month titled Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? and she'll hit the road on a short U.S. tour in February in support of it.

She will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Wednesday, February 25. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 9, via Ticketmaster for $27.50.

Check out the music video for the song "Something About the Night" from the album Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? below.

Vince Gill announces 2015 dates, coming to Durham

Country singer-songwriter Vince Gill will be on the road throughout 2015 and he has just added a new show in the Triangle.

The veteran performer will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 9. Tickets will go sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 9, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $40 to $75. The Friends of DPAC pre-sale will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 7.

Gill's latest album is 2013's Bakersfield recorded with steel guitarist Paul Franklin. Check out Gill and Franklin performing the song "Together Again" from the album at the Grand Ole Opry in 2013 below.

Guster announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Pop rockers Guster will release their first studio album since 2010 on January 13 titled Evermotion and they have just extended the tour in support of it into the spring with a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Wednesday, April 22. Kishi Bashi will open with a solo set. A pre-sale will begin at noon today, January 6, via Etix using the password evermotion (the band's website says that pre-sale tickets will be $5 off). The general on sale will begin at noon on Friday, January 9, via Etix where tickets will be $26.

Check out the music video for the "Long Night" from the album Evermotion below.

Vacationer announces winter tour, coming to Raleigh

Philadelphia indie pop band Vacationer released their acclaimed sophomore album Relief last summer and the band will hit the road on a short east coast tour later this month in support of it that includes a stop in the Triangle.

Vacationer will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Sunday, January 25. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Check out Vacationer performing the song "Shining" from the album Relief during a session for Audiotree Live below.