In such uncertain times it is essential that we keep ourselves armed with a couple songs that consistently foster the growth of positive energy and good vibes. I call this my “save me from a shitty day” list. In a moment of crisis, these songs can be deployed to counter the overwhelming lameness that occasionally … Read more
All photos by Aggie Donkar/Brand New Kind of Photography Indie rock royalty, and the “elder statesmen of Triangle rock,” did what they do best Saturday night at the Cat’s Cradle: rocking peoples faces off. And we had a lady on the scene to document the way it all went down. Check out some of the … Read more
If someone drew a visual representation illustrating the ways in which all indie bands are interconnected, the four musicians who make up Wild Flag would be in the same, tiny, intricately woven sphere of love. They have crossed paths countless times, eventually figuring out it can apparently be exciting to join musical forces and deliver … Read more
You may know Dan Bejar best as a one of the vocalists of Canadian indie rock troupe The New Pornographers. Bejar, however, is also the founder/primary member of Destroyer, and he has been absolutely killing it with consistently awesome records since the release of 2000’s Thief. Bejar’s music is skillfully poetic, but often lyrically cryptic … Read more
Contrary to popular belief, the members of Times New Viking are not art school dropouts; they’re art school graduates, dammit. And rather than follow the path of stuffy galleries and regular unemployment, they chose to start a band. They began inconspicuously in 2003 when it was particularly out of vogue to do it yourself. From … Read more
While it doesn’t exist in a single medical book and isn’t even taught in those so-called “medical schools,” there is a tangible space in the human heart where special things are stored. You know exactly what I speak of, even if it isn’t defined, poked, prodded, and put on display in a traveling exhibit of dissected and … Read more
As an atheist, few things give me more pleasure than a healthy religious debate with an evangelical that is totally unprepared to defend his or her views. But religion itself is not a topic that I find unidentifiable. I have a religion, but instead of Jesus or Joseph Smith as my savior, it is Wayne … Read more
The charming, intricate, and intelligent compositions of Hospitality signal a sophisticated new pop sound from the newly signed Merge band. But their recent success in signing to such an awesome label hasn’t come overnight. In fact, they’ve been beating the musical pavement for over four years, crafting their sound into what now encompasses their new … Read more
Arbor Day is quickly approaching, folks. Regardless of whether you’ve been able to go out and enjoy the company of your coniferous and deciduous friends for the last few months, I’d like to take a moment to appreciate the mighty tree. It’s life-enabling role in the production of oxygen aside, trees are pretty to look … Read more
To start the week – a quick geography lesson. The Triangle area of North Carolina includes three primary cities: Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. It’s located in the Piedmont region of the state, nestled quaintly three hours from the mountains and two hours from the beach. Culturally, it’s the epicenter of the state, fueled no … Read more
All photos by Agatha Donkar My favorite thing about Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh ever year is how it feels like a big family reunion in venues and photo pits all over downtown, and Merge 25’s big ol’ outdoor party on Saturday, hosted by Margaret Cho and finishing with a (no cameras or video or … Read more
Ex Hex, the new band of Helium and Wild Flag’s Mary Timony, is seriously my new favorite band. They’re loud, they’re fun, and every single song is two and a half minutes of churning guitars and howling vocals. Rips, their debut due out on Merge next month, is gonna be a hell of a record, … Read more
Do you ever wonder what your favorite singers were like in high school? Two things you should know: One, I’m from St. Louis, and the question that defines a St. Louisan is “What high school did you go to?” (Not answering that); Two, I was in band from sixth through twelfth grade. Most of my … Read more
Photo by Agatha Donkar New records from Superchunk make me feel like I’m 14 years old all over again, except without the drama of being a teenager — just the pure happiness of a band I love making new music. “FOH” — standard musician talk for “front of house” — is vintage, thumping, guitar-heavy Superchunk, … Read more
Hook [hoo-k] (music) [1] a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to “catch the ear of the listener”. The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, R&B, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook … Read more
Photo courtesy of Merge Records Having just read Ryan Adams: Losering, A Story of Whiskeytown, Raleigh News & Observer music David Menconi’s love letter to and history lesson about Ryan, Whiskeytown, and the Triangle music scene, I could write a thousand words on this cover of “Oh My Sweet Carolina”, one of Ryan’s greatest songs. But … Read more
Yesterday, the an interactive music video for the song, “We Used to Wait,” and it’s it’s just about the coolest damn thing I have ever seen. At the beginning of the experience, you’ll be asked to enter the house where you were raised. Given I grew up in the sticks, I entered my college address, and it … Read more
The Arcade Fire has announced that their third album, The Suburbs, will be released August 2, 2010 in the UK/Europe and August 3rd in the U.S. via Merge. Check out the announcement letter below by clicking on it. On their site, you can pre-order the album in every format imaginable, listen to the new single “The … Read more