The Bottom String

Around The Triangle: Craig Finn, Dex Romweber, and Heartless Bastards

2012-03-06T12:05:00.003-05:00

Flesh Wounds @ Cat's Cradle on March 1st

Shows on shows on shows on shows. Or something like that. While I've been lacking in the shows department lately, Aggie seems to have been making up for far more than my lack of attendance. Check out all of her shots on her photoblog at brandnewkindof, but for now here's some of the gems from the recent shows Around The Triangle.

Craig Finn
Saturday March 3rd @ Local 506 in Chapel Hill

Heartless Bastards w/ The Fling & Fleshwounds
Thursday March 1st @ Cat's Cradle

Dex Romweber Duo w/ Orbo & The Longshots
Friday March 2 @ Local 506

Album Review: "Baobab" by Baobab

2012-03-02T10:43:00.003-05:00

Baobab is the self-titled self-produced debut from
Durham's Baobab, released in February 2012

There must be something in the water out here in the triangle seeing as fantastic new music has been popping up all over the place. I became enthralled with Baobab after I came late into their set at WKNC's Double Barrel Benefit Day Party, their minimalist experimental style is compelling to say the least. It's filled with multi-cultural influences and a wonderful blend of acoustic and electronic sounds all capped off with Phil Torres' soothing vocals and catchy melodies.

This fourteen track debut album is a self-produced gem out of Durham that combines aspects of folk, electronic, experimental, and world music. It sounds like a conglomeration influences that could very easily produce a half-hazard release, but Baobab has outweighed my expectations completely. Each track is a stand-out, making for phenomenal cohesion. The juxtaposition of this wall of sound with raw acoustic guitars layered over it makes for an incredible soundscape that is far easier than expected to find yourself lost in. Filled with reverberated worldly chants that can often sound afro-pop-ish, the duo of Baobab has done a wonderful job of making themselves stand out in the triangle music scene. One could argue they're one of the most diverse acts in the region, while they fit a current archetype of a two-person band that sounds much fuller in studio than live, they still pull off their performances wonderfully with a backing track.

Tracks like "Brownian Motion", "Getting To Know You", and "Music For A Movie" are album standouts with their excellent lyricism and lush textures. Torres' lyricism is something that can easily be overlooked on these tracks since the instrumentation is so encapsulating, but that's almost downright criminal because he's a phenomenal writer. Baobab's website contains some of Torres' writings including articles on music as well as information on his soon to be released book, "A Crisis of Faith: Atheism, Emerging Technologies, and the Future of Philosophy". While it's unfortunate that the lyrics may take a backdrop for some, it's an excellent thing as well because it allows for listeners to choose between immersing themselves in the sounds being produced by the instrumentation or to focus in on the wonderful lyrics. Tracks like "Spring Forward" really provide a perfect image of Baobab, it's filled with worldly chants as a backdrop, a constant driving rhythm, wonderful guitar arrangements, and a roller coaster of a melody.

While Baobab is still in it's infancy and first year as a band, one can only imagine where this band will find itself in time. The duo of Phil Torres and Whitney Trettien have infinite directions to take this band with boat loads of potential. I'm phenomenally excited to see where this band goes and to hear the music that comes from these brilliant minds. You can purchase a hard copy of their album with those snazzy handmade covers or you can download it for free on their band camp.

Trekky Records Releases "Amalgam" Mixtape

2012-03-01T13:46:00.000-05:00

Trekky Records' Amalgam Release
Show is on March 2 at Nightlight

On Friday at Nightlight in Chapel Hill, Trekky Records will be celebrating the release of their brand new mix tape featuring some of the finest artists in the state. Amalgam is a fantastic compilation featuring new tracks from Lost in the Trees and Midtown Dickens upcoming records as well as new music for the first time in six years from Vibrant Green, one of Trekky's grizzled veteran groups. The release show is $5 and features performances from Butterflies, Phil Cook & His Feat, Vibrant Green and a surprise guest making their return to Nightlight.

Amalgam is a fantastic snapshot of Trekky's artists, giving new tracks from some of the label's premier bands as well as some of the best songs from Trekky's ten year history. There's a lovely blend of tight indie-rock from bands like Butterflies and Embarrassing Fruits, giving us tracks from their latest releases, as well as the rustic folk music that shines so brightly with Trekky like Phil Cook & His Feat. One of the best parts of Amalgam is the nostalgic tunes that can be found on the mix tape, bands like Mortar + Pestle (featuring Josh Kimbrough of Butterflies and Joe Norkus of Embarrassing Fruits), Physics of Meaning (an act that we quite frankly see FAR too little of in my opinion), and Vibrant Green rear their heads back up to open up a world of new music for those who may not be as familiar with Trekky's back catalogue.

Amalgam represents Trekky in the perfect light, even down to the meticulous things like the fact that Ari Picker produced the latest Vibrant Green track. The mix tape displays the sense of family that makes Trekky so special in the triangle music scene. It also feels like a genuine mix tape rather than just a compilation of Trekky bands, it's got an excellent cohesion and pacing that allows for a joyous listen that may open up your ears to some unfamiliar Trekky tunes. Be sure to head out to the release show on Friday, I've got a hankering that the special guest is going to be something truly awesome!

Album Review: "City Lights" by Old Bricks

2012-02-21T10:58:00.002-05:00

City Lights by Old Bricks was released on Grip Tapes
on December 20, 2011

Old Bricks are a band that are truly hard to pigeon-hole, their ethereal sounds allow them to soar above the expectations of most and create an expansive soundscape that has a sense of depth to it. However, while this music feels so grandiose the hushed reverberated vocals from Stuart Edwards give us a bit of a detached feeling from it all, allowing the listener to float around comfortably in the sheer vastness of the music and become enraptured by the sweet tones. City Lights is the second full length from Old Bricks and has a much more developed sense of direction than Farmers, it's a dissonant record that contains sincerity in volumes which allows you to really sink inside of the sounds that are emanated.

The tracks on City Lights bleed together wonderfully, it's a fantastically composed album that may suffer slightly from this cohesion. It seems a bit hard to listen to one of the tracks out of context from the others because of how wonderfully they work with one another, but it's safe to assume that one could listen to any given track on City Lights and grasp a pretty solid snapshot of Old Bricks. There's a bit of disconnected yet shakily sincere elements found in Edwards' vocals that gently glide you through the driving rhythms, complimenting one another perfectly. Watching Old Bricks perform these tracks live gives a bit more life and vivacity to them, and don't misconstrue that as meaning that City Lights is flat production wise, because it's a wonderful sounding album. However, having experienced Old Bricks live before a recording it's much easier to be wishful of these tracks' live performance. That's one of the joys of Old Bricks, not only is the sincerity found in the writing, but when the band is performing these tracks you can almost see the emotion bleeding out of them and pouring into their performance.

The album feels like a distinct Side A and Side B could lend to a much more beneficial listening, as "Untitled I"feels like a nice bridge to gap two standout tracks "Shepard" and "Hill" together. City Lights is available on LP though, so wink-wink-nudge-nudge maybe you should give that a try. Track pacing, as previously stated, doesn't suffer too much from this but it would be interesting to see the album truncated into two separate experiences as this album certainly lends itself to such. All in all Old Bricks has created another harrowing and expansive piece of work that can send its listeners into a trance-like state. Old Bricks tows the line between cutting into the core of you and straying away from your emotions so finely, the passion pours out of their music in abundance but their sound doesn't really allow you to become enamored in this feeling but rather to embrace it and enjoy it for what it is. City Lights is an album that you can let flow through you, it crawls around and toys with your emotions but doesn't pick them up and toss them around. The beauty of Old Bricks lies in their subtlety, you can sit by and take it all in without even knowing or noticing that this band has got you standing at attention and waiting oh so anxiously for that next crescendo or dulcet tone.

Old Bricks will also be subject to our next You Should Know Session in early March. Keep your eyes peeled for more news on a date for this exciting session! Old Bricks is a band I've had my eye on in the Triangle for quite some time, so I hope you're all as stoked on this session as I am.

Around The Triangle: Kathleen Edwards, Onward, Soldiers, Liturgy

2012-02-09T17:06:00.000-05:00

Onward Soldiers, @ The Pour House
January 26, 2012

More delicious photo and video goodness for you Carolina music lovers is coming up. Some awesome captures from Around The Triangle for this installment including Kathleen Edwards, the Onward, Soldiers release show (along with our newest Bottom String Session with the band!), and the t0tes br00t metal band Liturgy.

Our next Around The Triangle will have two more songs from our session with The Collection, as well as more fantastic photos from shows around the triangle thanks to Agatha Donkar. Check 'em all out after the jump!

Liturgy w/ Kolyma
Duke Coffee House in Durham, NC on February 1, 2012

Kathleen Edwards w/ Hannah Georgas
The Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC on January 31, 2012

Onward, Soldiers w/ Hammer No More The Fingers, J Kutcha (not pictured)
The Pour House in Raleigh, NC on January 26, 2012

Bottom String Session #18 - Onward, Soldiers

New music from Holy Ghost Tent Revival + Patrick Leslie

2012-02-03T19:41:00.001-05:00

Holy Ghost Tent Revival @ Shakori Hills
Spring 2011

Late last year we saw the departure of one of Holy Ghost Tent Revivals most beloved members with Patrick Leslie. Holy Ghost has never been a band to slow down though, and with Kevin Williams now playing bass the band has continued trucking on and recently released a new EP, Alpha Dogs To Submarines via their Bandcamp. Holy Ghost Tent Revival has undergone many changes since their last release, while Patrick has left the band they've also begun using much more electric guitar in the band as well. While the band still maintains a rag-time sense of rhythm, they lack some of their bluegrass overtones that used to be so prominent, however, they've not sacrificed their dance-y vibes.

Holy Ghost is still as energetic as ever, maybe more so with this new direction that the band is taking. Guitarist Matt Martin has more room to show off his phenomenal guitar skills and it makes those moments where Stephen pulls out a banjo all the more important. Fans who've seen their live show within the past year or so will be no strangers to this new sound, but for fans who've only been following their physical releases this will be a pleasant surprise. Alpha Dogs To Submarines is available for $5 on Bandcamp.

While Holy Ghost has been busy with their recordings, Patrick has begun a project of his own. Since early January Patrick has been posting solo tracks under the moniker of Gander Lands, a project that is much more deeply rooted in the rustic sounds that Holy Ghost Tent Revival used to consist of, which could potentially explain the splitting from the band. However, Gander Lands is vastly different than Patrick's work with HGTR as it's often times a bit more solemn and folk-based rather than bluegrass. Gander Lands finds Patrick's voice ranging from soothing and wholesome to downright haunting, lamenting, "Maybe a heart never heals/ Puts on its sweater and runs for the fields/ Baby this heart doesn't heal" on "Sleep Song". Gander Lands is a raw and visceral breath of fresh air for North Carolina's folk scene. I for one am just glad to be hearing more songs from both of these projects. Gander Lands has several songs available for free download over on Bandcamp.

You Should Know: The Collection

2012-02-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

The Collection

Never before have I seen so many individuals gathered together as a band who seemed so genuinely appreciative of the company they're with, that was the first thing that struck me as interesting when I sat down with The Collection in a small home in Greensboro. The second was their passion. Whether it be to their religious ties (they're the first band who's asked to pray before their session, which while I'm not a religious individual struck me with a sense of comfort) or their music, it's clear that The Collection pours their heart and soul into everything they do.

Led by David Wimbish, The Collection couldn't be more aptly named. This collection of musicians act less as a means of conveying Wimbish's artistic vision, but more as a gigantic unit that bring their own ideas and influences to the table with equal pull. The harmony amongst the band shines brightly in their performances, ending each song with a hearty laugh and smiles all around. Their energy permeates and infects their listeners with a feeling of comfort, it's therapeutic to hear Wimbish's vocals peak into a shout and dip into a whisper. There's so many dynamics and layers within the music that are able to shine through at their own respective points. There's an astounding sense of balance within this band, which is incredible when considering how large of a band they are.

The Collection's music has religious overtones that are pulled off thanks to Wimbish's lyrical prowess. Sometimes a religious base can seem forced or can appear to be used as a crutch, but between the passion felt in the compositions and the accessibility of the lyrics, it's easy for anyone to take a listen and immerse themselves in the sounds of The Collection regardless of their religious beliefs or denomination. I sat down and spoke with The Collection about their recent tour, their songwriting process, their influences and more. You can check out the interview as well as a performance of "Lazarus" and "Seeds", both of which are available for download on the band's most recent EP, The Collection EP (Found here). We've also got a Bottom String Session with The Collection coming up soon with two more tracks from our session. Keep your eyes peeled!

Show Review: Cass McCombs w/ Frank Fairfield

2012-01-24T14:33:00.001-05:00

I've got to admit that going into this show I was more excited for my first show at Haw River Ballroom than I was for the sets I was getting ready to see, however between the absolutely stellar performance from Frank Fairfield and a spot-on set from the Cass McCombs band led to an incredible evening. For starters though it needs to be made clear how incredible Haw River Ballroom is, the aesthetics are phenomenal and the sound is just as great. From the kids running around before the show to the attached general store, you walk through the doors and feel at home. With only one show Haw River has become one of my favorite venues in the state, I'd recommend going to a show there at your absolute earliest availability. You won't be disappointed.

Coming into this show I'd heard nothing of Frank Fairfield, one of the reasons I think this set left me so captivated. Frank Fairfield was a walking time-machine, from his demeanor and his awesome mustache to his bluegrass standards, Frank Fairfield was shredding on banjo, fiddle, and guitar throughout the night. He had a bit of a timid stage presence until he embraced the songs and then the talent that shone through as he began to let his voice resonate throughout Haw River was incredible. Fairfield had the perfect ability to draw back and focus on the subtleties of his instrumentation, but equally could belt out heartfelt lyrics to bluegrass classics that would shake you down to your soul. An otherwise dreary day had a bit of life and color thrust into it with this wonderful set from Frank Fairfield.

After a short wait for Cass McCombs the band took the stage and kicked off their set with "Equinox". After "Equinox" the band went into "Love Thine Enemy" from McCombs' latest effort, Humor Risk. McCombs was pitch perfect throughout the set and the crowd was clearly just as wrapped up in the performance as I was, the place was mostly silent throughout the duration of McCombs' set which isn't something you can get very often at a show. An equal mix of old and new, McCombs closed out his set with an incredible performance of "County Line". While the Cass McCombs band put on a great performance, I feel like Frank Fairfield stole the show here. Maybe it was just the combination of the simple links to nostalgia found in his music with the environment given off from Saxapahaw, but either way Fairfield was the name that stayed so vibrantly in my mind for the rest of the night.

Hear Here: January 18 - 28

2012-01-18T21:48:00.001-05:00

There's some must-see shows coming up in these next couple of weeks, so a Hear Here seemed fitting for return yet again! Between a Haw River Ballroom set from Cass McCombs, Free DiggUp Tapes show at Kings, and the amazing Save Our Arts Benefit at Motorco, the Triangle has got a lot to be focused on. So here's the shows that we'll be checking out in the next week:

Show of the Week: Save Our Arts Benefit: Megafaun w/ The Beast, Mount Moriah @ Motorco in Durham, NC on January 28, 2012

Friday, January 20

Cass McCombs w/ Frank Fairfield

Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC

Cass McCombs was a busy man in 2011, he released two greatly heralded albums with Wit's End and Humor Risk. McCombs has built an aura about himself as somewhat of an enigma, which fits his songwriting style well. McCombs crafts often times catchy songs with an absolutely brilliant sense of storytelling, but he's got his own unique twist to it that gives his songwriting an endearing quality. His songs are often times the only vague glimpse that anyone really gets into the life of Cass McCombs, maybe it's his enigmatic lifestyle that adds to the interest in his songs, but either way he put out two stellar albums last year and continues to truck through in 2012. At $15 a ticket this show is worth every penny.

Thursday, January 26

Onward, Soldiers w/ Hammer No More The Fingers, J Kutchma

The Pour House in Raleigh, NC

Celebrating the release of Onward Soldiers' new album, Hammer No More The Fingers and J Kutchma will be joining them for what is sure to be an absolutely incredible night. Three bands that are capable of filling rooms with energy on their own, it's going to be great seeing three acts share a bill together. Onward, Soldiers have a natural charisma on stage that seems to bring a crowd to life, and quite frankly they're one of the few bands who can go on after acts like J Kutchma and Hammer No More The Fingers and not disappoint in terms of quality and vivacity.

Friday, January 27

Diggup Tapes Show Series:

Whatever Brains, Day Creeper, The Toddlers

Kings Barcade in Raleigh, NC

Diggup Tapes provides one of the most consistently great lineups each month at Kings for free, quite frankly it's something I don't take advantage of enough. However, this upcoming show is far too great to pass up with one of my favorite live acts in the Triangle of Whatever Brains headlining. A band that absolutely controls the crowd, Whatever Brains is a sheer powerhouse of a live act. When I unknowingly walked into their set at Hopscotch 2010 I found myself captivated by not only the band's sound and energy on-stage, but what they evoked in the crowd. Combining this with local standouts The Toddlers, a band I've always wanted to get the chance to see, and you've got a stellar way to spend a Friday night.

Saturday, January 28

Save Our Arts Benefit

Megafaun, The Beast, Mount Moriah

Motorco Music Hall in Durham, NC

This is the show I'm most excited to see for the next coming weeks. I've yet to see Megafaun since the release of their self-titled album in 2011, and prior to that I've only seen them open for The Mountain Goats. I'm thrilled to have my first headlining set of Megafaun be with such stellar and diverse North Carolina bands like The Beast and Mount Moriah. The Beast are a mindblowingly awesome jazz hip-hop act out of Durham and Mount Moriah seem to be the band that reigned supreme in North Carolina throughout 2011 with the much anticipated release of their debut full length. Last year's Arts benefit raised nearly $9,000 for Central Park School and the greater Durham area and funds this year will be used to purchase supplies and materials, funding for field trips, and maintaining the musical instruments used in the classrooms. An incredible lineup to support an incredible cause. Show of the week without a doubt.

Around The Triangle: Some Army, Red Collar, Akron/Family

2012-01-18T15:43:00.003-05:00

Akron/Family @ The Pour House
January 7, 2012

Another exciting set of captures from recent shows around the Triangle are coming to you courtesy of myself and Aggie Donkar. It seemed like every corner I turned someone was talking about the stellar debut from Some Army last week with their self-titled 7" that was greeted with rave reviews. Aggie was out at the Some Army show at Local 506 on Friday as well as Red Collar's on Saturday taking photos which can be found below. Also included in this week's Around The Triangle is a video of "Everyone is Guilty" from Akron/Family's absolutely incredible performance at The Pour House as a part of the Hopscotch Presents series. Check it all out after the jump!

Some Army w/ Fan Modine & Prypat
January 13, 2012 @ Local 506

Red Collar w/ Spider Bags & Rat Jackson
January 14, 2012 @ Local 506

"Everyone is Guilty" by Akron/Family
Live at The Pour House on January 7, 2012

WKNC Double Barrel Benefit 9 Announces Lineup

2012-01-13T17:18:00.000-05:00

WKNC's Double Barrel Benefit 9
will be held on February 3 and 4
at The Pour House in Raleigh, NC

This afternoon DJ Kligz and Adam Kincaid from The Local Beat announced the lineup to WKNC's 9th annual Double Barrel Benefit, to be held on February 3 and 4 at The Pour House. WKNC is NC State's student radio station and it has become quite the staple in the Carolina music scene between all of its outlets for local talent such as The Local Beat, Fridays on the Lawn, and Double Barrel Benefit. Double Barrel is always one of the most exciting collection of local artists sharing the same bill, all helping to give back to the station for WKNC's biggest fundraiser of the year. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't biased about how excited I am for this event because I volunteer for KNC, but it sincerely has an excellent array of some of the Triangle's finest talents.

February 3 at The Pour House will feature The Future Kings of Nowhere headlining along with an excellent mixture of very different bands with Birds & Arrows, Organos, and MAKE. February 4 will feature The Kingsbury Manx headlining along with Gross Ghost, Naked Gods, and Heads on Sticks for a lineup filled with some of North Carolina's finest.

Tickets are $15 for a two-night pass in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets are available at Schoolkids Records and Bull City Records as well as online.

The Bottom String's Top 10 North Carolina Albums of 2011

2012-01-11T22:59:00.001-05:00

It was a fantastic year for the Carolina music scene in 2011 and after taking a bit of time to let it all soak in I think I've fumbled the list around enough to have determined what I feel are the ten best albums to be released in North Carolina from 2011. In a year that saw both of North Carolina's newest and brightest festivals garner massive national attention thanks to picking up some of the hottest and most talented artists in the national scene, we also saw the local scene continue to pump out fantastic releases. Between Mount Moriah's long awaited full-length, a sophomore smash from Carolina rap favorites Kooley High, the return of Bombadil and much much more, we have had an incredible year of music in the tobacco state. So without further ado, let's get down to the Top 10!

10. Kooley High - David Thompson

Though the group has been spread across the east coast, Kooley is still as high as ever and proves such with their sophomore release of David Thompson. Named after the legendary N.C. State basketball player, Kooley High continues to wear their state pride on their sleeve with their clever lyrical displays throughout the album. Tracks like "Skyview", "For The Record", and "Unfound" show off the groups always entertaining style, whether it be the stellar production or their memorable punch lines, Kooley High is always giving you something extra to make sure you remember the name. While there were obvious weak spots on the album, Kooley High is clearly continuing to find their footing, but David Thompson proves that they're not far off from making their big step up to the big leagues.

9. The Rosebuds - Loud Planes Fly Low

The first release from The Rosebuds since their split as a couple, but one that showed their strongest chemistry as a band to date. Starting with a powerful opener of "Go Ahead", Ivan croons, "Go ahead and be my world and everything will be okay". The two hide behind no curtains with this superb release on Merge Records. The Rosebuds were on the lips of many a North Carolina resident this year between their opening spot on the Bon Iver tour as well as some packed out shows all across the state. Capable of hushed tones and vibrant orchestration with horns and strings, The Rosebuds have a fully fleshed out image on this record that shines brightly. With R&B/Soul influence abound, this record marks a pivotal moment in The Rosebuds career with their most accessible and promising release to date.

8. Hammer No More The Fingers - Black Shark

An affirming release that proves that Hammer No More The Fingers can maintain their fun quirky lyrical styling while still maturing as a band. Black Shark still contains bits of teenage nostalgia, but with a much prettier packaging than could be found on Looking For Bruce. Tracks like "Thunder and Rain" boast an out of character but greatly put together strings section, while tracks like "Leroy" have a booming reprise that's almost too fun to shout of "My name is Leroy motherfucker!" The juxtaposition of the styles make for a great listen and the catchy melodies give it that classic Hammer No More The Fingers feel to it.

7. Floating Action - Desert Etiquette

Floating Action is a project that has unfolded beautifully over the years with Desert Etiquette being written, produced, and entirely performed by Seth Kauffman. This is quite the feat once you listen to the album and realize how vibrant the orchestration is on it. Capable of going from a driving pop song in one track such as "Eye Of A Needle" or to slow brooding tracks like "The Balance". Psychedelic influences are blended with a blues/folk base to make for a unique sound that creates for a truly invigorating listening experience. The lovely harmonies, deep reverb, and excellent song composition make Desert Etiquette one of the years standouts.

6. The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck

The Mountain Goats debut release on Merge Records with their new 3-piece band and definitely the most important Mountain Goats release since the powerhouses of The Sunset Tree and Tallahassee. All Eternals Deck has the trademark sound of The Mountain Goats with it's desperate pleas and Darnielle acoustic driven songs, but it has also been given room to expand with the addition of the drums and bass and occasional piano. At times it can feel reminiscent of those previous Mountain Goats albums that many hold so dear, but it's got a bold difference to it marked within the aging of Darnielle's songwriting. Filled with tracks of live performance bliss such as "Estate Sale Sign" and even the first single of "Damn These Vampires", All Eternals Deck is an great way for The Mountain Goats to start their stay with Merge.

5. David Wimbish & The Collection - The Collection EP

One of the most compelling releases from North Carolina in 2011, The Collection EP is a beautifully composed piece of work that paints a rustic picture filled with biblical references but most importantly, captivating imagery. David Wimbish has a sense of sincerity in his voice as well as all of his songwriting, it's something that is hard to explain but easy to spot. The songwriting is what drives the EP, but the orchestration is what keeps you coming back for more. Whether it be a subtly plucked banjo or a lush mixture of trumpets, accordions, cellos, and glockenspiels, The Collection weaves together a beautiful soundscape that has left me floored. They'll also be the subject of our next You Should Know Session which is being filmed Sunday in Greensboro.

4. Des Ark - Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The Fucker

Des Ark has become one of my absolute favorite artists over the past year, especially with the release of Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The Fucker. Argote has an incredible talent in her ability to silence the crowds with her heartbreaking vocals in one minute and take the next song into a loud, distorted, rock your face off punk jam. Whether it be punk driven or acoustic, her heart and soul is clearly poured into these songs and it's a quality that isn't found in many songwriters today. She's got compelling guitar lines that compliment her unique melodies and a knack for moving you to your core with her raw and unfiltered lyrics. Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The Fucker was a release that was damn near perfect.

3. Braveyoung - We Are Lonely Animals

One of the most intriguing releases of the year, it was the album that almost ever was. We Are Lonely Animals is one of the most emotionally packed releases of the year, North Carolina or nationally. Each song oozes with passion from the barebones piano track that is aptly titled "Flesh and Bone" to the explosive sounds of "And No Two Walked Together". The band produces absolutely enchanting sounds that wrap themselves firmly around your heart and take it places it can rarely go with music. It's visceral, it's compelling, and it shows an astounding amount of restraint throughout the entirety of it. Throughout the rises and the falls, Braveyoung has crafted an absolutely breath taking album that has set a high water-mark for Carolina post-rock to top.

2. The Light Pines - Into The Night

An absolutely incredible collection of tracks that placed The Light Pines in firm footing right before the band disbanded, but a great release nonetheless. Into The Night was a release that was filled with meticulously crafted pop excellence from the mind of Josh Pope that has blended elements of post-punk, lo-fi rock, and indie pop. Countless influences shine through on this album but they're all pulled together with a similar song structure, allowing them to mesh together excellently when topped off with the soaring melodies that Pope has written. It's a shame the band disbanded and missed out on what I'm sure would have been a stellar performance in opening for Superchunk and The Flaming Lips at Hopscotch, but at least this fantastic album was released.

1. Bombadil - All That The Rain Promises

An album that defined the Triangle music scene for me in 2011, All That The Rain Promises marked the return of one of North Carolina's most deeply adored bands to the forefront of the scene that they never got the chance to rule. After Tarpits & Canyonlands picked up steam the band had already begun a hiatus due to health circumstances and band members moving across the country, but 2011 marked the triumphant return of Bombadil with a new approach to their sound. The band took a step back with their orchestration and allowed the core elements of these songs to take the spotlight, and that's the stellar songwriting that can be found in nearly every single track on the album. Each member is capable of having their own shining moments in a live performance or on the album, simply put they're a band that's hard not to love. Bombadil has jumped right back in line as one of the finest acts in the state by releasing a chill-inducing, heart-warming, downright lovable album.

Some Army releases 7" self-titled debut

2012-01-11T17:10:00.000-05:00

Some Army will be releasing their self-titled 7" @ Local 506
on Friday January 13, 2012 w/ Fan Modine & Prypat

With a show coming up with Fan Modine at Local 506 on Friday night you've got no reason to not go check out what has to potential be one of 2012's most promising local acts. Some Army is a six piece band comprised of members of Honored Guests, Aminal, and JKutchma led by songwriter Russel Bagget of Honored Guests.

Bagget's soothing vocals serve as the perfect compliment to the ethereal sounds of Some Army's instrumentation. It's slow brewing psychedelic rock music with brilliant melodies that give it a bit of a folk/pop twist to make for an incredibly interesting listening experience.

Some Army features enchanting soundscapes that the listener can truly immerse themselves in, you can tell the band is capable of putting out something fantastic with a full-length record, but this 7" release serves its exact purpose of giving us just enough of a taste to leave us begging for more. I know I'll be anxiously awaiting word on the release of this upcoming full length in the next few months.

These three solid tracks allow Some Army to hit the ground running in 2012 with their show on Friday at Local 506 with Fan Modine and Prypat (Featuring Duncan Webster of Hammer No More The Fingers and Leah Gibson from Lost in the Trees). The band plans to release a full length album in the Spring/Summer of this year but you can check out their self-titled 7" (hand-cut by fellow Triangle rocker Wesley Wolfe) on their Bandcamp page or you can purchase it at the show on Friday.

Lost in the Trees announce new album "A Church That Fits Our Needs" + releases new song, "Red"

2012-01-10T14:57:00.001-05:00

Lost in the Trees @ Fletcher Opera Hall
at Hopscotch Music Festival 2011

The darlings of North Carolina's music scene, Lost in the Trees, have finally announced their much awaited follow up to All Alone In An Empty House, the masterpiece of a record re-released on ANTI back in 2010. The re-release thrust Lost in the Trees into the spotlight, even leading to their addition on Jeff Mangum's ATP Festival in Europe. The wait for another album is finally over though as it was announced today that A Church That Fits Our Needs will be released on March 20, 2012. This wasn't the only delicious nugget of information that Lost in the Trees dropped for us today though, as the album announcement coincided with the release of a new song, "Red" which can be found on NPR's All Songs Considered, check out the link after the jump.

While All Alone In An Empty House chronicled the story of band leader Ari Picker's family and childhood story, it seems that A Church That Fits Our Needs continues with the raw and unfiltered themes found within their first album. This album, "creates a space for [Ari's] mother's soul" as he puts it in a "Making Of" video released by Anti Records. Ari's writing style gives the listeners a window through which to peek into the very core of the songwriter, exploring thoughts and feelings that others may find far too personal to even share with others, much less flesh it out into a beautiful orchestral image.

Check out their new song, "Red" here, and catch a glimpse into the making of their upcoming album below

Around The Triangle: The Big Picture BSS, Automatic For The Joshua Tree, Mandolin Orange, Wiley Hunter & The Cazadores

2012-01-10T13:55:00.001-05:00

Birds & Arrows performing at Automatic For The Joshua
Tree @ Local 506 on Jan. 6, 2012

The year has just begun and shows continue to roll right along in the great tobacco state. This edition of Around The Triangle includes the wrap-up of last years captures from Aggie with the Mandolin Orange Christmas show and Wiley Hunter & The Cazadores at Local Beer, Local Band, as well as our first Bottom String Session of 2012 with The Big Picture (featuring the always awesome Tunnell brothers). Cap that off with some pictures of last weeks REM/U2 cover show with shots of Birds & Arrows, Magnolia Collective, and much more. Check out all of the aforementioned media after the jump and welcome to the new year!

Automatic For The Joshua Tree @ Local 506
January 6, 2012

Wiley Hunter & The Cazadores @ Tir Na Nog
December 29, 2011

Mandolin Orange Holiday Show w/ The Stickley Brothers and Phil Cook & His Feat @ The Cat's Cradle
December 16, 2011

Bottom String Session #17: The Big Picture

Best Shows of 2011

2011-12-27T10:37:00.000-05:00

Happy holiday season readers! I took a bit of a break after exam periods to enjoy the festivities but alas we're back to the blogosphere to keep spreading the good word. 2011 is winding down quickly and looking back through the year it's clear to see how blessed we are as North Carolinians to have such a flourishing music scene. From the phenomenal acts brought to the state thanks to swiftly rising festivals like Moogfest and Hopscotch, which have been drawing more national attention to the state, to the incredible shows in tiny clubs, packed amphitheaters, and everywhere in between, North Carolina had one hell of a year for shows. Agatha and I have both rounded up our Top 5 shows of the year, so let's get to it!

Aggie:
1) Josh Ritter, solo acoustic
McGlohon Theatre, Charlotte, 11/2011

I didn't go to another show this year where I barely breathed from start to finish for the sheer magic of it.

2) Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw, 10/2011

Can I say this on the Bottom String? I hope so. For an old guy, Stephen Malkmus still looks great, and I would still bang him like a screen door in a hurricane just for his guitar playing, but the sexiness is a nice bonus, and this show was completely jaw-dropping for how magnetic and simultaneously bashful he is on stage. This is the show where I talked to two underage hipsters about how I would totally hit it with Kim Gordon except Thurston Moore scared me, and then they broke up! So I can now hit it with Kim Gordon without guilt. I would also totally hit it with both Deal sisters. Now you know, Bottom String readers.

3) Josh Ritter
The Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, 7/2011

There is a reason that Josh Ritter is my favorite live performer, and that is because he is utterly unrestrainedly joyous when he performs, and that is why he is on this list twice.

4) Bowerbirds & Mount Moriah
Motorco Music Hall, Durham, 06/2011

Everything about this show gave me chills, and it was the first time I saw Mount Moriah live.

5) American Aquarium w/ Shovels & Rope and Kenny Roby
The Pour House, Raleigh, 12/2011

I have a soft spot for American Aquarium's early December Pour House show, but thanks to Shovels & Rope's absolutely electrifying middle set that amped the crowd up even further, this is the best of the five I've seen.

Grant:

1) Fleet Foxes w/ The Walkmen
Raleigh Amphitheater, Raleigh, 9/2011

This wasn't just my favorite show of the year, it was my favorite show. Period. The atmosphere at this show left me floored for more reasons than one. The rain was pouring down, thunder and lighting were abound, puddles, nay lakes, were forming at our feet. Did people leave? Well...yeah some people but those people are assholes. Standing in the pouring rain as flocks of people danced through the crowd, ecstatic at the sounds coming from the stage, I realized I may never experience a moment as beautiful as the one I was. The ethereal sounds of Pecknold's voice rang out through the storm, and although the set was forced to end early due to the broken p.a (that didn't stop the Fleet Foxes from trucking through another song though) even the band knew something special had just happened. Pecknold tweeted later that night, "Seeing you people in Raleigh tonight made me more proud to be a part of this than any other thing we've done. #thankyou #fucknature"

2) Bombadil w/ J. Kutchma and Future Kings of Nowhere
The Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, 11/2011

I left this show knowing this would be on my list. Bombadil brought me to tears with one of the most emotionally driven shows I've seen. The Cradle was packed out for this breathtakingly incredible show, it was one of the few shows where I've let my camera dangle awkwardly from my neck the entire time rather than snap videos and pictures. The set was too perfect for me to take my eyes off of the stage and by the time their encore was beginning I'd realized I had captured jack shit, however the same didn't go for the band. Bombadil captured my heart (cue canned "aww's"), they proved that they're masters of their trade. Bringing out old favorites from A Buzz, A Buzz like "Cavaliers (Har Hum)" and gems from Tarpits and Canyonlands as well, Bombadil's album release show All That The Rain Promises was everything their fans had hoped for and more. It was much more than just a release show, it was a valiant return for a group that in due time could rule the Triangle music scene. Seriously.

3) The Mountain Goats w/ Megafaun

The Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, 4/2011

I'm a diehard Mountain Goats fan and I'd scream it from a mountaintop if I could. John Darnielle is one of the most compelling songwriters of our generation, being able to flawlessly capture the visceral emotions of fear, love, longing, courage and everything in between, Darnielle and The Mountain Goats have been going strong for decades. Releasing masterpieces like Tallahasse, The Sunset Tree, and We Shall All Be Healed along the way, this set was a phenomenal mixture of old and new as well as some special surprises. Unheard songs as well as a guest appearance from Mac McCaughan of Superchunk made for an incredible Mountain Goats set. This also marked my first time seeing Megafaun live and it was nothing short of incredible. The combination of these two stellar North Carolina artists made for a show I'll never forget. Also be sure to catch The Mountain Goats when they play Haw River Ballroom on February 4, 2012 with Nurses.

4) Des Ark

Shakori Hills Fall 2011, 10/2011

I got to see two stunning Des Ark sets at Shakori Hills but her set in the Dance Tent on the first day of the festival was the perfect timing, perfect setting, and perfect atmosphere for my introduction to a live Des Ark show. I've been a fan for some time now, but never got the chance to see Argote perform live until this Shakori. The intimacy of the set combined perfectly with the raw emotional side of Argote's music which features an unfiltered view into the life of the songwriter. She's got a heavenly voice with entrancing guitar lines to compliment it, there's nothing that Des Ark doesn't bring to the table. Capable of hushed tones in a quiet tent in the middle of a farm as well as rocking the fuck out with punk bands and a full band set-up, Argote is one of the gems of this scene for sure.

5) Lost in the Trees

Fletcher Opera Hall, Raleigh, 9/2011

The final set I caught at Hopscotch was the highlight of the festival for me, as Lost in the Trees put on a performance that can be rivaled by few. Lost in the Trees have captivated me since I first found them in 2008 and I've been addicted since. Their music is therapeutic and sincere, the words come pouring out of Ari Picker's mouth from the depths of his person and when you see so much honesty being laid in front of you it compels you to pay attention. Everything was spot on for this performance, it was the last big show LITT would have in North Carolina for the year as they were set to head over to Europe and perform at Jeff Mangum's ATP Festival (which was pushed back to 2012), and it was certainly in the perfect setting. Cross legged on the floor of an opera hall I was able to explore the depths of myself with the dulcet tones of Lost in the Trees acting as my soundtrack. I'll always walk away from a Lost in the Trees set with a smile on my face and a new outlook on life, for their music is like a drug. I'm addicted.

Around The Triangle: Beirut, The Sea and Cake (Video), American Aquarium, Jon Lindsay

2011-12-16T17:28:00.002-05:00

Beirut at The Cat's Cradle on December 8, 2011

Exciting shows are rounding out 2011 in the Triangle, some of which find themselves being the highlight of the year for some showgoers. Beirut was just one of these highly anticipated shows that popped up late in the year and the annual American Aquarium set at The Pour House proved to be just as incredible as usual. Agatha was out shooting both Beirut and American Aquarium, as well as Jon Lindsay with Wiley Hunter and The Cazadores. On top of all of this photo goodness we've got video shots from The Sea and Cake at Local 506 back in November. Check out our captures from Around The Triangle after the jump!

Beirut w/ Perfumed Genius
December 8, 2011 at The Cat's Cradle

American Aquarium w/ Shovels & Rope and Kenny Roby
December 3, 2011 at The Pour House

Jon Lindsay w/ Wylie Hunter and The Cazadores
December 1, 2011 at Slim's

The Sea and Cake - Live at Local 506 on November 11, 2011

"David Thompson" by Kooley High

2011-12-08T10:46:00.000-05:00

David Thompson by Kooley High was released on
Fat Beats on December 6, 2011

North Carolina hip-hop has flourished this year, with Carolina's own J. Cole finding his way to a #1 debut atop the Billboard charts it's been clear that the overwhelming amount of talent in this state is beginning to get the recognition it deserves. J. Cole is just scraping the surface of this talent pool though, the state is filled with names like 9th Wonder, Phonte, The Beast, King Mez, and arguably one of the fastest rising in the state with Kooley High. While Kooley has established a name for themselves with their debut full-length, Eastern Standard Time, they're flexing their skills on this new release, David Thompson. While some of Kooley High has relocated to Brooklyn, it's very clear that their heart still remains in North Carolina and the hip-hop scene that they've flourished in. Between the stellar production and effortless displays of clever lyricism, Kooley High has placed their feet firmly in the door of national recognition with David Thompson. Kooley High is celebrating their album release at The Pour House in Raleigh on Saturday, December 10 with King Mez, Actual Proof, and Lazarus

David Thompson feels like a much more cohesive effort than Eastern Standard Time, vocal samples about David Thompson and the 1974 NC State NCAA Basketball Championship are scattered about the album and ties together all of the North Carolina imagery that is brought about on the album. Kooley makes their roots clear with their music, but they do so in less of a gimmicky way, rather wearing their pride and influences on their sleeves. The track "Dear Raleigh" is even dedicated entirely to Raleigh shout outs ranging from Hillsborough Street, the Belltower, and even some "Wolfpackin'/Galifianakin'". North Carolina references aside, Kooley seems to have found a bit steadier of footing on this album even though the group finds themselves stretched across the east coast. Tab One and Charlie Smarts shine brightly over some excellently crafted beats from producers like DJ Prince, they border between easy flowing, sit back and chill-out beats to those that make you wanna bob your head and start spitting right along. It's a clear difference in sound though from Foolery and Sinopsis' beats, one that makes me intrigued to hear future Kooley releases now that the group has branched out with other producers who've got a vastly different style.

While this move to New York does represent the group moving forward and being able to reach a whole new group of individuals it does bring some negative aspects to the album as well. Rapsody's verses on the album seem a bit out-of-touch, possibly because of the distance and possibly because she's been working on solo projects with 9th Wonder. Either way Kooley brought in a plethora of guest MCs to fill the void like fellow NC standout King Mez. These guest verses help fill out the album a bit, bringing in different styles and rhythmic differences when it comes to flows. Kooley's got a knack for chilled-out minimalist rhythms when it comes to spitting, tracks like "Real Shit" boast this to the fullest. "Incredible bitch, it's Sam Jackson with several hits", the lines aren't stellar but when they so delicately fall from Charlie's mouth it seems as if it all fits into place. Kooley makes their highest leaps when they let their energy truly flow though, tracks like "Big Headed", "Sky View", and "Unfound" display some of the best work on the album with production and lyrics. Their slow brooders can pack an equal punch though, "Days Passed Me By" is an introspective track lined with mentions of the typical lonely nights of drinking and thinking, but it's real and that's more evident than the lack of originality in some of the lines. That seems to be the story for most of the downfalls on this album, while it's not always groundbreaking work it is clear that Kooley High has put their heart into their work.

David Thompson isn't about how ballin' Kooley High is, it isn't about how high they can jump or about how long their hangtime is, it's about the heart and dedication that they've got to the game. They're an unapologetic group that has proved they've got staying power by blowing away any expectations of a sophomore slump. David Thompson is much more than Kooley High's big vertical leap because that insinuates that it shows us just how high Kooley can go, the sky is truly the limit with this group. With group members stretching themselves out with solo projects as well as Charlie and Tab working with producers outside of Foolery and Sinopsis, the next Kooley High release will have championship potential if they can pull the whole gang together for something truly special.

You Should Know: Gross Ghost

2011-12-06T08:51:00.001-05:00

You Should Know is a series that has been long awaited for me, after dropping the interviews from Bottom String Sessions it was a conscious decision to add a video feature to the blog, but the matter of bringing it all together was a bit more. You Should Know is a video feature on local bands that highlights the band's formation, future, and a bit of everything else in between all the while focusing on the aspect of the band that has made them so prominent on the scene for me, their music.

Gross Ghost was kind enough to invite me out to their cabin outside of Carrboro to film our session, upon driving through the dirt roads and passing the "No Trespassing Signs" with an ominous "wrong turn" type of feel to it, Aggie and I came to the end of the path and pretty much dropped our jaws at how incredible this place looked. Mike later informed us of his gun-toting neighbor being basically harmless, then gave us the grand cabin tour so to speak. Mike, Tre, Rob, and TJ are all incredibly endearing individuals and upon finding out that they'd planned to film full band inside of the cabin I basically had an inner fanboy freakout over the fact that I'd get to see my own private Gross Ghost set inside of an empty cabin in the woods. It was as awesome as it sounds.

The thing about Gross Ghost that makes them stand out among the crowded scene in North Carolina is the subtle twists that they can add to tried and true methods. They're riding a lo-fi wave of glory in their early recordings, but quality aside they have constructed some fantastic songs that seem to implant themselves inside of your head due to how intrinsically catchy they are. There's a rough around the edges feel to Gross Ghost, they've got a bit of a surf-punk mixture in which both of these elements find their ways of shining through, but it's all candy coated nicely by the brilliant pop melodies that are woven into these tunes. Whether it be Mike or Tre writing the melodies, they know how to perfectly juxtapose this short, brisk, punk instrumentation (most songs clocking in around the 2-3:00 mark) with some of the catchiest and warmest melodies you can find. Driving away from our filming and discussing Gross Ghost with the absolutely floored Aggie made me look deeper into why I cared so much for the sounds that Gross Ghost produced and I think it's because they lack the frills and pretentiousness of these other bands, there is no delusion of grandeur with Gross Ghost, it's four guys making music that they love and they're incredibly genuine about it all.

I sat down and talked with Mike and TJ a bit about the formation of Gross Ghost, the future of Gross Ghost, and all of the in between. We spoke a bit of the band's upcoming full length Brer Rabbit, the artwork for which was just completed by Kelsey Melville, and got a February time-frame for the release date. Brer Rabbit will be a mixture of older songs re-mastered as well as some new tracks with a tour to coincide with it all. Gross Ghost are building and building upon the foundation they've set for themselves with these meticulously crafted songs, playing The Soapbox Laundrolounge in Wilmington with The Love Language and Last Year's Men for their New Years Eve celebration. It shouldn't be much longer before Gross Ghost is becoming as regularly mentioned as these other North Carolina powerhouses that they so frequently find themselves playing with.

For the full video interview plus performances of "You Tell Me" and "Architect", check out You Should Know below!

Around The Triangle: Bottom String Session #16, Local Beer Local Band, Hammer No More The Fingers, Architecture in Helsinki

2011-12-05T12:02:00.001-05:00

Photo Credit: Agatha Donkar

It's been busy times for The Bottom String lately with holidays and exams lumping themselves together, but we're jumping back on the train to keep bringing the goodness to ya! We've got our You Should Know with Gross Ghost coming up this week as well as two new Bottom String Sessions, plus the beginning of our Year End lists! For starters though we'll backtrack some and provide some awesome captures from the past few weeks with Architecture in Helsinki at The Cat's Cradle, Local Beer Local Band with Gross Ghost and Lilac Shadows, as well as Hammer No More The Fingers, Lonnie Walker, and Free Electric State at Nightlight.

Also after the jump is our Bottom String Session with Sinful Savage Tigers from the backyard of Andrew Marlin. A stellar set of songs from an excellent upcoming folk band from Carrboro, Sinful Savage Tigers performed "Natural Ghost" from their debut release as well as "Ballad of John Grove" off of their latest album, "The Last Night Of The Revels".

Bottom String Session #16: Sinful Savage Tigers

Local Beer Local Band: Gross Ghost w/ Lilac Shadows, Free Electric State
November 23, 2011

Hammer No More The Fingers w/ Lonnie Walker, Free Electric State
November 19, 2011

Architecture in Helsinki at The Cat's Cradle
November 14, 2011

Show Review: The Sea and Cake w/ Brokeback & Butterflies

2011-11-17T13:45:00.001-05:00

The Sea and Cake @ Local 506
Photo Credit: Agatha Donkar

The beginning of a show filled weekend for me, I was stoked to get to see The Sea and Cake and Butterflies coming into this show, however, I walked away with a new found respect and love for the band that was sandwiched in between the two, Brokeback. This was my first show at Local 506 and I've got to say I thoroughly enjoy the place, I can't say for certain but the show looked to be about sold out. I had to leave before the end of The Sea and Cake's set if I wanted to have a ride home, but the crowd kept coming so I'd assume they reached capacity, because it was certainly a show worthy of such. Before the show I'd shot Bottom String Sessions with both Mandolin Orange and Sinful Savage Tigers and spent about two and a half hours inside of an incredibly busy Four Corners on the day of UNC's spectacle of a first game played on a gigantic boat. It was...uhm...something. I'm not big on college sports so lets just say that I wasn't into all of the fanfare but whatever floats your boat. Plus, "gopack".

Anyway, I got 506 right as doors opened and watched the place gradually fill up throughout Butterflies' set and by the time we were halfway through Brokeback the place was almost impossible to get through. Butterflies opened up and jumped right in with a few standouts from their latest album, "Residual Child" but nicely mixed in some older tracks as well. One of the things I love about seeing local acts like Butterflies is just spotting all of the supportive friends and triangle band members that come out to these shows, it's heart warming to see the community come together, it really is. Enough with the sentimental stuff though, Butterflies had Joah Tunnell on guitar for this show and he didn't seem to miss a step throughout the set and meshed together well with the rest of the band. Butterflies always put on an enjoyable set, it's a shame I don't get to see them more than I do.

As I said before, Brokeback was the talk of the night for me. I came into it knowing little to nothing of the band, assuming they'd be similar in style to The Sea and Cake and Butterflies, which sometimes is nice. This was one of those cases. Brokeback wove together intricate melodies into one wall of occasionally minimalistic post-rock goodness. I say occasionally because sometimes these guitar or bass lines that stood at the core of the song were simplistic, but they were almost entrancing in the same sense. Brokeback's set seemed to last a wee bit long despite their excellent sound, maybe it was due to my excitement for The Sea and Cake though. Sometimes I feel like I need a bit more out of a post-rock act's stage presence though, so that could always be accredited to it as well.

After Brokeback the place was almost packed from front to back with fans waiting for the highly acclaimed rockers of The Sea and Cake. The crowd's energy was palpable whilst waiting for The Sea and Cake, fans were getting antsy and that's always something that brightens the mood for a performance. As the band went on and powered through their first handful of songs I began to realize the frequent obsessions found with this band, they've got a firm sense of direction musically and they stick to it. They've built their textures, they've plotted out their structures, and while some of their songs do seem as if they're formulaic it all pans out in the end because they're still following a damn fine formula. I got to stay for about seven songs of the set before I had to leave and catch my ride, but the parts of The Sea and Cake that I caught were joyous. As I began to mention to everyone throughout the week that I'd be going to The Sea and Cake I heard all of the fans freaking out with jealousy and quite frankly didn't get what all of the fuss was about, but this was a live experience that changed that. They're spot on with their performances and seem to ooze with a sense of truly being happy to be on stage, something that you don't get from many bands these days. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on next week's Around The Triangle for some live video of the show!

Hear Here: November 16 - November 25

2011-11-16T13:17:00.001-05:00

Mike Dillon of Gross Ghost from our "You Should Know"
session

Last week held one of my favorite shows of the year with Bombadil's glorious album release show at The Cat's Cradle so it's going to be pretty hard to follow that up with something better, however there is a show from one of my favorite bands at the Cat's Cradle this week so let's see how that plays out. With a show I've been waiting ages for from Manchester Orchestra at The Cradle on Thursday, much of the week falls back behind the shadows of my favorite band (yes, yes, now you know that Manchester Orchestra is one of the bans I fanboy over). However, Chapel Hill is loaded with shows this weekend as well as a few gems popping up in Raleigh and Durham.

Show of the Week: Manchester Orchestra w/ White Denim & The Dear Hunter at The Cat's Cradle on November 17, 2011

Thursday, November 17
Manchester Orchestra w/ White Denim & The Dear Hunter @ The Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC
$16 in advance/ $19 at the door
Manchester Orchestra are an absolute powerhouse of a live show, not only is the dedication from their fans enough to fill the room with positive vibes, but the sheer energy displayed by the band members seems to permeate throughout the room as well. Keyboard player/percussionist Chris Freeman can be found banging his head like a metal frontman in the corner on most occasions and Andy Hull is often releasing those booming vocals that he's become so known for. The subtleties are what shine through brightest though in their live show, it's the hushed tones and heart breaking lyrics that leave listeners hanging on by a thread to this master of emotion. Manchester has always been known for bringing in amazingly powerful openers as well in my experience with the band and White Denim and The Dear Hunter are much of the same.

The Dear Hunter is an ambitious project that is led by Casey Crescenzo with two separate conceptual projects throughout their history as one of the best up and coming progressive indie acts around. Fueled by his incredible songwriting and story telling skills, The Dear Hunter have freshly released The Color Spectrum a project featuring 36 songs, condensed to either 9 EPs (one for each of the seven colors of the spectrum as well as the two tones, white and black) or a full-length album consisting of highlights from each EP. Another conceptual project from the band began with their first release and will continue through Act VI (although fans are currently anxiously awaiting Act IV) with the story of a boy known as The Dear Hunter, encompassing life, death and everything in between. A night full of stellar songwriting and incredible musicianship, there's never been a Manchester show where I didn't walk away either overwhelmed with emotions or perplexed at how phenomenal of an opening band I was given the joy of being exposed to. Expect some videos from this show for sure!

Friday, November 18
Hammer No More The Fingers w/ Lonnie Walker, Free Electric State @ Nightlight in Chapel Hill, NC
$6 in advance/ $8 day of
Some of the finest local acts around are gathered together for what's sure to be a night full of energetic, fast paced, excellent tunes. Hammer No More The Fingers are the indie rock extraordinaire's of Durham, crafting incredibly catchy melodies on top of their driving instrumentation that keeps concert goers bobbing heads and dancing along to these infectious sounds. I've never seen anyone walk away from Hammer No More The Fingers underwhelmed, they usually leave performances with a smile on their face from the quirky, fun vibes that Hammer seems to give off. Plus on top of Hammer you have the folk inspired indie rock excellence of Lonnie Walker. With an almost cult following in the Triangle, it's hard to go to Lonnie Walker shows without being surrounded by fans that are chanting right along to every single word that Brian Corum spurts out of his mouth in such a sporadic fashion. Lonnie Walker are another band that's hard to walk away from live, they've mastered their stage presence and use it to their advantage for certain. This will be a must see show on a crowded Chapel Hill Friday night.

Jack The Radio w/ Onward, Soldiers @ Slim's in Raleigh, NC
$5
Raleigh concert goers have no excuse not to go to this, two stellar Americana/Rootsy bands at Slim's for $5?! Jack The Radio have a heavier blues and country influence than that of Wilmington based Onward, Soldiers, but these two should mesh excellently together for another stellar local lineup this weekend. Jack The Radio have a knack for writing catchy choruses that get stuck in your head for days (if you don't believe me check out their Bottom String Session they filmed this summer here), plus they've got an excellent sense of layering their instruments that conveys nicely in their live performance. Onward, Soldiers lean more towards an Americana inspired sound with bits of contemporary indie rock shining through with their driving rhythms and poignant lyrics. Definitely the go-to show for Raleigh fans who don't feel like venturing out of town for a great show.

Gross Ghost w/ Museum Mouth & Spaghetti Western @ The Cave in Chapel Hill, NC
We just shot a brand new piece on Gross Ghost called "You Should Know" that's going to be up soon, highlighting the upcoming local band and covering a bit of their album process, writing process, and much more. So with that being said it comes as no surprise to know that Gross Ghost is one of my favorite local acts, if you question why then I recommend you checking out this show to get your affirmation. Filled to the brim with energy, Gross Ghost crafts surf rock inspired indie rock tunes with a tinge of punk influence and topped off with poppy melodic masterpieces thanks to the brilliance of Mike Dillon's lyricism. Openers of Spaghetti Western are a side project of Joe Norkus and John Neville's Embarrassing Fruits which I've personally never checked out but can co-sign on for the fact that Embarrassing Fruits are the shit.

Friday, November 25
The Jackets w/ Peter Lamb & The Wolves @ Motorco in Durham, NC
$10
A night that's sure to be magical, this is a lineup filled with some of North Carolina's most talented musicians. The Jackets features members of Chatham County Line, the absolutely incredibly bluegrass act that's returning from a European tour, and Peter Lamb & The Wolves are just absolutely stellar musicians who've yet to truly get the recognition that they deserve from the scene they're surrounded by. I checked out Peter Lamb & The Wolves before Shakori so I could be familiar with them, then their set left me exhausted from dancing and absolutely floored by their displays of talent. Filled with lush textures and smooth riding jazz melodies, it's easy to find yourself lost in the sweet sounds of Peter Lamb & The Wolves. The Jackets are no push overs either, they're much harder to put into a single category of genre because they encompass quite a few. They've got a straight, no frills, rock n' roll sound to them with bits of Americana influences popping up as well as the melodic focus of earlier pop sounds. It's always nice to find an excuse to head out to the excellent venue of Motorco, but it's even better when bands like Peter Lamb & The Wolves are the ones filling that need.

Around The Triangle: Bombadil, The Sea and Cake, Fitz & The Tantrums

2011-11-15T10:58:00.001-05:00

From Bombadil's album release show on November 12, 2011

I feel like I keep saying this over and over, but I can't emphasize the point of how many damn shows there are in the Triangle that are absolutely awesome on an almost weekly basis. This weekend provided for some very special moments though, especially with the album release of Bombadil (which our review of will be up soon) at the packed out Cat's Cradle. I got to attend The Sea and Cake this weekend as well which will be getting reviewed this week with some live videos as well. Check out some of the highlights of these awesome shows in the Triangle after the jump.

Bombadil w/ J. Kutchma and Future Kings of Nowhere at The Cat's Cradle
November 12, 2011

The Sea and Cake w/ Brokeback and Butterflies at Local 506
November 11, 2011

Fitz & The Tantrums w/ Walk The Moon
November 4, 2011

Bottom String Session #15 - Mandolin Orange

2011-11-15T09:50:00.001-05:00

This session kicks off what was a powerhouse of a weekend for The Bottom String. We filmed three new sessions, filmed a brand new piece called You Should Know with Gross Ghost, as well as covered The Sea and Cake and Bombadil release show. Amidst all of the running around Chapel Hill this weekend, some of the best footage I've filmed so far was captured, including some of this excellent session with Mandolin Orange.

Mandolin Orange was the first band I ever attempted to film over a year ago when they stopped through my town of New Bern for a breath taking set in one of the finest venues I've ever gotten the chance to be a part of, the old Broad Street Music space. It was then that my adoration for this band began and it has only blossomed since then. Andrew Marlin was kind enough to let myself and Agatha Donkar in to shoot for not only this Mandolin Orange session, but a Sinful Savage Tigers session on his back patio as well (which will be up later in the week).

Mandolin Orange was joined by an array of talented local musicians for this session including Seth Barden on upright bass from Sinful Savage Tigers, Josh Oliver (formerly of The Everybodyfields), as well as Josh Moore. We got one Mandolin Orange original and two classic covers that ended up becoming glorious jams. Unfortunately the camera shit out on me for an excellent cover of "The Long Black Veil", but alas technology can't always be perfect. Check out all of the videos plus some excellent photos from Agatha after the jump.

Hopscotch announces new venue and ticket information

2011-11-09T12:06:00.001-05:00

Long View Center is the first new venue announced
for Hopscotch 2012

While Hopscotch is only a few months behind us, announcements for Hopscotch 2012 have already begun pouring in. Between their exciting "Hopscotch Presents" series, which thusfar has announced acts like Hopscotch alumni Akron/Family playing at The Pour House in January, and their continued stream of information drops, it looks like Hopscotch is going to start building up anticipation early this year.

From September 6-8 of 2012, Raleigh will be alive with the sounds of music once more, this time encapsulating fifteen venues and over 175 bands. The addition of two new venues and over twenty-five more bands than last year proves the continued growth of Hopscotch throughout the past few years, and with the bands brought in last year one can only imagine how Independent Weekly will try to top themselves in 2012. Either way it's a win-win situation for us fans.

Today Hopscotch announced the first new addition to their already stunning list of venues participating in the Raleigh festival. Long View Center, located on the corner of Person and Hargett, barely a block away from Tir Na Nog and The Pour House, is the most recent addition to the list of venues and it's one that's already got me giddy with anticipation for the bands that can potentially play at this absolutely stunning building. Able to seat around 400, this adds another excellent high capacity indoor venue to rival last years new addition of Fletcher Opera Hall.

Tickets for Hopscotch 2012 will go on sale December 1, 2011 and more ticket information will be announced soon. More information on Hopscotch can be found at their website: http://www.hopscotchmusicfest.com