Two major updates in the local music scene we’re a bit late on:
1. The bands for Troika 2009, set for November 5-7, have been announced and the list is amazing, including Bowerbirds, Hammer No More the Fingers, Embarrassing Fruits, Bellafea, Pink Flag, the Future Kings of Nowhere and many many more. Check out the full list here.
2. Flying Tiger Sounds, WKNC and Terpsikhore Records are releasing a compilation of 18 Triangle bands benefiting The Visual Exchange. The album, entitled Hear Here: The Triangle, will have an official release Aug. 29 at the Cat’s Cradle with performances by Hammer No More the Fingers, Annuals, Birds of Avalon and the Never. Other contributing bands include the Rosebuds, the Beast, the Love Language, Americans in Paris, Kooley High and the Old Ceremony.
Vincent Moon’s La Blogotheque has 10 new performances, called the “In a Van Sessions.” It’s like Black Cab Sessions with more space. Among the session are Bowerbirds playing “La Denegracion” and the Rosebuds, who are playing at the Cat’s Cradle tonight, with a cute-as-ever version of “Bluebird.”
UPDATE: The article also had a link to a video of Frere-Jones interviewing Vernon which you can see here.
New Yorker music critic Sasha Frere-Jones takes on one of the biggest indie sensations of 2008 and one of recess’ favorite artists, Bon Iver. It drips of that typical Frere-Jones prose and is just great.
Sometimes I am surprised by the fragmentary lyrics on “For Emma”; more often, I am moved by the beauty of Vernon’s massed voice, and held in place by the force of each careful, dogged song. You don’t need to know about breakups or solitary stretches in the woods to feel a line dragging these songs forward. As pretty as Vernon’s musical tendencies may be, the line pulling “For Emma” along is not light and could not have been easily found.
Note the reference to Raleigh-based Bowerbirds’ Mark Paulson on the second page. For the full story, click here.
Also, Bon Iver’s new EP, Blood Bank, comes out Jan. 21 on Jagjaguwar. Check back to this blog in the coming days for a review of that EP.
Here is the second part of our celebration of the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill music scene. Again, the list is not ranked. For part one, check here.
The Eye-Opener at BCHQ – August 2, 2008
A few of BCHQ’s board members work on a project to promote transgender awareness across the globe, specifically focusing on the Hijra communities in India. To help the cause locally, they put together a day-long festival in a sticky August day that included a bevvy of local artists (Mount Moriah, Des Ark, Megafaun, Embarrassing Fruits, etc.) and a vegan brunch. But the best moment of the day came at the end when the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle gave the best endorsement ever of his current hometown. His numbers might be a little bit off, but someone in Durham needs to hire him to promote the city.
Two-thirds of Megafaun and all of Bowerbids sing with the Rosebuds' Kelly Crisp at NC Rocks for Change. Photo by Andrew Hibbard
The Triangle played host to plenty of great music events in 2008, drawing names like the Silver Jews, Wilco, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Spoon. But there was also a rich local music scene. Unranked but in chronological order, here are some of 2008′s best moments in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.
The Dodos & Megafaun at BCHQ – March 28, 2008
This San Francisco duo on Frenchkiss had a huge year in 2008, topping several year-end lists. But the fact that they stopped at BCHQ instead of 506 or the Cradle was a power move for the small venue. To boot, the Dodos followed Silje Nes and Megafaun was the last to play. The Durham trio might not have been headlining, but playing last makes it seem like they were. Regardless, it was still a great show.
Arcade Fire and Superchunk Rock for Obama – May 2, 2008
It’s no secret that Mac McCaughan is an Obama fan. So when 90s Chapel Hill rockers Superchunk joined up with the Arcade Fire to put on a free show right before the North Carolina primary, it was a huge deal. In part, because Arcade Fire only played a handful of shows in 2008. But also because Superchunk shows are a special treat whenever they come–and Superchunk’s awesome kids stole the show. (more…)
