Des Ark at WXDU Sunday

15 Jan 2010, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Music, Playground, video, 0 Comments

WXDU will be hosting a live on-air performance from Des Ark Sunday at 4 p.m. Per the blog (albeit edited a bit), Aimee Argote has been writing a ton of new songs:

…but now i got a pile of new songs, and these new ones, they’re nothing like those two old ones. they’re f–ing sad, & so i’m just writing to let you know that everything is going to be ok, that everything is back to normal. i’m done wasting your time with that sappy happy crap, kicked the bug from my system. i’m playing real songs again. it is time to f–ing cry, y’all!

You can listen here. And in an other bit of Des Ark news, we just unearthed this video of Argote playing solo from the Midtown Dickens release party in April. Remember when she was going to bring everyone outside and play under a tree? That show. Enjoy.

Des Ark, Mount Moriah Join Midtown Dickens Release Party

05 Aug 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Concert, Playground, 0 Comments

Courtesy Midtown Dickens.

More details concerning the release party for Midtown Dickens’ new album Lantern. Opening the show will be Mount Moriah and Des Ark’s Aimee Argote, doing a solo gig. The album, called a “multimedia package,” contains a CD, vinyl, a download code for a digital copy as well as a 16-page collage/lyric booklet. And there’s the possibility of a free liquid surprise with every copy of the album sold–it sounds like you should get there early.

Doors for the Coffeehouse show are at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9.

This Week in the Arts

08 Mar 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Art, Concert, Playground, 0 Comments

With Duke and UNC both on spring break this week, the Triangle’s population is going to dip a little bit and parking will be easier on Franklin St. and both campuses. And, everyone might have their eyes on today’s Duke-UNC game, there’s a lot happening in the art world. Here’s a taste of some of this week’s best offerings. Our best bets are starred.

Sunday, March 8
 **Des Ark’s Aimee Argote solo, 9 p.m. at BCHQ
Jesus Christ Superstar’s closing night at DPAC

Monday, March 9
William Elliott Whitmore with Samantha Crain & the Morning Shivers and Ben Weaver, 9 p.m. at Local 506
Roman Candle’s new EP drops Monday. Get The They Say EP free at their website.
Independent drama-comedy All Along released at Carmike 15, Wynnsong 15 and Park Place 16. It’s a one-week engagement limited to 93 theaters in the U.S.

Tuesday, March 10
Slow day. Go see Watchmen? Also, award season bait Milk, Rachel Getting Married, Happy Go-Lucky and Synecdoche, NY get their DVD and Blu-ray releases, alongside the 70th Anniversay edition of Pinnochio. Make it a day at the movies.
Also, if you just watch DVDs, don’t forget to get your Full Frame pass. Sales end March 15. 

Wednesday, March 11
Modest Mouse with Mimicking Birds and Japanese Motors , 9 p.m. at Disco Rodeo
Morrissey (Tour of Refusal) with Red Cortez, 7:30 p.m. at DPAC

Thursday, March 12
**Vetiver with Megafaun and Sian Alice Group, 9:30 p.m. at the Cat’s Cradle
Clem Snide with the Heligoats, 9:30 p.m. at Local 506

Friday, March 13
**Lemming Malloy, the Physics of Meaning and Felix Obelix, 10 p.m. at the Pinhook
Che and The Class are released in the Triangle (expect them at Chelsea) 

Saturday, March 14
Bishop Allen with Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Singsing & Marmar 9 p.m. at Local 506
**Red Collar’s Pilgrim release party with the Dry Heathens and Bone Royals, 7:30 p.m. at Trianle Brewing Co. ($10 cover includes a copy of the album)
George Lopez’s Tall Dark & Chicano tour, 8 p.m. at DPAC (For mature audiences only–18+)

SxSW: How Does the Triangle Fare?

04 Mar 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Music, Playground, 1 Comments

In spite of being the most uncool branch of the Triangle’s most uncool city, Raleigh will be the area and the state’s best-represented city at South by Southwest this year. The Bull City will be sending two of its finer acts to Austin this year, though Des Ark association with Durham is pretty loose given her recent move to Charlotte and stronger ties to Pittsboro. Nonetheless, props to the Triangle for sending 13 of North Carolina’s 18 bands to Texas for the festival. If only one of them was playing for Rachel Ray…

Here’s a list of all the bands from the Tar Heel state playing in Austin March 18-22.

Chapel Hill
Black Skies
Dexter Romweber Duo
The Moaners
The Physics of Meaning
Valient Thorr

Durham
Des Ark
Megafaun

Raleigh
Alesana
Annuals
Colossus
The Love Language
The Rosebuds
Lonnie Walker

Other North Carolina Towns
The Avett Brothers (Concord)
Brother Reade (Winston-Salem)
Ear Pwr (Asheville)
Floating Action (Black Mountain)
He Is Legend (Wilmington)

LIVE: Des Ark and Yardwork at Nightlight

03 Mar 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Concert, Music, Playground, 0 Comments

Chapel Hill’s Nightlight is possibly the area’s bets venue for a punk show. With no stage and low ceilings, it’s a simple venue that befits a small, engaging show. And Sunday night, it even had the right mix of sweat and booze mingling in the air to make it a welcome retreat from the falling snow outside.

Greensboro’s Resister–the loudest band of the night–opened. The most physically dynamic set of the night, it was also the most straight-forward and unapologetic punk band that set a good mood. Perhaps a bit too loud, what followed was even better.

Based in Charlotte, Yardwork delivers a punk esthetic with a more back country feel. With dueling drums, multiple guitarists and a multi-instrumentalist that played the trumpet and various percussion instruments, Yardwork is loud. They are in your face but it’s not angry. Just fun. The first time I saw them was at BCHQ in July after Les Savy Fav’s Nasher show and though the temperature was drastically different, the show was just as exciting. They started their with the upbeat “Cyndi” and took off from there. What makes this band so much fun to watch though, is that you feel like they are having fun playing with each other. It’s an unadulterated performance and they are unafraid to joke with one another and the audience. Their joy in making music radiates into the audience.

Finally, Des Ark (or rather, des_ark) finished the set. I was hoping for some interaction between Aimee Argote and the Yardwork boys, but nothing beyond conversation and playful joking. Nonetheless, Argote was as incredible as ever. She was backed by Evan Rowe and Noah Howard. Argote is remarkable when she plays acoustic, but Sunday’s show was excellent. She started playing alone and Rowe and Howard joined in. They were incredible tight in their sound and the new material only served as a reminder to how desperately I want her to record a new album.

And as good as the music is, it must be noted how enjoyable her shows are. When she is on stage, there is a sense of intimacy and engagement with the crowd that can only come from a show of that size. That’s not to say it was a crowd of 10–in fact, the venue was pretty full. But Argote is so personable on stage you feel she is just playing for you. It was just one of those shows you don’t want to end.