We’ve already seen Duke Performance’s 2009-10 musical offerings but we’re already getting a sneek preview of some of the Duke University Union and Coffehouse offerings. First, somewhat old news, rising D.C. sensation Wale will grace Duke’s East Campus Quad Aug. 28 after the student activities fair targeted at first-years. Later that night, things get a little more folk and a little more local when Midtown Dickens stops by the Coffeehouse for their CD release party.
Additionally, Islands will grace the Coffeehouse with their presence Nov. 1 in promotion of their third album Vapours, which drops Sept. 22. Who’s secretly hoping Nick Thorburn shows up on Franklin St. the night before?
Check back here for a full Coffeehouse schedule soon.
Hammer No More the Fingers headlined at the Duke Coffeehouse last night as part of Viking Storm II. Here’s video of “Viking Storm.” We’re working on some technical issues right now, but we should have more video coming soon so be sure to check back.
The second night of Hammer No More the Finger‘s “Friends of Hammer festival”/CD release party (for debut LP Looking For Bruce) dominated the Coffeehouse last night. The event—comprised of five bands over a lengthy but energetic five hours—featured Viking Storm Ale brewed by sponsor Triangle Brewing Company, the UNC-Villanova game projected onto a screen behind opening-opening act The Beast and a number of concertgoers dressed up in their best Viking attire. Attendance was somewhat sparse at the beginning, but over the course of the evening the Coffeehouse grew filled to capacity, culminating in a packed mosh-pit environment for Hammer’s set.
Durham’s The Beast—taking the stage first of the five, around 9 pm—got the festival started on an upbeat note. The band’s fusion of jazz and hip-hop was a fitting showcase for MC Pierce Freelon’s politically love-oriented lyrics and his lively stage presence. Freelon made multiple references to the Viking theme, obtaining on separate instances an axe and a horned helmet from the audience, and his best piece of crowd banter came when he urged the crowd to “put your motherf—ing Viking Ales in the sky!” He sported a gray tank-top with “VS”, for Viking Storm, written on it in big, bleeding letters, and The Beast finished their set with a rendition of Hammer’s death-metal ode to the weekend’s motif, “We Pray for Viking Storm.” (more…)
