In addition to reading from Our Noise last night, Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan made some music. The two played “Throwing Things” from No Pocky for Kitty, and McCaughan played two solo covers: the first from Butterglory’s Matt Sugg’s debut album, “Where’s Your Patience Dear?” The second was from Lambchop’s How I Quit Smoking, “Theone,” which McCaughan doesn’t know how to pronounce. Check out the videos below.
In celebration of yesterday’s release of Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, Merge’s/Superchunk’s Laura Ballance stopped by the Regulator Bookshop to read from the book and play a few songs (those videos are forthcoming). McCaughan read from the Lambchop chapter and Ballance from Spoon’s. Check out the video below. The label owners will be reading tomorrow at Bull’s Head Bookshop on UNC’s campus at 3:30 and later that evening at 7:30 p.m. at Raleigh’s Quail Ridge Books (and at Malaprop’s in Asheville Oct. 2).
If you didn’t have reason to stick around Durham this summer, Triangle-based Merge Records just gave you a reason to pay the Tarheel State a visit. In celebration of their 20th year, the record label owned by Superchunk/Portastatic frontman Mac McCaughan is hosting a five-day summer concert series featuring Merge artists from the past 20 years. XX Merge will be held from July 22-26 in the “summer heat of sunny North Carolina.” (i.e. location is TBA). Here’s hoping Jeff Mangum makes an appearance
Merge is also offering a year-long subscription for $199 that gets you 14 curated compilation CDs, a remix CD, a Merge covers CD a book of album art and tons of other stuff. Definitely worth it and it can be purchased here.
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…)
