21 Apr 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Playground, 0 Comments
Two bits of news we are a day late in posting. Bad news first, then good.
- After the announcement of a contract on the band’s MySpace less than a month ago, Neckbeard Record’s has terminated their contract with I Was Totally Destroying It “Citing irreconcilable differences” according to a press release from the label. IWTDI was scheduled to release The Beached Margin/Done Waiting double EP in May alongside former labelmate Lemming Malloy, who are still signed and will release their album in May. Lemming Malloy is having a record release party May 22 at Local 506. IWTDI was schedule to play but we’re betting they are off the bill now. No news as to what said “irreconcilable differences” are, but it’s an interesting storyline for sure. IWTDI’s Done Waiting EP can be download at Reverb Nation for free, here.
- After a successful first go last May, Trekky Records has scheduled its second (now) annual TRKFest for Saturday, June 13, again at the Piedmont Biofuels plant in Pittsboro, NC. In addition to the regular slate of Trekky bands, the day-long festival will include favorites Hammer No More the Fingers, Ivan Rosebud (that’s the Rosebud’s Ivan Howard), Midtown Dickens and Megafaun. Read more about the even (including the other events like the Pants-off Dance-off) over at Trekky’s blog.
I was just browsing the Local 506 schedule and noticed that tomorrow night, Jan. 6, Trekky Records bands Butterflies and Embarrassing Fruits are playing a free show at the Chapel Hill venue starting at 9 p.m.
I also noticed that Sunfold is playing a show Jan. 11 at 506. Sunfold is not quite a household name but you’ve likely heard of them before. The band is an a side project of Raleigh-based Annuals–but only in the sense that it is Annuals reconfigured and minus Donzel Radford and Anna Spence. A couple Sunfold tracks appeared on Annuals’ 2008 Wet Zoo EP.
Annuals, who are embarking on a huge tour later this month, will be making a stop at Carrboro’s Cat’s Cradle on Jan. 31. All three shows should be great.
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.
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Courtesy Amazon.com
Inspired by Ben Cohen’s endorsement of Bruce Springsteen’s Christmas classic, I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite holiday songs. Because I’m not from New Jersey, Springsteen didn’t make the cut. Sorry, Ben. This list, however, evokes a side of Christmas not seen in Mariah Carey’s or Bing Crosby’s respective Christmas albums. A side that is best described by Charlie Brown in his famous Christmas special:
“I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel. I guess I just don’t understand Christmas. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.”
Enjoy a break from the Bon Iver-filled top 10 lists. Happy Christmas?
Sufjan Stevens. “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!” The song ends “Silent night/Holy night/Silent night/Nothing feels right,” encapsulating Charlie Brown’s sentiment in the most Jesus-loving, Sufjan Stevens way possible.
The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra. “The Best Christmas Ever.” Chapel Hill-based Trekky Records formed the Trekky Yuletide Orchestra a few years back when they launched their annual Christmas at the Cradle concert, now in its third year. They also released an album of Christmas standards. The warm string section and acoustic guitar paired with the anti-consumerist message is a kind of endearing but the lyrics’ desolate imagery of barren hearths and “no presents anywhere” still pack a depressing punch.
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