Last week's top 30 albums

Here are the top 30 records at WKNC for last week, compiled by Daytime Music Director Jenna St. Pierre:

1. Technicolor Health by Harlem Shakes
2. Three Sides by Veelee
3. Eating Us by Black Moth Super Rainbow
4. Actor by St. Vincent
5. American Folklore by American Folklore
6. Ascenseur Ouvert by Kingsbury Manx
7. Kingdom Of Rust by Doves
8. Inside Your Guitar by It Hugs Back
9. Power Move by Screaming Females
10. Telekinesis by Telekinesis
11. Pretzelvania by Americans in France
12. Manners by Passion Pit
13. Walking On A Dream by Empire of the Sun
14. These Times Old Times by Lonnie Walker
15. Oh Tall Tree In The Ear by Roman Candle
16. Set Em Wild, Set Em Free by Akron/Family
17. The First Time by Embarrassing Fruits
18. To Lose My Life by White Lies
19. Fantasies by Metric
20. It's Blitz by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
21. Welcome To Mali by Amadou and Mariam
22. The Love Language by The Love Language
23. Suckers [EP] by Suckers
24. Devotion Implosion by Gliss
25. Pilgrim by Red Collar
26. Jupiter by Starfucker
27. Seven Days Now by Xu Xu Fang
28. Bunny Gets Paid by Red Red Meat
29. Bromst by Dan Deacon
30. Hazards Of Love by Decemberists

Here are some new albums we've added to our library, which you can look forward to hearing:
Veckatimist by Grizzly Bear
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix

Reigndrop Lopes on "Saturday Night Soul and R&B" 5/30

Tune in for a special edition of "Saturday Night Soul and R&B" with special guest Reigndrop Lopes. Reigndrop is the sister of the late Lisa"Left-eye" Lopes, of the biggest selling female group of all time, TLC.

Tune in as we talk to Reigndrop about Lisa and also find out about her new solo Hip-Rock project. Find out more about Reigndrop here.

Americana Blues & Co. Playlist 5-30-09

As I am out of town on vacation this weekend (and possibly the next two) all of the songs I played on today's show will not appear in the normal Playlist so I feel obligated to list the tracks here for all of my fantastic listeners.  Also, if there are tracks you want to hear on next week's show feel free to pop me an email request at Caid@wknc.org!  I will be sure to get any tunes I can just for you and give you a shout out along the way.  Thanks for listening this morning and be sure to tune in next week from 10am-Noon as well!

10am-11am
Emmylou Harris: In Rodanthe
The Duhks: Ships High In Transit
Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez: Sweet Tequila Blues
Soggy Bottom Boys: Man Of Constant Sorrow
Old Crow Medicine Show: Cocaine Habit
Flatlanders: Im Gonna Strangle You Shorty
Carolina Chocolate Drops: Dona Got A Ramblin Mind
Lauren Pritchard: Way Down In North Carolina
Nanci Griffith: Lookin For The Time
Codetalkers: Beggin
Carrie Rodriguez: Infinite Night
Eliza Lynn: Honey Suckle
The Waybacks: Nice To Be Alone
Josh Ritter: Harrisburg
Robin Ella: Down The Mountain
Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir: Dark Holler

11am-12pm
Donna The Buffalo: Way Back When
Ry Cooder: Suitcase In My Hand
Seth Walker: Miss Ann
Norah Jones: Crazy (Patsy Cline Cover)
Jill Barber: When I'm Making Love To You
Neko Case: Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
Taj Mahal: Statesboro Blues
BB King: The Thrill Is Gone (Roy Hawkins Cover)
Mad Tea Party: Polly Put The Kettle On
Cave Singers: Dancing On Our Graves
Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, & Lester Flatts: Pick Along
Calexico: Corona
Jolie Holland: Old Fashion Morphine
Holy Ghost Tent Revival: The End To...

Local Beat preview 5/29/09

After what was probably the most eclectic Local Beat I've hosted last week (Lemming Malloy, Colossus, and Caltrop),  we've got a jam-packed lineup this week.

At 5:00, self-described rock orchestra Easy Company will be stopping by to play a few songs in studio and to talk about a show they're putting on June 6th at the Halle Cultural Arts Theatre in Apex.  If you thought Lost in the Trees was a crowd with an 11-person band, these guys have 17 members!  Not sure how many are coming in for the interview and performance, but this is a situation where the throwaway line "crazier things have happened" may not necessarily apply.

 



 

At 6:00, resident Wednesday Local Lunch DJ Cioffi will be interviewing Raleigh-based progressive/experimental band Pivot.  They're playing the Brewery June 5th and will be by to talk about that.




Lastly, at 7:00, Friday Local Lunch DJ Mikey P will be interviewing Lonnie Walker about the new album, These Times Old Times, their release show/party at Schoolkids Records on Hillsborough Street and the Ahpeele warehouse on Capital Blvd.  They're also going on tour with Brooklyn-based Motel Motel in June, so Mikey will ask him about that as well.

So as you can see, we're cramming about as much as we possibly can into luxurious post-baseball 3-hour Local Beat this Friday, 5/29.  Be sure to tune in at 88.1 FM or wknc.org/listen.

5/28 – Local Beer Local Band Night – Left Outlet and The Names

Left Outlet and The Names will be rockin' Tir Na Nog tonight (Thursday 5/28) for Local Beer Local Band Night!  Left Outlet is experimental prog rock and The Names are old school rock 'n roll with a bluesy feel.  Don't forget it's FREEEE to get in, and Tir Na Nog has some delicious local beers on tap.  Come out and support your community!

Left Outlet will also be on the air at 5pm with me today to talk about their band and the show.

Here's a video of Left Outlet playing "Prudence" live:

prudence live at the pour house

Sessions@KNC? Yeah, we're back.

So we're officially back up and running, with one new session under our belt.

On Sunday, May 3, Mikey P, Mike Gray, and Eric (myself) met up with Simple, the aptly named minimalist band from Carrboro, NC, outside Caldwell Hall on campus.  Although it took a while to reason our way into the building, the superior sonic characteristics of Caldwell Lounge would help make this session a fun one. We set up a bunch of microphones and hit the big red button as the band hammered out a short, simple and solid set.

I recently got word from Chip, the band's guitarist and lead vocalist, that they plan on releasing five of the tracks late this summer as a live limited-release EP with fancy hand-painted covers or something artsy like that. Sounds awesome to me! So, if you're lucky enough to catch Simple at a show late this summer, look out for their release of these songs.  Their next performance is at Nightlight in Chapel Hill on June 5th at 10 PM.

Below you can check out one of my favorite songs from the session: "The Conversation."  It has a unique, ambitious, and more rockin' feel; you'll see what I mean if you've heard the rest of Simple's music.

The Conversation

And lastly, here are the other four tracks for FREE download!  Each song is zipped.

Signs in the Sky

Puppet

Take My Hand

Soldier

Top 10: Des Ark

Hey readers,

It's your lucky day!

Aimée Argote, the powerful voice behind Des Ark is sharing the songs that have been inspiring her this week.

BRIAN WILSON -Our Prayer - Gee
CHROMATICS-Hannah's Song
FILTHYBIRD -The Gospel Of Truth (As Judas Told It To Me)
LIZA KATE -Anclote
LUCINDA WILLIAMS -Fruits of My Labor
MASS MOVEMENT OF THE MOTH -Idle Minds Speak In Binary
NINA SIMONE -Suzanne
NEIL YOUNG -Only Love Can Break Your Heart
PYGMY LUSH -Butch's Dream
VAN MORRISON -Crazy Love

Aimée with be playing at TRKfest on June 13th.

Four for the Summer

April showers brought the May flowers, and now the June sunshine and Dog Days of July are around the corner. Is it me or is everything better with lots of sunshine? With the official start of summer less than a month away, I'm excited about a lot, including the music . . . It's gonna be a massive summer for electronic artists! As always, the global stage of electronic dance music pulses with life, and many ambitious forward-looking albums are on their way or were recently dropped—the sounds are futuristic, the grooves killer, the tunes huge. So what are some of the things that I will be listening to?

1. Kikomoto Allstars "House Music LP"

Dance music has a globe-spanning history, and right now few encompass that spirit more than Cam Farrar. Hailing from Melbourne, Farrar takes his moniker from Tadao Kikomoto, the guy at Japanese synth-giant Roland behind the TR909 and the TB-303. Of course these instruments landed in Chicago and helped to set new directions for the emerging house music sound, perhaps most famously in the case of the 303 whose growling baselines defined Acid house. (It 's called acid because the 303 is a bass machine. . .get it?) This release is all original material, but also very much a tribute to the roots of electronic dance music. All the original instruments are used, and tracks such as "I'll Make You Jack" and "Jack the House" conjure bygone days of nightlife as do "Can't Stop the House" and "Warehouse Days."

2. Louie Vega and Dj Pierre "Da Jungle EP"

This EP features nine different versions of "Da Jungle," a colloboration that is itself special because Vega and Pierre are two pioneers of dance music. Vega is one half of the legendary duo Masters at Work, and a solo marvel for his soulful, Nuyorican flavored NYC house, fitting for the nephew of Hector Lavoe. Similarly, DJ Pierre is also a superstar of house music, a certified institution of Chicago House, responsible for bringing Wildpitch and Acid styles to that city's house sound, and so to the world. Pierre's Afro-Acid label grew out of a party in Chicago, and this collaboration is another remarkable track from what has quickly become one of my favorite labels in dance music.

3. Kris Menace "Idiosyncrasies 3-Disc" LP

Um, wow. . .just, wow. Kris Menace's is my no doubt going to be my fav album of the summer. This one is a 3-CD release—two albums of original tracks and a third that's a DJ mix. An embarrassment of riches, and almost too good to be true—this one is for anyone who likes airy and melodic synthesizers airy or dance music inflected by the eighties hold the cheese. Lots of that here, all spilling over tightly knitted beats, some of them in collaboration with others—Felix Da Housecat, Spooky, Alan Braxe, Fred Falke, Hexstatic all show up to lend different directions to these 26 tracks. The album certainly has a "sound"--one that after so many tracks remains surprisingly fresh, and non-repetitive.

4. DJ Hell "Teufelswerk" 2-Disc LP

I've been waiting for this record since I heard DJ Hell's guest appearance on Tom Wax's radio show in Berlin. There's been a lot of hype around this one. . . It. Is. All. True. Hell's third full-length artist record is brilliant. Dance music at its best. The double CD is split into Day and Night. "Day" is somber, melodic, and in places experimental--"Carte Blanche," "Action (Interlude)," and the extended opening of "Germania" each sound like something out of Karlheinz Stockhausen; this dance music is one of ideas, extended languishing tracks filled with color and atmospheric subtlety. "Night" gets down to the brass tacks of the dancefloor. For this one, Hell enlists P. Diddy and Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music as vocalists as well as a number of other producers including Frankfurt's Anthony Rother on "Bodyfarm."

Interview Tomorrow on Americana Blues & Co.

Tomorrow morning on Americana Blues & Co we will start the show off with an interview with Thomas Moorefield of Sleepless Nights, a tribute band for Gram Parsons.

Sleepless Nights is playing alongside local act Lynn Blakey, of Tres Chicas fame, and headlining is Joe Swank and the Zen Pirates at the Local 506 on Thursday May 28th at 9pm.  We will be doing giveaways for the show, including some merchandise and a handful of tickets, but come prepared with you Gram Parsons trivia knowledge as you might need it (hint)

In addition to pumping up this amazing concert we will talk about Sleepless Nights performing in Nashville on September 19th at the "GP3" event.  "GP3" stands for Gram Parsons Petition Party, which is an event to draw attention to the ongoing petition drive to have Gram inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Izza Kizza

"I'm the Izza Kizza" by the Izza Kizza is an intoxicating blend of electronic and hip hop perfect for a basement dance party filled with foam and smoke, flashing strobe lights,  and full of sweaty kids dressed up in some weird theme, like that "redneck track and field" design school party i went to.

Check out the music video for "I'm the Izza Kizza".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puTuEscz7TU

Hailing from Valdosta Geogria, The Izza Kizza is very much still on the underground, but has received attention from some big timers, like Timbaland, Lil Wayne, and David Banner.  Look out for an Izza Kizza world wide take over coming soon!

Ticket Giveaways at WKNC For The Rest Of May!!

Check it out! WKNC is always giving away tickets to great shows around the Triangle area and this summer is no exception! Here are the shows that WKNC is giving away tickets for during the rest of May:



The Old Ceremony @ Cat's Cradle - Saturday, May 23rd





Isis with Pelican and Tombs @ Cat's Cradle - Friday, May 29th





Josh Ritter with The Proclivities and David Shultz & The Skyline @ Cat's Cradle - Saturday, May 30th



Kennebec with Love Colt @ The Pour House - Saturday, May 30th

Be sure to listen in for your chance to win tickets!! And don't forget to check out WKNC's Rock Report for a complete list of local shows around the Triangle!

Local Beat preview 5/22/09

Jay Cartwright of Lemming Malloy and his marvelon, courtesy of the band's Myspace

My my my, the hits just keep coming on the Local Beat.  If you thought DJ Stevo was gone for good, then you thought wrong.  He's only expressing his love for the North Carolina music scene in a different way now, through his brand new label, Neckbeard Records.  And as part of the Neckbeard Records launch, they're throwing a free show at the Local 506 on Friday night.  The lineup is Gray Young, I Was Totally Destroying It, and Lemming Malloy--who will be releasing their album on Neckbeard that night.  So some combination of Stevo, Lemming Malloy, and others will be stopping by right at 5:00 to talk about what the band and the label has been up to -- and what they have in store.

Colossus rocking Local Beer Local Band, photo by TJ Appling

Then at 6:00, we're going to switch directions completely--Colossus will be stopping in to talk about their show next Wednesday (5/27) at the Pour House.  They'll be playing alongside Black Skies and Caltrop in what promises to be a pretty epic local metal show.  It's not confirmed yet, but Caltrop may be joining them.  It remains to be seen.  What is certain, though, is that we'll be having a good time and getting to know our favorite bands a little better.  And baseball is over, so we get the full 3 hours again!  Be sure to tune in at 5:00 at 88.1 FM or wknc.org/listen.

HFQ Block Party

The past weekend at the Nighlight in Chapel Hill were owned by Holidays For Quince, a local community record label that boasts some of the best bands in the triangle.  This was the first ever Block Party for HFQ and eleven different bands played the three nights. (just a quick note, all pictures below were taken by Mike Gray)

Night 1
Friday night was a first for many.  Not only was it the first night of the Holidays For Quince first ever block party, but it was also a debut CD release show for HFQ's newest artist, Liza Kate, in addition, it was the Nighlight's first evening with a liquor license.  Needless to say it was one hell of a show.

Embarrassing Fruits was first on the bill and kicked through most of their songs from their First Time EP.  The crowd was small at the start but by the end of their set the place had filled up.  Embarrassing Fruits is actually off of Trekky Records and not HFQ, which made it all the more apparent that this was as much of a community event as anything, and not just to highlight HFQ's amazing group of bands (a couple of bands from HFQ are playing at TRKFest in June as well).  Plus, you have got to love EF for their "non-ironic mustaches and vintages T-shirts."



It was only Mount Moriah's second show ever, but this mixmash of some of the Triangle's best local bands stole the night with some beautiful tunes and fantastic musicianship.  I think I found my new favorite band in the area and look forward to the next time they play.



Liza Kate went on next with a spectacular intimate set.  It being her CD release party I had only heard her earlier that night on the Local Beat and had never seen her before, but was pleasantly surprised with her beautiful whispery vocals over top reticent acoustic guitar.  Jenks Miller sat in for a few songs on electric and Heather McEntire sang on one song as well.  Overall, the intimate setting the Nighlight provides allowed for Liza to really connect with the crowd, and her witty entertaining comments during the breaks kept the crowd in.  Her new album off of HFQ, Don't Let The Dogs, is one of my favorites so far this year after only one listen through.



Max Indian went on last.  Being off of Trekky Records, like the Embarrassing Fruits, they too were welcome friends.  Having seen them only about 6 or 7 times before (and never not enjoying seeing them) I decided to skip out for the night and get some rest for the radio early the next morning.  (Sorry fellas).



Night 2
Night 2 was another fantastic night for local music.  In The Year Of The Pig went on first.  People, until you see them live, then the phrase "melt your face off" holds no meaning.  ITYOTP really can rock your mind (and ears) into oblivion.  Their smashing duo drums overtop distorted guitar and bass took this ITYOTP n00b to a whole new level.  After 30 minutes of mind bending music, I began to feel sorry for Dave Cantwell's drumset, but I suppose it was for a good cause.  Man, what a way to start the night.

Oh, and after their set they filled everyones bellies with some delicious homemade tacos.  

 (no pictures from ITYOTP as they played in complete darkness, very cool though)

Not be be outdone, the Curtains of Night went up next and kept the show heavy with their unique brand of female duo death metal.



The Moaners held the third slot of Night 2 and delivered on their usual bluesy americana vibe.  Their last song of the night, one which I did not recgonize, with Melissa on saw and Lauren on acoustic guitar was truly captivating.  Most of their setlist sounded like new material to me, so I either need to remind myself of their discography or even better, look forward to a new album sometime in the future.

 



Night 3
Night 3 was one for the ages.  Screaming Females to center stage to start the show.  Ive never seen a performance quite like this band from New Jersey put on.   Shredding guitar, pumping bass, head banging drums.  What a set.  If you havn't seen this band, they are a MUST.  After they were done some of the people I came with and myself sat in silence for a moment to take it all in.  Speechless.

Caltrop tore it up second with their overamplified driven sound and hard progressive rock.  Heavy metal heaven.  (Word is that they may begin recording an album soon, after writing songs all winter, and plan on touring in Europe- kickass!)

Last, but obviously the headliner for the whole 3 nights, was Bellafea who launched into their set with enthusiasm only they could muster for such an already overhyped crowd.  I had not seen them in ages but was pleasantly surprised to see them just as amazing as ever before.  Their punk rock attitude never ceases to entertain.  All hail Bellafea!

5/21 Local Beer Local Band Night – The Never and Lost in the Trees

I'm super excited about this week's Trekky edition of  Local Beer Local Band Night (5/21), as we have the Double Barrel Benefit alumnus The Never and Lost in the Trees!  Local Beer Local Band Night is held every Thursday night (9:30) at Tir Na Nog in downtown Raleigh.  It's FREEEEEE to get in and Tir Na Nog has some great local brews.  So come out and support your comunity!!!!

Here's a video of Lost in the Trees performing live at the Showroom in SC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHxPbIHvRdk

And here's a video of the Never live at the Cradle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKzV0RP8djQ&feature=related

WORD UP!

Ticket Giveaways This Week (May 18-22)

The Decemberists are coming to Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium June 4th and 88.1 has your chance to win tickets. Cat's Cradle is presenting the show so you know it's going to rock. Also on the giveaway menu:

• Clutch w/ Wino's Band and Maylene and the Disasters TONIGHT at Cat's Cradle


• Goodnight's Comedy Club and UAB present comedian John Oliver from The Daily Show this Saturday at Stewart Theatre in Tally Student Center, NCSU campus.


• Sneak preview passes for Drag Me To Hell on Tue., May 26th at Crossroads 20 in Cary


• Kennebec w/ Love Colt on Sat., May 30th at The Pour House


• Carolina Rollergirls double header on Sat., June 6th at Dorton Arena

Switch's Skate Mix Volume #1

I’ll admit I don’t really know much about the Internet, other than it’s a great place to find videos of walruses playing saxophone. So, I really didn’t really know too much about WKNC blog until very recently. I guess I was just so enthralled watching those walruses. But, when a series of skateboarding injuries plagued me over the past few weeks, I decided that now would be the time to start contributing to this thing.

As I just alluded, I skateboard. I skate just about every day and it is truly my first love in life, as sappy as that sounds. I even got my DJ name because my girlfriend suggested using some trick terminology for my on air moniker - “DJ Inward Heelflip” never quite caught on. But, getting back to skating, I figured my first post could be a playlist to skate to. You see, I usually listen to music while I skate, and in the eight or so years I’ve been riding, I’ve amassed quite a collection of tunes that complement some shred sledding.

You’re going to see a lot of different types of music in these mixes. When people think skateboarding, they generally think punk rock, and that’s true to a certain extent. Punk rock has definitely played a role in skateboarding’s history and it will continue to do so in the years to come. But other forms of music, such as heavy metal, hip-hop, and alternative rock, are just as much a part of skateboarding culture. Who could think of anything better to blast than gangsta rap while sliding some ledges? What complements hitting huge handrails quite like Slayer? Variety is the spice of skate life, and so are these mixes.

So without further ado, here’s Switch’s first skate mix. I’ll try to put one of these up every few months or so (along with a photo of yours truly), in addition to blogs about grunge, punk, and whatever else. I know it’s not walruses playing saxophone, but hopefully this mix will put some gnar back in your bloodstream.

1.) Valient Thorr- “I Hope the Ghosts of the Dead Haunt Your Soul Forever”- What a way to kick off a playlist! These guys are Triangle locals, even though they claim to hail from the planet Venus. With how hard they play, I believe they really do come another planet, because few Earthlings can step to Thorr’s brand of full speed ahead rock n’ roll. They got their start playing skateparks in rural North Carolina and one of their songs made it into the soundtrack of the world famous Skate videogame. You can’t get much more cred than that.

2.) Zebrahead- “Check”- This one I remember hearing on a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game when I was younger. Ever since then, I’ve associated it with getting gnar- either in the real world or the pretend one. “Check” also shows how that 90’s rock/rap thing could have worked out pretty well, given the right circumstances.

3.) GOB- “Can I Resist”- I first heard GOB when I was watching this skateboarding show on T.V. when I was like twelve. Ever since then, I’ve been stoked on these Canadians. Yes, I like pop punk. I don’t care what you think about it.

4.) Pearl Jam- “God’s Dice”- Vedder and company hit the jackpot with this post-90’s return to hard rocking. Hey, I couldn’t help but throw in some grunge love in here.

5.) Beastie Boys- “Triple Trouble”- Quick straight rhymes and some British accents over a beat sampled from the Sugarhill Gang’s legendary “Rapper’s Delight”? Only New York’s favorite sons could pull that off. Perfect for some skateboard break-dancing, B-boy.

6.) Aerosmith- “Back in the Saddle”- This was probably the first band I ever listened to while skating. Back in those days, I would strap a CD player around my hand when I went out in the streets. Needless to say I broke about five of those things. Thankfully we have iPods now, so I can get my classic rock outlaw vibe from Aerosmith worry free.

7.) Flogging Molly- “The Kilburn High Road”- I don’t condone skating while under the influence, but if you’re going to do it, this is you song, laddie.

8.) The Pixies- “Alec Eiffel”- Trippy, but with all the melodic power that made this group the godfathers of modern rock music.

9.) Queens of the Stone Age- “Go With the Flow”- Alternative rock, whatever that means anymore, with lots of muscle behind it. I recommend you take the title literally.

10.) Bad Brains- “Don’t Bother Me”- A classic hardcore punk anthem. Seriously raw skating needs seriously raw music, and Bad Brains never fails to deliver the latter.

11.) Children of Bodom- “Triple Corpse Hammerblow”- I’m not a huge metal head, but when I heard one of my favorite skaters, Chris Cole, going on and on about this band in interviews I had to check them out. I have to say, I’m pretty impressed. Put this song on before laying waste to some big stair sets and handrails, Viking style.

12.) Bad Religion- “Requiem for Dissent”- This track from the Los Angeles old guard is another solid tune meant for fast skating. Activism never sounded better.

13.) The Ramones- “I Wanted Everything”- A skateboarder’s staple band since the 70's. Somewhat heavier than the typical hits you hear by the Ramones, but this one’s still just as catchy.

14.) Anti Flag- “Got the Numbers”- Probably one of the most positive players in punk rock music today. Great music loaded with the proactive messages we seem to be lacking these days. And with skateboarders well outnumbering all the branches of the United States military combined, we’ve got the numbers as well.

15.) The Heartaches- “Rock n Roll UFO”- There’s just no better song with which to end this list. Clocking in at only two minutes, this is complete skate-inspired rock n’ roll chaos. If dropping in to the deep end of a backyard pool has a sound, it’s “Rock n’ Roll UFO.”

Hope you enjoyed the first of Switch’s skate mix. Now stop blogging and start shredding!

Prabir and the Substitutes On-Air Interview

This past Thursday was a busy day for Prabir and the Substitutes! After being stuck in traffic, the band dropped by the 5 o’clock Shadow for an in-studio interview with Mikey P and me. Then, the band headed to Tir Na Nog where they completely rocked out WKNC’s weekly Local Beer Local Band Night with Chapel Hill natives Embarrassing Fruits.

Considering their hectic touring schedule, I was excited to have such a relaxed discussion with the band about their music. Prabir and the Substitutes are a pop-rock group from Richmond, Virginia with a knack for melody and harmony and a keen appreciation for the joys of playing music. Appropriately enough, we discussed the trials and tribulations of touring and the many ways the band keeps their lives enjoyable (everything from maintaining an amusing website to smashing their instruments after their shows). We also spun some great tracks off of their new EP Hello. Check out the interview below!

Prabir Interview Part 1

Prabir Interview Part 2

Prabir Interview Part 3

Prabir Interview Part 4

Prabir Interview Part 5

In today’s digital world, it’s great to see a band that cares so much about the physical release of an album. I love having something I can hold in my hands when I buy my music—the thrill of driving to my local record store, thumbing through the collection, talking with the clerk as I pay, peeling off that cumbersome sticky tape before prying open the cover, admiring the pictures in the liner notes—owning the physical CD connects me more with the artist and their work. In the 60s, the single was the primary means by which an artist released their music before bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys demonstrated the artistic importance of the album. In 2007, Prabir and the Substitutes demonstrated their respect for the physical release of an album by intending for the duplicate copy included with their EP, Share, to be given to a friend. The group might not save the physical album from certain doom, but they’re putting up a valiant fight.

Top10: Birds of Avalon

Ever wonder what your favorite local artists are listening to?  What inspires them to make the music we enjoy?

Let us introduce you to a new feature here at WKNC that introduces you the music that our artists listen to!  From here on out we will be regularly be bringing you into the headphones of local bands and friends of local music!

This week the members of Birds of Avalon have graciously sent us lists of what they have been currently rocking out to!

 

Craig Tilley- Vocals

• Led Zeppelin- Down by the Seaside.


• Chicago- 25 or 6 to 4


• Joe Jackson- Steppin Out


• Sparks- Nothing to Do


• Van Halen- Little Guitars


• Steely Dan- My Old School


• Clipse- Ride Around Shinnin


• Benji Huges- The Mummy


• The Cherubs- Stag Party


• And now and for the rest of my life: Brenton Wood- The Oogim Boogum Song

David Mueller-Bass

• Cut Copy- Unforgettable Season


• Lyres- How Do You Know?


• Bob Dylan- The Gates of Eden


• A Tribe Called Quest- Award Tour


• The Horrors- I Only Think of You


• DOOM feat Empress Starhh- Still Dope


• Fever Ray- Dry & Dusty


• Franco- Mambu ma Miondo


• Kurt Vile- Freeway


• Crystal Stilts- Departure

Scott Nurkin- Drums

• Sarolta Zalatnay - Hadd Mondjam El


• Bonniwell Music Machine - Astrologically Incompatible


• Carlton and the Shoes - Never Give Your Heart Away


• Alphonse Mouzon - Mind Transplant


• The Millineum - The Know-It-All


• Buffalo Springfield - It's so Hard to Wait


• Joe Jackson - Friday


• Love - You Set the Scene


• Masters Apprentices  - War or Hands of Time


• The Paragons - Left with a Broken Heart

Cheetie Kumar- Guitar

• 
  
  Harmonia-Monza-Rauf Und Runter


• 
  
  Neu-Hallogallo


• 
  
  Deerhoof-Tears and Music of Love


• 
  
  Brian Eno-Sky Saw


• 
  
  Wizzard-French Perfume


• 
  
  Wire-French Film Blurred


• 
  
  Pretty Things-She’s A Lover


• 
  
  George Harrison-I Dig Love


• 
  
  The Germs-Lexicon Devil


• 
  
  Gong-You Can Kill Me


• King Crimson- Great Deceiver

Paul Siler-Guitar

• The Band-King Harvest (has surely come)


• The Bee Gees-I Close My Eyes


• Dungen-Gor Det Nu


• The Beatles-Blue Jay Way


• Polvo-In This Life


• Bob Dylan and the Band-Katie's Been Gone 


• Charlie Parker-Bluebird


• Lets Active-Talking to Myself 


• Joni Mitchell-Free Man in Paris 


•  Free-Oh I Wept


• Flaming Lips-In the Morning of the Magicians 

Birds of Avalon fans should be excited to know that their new album, Uncanny Valley, is coming out June 23 with a tour kicking off at the Local 506 on June 13th.

Local Beat preview 5/15/09

We have a wonderful show in store for you today (5/15) on the Local Beat.

 



At 5:00 Kim Gray and company will be coming in to talk about the Pick 'n Bitch festival this Saturday at the Pinhook.

 



 

At the top of the 6:00 hour, Liza Kate of Holidays for Quince Records will be stopping by to talk about her upcoming album, Don't Let the Dogs.  The album release show is tonight at the Nightlight in Chapel Hill alongside Max Indian and Embarrassing Fruits.  Then at 6:30, it will be the last time in 2009 that we will be preempted by NC State baseball.Be sure to tune in at 5:00 sharp on 88.1 fm or http://www.wknc.org/listen.

 

 

 

Kingsbury Manx's New Music Video

The Kingsbury Manx has a brand new music video for their song "Well, Whatever" off of their latest release "Ascenseur Ouvert!"   I can't embed it for some reason so check it out on Odessa Records website here.

I'm definitely digging this.

Screaming Females interview this Sunday 5/17

Photo by Michael Otley

Screaming Females will be playing this Sunday at the Nightlight with Bellafea and Caltrop, but first they'll be coming into the WKNC studio to talk about their new record Power Move, their DIY ethic, and their time on the road for the last month. Be sure to tune in at 4PM on Sunday May 17.

Local Beat recap 5/8/09 and Gray Young at Slim's

Well, what a pleasant surprise!  Corbie and Mike of Battle Rockets stopped by and for a band whose songs feature no lyrics, they had quite a bit to say (full disclosure: their joke, not mine).  They came in at the 5:00 hour and we talked about the show that night (with Gray Young and the Proclivities), their unique method of releasing demos and their brand new, homemade, $5 T-shirts.  As for that show, see below for more.

The demo method is pretty cool, as you'll hear in the clips below.  The band records every practice and saves what sounds good.  Then they burn a few copies of the most recent versions of tracks, date them, and label them--or have guest labelers do it, like our very own DJ Gray Matter.  They then take their demos to shows and sell them for $1.  That's a deal you can't beat.  Check out the interview below.

Gray Young and Battle Rockets 5/8 Part 1

Battle Rockets 5/8 Part 2

 



Gray Young called the studio during the latter part of the Battle Rockets conversation to let us konw that they'd been locked in the stairwell and unable to get in.  So we went and rescued them and brought them in for the second half of the interview.  They dispelled the self-contrived rumours that they're playing with U2 in October.  We discussed both bands' future plans, which include WE Fest.  Check out the interview with the entire cast of characters below.

 
Battle Rockets 5/8 Part 3

Gray Young and Battle Rockets 5/8 Part 4

 

Now, onto the show that night.  

The lineup at Slim's Downtown was this:

Battle Rockets

The Proclivities

Gray Young

Battle Rockets were entertaining and have quite a bit of energy, and it's always fun to watch that level of energy coming from a two-piece.  The Proclivities were--and have been for a little while--sans drummer, so they had D.A.R.Y.L. fill in and rocked out as a two-piece (a very dapper two-piece, might I add).  Although the lack of a real drummer was sort of the elephant in the room (at the risk of using their song lyric), they were obviously having a good time, and so was I.  Matt Douglas was chatting the crowd up as well, as per usual.  Lastly, Gray Young took the stage around midnight.  I must say, I've seen Gray Young several times over the past year or so, and every time I've seen them they've been exponentially tighter (and on this night, louder).  It has been really fun to watch these guys as they play more shows together, and I can't wait to see them again at the May 22 Lemming Malloy CD Release/Neckbeard Records Debut show at Local 506.  That's all for now, be sure to tune in to the Local Beat this week, details to follow in another blog post soon...

 





 

New Local Albums on WKNC in May!

Even though May is just beginning, 2009 has proved to be one of the best musical years in the Triangle and North Carolina in my memory. As the new Local Music Director at WKNC, my mailbox has been flooded with tons of music from all around the state and our community. This blog will highlight some of the newest local material you will hear on WKNC.

Bombadil- Tarpits & Canyonlands:
While this album is not set to release for a couple more weeks, Bombadil was kind enough to leave WKNC with a copy a little while back. Needless to say, after my first listen to Tarpits & Canyonlands, I knew this would become an instant classic in our area. After the second listen through, I grasped that it was indeed a musical masterpiece. After my eighth listen I realized it was the best album I have heard in the past six years, local or not.
This is the third release by Bombadil, a band out of Durham, North Carolina, in three years and by far their best output. Bombadil is well known for its generally upbeat folky and lyrically witty sounds, backed by instrumentation that carries the listener to a grassy field filled with barefoot serfs tipsy on bootleg mountain whiskey and rum. Or, as a review of their first album by ex-WKNC DJ Big Fat Sac more blatantly put it, "It sounds like a bunch of hobbits in Durham got together and made folk music." Tarpits & Canyonlands does not stray far from this unique sound, but a definite sense of maturity is noticeable as compared to their 2008 release A Buzz, A Buzz. And while Bombadil delightfully keeps their catchy and original sonic personality within the music that has made them so popular, the main themes delve deeper into more serious and somber issues such as marriage, relationships, and growing old. Many songs reflect a more somber tone and feature unaccompanied harmonies unlike previous releases (such as "Reasons", "Cold Runway", & "Marriage"), while others retain that familiar goofiness and playful innocence of their first release ("Oto The Bear", "Laurita", & "Malaysia"). Even still some of the more stand out tracks such as "I Am", "Sad Birthday", "Needless to Say", and "25 Daniels" offer a new glimpse into Bombadil's creative genius.
Bombadil has certainly grown up the past three years and become one of the premiere bands to see and hear not only around these parts, but elsewhere as well. Be on the lookout for this album to receive massive attention from our DJs.

Lonnie Walker- These Times Old Times:
Another yet to be release album has made its debut on WKNC this month. Lonnie Walker, a local favorite from Greenville has slowly been gaining in popularity as noticed by their pick in the N&O's Great 8, and as a choice for WKNC's own Double Barrel Benefit 6. If you have never heard their material before, picture a hardier Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks with intense vocal outbursts and crushing guitar. This is their debut release and features several new editions of songs already in WKNC rotation from their demo album. Popular tunes such as "Wider Than White," "Summertime," and "Pendulum's Chest" stand out as ferociously better than their original counterparts while newbies such as "Grape Juice". "Back Home Inside With You", "Ships", and my personal favorite "Crochet" make a stand as a mark of growth within their work. These Times Old Times certainly deserves the attention this band has been getting.

Roman Candle- Oh Tall Tree In The Ear:
It's hard to believe this is only the second full length album by this former Chapel Hill band (now based in Tennessee) but it doesn't miss a beat. In comparison to their first album it is remarkably similar, yet better at the same time. Oh Tall Tree In The Ear features the same poppy lyric style and musicality but manages to come off as wittier, catchier, and seemingly more developed.

American Aquarium- Dances For The Lonely:
This album has been in rotation for a couple of weeks now but is worth mentioning. Meet Bruce Springsteen the second with even more of that down to earth heartland rock. Luckily, this is not a bad thing and tunes such as "Katherine Belle" and "Louisiana Beauty Queen" keep your foot tapping for more. Dances for the Lonely has a solid country/southern rock groove that will be a staple on WKNC for some time.

Many other new tracks you will hear on WKNC this May include some older tunes that were either overlooked or not brought to our previous attention.  These include:
Aminal- A Face To Fight
Aminal- A Will To Fight
Brett Harris- Side Two EP
Brett Harris- Yesterdays News
Connells- Darker Days (yes, this album is from 1985, but it completely kicks ass!)
Kickin Grass Band- The Kickin Grass Band
Lemming Malloy- The Return Of The Norfolk Regiment
Luego- WKNC Sexclusive Pre-Sampler
Our Velvet Revolution- Our Velvet Revolution EP
Silver- +/-
Stars Explode- The Stars Explode
Water Callers- Springboard
Waumiss- Waumiss LP

And More!

5/14 Local Beer Local Band Night – Sorry About Dresden, Dirty Little Heaters, and Le Weekend

Old school local rockers Sorry About Dresden will be headlining our weekly event Local Beer Local Band Night at Tir Na Nog, thursday at 10!  Playing alongside are the Dirty Litte Heaters and Le Weekend.   It's FREEEEE to get in and Tir Na Nog has some mouthwatering local brews on tap.  Come out and support your community!


Check out this video of Sorry About Dresden playing live for the DotMatrix Project in Greensboro!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XH3uPsGn6o

And here's a video of the Dirty Little Heaters playing live back in '06. This girl know how to rock!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-rfiThHw8o

Top 30 albums from the past week

Here are the top 30 records at WKNC for this week, compiled by Daytime Music Director Jenna St. Pierre:

1. Telekinesis! by Telekinesis
2. Ascenseur Ouvert by Kingsbury Manx
3. To Lose My Life by White Lies
4. The First Time by Embarrassing Fruits
5. Inside Your Guitar by It Hugs Back
6. Technicolor Health by Harlem Shakes
7. Power Move by Screaming Females
8. Pretzelvania by Americans in France
9. Walking on a Dream by Empire of the Sun
10. The Love Language by The Love Language LOVE LANGUAGE
11. (A)spera by Mirah
12. Set Em Wild, Set Em Free by Akron/Family
13. Everybody Come Outside by Pomegranates
14. It's Blitz by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
15. Devotion Implosion by Gliss
16. Romanian Names by John Vanderslice
17. Fantasies by Metric
18. Jupiter by Starfucker
19. Mama, I'm Swollen by Cursive
20. Seven Days Now by Xu Xu Fang
21. Bromst by Dan Deacon
22. Bunny Gets Paid by Red Red Meat
23. Welcome To Mali by Amadou and Mariam
24. Looking For Bruce by Hammer No More The Fingers
25. Mouthful Of Bees by Mouthful of Bees
26. Hazards Of Love by Decemberists
27. Suckers [EP] by Suckers
28. Outside Love by Pink Mountaintops
29. Kid Moves by Kinetic Stereokids
30. Cold Warrior by Grandchildren

Here are some new albums we've added to our library, which you can look forward to hearing:
These Times Old Times by Lonnie Walker
Pilgrim by Red Collar
American Folklore by American Folklore

Prabir and the Substitutes On-Air Interview

by Spaceman Spiff

This past Thursday was a busy day for Prabir and the Substitutes! After being stuck in traffic, the band dropped by the 5 o’clock Shadow for an in-studio interview with Mikey P and me. Then, the band headed to Tir Na Nog where they completely rocked out WKNC’s weekly Local Beer Local Band Night with Chapel Hill natives Embarrassing Fruits.

Considering their hectic touring schedule, I was excited to have such a relaxed discussion with the band about their music. Prabir and the Substitutes are a pop-rock group from Richmond, Virginia with a knack for melody and harmony and a keen appreciation for the joys of playing music. Appropriately enough, we discussed the trials and tribulations of touring and the many ways the band keeps their lives enjoyable (everything from maintaining an amusing website to smashing their instruments after their shows). We also spun some great tracks off of their new EP "Hello."

Check out the interview below!

Prabir part 1
Prabir part 2
Prabir part 3
Prabir part 4
Prabir part 5

In today’s digital world, it’s great to see a band that cares so much about the physical release of an album. I love having something I can hold in my hands when I buy my music—the thrill of driving to my local record store, thumbing through the collection, talking with the clerk as I pay, peeling off that damn sticky tape before prying open the cover, admiring the pictures in the liner notes—owning the physical CD gives me more of a connection with the artist.

In the 1960s, the single was the primary means by which an artist released their music before bands like the Beatles and the Beach Boys demonstrated the artistic importance of the album. In 2007, Prabir and the Substitutes demonstrated their respect for the physical release of an album by intending for the duplicate copy included with their EP, Share, to be given to a friend. The group might not save the physical album from certain doom, but they’re putting up a valiant fight.

Artsplosure this weekend

Artsplosure, the Raleigh arts festival, celebrates thirty years this Saturday and Sunday with a little help from 88.1. WKNC is the media sponsor of the North Carolina Stage, which will feature music by Annuals' alter-ego Sunfold and Mel Minton & the Wicked Mojos, winner of Artsplosure's Be That Band contest.  Mel and his band will be opening for Saturday's festival headliner Buckwheat Zydeco. Big Bad Vodoo Daddy will close things out on Sunday. WKNC favorites Lonnie Walker will also grace the main stage for a Saturday 6 p.m. performance.


The complete schedule, along with everything else Artsplosure has to offer, is at Artsplosure.org.

Daft Punk Revealed

This 13-year-old video of Daft Punk performing without costumes in Furthur, Wisconsin has been circulating the internet. Wikipedia makes the following statement about the video:

... a rare bootlegged video featuring the duo in Wisconsin matches the verified identity of Thomas Bangalter. Less clearly seen, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo is to Bangalter's right and is mostly cut off from the camera. Comparing the artwork packaging of Homework to the video footage, one can verify that the album's liner note photo was taken during this event.

So, why does Daft Punk wear costumes now?

Daft Punk have said that they donned their robot masks to easily merge the characteristics of humans and machines. However, Bangalter later stated that the costumes were initially the result of shyness. 'But then it became exciting from the audiences' point of view. It's the idea of being an average guy with some kind of superpower.' When asked on whether the duo expressed themselves differently within the robotic suits, Bangalter stated 'No, we don't need to. It's not about having inhibitions. It's more like an advanced version of glam, where it's definitely not you.'

More about Daft Punk's approach to managing fame is in the Wikipedia article.

Ryan Leslie Marches to the Beat of His Own Drum

WKNC Pick of the Week 3/17

Every so often, music producers are able to make the transformation from behind the scenes to becoming a recording artist seamlessly. Such is the case with Ryan Leslie, who has emerged as a promising star in the R&B world, releasing what will be called one of the best R&B albums of 2009, the self-titled Ryan Leslie.

Leslie, a Harvard University graduate by age 19, was first signed to Universal Records, in 2003, and later released 2 singles, “Used to Be” and “The Way That U Move Girl”. The singles failed to chart, and the album, Just Right was shelved indefinitely. Without support from his record label, the singer, song- writer, multi-instrumentalist and engineer began to produce for acts including Cassie, Danity Kane, and Beyonce with the proceeds financing his own project.

Ryan Leslie, the long awaited debut entirely mixed, produced, written and arranged by Leslie and kicks this off with the up-tempo synth-induced retro R&B sounding “Diamond Girl”. On the albums lead single, Leslie sings of how he’s found the one that’s he’s ready to “put the rock on”. On “Diamond Girl” and throughout the album, Leslie does his fair share of rapping and it works.

Next up is the second single, “Addiction” featuring Bad Boy artist Cassie and Fabolous, where Leslie, explains his obsession with a lady love. The live multilayered arrangement makes it one of the albums best.

Following “Addiction” is “You’re Fly”, an ode to a woman Leslie feels is the pinnacle of beauty. The cut is reminiscent production-wise of legendary R&B group Frankie Beverly and Maze with its catchy melody and guitar riffs.

“Quicksand”,” Valentine” and the piano drive “I.R.I.N.A” are stand outs on the album. “Quicksand”, a funky groove which sounds like a Neptunes production, has Leslie telling how he is “emotional” falling deeply in an inescapable love, while the Keyboard-driven “Valentine” has Leslie professing his love to a prospective mate. The organ influenced I.R.I.NA, Leslie explains how love has no language barrier.

On “Wanna Be Good” and “Just Right”, Leslie tries out his falsetto invoking the spirit of Curtis Mayfield, while proclaiming how he lives to please the perfect woman for him.

The hard-hitting third single, ”How It Was Supposed To Be”, Leslie asks questions of what could’ve and should’ve been with a relationship gone awry, while the more melancholy while “Out of the Blue” and “Shouldn’t Have to Wait” have a more bluesy vibe and conjure of feelings of infidelity and commitment.

Closing out the album is the very appropriately titled “Gibberish”, seeing as you can only understand every 10th word. Vocoder and finger snaps in tow, Leslie expresses the moments of speechlessness that may occur when we meet that special someone.

Ryan Leslie overall is a mid-tempo feel good album with tales love and longing, featuring a combination of live instrumentation and heavily synthesized tracks. And although Leslie may not display the vocal acrobatics of Maxwell, his fresh approach, multi-faceted production and engaging lyrics make him one of the best chances R&B music has to survive, but only if he continues marching to the beat of his own drum.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ix5dicdL7c