7/29 LBLB photos!

Photographs taken by WKNC photographer Katie Hill

The Moaners

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Spring Collection

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

EOT35 Raleigh's Hispanic Population 7/28/10

In VIP, Saja talks about the growing Hispanic population in Raleigh with members of the NCSU student group Mi Familia, an NCSU student group serving as a social, cultural and political forum for students and the surrounding community interested in experiencing and promoting the richness of the international Hispanic and Latino community/culture.

Winston-Salem band Jews and Catholics is the focus of Hear This. On Community Canvas, Jacob talks with Warren Buff about Reconstruction, the 10th Occasional North American Science Fiction Convention August 5-8 in Raleigh. Finally, Tommy's Wolfpacker of the Week is about Raleigh Wars.

http://interviews.wknc.org/eot/EOT35_072810.mp3

Local Beat preview 7/30/10

Can you believe it is already August?! Seven months of the Local Beat come and gone already in 2010 and almost exactly a year since I took over as host of the program. However, this Friday's show just might be one of the best ones yet.

At 5 p.m., we are starting off the show with Mount Moriah, a band I have been raving out for over a year since I first saw them at their second show ever back in May 2009. The group is releasing their first LP after debuting their first song "Lament" on the Holiday's For Quince Compilation Vol. 1, which has been getting airplay on WKNC.  The album is entitled Letting Go and is officially being released at the sold out show this Saturday July 31 at the Pinhook with Midtown Dickens and The Mountain Goats.  The 12" vinyl record will be released on the streets on August 3. We should have plenty to talk about and hopefully you will hear some new tunes!

I Was Totally Destroying It is coming in for the second hour. They are also playing Saturday evening at Cherry Bounce Festival in Raleigh but we will mostly be talking about their new 7" single "Get Big," which should be in the running for best album artwork of the year so far. We also have quite a bit to talk about, including their Sound Around app, their contribution to the Musical Chairs Compilation, and their U2 cover band. It should make for an entertaining hour!

For the final hour I am having in Wylie Pamplin and Alex Iglehart from Chapel Hill-based Calico Haunts who are making their radio interview debut. Calico Haunts put out one of 2010's best records with their After All album in the fall of 2009. They have just finished a new record and are planning to leak a couple of new tracks on the show! In addition, we will chat about their first ever Raleigh show at the Berkley Cafe with the Dead String Brothers on July 31.

As always the Local Beat starts at 5 p.m. and runs through 8 p.m. every Friday on WKNC.  Feel free to follow us on Twitter (@WKNCLocalBeat), ReverbNation, and Facebook.

Paul McCartney Performs in Kansas City (Hey Hey Hey)

Paul McCartney  has been traveling around the world on his "Up and Coming Tour" this year. Because of a job I took in Lawrence, KS, I had the amazing opportunity of seeing Paul McCartney perform at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO on Saturday, July 24. I had amazing seats on the floor about 30 rows away from my musical role model and first love, Sir James Paul McCartney.The concert was everything I hoped it would be; his childish banter and energy kept me laughing, while the emotion in songs such as "Here Today" and "Something" made me cry, as he dedicated them to the late John Lennon and George Harrison, respectively.

McCartney dedicates a ukelele (and guitar) version of "Something" to the late George Harrison.

He played many Beatles' songs like "Ob La Di Ob La Da," "All My Loving," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," and many others. He played music he wrote in Wings, such as "Jet," "Band on the Run," and of course, a fire-filled "Live and Let Die." He even played a few songs from his solo career; "Dance Tonight" was specifically used to lift a melancholy move after dedicating "My Love" to his late wife, Linda.

I have never met nicer people than those attending the sold-out concert in Kansas City. I sat next to a woman, Katie, who told me how she saw the Beatles perform in San Diego, CA, in 1965. When I screamed as he came on stage and jumped up and down as he played, she smiled at me and said, "You remind me of me 35 years ago." Although Katie may have gotten the better end of the deal, having seen The Beatles in their prime, Paul McCartney played an awe-inspiring three-hour set that did not show his 68 year-old age.

As has been tradition with this tour, he ended the concert with "The End," with ever-fitting lyrics, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."

This Week's Fun Giveaways

On July 28, we have tickets to Streetlight Manifesto at the Lincoln Theatre, and The White Cascade at Slim's.



On July 30, we have tickets to J. Roddy Walston & The Business at Slim's, and The Old Ceremony at The Pour House.

On July 31, we have tickets to Corrosion of Conformity at The Pour House.



On September 1, we have tickets to Joan Baez at The North Carolina Museum of Art.

REMINDER! the July 31 Luego show at Slim's has been rescheduled to August 13

We also have tickets to Salt at Crossroads Cary 20.

July 31 Luego show postponed!

The Luego show, which had originally been scheduled for this Saturday, July 31 at Slim's Downtown, has been moved back to August 13. Those who won tickets for the show will have their names on the list for the new show date. Also, with the changed date, Cary Ann Hearst has been added to the lineup. Proof that change is not always a bad thing...

Local Beer Local Band Night: Thursday, July 29 (PLUS INTERVIEW!)

Local Beer Local Band Night is brought to you by WKNC and Tir Na nOg Irish Pub in downtown Raleigh. Each Thursday we have live local bands to entertain your ears, and the pub has local beers on tap to entertain your taste buds. These shows are always FREE and always 21 and up.This week we have The Moaners and The Spring Collection...

The Moaners

From Chapel Hill, these two talented ladies make up The Moaners. The Washington Post described their music as post-riot girl indie-rock blues band. This band will be loud and Melissa will be wearing sunglasses on stage. But honestly, any band who plays the saw is just fine with me.

The Spring Collection

The Spring Collection is a newly formed band made up of members from other local bands such as Bright Young Things and Hearts and Daggers. What does this group sound like? Well they like to say it is "60's Garage and Mod with a late 70's post-punk snarl..."

Should be an amazing show!  I will see you there!

And don't forget... also on Thursday, July 29 I will be interviewing both of these bands on the air at 7 p.m.! So tune in for that!!

Love,

Audity

Last chance for Barenaked Ladies with Ben Kweller tickets!

Did you miss the chance to win Barenaked Ladies with Ben Kweller tickets? Well, we still have tickets for their show July 31 at the Raleigh Amphitheater. Just be the correct caller when the WKNC deejay asks for it, and you could win tickets for you and a friend to the show! Tickets are also available at Livenation.com.

Local Beat recap 7/23/10

Below is a recap of last Friday's Local Beat where we invited in the local Musical Chairs Compilation's Wylie Hunter and the Cazadores, Jason Adamo, and Wesley Wolfe.

For the first hour of the show Erika Libero from Nightsound Studios came by with Wylie Hunter and the Cazadores to chat about the local Musical Chairs Compilation that is currently underway. Nightsound is about to begin recording for the compilation, which should take about three weeks before the songs are mastered and released in September. We talked about the behind-the-scenes process of creating the compilation as well as the bands who will be on it. The master list of the covers are below:

• Butterflies covering Erie Choir


• Erie Choir covering Luego


• Luego covering Birds and Arrows


• Birds and Arrows covering SWASO


• SWASO covering The Pneurotics


• The Pneurotics covering New Town Drunks


• New Town Drunks covering Soft Company


• Soft Company covering Lizzy Ross Band


• Lizzy Ross Band covering Pecosa


• Pecosa covering Wylie Hunter and the Cazadores


• Wylie Hunter and the Cazadores covering Puritan Rodeo


• Puritan Rodeo covering I Was Totally Destroying It


• I Was Totally Destroying It covering North Elementary


• North Elementary covering The Big Picture


• The Big Picture covering Butterflies

Wylie Hunter and the Cazadores played some live tracks for us off of their record that is coming out in August. Check those out in the playlist to the right and download them on the Local Beat ReverbNation page. Listen to the interview here:
Musical Chairs Compilation 7/23/10

Jason Adamo and Doug Casteen came in for the second hour of the show to talk about Jason's new album Transistor, which was released back in July. Jason has been playing live in the Triangle for almost a decade now and has set up a temporary residence at the Pour House on Monday evenings. Transistor is a new sound for him that is much more rock n' roll and a little deeper than his past recordings. It was recorded in Pittsboro with John Briggs and cowritten with John, Doug, and Jason's bother Chris. Jason and Doug played some live tracks for us in studio, which you can listen to in the widget above or download them on the Local Beat ReverbNation page. Also, be sure to watch Jason's new music video below for "Raleigh Nights" that is going to be played by the Carolina Hurricanes this next season at every game.
Jason Adamo on the Local Beat 7/23/10


For the last hour of the evening, Wes Wolfe came in the studio to chat about his new record Storage, which was released from Odessa Records back in April. You might recognize Wes from defunct local group the Grasshoppers who split up back in 2006, though he is now recording and playing live solo. Wes played nearly every instrument on the new record and recorded it in his own home.  He was a soft spoken and humble interviewee, but we had a lot to talk about:
Wes Wolfe on the Local Beat 7/23/10

Interested in working for the KNC?

There will be two interest meetings August 20 and 24 in the Student Senate on the 2nd floor of Witherspoon Student Center. Only qualification is that you run with the Pack (students only).

Join the facebook group here!

Local Beat preview 7/23/10

The Local Beat this evening with a variety of guests for tonight's show.

We'll start at 5 p.m. with several different bands and representatives from the Local Musical Chairs Compilation who are coming by to chat about the project and its progress. In case you are uninformed about the project, it is a compilation of local bands covering other local bands. Each group is picking their cover at random at the Open Eye Cafe on July 24.  The bands are then recording at Nightsound Studios who is heading the project and accepting a donation to fund the release of free CDs. Just recently, the project passed its goal mark of $1,100 and still has eight days left!

At 6 p.m., singer-songwriter and Raleigh native Jason Adamo is slipping in to chat about his newest release, Transistor, which was recorded with John Briggs in Pittsboro NC. Listen in for some debut airing of the new material!

7 p.m. is bringing in Wesley Wolfe who has just recently put out his second album and first through Odessa Records. The album is called Storage, and we will be playing some tunes off that for the hour. Feel free to download his track "Who's Going To Truly Love You" here.

Best Coast Streaming Debut Album Right Now

The debut album from the lo-fi pop band Best Coast, titled Crazy for You, is now streaming in its entirety. After creating a large amount of buzz with the release of several 7'' singles and EPs, the band is set to release their debut with Wichita Recordings next week. The band will be performing at this year's Hopscotch Music Festival at Tir na nOg on September 9.

Jack White Covers Beatles at White House Event

It's one thing to play in front of the President of the United States at the White House. Last month, Jack White not only did that but he covered a Beatles' song right in front of Paul McCartney. The reason for such an event came with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize, which this year celebrated the musical career of Paul McCartney. White covered "Mother Nature's Son" in front of a rather large audience, and the performance had yet to be seen by those outside of the East Room until PBS released a video of the performance July 21. White was one of several artists to perform that evening. Other performances included Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and more. The performances are set to air on PBS on July 28.

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

Do Itcha Damn Self (with Friends): The July 16 Interview

Last week, the Sajhammer and I were joined by some local guests to promote the Do Itcha Damn Self show at the Pinhook last Friday night. The premise for the event entailed taking some of your favorite local musicians and allowing them to perform on stage by themselves. Vocals, instruments, and abundant creativity were needed in order to play in sync and pull everything together.

Phil Cook of Megafaun and Catherine Edgerton of Midtown Dickens were two major proponents in starting the inaugural event. We asked them various questions, such as the types of instruments they planned to use as well as the ideas that jump started Do Itcha Damn Self. Check out the full interview below:

Part I: Part I

Part II: Part II

2010 Mercury Prize Nominees Announced

Since 1992 the Mercury Prize has been celebrating some of the best albums from the UK and Ireland. Each year a handful of albums released between June 30 of last year and July 1 of this year are selected by an exclusive panel of music experts. In previous years the Mercury Prize has gone to acts including Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons. This year the shortlist has been announced, with the winner receiving the Mercury Prize on September 7.

This year's nominees Are:

Biffy Clyro- Only Revolutions

Corinne Bailey Rae- The Sea

Dizzee Rascal- Tongue N' Cheek

Mumford & Sons- Sigh No More

Kit Downes Trio- Golden

Foals- Total Life Forever

I Am Kloot- Sky At Night

Laura Marling- I Speak Because I Can

Paul Weller- Wake Up The Nation

Villagers- Becoming A Jackal

Wild Beasts- Two Dancers

The XX- XX

Personally I think The XX have this one in the bag. However, the favorite to win last year, Florence and the Machine, was greatly upset after she was defeated by a rather obscure British rapper who had only sold a handful of albums in comparison. I doubt they would give it to Dizzee Rascal twice, and it should be interesting to see how the folk powers (and two of my favorites from this year) Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons will fair. Also, it came to me as a great surprise to see the newcomer Villagers and the jazz ensemble Kit Downes Trio nominated. This should be another interesting year for the Mercury Prize. It's just a shame we'll have to wait until September to find out who wins.

Who do you think should win? Leave your opinion about who you think will take home the prize in the comment section below.

July Playlists on WKNC.org

July, July, July
It never seemed so strange

Okay, so Colin Meloy of The Decemberists wasn't thinking about WKNC when he wrote July, July!,  but something strange has happened to our Web site. Diligent listeners have noticed and reported to us that our online playlist archive stops after June 28, 2010.  We're know it's broken, we're sorry and we're trying to get it fixed. In the meantime all the playlists are still available, but you have to manually change the URL. Click on any date and something like this will pop up in the address bar: http://wknc.org/playlist/?d=2010-06-28. Replace the "06-28" with whatever day you need and viola! The search function still works just fine. Again, we're sorry and we sincerely thank you for your patience as we try to get this fixed.

This Week's Delish Giveaways

This week on WKNC, we will be giving away a plethora of delightful goodies! In addition to the 2010 Honda Civic Tour with Paramore on July 23, you could win tickets for these shows:

On July 20, we have tickets to Old Habits and The Preservation at The Pour House.

SOJA press photo

On July 22, we have tickets to  SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) at The Lincoln Theatre.

DJ Elly May previews the July 23 performance of the Shen Wei Dance troupe at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

Red Clay Ramblers press photo

On July 24, we have tickets to the Red Clay Ramblers at The North Carolina Museum of Art.

On July 25, we have tickets to Spencefest, featuring The T's, Richard Bacchus and The Loners at Slim's.

Finally, lucky listeners will have a chance to see the movie Inception at Crossroads 20 Regal Cinema in Cary. Call us up at 860-0881 or 515-2400!

Loved Language- A Look Back on the Libraries CD Release Show

For those who pride themselves on being familiar with local indie music within the Triangle, it would be a cardinal sin to overlook The Love Language's rise within our tight knit music community in recent months. Indy Week gave the Raleigh band a nice cover photo and article last week, which chronicled the almost Cinderella story of Stu McLamb's personal setbacks with the broken band this past December and his ability to bounce back to release Libraries on Merge Records, Love Language's second album. Personally, The Love Language's recent openings for international band Phoenix this June in Raleigh and Charlotte have cemented their growing momentum.

Although I admit that Libraries did not top their self-titled first album, I could not deny the raw energy that was present on stage at Cat's Cradle Saturday night. The lead singer was composed, on point, and looked sincerely grateful to play the sold out show. He opened the night playing solo in deep spotlight, embodying the loneliness but also the his perseverance through the past few months. As McLamb finished quietly, the rest of the band transitioned perfectly in with "Horophones," which symbolically represented the new band members' solidarity. Although the show was aimed at showcasing Libraries, fans were treated with old favorites and special guests such as members from local band Lost in the Trees.

I couldn't help but notice the various types of people that packed into the spacious Cradle, which signified that McLamb and friends are producing wide appeal. However, the Cradle wasn't just teeming with life before the headliners walked on stage. Although I made a late appearance that night (due to an unscheduled pit-stop to gather some delicious French fries,) I luckily caught most of The Light Pines' set. Last time I saw these guys was at the largest Local Beer Local Band night I've experienced where they attracted a huge crowd. Thankfully, things haven't changed much since then. The boys seemed in step with one another producing their familiar haunting melodies. Guitarist Carter Gaj's riffs were so rewarding that they warranted an impromptu and ecstatic Facebook status update.

Tommyboy was able to fill me in on opening act, Shit Horse, whom I knew relatively nothing about. However, apparently I missed a great deal of antics as the front man was extremely charismatic, soliciting responses now and then from the crowd. On their final number, they brought out a topless girl (both nipples pierced as I'm told) wearing a horse mask. Certainly, it had to have been an unforgettable performance.

EOT34 Sustainability and Tuition Increase 7/14/10

There are two VIPs this week: NCSU Sustainability Outreach Coordinator David Dean and Student Senate President Stephen Kouba. Dean will talk about his office and Kouba will discuss the recent $900 tuition increase at N.C. State. The D.H. Hill Color Wall is the subject of Community Canvas and Hear This focuses on the MusicSpark component of September's SparkCon Festival.

http://interviews.wknc.org/eot/EOT34_071410.mp3

Real RnB Radio's Rising Artist Spotlight: Jason Jetplane

North Carolina's own Jason Jetplane is a breath of fresh air to the world of music. His music is soulful, it's R&B, it's universal, it's relatable,  it's honest, it's young, it's fun! It's what we need to hear more of.

Jetplane's refreshing approach, musical sincerity and exciting production give him an edge up on the competition.

Vocally he could be compared, Musiq Soulchild and John Legend, but be clear,  Jetplane's  style and voice is all his own. Musically, along with Janelle Monae, Jetplane's sound is genre-bending, with its mass appeal and could be played on a number of formats.

Not only is Jetplane a singer, he writes, produces, arranges and engineers his own music, similar to R&B genius Ryan Leslie. With talented young upcoming acts such as Jetplane, the future of R&B shows great promise.

Find out more about Jason Jetplane on MySpace, Twitter, Facebook and ReverbNation.

Check out the exclusive Q&A Real RnB Radio conducted with the multi-talented singer below:

Q: How would you describe your sound?

A: I like to call the genre Electro Soul!  A fusion of Electronica and Neo-Soul/Lounge with some Techno vibes!

Q: Who are your primary musical influences?

A: My father Terence Jones, Musiq, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Beyonce, Neyo, Michael Jackson and the list goes on!

Q: What do you hope to accomplish through your music?

A: I want to give listeners an alternative to traditional r&b/soul music.  I want to make music u can feel and relate too... Fun Music!

Q: What's been the highlight of your career thus far?

A: Performing for the children and being asked for an autograph by them. Kids are the future, so knowing I'm making music that's touching children is a blessing to me!!

Q: If you weren't singing, what would be be doing?

A: Wow...I would probably be either a cook, because I like to EAT and I cut hair too, so I would consider being a barber!

Q: Guilty Pleasures?

A:  lol...I have an obsession with McIntosh Apples and Sweet Potato Pie...

Q: Fave TV show/cartoon?

A: My favorite Show is Heroes!!!  And I love the cartoon Hey Arnold!

Q: Celebrity crush?

A: Janelle  Monae

Q: Biggest Pet Peeve?

A: I can't stand seeing people stressed!! It eats me up!

Q: Anything you'd like to add about yourself in 2 or less sentences?

A: Most People don't know I was born in Rekyvik Iceland and started making beats when I was 10 years old. I got my college education from Full Sail University too!

*Congratulations to Jason Jetplane on his recent win for "Best Male R&B Artist" at the 2010 Carolina Music Awards.

LBLB Night! July 22nd!

This week we have three awesome acts playing at Tir Na nOg: Jenna Smith, Kid Future and Midtown Dickens! Thursday nights at Tir Na nOg are always partnered with WKNC, is FREE FREE FREE and of course, 21 and up.

Jenna Smith:

This gorgeous singer and songwriter will be playing solo on her acoustic guitar.   This woman will give you goosebumps all over!  Her voice is so beautiful and soothing;  not surprising since she does music therapy.   Get here early to make sure you don't miss this, otherwise all of your buddies who did show up early will tell you over and over again how awesome it was and you will beat yourself up for being late all night and won't be able to enjoy the other acts.   Seriously.

Kid Future:

If you missed their act at Slim's last Thursday (perhaps because you were at LBLB!) then no worries!  Here they are this Thursday for free at the one and only Tir Na nOg.  Chris Parker of Independent Weekly calls their jams, "burbling indie synth pop... reminiscent of '80s acts like New Order but more sedate and dreamy."  YES!

Midtown Dickens:

From Durham, this band delivers folk-y bluegrass.  Try your best to learn all the words.  My favorite thing to do when listening to MD is to sing along.  The song I started with?, "Airplane."   Writer for the Independent Weekly, Brian Howe, said, "This band's long let itself f**k up. Now they've learned to allow others to f**k up, too. They don't gloss over failings and disappointments. They let them be and sing them into songs. You can sing them, too."  See you on Thursday, friends!

We have tickets for the 2010 Honda Civic Tour!

All this week WKNC will be giving away tickets for the 2010 Honda Civic Tour featuring Paramore with Tegan and Sara, New Found Glory, and Kadawatha going on this Friday, July 23 at the new Raleigh Amphitheatre. Just be the correct caller when the WKNC deejay asks for it, and you could win tickets for you and a friend. Tickets are also available at Livenation.com.

Discover the answers to your deepest musical mysteries

Hey, viewers of the WKNC Blog! If you haven't noticed, we've started the polls back up again (look to the right side of the page you're reading right now). Us radio station workers are pretty ingenius people with a hand full of irresistibly awesome questions, but, alas, we aren't perfect. We can't think of all the great questions that need to be voted upon, and we can't peer into the souls of our listeners to find the questions they most deeply yearn to ask. We need your help! Do you have a great question in desperate need of results? A funny question? A dumb question? A sarcastic question? A life-altering question? As long as it's kept PG and has to do with WKNC radio, NCSU, or music in general, we want to make a poll about it! All you have to do is email me, The Blog Lady, at blog@wknc.org, and send me your questions ALONG WITH ANSWERS. You may have a great poll question, but without great answers, you've got diddly. The question needs a minimum of two answers and, depending on the question, maximum of ten to twelve answers. Need a little poll inspiration? Keep refreshing this page, and a different poll will show up on the right-hand side each time.

Thanks for helping make us the best radio station in the Triangle!

Toy Soldiers e-interview

Allow me to introduce to you Toy Soldiers. As if I wasn't already impressed by their music, after this interview, I would love to sit around a bon fire in Pennsylvania somewhere and cook s'mores with these folks just to listen to their adventures, none the less, attend their concerts. And good thing! Toy Soldiers are playing in Asheville, NC at the Lexington Ave. Brewery on August 4, 2010.

Below is a few of the select question and summarized answers.

1. Could you give me a background on your band?

Basically, in short, the band began as just two of us (building caastleees in the skyyy). Me (Ron Gallo) and my long-time friend Mike Baurer. One day in September of 2007 we were just sitting around and decided to write some really inappropriate joke songs and record them on the internal microphone of my computer. It was around this same time I had started to delve really deep into American Roots music. We decided to give up the joking for a bit and try out a real song of mine. It was a sort of an odd take on a blues song, and all of the sudden, I was singing and playing the guitar in a way I never had before. We had this new door open up and we just ran with it, not focusing too much on the detail but just getting across. "Throw Me Down". That was the second song we came up with and we wrote while riding bikes almost three years ago.

Fast forward!

Time came to make a real album. It was during this time I had called a bunch of talented friends of mine to come in and basically write whatever parts they wanted and play them on the record. After the sessions, they sort of just stuck around and we played our first show all together on May 9, 2009 with the big band.

Since then some people have come and gone. I wasn't crazy about having this new band have to push a record they weren't even on, and we had new songs. So, the new lineup recorded those, subtracted four old tracks from the original album and added the four new ones. And that is "Whisper" as we know it today.

That was in no way, shape, or form the short version. Haha.

2. What is it like working as such a large musical group? Does one person tend to take charge when writing lyrics or composing the music?

A lot of people tend to focus on the fact that the band is large. Right now, Toy Soldiers is a five-piece (Me, Dan, Noah, Bennett and Tom) and occasionally we are joined by Kate Foust (vocals), Vinchelle Woods (vocals) Garrett Smith (Washboard, Tambourine Man), Dominic Billett (piano, percussion, singing). We also have occasional horn players, etc.

As far as songwriting. I have written most of the Toy Soldiers songs as we know them today. The way it has gone thus far is whoever you hear singing lead on a song has written the lyrics and composed all of the music for that song. We haven't focused too much on a more collaborative songwriting effort just yet.

3. Is there one song on the album that is particularly more fun to perform live?

When we play "The Turnaround," I sort of do this obnoxious let loose belting falsetto operatic kind of singing that everyone always laughs about, but it's fun for me. "Loaded on Sunday" is a real banger in the live show; it's just really dirty and raucous, just like Dan who sings the shit of that song. "Hard Times" has consistently been everyones favorite song to play live, it's always really high energy and we've thrown in some little things here and there that make it unique to every show.

Toy Soldiers will be playing in Asheville, NC at the Lexington Ave. Brewery on August 4, 2010 at 8 p.m. For their full tour schedule, check out their MySpace and their Facebook . While you're there, make sure you listen to a track or two—you won't be disappointed. Also, listen for them (or request them!) on 88.1 WKNC.

American Dance Festival brings Shen Wei back to Durham...

Ten years ago this summer, internationally acclaimed Shen Wei, (SHEN WAY) one of China’s most original modern dance choreographers, directors, and dancers, formed his company Shen Wei Dance Arts at the 2000 American Dance Festival. Shen Wei is a modern dance choreographer (now in NYC) who also choreographed the opening ceremony of the 2009 Beijing Olympics. He is returning this summer as part of the American Dance Festival at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Performances will be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—July 22, 23 -24—at 8 p.m and will feature an ADF-commissioned world premiere solo danced by the choreographer himself.

WKNC deejays will be giving away tickets for the July 23 performance. Listen in and be the correct caller when the deejay asks for it to win tickets to experience this celebration of movement and dance.

For more information and tickets www.americandancefestival.org or 919-680-2787.

Love Language at the Cradle tonight

The Love Language's much anticipated Merge release Libraries dropped recently into the hands of a salivating clientele, and tonight we have the privilege of celebrating the occasion.  I could waste my time (and yours) by giving a most likely inadequate review here, laden with underwhelming vocabulary and confusing or inappropriate allusions, but I know better.  I shall leave that task to the better equipped--those who do the album the service it deserves.

So rather than try to steer your take on the album, I'll just give you some simple procedural advice: consider purchasing a ticket for the show tonight. Openers Shit Horse and Light Pines dictate attention, regardless of the situation. (But is there a better situation than this? An almost certainly sold-out Cat's Cradle, bursting at the seams for one of the Triangle's most lauded outfits in recent memory? I lean toward no.)

Tonight promises to entertain, to satisfy, and to satiate. (Ok, so you did end up getting some underwhelming vocabulary.) Doors are at 8 and the show starts at 9.

T.A.
(If my camera charges, I'll be sure to put up some pics.)

WKNC Broadcasting Down

At approximately 7:59 p.m., a massive storm rolled over WKNC studios, and we believe a lightning strike knocked out either our main broadcasting tower or one of our relay towers causing us to go off the air. We are still down but our engineers are already working to resolve the issue. Please stay tuned on WKNC's Twitter account for updated details.

Facts about lightning:

• The average lightning bolt is 6-8 miles  long and can easily travel 25 to 40 miles horizontally prior to turning downward toward the ground. In October 2001, the visual lightning detection system measured a single bolt that traveled from Waco to Fort Worth and then Dallas, Texas—a total distance of more than 110 miles.


• About 20 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occur annually in the USA. That's just under one per second for the USA and about 100 per second world wide.


• The energy contained in a single lightning stroke can power a 100 watt light bulb for 90 days, which is equivalent to 215 kWh (kilo-Watt hours).


• Typically, more than 2,000 thunderstorms are active throughout the world at any given moment, producing on the order of 100 flashes per second.


• An average of 87 lightning fatalities were reported each year between 1959 and 1995.


• About 10 percent of the people struck by lightning are killed; this leaves the other 90 percent with various types of injuries.


• The primary cause of death from lighting is cardiac arrest.


• Unlike high voltage electrical injuries with which massive internal tissue damage may occur, lightning seldom causes substantial burns.


• Most lightning burns are caused by objects such as rainwater, sweat, metal coins, and necklaces being heated up and causing the burn.


• Adam Kincaid once lost power for 16 hours due to lightning and tried suing the power company who then gave him three months free electricity.

CHANGE! Future Islands to call in this afternoon

Unfortunately, schedules have a way of tying up.  Samuel and William of Future Islands will no longer be coming to the station, but rather they will be calling the studio around 4pm  for a live phone interview.  No hard feelings; these guys rock. They will be at the Local 506 tonight, don't miss it!

Local Beat recap 7/16/10

Last Friday on the Local Beat, we had a fantastic show thanks to the wonderful musicians who came by.

Lizzy Ross was the first to come in at 5 p.m. to show off her newest release, Traces, which was released June 26. Only in her early 20's, Lizzy has already begun making quite a name for herself in the area with her stunning soulful voice and beautiful songwriting after setting a precedent with her previous band Lafcadio. Lizzy and I talked about the creation of her self released album and the different processes that went into it. We also compared her live show to her recorded material and she sang us three songs, which you can listen to in the music player above and download from our Local Beat ReverbNation page. You can purchase Traces from her website, Lizzy.net, CD Alley in Chapel Hill, as well as iTunes. Take a listen to our conversation below:
Lizzy Ross on the Local Beat 7/16/10

At 6 p.m., David Mueller came in to talk about his new solo album from Heads on Sticks titled Mocking Bird. In this project David takes on the role of a mad scientist as he mixes and matches various sound effects on a whim that ends with a remarkably unique and sonically satisfying album, even taking clips from an actual mockingbird from his iPhone, which he calls a true "organic sampler." David and I compared his newest music to his last three EPs ( you can download for free on his BandCamp page and I highly recommend) and listened to several songs off of the new record.
Heads on Sticks on the Local Beat 7/16/10

For the last hour of the show, the guys of Jeremy Blair From Effingham dropped in for what turned out to be an immensely satisfying hour of conversation. JBFE has been playing live shows in the area for almost exactly a year now and are well on their way to local stardom. The three J's in the band, Jeremy Blair, John Hill, and Jim McConnell came by and played some live tracks for us, which you can listen to in the widget above and download from our Local Beat ReverbNation page. We talked about the beginning of the band, how they came together, and their live show. We also had an interesting talk about the Triangle music scene, Durham in particular, which is on the verge of taking over the region as far as artistic and musical prominence is concerned. Take a listen:
Jeremy Blair From Effingham on the Local Beat 7/16/10

Jeremy Blair From Effingham is having a show August 7 at the Black Flower in Raleigh with Joy in Red and the Once and Future Kings. Also, check out the SWEET cherry pie the fellas baked me!

Local Beat preview 7/16/10

Continuing the great momentum of the summer on the Local Beat tonight brings a variety of special guests onto the show.

Acoustic rocker Lizzy Ross from Chapel Hill will be kicking the show off at 5 p.m. to show off her recently released new album Traces, which hit the streets late in June. Hopefully we can get her to play some new songs for us live on the air. You can also catch her at the Broad Street Cafe later this evening as she is playing a free show with Chris Bryant at 10 p.m.

6 p.m. brings David Mueller of Strange and Birds of Avalon to talk about his new solo full length, Mocking Birds, which he is releasing under his Heads on Sticks moniker. This is Heads on Sticks' first release in four years following up three EPs and is certainly the best so far. Be prepared for some experimental tripped out space rock that borders on the edge of psychadelic electronica and whimsical anarcho-pop that will surely get your foot tapping and head bobbing. This album rules.

At 7 p.m. Durham folk rockers Jeremy Blair from Effingham are coming by to chat about a variety of topics. These guys stole my heart last year with their soft pop track "I Do and I Don't," which was one of my top songs of 2009. I'm going to see what else they have going on and hopefully get them to play a track or two. This also marks the first time a group made a flier for the Local Beat so I am going to hold this dear to my heart.

Do Itcha Damn Self! WKNC Interview about the One-Man-Band Extravaganza Today

Take a few of your favorite local artists and stick them on stage by themselves to perform songs both familiar and original. Essentially, that's what Do Itcha Damn Self aims to accomplish. The event at the Pinhook marks Durham's inaugural one-man-band jubilee and art fair, which will feature select band members from Triangle favorites like Megafaun and Midtown Dickens. In order to promote the event a bit further, Phil Cook of Megafaun and Catherine Edgerton of Midtown Dickens will come chat with DJ Special K and DJ Sajhammer at 11 a.m. this Friday morning (July 16).

If you have questions you'd like to ask our guests, be sure to tweet at us at: wknc881. Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

Future Islands to be on WKNC this Friday

If you’ve been in the Triangle for any number of years like I have, then you’ve likely seen Future Islands play. Their dark-wave synth dance music is addicting and the experience is an intoxicating modern take on Shakespeare. Their live performances never leave the crowd unsatisfied. Band members Gerrit Welmers, William Cashion and Samuel T Herring have moved the band from Greenville to Raleigh and most recently to Baltimore where they quickly became part of Dan Deacon’s artist collective, Wham City. However, the Triangle has been an important middle ground for Future Islands. Kind of like the lunch room in middle school where that delicate mix of young minds are eager to find other young minds, the triangle has provided this cultivation for collaboration.

I'll sit down with the band Friday and talk about their voyage. Tune in to hear tracks from their discography and old favorites from their first project, Art Lord and The Self Portraits.  And if you have any stories or experiences from a Future Islands show that you'd like to share, please email them to kelly@wknc.org. We'll take it to the airwaves with the band. They will be at the WKNC studio Friday for an on-air interview at 4 p.m. The band is touring in support of their recent release, “In Evening Air.” The release is their second LP and first on the Chicago Indie Label, Thrill Jockey.

Future Islands will be headlining at the Local 506 this Friday with additional acts: EAR PWR, Nuclear Power Pants, and Fat Camp.

Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

7/5 RPM albums for WKNC's Daytime music

	Artist	Album	Label
#1	TAME IMPALA	Innerspeaker	Modular
#2	GRAND LAKE	Blood Sea Dream	Hippies Are Dead
#3	MAPS & ATLASES	Perch Patchwork	Barsuk
#4	CASIOKIDS	Topp Semning Pa Lokal Bar	Polyvinyl
#5	LIGHT POLLUTION	Apparitions	Car Park
#6	VILLAGERS	Becoming a Jackal	Domino
#7	PEGGY SUE	Fossils And Other Phantoms	Yep Roc
#8	THE LOVE LANGUAGE	Libraries	Merge
#9	LIGHTS ON	Here Comes the Ocean	self-released
#10	DAN SARTAIN	Dan Sartain Lives	One Little Indian

This Week's Schwag

This week we're giving away some of the coolest goodies ever seen!



We're giving away tickets to Rasputina on July 13 at Cat's Cradle,



Doco on July 17 at The Pour House,



and The Love Language on July 17 at Cat's Cradle.

We're also giving away movie passes for Knight & Day, Grown Ups, Twilight Eclipse, which are showing at Cary Crossroads 20

Keep the dial locked to 88.1 to win these and other prizes on WKNC!