Pitchfork says: Touch and Go Records will stop releasing new music.

According to indie web-publication Pitchfork, due to the tumult of our current economic situation, Touch and Go Records, the label that brought the world Shellac, Polvo, Blonde Redhead, Pinback, Naked Raygun, the Jesus Lizard, TV on the Radio, and Slint has announced that they will no longer be releasing new music. It, however appears that Pitchfork may have made this up.

The official news from Touch and Go is that they will no longer be manufacturing and distributing records for other labels.  This is still a big deal in the indie music industry.  For a long time Touch and Go has been the go-to distributer for fairly priced and honest distribution of independent music.  Touch and Go did manufacturing and distribution for over 20 prominent indie labels, including Chapel Hill based Merge records.  The implications of this are pretty dire for independent music.  Merge, Thrill Jockey, Kill Rock Stars and about 20 other labels are going to have to find an alternative means of manufacturing and distribution, possibly effecting thier costs and quality.  In this already bad economic climate this is a pretty serious hit to independent music.

This Week's Ticket Giveaways....(Feb 28th- March 6th)

Bored on your Spring Break? The boss giving you hell at work? We have the remedy with more great shows and chances to win tickets! Tune in during the week for the following shows at Cat's Cradle!

Ben Kweller & The Watson Twins playing @ Cats Cradle on March 1st

Tapes 'n Tapes playing @ Cats Cradle on March 2nd

Tape 'n Tapes

Black Lips playing @ Cats Cradle on March 4th

Black Lips

Music Tapes playing @ Cats Cradle on March 5th

WKNC Pick of the Week 2/24

Matt & Kim aims for the sweet spot with 'Grand'
Jon Gomes

Matt & Kim, in all its lackadaisical glory, is an indulgence. The bubbly Brooklyn duo is the musical equivalent of Cinnamon Toast Crunch--sweet, sugary and perfect for those late Saturday mornings after you've slept for ten hours.

Just spin its self-titled debut from 2006 and listen for yourself. The album has the haphazard energy of a second grader after a bag of Sour Patch Kids. There's an air of excitement and mild chaos, but the music isn't in your face. On their latest release Grand, Matt and Kim have maintained their pop sensibilities while exploring new dynamics.

The opener, "Daylight," encapsulates the album's carefree mood. A triumphant piano riff cascades over a jaunty marching rhythm while synthesizers drone and wail in the background. The carpe diem lyrics evoke memories of summer, with lines like "Open hydrant, rolled down windows / This car might make a good old boat / And float down Grand Street in daylight." The track is the perfect anthem for sunny afternoons and captures the positive vibes of Grand.

The album's upbeat energy is channeled into the next track, "Cutdown." A buzzing bassline underlies gentle synth strings that launch into a beautiful, drum-heavy crescendo at the end of the track. As quickly as it built up, the momentum slows down a bit with the wistful and slow "Good Ol Fashioned Nightmare." This shift in dynamics makes Grand sound more varied and mature than its predecessor. Matt & Kim delve into slower, more relaxed moods throughout the album in tracks like "Turn This Boat Around" and the outro remix of "Daylight."

Of note is the impressive production quality--clean and loud. In particular, the drums have a powerful presence that lends itself to the album's energy. The rhythms on Grand sound huge, especially in "I Wanna" and "Don't Slow Down." Both are unrelentingly upbeat tracks driven by Kim's lively percussion and Matt's frenetic synth work. As with The Black Keys or Death From Above 1979, it is hard to believe that all the music comes from only two people.

The drums drop out completely for "Turn This Boat Around," which is carried completely on vocals and simple keyboard parts. The calmness quickly turns into madness with "Cinders," a short instrumental that spirals upward into synth-and-drums euphoria. Grand closes with an interesting, stripped-down mix of "Daylight," which nicely ties back to the beginning of the album. The entire album is only a scant 29 minutes long--just like the weekend, because you'll wish it lasted longer.

Full of energy and free of care, Grand revels in its youthfulness. Pop music is meant to be fun music, and this album convincingly validates that claim. The next time you find yourself in the middle of a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon, put this record on. You won't regret it.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.

NCSU Baseball Plays Double Header Today

The N.C. State baseball team will take on Hofstra University in a double header today beginning at 2 p.m.  Threats of rain prompted the change, but Saturday and Sunday's games remain as scheduled for 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Please note Sunday's game will be available exclusively at GoPack.com, since WKNC will be airing the final regular season game of Wolfpack Women’s Basketball. For complete baseball and women’s basketball schedules, visit GoPack.com.

Today’s Local Beat will air between games this evening. Non-sports fans are encouraged to listen to WKNC’s sports-free Internet stream at wknc.org/listen.

Follow us on Twitter!

WKNC has joined the tweeting fun and can now be found at http://twitter.com/WKNC881. Follow us for real time updates about new music, interviews, giveaways, DJ changes, and anything else we might have on our mind!

Milagro Saints Interview

Local band The Milagro Saints will be coming in to the studio during Americana, Blues & Company this Saturday, February 28, to talk about music, Hillsborough Street Renaissance, and hopefully that awesome Muppet Movie-esque car of theirs.  Be sure to tune in at 11 AM on the 28th for this interview!

The Never's "Antarctica"

If you dig good music, good performance, good art, or if you have a pulse, you'd do well to check out WKNC's Local Lunch Wednesday, 2/25, through Friday, 2/27.   Right at the top of the 12:00 hour on each day, we're airing each piece of a three-part serial of vocal enactment on top of The Never's masterful album "Antarctica."  This is merely a precursor to the event of interest, a theatrical performance of the concept album, released in 2006.

From the band's website:

The Never has been touring for the last 3 years promoting “Antarctica, A Storybook Record,” a concept album and fully illustrated 50-page storybook. They are currently working to finish their new record to be released on Trekky Records in March, 2009. This event will be a culmination of both works.  The Never is dedicated to the betterment of  community through arts and music and has performed at schools/universities, libraries, theaters, and outdoor festivals over the last few years in order to achieve that.

Missed today's part 1?  You're in luck: the performance will be aired in its entirety on the Local Beat Friday, which usually runs from 5:00-8:00.  We will be preceded by NC State baseball, though, so tune in a little before 6:00 to catch the complete piece.

Where can you learn more, you ask?  Head over to the Never's website for more information.  And, of course, keep it locked on the Local Lunch and the Local Beat.

WKNC Transmitter Maintenance Noon-4pm

Our trusty team of engineers is once again working to tame our renegade transmitter. We will be experiencing signal outages from now until the baseball game begins at 4 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience.

February 23rd - Feb 27th Ticket Giveaways!

Tis that time again listeners where your devoted hours to WKNC pays off (Or you might possibly just get lucky!)

Tune in this week to score chances to the following shows:

Pico vs. Island Trees playing @ Cats Cradle on Feb. 26th

*See blog for more details about their in-studio performance this Friday!

Abbey Road Live playing @ LincolnTheatre on Feb. 27th 

 

Railroad Earth playing @ Cats Cradle on Feb. 27th 

 

Tim Barry playing @ CatsCradle on Feb. 28th

Ben Folds & Miniature Tigers Ticket Giveaways! (Feb 23rd-25th)

North Carolina's own singer-songwriter and the former front-man of the band Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds will be making an appearance at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Feb 25th with the Miniature Tigers.

How do I win?:

Bribes. Just kidding. Glad you asked though faithful KNC listener! In order to win our ticket giveaways for this great show, tune in Monday through Wednesday (Feb 23rd-25th) and listen to the daytime rock deejays. We'll be spinning various song clips from both bands. Guess the correct song title, be the first caller,  and you'll be on your way to see Ben and the Tigers play an incredible show.

SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror Soundtracks on Mystery Roach

This week's show is going to be a great one! With the help of Jacob, another DJ at the station, the show will focus on the music of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror soundtracks from the 60s and 70s.

Jacob and I will be playing music and discussing the films. If you'd like us to look into a particular movie, please post a comment below. It's not too late to get on the playlist!!

Some topics include Zardoz, a 1974 film whose bleak depiction of our future includes Sean Connery  and organized human breeding. The Green Slime , a 1968 effort about the negative side of space exploration with a groovy main theme.  Steve McQueen's battles with a pulsing, man-eating, ever-growing ball of Jell-O in The Blob.  We'll play compositions by Bernard Herrmann, who has composed for such films as Psycho, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Fahrenheitit 451, several Ray Harryhausen films, and Taxi Driver.  And Godzilla, a giant lizard who needs little elaboration.

These are only a few of the movies.  Tune in this Saturday, February 21st from 8-10 am, and enjoy the show.

Cheers.

-La Barba Rossa

WKNC Off Air

The WKNC engineering team is currently working on our transmitter, which is causing some interruption in our air signal. We apologize for the inconvenience.

DJ Stevo's last show this Friday

Well, as you might have heard, I'll be hanging up the headphones shortly, but not without one final, epic edition of the Local Beat this Friday, starting at 6PM, after NC State Baseball.

We'll be interviewing The Old Ceremony, hanging out with members of our local music scene, and spinning some of my favorite music from the past four years, including at least one Genesis track.

After Friday, stay tuned, as DJ Mick will be taking over the reins, and if you've ever heard his Local Lunch shifts, you'll no doubt be prepared for the inevitable onslaught of kickass rock'n'roll.  As for me, it's been a real privilege to be your DJ, and if you see me at a local rock show, be sure to come by and say hello.

J. Period Releases Best Of Q-Tip Mixtape

The [Abstract] Best Of Q-Tip Vol. 1

As a hip hop DJ, one of my biggest idols is DJ J.Period. J. Period has garnered numerous awards for his mixtapes including "Elemental Magazine "MIXTAPE DJ ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 2003", "Source Magazine MIXTAPE DJ OF THE YEAR 2005", "MTV TOP 5 DJs OF 2007", and "Hip Hop DX 2008 Mixtape of the Year Runner Up" for "Design of A Decade Volume 1" hosted by Skillz. Check out J. Period's awards and press page for a complete list of his achievements.

The [Abstract] Best Of Q-Tip Vol. 1 describes Q-Tip's journey through hip hop. In the "behind the scenes" mini-interviews, Q-Tip explains what influences him to make music and how well-known projects like "Scenario" came together. The [Abstract] covers Tip's most popular songs with A Tribe Called Quest, his solo joints and his production projects.

Exclusive J. Period remixes for Getting Up, What The Fuss (that "Shook Ones" instrumental can make any remix hot), Give Up The Goods (which includes an an extra verse by Nas), Buddy and others are available only on this mixtape. In addition to the J.Period remixes, artists like Skillz, De La Soul, Consequence and Kid Cudi pay homage to Q-Tip by reinterpreting his classics with 'tribute remixes".

If you're a DJ, aspiring artist, old head or a newcomer to hip hop, The [Abstract] massages away all the stress of commercial rap and even comes with a happy ending! That is, the end of the mixtape hints at The [Abstract] Best Of Q-Tip Vol. 2, which you can get if you buy the Limited Edition [Abstract] Best T-Shirt. The shirt, designed by Fuse Green, sports the mixtape's cover on the front and has three options for the writing on the back. Q-Tip is a hip-hop legend and if you aren't familiar with him, take a piece of advice from the (recreated) Midnight Marauders Tour Guide: "For an enhanced hip-hop experience, please know your history."

Favorites : Vivrant Thing (J. Period Remix), What (Tribute Remix), What The Fuss (J. Period Remix), Give Up The Goods (J. Period Remix)

WKNC Pick of the Week 2/17

House music that's meant for dancing
Milton Welch

The term "electronic music" encompasses lots of styles of music, and as much as any the pulsing 4/4 of house, techno, and electro. Josh Wink of Philadelphia extends this pulse across a long play release When a Banana Was Just a Banana―truly long: all tracks except "Minimum 23" are over nine minutes. Each makes a subtly different approach to layering synthesized sounds over robotic beats.

Running at more than an hour and a half, Wink's release embraces once futuristic realities of contemporary music and how we listen to it now.

These songs are meant for dancing.

"Stay Out All Night" is a flashy homage to the 303 synthesizer updating dance club sounds from the nineties.

"Airplane Electronique" then takes off into bright harmonies and bending pitches.

The bright reverberating splashes of the currently circulating single "Counter Clock 319" builds with springy enthusiasm.

Like those songs, "What Used to Be Called Used to Be" at over ten minutes will more likely be heard on an iPod, a computer or thumping out of some club's speakers than on commercial radio.

In an online interview, Wink discusses how many of these songs were written over the last few years of his travel as a DJ, so in all likelihood many of these songs have already had a fair share of club play.

It is worth noting that Wink's own record label, Philadelphia's Ovum Recordings, is releasing When a Banana Was Just a Banana.

Wink's LP is a smart, driving collection of songs, but unlike mainstream popular music contemporary new electronic music from Ovum and similar labels is generally released as EP length material.

One EP that is of particular interest is the upcoming release of Kikomoto Allstars's House Music EP on International Deejay Gigolo Records.

The Berlin techno label consistently releases electronic music that is at once surprising and envelope-pushing.

Kikomoto Allstars is the name of an Australian electronic producer and DJ whose songs are new, yet filled with retro nods to U.S. club sounds.

The title track is a deliberate nod backward from the global dancefloor of the 21st century to the early dancefloors for electronic music in such cities as Chicago, New York, and Detroit.

The second track of the E.P. "Bending Time" sizzles percussively around a modulating tone then breaks into a phasing handclap suspended amidst propulsive yet ambient bass of very low frequencies.

Both Josh Wink's When a Banana Was Just a Banana LP and Kikomoto Allstars House Music EP are dancefloor ready, but their appeal goes further than the ease of cutting a rug to them.

The clever syncopations and dazzling sound palettes of these mostly instrumental tracks are both historic and futuristic.

These releases suggest the complex appeal of listening to electronic dance music whether dancing at the time or not.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.

Aradhna

Aradhna is a musical group performing at the Hindu Society of North Carolina temple on March 21, 2009 at 7:30 pm. Aradhna will also be visiting as a special guest on Geet Bazaar on March 22nd 2009. For more information on Aradhna please visit www.aradhnamusic.com.

Need a ride from campus to Local Beer Local Band? You're in luck.

Beginning tonight, N.C. State students needing a ride downtown for awesome WKNC festivities (and other stuff, if you must) will have one. The Technician newspaper has all the details, but please keep in mind the service is for State students ONLY.

There are three Wolfprowl bus stops downtown along the circulator route, with all the other stops on campus. Both the Wolfprowl and the circulator bus provide free transportation to students, allowing them to reach downtown safely and for free -- all a student has to do is show his or her student ID, the Web site states. [Read more at TechnicianOnline.com]

The bus won't quite get you to Tir Na Nog, so please check out the route to see your best drop-off options.

State of State #5: Behind the Veil

M.C. talks with Sara Yasin, creator of Behind the Veil, a social experiment in which non-Muslim women spend a day wearing a Hijab. Behind the Veil takes place Tuesday, February 17th.

State of State #5: Behind the Veil

Weekly Ticket Giveaways (Feb 16th- 20th)

Here's this week's addition for WKNC's ticket giveaways. Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday to hear how you can win a free pair of tickets to the following shows:

Son Volt playing Feb 18th @ Lincoln Theatre

Son Volt


Fujiya & Miyagi playing Feb 20th @ Cats Cradle


Who's Bad (Michael Jackson Tribute Band) playing Feb 21st @ Lincoln Theatre

Kings of Leon Ticket Giveaways (Feb 16th-20th)

Grammy award winners Kings of Leon will play two Carolinas concerts: April 28th at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre and April 30th at Bojangles’ Coliseum in Charlotte.

WKNC however has exclusive tickets to giveaway this week! Tune in and listen to the daytime rock deejays Monday through Friday to hear how you can win.

Special guests include The Walkmen who will open both shows at 7:30 pm.

Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday February 20^th at 10am at

Sports Revolution 2/10

This week the Sports Revolution crew lamented the N.C. State loss to Virginia Tech after an 18 point lead and the team's general performance throughout the season.  James threw out his Indiana Jones theory on Wolfpack Sports fans, and then the guys jumped into the rest of the ACC including the Duke/UNC match-up Wednesday night in Durham.  Then Preston and Drew took up for the NBA while James told everyone why it is the worst professional sporting league.

Be sure to tune in every Tuesday night from 7-8 pm for the Sports Revolution, and get your feedback in by posting on our blog or giving us a call at 860-0881.

sportsrev021009

Unable to listen to WKNC on the radio?

Have you been unable to listen to WKNC on your radio recently?

Our engineers tell us that is because our transmitter has been operating at "reduced power" since Sunday, February 8, 2009.

What this means in plain English is that our radio signal isn't going out as far as it used to. My heart sank when I heard this too but our engineers are hard at work on it. Sometimes you might hear some static when they are up on top of DH Hill library seducing the transmitter. We should be back up to normal range soon.

In the meantime, show us your love and listen online at http://wknc.org/listen/

Pico vs Island Trees in-studio Feb 26th!

That's right. The Nashville, but Raleigh born, band Pico vs Island Trees will be stopping by our studio February 26th to promote their headlining show the same night at Cat's Cradle

DJ Mean Gene will be chatting with the band from 1-2pm. Possible questions could include why the band is named after a famous 1982 Supreme Court Case (Island Trees School District) or what their thoughts are for their highly anticipated EP, entitled Futura, which is set to release this spring.

Be sure to tune in for this great interview!



Pico vs Island Trees will be playing with Slow Runner and Max Indian

Show starts at 8pm

WKNC Pick of the Week 2/10

'Firmament' is entrancing
May Chung

I don’t know why instrumental bands even bother to name their songs if collectively they all flow so well. This is none more potent than the tracks off of Firmament, the new release from the Raleigh-based trio Gray Young. The group has graced the Triangle scene before, with the lulling Kindle Field E.P., but this is a more personal progress. The album’s epic miniature symphonies of soaring post-rock anthems evoke a forceful pounding of drums and bass, culminating in a cathartic slumber. It leaves many a listener moodily swaying in its brilliance.

While one cannot help but notice obvious similarities to bands like Explosions in the Sky, Caspian, Mono, and The Appleseed Cast, to name a few, Gray Young exploits its own familiar sound with gravitational potential. The soft, breathy vocals complement the melodic blare of guitars and bass. It’s forceful and gloomy, but ethereal and infectious. Gray Young does not bother with extremely long songs that tend to be a staple on most instrumental albums (Hello, Godspeed You Black Emperor!). Instead, the band focuses on creating a poignant parting in the album openers “Provenance” and “Convoy”, eliciting a meditative simplicity as brief and wistful as fading autumn leaves.

The droopy strumming does tends to wear off near the end of Firmament, however, as the band sluggishly relays the remainder of the record. The songs start sounding more and more alike as the album starts to thin. The strange murmurs of“(Ghost Notes)” clouts an otherwise vivid instrumentation, but the cascading forays are only minor in the album’s overall beauty.

I think what makes Gray Young special is their local sensibility and the sense of pride it creates for people of Raleigh and all of North Carolina, just as the same way Explosions in the Sky do for Austin, Texas. But geographical sentiments aside, Gray Young is a rhythmic harvest. The warm and distorted guitars tones in “Tilling the Wind” and the steady bass solo in “Cavalcade for Sundown” are rare finds in the recession-worn era of disbanding groups and suffering local music shops. But the soft teasing of brooding intensity, none more prevalent than in the luscious “Firmament” pleads a change, or a “new era of responsibility” if you will.

The thing about post-rock instrumental bands is that no member is more primal than any other. It’s all a collaborative effort. Gray Young, post-rockers they are, give their all to this equivocal intimacy, and receive the same incandescence tit-for-tat. Music this raw and delicate deserves more than to be mentioned or placed on a soundtrack of some television drama. It should be enjoyed beyond the scope of Raleigh’s backyard. It should be sought for.

Gray Young will be playing a CD release show with Goner at Slim’s Downtown on February 20th.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.

The Great 8

The long-time music critic for The News & Observer, David Menconi, has released the 2009 version of the "The Great 8".  The Great 8 is an annual list of local music talent that shines above the rest.  This year's list is wonderfully diverse, with acts from the classic indie format to the old-school 90s punk scene to screamo to hip-hop, and he even threw in a video game music guru (because everyone needs kick ass music to listen to when taking down Bowser).  Not to toot the "WKNC is better than your mother" horn or anything, but 2 of the 8 artists featured this year where apart of 88.1's Double Barrel Benefit 6 line-up from this past weekend!  If you missed DBB6, you still have a chance to catch some of these bands at a special "Great 8 Showcase" concert at the Local 506 on February 13th, 2009 including 4 of the 8 bands featured (HNMTF, Lonnie Walker, Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, and Double Negative). Here is the full list:

Jason Graves, Raleigh

There are people who do absolutely no work and get all the credit.  Jason Graves does not fall into that category, in fact, he is quite the opposite.  As a video game track composer, Graves says that it does not phase him that his work is simply the background sounds to a usually much more complicated and interesting video game (unless we are playing PaRappa The Rapper, arguably the worst video game of all time).  Graves says that his contributions add to the overall entertainment value of the product, and that can evoke a lot of pride.  Graves also says he tries to tell a story in the lyric-less music he creates and I must say, some of his stuff evokes very strong emotions for being merely background music.  My personal favorites are his Star Trek compositions...THEY ARE EPIC!

Lonnie Walker, Greenville/Raleigh

Being a Double Barrel Benefit 6 performer, naturally, Lonnie Walker kicks ass.  This down-home feeling rock/Americana band signed to Raleigh based Terpsikhore Records has been compared to artists from Bob Dylan to Modest Mouse.


Double Negative, Raleigh

This old-school, hard-hitting, punk rock compilation sounds like, in terms our friend Jason Graves would understand, a band pulled directly off the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.  Yes, I mean the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater from the Playstation/Nintendo 64 era.  If that description is not your bag of chips, maybe you will just have to listen.

Violet Vector And The Lovely Lovelies, Chapel Hill

The second of the Double Barrel Benefit 6 bands on the list.  Pop on steroids with a whipped cream and cherry topping (after bathing in a rainbow shower).  That is my best description of Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies.  You can tell that these guys & gals truly enjoy what they do, and it shows in their music.

Alesana, Raleigh

If you could get as far from the type of music we just explored with Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, Alesana would be right there smiling (well, maybe smiling isn't quite the appropriate word).  This rift crunching, double-bass pedal pounding, mosh-it-out-over-breakfast screamo band is sure to have you with your hand in the air, fist clinched, and head banging all night.

The Loners, Raleigh

The Loners have a unique history in the Raleigh music scene.  They can be considered the diamond in the rough (the rough being the closing of King's Barcade in downtown Raleigh in the spring of 2007).  After reuniting to play the last show at King's, the band decided to stay together because of the outpouring of support they receive from the show.  Fast forward almost two years and The Loners are getting set to release their first album since 2002, entitled "Revolution!" (hmm maybe a reference to THE Revolution, 88.1fm...okay probably not, but I can dream).

Inflowential, Raleigh

The beat boxes are crazy, and the live show is amazing!  If you have not seen/heard of this group and you have been in Raleigh for more that a year, then you need to catch up.  Inflowential (not to be mistaken for Kooley High, another hip-hop group that has crossover members) can be seen at  local venues or maybe you remember seeing them place in the top three nationally in mtvU's Best Music on Campus (a competiton with rising new music artists) last year.

Hammer No More The Fingers, Chapel Hill

Classic indie rock at its best from the town that cranks out indie-alternative like it is a day job.  Its very interesting to see how three driven musicians that grew up in Chapel Hill in the 90's turn out musically given the crazy musical scene in the town during the past decade or two (I am trying not to dwell to much on a place that is home to the ever so horrible Tar Holes, but it is hard in this case).

Ticket GIVEAWAYS Feb 9th-13th

Hello loyal WKNC listeners,

I bring you this week's ticket giveaways! Tune in each day to get a chance at winning some of these hot tickets:

Parlor Mob playing Tuesday Feb 10th @ Cats Cradle

Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band playing Friday Feb 13th @ Lincoln Theatre

Carbon Leaf playing Friday Feb 13th @ Cats Cradle

Reckless Kelly playing Saturday Feb 14th @ Lincoln Theatre

Dark Star Orchestra playing Sunday Feb 15th @ Lincoln Theatre



-The Promotions Team

Lately, All I Want Is Local Music

I haven't had the chance to do much music buying lately, as my bank account's been slightly restricting as of late. However, my birthday is this coming weekend (Valentine's day, a blessing and a curse) and I'm using that as an excuse to head over to Schoolkids and buy me some new jams. What kind of jams? Well, there's only three non-local records that are on my list right now (new ones from Animal Collective, Antony & The Johnsons, and Bon Iver). There are several local records, however, that I really want. First off, there's Hymns For A Dark Horse and Bury The Square, the debut records by Bowerbirds and Megafaun, respectively (Megafaun have a new one on the way and if the new songs they played the Cat's Cradle show I caught recently are any indication, this one will be just as great as the first). I'm headed up to Boone this coming weekend and both bands' take on folk (Bowerbirds' being dark and haunting, Megafaun abstract and rambling, both reflective) would serve as an excellent soundtrack to a weekend driving around the mountains. Then there's the new debut from The Love Language, with their excellent lo-fi take on 50's pop. Lonnie Walker, with their rambling folk rock, are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands, and I'm holding my breath waiting for the release of their debut record, as well as the new one Schooner is working on.

One of my favorite releases of the past decade was Hotel Lights' self-titled debut, full of melancholy and beautiful folk-pop gems. I've spun their new one, Firecracker People, on my show a few times, but have yet to pick the record up This must change, as everything I have heard off the record has been excellent. I've managed to catch EAR PWR's dance party live show three times within the past couple months, and am dying to pick up some of their records. Same goes for Greenville ex-pats Future Islands (who also have some great new songs). There are great new records from David Karsten Daniels and Gray Young.

My record collection is calling out for the wonderful, Cat Power-like musings of Alina Simone. New ones from I Was Totally Destroying It and The ExMonkeys are on their way. The fact of the matter is, out of all the new records coming out, for the most part, the best ones seem to be coming either from acts right here in North Carolina or NC ex-pats. And that's saying something. Time to go buy me some records

New Kooley High Documentary entitled One Day

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/3077704[/vimeo]

"One Day, introducing Kooley High," is a 38min documentary that chronicles a day in the life of Triangle-based rap group Kooley High and their desire to be heard. The documentary is filmed throughout Raleigh-Durham, N.C and was filmed, edited and directed by Napoleon Wright II, founder of Becauseus.org ,in association with M.E.C.C.A Records.

Double Barrel Benefit 6 Photo Slideshow

Submit your own photos!

Submit Your DBB 6 Photos!

If you were one of the hundreds of people I saw at DBB6 taking pictures of the bands and the crowd, we would LOVE to show off your pics online.  Please send any digital copies of pictures to wkncphoto@gmail.com.  All pictures will be credited, and if you have a website please include that in the email as well!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Pour House the last two nights to help make this years Double Barrel Benefit the best ever!  It was truly a legendary show and we were happy so many of you could make it out!

Be on the lookout for more upcoming post-DBB blogs in the next couple of days as we wrap everything up.

Munni Begum in Concert

A concert of renowned ghazal vocalist Munni Begum will be held on Friday February 13th 2009 at 8:00 PM at the FedEx Global Education Center at UNC Chapel Hill.  For more information, contact Manzoor Cheema at (919)-412-7008.  This concert is co-sponsored by Geet Bazaar and WKNC-Raleigh.

DBB Feature #7: Birds of Avalon

Tonight, as in three hours from now, is going to be awesome.  It is night two of the Double Barrel Benefit, and keeping with tradition, the second night is rockin with one of my favorite Raleigh groups, Birds of Avalon.  BoA, as locals refer to them, are a full force, guitar ripping orgastic, Tecate drinking five piece on Volcom Entertainment Records.  I was lucky enough to catch up with these guys back in March of 2008 during South By South West at a warehouse party.  The party took a good five minutes to find, but after cruising a strip of warehouses I spotted the beacon of BoA-on-the-road---their white high-top conversion van.  It was amazing show, one of the best of my life.  Inside was a half pipe with skaters, stacks of Marshall speakers, coolers of Keystone Light, Jennifer Herrera of RTX, Jay Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. and Witch, and lots and lots of hearing-loss rock'n roll.

Pre-sale tickets for tonight are sold out. However, there will be a LIMITED amount of tickets for sale at the door at 8pm. My advice is to show up at 7:45, pay to get in, and don't leave once you enter the Pour House.

Jocelyn Ellis LIVE on Soulful Renaissance!!!

**NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!!** 

Well if you've never heard of Ms.Ellis, allow me to introduce her!!!



(Copied from http://www.myspace.com/thejynesis)
Charlotte Music Award Winner, Jocelyn Ellis, a North Carolina vocalist/songwriter/producer, has a new sound called Urban-Folk. Jocelyn has opened for Cassidy at Greensboro Coliseum, shared the stage with WyClef Jean, featured with Super-Producer 9th Wonder, was on The ArtLifestyle Tour sponsored by VitaminEnergy and several performances in Spain. For more information and booking visit Jocelyn Ellis at [http://www.jocelynellis.net].

With that being said, she will DEFINITELY be on Soulful Renaissance for Valentines Day!!! So be sure to tune in at 8pm to hear Jocelyn Ellis [L I V E]!!

Until then....check this out.....

~Peace & Soul~


 

Well Hello!!

I am new to the WKNC blog however I've been blogging for a little less than a year now.

I have my own blog that I keep and I will DEFINITELY share [some] of my personal blog posts on the WKNC blog. ESPECIALLY the blogs that relate to my show!!

'Soulful Renaissance'

Saturday's at 8pm

Now with all of that being said...look out for about 4-5 different posts within the next....30mins??!!

Enjoy ;-)

DJ C.E.O! [Creatively Entertaing Others!]

~Peace & Soul~

JOCELYN ELLIS TICKET GIVE AWAY!!!

[TONIGHT] I will be giving away TWO TICKETS to see Jocelyn Ellis in Chapel Hill for Art Lifestyle!!

CALL 919.860.0881 OR 919.515.2400
WHEN I ANNOUNCE THE CALLER I'M LOOKING FOR AND I WILL GIVE YOU TWO TICKETS TO SEE JOCELYN ELLIS [LIVE] FOR VALENTINES DAY!!!!

Venue: Cafe Beyond, 128 E. Franklin, Chapel Hill

$15 for online tickets at [artlifestyle.info]

Doors open at 8, Showtime is 10pm.

The show will be opened by.Dasan Ahanu and Peace.

Hosted by The ArtLifestyle, the event features Wine Tasting, Body Art and Culinary Art

LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN!

~Peace & Soul~

Broadcasting DBB Night 2

Last night WKNC took over Friday Night Request Rock & Chainsaw to bring you live coverage of night 1 of the Double Barrel Benefit #6 from the Pour House in downtown Raleigh.  The show was a success, a massive sellout with a tremendous crowd and kickass music.  As the show will more than likely sellout tonight as well, we will once again be broadcasting the entire show live (trumping Saturday Night Soul and R&B and D-Cutta's 2.0 Show).

Broadcast starts after the Soulful Renaissance and will air until the completion of the concert.  If you can't get to the Pour House, feel free to rock on with us tonight over your radio or internet connection.

Doors open at 8pm and get there early as there is a limited number of tickets available at the door.  The show starts at 9pm.

Tonight's lineup includes: I Was Totally Destroying It, Violet Vector & the Lovely Lovelies, Birds of Avalon, & Polvo.

DBB Feature #6: Bowerbirds

Ever since the release of Hymns for a Dark Horse on local label Burlytime Records, Bowerbirds have been destined for big things. In short order, the record garnered glowing reviews from indie trendsetters Pitchfork Media and Prefix magazine and rose to the top of WKNC's indie rock charts. Within a year they were signed to big-time indie-folk imprint Dead Oceans (part of Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar) and went on to tour with the Mountain Goats. Simply put, the Bowerbirds rose through the ranks of the music world at a meteoric rate.

Bowerbirds' music is characterized by uniquely minimalist arrangements and melodies paired to stream-of-consciousness lyrics, and their debut LP is a concept album of sorts; its 12 songs discuss the conflicts of civilization versus the nature and humanity.

Naturally, with such material, you might consider Bowerbirds to be a 'cause band,' and, indeed, they tackle the subject of environmentalism with fairly blunt words. Through clever songwriting, though, they avoid the adversarial tone that so many bands with a cause seem to convey; instead, they radiate an earthy idealism that wouldn't seem too out of place in a Thoreau novel.

Nowhere is it more clear that Bowerbirds is an exceptional band than in concert. With even more sparce instrumentation than in thier album, they manage to create an even more full sound. They will be the final performers Friday night at the Double Barrel Benefit, taking the stage after Schooner.

Double Barrel Mystery Roach

This weekend is the 6th annual Double Barrel Benefit, our annual fund raising concert. We've got great lineups for both Friday and Saturday nights. So come down, have a beer, enjoy some great local music, and help support 88.1

Craig from Birds of Avalon, one of the great bands performing Saturday night, will be on Mystery Roach Saturday morning. We'll be listening to music from his collection and talking about life, the universe, and everything. (No, not the book, but who knows, it might come up too.)

So listen to Mystery Roach Saturday morning from 8-10 am then head on down to the Pour House to catch the second night of The Double Barrel Benefit.

See you there.

-La Barba Rossa

DBB Feature #5: I Was Totally Destroying It

When I was a kid, my dad would often take me for a ride in his Camaro, crank up the radio, and introduce me to some of his favorite bands, like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.  I'd sit there in the front seat, enthralled by the experience, and so began the long love affair with music that would eventually bring me to this station.

Perhaps as a result of those days, I've always had a soft spot for catchy, radio-friendly tunes, despite my proclivities towards the experimental and the eccentric.  After all, pop music is our culture's universal communicator: you can sing just about anything over a good melody and most of your listeners will understand exactly what you're trying to tell them.  That's some serious power.

And so we come to the titular topic of this article, I Was Totally Destroying It, a group who specializes in creating just that...  remarkably catchy and ambitious pop music.

As a grizzled veteran of college radio music direction, I've often found that aficionados of indie rock can turn a blind eye towards unabashedly poppy music that isn't either couched in brooding sentiment, sonic experimentalism, or profound lyricism.  IWTDI's music can indeed become brooding, experimental, and profound, but their guiding principle has always been about building strong melodies above all other elements.

The end result is refreshingly unpretentious and listenable, whether you're into Captain Beefheart or The Shins.  It comes with a strong pedigree too, featuring members of legendary Chapel Hill heavy rockers such as Sorry About Dresden and Strunken White.

So while you might not believe that pop music has a place in your collection, a quick listen to I Was Totally Destroying It's songbook could change your opinion.  Fortunately for you, they're opening up on Saturday at this year's edition of the Double Barrel Benefit, and if you've never seen them live, prepare yourself for an energy-filled experience you won't soon forget.

Until then, you can download their latest EP, Done Waiting, for free from their ReverbNation website, one of the best bargains you're liable to find in 2009.  As for us, we'll see you on Saturday.

WKNC Back on the Net! & Some Other Words

Last Night around 10pm WKNC's web server bottomed out and took a nose dive off of the cliff of life, no doubt due to an ecstasy overload caused by our Local Music Invasion.  WKNC webmaster DJ Bridges, our engineer Austin,  & Local Music Czar DJ Stevo spent the entire night resuscitating the website back to life in a miracle intensive care recovery.  If these fellows revive themselves in time to make it to the Double Barrel Benefit, please buy them a beer, bake them a cake, or give them a medal or something.  Bridges is still wandering the hallways in a haze, Im trying to send him home.

Because of our web problems, all blog posts from the last 2 days have been lost.  This means our DBB features on Birds of Avalon, Bowerbirds & Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, as well as several album reviews and promotional posts are no longer available.  There is not a definite timeline on getting these back up, but we will most certainly try, especially the DBB Features, which all of those bands more than deserve for playing at this years event.

In the meantime, if you have not been paying attention (or didn't read the blog that has since been deleted), yesterday & today on WKNC we will be airing ONLY local music through our airwaves to get everyone pumped for this years Double Barrel Benefit.  Its called the Local Music Invasion.  100% local music on Thursday's Daytime is going to carry over until today as we will air North Carolina tunes all the way through the Local Beat which ends at 8pm.

Then, beginning at 8pm, we will begin live broadcasting from the Pour House and will air the entire first night of Double Barrel Benefit in its entirety.  A live benefit show coming through our airwaves, nothing is better than that!

However, this will trump Friday Night Request Rock & Chainsaw this evening, but fear not, those shows will resume broadcasting once again next week.

Sports Revolution 2/3

The Sports Revolution talked about the N.C. State Women's team's first game back on the court following the passing of Kay Yow.  We heard from Stephanie Glance's post-game comments against BC.  Then the guys jumped into a conversation about the N.C. State men's team and their weekend game against that other school that wears pansy blue.  James and Preston sat on opposite sides of the room while they discussed Ben McCauley's hard/intentional (you decide) foul on UNC's Copeland.  The Rev went around the rest of the ACC talking Wake's win over Duke and monumental collapse against Georgia Tech.

Then it was time for Super Bowl wrap-up, the gang discussed their favorite commercials, the Boss' slide at halftime, and the Steelers last second win over the Cards.

Be sure to join the Revolution every week on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 pm and check out the blog and podcast of past shows as well. Let us know what you think! We want to hear from you, post on the blog, call us during the show 860-0881 and give us your thoughts!

sportsrev020309

DBB Feature #4: Lost in the Trees

If you've listened to WKNC with any frequency in the latter half of last year, you've undoubtedly heard Lost in the Trees. Lost in the Trees' critically acclaimed sophomore album, "All Alone in an Empty House" has been a favorite among WKNC's daytime DJs since it's release in September.

On "All Alone in an Empty House," Ari Picker, the principal member of the band, has perfected his unique form of orchestral folk. The record has some of the most beautiful music I've heard in a long time; it's mostly intensely personal melancholy ballads with lush orchestral instrumentation. Listening to the record can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride, but anyone that has a soul will appreciate the immense beauty of their music.

Ari Picker is a classically trained musician and a talented songwriter and nowhere is this more clear than when he performs live. My introduction to Lost in the Trees was their performance on the first day of the Troika Music Festival in Durham last year. I was immediately struck by the intensity and emotion of the music; I knew they would be one of my favorite bands. This is not a show you'll want to miss.

Lost in the Trees will be going on second behind Lonnie Walker this coming Friday, February 6th, for the sixth annual Double Barrel Benefit.  The house is sure to be packed early due to Lonnie Walker & also First Friday, so make sure you get a ticket and get in there to catch this fantastic 12 piece band for their entire set!

Rapper Big Pooh of Lil Brother Interview on 2/5/09 @ 12am

Rapper Big Pooh will be calling in to the DJ Nominal Late Nite Mix Show on Thursday at 12am. He as a new album that is about to be released entitled Delightful Bars. The set release date is February 10, 2009. Rapper Big Pooh currently has a new single out entitled The Comeback. Tune in to WKNC on Thursday morning to here more details.

88.1 WKNC Pick of the Week 2/3

Animal Collective releases best album yet
Seth White

Named after the famous Maryland venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion is Animal Collective's ninth record and its finest one to date.

It's hard to describe the sound of AC to someone who has never heard them. Their songs have only a thin layer of typical structure and enough melodic repetition that may turn away your average listener at first. But much like Radiohead's Kid A or Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot after a few listens your mind reaches past the barriers of traditional music and discovers the real genius ahead.

On its latest album, the band continues to experiment with all possible sounds blending psychedelic, electronic and progressive rock into new sounds all their own. "In the Flowers" but the turn it takes after that is what makes this album so special.

The vocals of Avey Tare (David Portner) and Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) then become reminiscent of The Beach Boys and The Beatles and combined with the high pitch synthesizer and the pulse beat drum welcome you to their own style.

The following track, "My Girls," captures of the essence of the album as a whole. It builds a slow start that rises to a peak that isn't there. Instead you are left drifting pleasantly from one note to the next until they slowly disappear. The lyrics, "There isn't much that I feel I need / A solid soul and the blood I bleed," retract to innocent childish ideas and routines, the overall theme.

"Summertime Clothes" starts out with a militaristic stomp which then glides to a catchy verse--chorus--verse outfit and back again. At the center of the song, the varied and competing vocals will cater to any of AC's former fans needs and will attract the attention of first time listeners.

The album ends on one of their best, "Brother Sport," a phenomenal upbeat closer about moving forward.

Animal Collective has continually changed their sound from one album to the next. Even though each album has been wonderful in it's own way, Merriweather Post Pavilion takes the cake by combining all the best previous elements together to find a perfect niche for the band.

Merriweather Post Pavilion won't catch everybody. Listeners who hear bits and pieces will be lost in confusion, but those who truly take the time to let this album run it's course will be left nothing short of inspired. And if nothing else at least take a look at the cool album artwork.

88.1 WKNC DJ Pick of the Week is published in every Tuesday print edition of the Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.

Annuals Performing at Schoolkids Today!

Need to recover from your Superbowl hangover and/or get over the Monday Blues? A possible remedy would be to check out the Annuals performing for free in studio at Schoolkids Records . Show starts at 6pm.

-The Promotions Team

Gettin Busy With Benzi pt. 2

Dj Benzi x Plain Pat x Kanye West: Sky High - A We Got The Remix Special Edition

After teasing fans with a streaming preview that was available for only one day, the finished product is finally available for download! Sky High features 21 Kanye tracks that have been remixed by top-notch producers and mixed by DJ Benzi. The first half of Sky High has hip hop sound while the last half has a more electronic feel. So after you finish breakin your neck to the first half of the mixtape, go ahead and diversify your bonds with the electronic sound of the latter half.

Favortie Tracks: Sky High (remix) ft. Kid Cudi, Good Morning (The Kickdrums Remix), Champion (Nick Catchdubs Remix), Flashing Lights (Diplo Remix), Addiction (Kenny Dope Remix), Electric Touch (Steve 1der & Mighty Mi Remix), Love Lockdown (Tom Wrecks Remix), Homecoming (Discotech Remix), I Wonder (Scottie B Remix)

Gettin Busy With Benzi

If you are familiar with Dj Benzi then you know that most of his mixtapes are best described as re-mixtapes. Fear and Loathing in Huntsvegas, The New Deal and Sky High are some of Benzi's latest projects. I'll talk about Sky High in part 2 of "Gettin Busy With Benzi" since it can also be categorized under Afterhours.

Fear and Loathing In HuntsVegas - We Got The Remix: Special Edition

DJ Benzi and producer, Diplo, hook up with Paper Route Records (see the Fader Magazine article from October 2008) to create what has to be one of the best mixtapes of 2008: Fear and Loathing In HuntsVegas. This special version contains remixes by Diplo, Emynd, and The Knocks.

My favorite remixed tracks include Rollin (Diplo Remix) by Jackie Chain ft. Jhi Ali which features a haunting sample taken from KRS-One's Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight). Bama Gettin Money (Diplo Remix) by PRGz and Soul Glo (The Knocks Remix) by PRGz are equally addictive. (hear the original mixes of Rollin and Bama Gettin Money featured in Fader Magazine.)

The original instrumentals hold their own against the remixes and, in some cases, surpass them. Travelin by Dawgy Baggz ft. Money Addict & B. Dewitt, Shots by Untamed ft. Dawgy Baggz and Grind Baby by X.O all boast innovative instrumentals. Mali Boy ,the producer of the original tracks, deserves just as many props as Benzi. For a relatively amateur producer, his instrumentals are damn good.

While not the most socially-conscious compilation of music, Dj Benzi's blends along with mind-blowing instrumentals guarantee an hour of non-stop head nodding.

Dj Benzi x 10 Deep: The New Deal

The New Deal is Dj Benzi's latest collabo with 10 Deep. Does anyone know what exactly 10 Deep is? I thought it was a clothing brand but apparently they produce mixtapes too. Go figure. Anyway Dj Benzi does it again along with ridiculously bangin instrumentals! The mixtape is studded with star power, featuring Wale, Kidz In The Hall, Kanye West, Charles Hamiliton, Blu, Skyzoo and so many more.

My favorite tracks are Party Works by Donnis, 2nd Time Around by Wale ft. Brother Ali, Cool, Relax by Kidz In The Hall ft. Jay Electronica and (yet another) Rollin (Remix) by Jackie Chain ft. Kid Cudi.

This joint has a little something for everyone, from the hardcore Underground heads to the Baltimore Club fiends.

Ticket Giveaways Feb 1st- 7th

WKNC's Promotions Team is coming at you with some awesome ticket giveaways! Listen in all week to win tickets to the following shows:




Citizen Cope playing Feb 2nd and 3rd  (Lincoln Theater)

Brett Dennen with Angel Taylor playing Feb 5th (Cats Cradle)

Toubab Krewe playing Feb 6th (Cats Cradle)

Appetite For Destruction playing Feb 6th (Lincoln Theater)




Bob Marley 8th Annual Birthday Bash Featuring Mickey Mills and Steel, Jamrock, Chalwa, Joel Keel, and Cayenne The Lion King playing Feb 7th (Cats Cradle)

*Special Movie Pass*- The Dark Knight at IMAX (Good Through April 9th!)

Don't forget to check the Rockreport for other great shows!

The Promotions Team

Slipknot- Scaring Up Greensboro

Love them or hate them, either way they're coming to NC! With their homemade Halloween masks and industrial jumpsuits, they will be making their appearance Monday- February 9th at the Greensboro Coliseum at 7pm. Luckily for you, KNC has tickets to giveaway. So tune in, suit up, and listen to the Revolution to win your pair!

-Promotions Team