The Post Rock Block Presents Goodbye, Titan at DIVEbar

The Post Rock Block is presenting Goodbye, Titan with No Eyes and The Revolutionary Sweethearts on Saturday, Sept. 8 at DIVEbar at 10PM. This event will not require a Hopscotch wristband, but it's still close to all the action of downtown being located on Glenwood South -- and free.

Goodbye, Titan will also drop by the studio during The Post Rock Block 7-8PM this Sunday, Sept. 2, to speak more on their upcoming show, new songs and Hopscotch festivities.

WKNC Interviews Dom/ Acoustic Performance of "Jesus"

This past Monday, the members of Dom loaded into our studio and borrowed some acoustic guitars from WKNC DJs. What followed was an interesting interview that comes at the head of the band's upcoming Family of Love EP, out August 9th on Astralwerks. Check out some of the interview below to hear the band's take on playing the Sydney Opera House with Cate Blanchett, chilling with Gucci Mane, and what's next for the indie rockers. In addition, be sure to give a listen to their acoustic version of "Jesus," as recorded in the WKNC studios!

Jesus - Dom (Acoustic Studio Performance):

Jesus (Acoustic)- Dom

Dom Interview:

Dom Interview

Avi Buffalo Interviews, Plays Unreleased Song

This past Sunday, Avi Buffalo brought an assortment of instruments into WKNC's studios for a special acoustic performance and short interview. The band is best known for its 2010 hit, "What's In It For," and the band is once again busy at work. They've recently released a 7" featuring "How Come," a new single.

Check below for their acoustic performance of this track as performed in our studios, as well as an unreleased track, "Won't Be Around No More." An interview with DJ Don of Time follows, where you can hear the band discuss touring Europe (it's really old), influences, and the struggles of touring!

 

How Come- Avi Buffalo (Acoustic Studio Performance):

How Come

Won't Be Around No More- Avi Buffalo (Acoustic Studio Performance)

Won't Be Around No More

Avi Buffalo Interview

Avi Buffalo Interview With Don Of Time

 

Troubel Visits Americana, Blues, and Co. for an In-Studio Interview

Troubel is a budding local folk/bluegrass band comprised of former members of Carolina Roadkill.  Two members, Adam and Anna (soon to both be Walton), came in to Americana, Blues, and Company on July 23 for a short interview and to play a few songs for us.  Below you can find our discussions about local music, influences, and how we all got into bluegrass as well as performances of  "Darlin", off their first album The Mountains. The Broken.,  and an unreleased song, "Lost at Sea".  Troubel is on tour throughout the first few weeks of August -- come check them out!  They are definitely a band to keep on your radar.

Check out the interview:

Troubel Live In Studio 1

Troubel Live in Studio 2

Troubel -- Live in Studio 3

Troubel -- Live in studio 4

Delta Rae Interview with DJ Elly May

Delta Rae dropped by the WKNC studios on Tuesday, July 26 to talk with their old friend DJ Elly May. The band shared stories from the road, previewed their upcoming shows supporting Carbon Leaf  and talked about using Kickstarter to fund the recording of their first full-length album.

Listen to the full interview, including their songs "If I Loved You," "Deliver" and "No Land."

Delta Rae Interview

Delta Rae performs Friday, July 29 at The Pour House. Their next Triangle date is August 26 at Casbah in Durham.

 

DJ Ones and John Interview Hooray for Earth

Earlier this year, Hooray For Earth released their first proper LP "True Loves," an album characterized by loud, sharp synths and poppy vocals. Prior to their performance at King's Barcade for Deja Mi, the band was kind enough to stop by the WKNC studios for an interview.

We've uploaded the audio in its entirety for you to listen to here! Hear what the band had to say about filming the music video for "True Loves," their upcoming September concert with Cymbals Eat Guitars at Local 506, and the thrills of sleep exhaustion while on tour!

 

Hooray For Earth Interview

 

DJ Mason Interviews Washed Out

This past Wednesday, WKNC had the unique opportunity to interview Ernest Greene, frontman for Washed Out. The band is credited by some as a pioneer of the chillwave genre. Washed Out's song "Feel It All Around" has been featured as the theme music for IFC tv show "Portlandia," and its most recent album "Within and Without" is rising in the college radio charts. Pitchfork awarded the album a rating of 8.3, naming it "Best New Music." In addition, the LP landed a spot as WKNC's 27th most played this past week. Washed Out will be touring with Cut Copy this September and will make a stop at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro.

DJ Mason Interviews Washed Out

Listen to the interview above to hear Washed Out's take on the Atlanta music scene, the sensual cover to "Within and Without," finding saxophone players on Craigslist, and more!

 

 

DJ Elly May Interviews Liz Janes

On Saturday afternoon, June 25, I had the opportunity to interview singer-songwriter Liz Janes.  We discussed motherhood, music-making, and no-bake pies, and she so graciously filled us in on her plans for the future.  To hear the whole interview and all its exciting details, check out the link below!

Liz Janes Interview

DJ Ones interviews Sarah Jaffe

Recently I had the chance to talk to Sarah Jaffe before her show at Local 506. We discussed everything from her current tour, to the recent re-release of her 2008 EP Even Born Again. Sarah mentioned everything from how she started, to her time with Kirtland Records, and labels reaction to the success of her debut album Suburban Nature. We also had the chance to talk about the process behind recording her upcoming EP The Way Sound Leaves a Room and her next full length. Listen to the full interview below!

 

Sarah Jaffe Interview

WKNC Interviews Interpol

Interpol is on tour, and they are Cat's Cradle is presenting their stop at Disco Rodeo this Wednesday, May 4. Hurricane Julia had the opportunity to interview Daniel, the guitarist and backing vocalist for the band. Listen to her interview below and find out about the "New York sound", music Interpol is listening to, Bono's sunglasses, and much more!

Interpol Interview with Hurricane Julia

Local Beat Mini Exclusive: The Huguenots

The Huguenots have been getting airplay on WKNC for nearly four years now, but the group has yet to release anything official but some spare demos. That is until April 8, when the group is putting out their first LP. The Huguenots are known for the super poppy and upbeat music they seem to craft effortlessly and their enjoyable live shows, but finally, the band will release some tangible music. Founding member York Howie came in to represent the band and share a couple unheard tracks from the upcoming album. It had been awhile since I interviewed the Huguenots, so we caught up and took a look back at where it all began at UNC Asheville. York was a wonderful guest and gave us an insightful look into the recording of the album and told us how it all came together.

The Huguenots: Local Beat Mini Exclusive

You can catch the Huguenots at their album release show at the Local 506 on April 8 where they are playing with the Tomahawks. Tickets are $6

Local Beat Mini Exclusive: A Rooster For The Masses

It has been quite some time since A Rooster for the Masses put out a new album, but the popular local group is doing just that on April 15 at Kings Barcade when they release their third and newest LP No One Is Ready. Still upbeat with a touch of disco and an air of reggae, ARFTM has certainly kept the same vibe with this record as their past discs, and that is a wonderful thing.  Founding member Adam Eckhardt and myself shared a brief 30 minute conversation where he reflected on the history of the band and its current state as well as the new album. We also listened to several new tracks including "No One Is Ready," "Make Much Sense," "At The Gates," and "Die By Day." Give it a listen below:

A Rooster For The Masses: Local Beat Mini Exclusive

The doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. Greensboro-based Decoration Ghost and Raleigh favorites River City Ransom are also playing. Tickets are $6 online and $8 at the door.

DJ Elly May interviews Delta Rae!

East Coast touring mavens Delta Rae stopped by the WKNC studio on the morning of Tuesday, March 1 to chat with DJ Elly May.  They talked about what it's like to be on the road, their "GRAET Mondays" campaign, upcoming shows and the story behind their song "Ooh, Caroline."  Delta Rae also performed "Ooh, Caroline" and "Bottom of the River."  Listen to the full interview and performance below.

Delta Rae Interview

Eddy B and Tim Gunter on Afterhours

On Feb. 2, Spoons had the opportunity to talk with North Carolina duo Eddy B and Tim Gunter. The debut mixtape from the rapper and producer is "Dear North Carolina, Welcome Back."

Afterhours Interview with Eddy B and Tim Gunter

Interview with GWAR!

This is the Noobhammer, and I bring you a gift from the universe! It is my interview with the Scumdog who lives in Antarctica. I am of course talking about the one and only Oderus Urungus of GWAR! Listen to us talk about bloody pits, Doctor Who, and whores.

GWAR! Interview

-Noobhammer

Interview With The Amazing Devin Townsend

Greetings Metalheads,

The Noobhammer here to post an interview I did with the great Devin Townsend Friday, December 10. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting other interviews on the blog, so here is the first of many. We discussed Ghost, Deconstruction, writing music, and much more. Enjoy!

Devin Townsend Meets The Noobhammer!

Robert Earl Keen's WKNC Interview

Robert Earl Keen gave Sweet Annie Rich a call and, in spite of Sweet Annie Rich's technology issues, gave a spectacular interview.  He talked about his time at a big Ag university (Texas A&M) similar to NCSU, his favorite song lyrically, and how touring with Reckless Kelly and the Randy Rogers Band is just a mix of "all the right ingredients."

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Local Beat Interviews Troika

This coming Friday on the Local Beat I am dedicating two hours of the show to Troika Music Festival.  Of course by the time the interview airs the festival will be well underway since it is beginning tonight.  Melissa Thomas and Stuart Horne came in to pre-record the interview with me earlier in the week and I felt that it was important to share our conversation before Friday evening and before Troika begins.  Among many things we chatted about the history of the event, compared it to Hopscotch, and discussed what is going on differently in this years festival.  Give it a listen below:

Troika on the Local Beat 11/5/10

Troika on Twitter

Troika on Facebook

Local Beat preview 10/15/10

This coming Friday on the Local Beat will be another fantastic evening as I will be joined by several different guests.

5 p.m. brings in one of my favorite groups in the area, Carrboro folksters Mandolin Orange, coming on to promote an upcoming show at the Local 506. The show is this Saturday, October 16, with Greg Humphreys. It should make for a fascinating concert on Saturday but also some great conversation and live radio Friday evening.

Check out the interview I had with Emily and Andrew of Mandolin Orange back in April:
Mandolin Orange on the Local Beat 4/9/10

And I also interview Greg Humphreys recently as well:
Greg Humphreys on the Local Beat 10/1/10

At 6 p.m., Gray Young is coming back on the show once again to talk about their brand new album. If you recall the group came in back in early August before the album was ready to be released. Staysail is going to be released on October 23 at the Pour House, and we will talk about that in full.

For the final hour of the show, local hip-hop star King Mez is dropping by with ex DJ Big Fat Sac and several other representatives of the Cooke Street Carnival that is being held this Saturday on Cooke Street in downtown Raleigh. We will be talking about the festival and catching up with the King.

Local Beat recap 10/1/10

Two weeks ago on the Local Beat was a full evening of fantastic interviews featuring some amazing musicians in our area.

Greg Humphreys has been making music locally for over two decades now. His newest and second solo album Realign Your Mind has been available for download for a couple months but only recently has he put the album out on CD. Greg came in and chatted with us about his history in the area and his evolution as a musician. In addition, Greg played several brand new tracks, which you can listen to and download in the music player to the right.  Listen to our interview below:
Greg Humphreys on the Local Beat 10/1/10


Songs of Water is a band out of Greensboro, and I am not afraid to say they have taken the top position as my favorite new band with their incredible release of The Sea Has Spoken, which came out earlier this year. Only three of the eight members made the trip down I-40 but that was plenty as they brought so many instruments into the studio, one could hardly walk around. We only had a short time with the group as it took them several minutes to set up but check out the amazing songs they played for us live:
Songs of Water on the Local Beat 10/1/10


Maria Albani (Schooner, Organos), John Harrison (North Elementary), Drew Robertson (Phon), and Lincoln Hancock (Strange) came in to present Minus Sound Research, a visual art exhibition featuring works from only North Carolina musicians that is going on throughout the month of October at the Carrboro Arts Center. This interview turned out to be one of the most hilarious and entertaining I have had in awhile so be sure to give it a listen:
Minus Sound Research on the Local Beat 10/1/10