Must See Shows For This Week (1/14-1/20)

This week is going to be a great one for shows in the Triangle, but it could involve some tough decisions on certain nights.  Check out some of the best shows listed below and many more listed in the Rock Report.

 
Tuesday, January 15th- Spider Bags and Gross Ghost at The Pinhook, 9pm

These bands are two of the best acts in the area both live and on the record.  Gross Ghost released their Grip Tapes' debut "Brer Rabbit" in March of last year and showing that in their several years of existence they have already crafted a sound of their own.  This diverse album features hints of lo-fi garage rock, 90's era indie rock, as well as some influences 60's pop-rock.  Last year they were seen playing all over the Triangle, but most notably at WKNC's 9th Double Barrel Benefit and the 3rd annual Hopscotch Music Festival where their music lit-up the audience.  They are followed up by Spider Bags.  Spider Bags are beginning to become a household name in the North Carolina.  They are known for their incredibly energetic live shows that will leave your ears ringing for days.  Their latest effort has been receiving a lot of national attention including an 8.1 review on Pitchfork as well as sitting number 1 atop PopMatters' Top Overlooked Albums of 2012.  This is a show that you don't want to miss.

 
Thursday, January 17th- Birds and Arrows with Katherine Whalen at Tir Na nOg, 10pm

Katherine Whalen of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame is back at it again.  Her solo work is often labeled under the title of "folk music," but her new sound encompasses so much more.  Her new album titled "Madly Love" has something there for everyone.  Birds and Arrows are an incredible act that were seen at last year's Double Barrel Benefit.  The trio's folky sound led by a cello appeals to every audience  with their well-perfected live show.  The trio has well stood the test of time in an area that has seen many folk acts come and go.  It is amazing to see three people translate such intricate music perfectly to the stage.  This is a show is a folk-lovers' paradise and a great introduction to anyone else.

 
Friday, January 18th- Bleeding Rainbow and Jenny Besetzt at Duke Coffeehouse , 9pm

If you have yet to go to a show at Duke Coffeehouse, there is no better time.  The atmosphere there always makes for the most energetic and intimate shows.  Greensboro natives Jenny Besetzt open up the night.  Jenny Besetzt are a brand new band who have exploded onto the local music scene.  They turned many heads when they performed at last year's Hopscotch Music Festival as well many different shows all around the Triangle.  Their debut LP "Only" dropped this past October.  Their sound is a fusion of dream-pop and shoegaze with a punch which they describe as "dream-punk."  The night ends with indie-pop quartet Bleeding Rainbow out of Philly.  This band has only released a handful of 7 inches, but with their debut album due out at the end of this month their are bound to break big.  With several different tracks being reviewed by Pitchfork and the like, they have created quite a buzz for themselves.  This is bound to be an amazing show that you do not want to miss.

 
Friday, January 18th- Annuals with The Lollipops and  Eros and the Eschaton at Local 506, 9pm

This night starts up with the great Greensboro husband-wife duo Eros and the Eshaton.  Their sound falls somewhere between shoegaze and dream-pop.  This new act has been turning heads opening for many different acts over the past year.  They are followed up by The Lollipops.  This lo-fi indie pop bedroom project of Iggy Cosky has expanded into a full band project and exploded onto the scene in the past year with their numerous recordings.  Their live shows have proven themselves time and time again to be just as fun as their songs.  The night ends with the always entertaining Annuals.  Annuals' name speak for themselves.  This 6-piece indie pop group out of Raleigh have been a household name in the Triangle since the release of their critically acclaimed debut in 2006.  They have been known for their energetic live shows.  If you have not seen them yet, there is no better chance then with this great supporting cast.

Miniature Tigers at Local 506, 9/11

This past weekend was packed with shows, due to Hopscotch Music Festival taking over downtown Raleigh.  Sunday, a day of rest for many who attended the festival, still had its fair share of great acts.  Cat's Cradle was hosting two shows, at its own venue and at Local 506.  After a long day at work, I got on I-40 and headed out toward the other side of the Triangle.

Walking into the club from Franklin Street, I realized I made it just in time for Miniature Tigers' first song.  The show started out strong, with great vocal lines atop a poppy, guitar-driven melody.  As the first couple of songs passed, the crowd seemed enthused.  About three or four songs in, the melodic pop started to become more synth-driven, and the crowd responded with some ridiculously nerdy and fun dance moves.  Toward the end of the 45-ish minute set, the band played their most popular song, Bullfighter Jacket, to which the crowd responded in a quite unexpected way: a small mosh pit started a few feet away from me.  Bizarre, right?  With a few more songs (including my personal favorite, Gold Skull, which was produced by Neon Indian's Alan Palomo), the band finished up their set, played an extremely well received, two-song encore, and invited everyone in the audience to say hi at the merge booth.

Throughout the show, Charlie Brand, the singer and guitarist, was positive and happy.  He talked between songs about how Chapel Hill had become a sort of home away from home (which our station adviser can attest to...she's seen the band seven or eight times!).  He also stated that the band was going to take a break to record and spend time with their families, and that this would be their last show for a while.  I think we have good things to look forward to from Miniature Tigers in a couple months; if they focus on keeping their sound interesting, I'm sure the new album will be well-received!

A few side-notes:  Local 506, as always, was great.  The ticket salesperson was friendly, and the sound was not muddled in the slightest.  Every instrument could be distinctly heard, even when standing right next to the  stage!  Though I didn't get off work in time to see the opening bands, I heard promising things about both The Grapes' indie rock and Lilac Shadows' shoegaze pop.  From what my friends said, I think both bands have potential that hasn't been realized yet.

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

 

Beauty with Bill Callahan

I speed.  I park just before 9 p.m., and I arrive at Local 506 just after.  Plenty of driving.  I'm tired.  I just want to see Bill Callahan.  I adore this man, his music, and basically all that he is.  Easily, I find him about as cool as I have yet been able to deem anyone.  I present my membership card and I.D., and I explain that I am there to represent WKNC.  "I'm on the list" - only they don't have my name.  They don't have any of the names that WKNC sent in.  Phone-in winners?  DJ pass?  Nope.  I'm starting to feel this experience slipping away from me, but I contact our promotions director, have emails forwarded, admire the convenience of the technology in my hand, and all is settled.  So that's sort of my spiel on life before my first Bill Callahan show.  I include it only because I think it contributed to my experience - to the choice of words that I'm about to let flow.  Now, my spiel on music.

I'm in. I'm super appreciative to be there, but a little later than I prefer to be.  Maybe a little bummed that my position isn't the one I usually try to earn with early attendance.  As I walk in past the bar, though, and hear Ed Askew... and see him... I become instantly invested.  He gently sings, almost speaks, his lyrics.  Otherwise, all he plays is the harmonica.  After the first song, he discusses some experimentation he'd done with "seventh chords" (and I scoot to the front into quite a spacious spot three feet from the stage).  Ed asks the keyboardist (his only accompaniment on stage) to play a C major and then play it again adding the "seventh chord."  The man on keys has no idea.

That holds as symbolic of my experience with Ed Askew.  He is an artist;  He went to Yale in the '60s;  He is a distinguished liver.  Both the words of his songs and the words in between them came from experience, as he made clear ("So yeah, this song is a true story.").  One song would almost sound like "Claire de Lune," but it would spin off with a playful riff.  One song, my favorite from him, was inspired by Gertrude Stein's poem "Sacred Emily" ("A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose").  The latter was the only song that featured anything but a keyboard or harmonica - Ed's voice was accompanied by the softness of a ukulele.

The keyboard sounded a little too electronic for me, though it may have been attempting to convey Ed's original editions which featured a harpsichord.  When he finishes: applause, real applause/appreciation, and he responds to that applause/appreciation with an encore - one song.  It's a real encore - not planned or schemed into the performance like encores tend to be nowadays.  Overall, Ed Askew had character.  He had the sort of quarks that make people characters, but he also had the qualities that are included in the common concept of "good" character.  He was a character with character: equal to my expectation of someone worthy to be associated with Bill Callahan.  He left a light and happy mood in the room.  Children could co-exist, and they were actually children - not the immature-in-all-ages I've been seeing at good shows lately.  Beards were being complimented.  It was nice.

The playlist in between performances was good.  Bravo to you, Local 506.

Now.  Bill Callahan.  I will not explain him as much because, to me, there wasn't a new understanding that was formed.  My experience amidst Bill Callahan was more of an appreciation/realization of an already possessed understanding.  Bill is cool.  I cannot help but admire him, his music, and basically all that he is.  His music is orchestrated.  What the impatient and noise-needy ignore is that his music is orchestrated.  To some it seems simple, but that "simplicity" is, to me, a calm complexity.  He, with only a classical guitar and a few harmonicas, produces beauty.  His fingers are active and so intentional.  His voice... steady; and so much more, but you decide those adjectives for yourself.  Live, his music is clean and expressive.  His performance brings to life what may seem flat or even silly in an album ("America!" - that song was brilliant live).

Matt Kinsey sat in with his SG and supplied the bright guitar riffs that could swim with the whammy, stretched strings, and maybe a pedaled effect; or, he could just pick along with Bill.  He was splendid.  Sometimes his role was simple, but sometimes... sometimes he operated - exacting between strings and levels.

Neal Morgan on the drums was perfectly additive.  He was not only rhythm, and he didn't consistently call attention, but if you watched him, if you appreciated the little things he was doing,  it was truly a delight.  He blew up at one point.  It wasn't exactly a solo, but he went for it and made it.  Masterfully, simply, he rocked.

They opened with "Riding for the Feeling" (top song of the year?), played much of the new album (Apocalypse), and some old 'n goodies (...Smog..!).  It was all welcome.  Some songs called exact attention to the lyrics.  Some songs guided my thoughts to important things.  They played like ten songs in almost two hours.  A solid minute or more of genuine applause brought them out for a one song encore.  They played "The Well."  I loved it all.

Afterthought: it was a little warm.

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

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 Roundtable: Series 2 preview 10/29/10

Tonight on the Local Beat we begin our second installment of the Local Beat Roundtable Series.  If you remember from back in August when we had our first in the roundtable discussions with Betsy Harris, Karen Mann, Jake Seaton, Linnie Green, and Bryan Reed the focus on these roundtable discussions is not to focus on the music that make up our scene but the people who promote it and document it.

This evening we are having several exemplary characters in on the program for what should turn out to be some great conversation.

Ross Grady has been the most prominent local music documenter probably ever in our region.  It seems his dedication to the scene knows no bounds.  In addition to running Triangle Rock and starting up Alt Music Chapel Hill Ross is also the guardian of his radio program on WXDU that happens every Sunday from 4pm-6pm.  Be sure to listen in on 88.7 or stream it live on the internet!

Ryan Sweeney is another radio personality who was the general manager at 89.3 WSOE in 2009.  He is now living in Cary and the Director of Communications at the popular website Choose Local Music.  In addition to other things Ryan is a great local music connoisseur who should have plenty to share.

Glenn Boothe is the main man at one of the most significant local venues in the Triangle, the Local 506 in Chapel Hill.   Commonly the central hub of local music in our area, the Local 506 is commonly mentioned by bands and fans alike as their favorite place to watch live music in our area.   I can't wait to chat with Glenn about his thoughts on the music in our area.

Another music venue owner, Chris Tamplin is stopping by.  Chris was the main organizer for Local Beer Local Band and booked shows at Tir Na Nog before starting his own venture with Durham's newest local venue, Motorco.  Chris should have some fascinating insight into the different cities and their relationships to the music surrounding them among other things.

Eric Chen is also dropping by.  You might have heard Eric on WXYC for nine years or seen him at many Hammer No More The Fingers shows (as well as others) with his video camera in tote.  Eric has been documenting the music in our area for some time now and I am sure he will have plenty to add to our convseration.  Check out his Vimeo Account here.


Hammer No More the Fingers + Phil Cook @ Trekky House 5/24/10 from Eric Chen on Vimeo.

It is certainly a special treat to have each of these amazing individuals on the show all at once.  It is not going to be a Local Beat you will want to miss.  Be sure to tune in at 5pm on 88.1 or listen live online.  Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and ReverbNation.

Active Child on WKNC tomorrow at 11 AM

The man behind the haunting, spacey synth-pop of Active Child, Pat Grossi, will be calling in to WKNC tomorrow, October 19, for a live interview at 11 a.m. Tune in to hear about where Grossi's musical interest started, how (or if) his choir experience has influenced his music, and more.

Active Child plays tomorrow night at Local 506 in Chapel Hill with School of Seven Bells.

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.

Turbo Fruits’ Jonas Stein Chats It Up With Elly May

Jonas Stein of Turbo Fruits called in this morning and took some time to tell me what the band's been up to and what's coming up in the future.  There were some technical difficulties in trying to get the phone interview set up correctly, but Jonas was gracious and patient enough to stick around. He announced that the band will be producing a series of 7" vinyl (and digital) collector's singles over the next year on their Turbo Time label. At the end of the series, they'll be releasing a full-length album of the singles. He also talked about the Bruise Cruise Festival the band will be playing in February. It's a  three day Caribbean cruise with a fantastic lineup of garage rock bands including Turbo Fruits, Black Lips, Vivian Girls, The Strange Boys, and more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P5QWOa7i9M

We also discussed more general topics such as whether Jonas felt that being based in Nashville had affected the band's sound. He said it was more about the environment (people, places, outdoors, etc.) than the city specifically itself, but he did say "if we were from California, we probably wouldn't sound the way we do." About touring, Jonas said it was "like going to war in a time of peace." I also asked whether there was a back-story for the unique video for "Naked With You." Apparently, it involved hunting down an unknown cute girl in Chicago at the last minute and her being willing to make a sexy but strange music video. I'd say it worked for the best.

Turbo Fruits will be playing tomorrow, Wednesday, September 8 at Local 506 in Chapel Hill.

Turbo Fruits to slow down for an interview with WKNC

Nashville-based rock band Turbo Fruits will be calling in for a phone interview with me, DJ Elly May, around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7. The interview comes before the band's performance at Local 506 on September 8. We'll be discussing the band's inspiration, their experiences on the road, where they're headed in the future, and how they feel about the state of indie rock. If there's a question you want answered, leave a comment and let me know!

Local Beat preview 8/21/10

This week's Local Beat is going to be the first in a while with live music as all three of the bands coming in plan on playing some tunes for us on the air.

Carrboro group Max Indian is kicking things off at 5 p.m. to promote their show at the Local 506 on August 27. Max Indian is playing less and less these days, so I plan on asking them about the group's recent happenings and chat with them about their upcoming gig during Hopscotch.

Twelve Thousand Armies is the closest band we have in the area that represents a cult following as their music has largely been missed due to lack of promotion and live shows, and I am excited to welcome them on the program at 6p .m. They are also playing the Local 506 on the 27th with Max Indian and The Houston Brothers. It will be their first interview on WKNC—who just twisted the band's arm to finally get a hold of their album that came out awhile back—and I am sure many of you have been hearing constantly since.

At 7 p.m., Asheville artist Darien will be jumping on board to promote several upcoming shows in our area. Darien is relatively unknown around our region, but that has been quickly changing with her last release, Theorem, which came out on Alive and Well back in March. Darien has a busy couple of weeks in the area that include five shows in the Triangle between now and September 3.





As always, the fun starts at 5 p.m. and will last until 8 p.m.! Don't worry if you miss it as all interviews are put on the WKNC blog following the show. Be sure to follow the Local Beat on Twitter or Facebook and download tons of free local music on our ReverbNation page!

This Week's Fantastic Giveaways

This week we have a lot of cool stuff to give away!



We have tickets to The Stone Temple Pilots with The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on October 5 at The Raleigh Amphitheatre and  Sound Tribe System 9 at The Raleigh Amphitheatre on August 25.



We have tickets to Warpaint on August 18 at The Local 506.



On August 19, we have tickets to Cockabilly Roadshow at The Pour House and Lou Barlow At Cat's Cradle.



On August 20, we have tickets to Jack the Radio at Slim's, Chatham County Line at Fletcher Theatre, and The Design at The Pour House.

On August 21, we have tickets to Malarkey Gras ft. American Aquarium at The Pour House.

DON'T FORGET THAT WE HAVE MOVIE TICKETS TO:

The Other Guys, Scott Pilgrim v. The World, and The Expendables

Keep Listening to WKNC for these giveaways and more!

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!

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.

Roman Candle at the Cradle Tonight

It takes a lot for me to leave the comfort zone that is Raleigh -- especially on a weeknight. I have a professor from Michigan who advises us against going to Ohio unless we have to ("but why would you have to go to Ohio, anyway?"). Well, Chapel Hill is my Ohio.  Big Ten rivalries aside, I've just mentally turned driving over to the 506 or the Nightlight or the Cradle into being a pain in the ass.  Spoiled, I believe, would be the word of choice.







Either way, tonight's an exception: Roman Candle is rolling back into town to play the Cradle.  My introduction to local music came only a few years ago, after Roman Candle had already packed up and left town.  Friends tell me of when some current Drughorse Collective members were in the band circa Wee Hours Revue, but alas, stories of that era are all I have.

We're lucky, though, that Roman Candle still relishes its Chapel Hill (errr, Carrboro?) days and makes sure to come back through the area.  In fact, in the past 6 months we've had the chance to see them in two somewhat unique settings: NC State's Homecoming concert on campus and at everyone's favorite Double Barrel Benefit 7.  And both times, they have been an absolute joy to watch, mixing their older tunes with those off of Oh Tall Tree in the Ear and openly gushing over how good it its to be back in the area.  At the homecoming show, they opened with "They Say" but countered with oldie-but-goodie "Baby's Got It In the Genes" as the DBB opener.

Tonight they'll be playing with The Parson Red Heads and The Ravenna Colt, both of whom I'm relatively unfamiliar with but excited to see.  And most importantly, you won't find a nicer group of people than the Mathenies, who actually graced us with an in-studio interview back in November.

So, long story short, what else are you doing on a Wednesday night? See you there!

(Oh, and be sure to check out Skip Matheny's "Drinks With" interview series with guests Arctic Monkeys, Alejandro Escovedo, Elvis Costello, Jason Isbell and many more...)

Local Beat Mini Exclusive: Drughorse One EP

You may or may not have heard of the local music collective that calls itself Drughorse. If you haven't, this may be due to the fact it is not one group, but rather a collaborative of several different local bands. Mount Moriah, The Love Language, Twelve Thousand Armies, Josh Moore, The Tomahawks, plus others all claim to be a part of this mysterious and secret gang of musicians. However, it seems the veil is slowly being lifted as a Drughorse EP is hits the streets tonight at the Local 506 in the form of an EP called Drughorse One.  Only three bands are presented on the EP, The Light Pines, Max Indian, and Ryan Gustafson.  It makes for an excellent Local Beat Mini Exclusive.

Carter Gaj of Max Indian and Tom Simpson of the Light Pines came in to chat with me about this new six-song EP as well as the Drughorse "Cartel." The guys played four covers of songs by 4 different Drughorse associated bands, which are free to download at the Local Beat ReverbNation page and you can listen to them to the right in the music player. Album artwork, the recording of the EP, and details to certain songs were all topics of conversation. I also spent a great deal trying to pry and gather details about this mysterious musical franchise from the fellas but didn't find out very much -- just that it seems to be a bunch of amazing musicians who hang out and share bands with each other. It is a seemingly exclusive club and begs interest and intrigue to all outsiders. The new EP is absolutely fabulous and will leave you begging for the new Drughorse related albums set to be released this coming year.

Take a listen to the interview:
Local Beat Mini Exclusive: Drughorse One

Be sure to head out to the Local 506 tonight. Doors are opening around 9 p.m. and it only costs $7!

Miniature Tigers Interview Friday, 3/12 at 3 p.m.

Indie rock/pop band Miniature Tigers will swing by the WKNC studios this Friday for an interview with Dr. J and DJ Audity. The group joins Acrylics as support for The Morning Benders that evening at Local 506 in Chapel Hill before they head down to Austin to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day at the South by Southwest music conference and festival.

Miniature Tigers released their first full-length album Tell it to the Volcano in 2008. MusicRemedy reports the band will release its second full-length album, FORTRESS, June 1 on Modern Art Records.

Local Beat recap 2/26/10

Because of WKNC broadcasting NC State Baseball once more this Spring, last Friday was the last live airing of the Local Beat for an entire month.  Nevertheless, it was a good one with three hours of some solid local music interviews.

Traffic on I-40 was terrible as Chapel Hill group Feeding the Fire got caught up and came in 25 minutes late.  However, when they finally did arrive we had a lot to talk about since they are releasing their first full length album since becoming a band back in 2003, titled DisInfoNation.  We talked about the writing and recording of the album, as well as the operation of their own record label, Own Life Records, and the album artwork of DisInfoNation.  The album release party is this Thursday evening at the Local 506 with fellow locals Big Fat Gap and the Rocket Surgeons.  Check out the interview below:
Feeding the Fire Live on the Local Beat 2/26/10

At 6 p.m. Wendy Spitzer came in to promote her debut full length album from Felix Obelix, A Tick of the Clock, A Beat in the Chest, which was released at the Nightlight in Chapel Hill Saturday night.  The concert featured The Strugglers and a really interesting writing activity in which you write a letter to yourself eight months from now.  That led to interesting conversation about her past projects that include a Time Capsule as well as a "Biggest Regret/ Best Decision" project from last year.  Wendy and I also mused on her unique singing style as well as the very different musical instruments in her band.  Take a listen:
Felix Obelix on the Local Beat 2/26/10

The Kickin Grass Band joined me for the last hour of the show to promote some of their upcoming shows and play some live tunes.  Our conversation ranged anywhere from organic farming, to Lynda's songwriting, and back to eating cats.  It was definitely an interesting hour.  All songs they played live are available for free download on the Local Beat ReverbNation page and you can listen to them in the music player to the right.  Below is the entire interview and some videos from the KGB in studio:
Kickin Grass Band Live on the Local Beat 2/26/10


Local Beat w/ Adam Kincaid: Kickin Grass Band "On the Short Rows (Live)" from Wolf TV on Vimeo.



Local Beat w/ Adam Kincaid: Kickin Grass Band "The Ghost of Nathaniel Carter (Live)" from Wolf TV on Vimeo.



Local Beat w/ Adam Kincaid: The Kicking Grass Band "Cloverleaf (Live)" from Wolf TV on Vimeo.



Local Beat w/ Adam Kincaid: Kickin Grass Band "Lay Him in the Ground (Live)" from Wolf TV on Vimeo.
As I mentioned, this is possibly the last live Local Beat for the next month.  However, be on the lookout for more Local Beat Mini Exclusives!