Show Review: Local Band Local Beer - Toon & The Real Laww

Toon & The Real Laww

This week's Local Band Local Beer was an awesome yet insanely odd one.  First off, any time I get the chance to see live hip-hop I'm naturally going to jump all over it, it's just an incredible experience through and through...especially when you've got a live band joining in as well.  Toon & The Real Laww were joined by The Band (not that that The Band), comprised of members of LiLa's rhythm section and a keyboard player that was twerking like his life depended on it, the combination of a live band with the booming bass brought by DJ Shahzad was what made Thursday night at Tir Na Nog truly special.  While the crowd was filled with an abnormally large amount of bougie folks dressed to impress, that didn't stop the crowd from raging like nobody was watching.

Toon & The Real Laww have been building up quite the reputation for themselves, drawing a lot of attention from a heavily acclaimed Hopscotch set and various other local performances, the group is swiftly being mentioned with names like Kooley High, King Mez, and The Beat in terms of top local rap artists.  Toon's clever lyricism and wordplay bounce perfectly off of the precision and finesse of The Real Laww's flow.  Both have bukus of charisma, engaging in practically every audience member in arms reach, and often times a few more.  From free styling with the aid of a few words written by crowd members to the massive amounts of crowd participation, Toon & The Real Laww were an engaging and exciting act, a fantastic to spend a study-filled Thursday.  While the dance party continued on after the set, the dense crowd gave me no room to cook in so I unfortunately had to bounce.

 

Show Review: Local Band Local Beer - Phil Cook & His Feat w/ Sumner James

Phil Cook & His Feat

Two side projects shone bright on Thursday at Tir Na Nog, as Phil Cook and James Phillips shed their usual full-time bands for a more stripped down and intimate performance for the weekly Local Band Local Beer.  James Phillips (of Bombadil) made his first solo outing with the help of Elyse Thebner (Some Army, JKutchma & The Five Fifths) to fully flesh out his minimalistic electronic act inspired by his stay in Oregon earlier this year.

A far cry from his work in the quirky folk act of Bombadil, Phillips' set up consisted of a laptop from which to blast beats and an array of synths to produce the dense soundscape that sets the somber yet hopeful tone of his solo work.  Joined by fellow local musicians like Stuart and Daniel of Bombadil and Christy Smith of The Tender Fruit, Sumner James transitioned surprisingly well for a debut live act.  Closing with the album's lead-off single of, "Home", James was borderline shouting his heart out on "Losing his mind" in the state of Oregon.  These tunes can be just as therapeutic to the listener as it evidently was for Phillips, much like the deep emotion and soul poured into the mostly instrumental tunes of Phil Cook.

Phil Cook is usually just accompanied by his feet on percussion, but with the addition of Yan Westerlund (brother of Megafaun drummer Joe Westerlund and regular drummer for Bowerbirds) on drums, the fans at Tir Na Nog were treated to a tight and blues driven performance from a vastly underrated local act.  In a mostly electric set, Phil Cook jammed out on open tunings that were oozing with emotion, notes were being bent to his will and captivating concert goers to move and shake like an old revival show.  From instrumental blues jams to a rootsy lullaby sung for his young son, Phil Cook displayed his breadth of talent with dobro jams and a strong sense of musical connectivity with Yan who provided simplistic yet driving rhythms for songs he was mostly unfamiliar with.  For a low key show from local side projects, these two acts displayed vast amounts of talent and promise, making for a fantastic way to spend a Thursday evening.

Photos from Local Band Local Beer 8/30 | Saints Apollo & The Morning After

Local Band Local Beer's 8/30 installment featured Raleigh-based folk bands Saints Apollo and The Morning After. Click on any picture below for a full-size image.

LBLB 11.10.11 Photo Recap

Photography by WKNC Photographer Katie Hill

Luego


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Skylar Gudaz & the Ugly Girls


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LBLB 11/4/11 Photo Recap

Photography by WKNC photographer Katie Hill


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9.23 LBLB Photo Recap

Photography by WKNC Photographer Katie Hill

Jack the Radio

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9.1 LBLB Photo Recap

Photography by WKNC Photographer Katie Hill

Pink Flag

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Static Minds

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8.11 LBLB Photo Recap

Photography by WKNC Photographer Katie Hill

Some Army

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Maldora

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Onward, Soldiers

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Want to see more WKNC photos? Visit our flickr site!

8.5 LBLB Photo Recap

Photography by WKNC Photographer Katie Hill

Kid Future
I hope yall have been able to experience Kid Future because this past Thursday night at Tir na nOg was there last show! The lead singer is moving to Texas, drummer lives in Boston, and the pianist's beard "is getting too big to sing." This is the second time I've seen them at LBLB, and they only got better. From the charisma emanating from the lead singer's presence, to the flashy yet talented style of the drummer, and the great back-up harmonies from the bearded keyboardist, they had definitely put a spell on the crowd. Poppy without being cheesy, soulful without being sad, and rocking without all that obnoxious noise—I'm going to miss these guys.


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Big Picture
If you haven't experienced Big Picture, that needs to be next on your list. It took them about 45 minutes to set up for their 8-member band on that compact nOg stage, but it was so worth the wait. They start off with one of the drummers belting inspirational spoken word to a hushed room... "eradicate 'cannot' from your vocabulary...the Big Picture, yall." Then sound explodes from every instrument: two sets of drums, four guitars, and two keyboards, even a few tambourines. Finally the lead singer leaps on stage with his modern-day gladiator/lacrosse padding, gloves, and helmet, and jumps and hollers to get everyone pumped. He sings every now and then throughout each song, but the sound of all those instruments mixing with the sound of his voice are what really makes the experience. You can't exactly understand the lyrics, but you can feel what he means. Every now and then he broke out his ukelele, plucking away, probably for his own entertainment. Not quite classic rock, too much technicality for post rock, but not really that indie-techno noise either. It's simply an awesome experience. This is also the second time I've seen them, and I would not hesitate to go back for a third.


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Brett Harris and The Tender Fruit LBLB July 14

Beat the July heat by cooling down with a nice cold North Carolina brew this Thursday, July 14 at Tir Na nOg. You'll want to double check their selection when you get there, but feel free to scope out their beer menu in advance.

For the local band part of the equation, this week features Brett Harris and The Tender Fruit. Durham-based Harris has been on the scene since 2007 and hooked up with WKNC in September 2010 to play during Habitat for Humanity's annual Shack-a-thon on the NCSU Brickyard. He also stopped by our studios earlier that year to talk with Adam Kincaid during "The Local Beat." Our friends down the hall at Wolf TV graciously recorded that performance, available for your review below.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/11149502[/vimeo]

WKNC fans will also recognize The Tender Fruit from their February 2010 performance at Double Barrel Benefit 7 and November 2010 Fridays on the Lawn show with The Tomahawks.

Local Band Local Beer is a weekly collaboration between WKNC and Tir Na nOg. It starts every Thursday after 10 p.m. and is free and 21+. Coming up:

• July 21 - Birds and Arrows, Free Electric State and Gray Young


• July 28 - Nests and Lilac Shadows


• August 8 - Big Picture and Kid Future

LBLB Photo Recap 7.7

The Milagro Saints


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Local Band Local Beer 6.16

Looking for something to do on these hot summer nights? Check out Tir na nOg and WKNC's Local Band, Local Beer June 16. This event happens every Thursday night in downtown Raleigh. It is FREE and 21+. This week we will present the ska and reggae acts The Archbishops of Blount Street and Climb Jacob's Ladder; show starts at 10:30.  Grab a local brew and enjoy, mon!

WKNC swag will be available-- shirts, bags, coozies, and some CDs.

Stay tuned for the rest of June and July lineup... something tells me it's gonna be hot!

Photo Recap of LBLB June 9

Photography by WKNC photographer Katie Hill

KinGator of Raleigh, NC


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Photo Recap of LBLB June 2

Photography by Katie Hill

Jessica Long


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Stella Lively


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Outside Soul headlines LBLB

This Thursday, May 26, Local Beer Local Band features "a sound forged in the streets of the Capital City." The funk/R&B/neo-soul group Outside Soul will take the stage after 10 p.m., but you'll want to get to Tir Na nOg early for the Kinder Soles Birthday Party, celebrating its first year providing environmentally-conscious footwear.

As always, Local Beer Local Band is a free show for those 21+.

Local Beer International Band Night

If you learned in elementary school English that two negatives make a positive, then you already know to expect a good show from Raleigh's Double Negative when they perform Thursday, May 19 as part of WKNC and Tir Na nOg's Local Beer Local Band series.

"It’s the hardest-core hardcore band currently whipping punk kids half as old as the band’s members into foot- and fist-flailing mosh froths," writes Bryan Reed from Independent Weekly.

We then open our house to Århus for music by FOSSILS and Cola Freaks. Described as "Denmark's answer to the Fucking Champs," FOSSILS is a drum and bass rock duo with punk and metal influences.

Members of Cola Freaks backed Jay Reatard as part of his last live line up. The band's songs "will pogo around your brainpan for weeks after you hear them," promises the Chicago Reader.

The music starts after 10 p.m. FREE, 21+.

LBLB Metal Music Mayhem

Raleigh's Mumu Tutu and Sex Panther will blow the doors of Tir Na nOg this Thursday for Local Beer Local Band night.

Promising to lead listeners into a "heavy metal time machine filled with big hair and spandex pants," Sex Panther traditionally offers a set list peppered with Poison, AC/DC and Alice Cooper. Mumu Tutu, meanwhile, "is all about brain blisterin', blood vessel bustin' rock originals."

The face melting starts at 10 p.m. and as always is FREE and 21+, with $5 cheeseburger specials.

Athens Invades Local Band Local Beer

This week, Tir Na nOg and WKNC have turned Local Band Local Beer into something less local to us, but equally awesome. Athens, Georgia's Modern Skirts perform and Terrapin Beer Company of Athens Georgia is our beer special.

And just to keep our Super Music Triangle involved, Digg Up Tapes artist Oulipo will open the show. Sooo rad, I know.

Come enjoy what local means to Athens, right here in Raleigh this Thursday!

 

LBLB April 21 Hopscotch Party!

This Thursday is truly going to be something special!  WKNC and Tir Na nOg are more than happy to have Hopscotch Music Festival and Vitamin Water Uncapped present a very special Local Beer Local Band Hopscotch Announcement Party featuring The Rosebuds, Heads on Sticks, and DJ SPCL GST spinning throughout the evening and a fashion show hosted by Revolver Consignment.

 

Come early - this show will be packed!!  Might as well get a cheeseburger (they're mad cheap at the pub on Thursdays) and down some beers with friends before the fashion show starts at 10 p.m. Following that will be all the live jams.

The Rosebuds are releasing their new album Loud Planes Fly Low on June 7, and I have a feeling you might get to hear a little sneak peak of it at the show... well at least I hope so.

Heads on Sticks has been my favorite local live act since the first time I saw them. This is music that I like.

There is hardly any other time you're going to get all of the awesomeness for the price of FREE so I don't understand why anyone would not come. I'm guessing there will be a few Hopscotch wristband giveaways at the show too.

2nd Thursday = Brewer Series at LBLB

Come to this week's lblb/pound pound/## to catch Goodbye, Titan, Minor Stars, and Monsonia!

Lots of fun stuff to do this week thanks to WKNC and Tir Na nOg and New Raleigh. First of all there is the awesome line-up, second, there will be awesome delicious local beer. In particular Craggie Brewing Company from Asheville, NC will be there with THREE beers to choose from:

Burning Barrel- a bourbon chipotle porter

Antebellum Ale- an 1840s North Carolina beer recipe

Cask of the Battery Hill- an English style rye ale

Can't wait to get my hands on all of these. There is a different brewery at the pub every month on the second Thursday so be sure to mark your calendars! Oh, and the music. Goodbye, Titan is always a great band to see live. I haven't seen Minor Stars yet but they've gotten awesome reviews in the Independent and a lot of other places, so I'm absolutely excited for that one. And Monsonia I've heard once through the door at the Nightlight. We didn't feel like paying to get in (so used to free shows at Tir Na nOg , I guess) so I stood outside to listen, and I can tell you right now that they kind of sound like Arcade Fire.

As always it starts at 10 p.m., 21 and up, and FREE. See you there, friends.