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!

Courtesy Bekah Cope

Yep, you read it right! WKNC will have the great pleasure of premiering two brand new songs by local favorites Lonnie Walker and Future Islands from their split 7″ coming out this November. We are the very first ones to have the tracks, so you’ll just have to tune in to the Local Lunch this Wednesday to hear them (and trust me, they rock).

The one and only DJ Ray will be unlocking the treasure chest of two brand new singles to rock you through the next week and a half until we get to see both bands live at Hopscotch! Are you as excited as I am?!??

Hey guys! If you like listening to WKNC and free stuff, listen up!

This week on WKNC, we are giving away:

Artist schwag, consisting of signed CDs and vinyl records from artists like Annuals, The Ettes, and even Iron Maiden.

If you want to laugh your face off, we have a few tickets left to see comedian Demetri Martin at Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, September 11.

Demetri Martin from wikimedia

If you’re looking for something sweet (and free) to do over labor day weekend, you could win tickets for:

September 3: Autolux w/Gold Panda at Cat’s Cradle

September 4: Little Brother at Cat’s Cradle

Man Will Destroy Himself at The Pour House

In addition to these shows, you could win tickets to Takers at Crossroads 20 in Cary (not eligible for weekend movies, sorry!)

Carla Azar of Autolux at the LA Weekly Detour Music Festival courtesy of wikimedia

These giveaways are going like hot cakes, so keep your ears peeled to 88.1 The Revolution and be the correct caller!

When: September 2, 2010 (8 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

Where: WKNC 88.1 fm

School’s back and so is Revolutions Per Minute for September. As usual, your hosts DJ Triple X and NuM3R1K will be broadcasting live from the WKNC 88.1 FM studios in the heart of the N.C. State University campus. For those outside the Triangle, check out http://wknc.org/listen for live web streaming.

This month, back by popular demand for an extended two-hour set, is our special guest DJ Funk Junkie.

Funk Junkie …was bitten by the funky breaks bug back in 1998 and inspired by DJ Icey to take to the decks. Since then, he has gone on to broaden his music styles in several directions. Mike currently holds residencies at Noir, Tantra, and the Eastend Martini Bar. Whether you’re a fan of breaks or you just like to move, his combination of sick selection, flawless mixing, and turntablism will make this a set not to be missed.

This Thursday will be Chris Tamplin’s very last Local Beer Local Band Night. Tamplin was the orginal anchor in establishing a relationship between WKNC and Tir na nOg Irish Pub. He even won an Indie from Independent Weekly for starting and booking this event for about three years now. Tamplin is leaving the pub to pursue his dream of opening Motorco Music, a music venue in Durham. Therefore, since Tamplin is leaving, this week will be an extra special show!

This week, September 2 will feature music from all around North Carolina. First up is Asheville’s Darien will open the show with Charlotte’s The Houston Brothers filling the middle slot. Missy Thangs’ other great band Soft Company will be headlining! As usual this is a FREE show, 21 and up, and starts at 10 p.m.! See you there!

Darien

As a local artist who’s inspired by Irish music, there could not be a better act for Tir na nOg this Thursday. She plays the guitar solo and also sings/writes all of her own songs. Darien is an artist for the fans of bands like Rilo Kiley and Beirut. You’re going to love her.

The Houston Brothers

It’s good. I can’t seem to place who these two handsome men sound like… somewhere between Neutral Milk Hotel and Brian Eno. Check out their the link to their page for a full listen.

Soft Company

You might remember the leading lady from her other band, The Love Language. The Independent Weekly described their most recent album as full of “rich harmonies, layered keyboards and counterpoint guitars [that] slip and slide beneath each other.”

I will be having The Soft Company and another one of these acts at the station on Thursday at 7 p.m. so be sure to tune in. None of these acts are ones you will want to miss. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my Thursday night than sending off Chris Tamplin with the help of a few local beers and these three amazing local bands!

The Noobhammer With Paul Masvidal of Cynic

Noobhammer here again with another discussion of the table that is round. This week I have four topics to touch with the mighty Excalibur. Two of those topics are reviews of concerts I have been to recently—Boris and Cynic; the other two topics are album reviews. One, for me at least, is the long awaited Blind Guardian album At The Edge of Time, and the new Iron Maiden album, The Final Frontier. However, due to the length of these subjects, I will be dividing it into 3 segments, which will span this entire week, so look for the other two later this week.  So once again, let us delve deep into my brain, which is littered with Magic: The Gathering cards, D20s, and of course dragons I wish I could train and ride. First, I’m going to give you guys a look at the least power-metal item in this entry, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t powerful. This is of course Boris at the Cat’s Cradle.

From the moment I walked through the doors of Cat’s Cradle and took up my usual spot at the front-center of the stage, I knew that I was about to witness something special. The stage was giving off a vibe as the Sunn (O))) amps stood there gleaming in light, lowly humming, barely audible over the talking of the crowd. Soon the lights dimmed, darkening the stage, and the opening band took the stage. For the life of me, I can’t remember their name. Maybe at the old age of 22, my memory is finally starting to fade from me, but what I can remember is that they put on a great show. Two guys  from the Czech Republic just rocking out, enjoying their tour.

As soon as they finished playing, no one moved from their spots as the lights came back up, and the stage techs feverishly worked to set up Boris’ drum kit and tune their instruments. The tension inside of me started to build as the workers one by one left the stage, the last one blinking a flashlight towards the back of the venue, signaling that they were ready. Almost instantly the lights dimmed, and the crowd rose as one in a roar of excitement as fog began to cover the stage. The members of Boris walked through the clouds, like the Japanese monsters they are. As they took their positions on the stage, I felt my excitement begin to boil over as I watched with anticipation.

Suddenly from out of nowhere, I felt as if I had been struck by a 747. After the initial wave of shock had passed over me, I realized that feeling was the first note of Boris playing. A low, driving hum, echoing from amps signaled the start of my journey. The high guitars notes slowly crescendoed, mixing with the bass to form a haunting melody that stirs the deepest recesses of your soul. I didn’t have time to even comprehend what was happening as Takeshia began to wail mournfully into the mike, his voice barely audible over the drone of guitars and drumming.

My mind was lost in a trance as they band continued to play. I couldn’t believe what was happening in front of me. There are only five instances I can think of in which I have been truly blown away, and left speechless by a band: Isis, Jesu, Pelican, Nine Inch Nails, and now, Boris. I have listened to many of their studio albums, Smile and Pink being two of my favorites, but they never prepared me for the live show. Not even the live albums prepared me enough for the audio onslaught against my ears and even my soul. Watching them live had me rooted to the spot, my mouth agape in wonder at the beauty and chaos in front of me. The guitars washed over one another, forming melodies within their layers.

Even their faster paced songs didn’t cause the crowd to break into a ruckus and mosh. We banged our heads, but we couldn’t move from where we were standing. Boris seemed to have cast a spell over everyone in the venue. As they played through all their songs, not once did I lose focus, become distracted, or even wish for them to end. In fact, I wanted them to continue playing well into the night. It wasn’t until they finished playing the Black Sabbath-esque “1970″ and said goodnight to us all that the spell was broken. I looked around in confusion, like so many others around me, trying to explain what I had just witnessed. When I turned back to the stage, the band had left as mysteriously as they came. Luckily I got to meet them after the show and talk to them, but when asked about the seemingly magical and entrancing effect of their show, all I got from them was a smile.

-Noobhammer

Takeshi and Michio Kurihara rocking out

A song off the album Pink

Emprace the Light

The light at the end of the tunnel is not always peaceful

Sublime Beauty

This week, we’re giving away lots of artist schwag, including vinyls, t-shirts, and even CDs.

The Avetts bring some Gospel Music to Greensboro Courtesy of Elizabeth Lemon

We are also giving away tickets to Jim Avett at the Pour House on August 29.

In other exciting giveaway news, we have tickets to Takers, The Other Guys, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and The Expendibles, showing at Crossroads 20 in Cary, NC. These tickets are good Monday through Thursday. Sorry, no weekends.

That’s it for me, next week, MOLLYPOP will be taking over my duties. It’s been great serving you this summer. Thanks for being so great!

Excellent Portland record label Hometapes will host a day party, Hometapes Friend Island, during the Hopscotch Music Festival, adding to an already hefty lineup of free day shows. The party will go down Friday, September 10 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Pour House and feature musical performances from Megafaun, Breathe Owl Breathe, All Tiny Creatures, Pattern Is Movement, Collections of Colonies of Bees, and Family Dynamics (a.k.a. Stars Like Fleas).

The Hopscotch Twitter announced that there will be a complete list of day parties, among other new info, added to the site soon.

And yes, WKNC, will be hosting a party, as well. More info real soon!

Thursday August 26th is going to be the first LBLB for the Fall 2010 semester!  Come and unwind from your first week at school at Tir na nOg Irish Pub for Local Beer Local Band Night!  This weeks bands are Goodbye, Titan and Once and Future Kings.   FREE, 21 and up, starts at 10pm!

I will also be interviewing BOTH BANDS this Thursday from 7 to 8pm!  Tune in!

Goodbye, Titan

You can expect some wonderful landscape music from Goodbye, Titan.  If you enjoy listening to our Post Rock Block then you you absolutely love this weeks headlines for LBLB.  The Independent would say that this band is good for “fans of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky.”  If that sounds like you, come on out!

Once and Future Kings

You might have caught Once and Future Kings last semester when they did a free show on Lee Field.  Well, now catch them indoors at Tir na nOg!   As quoted from their Myspace page, “Once and Future Kings blend hook-laden, anthemic rock with a twist of dystopian lyricism.Critics compare them to Radiohead or The Flaming Lips, but your mom might say The Beatles.”

See you this Thursday!!  And by the way,  I recommend a pint of Foothills Hoppyum IPA.  That’s what I’ll be having!

Vampire Weekend will be playing with special guest Beach House at the Raleigh Amphitheatre on Sunday, October 17 in support of their new album Contra. Tickets go on sale at Livenation.com on Friday, August 27, but WKNC has them now.  Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it, and you could win!

It is time once again for the Mystery Roach Covers Show. This Saturday, August 28, I’ll be playing original tracks from the 50s, 60s or 70s and also the cover versions from any decade and style.

If you have any requests or suggestions, post them here, on the Facebook fan page, or email them to me. I will be finalizing the playlist on Friday afternoon.

Below are the playlists from the previous two years to give you an idea of what this year’s show will be like.

Tune in to Mystery Roach, every Saturday from 8-10am on WKNC for Progressive, Fusion, Psychedelic, Garage and noise from the 60s and 70s. (This week the 50s are fair game as well.)

Cheers.

-La Barba Rossa

2009 Show

2008 Show

Local deejays Elly May, DJ Goof, DJ Kligz, The Voice of Reason, and myself gave back to the community this Saturday at the yearly event, Service NC State. As in years past, NC State worked with Stop Hunger Now in hopes of packaging  400,000 meals for children in Haiti. Many campus organizations came out Saturday, August 21 to help package food from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. New this year was the blood drive for which about a dozen members of WKNC staff gave blood to help reach the goal of 500 pints of blood in one huge blood drive on Friday.

DJs The Voice of Reason, Goof and Elly May prepare to package meals for 2 hours for Service NC State.

The number of meals our small group of five packaged during our two-hour shift is enough to feed a 32-child orphanage for seven months. The meals are full of essential vitamins and minerals and are actually quite tasty. The experience was described as “inspiring,” “exhilarating,” “fun,” “organized,” and “fulfilling”—and totally worth waking up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday. WKNC hopes to have a presence at other on-campus service events to further instate our relationship with our campus and our community as a whole.

Stop Hunger Now aims to eradicate hunger in our lifetime

I would like to personally thank everyone who helped by giving blood or donating their time and energy to any aspect of Service NC State.

Tonight, 8/21 on “Real RnB Radio,” R&B singer Marcus Allen will be visiting the studio on 88.1FM WKNC.

The Summerville, SC, native is poised to take over the male R&B scene with his infectious melodies, soulful delivery, and powerful voice.

The South Carolina Music Award winner has already received international success on the Japanese and European charts and has been featured on a number of major tours.

Tune in at 10:30 p.m. for our live interview with the rising star. To find out more about Marcus Allen, visit here or follow him on twitter. Check out some of his latest music below.

“Real RnB Radio” with host Mir.I.am airs Saturdays from 10 p.m.-12 a.m.