Last Friday on the Local Beat, we had a fantastic show thanks to the wonderful musicians who came by.

Lizzy Ross was the first to come in at 5 p.m. to show off her newest release, Traces, which was released June 26. Only in her early 20′s, Lizzy has already begun making quite a name for herself in the area with her stunning soulful voice and beautiful songwriting after setting a precedent with her previous band Lafcadio. Lizzy and I talked about the creation of her self released album and the different processes that went into it. We also compared her live show to her recorded material and she sang us three songs, which you can listen to in the music player above and download from our Local Beat ReverbNation page. You can purchase Traces from her website, Lizzy.net, CD Alley in Chapel Hill, as well as iTunes. Take a listen to our conversation below:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

At 6 p.m., David Mueller came in to talk about his new solo album from Heads on Sticks titled Mocking Bird. In this project David takes on the role of a mad scientist as he mixes and matches various sound effects on a whim that ends with a remarkably unique and sonically satisfying album, even taking clips from an actual mockingbird from his iPhone, which he calls a true “organic sampler.” David and I compared his newest music to his last three EPs ( you can download for free on his BandCamp page and I highly recommend) and listened to several songs off of the new record.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

For the last hour of the show, the guys of Jeremy Blair From Effingham dropped in for what turned out to be an immensely satisfying hour of conversation. JBFE has been playing live shows in the area for almost exactly a year now and are well on their way to local stardom. The three J’s in the band, Jeremy Blair, John Hill, and Jim McConnell came by and played some live tracks for us, which you can listen to in the widget above and download from our Local Beat ReverbNation page. We talked about the beginning of the band, how they came together, and their live show. We also had an interesting talk about the Triangle music scene, Durham in particular, which is on the verge of taking over the region as far as artistic and musical prominence is concerned. Take a listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Jeremy Blair From Effingham is having a show August 7 at the Black Flower in Raleigh with Joy in Red and the Once and Future Kings. Also, check out the SWEET cherry pie the fellas baked me!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Continuing the great momentum of the summer on the Local Beat tonight brings a variety of special guests onto the show.

Acoustic rocker Lizzy Ross from Chapel Hill will be kicking the show off at 5 p.m. to show off her recently released new album Traces, which hit the streets late in June. Hopefully we can get her to play some new songs for us live on the air. You can also catch her at the Broad Street Cafe later this evening as she is playing a free show with Chris Bryant at 10 p.m.

6 p.m. brings David Mueller of Strange and Birds of Avalon to talk about his new solo full length, Mocking Birds, which he is releasing under his Heads on Sticks moniker. This is Heads on Sticks’ first release in four years following up three EPs and is certainly the best so far. Be prepared for some experimental tripped out space rock that borders on the edge of psychadelic electronica and whimsical anarcho-pop that will surely get your foot tapping and head bobbing. This album rules.

At 7 p.m. Durham folk rockers Jeremy Blair from Effingham are coming by to chat about a variety of topics. These guys stole my heart last year with their soft pop track “I Do and I Don’t,” which was one of my top songs of 2009. I’m going to see what else they have going on and hopefully get them to play a track or two. This also marks the first time a group made a flier for the Local Beat so I am going to hold this dear to my heart.

Ever wonder what your favorite local artists are listening to?  What inspires them to make the music we enjoy?

Let us introduce you to a new feature here at WKNC that introduces you the music that our artists listen to!  From here on out we will be regularly be bringing you into the headphones of local bands and friends of local music!

This week the members of Birds of Avalon have graciously sent us lists of what they have been currently rocking out to!

• Led Zeppelin- Down by the Seaside.
• Chicago- 25 or 6 to 4
• Joe Jackson- Steppin Out
• Sparks- Nothing to Do
• Van Halen- Little Guitars
• Steely Dan- My Old School
• Clipse- Ride Around Shinnin
• Benji Huges- The Mummy
• The Cherubs- Stag Party
• And now and for the rest of my life: Brenton Wood- The Oogim Boogum Song

David Mueller-Bass

• Cut Copy- Unforgettable Season
• Lyres- How Do You Know?
• Bob Dylan- The Gates of Eden
• A Tribe Called Quest- Award Tour
• The Horrors- I Only Think of You
• DOOM feat Empress Starhh- Still Dope
• Fever Ray- Dry & Dusty
• Franco- Mambu ma Miondo
• Kurt Vile- Freeway
• Crystal Stilts- Departure

Scott Nurkin- Drums

• Sarolta Zalatnay – Hadd Mondjam El
• Bonniwell Music Machine – Astrologically Incompatible
• Carlton and the Shoes – Never Give Your Heart Away
• Alphonse Mouzon – Mind Transplant
• The Millineum – The Know-It-All
• Buffalo Springfield – It’s so Hard to Wait
• Joe Jackson – Friday
• Love – You Set the Scene
• Masters Apprentices  – War or Hands of Time
• The Paragons – Left with a Broken Heart

Cheetie Kumar- Guitar

• Harmonia-Monza-Rauf Und Runter
• Neu-Hallogallo
• Deerhoof-Tears and Music of Love
• Brian Eno-Sky Saw
• Wizzard-French Perfume
• Wire-French Film Blurred
• Pretty Things-She’s A Lover
• George Harrison-I Dig Love
• The Germs-Lexicon Devil
• Gong-You Can Kill Me
• King Crimson- Great Deceiver

Paul Siler-Guitar

• The Band-King Harvest (has surely come)
• The Bee Gees-I Close My Eyes
• Dungen-Gor Det Nu
• The Beatles-Blue Jay Way
• Polvo-In This Life
• Bob Dylan and the Band-Katie’s Been Gone 
• Charlie Parker-Bluebird
• Lets Active-Talking to Myself 
• Joni Mitchell-Free Man in Paris 
•  Free-Oh I Wept
• Flaming Lips-In the Morning of the Magicians 

Birds of Avalon fans should be excited to know that their new album, Uncanny Valley, is coming out June 23 with a tour kicking off at the Local 506 on June 13th.