If you listen to the Local Beat, you might recall me complaining several weeks ago that Durham rock band Bull City seems to have dropped off the map.  While this is true, it isn’t without cause — members of the band have been finishing school, welcoming new little ones to their family, or in John Kurtz’s case, moved out of the area to New York City .

However, to add to this weekend’s already insane amount of fantastic local shows Bull City is putting on a show at the Pinhook with fellow locals The Dynamite Brothers. The show is just $5 and starts at 10 p.m. This might be the last time for another long while before you can see Bull City rock out on stage.

Additionally, the band just put free downloads of its Guns and Butter EP, a Sessions @ KNC live recording, and some new songs up on their bandcamp page.  Check it out and download away.

With the RIAA hacking away at illegal downloaders, musicians enduring the great-unknown future of the music industry, and everyone feeling the effects of a struggling economy, creative ideas for survival are needed.  In an attempt to provide solutions to changing times, local company ReverbNation has paired with Microsoft Windows to provide an answer, and it’s called “Sponsored Songs.”

The idea is simple.  Fans get free legal downloads of songs from a surplus of bands.  Bands are paid money for every unique download of their song.  The sponsor’s brand image, or advertisement, is embedded with the song’s cover art so that it travels from listener to listener.  Each download equates to fifty cents so if you can’t go to a music show you can always support by downloading. If the program is successful it could include other sponsors in the future— anyone thinking possible Outback Steakhouse Sponsored Songs, presented by Of Montreal?

Hammer No More The Fingers

ReverbNation has provided the platform for the program.  Many local artists are included in the launch of the program (check out Jake Seaton’s list here), including WKNC favorite, Hammer No More The Fingers, who were included in the official press release.  Joe Hall, of HNMTF, said, “We’re always looking for ways to reach new fans, and the team at ReverbNation is always working hard on new and creative ways to help Artists like us succeed.  With Microsoft’s participation in the Sponsored Songs program, Artists earn money for their hard work and fans get free music.”

For all the bands available for download, check out http://www.reverbnation.com/windows.

And for the weekly featured downloads, check out Windows on MySpace.