If you’ve listened to the station recently, you probably know that WKNC is presenting Benji Hughes and Skullbuckle at the Pour House Music Hall tomorrow night.

In anticipation of the show, I’ll be interviewing the man himself at 1 p.m. sharp. Greg from Skullbuckle will also be in to talk about the band’s album and the show.

If you have any questions you have to hear answered, comment on this post and let me know!

See you on the airwaves.

Benji Hughes at the Lincoln Theatre 4/10, c/o Mike Gray

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.

The Whigs Courtesy of thewhigs.com

Recently I got the chance to interview Tim Deaux of The Whigs. The Whigs are currently touring the east coast, with upcoming show at the Local 506. We talked about upcoming release of the band’s third full length album, “In the Dark,” and we discussed the process behind the creation of the upcoming album. This is Tim’s first full length album that he has recorded with the band, and since the release of their previous album “Mission Control” he has taken the role as the band’s full time bassist. For those of you who missed the live interview, here it is in its entirety.

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With an unconventional Pack Howl concert this year, featuring College Humor comedians Jake and Amir with Dan Levy, many music enthusiasts were happy to hear that the 2009 NC State Homecoming concert would also be featuring a band. The fact that it was a local North Carolina band was an added bonus. The originally based Chapel Hill band, Roman Candle, will be performing on Lee field Friday November 6.

Roman Candle

The indie rock band formed in 1997, when Skip Mathney, along with brother Logan and wife Timshel attended UNC-Chapel Hill. The band has found their hometown a place for southern authenticity, a perfect environment for this family based band to set their roots in. However, inevitably enough, their talent and success could not be contained. The Rolling Stone magazine took notice and labeled them as a “daring band on the rise.” Roman Candle has also seemingly captured the attention of other media giants such as Paste Magazine, Boston Globe, and Pitchfork for their 2006 album release of The Wee Hours Revue.

The band, now currently based in Nashville, will be welcomed home on Friday. But before rocking out on Lee Field, Roman Candle will be hanging out at the WKNC studio at 2pm, where DJ Special K will be finding out what bright future is in store for this up and coming band. Listen on 88. FM or streaming online.

DJ Ones (left) alongside Reid Johnson (right)

A couple of weeks ago, I  had the privilege to talk to Schooner’s Reid Johnson about all things Schooner and local music. Schooner recently played WKNC’s concert series Fridays on the Lawn with Max Indian and was generous enough to stop by and answer questions as well as play a few songs while he was in-studio. If you were unable to hear the interview, it’s your lucky day! Below is the interview in its entirety as well as the songs which Reid played. Enjoy!

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This Friday, October 23 between 9 and 11 a.m., DJ K-Line and myself will have the Raleigh-based Steve Wilson Band in the studio for an interview and a live performance.  They will be promoting their show coming up this Saturday at The Black Flower and discussing what they’ve been up to since I saw them the last time they played the venue.

Listen in this Friday and every Friday morning  for K-Line and I (DJ Elly May) from 9 to 11 a.m..

Most people might recognize the powerful and beautiful voice of Lizzy Ross as the lead singer of Chapel Hill’s own Lafcadio. With  booming success within the Triangle and a recent performance at Shakori Hills Grassroots Fall Music Festival, it’s a wonder how Ross, a full time philosophy and music student at UNC-Chapel Hill, has time to embark on her solo career. However, the future looks bright for this young musician who recently received praise for her tracks Maria, Slave to the Muse, and No Man on Lafcadio’s self-titled LP. She also plans to graduate this December.

Lizzy Ross

Be sure the check out the interview and live in studio performances from Lizzy Ross this Friday at 2 p.m. with yours truly, DJ Special K.

Listen streaming online.

Chris Funk, guitarist for The Decemberists, will be calling into the station for an interview this Thursday, June 4, at 11:30 am. Tune in to hear about the new record, The Hazards of Love, as well as what it was like going up against Stephen Colbert in a guitar shredding contest.

Please note the time change to 11:30 am.

On Saturday 5/30, I had the pleasure of speaking with Reigndrop Lopes, sister of the late Lisa “Left-eye” Lopes, of the legendary, Grammy award-winning,  multi-platinum group, TLC.

In the candid interview, Reigndrop talks about growing up with Left-eye, producing and being featured on Eye Legacy and  being the first lady of Hip-Rock .

Reigndrop also discusses “The Last Days of Left-eye” documentary, possible new TLC music and the purpose of the  Lisa Lopes Foundation.

Learn more about Reigndrop Lopes  here , listen to her music here and follow her on twitter.

Listen to the interview below:

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“Saturday Night Soul and R&B” airs weekly from 8 to 11 p.m. and features the best in R&B/Soul music from the past 20 years as well as today’s hits. Follow host Mir.I.am.

Prabir and the Substitutes

This past Thursday was a busy day for Prabir and the Substitutes! After being stuck in traffic, the band dropped by the 5 o’clock Shadow for an in-studio interview with Mikey P and me. Then, the band headed to Tir Na Nog where they completely rocked out WKNC’s weekly Local Beer Local Band Night with Chapel Hill natives Embarrassing Fruits.

Considering their hectic touring schedule, I was excited to have such a relaxed discussion with the band about their music. Prabir and the Substitutes are a pop-rock group from Richmond, Virginia with a knack for melody and harmony and a keen appreciation for the joys of playing music. Appropriately enough, we discussed the trials and tribulations of touring and the many ways the band keeps their lives enjoyable (everything from maintaining an amusing website to smashing their instruments after their shows). We also spun some great tracks off of their new EP Hello. Check out the interview below!

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In today’s digital world, it’s great to see a band that cares so much about the physical release of an album. I love having something I can hold in my hands when I buy my music—the thrill of driving to my local record store, thumbing through the collection, talking with the clerk as I pay, peeling off that cumbersome sticky tape before prying open the cover, admiring the pictures in the liner notes—owning the physical CD connects me more with the artist and their work. In the 60s, the single was the primary means by which an artist released their music before bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys demonstrated the artistic importance of the album. In 2007, Prabir and the Substitutes demonstrated their respect for the physical release of an album by intending for the duplicate copy included with their EP, Share, to be given to a friend. The group might not save the physical album from certain doom, but they’re putting up a valiant fight.

Screaming Females will be playing this Sunday at the Nightlight with Bellafea and Caltrop, but first they’ll be coming into the WKNC studio to talk about their new record Power Move, their DIY ethic, and their time on the road for the last month. Be sure to tune in at 4PM on Sunday May 17.

On this wonderful afternoon, a few short hours after Love Language does their thing with Mz Kelly, The Local Beat (as usual, the abbreviated summer version ) will commence.

This week, right at 5:00, we’re having the Battle Rockets come in to talk about their show tonight at Slim’s Downtown.  Shortly thereafter (~5:30), our good friends Gray Young will come hang out, because they’re playing Slim’s tonight too (along with the Proclivities).

Battle Rockets, Gray Young, Proclivities Show Flyer 5/8

As you may recall, Gray Young graced us with their presence back on March 20th.  It was then that they proliferated the rumour that they’ll be opening for U2 this fall, so we’ll be giving them the polygraph test this evening.

And we may just have a pair of tickets to give away for that show tonight…

The Wolfpack will then be taking on Carolina in baseball at 6:30, which means we’ll be getting the boot.

Rich of The Pneurotics came into the Local Lunch on 3/12/09 for a quick interview, live performance, and debut of brand new material.

The Pneurotics played with Pink Flag, River City Ransom, and The Dry Heathens at The Brewery last night (3/12/09).

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Tune in Thursday, March 12th at noon as DJ Murdoc interviews The Pneurotics on Local Lunch.

Chapel Hill based The Pneurotics, will be playing at The Brewery with River City Ransom, The Dry Heathens, and Pink Flag Thursday night at 8pm.

Look for Murdoc’s Local Music Picture Blog later this week for coverage of the event.

That’s right. The Nashville, but Raleigh born, band Pico vs Island Trees will be stopping by our studio February 26th to promote their headlining show the same night at Cat’s Cradle

DJ Mean Gene will be chatting with the band from 1-2pm. Possible questions could include why the band is named after a famous 1982 Supreme Court Case (Island Trees School District) or what their thoughts are for their highly anticipated EP, entitled Futura, which is set to release this spring.

Be sure to tune in for this great interview!

Provided by Myspace

Pico vs Island Trees will be playing with Slow Runner and Max Indian

Show starts at 8pm