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

This week’s Local Beat is going to be the first in a while with live music as all three of the bands coming in plan on playing some tunes for us on the air.

Carrboro group Max Indian is kicking things off at 5 p.m. to promote their show at the Local 506 on August 27. Max Indian is playing less and less these days, so I plan on asking them about the group’s recent happenings and chat with them about their upcoming gig during Hopscotch.

Twelve Thousand Armies is the closest band we have in the area that represents a cult following as their music has largely been missed due to lack of promotion and live shows, and I am excited to welcome them on the program at 6p .m. They are also playing the Local 506 on the 27th with Max Indian and The Houston Brothers. It will be their first interview on WKNC—who just twisted the band’s arm to finally get a hold of their album that came out awhile back—and I am sure many of you have been hearing constantly since.

At 7 p.m., Asheville artist Darien will be jumping on board to promote several upcoming shows in our area. Darien is relatively unknown around our region, but that has been quickly changing with her last release, Theorem, which came out on Alive and Well back in March. Darien has a busy couple of weeks in the area that include five shows in the Triangle between now and September 3.

As always, the fun starts at 5 p.m. and will last until 8 p.m.! Don’t worry if you miss it as all interviews are put on the WKNC blog following the show. Be sure to follow the Local Beat on Twitter or Facebook and download tons of free local music on our ReverbNation page!

This week we have a lot of cool stuff to give away!

Image Courtesy of Jason, Used under Creative Commons

We have tickets to The Stone Temple Pilots with The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on October 5 at The Raleigh Amphitheatre and  Sound Tribe System 9 at The Raleigh Amphitheatre on August 25.

This Photo Is Courtesy of WarpaintWarpaint

We have tickets to Warpaint on August 18 at The Local 506.

This Image is Licensed under Creative Commons

On August 19, we have tickets to Cockabilly Roadshow at The Pour House and Lou Barlow At Cat’s Cradle.

Chatham County Line

On August 20, we have tickets to Jack the Radio at Slim’s, Chatham County Line at Fletcher Theatre, and The Design at The Pour House.

On August 21, we have tickets to Malarkey Gras ft. American Aquarium at The Pour House.

DON’T FORGET THAT WE HAVE MOVIE TICKETS TO:

The Other Guys, Scott Pilgrim v. The World, and The Expendables

Keep Listening to WKNC for these giveaways and more!

Unfortunately, schedules have a way of tying up.  Samuel and William of Future Islands will no longer be coming to the station, but rather they will be calling the studio around 4pm  for a live phone interview.  No hard feelings; these guys rock. They will be at the Local 506 tonight, don’t miss it!

If you’ve been in the Triangle for any number of years like I have, then you’ve likely seen Future Islands play. Their dark-wave synth dance music is addicting and the experience is an intoxicating modern take on Shakespeare. Their live performances never leave the crowd unsatisfied. Band members Gerrit Welmers, William Cashion and Samuel T Herring have moved the band from Greenville to Raleigh and most recently to Baltimore where they quickly became part of Dan Deacon’s artist collective, Wham City. However, the Triangle has been an important middle ground for Future Islands. Kind of like the lunch room in middle school where that delicate mix of young minds are eager to find other young minds, the triangle has provided this cultivation for collaboration.

I’ll sit down with the band Friday and talk about their voyage. Tune in to hear tracks from their discography and old favorites from their first project, Art Lord and The Self Portraits.  And if you have any stories or experiences from a Future Islands show that you’d like to share, please email them to kelly@wknc.org. We’ll take it to the airwaves with the band. They will be at the WKNC studio Friday for an on-air interview at 4 p.m. The band is touring in support of their recent release, “In Evening Air.” The release is their second LP and first on the Chicago Indie Label, Thrill Jockey.

Future Islands will be headlining at the Local 506 this Friday with additional acts: EAR PWR, Nuclear Power Pants, and Fat Camp.

Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

Gonna be in town over the winter break? Entertaning guests? Wondering what to fill all that free time with?

Go with live music, of course!

Below are my  recommendations for shows between December 17 to January 11 (N.C. State’s Winter Break)

December 17:

Who: Sea Legs & Old Bricks

Where: WKNC’s Local Beer Local Band atTir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh

I must say it, these are actually two of my favorite local bands. Both bands are new to the scene but I predict they will have quite a name for themselves by this time next year. Catch um while their new so you can be the cool guy who knew them when they were the little people.

December 18:

Who: Fin Fang Foom, Free Electric State, Gray Young

Where: Pinhook in Durham

If you haven’t yet been to the Pinhook, this is your excuse. Not only is it one of my favorite places to drink, they have a killer patio, these local bands are all worth seeing.

December 19:

Who: Holiday Honky Tonk and Burlesque Show

Where: Local 506 in Chapel Hill

Say whhhat? I get to see The Whiskey Smugglers, The Pneurotics and Gambling the Muse all while Miss Mary Wanna puts on a burlesque performance…. I’m sold.

December 20:

Where: Nightlight in Chapel Hill

What: Nightlight Holiday Craft Fair from 2 to 6 p.m.

Okay, so it’s not music. Think of it this way though, its local art and any local art that is presented to me will get a moment of my time. Stop by, especially if you haven’t checked everyone off your shopping list yet.

December 21 to 24:

It’s my birthday week so I would love to celebrate with some tunes! Unfortunately, the world seems to shut down around these dates, I’m not sure why. If YOU want to serenade me happy birthday feel free to find me at one of these shows!

The Cave in Chapel Hill is holding an all day open swap December 22 and 23. You can buy and trade your doodads. Sounds like fun!

December 25:

Where: The Pour House in Raleigh

You can celebrate Christmas day along with Terry Anderson, who will be celebrating his birthday as well. He brings his band, The Olympic Ass Kicking Team to the Pour House. You know there isn’t much to do after the family is done opening gifts and eating food so bring them to sing along!

December 26:

What: The Merch Holiday Party

Where: Local 506 in Chapel Hill

The Merch is a local screen printing and design business whose logos are plastered all over the triangle. They are huge supporters of local music and we love that!  Not sure what the night entails but it should be something great! The party starts at 10pm

December 31st:

Downtown Raleigh

First Night Raleigh

Ring in the new year right! Surround yourself with the amazingness this town has to offer. First Night is offering performances by The African American Dance Ensemble, Crucial Fiya and the Annuals (plus a million other amazing things to see and do). While your downtown don’t forget to stop by Slims to see A Rooster for the Masses.

OR

New Years Eve Party at Local 506 in Chapel Hill

Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, The Love Language and the Dirty Little Heaters share the stage to help you ring in the new year!

January 1:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  there isn’t much going on this week so make sure to rest up for next week because it is jam-packed with shows to witness!

January 6

Where: The Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh

Who: The Ex-Monkeys are spinnin in downtown Raleigh this night. Great to see if you’re in the mood for a different kind of electronic music to dance too.

January 7

Where: Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Raleigh

IT BEGINS! RALEIGH UNDERCOVER STARTS TONIGHT!!

This a weekend all local music lovers should look forward too! Your favorite bands will cover the bands that have inspired them. Last years performances  included Valient Thorr covering Parliament Funkadelic, Hearts and Daggers covering The Beastie Boys and Embarrassing Fruits as Pavement. Make sure to be there for at least one night this weekend!

January 8:

Where: The Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh

Who: Your favorite local artists Lonnie Walker, Megafaun and The Rosebuds are all joining together to put on one amazing show. The night will be a prom theme and fun for everyone! If you can’t make it out on the 8th, no worries, Megafaun and The Rosebuds will be performing again, same place same time, only this time the amazing Hammer No More the Fingers will be joining them.

January 9:

Where: The Nightlight in Chapel Hill

Who: Midtown Dickens takes the stage with Joe Romeo and the Orange County Volunteers. Midtown Dickens is a group that consistently keeps a smile on my face. They are a joy to watch and with this year’s release of Lanterns, you wont be let down.

Also right down the street North Elementary will be playing at The Local 506. A classic local group that is worth the short walk!

That is it for now!

The new year seems to be starting out well here in the Triangle!

Members of the local music collective Drug Horse Cartel will be on WKNC Thursday, December 10, around 3:30 pm. Nick Jaeger (Max Indian, The Tomahawks), Ryan Gustafson, Jeff Crawford (Max Indian, The Tomahawks), and Josh Moore will be on to discuss the various bands and solo acts associated with the group and their upcoming Holiday Show this Friday at Local 506, so be sure and tune in!

This Friday, October 23, indie trio Simple will release their new EP titled “WKNC Sessions Live.”  This is by no means a coincidence; we here at sessions@KNC recorded this very EP in the Caldwell Lounge back in May.

You should be pumped for a few reasons:

1. This thing rocks.

2. The show and CD are both FREE (but you’ll probably get a little nod toward a donation fund).

3. The songs on the CD are slightly different from what you heard online; they’ve been mastered and sound even better!

The show is at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill Friday at 10 p.m.  You’ll also see guest groups Nathan Oliver and Wild Wild Geese; two more bands with totally unique, cool sounds!

Also, Simple will be interviewed during The Local Beat on the same day at 5 p.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM.  Listen in!

There are always lots of awesome shows going on in the Triangle, but October seems to be just stuffed full of them. Below is a limited preview of some of the hippest, hottest acts to catch this month.

WKNC gets a lot of praise for our weekly Local Beer Local Band series at Tir Na Nog, but a good chunk of the credit belongs to Chris Tamplin. Help thank Chris for putting up with us Thursday, Oct. 1 as Local Beer Local Band doubles as Chris’s Birthday Local Band Bash. Prabir and The Substitutes and Goner are on the bill and rumor has it there may be a magician.

The much anticipated Hear Here finale show is Saturday, Oct. 3 at The Pour House. Motorskills opens, followed by Inflowential and The Love Language. Tickets are not available in advance so be sure to get there when doors open at 8 p.m. Once inside $5 will get you a copy of the Hear Here CD; there are less than 90 shopping days before Christmas so feel free to stock up.

St. Vincent was one of the hottest groups on 88.1 this summer. They open for Andrew Bird Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Thursday, Oct. 8. at the Cat’s Cradle. Both nights are sold out. If you aren’t one of the lucky ticket holders, personal favorites Everclear play Oct. 8 at the Lincoln Theatre.

Saturday, Oct. 10 is I Was Totally Destroying It’s release party for Horror Vacui at the Cat’s Cradle. The $7 advance and $10 door prices include a copy of the CD. If that isn’t enough to get you there, how about supporting bands Lonnie Walker, Des Ark, Rat Jackson and Lake Inferior?

Baltimore-based J. Roddy Walston and the Business is one of those bands you love as though they were native sons. Mike Roy joins them for their CD release party Wednesday, Oct. 14 at The Pour House.

Berkley Café hosts Lonnie Walker, Goner and Gray Young on Friday, Oct. 16. Try not to rock so hard you miss Luego’s CD release party Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Local 506. The Tomahawks and The Huguenots will be there too.

Raleigh’s Cherry Bounce Music Festival starts Sunday, Oct. 18 and runs throughout the week at various local venues. I’ve been sworn to secrecy about the line-up, but I can tell you to tune in to Local Lunch on Thursday to find out more.

Experimental prog rockers The Mars Volta invade the Disco Rodeo on Friday, Oct. 23. They’ll be in Charlotte the day before if you’re a really big fan.

A bunch of KNC staff saw Charlotte’s Benji Hughes in April and they’re still talking about it. See him for yourself as he performs with The Light Pines Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Local 506.

Fridays on the Lawn continue Friday, Oct. 30 with Max Indian and Schooner. It’s a totally free show on Harris Field, right in front of our radio home in the Witherspoon Student Center (corner of Cates Ave and Dan Allen Drive) at N.C. State. WKNC and the Union Activities Board put on the show with support from Student Government and the Inter-residence Council.

Check out WKNC’s Rock Report for more shows and feel free to leave comments about who’s on your to see list for October.

This Friday’s Local Beat has to be one for the ages.  My fourth week on the show is gearing up to be the best so far with special guests Superchunk, Ryan Gustafson, and the Pneurotics.

Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance of local legend Superchunk are calling in at 5pm to talk about their new book based on their label Merge Records: “OUR NOISE: The Story of Merge Records, the Indie Label that Got Big and Stayed Small“.  The book is set to be released Tuesday, September 15 via Algonquin Books.  Mac and Laura will be traveling across the state to promote the new book and play some tunes of their own at the following bookstores:

Local blog Triangle Music did an excellent short review on the book which you can read here.

You have been hearing Ryan Gustafson’s solo work on WKNC for a couple of weeks now, but at 6pm on the Local Beat Ryan is stopping by to chat about his CD Release party tonight at the Local 506 with two amazing bands, Mount Moriah and Mandolin Orange (show is $5 and starts at 9:30pm).  His album, Donkey LP, has certainly proven to be one of my favorites this summer and Spencer Griffith of The Indepdent Weekly gave the album an admirable review which you can check out here.

The Pneurotics Second Skin on next Friday!

The final hour of the show brings The Pneurotics on to chat up another new album and another Local 506 release party; this one their own.  The album is titled Second Skin and is set to be released Friday, September 18th at the 506 with The Travesties and Rat Jackson taking the stage as well (show is $8 and starts at 9:30pm). 

So tune in to the Local Beat every Friday evening from 5pm-8pm.  If you are out of the area be sure to listen online!

Max Indian at the Nightlight in May Photo by Mike Gray

Max Indian will be joining me, DJ Caid, in studio today at 1pm right after the Local Lunch.  Max Indian will be in to talk about their show this coming Friday with The Tomahawks and Ryan Gustafson at the Local 506.  The show starts at 9:30pm.

Tune in for more information!

All right, we have a jam-packed Local Beat for you today (in a few short hours, actually).

A Rooster for the Masses, c/o the band's Myspace

At 5:00 our good friends A Rooster for the Masses will be stopping by to talk about their show for The Club Is Open Festival over at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill.  They’re playing with Red Collar, The Loners, and Rat Jackson tonight.  Talk about rocking.

At 6:00 we’re going in a slightly different direction than usual, with the band Sandbox.  Unfamiliar? Check out an article the Indy ran on them a while back here.  They’ll be performing in studio, as well.

Bombadil performing "Cavaliers Har Hum" at the Lincoln Theatre 4/10, c/o Mike Gray

And lastly, Bombadil will be joining us at the 7:00 hour to talk about their CD release listening party.  This from the band’ website:

We are thrilled to announce that Durham’s own improvisational marching band, The Scene of the Crime Rovers, will join the bill with Luego and The Tender Fruit.  We couldn’t be more excited to have them–Daniel and Bryan both played in the SOC Rovers for a little while and found them to be a true inspiration.

Tomorrow morning on Americana Blues & Co we will start the show off with an interview with Thomas Moorefield of Sleepless Nights, a tribute band for Gram Parsons.

Sleepless Nights is playing alongside local act Lynn Blakey, of Tres Chicas fame, and headlining is Joe Swank and the Zen Pirates at the Local 506 on Thursday May 28th at 9pm.  We will be doing giveaways for the show, including some merchandise and a handful of tickets, but come prepared with you Gram Parsons trivia knowledge as you might need it (hint)

In addition to pumping up this amazing concert we will talk about Sleepless Nights performing in Nashville on September 19th at the “GP3″ event.  “GP3″ stands for Gram Parsons Petition Party, which is an event to draw attention to the ongoing petition drive to have Gram inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

My my my, the hits just keep coming on the Local Beat.  If you thought DJ Stevo was gone for good, then you thought wrong.  He’s only expressing his love for the North Carolina music scene in a different way now, through his brand new label, Neckbeard Records.  And as part of the Neckbeard Records launch, they’re throwing a free show at the Local 506 on Friday night.  The lineup is Gray Young, I Was Totally Destroying It, and Lemming Malloy–who will be releasing their album on Neckbeard that night.  So some combination of Stevo, Lemming Malloy, and others will be stopping by right at 5:00 to talk about what the band and the label has been up to — and what they have in store.

Then at 6:00, we’re going to switch directions completely–Colossus will be stopping in to talk about their show next Wednesday (5/27) at the Pour House.  They’ll be playing alongside Black Skies and Caltrop in what promises to be a pretty epic local metal show.  It’s not confirmed yet, but Caltrop may be joining them.  It remains to be seen.  What is certain, though, is that we’ll be having a good time and getting to know our favorite bands a little better.  And baseball is over, so we get the full 3 hours again!  Be sure to tune in at 5:00 at 88.1 FM or wknc.org/listen.

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.