Only something so important and profound could bring me out of my food science/chemistry induced blogging slumber the day before a microbiology exam: Troika Music Festival. Not only is this the biggest and baddest three- day long local music extravaganza in North Carolina but this is the best line-up they have ever had. I just had to wet my paws on this one.
Troika this year is just not fair. It’s not fair at the amount of awesome shows the will be happening and the amazing bands that will be playing each day. It isn’t fair because there is only one of me. I want to be at every show and hear every song by all the bands playing. I hate you Bonnaroo Troika, yet, I love you.
Because I can’t be everywhere at once, I have mapped out the path I will try to take as I wind my way around downtown Durham to every show. The weather might be a tad chilly but it should be nice enough to walk or ride your bike around downtown Durham and enjoy all the shows you can. This listing is just where I plan to be (subject to change). Feel free to modify my path and comment below.
| Adam’s Top Troika Bands of 2009 | |
| 1. Mount Moriah 2. Luego 3. Megafaun 4. Schooner 5. Caltrop 6. Pistil 7. All Your Science 8. Birds and Arrows 9. Future Islands 10. The Tender Fruit |
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Thursday Night
7 p.m.
Of course I will be starting off Troika as I did last year: Broadcasting on WKNC live from the Festival Kickoff in Durham Central Park. The Beast is going on first, followed by Megafaun. If you don’t make this, you don’t like local music.
8:30 p.m.
After the Festival Kickoff this gives me plenty of time to walk on over to the Durham Performing Arts Center for one of my favorite up-and-coming band, Ghost Cats of the South. This new folky sounding indie group from Durham caught my ears over the summer with their demo and I have yet to see them live, though I have yet to hear a bad thing.
9:45 p.m.
For the next hour I have to head over to the Pinhook for House of Fools and Aminal. Aminal played LBLB a while back and wowed the audience as well as myself. Plus, I have had their two EPs they put out earlier this year on constant rotation in my house.
10:45 p.m.
Since I saw Max Indian last Friday, and I saw Bowerbirds before its members left for Europe a couple of weeks ago I am going to drop back by the Duke Coffeehouse to catch the last two shows there for the night. EAR PWR and Future Islands are two bands my feet have been craving recently. (I will make it up to The Moaners somehow).
Friday Night
If I didn’t have a radio gig (The Local Beat, people!) on Friday I would probably be heading to The West End Wine Bar from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for what could be one of the best shows of the night. Tea and Tempests, Liza Kate, and Birds & Arrows back-to-back-to-back. I’ll try not to think about what I am missing there for what should be a chilled-out good time, especially since I have not heard Tea and Tempests before.
8:45 p.m.
I saw the Huguenots fairly recently, otherwise I would be hitting them up at the Trotter Building. Instead I am going to drop by The Pinhook to see The Scientific Superstar. Probably one of the stranger groups in the area (they base their songs off of the comic books that go along with their albums) I have yet had the pleasure to see what they do in front of a crowd.
9:45 p.m.
Jews and Catholics are always a must for me when they play in Raleigh (which isn’t often enough) so I am sure to swing by Broad Street Cafe for the first time in ages. Depending on how far I mind walking, I also wouldn’t want to miss Brett Harris either who is playing at the same time at the Trotter Building. Decisions, decisions…
10:15 p.m.
Assuming that my hearing is almost gone by this point, I may have to skip Caltrop, which is still ringing in my ears from the last time they melted my face off and stop by the Duke Coffeehouse instead for the Pneurotics. Even though I interviewed them about their latest release, Second Skin, I have not had the time to see them live when they have played. I can’t wait to hear the new songs in front of an audience that includes more than just me.
11 p.m.
I Was Totally Destroying it has been playing A LOT recently and sounds tighter than ever. Plus, I am always down to hear some more of their new tracks from Horror Vacui.
11:30 p.m.
My last show before I call it a night will be to see All Your Science who is playing late night at Bull McCabe’s. I havn’t seen them since Troika last year when they completely won me over. It’s been too long.
Saturday
Assuming that my beloved Wolfpack are not getting destroyed early by Maryland on Saturday it seems unlikely I will be leaving the game at Carter Finley early. If I did however, I would NOT miss Mount Moriah (playing at 2:30 at the Trotter Building), possibly my favorite band in the Triangle right now. You have got to hear them.
9 p.m.
The Bronzed Chorus put out one of my favorite albums of 2009 with I’m The Spring and I have never seen them live. I hear they really put on a good live show though so I will be getting over to the Trotter Building first and foremost to watch them play Saturday evening.
9:45 p.m.
Once the Bronzed Chorus is done I will be sticking around to watch Maple Stave. Though I would love to see Veronique Diabolique since I couldn’t make it to their show last weekend. This could be a tossup.
10:30 p.m.
I just saw Schooner last Friday (who completely ruled) and I have seen them probably more than any band in North Carolina, so instead I will be going to Luego for the second time in as many weeks. Luego is just one of those bands I cannot get enough of.
11:30 p.m.
The Butterflies are one of those bands I just have never been able to get around to seeing live.
12:15 a.m.
Pistil is by far the best band playing late on Saturday and one I havn’t been able to see in quite some time as well. I will be ending my night at Bull McCabe’s once more to round off Troika.
For video footage of Troika bands, check out WRAL’s entertainment vlog.