Tune into WKNC 88.1 FM this week and when the DJ asks for it, call the request lines at 919-515-0881 or 919-515-2400 for your chance to win tickets to these shows! Good luck!
Last year, one of the most important lessons that I learned about Hopscotch is how important it is to just go with the flow. When I started on Thursday, I thought I had everything planned out; all the bands I wanted to see were highlighted on my artist lineup print out. As the night went on, I started to talk to more and more people who were excited to see artists I had totally overlooked. When I broke away from my “ideal” schedule, I found that my Hopscotch experience was much more interesting, exciting, and diverse—not that there’s anything wrong with trying to plan, just be sure to keep an open mind!
Last week, Phian interviewed Youth League before they played at Tir Na nOg Irish Pub for Local Band Local Beer. During the interview, Youth League songs “Football”, “Japanese Draculas”, “Let’s Elope!”, and “For John” were played. If you like what you hear, you can check out more of Youth League at their Bandcamp.
Though Atlanta trap music has been around a while, only in recent years has it cracked into mainstream American music. Turn on any commercial hip hop radio station to hear the lean-driven drawl of Future or the combination of mumbling, rapping, and singing that Young Thug puts out. Though it sometimes seems like it has become a genre driven by radio hits and record labels, some still aim to put out fresh music while not adhering to the same basic formula of modern Atlanta rap stars. Among them is Father and group, Awful Records.
While most Atlanta trap stars use strip clubs like Magic City to expose their music to fans, Father has taken a different approach. He and his friends have built a small, rabid following of fans on the Internet. His business approach isn’t the only thing that sets Father apart. Using minimal yet 808-heavy beats that he often produces and engineers himself, Father sits perfectly at the intersection of Internet rap hipster and trap star. He values having fun and making unique music with his friends over cultivating an image of toughness. Though his voice can be a little off-putting at first, heavy beats and catchy hooks will eventually have you belting out every lyric at full volume. Above all, Father doesn’t take himself or his music too seriously and asks that his fans don’t as well.
For an introduction to Father, check out his mini-hit “Look at Wrist” that features fellow Atlanta fringe stars Key! And ILoveMakonnen. Other good songs include “Nokia”, “Back in the ‘A’”, and “Young Hot Ebony”.
You can see Father perform at Hopscotch Music Fest here in Raleigh Friday at 11:00 at Lincoln Theatre. Keep on an eye on the WKNC blog for more exclusive content leading up to the festival.
Last Thursday, Phian interviewed with the Manimals before they played at Tir Na nOg Irish Pub for Local Band Local Beer. During the interview, Phian played the Manimals’ tracks “Rule of Cool”, “Tangible Reasons”, “Mustard Stains”, and “Loose Ends”. If you like what you hear, you can check out more from the Manimals at their bandcamp.
Last Thursday, Phian interviewed Powder Room before they played at Tir Na nOg Irish Pub for Local Band Local Beer. During the interview, Phian played the Powder Room tracks “Disappointment”, “Earthworm”, “Dead Pet”, and “Frayed”. If you like what you hear, you can check out more from Powder Room at their Bandcamp.
1. TAME IMPALA – Currents – Interscope 2. WHITE REAPER – White Reaper Does It Again – Polyvinyl 3. TEARJERKER – Stay Wild – Self-Released 4. WESTKUST – Last Forever – Run For Cover 5. SORORITY NOISE – Joy, Departed – Topshelf 6. DAMAGED BUG – Cold Hot Plumbs – Castle Face 7. STRANGE WILDS – Subjective Concepts – Sub Pop 8. WORRIERS – Imaginary Life – Don Giovanni 9. LA LUZ – Weirdo Shrine – Hardly Art 10. TITUS ANDRONICUS – The Most Lamentable Tragedy – Merge 11. DUCKTAILS – St. Catherine – Domino 12. GIRLPOOL – Before The World Was – Big Wichita 13. J. FERNANDEZ – Many Levels Of Laughter – Joyful Noise 14. MAC DEMARCO – Another One – Captured Tracks 15. UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA – Multi-Love – Jagjaguwar 16. VINYL WILLIAMS – Into – Company 17. MATILDE DAVOLI – I’m Calling You From My Dreams – Loyal To Your Dreams 18. RATATAT – Magnifique – XL 19. FAILURE – The Heart Is A Monster – InGrooves 20. DESAPARECIDOS – Payola – Epitaph 21. MEWITHOUTYOU – Pale Horses – Run For Cover 22. KID WAVE – Wonderlust – Heavenly 23. CREEPING PINK – Mirror Woods – Castle Face 24. JACK AND ELIZA – Gentle Warnings – Yebo 25. SEAPONY – A Vision – Self-Released 26. GRAVE BABIES – Holographic Violence – Hardly Art 27. GWENNO – Y Dydd Olaf – Heavenly 28. JAMIE XX – In Colour – Young Turks 29. MANATREE – Manatree – EggHunt 30. SOAK – Before We Forgot How To Dream – Rough Trade
WKNC TOP 5 ADDS
1. ULTIMATE PAINTING – Green Lanes – Trouble In Mind 2. ROYAL HEADACHE – High – What’s Your Rupture 3. DEAF WISH – Pain – Sub Pop 4. STOLEN JARS – Kept – Self-Released 5. LITTLE RACER – Foreign Tongues – Papercup