This week we speculate on the announced collaboration between Modest Mouse and Big Boi. We talk about PJ Harvey’s latest video project. And we review new albums by Bill Callahan and Fleet Foxes.
Category: Music News and Interviews
Music news, interviews, features and giveaways
This week we look at Johnny Marrs’ departure from The Cribs, that Coldplay fans allegedly have less sex, and we review new albums by both The Kills and TV on the Radio.
Saturday will mark the 2011 installment of Record Store Day, celebrating the art of music and independently-owned record stores. Main attractions include special vinyl and CD releases, in-store performances, and giveaways, like Record Store Day’s website giving away a Buddy Miller guitar.
Schoolkids Records in Raleigh will open at 10:0 a.m. Saturday and have in-store performances by Radical Classical, Dex Romweber, The Raveonettes, and Adventure. CD Alley in Chapel Hill and Offbeat Music in Durham will open at 10:00a.m. as well. Durham’s Bull City Records will open at 11:00 a.m., with refreshments and surprise performances.
“I think it’s a great celebratory day that brings awareness to the physical stores," said Chaz Martenstein, owner of Bull City Records. "It’s a joint day shared between the stores and the people who keep them open. I love the spirit of it.”
As an added bonus, any purchase made at Schoolkids, Bull City, and Wilmington’s Gravity Records will enter you into a drawing for two All-Show writstbands for Hopscotch music festival. The lineup for the September festival will be announced April 20.
For more information about Record Store Day and participating stores, visit RecordStoreDay.com.
Live Nation will be presenting English folk-rock band and recent Grammy performers, Mumford & Sons to the Raleigh Ampitheatre for a June 8 performance. Tickets for Mumford & Sons at the Raleigh Ampitheatre go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com, but 88.1 has them now. When the WKNC deejay asks for it, be the correct caller at 919-860-0881 or 919-515-2400 and score a pair of tickets to the show!
They are delicious and they are going FAST! (only you don’t have to pay for them… )
This week at WKNC we have some amazing giveaways we are pretty excited about. We’ve also got something AMAZING coming next week, so stay tuned (literally). Or become our friend on facebook to find out NOW.
4/6 Black Lips @ Cat’s Cradle
4/7 Destroyer @ Cat’s Cradle
Surf City @ Kings
Movie: Hanna @ Mission Valley Cinema
4/8 Fridays on the Lawn: Midtown Dickens and Butterflies @ Harris Field (Just kidding, you can’t win tickets… its FREE for everyone!)
4/9 Dr. Dog @ Cat’s Cradle
Rotting Christ (Chainsaw) @ Volume 11
4/13 The Greenhornes @ Kings
Remember, you have to listen to win!
The Huguenots have been getting airplay on WKNC for nearly four years now, but the group has yet to release anything official but some spare demos. That is until April 8, when the group is putting out their first LP. The Huguenots are known for the super poppy and upbeat music they seem to craft effortlessly and their enjoyable live shows, but finally, the band will release some tangible music. Founding member York Howie came in to represent the band and share a couple unheard tracks from the upcoming album. It had been awhile since I interviewed the Huguenots, so we caught up and took a look back at where it all began at UNC Asheville. York was a wonderful guest and gave us an insightful look into the recording of the album and told us how it all came together.
The Huguenots: Local Beat Mini Exclusive
You can catch the Huguenots at their album release show at the Local 506 on April 8 where they are playing with the Tomahawks. Tickets are $6
It has been quite some time since A Rooster for the Masses put out a new album, but the popular local group is doing just that on April 15 at Kings Barcade when they release their third and newest LP No One Is Ready. Still upbeat with a touch of disco and an air of reggae, ARFTM has certainly kept the same vibe with this record as their past discs, and that is a wonderful thing. Founding member Adam Eckhardt and myself shared a brief 30 minute conversation where he reflected on the history of the band and its current state as well as the new album. We also listened to several new tracks including “No One Is Ready,” “Make Much Sense,” “At The Gates,” and “Die By Day.” Give it a listen below:
A Rooster For The Masses: Local Beat Mini Exclusive
The doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. Greensboro-based Decoration Ghost and Raleigh favorites River City Ransom are also playing. Tickets are $6 online and $8 at the door.
This week K’nuckles joins DJ Ones to review new albums by The Rural Alberta Advantage and The Mountain Goats.
1. LCD Soundsystem has announced that they will follow-up their final show at Madison Square Garden on April2 with a national tour. When asked about the change in heart, frontman James Murphy said, “I don’t know. I thought it would be cool to go out with a bang. I was probably too hungover to realize what I was doing.” (via DerpSounds)
2. Jack White has announced the latest creation of Third Man Records. In following up with the Double Decker album, a 12 inch with a 7 inch record inside, White has announced the Triple Decker. This new concoction contains a 12 inch with a 7 inch on the inside with a CD within the 7 inch. White claimed, “We’re really bringing a new experience to music. This isn’t a gimmick. This is a revolution.” (Daily Speaker)
3. The New York band Yeah Yeah Yeahs have revealed a change in direction for their next release. The band, which has yet to announce their next album, will be renaming themselves. The No No No’s will be the next name for the trio. (PhonoFun)
4. Bjork is set to release a new album. The album, which will be heavy metal instead of Bjork’s usual pop sound, is set to released sometime, possibly never. Inspired in part by the work of Slayer, Bjork told reporters lots of words in a quiet and incoherent fashion, none of which the writers could decipher. (DeckCheck)
5. In an effort to confuse future fans, She and Him have confirmed that the follow-up to “Volume 2” will be titled “Volume 4.” (Rolling Herp)
April Fools!
In SoundOff we discuss the news of the songwriting process of The Strokes, and we review new albums by Lykki Li and Peter, Bjorn and John.