Category: Music News and Interviews

Music news, interviews, features and giveaways

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Music News and Interviews

WKNC has Phoenix Tickets!

Whether your first experience with Phoenix has been hearing their 1901 track on the Cadillac Crossover commercial or if you’ve stuck with the band since their debut album United, it is undeniable that the French band has set their mark with their eclectic and synthesized sound. Formed in 1999, the group got their start touring in French bars doing Hank Williams and Prince covers and has since released four albums. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was released in 2009 and received recognition on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in January 2010 and won Best Alternative Album at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.

This week WKNC will be giving away tickets to their show on June 11th at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary before they go on sale! When the deejay announces it, be the correct caller to win a pair of tickets to the show. Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

And don’t fret if you don’t win this week, because daytime deejays will also be giving away pairs of tickets next week too!

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Music News and Interviews

Local Beat Mini Exclusive: Blag’ard

This morning I had Chapel Hill band Blag’ard come join me for a Local Beat Mini Exclusive to chat about their brand new album Mach II which is being released tonight at the Reservoir in Chapel Hill and at the Dive Bar tomorrow night in Raleigh.  The show tonight will feature a magic and burlesque show with Rosie Hellfire and Reverend Spider with Michael Rank and Marc Smith doing an acoustic opening.  There will also be free vegetarian chili to warm your bones.  The show at the Dive Bar is featuring Asheville art-rock act Solito. Both shows are free.

Blag’ard is a duo and this is their third release and their second LP.  We chatted about the making of the album, which was done mostly analogue, and partially recorded at Track and Field Studios.  It also came up in our conversation that Adam is the third drummer of the band to have a child while being in the band, a topic which is fairly interesting.  In addition Joe chatted about his website Pig Zen Space, a music download Web site with all proceeds going to the artist.

Listen below for more:
Local Beat Mini Exclusive: Blag’ard

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Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones’ Five Music Facts from the past week

1. Here We Go Magic have announced that they will be kicking off their next tour alongside powerhouse act, The New Pornographers and White Rabbits. Upcoming dates include playing SXSW, Coachella, and Bonnaroo. In an effort to expand, the one time music project, turn full-time quintet, has recently signed with Secretly Canadian records. Their sophomore album is set to release sometime this Spring. (via Pitchfork)

2. LCD Soundsystem’s frontman, James Murphy, has unveiled that the follow-up to their critically acclaimed “Sound of Silver.” While on track at hitting the projected March release date, Murphy has also been hard at work on the score of the movie Greenburg. (via Pitchfork)

3. Thom Yorke has officially announced a name for the band that he started playing with as. Now referred to as Atoms of Peace (actually named after an Eisenhower policy during the 50s to promote peace in a nuclear age), the band plans on playing shows in New York, Oakland, Chicago, and at the Coachello music festival. (via Pitchfork)

4. Doves have given details on their upcoming best of album entitled, “The Places Between: The Best of Doves.” A three disc set, the first disc compiles some of their best songs, the second focuses on rare b-sides, and the third (which is a DVD) has a handful of music videos they have released. (via NME)

5. Fleet Foxes singer, Robin Pecknold has revealed that he will be joining Joanna Newsom on her upcoming tour dates in March and April. While Fleet Foxes is currently working on their sophomore album, Joanna Newsom is touring in support of her new (absoultely amazing) triple album, “Have One on Me.” (via NME)

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Local Music Music News and Interviews

Three Interviews for the Price of One

Everyone seems to have had their say about the show at the Pour House Music Hall last Friday, which featured Annuals with support from Gray Young and Bright Young Things.  I was there and it rocked.

(Seriously, check Cabbage’s review of the show as well as Karen Mann’s always excellent coverage.)

But let’s not forget the 2/11 Local Beer, Local Band show at Tir Na Nog that featured Bright Young Things with support from Luego and Naked Gods (straight outta Boone).

And let’s not forget the three interviews in one hour preceding that show.  That’s right, I shuffled all three of these bands in and out of the studio.  Better yet, Bright Young Things played a Jayhawks-inspired version of their own “She Left You Dreaming.”  Luego followed with Patrick’s solo version of “Run Away” that will be on their album Ocho, to be released later this year.

Check the interview below – the catch is that you have to sift through to my voice to catch the live songs. But they’re worth it!  Enjoy.

Bright Young Things, Luego, Naked Gods interview!

(But wait, there’s more! Free Bright Young Things music at Bandcamp!)

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Music News and Interviews

The ExMonkeys on WKNC Wednesday night

Local electronic duo The ExMonkeys will be coming in to the WKNC studio for a full live performance and interview this Wednesday, February 24, at 8 p.m. Yes, I looked at the NCSU sports broadcast schedule this time and no, we will not be broadcasting a game on Wednesday. As mentioned, they’ll be doing a full live set, followed by an interview where we’ll discuss their sound, electronic music in the Triangle, and their monthly electro/noise night (co-hosted with the awesomely insane Cheezface) at The Pour House, Technoiz. So tune in, bob your head, and move your feet if you feel the need to do so.

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Music News and Interviews

Giveaways, giveaways, giveaways!

Be sure to tune in for your chance to win tickets to  these great local shows happening through the rest of the month!

Wednesday, February 17
The Urban Sophisticates w/ Kaze, Inflowential, & The Beast @ Cat’s Cradle

Thursday, February 18
Carlitta Durand w/ M1 Platoon, Jocelyn Ellis, Thee Tom Hardy & Jabee @ The Pour House

Friday, February 19
Annuals w/ Gray Young & Bright Young Things @ The Pour House

***In excitement for this show WKNC will also be giving away Annuals CD’s and T-Shirts! WKNC DJ’s will be playing song clips and when announced, be the correct caller with the right song title to win some awesome swag!***

SWASO w/ Violet Vectors and The Lovely Lovelies & The Guns of el Borracho @ Cat’s Cradle

Wednesday, February 24
The Clientele w/ Vetiver @ Cat’s Cradle

Thursday, February 25
State Radio w/ Big D and The Kids Table & Cobalt and the Hired Guns @ Cat’s Cradle

Don’t forget to check out the Rock Report for a complete listing of great shows happening in your area!

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Music News and Interviews

Bull City material online for free download

If you listen to the Local Beat, you might recall me complaining several weeks ago that Durham rock band Bull City seems to have dropped off the map.  While this is true, it isn’t without cause – members of the band have been finishing school, welcoming new little ones to their family, or in John Kurtz’s case, moved out of the area to New York City .

However, to add to this weekend’s already insane amount of fantastic local shows Bull City is putting on a show at the Pinhook with fellow locals The Dynamite Brothers. The show is just $5 and starts at 10 p.m. This might be the last time for another long while before you can see Bull City rock out on stage.

Additionally, the band just put free downloads of its Guns and Butter EP, a Sessions @ KNC live recording, and some new songs up on their bandcamp page.  Check it out and download away.

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Music News and Interviews

WKNC chart toppers at Schoolkids Records

The next time you’re in Schoolkids Records on Hillsborough Street, be on the lookout for the current top Daytime albums played on WKNC!  Interspersed among the CD racks of Schoolkids are homemade WKNC placecards that feature thoughtfully-written reviews by staff of our top-played records.

Part of the magic of browsing the local record store is the thrill of the search: thumbing through the record collection and discovering a true gem.  We hope that by offering our picks at Schoolkids we can have a more intimate dialogue with our listeners and with other fellow music lovers and that our relationship with Schoolkids can help us to further spread our passion for the many fantastic albums we sing along and dance to.

As the weeks go by, we expect to include among our recommendations the many genres of music we play on our station including picks from our fantastic local music scene, hip hop, afterhours, chainsaw, and music from our station’s many specialty shows.  Check this blog each week for a post from our music directors about the current chart topper,  and let us know what you think!

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Music News and Interviews

Annuals giveaways this week!

In a night of all Raleigh-based music, Annuals, Gray Young and Bright Young Things will take the stage this Friday, February 19 at The Pour House. In anticipation of the show, WKNC will be giving away lots of Annuals gear.

We have Annuals’ new EP, “Big Zeus” up for grabs in the studio, as well as t-shirts, as pictured below:

Stay tuned to WKNC for your chance to win Annuals music and attire!

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Music News and Interviews

New Month, New Giveaways, More Chances to Win!

A new month means new ticket giveaways and that’s exactly what WKNC 88.1 FM has for you! Be sure to tune in or listen online for your chances to win tickets to these great shows coming up this week:

Wednesday, February 10
Holy Ghost Tent Revival w/ The Woes & The Moneynotes @ The Pour House

Thursday, February 11
House of Fools w/ Ryan Gustafson & Medusa Stone @ The Pour House

Also, be sure to check out the Rock Report for a complete list of local shows happening in your area!