Category: Music News and Interviews

Music news, interviews, features and giveaways

Local acts nominated for Pitchfork Readers’ Poll and Grammy’s

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date December 7, 2009

It’s that time of year again.

Year-end best-of lists will be popping up all over the internet and magazines this month, with varying opinions on who had the best record, song, music video, live show, etc. etc.

The music-related website Pitchfork, however, is offering music fans the opportunity to pick their favorites in their annual Readers’ Poll. And a few local acts have made their longlist of nominees in a couple of categories. Chapel Hill country-rock band band Spider Bags are nominated for Best New Artist.

Raleigh’s own experimental folk group Megafaun’s fantastic second record, Gather, Form & Fly, is nominated for Most Underrated Album.

Chapel Hill guitar heroes Polvo are up for Best Reunion/Comeback.

And last, but certainly not least, Greenville ex-pats Future Islands, who also recently signed to Thrill Jockey, are up for Best Hope For 2010. So take a few minutes off from whatever you’re doing to waste time at work and head over to 2k9survey.pitchfork.com and help support some fantastic, home-grown music.

And while we’re on the subject of nominations, North Carolina hip-hop and soul group The Foreign Exchange have been nominated for a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track “Daykeeper” off of their recently released sophomore effort Leave It All Behind. Durham-via-Mali kora player Mamadou Diabaté is also up for Best Traditional World Music Album for his record Douga Mansa.

Tags future islands, local, Mamadou Diabaté, megafaun, Pitchfork, Polvo, spider bags, The Foreign Exchange

Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones’ Five Music Facts from the past week

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date December 7, 2009

1. Fleet Foxes have announced that its second album will be released sometime during the second half of 2010. Although few information has been given on any name, member Robert Peckfold described the sound as being “less poppy.” He continued, “There are definitely super-upbeat songs that are being worked on for the new record. But as a whole, it’s probably a little bit less upbeat.” (via Pitchfork)

2. Continuing on upcoming album releases, a spokesperson from Arcade Fire has announced that the band will be releasing a new single early next year with a new album coming out some time in the second half of the year. Although the band is expecting the album to be out sometime in second half of next year there is no definite date for the new album’s release. The upcoming record is being produced by Markus Dravs, the same producer that worked on their last full-length “Neon Bible.” (via NME)

3. Pavement’s Scott Kannberg has announced that if the Pavement’s upcoming reunion tour goes well. He said, “I think it is inevitable that we’ll make some more music.” He also mentioned that Pavement is also likely going to add more dates to the upcoming tour due to the high demand for tickets. (via The Age)

4. Hot Chip has announced a comeback single entitled “One Life Stand.” This will also be the title track of their fourth album. The single is set for a early February release. Following the release of its next album the band is planning on touring the UK. (via NME)

5. To finish out the common theme of 2010 releases this week, Cat Power has announced that she is currently working on her follow-up to her 2006 album, “The Greatest.” When she described what her writing process for this new album she added, “It’s just me this time.” Cat Power plans on doing a couple of shows in Australia in December and January. (via Pitchfork)

Tags Arcade Fire, Cat Power, daytime, DJ Ones, Fleet Foxes, Hot Chip, pavement

Music News and Interviews

Zappa Plays Zappa Ticket Giveaway on Mystery Roach!

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date December 3, 2009

If you missed the show in summer 2008, now is your chance to make up for it. Zappa Plays Zappa is coming back to the Lincoln Theatre and WKNC has two pairs of tickets to give away!

Mystery Roach, your two-hour study of Prog, Fusion, Psychedelic, and Garage on Saturday mornings, will be holding an essay contest!

The rules are simple. La Barba Rossa, host of Mystery Roach, will be accepting essay submissions from now until Tuesday January 5th. Winners for the January 13th performance will be announced on Mystery Roach Saturday morning, January 9th.

Suggested entry length is about one page, but you can be a genre-bender, if you like—-write Prog-Prose. One sentence? Sure. 10 pages? Why not? You can submit essays via email, but snail mail is encouraged. (See below for mailing address.) Extra points for mailing it. Extra points for artistic style in penmanship and envelope. Imagine that? Send a letter.

Essay topics (Please stick to these, all others will be disqualified.):

Why I want these tickets. (Option to include discussion of why your desires supersede all others’.)

The best Zappa album/song/era is _________. Explain.

Zappa Plays Zappa, is (or is not) “meta." Discuss.

My first summer job, and its horrifying/hilarious consequences.

Email responses can be sent to: mysteryroach@wknc.org. It is preferred that you send it as a file attachment (pdf, doc, txt) but sending it in the body of an email is OK too.

Snail mail can be sent to:

WKNC 88.1 FM
ATTN: La Barba Rossa
Campus Box 8607
343 Witherspoon Student Center
Raleigh, NC 27695-8607

I look forward to reading your entries.

Cheers.

-La Barba Rossa

Tags essay contest, Frank Zappa, giveaways, La Barba Rossa, Mystery Roach, promotions, Zappa, Zappa Plays Zappa

Music News and Interviews

December brings more ticket giveaways!

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date December 2, 2009

December means many things: cold weather, final exams, continuous holiday music pretty much everywhere, and new ticket giveaways!

Here’s what we have this week:

Ex-Monkeys @ The Pour House Wednesday, December 2

Viva Christmas feat. Los Straitjackets and El Vez @ Cats Cradle Wednesday December 2nd

American Aquarium @ The Pour House Saturday December 5th

Southern Culture on the Skids @ Cats Cradle December 5th

Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online for your chances to win!

Tags american aquarium, cats cradle, couthern culture on the skids, el vez, giveaways, los straitjackets, promotions, The ExMonkeys, the pour house

Music News and Interviews

Bombadil releases its first music video

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date November 30, 2009

Local band Bombadil has created its first music video for the song “So Many Ways to Die,” off the July album release Tarpits and Canyonlands. The video is comprised of public domain footage related to risk-taking and ways to die.

Check out the video here!

Tags bombadil, local

Music News and Interviews

Dropkick Murphys giveaway!

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date November 29, 2009

With humble beginnings performing in a basement of a barbershop in 1996, Dropkick Murphys soon catapulted into the punk world. Known for their vehement Irish and Boston pride, the band has become internationally known and quite accustomed to playing sold out shows.

Luckily for you, WKNC has your chance to see Dropkick Murphys at the Fillmore Charlotte on March 8 before they head home for their legendary St. Patrick’s Day weekend shows in Boston. When the deejay asks for it, be the correct caller to score a pair of tickets to the show. Tickets are also available for purchase at Livenation. Click the banner above for more details.

Listen only on 88.1FM or streaming online.

Tags boston, dropkick murphys, giveaways, live nation, promotions, st patricks day, The Fillmore Charlotte

Music News and Interviews

Ticket giveaways at WKNC!

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date November 23, 2009

Be sure to tune into 88.1 WKNC for your chance to win tickets to these awesome shows happening the week of November 22:

Tuesday, November 24:

Capelton w/ Anthony B, Cocoa T, and Steve Martinez & The Give Thanks Band @ Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, November 26:

NAPS w/ Felix the Drum Machine @ Slim’s

Saturday, November 28:

Pico vs. Island Trees w/ Michael Alvarado @ Lincoln Theatre

Thad Cockrell w/ Civil Wars @ The Pour House

For a complete list of local shows in your area, check out The Rock Report!

Tags Anthony B, Capelton, Civil Wars, Cocoa T, Felix the Drum Machine, giveaways, Lincoln Theatre, Michael Alvarado, NAPS, pico vs. island trees, promotions, Slim's Downtown, Steve Martinez & The Give Thanks Band, Thad Cockrell, the pour house, The Rock Report

Music News and Interviews

Rogue Wave 2010 tour announced

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date November 20, 2009

This week has certainly been a strange one. I decided earlier in the week that I’d haul all my Christmas stuff out of the garage and start putting it up. In order to get in the real spirit, I broke out the eggnog, and one of my holiday comedy favorites, “Just Friends." Judge my movie tastes as you will, but Rogue Wave plays on the soundtrack and it jogged my memory. I hadn’t heard them in awhile and forgot how much I liked them. So, it struck me as particularly odd that this week should be the week Rogue Wave announces their tentative tour dates for 2010. Serendipitous, indeed. Even more interesting is that they’re currently slated to swing by the Triangle on March 6 at Cat’s Cradle. Something to look forward to in the new year…

Tags daytime, Rogue Wave

Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones’ Five Facts from the past week

Post author By WKNC Admin
Post date November 20, 2009

1. Interpol has announced its follow-up to the 2007 album, “Our Love’s to Admire,” will be released sometime next year. When asked about how the album will sound, drummer Sam Fogarino said, “The new record falls back towards the first.” Although no exact dates, track listing, or title have been released, it is described as being closer in the overall sound to their debut album. (via Paste)

2. Future Islands has signed to the label Thrill Jockey. Next year they will release their sophomore album “In Evening Air” on the label. Currently, the band is touring down the east coast and will play at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Saturday, November 21. (via Pitchfork)

3. Rogue Wave has announced its fourth album titled “Permalight” will be released next year. This is the first album since 2007’s “Asleep at Heaven’s Gate,” and they will follow-up the Spring release of their next album with a tour, including a stop at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. (via Pitchfork)

4. Iggy Pop and the Stooges are set to play its iconic 1973 album “Raw Power” at New York’s music festival, ATP. This is apart of the “Don’t Look Back” series, where bands play a classic album of theirs in its entirety. This news comes early, due to the fact that ATP won’t begin until Labor Day weekend, next year. (via Pitchfork)

5. The Cribs are set to have their first North American tour with guitarist Johnny Marr. The band will be touring their new album “Ignore the Ignorant” at 14 venues starting in January. (via NME)