Chapel Hill based hard rock band Black Skies is to be featured in a soon to be released movie documentary “Slow Southern Steel” that is about underground heavy bands from the southeast United States. The film will include interviews with band members, concert footage, and other great heavy metal glory.
Category: Music News and Interviews
Music news, interviews, features and giveaways
Finally, a date has been set! Local favorite Squirrel Nut Zippers has announced its release date for its latest album, Lost At Sea, a livecollection of material and its first ever live album. The album was rumored to come out in late 2008, but was postponed until now, with a release date set for October 27. From 1994 to 2002 the band released eight albums but have been on in-and-out hiatus since 2002. In 2007 they performed 50 live shows, but most of the band members are currently working in other bands or performing as solo acts. The studio album that was supposed to have been released in 2oo9 is back on the drawing boards as band member Chris Phillips says,
“Honestly, the band is getting along better than we ever did in the past and I believe the desire is there to try recording a new album for release in 2010.”
But the best details yet come from http://www.snzippers.com/ where supposedly the entire album will be put up for purchase on the band’s website before it hits the stores anywhere else. More details to come on that later.
Track Listing For Lost At Sea
1. Memphis Exorcism
2. Good Enough For Grandad
3. It Ain’t You
4. Prince Nez
5. Put A Lid On It
6. Fat Cat Keeps Getting Fatter
7. Danny Diamond
8. Suits Are picking Up The Bill
9. My Drag
10. Happens All The Time
11. Bad Businessman
12. Hell
13. Ghost Of Stephen Foster
14. You Are My Radio
15. Blue Angel
16. Do What
Local bluegrass outfit, No Strings Attached, now has a new name The Hotwires. The name change comes in the form of notification of several other bands with the same name, specifically one close by in Virginia. In an open letter to their fans, the Hotwires write:
No Strings Attached, the bluegrass band based in Raleigh, NC has decided to change it’s name to The Hotwires. We were informed that there was a pre-existing group also called No Strings Attached based in Roanoke, VA (and incidentally, many very different bands worldwide bearing that name) . Their attorneys politely informed us that another band bearing the same name in close proximity to their own area was not something they could accept and rather than become involved in a protracted legal dispute over trademark, we quite simply changed our name to The Hotwires.We feel The Hotwires is more descriptive of who we are, what we sound like and the type of bluegrass music we choose to play. We also hope that you all will continue to support us, and bluegrass music in general. This name change comes at a time in our professional development where we are playing more and becoming more and more visible, and playing more and more shows nationwide. We are nearly through recording a debut album of original material that is set for release this fall. Fall and Spring tours are being planned and we expect to see alot more of you in the near future, as you will see a lot more of us.Thank you for your continued support, and keep bluegrass music vibrant!
Ear Farm recently created a list of the top 10 North Carolina Bands you should hear. Amazing choices that I’m sure most will agree upon, they include: The Proclivites, Bellafea, Lost in the Trees, Black Ses, Schooner, Hammer No More the Fingers, The Bronzed Chorus, Birds of Avalon, Megafaun and Lonnie Walker as their number one choice. Undoubtedly terrific choices, but we here at WKNC are lucky to get the up in coming, the raw recordings, the unheard vocals of brand new local bands. So here is my short list of 5 avid local listeners might not have heard of….yet.
5. Free Electric State: Described as “Crushing distorted guitar…and vocals stylishly almost like background sound..” by our very own DJ Caid it’s hard to not be impressed by this group. Formed in Durham, NC Free Electric State is very new with only a two song CD in the station. This band should take off quickly with its ability to grab attention with the 80st inspired vibe and catchy lo-fi sound.
4. M1 Platoon: Local Durham Hip-Hop crew M1 Platoon caught my eye during the joint album release show with Kooley High. The group joined together in the D.C. area and now can be found in Durham, NC. The lyrics consistently hype up their hometown as well as their new homes in Durham. The lyrics are great but it is the stage presence that immediately attracted me to M1 Platoon. With 7 group members plus a live DJ the stage itself is packed. It is incredible to watch each individual put their heart and souls out onto the stage. From jumping onto the amps, masking wearing interpretive dancing, to cheeky dance moves the group never stops moving. You see that the lyrics come from the heart and that what they are doing in the moment is what they are ment to do. If you only see one show this year I recommend checking out M1 Platoon doing what they do best.
3.Veelee: This band is one that I heard while driving to work. It was one of those music moments where your heart kind of fills up because you finally heard that sound you have been craving, something that shifts your insides around. Maybe that’s just me but to put it briefly, this stuff is good, really good. The Chapel Hill duo creates pop music with a strange dark side. With easy to follow singalong lyrics to unique keyboard sounds Veelee embraces the idea of minimalistic pop music that makes the listener want to put it on repeat.
2. Old Bricks: Raw, sad, make you curl up the fetal position and cry type songs. Greymatter says “ the vocal style is best described as desperate and pathetic, but it works.” He is right, it totally works. The songs run from about six to eight minutes apiece but each one just grows upon itself. With a Daniel Johnson vibe the listener feels connected and appreciative that someone else is saying it for them, that we all hurt. Old Bricks shares with us the beauty and raw power of putting real human emotions into music. Check them out August 31 at Slims Downtown.
1. You and Your Effects: Astounding folk rock built upon banjos, violins, flutes, accordions and incredible lyrics. DJ Chuck compares them to Bowerbirds, DeVotcka and Sufjan Stevens. The band is made up of five kids all under the drinking age which says a lot when listening to the lyrics these guys write. Dealing with adult issues and putting a intense,almost orchertratal(?) sounds as the background makes You and Your Effects an instant favorite to new listeners. Don’t be fooled though, they also hop to upbeat, jamish twangy rock and roll turning that frown right upside down. Unfortunately the college students are out and about doing what college kids should do…traveling the world, so don’t expect to see them live anytime soon.
Keep your eyes peeled and your ears tuned in to WKNC. For now I highly suggest checking out the links to hear for yourself just how incredible the scene around us is becoming.
As NC State gears up for the fall ‘09 semester Schoolkids Records in Raleigh is offering a $2 off back-to-school coupon for any purchase over $7.99. The offer is only valid through September 1st and the store recommends printing out “as many as you’d like!”
Schoolkids is located at 2114 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC.
Remember, supporting local music isn’t just about the bands, its the entire community!
If you haven’t been living in isolation for the past year, you are bound to have heard Twitter on the news or in some form of conversation. And without a doubt Twitter is slowly beginning to take over media outlets and the struggling newspaper industry, even having an upper hand on blogs. If you are involved with this communication phenomenon and are also into North Carolina music, then rejoice, for listed below is the largest compiling of twitter accounts related to North Carolina Music. Bands, artists, musicians, venues, record labels, journalists, DJs, blogs, radio stations, newspapers, and nearly anything else you can think of involved with our music scene has a twitter. So jump on board and tweet away!
*Note, if you are not listed below and would like to be, or if you would like your twitter removed from this list, please email thelocalbeat@wknc.org.
As we make our way to the Hear Here CD release show Aug. 29 at Cat’s Cradle (also my birthday!), listen to 88.1 as our top-notch Local Lunch crew debut songs from the 17-track compilation. This Friday, Aug. 14, Mikey P and guests Mike Robinson from Terpsikhore and BJ Burton from Flying Tiger will unleash Kooley High’s “Can’t Go Wrong” and Lonnie Walker’s “Feels Like Right.” The freshness will continue through next week, so stay tuned. Local Lunch airs Mon-Fri from noon to 1 p.m.
Big congrats to one of our favorite local bands, Lonnie Walker, for being nominated as Ear Farm’s Band of the Week! Lonnie Walker has been making a name for itself this past year, having been named one of the News and Observer’s Great 8 Local Bands, playing at WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit, Raleigh’s Artsplosure Festival, and oh yeah, releasing an amazing album “These Times Old Times” which won our listener’s top vote for best album so far of the summer.
As if Facebook and Twitter status updates aren’t enough for most people, you can also update your Gmail status so people can know when you are eating lunch with your favorite Americana, Blues and Co. host or if you are working and don’t wish to be disturbed. About a month ago, our illustrious general manager announced “New Megafaun=AMAZING” to anyone he has ever emailed. It’s good to know he was right.
New Raleigh reports Durham-based Megafaun’s new release, “Gather, Form and Fly,” earned a four-star review in Rolling Stone magazine. A live album from Jimi Hendrix Experience only had three and a half stars.
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Geet Bazaar Giveaway
This weekend on Geet Bazaar (Desi Radio, 88.1 FM, Sunday 10 am to 12 noon) you can win FREE tickets to hear Sunidhi Chauhan, Javed Ali, and Hard Kaur live in concert Aug. 14 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. We will be giving away lots of tickets during the broadcast. Listen to the Geet Bazaar this Sunday to find out how to call in and win tickets.
Geet Bazaar is a South Asian Radio Program based on listeners’ requests, broadcast every Sunday from 10 am to 12 noon on WKNC 88.1 FM (or live webstream at wknc.org). Email your requests to GeetBazaar at WKNC dot org.