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Band/Artist Profile Concert Preview

Unwound Returns to Cat’s Cradle After Over Two Decades

After over 20 years of stasis, post-hardcore band Unwound is back from the dead with a 2024 tour.

The band will touch down in Carrboro, North Carolina March 22 at the legendary Cat’s Cradle alongside noise rock band Cherubs.

Unwound went on indefinite hiatus after their 2001 release “Leaves Turn Inside You,” the “Unwound album that ended all Unwound albums.”

Cover for “Leaves Turn Inside You” by Unwound

The band announced their reunion in 2022 following the 2020 death of bassist Vern Rumsey. Jared Warren of Melvins, Karp and Big Business stepped in to take over Rumsey’s role.

In February 2023, the band played their first show in over two decades at Seattle’s Showbox.

In November of the same year, they announced a 2024 tour featuring five cities on the east coast.

The tour kicks off March 20 in Atlanta before stopping in Knoxville for the city’s annual Big Ears Festival March 21. Unwound will perform in Carrboro March 22 before moving on to D.C. and Jersey City.

Rewound

“When we put Unwound on the shelf in 2002, we never thought we’d return to the project,” said drummer Sara Lund in a 2022 press release.

Following the announcement of Unwound’s 2023 reunion tour, demand for ticket sales was so high that the band added 10 additional dates.

“Starting over again is a rebellious act against our failure,” said founder Justin Trosper.

Cover for “You Bite My Tongue” by Unwound

Unwound emerged as a stylistic diversion from the band’s original project, Giant Henry, formed in 1988 while the members were still in high school.

“The first era of Giant Henry was sillier — making fun of grunge music, but we actually sounded grungy,” said Trosper in an interview with Tobi Vail. Unwound, Trosper explained, drew inspiration from Melvins, Black Flag, Nirvana and Flipper.

For those unfamiliar with Unwound’s sound, it’s best described as the impact point between smoky atmosphere and punk angst. The virile edge of Black Flag meets the cigarette-tinged vapor of Nirvana.

Categories
Miscellaneous Playlists

Reel-to-Reel Presents: “Almost Famous”

“Experience it. Enjoy it. Just don’t fall for it.”

– Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs in “Almost Famous” (Crowe, 2000)

There are very few words in the English language to express just how important “Almost Famous” is to me; in the immortal words of Bad Company, “it’s all part of my rock and roll fantasy.” 

To a little girl who grew up on her dad’s rock albums, there was nothing more whimsical than the idea of being whisked away by a band. But I never wanted to be Penny Lane; I always wanted to be William Miller or, even better, Lester Bangs. 

Categories
Music Education New Album Review

Faye Webster’s “Underdressed at the Symphony,” Is A Quintessential Breakup Album

Relationships are often marked by the music shared with people. There are songs I can’t listen to without remembering certain points in time, points in relationships, or points in states of mind, whether it brings pain or pleasure. 

The worst breakup of my life left me turning to the grounding capacity of music. Japanese Breakfast’s new album “Jubilee,” had just come out, and I spent all my free time wallowing and projecting onto the song “Kokomo, IN.” 

To this day, I can’t listen to that song, or a myriad of others without thinking about that specific person and stretch of time. I think of “Kokomo, IN,” as a capsule holding all of my emotions towards that relationship. They’re placed there for me to return to whenever I want, or to discard with appreciation for how it helped me process a difficult moment. 

It was empowering for me to mark the song as a memorial for my relationship. I never considered that it must be even more empowering to create your own album as a form of remembrance, and Faye Webster’s new album feels just like that. 

With her smooth voice and beautiful accompaniments, Atlanta based singer-songwriter Faye Webster quickly became a household name for indie music lovers. While I knew her new album would be good, I didn’t expect it to resonate so hard with my past experiences. 

Her highly anticipated new project “Underdressed at the Symphony,” is full of nostalgia and lost love. The album is lush and graceful, featuring Webster’s recognizable crooning and lengthy jam sequences. It is, unmistakably, a breakup album.

Categories
Miscellaneous

ALL OF MY INJURIES — Upcoming NC State Student Photo Exhibit

This Saturday, March 23rd, NC State junior Rory Sullivan will be holding his first solo photography exhibition. The show is titled “All of My Injuries” and will take place from 5:30 to 8:00 P.M. at 1310 Hillsborough Street. Zines and photo prints will be available at the exhibition, as well as free yerba mate for the first group of attendees. The exhibition is a culmination of his present works, with a primary focus on “the ideas of emotional injury represented in physical form as well as the sort of vulnerability that comes along with it” as stated by Sullivan.

Photograph by Rory Sullivan

As well as personal projects, Sullivan has previously photographed and filmed within the North Carolina rap scene, and has worked with artists such as Newman and TiaCorine. He has also previously done work within Platform, NC State’s student-run fashion magazine and has several photoshoots in past editions of the magazine credited to him. Included in this are some photographs included in the exhibit that convey the ideology that the show will be presenting through Sullivan’s artistic works.

Photograph by Rory Sullivan

The growth and emphasis upon student art and exhibitions at NC State has been a wonderful event to witness as a student here myself, and presently I can only hope for this upwards trajectory to continue. Despite our standing as a STEM-focused school, the student body has proven time and again to be incredibly creative and innovative within the arts, and I feel it is important to celebrate this when it often feels like the scientific advancements produced by students and alumni seem to stifle artistic achievements. Creative freedom and the expression of human vulnerability are reflections of the basic desires of adolescence and should be embraced with open arms.

Photograph by Rory Sullivan

-Leksie Fetrow

Categories
Weekly Charts

Top Charts 3/19/24

Top Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1SPRINTSLetter To SelfCity Slang
2YUNGATITAShoelace & A KnotSelf-Released
3MANNEQUIN PUSSYI Got HeavenEpitaph
4CHERRY GLAZERRI Don’t Want You AnymoreSecretly Canadian/Secretly Group
5GLITTERERRationaleAnti-
6AESOP ROCKIntegrated Tech SolutionsRhymesayers
7ATMOSPHERETalk Talk [EP]Rhymesayers
8DARKSOFTGrayscaleSpirit Goth
9GOTTS STREET PARKOn The InsideBlue Flowers/PIAS
10OFFICE DOGSpielNew West/Flying Nun
11STALEFISHStalefish Does AmericaHappen Twice
12BABEBEEA PROPHECY [EP]Epitaph
13CITIZENCalling The DogsRun For Cover
14DEAD POET SOCIETYFISSIONSpinefarm
15HOTLINE TNTCartwheelThird Man
16KILLER MIKEMichael (Deluxe)Loma Vista/Concord
17MINT FIELDAprender A SerFelte
18RATBOYSThe WindowTopshelf
19SLAUSON MALONE 1EXCELSIORWarp
20SOFTCULT“Shortest Fuse” [Single]Easy Life
21TEKE TEKEHagataKill Rock Stars
22THANKS FOR COMINGWhat Is My Capacity To Love? [EP]Danger Collective
23TY SEGALLThree BellsDrag City
24WEDNESDAYRat Saw GodDead Oceans/Secretly Group
2512 RODSIf We Stayed AliveAmerican Dreams/Husky Pants
26AL WESTThe StoreSpirit Research
27ASIAN GLOWUnwired DetourSelf-Released
28DEER TICKEmotional ContractsATO
29EDO. GWe Do GoodRed Line
30MYRA KEYESFlower In The BrickSelf-Released

Top Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1SWEET PILLStarchild [EP]Hopeless
2HABIBI“On The Sound” [Single]Kill Rock Stars
3SWEATLove ChildVitriol
4YEULE“Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl” [Single]A24
5DANDY WARHOLS, THERockmakerSunset Blvd
6JESSICA PRATT“Life Is” [Single]Mexican Summer
7CORRIDOR“Mourir Demain” [Single]Sub Pop
Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 3/19/24

Underground Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1ERICK THE ARCHITECTI’ve Never Been Here BeforeIDOL
2TOUSSAINT MORRISONThe Very Best Of Ricky & JaneUrban Home Companion
3WHO SHOT SCOTTBRAIN (SIDE A) [EP]Tenfold
4CZARFACECzartificial IntelligenceSilver Age/Virgin
5DANNY BROWNQuarantaWarp
6CHUCK STRANGERSA Forsaken Lover’s PleaLex
7STALLONE AND WEATHERSThe Cost Of Doing BusinessSelf-Released
8ARLO PARKSMy Soft Machine (Deluxe)Transgressive/PIAS
9ATMOSPHERETalk Talk [EP]Rhymesayers
10EVERLIVEN SOUND AND SLIMELINE MUTHAEcho ChamberSelf-Released

Underground Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1CHUCK STRANGERSA Forsaken Lover’s PleaLex
2EVERLIVEN SOUND AND SLIMELINE MUTHAEcho ChamberSelf-Released
3CRYSTAL MURRAY“PAYBACK” [Single]Because
4CRYSTAL MURRAY“STARMANIAK” [Single]Because
5ARMAND HAMMER“Doves” feat. Benjamin Booker [Single]Fat Possum
6AN ALIEN CALLED HARMONY“Fighting the Atom” [Single]Atles
7WISEBOY JEREMY“Pedal Tha Ave” [Single]Self-Released
Categories
Weekly Charts

Jazz Charts 3/19/24

Jazz Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1JOHN ROSEBORO AND MEI SEMONESWaters of MarchPublic Confession Art House
2JOHN ROSEBORO“80 Summers” [Single]Public Confession Art House
3JUN IIDAEvergreenOA2
4JULIAN LAGESpeak To MeBlue Note
5CHRIS ROTTMAYERBeingShifting Paradigm
6WOLFF, CLARK, AND DORSEYA Letter To Bill EvansJazz Avenue 1
7NEW JAZZ UNDERGROUND“Harlem to Havana”: Afro​-​Cuban Modernism VOL​.​1Self-Released
8NUBYA GARCIA“Fortify” [Single]Concord Jazz
9CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE AND EDGAR MEYERBut Who’s Gonna Play The Melody?Mack Avenue
10OBED CALVAIRE150 Million Gold FrancsSFJAZZ Collective

Jazz Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1BRANDON GOLDBERG TRIOLive At Dizzy’sCellar
2DAVID LARSENCohesionLarsen Jazz
3ROBBIE MADISONLive At SambucaMadison
4JOHN ROSEBORO AND MEI SEMONESWaters of MarchPublic Confession Art House
5JOHN ROSEBORO“80 Summers” [Single]Public Confession Art House
6NEW JAZZ UNDERGROUND“Harlem to Havana”: Afro​-​Cuban Modernism VOL​.​1Self-Released
7OBED CALVAIRE150 Million Gold FrancsSFJAZZ Collective
8JULIAN LAGESpeak To MeBlue Note
9CHRIS ROTTMAYERBeingShifting Paradigm
10CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE AND EDGAR MEYERBut Who’s Gonna Play The Melody?Mack Avenue
Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 3/19/24

Chainsaw Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1PLAGUEMACEReptilian WarlordsNapalm
2AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINEQuad BrutalNapalm
3BOUNDARIES“Easily Erased” [Single]3DOT
4AMIENSUS“Vermillion Fog Of War” [Single]M-Theory
5BRATSocial GraceProsthetic
6MORTA SKULDCreation UndonePeaceville
7ESHTADUR“Fire Above Mountain Below” [Single]Self-Released
8TOMBSTONE WHISKEYDevil All The Time [EP]Self-Released
9TORN IN HALFPrayers Returned With Pain [EP]Isolated Incidents
10DOMINATION CAMPAIGN“The Iron Beast” [Single]Prosthetic
Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 3/19/24

Afterhours Charts

#ArtistRecordLabel
1ANGELS GUN CLUBIndustry ChildrenAngels Gun Club
2BOLIS PUPULLetter To YuDEEWEE/Because
3INTERNET SURVIVORSVARIOUS ARTISTSAngels Gun Club
4DJ SLORGLDORFI Wanna Be Ur Girlfriend!!lua!!
5ROXY RADCLYFFEThe Median’s ArkNext Year’s Snow
6PERREOTEK VOL. 3VARIOUS ARTISTSAngels Gun Club
7JUNGLE FATIGUE VOL. 3VARIOUS ARTISTSJungle Fatigue
82AT X SUKUBRATZ“Tu Perrito VIP” [Single]Angels Gun Club
9PORIJ“Unpredictable” [Single]Play It Again Sam
10NABIHAH IQBALDREAMER (Remixes) [EP]Ninja Tune

Afterhours Adds

#ArtistRecordLabel
1BOLIS PUPULLetter To YuDEEWEE/Because
2INTERNET SURVIVORSVARIOUS ARTISTSAngels Gun Club
32AT X SUKUBRATZ“Tu Perrito VIP” [Single]Angels Gun Club
4PORIJ“Unpredictable” [Single]Play It Again Sam
5MACHINEDRUM“ZOOM” feat. Tinashe [Single]Ninja Tune
6IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE“Pull The Rope” [Single]Merge
7EMEL“Nar” feat. Ami Yerewolo [Single]Little Human
8MARIA CHIARA ARGIRO“Light” [Single]Innovative Leisure
9BDB“CHROMA 002 L.A.V.A.” [Single]Chroma
10BROCK UK“Need U So Bad Baby (YESMATEFREE023)” [Single]Wot U Sayin?
Categories
New Album Review

A “Deadly Struggle” by Public Acid

Public Acid’s newest contribution to NC’s hardcore music scene is “Deadly Struggle”. The album was released on February 23, 2024 and has a runtime of fourteen minutes. It has eight tracks; all of them leave you with a desire for a shower after listening. 

Public Acid has a few other releases. Most notably is “Condemnation”, an EP released about two years ago, which is just as harsh and thrash-y as “Deadly Struggle”. 

To find an album that still makes my skin crawl AND creates a putrid stench of hatred is no easy feat. The more I flounder around in the metal and hardcore scenes, the more unimpressed I become with guttural howls of pain and rage. Public Acid definitely doesn’t re-invent the metal scream or do anything too crazy and new, but “Deadly Struggle” is a pleasantly-sleek, head-whipping release. 

Beauty of Horror

My favorite three tracks, “Slow Bleed”, “Ignorance” and “Hang the Leaders” are like Death cradling the dying. They’re a beautiful look at the horrible pains of everyday life. Since beginning my hardcore music fascination, I’ve been able to unlock appreciation for nasty sounds and disgusting imagery. 

I can see the beauty that lies in more horrific actions and deeds. That’s because beauty isn’t the same kind of serene natural picture we are always told about. There’s beauty in fear, there’s beauty in blood, there’s beauty in death. 

“Deadly Struggle” isn’t glorifying violence (and neither am I, though it sure looks like it). Public Acid captures the nature of corrupt social practices and the fascination with a blood fueled world. They capture and make it beautiful through their destructive music. If you read my other blogs, you can see I’m pretty easily impressed by most musicians and bands I listen to. 

To some (and maybe even to me sometimes) Public Acid might be just another one of those hardcore punk bands that sound like every other one, but I get a sense that their ability to capture despair, disgust and destruction will help them prevail the onslaught of current day music industry practices.