Sara and Jenaye sit down for their final show of the year, and for Jenaye’s last show before she transfers to UNCG, to play an interview with Pablo Campos about the Post Secret project happening nationwide.
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Category: Blog
Off the Record: G Yamazawa
DJ Rhythm chats with G Yamazawa about music vs poetry, what it’s been like working away from the east coast, and whether or not he would ever try battle rap.
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The Saw’s Metal Hacks
It’s the most wonderful time of the year again! Festival season time!!! There have been a lot of festivals announced for this Spring/Summer and also a lot of great tours. Today, I will be giving you some pro tips and tricks as how to survive a metal show or festival. I have had my fair share of both metal festivals and indoor/outdoor metal shows. Whether you are a first-time goer or a veteran (like myself), it is always good to keep these tips in the back of your mind.
Tips and tricks to make your metal show experience better
What to bring:
Sunscreen
Okay, I know this one is obvious, BUT you won’t believe how many people I see that are sunburnt at festivals (myself included). If you’re going to a weekend festival, you really don’t want to get sunburnt on the first day because for the rest of the festival you will be in pain. If you have tattoos, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE USE SUNCREEN! WE DON’T NEED THOSE BAD BOYS FADING ON US, OKAY?
A water bottle
It’s hot outside, you’ll be walking around, moshing, and rubbing up against people. You’re going to need some water. For one, it is very refreshing and two, we don’t need anyone passing out at a show. I know that at most festivals you can buy a water, BUT those are $$$$ and we are trying to save our cash money, so we can get some band merch. At Warped Tour and Carolina Rebellion, you can bring in a sealed water bottle with you. They have refill stations, so you don’t have to buy one of those expensive bottled waters. You’re welcome in advance.
A portable charger
Let’s face it: We will all be taking pictures, videos, and snapchatting the festivals/shows for all of our friends to see. That can really take a toll on your battery. Instead of panicking and conserving your battery (which I suggest you be conservative with your phone life regardless), invest in a portable charger! They are very convenient, so when your phone is on low battery, you can just charge it up and still be able to use your phone! Some festivals are creating charging stations, and if the festival you are going to has that, I would hop on that before your phone dies.
If your phone does end up dying even with a portable charger (because those things die too), I would suggest writing down your friends’ numbers, so you can find them after the show. Or make a plan with them that after a band you all meet somewhere. This will help you have a less stressful night when trying to look for or get in contact with your friends. You’re welcome in advance.
A drawstring bag
What are you going to put your sunscreen, water bottle, portable charger, band merch, keys, wallet, and sunglasses, etc. in? A bag of course! Who would want to carry all their stuff around? These are also very convenient for my homies who like to bring a lot of stuff with them to festivals (aka me). They can be a pain when walking around, crowdsurfing, and moshing but you will be able to have all of your stuff in one place. They also have drawstring bags from your favorite bands! You can also buy one from the festival itself! I wouldn’t suggest a backpack or a purse because some festivals (like the Carolina Rebellion) won’t allow it in. However, they do allow drawstring bags, so I would suggest purchasing one.
What to wear:
Ladies, I know that we all want to look cute when we are going out BUT at a metal show/festival, one can look cute but comfortable. Don’t wear something that you would hate to get ruined and for the love of metal, DO NOT WEAR A DRESS OR A SKIRT. If you are crowdsurfing, wearing one of these two options can leave you in a bad situation. People like to take cheap shots and it is far easier to take a cheap shot when someone is wearing a dress or a skirt. My go-to outfit for metal shows/festivals is either ripped jeans, or if its warm enough, high waisted shorts. I pair these with a brutal band shirt and tie it up so it looks like a crop top. Some girls will wear a bathing suit top, if you do this, make sure the back is tied really good unless you’re okay with your girls being out in the open. And also, don’t wear heels or flips. Basically, anything open toed isn’t going to be your friend at a metal show/festival. I would suggest wearing either sneakers, Vans, or combat boots. These will not only make it easier to walk but it will also keep your feet protected from mud, dirt, and other people stepping on them. But make sure you’re okay getting them dirty because it will happen.
Fellas, the only thing I can say to y’all is to wear sneakers, Vans, or combat boots. And to either wear jeans or if its warm enough, shorts. Some guys will wear basketball shorts and if you do, PLEASE wear compression shorts. Keep everything contained so you and others can enjoy the show. I don’t want to see you jumping around if you’re not wearing compression shorts underneath your basketball shorts. As far as shirts goes; bands shirts are great. Some guys also go shirtless but if you do, refer back to tip No. 1.
CAUTION!!!!! Do not and I repeat DO NOT wear a band shirt of the band that you are seeing. This is like an unspoken rule that metalheads know. We get it, you’re here to see that band. Guess what? SO AM I!!! I use shows as free advertisement for other bands. So, if we both like this band, you might like the band that I am wearing. The only band that you can see and wear their own merch is Metallica. Don’t @ me.
BONUS: Some people at festivals wear costumes and run around in them. These are very entertaining to see, and I GUARANTEE you will be in every picture. At some of the shows I have been to, some guy has dressed up like Jesus and will crowdsurf to the stage, and stage dive like he is being crucified. Another dude was dressed up like Moses and he would split the crowd for a wall of death (type of mosh pit where the crowd splits into two sides and then run towards each other), and act like he is parting the Red Sea. At the Carolina Rebellion, I have seen people wear horse masks, dress up like Power Rangers, hamburgers, hot dogs, and ketchup bottles.
What to expect:
There is a lot that goes on at metal shows/festivals, but I’m only going to name the main things that you need to be aware of when seeing bands.
There will be drunk/stoned people everywhere.
There will be crowdsurfers. Don’t whine and complain about crowdsurfers because no matter where you stand, there will always be someone going by you in the air or asking if you can lift them up.
There will be moshpits. These are what make metal shows. Again, don’t start whining and complaining about the pits. They will happen and if you don’t like it THEN GO TO THE DAMN BACK.
Given that some people will get mad about crowdsurfers and moshpits, don’t be surprised if they drop you when you go by crowdsurfing or try to fight you in the pit.
It will be crowded. Everyone is trying to get to the front and think they can push by you. It’s annoying but that’s the way it goes. Stand your ground and stick your elbows out while standing there when people go by. Make them fight for their spot in front of you. And for my homies trying to get to the front: Haul ass. Don’t stop for nobody.
Ladies, you will get hit on and people will flirt with you. It becomes the norm so just smile and wave when they cat call you from across the lawn.
There will most likely be a fight or two at the show/festival. Just stay out of the way and try not to get hit. If you’re the one in the fight just remember, we all have to either give or receive an ass whoopin’ ( at least) once in our lives.
Lots of boobs will be seen during the show/festival. Not only from girls, guys will get on their boy’s shoulders and flash the crowd. Also, if they are cocky, some people will strip. You have been warned.
Be safe and have fun moshing to your favorite bands!!
THE SAW
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wknc DAYTIME charts week of 4/19
ADDS
1 GOAT GIRL Goat Girl – Rough Trade
2 SALINE You Did It To Yourself – Perfect Attendance
3 DRINKS Hippo Lite – Drag City
4 A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS Pinned Dead – Oceans
5 SC MIRA Keep Crawling/Drug Warm Coma – Sugar Gator
TOP 30
1 HOP ALONG Bark Your Head Off, Dog – Saddle Creek
2 KISSISSIPPI Sunset Blush – Bug Crusher
3 HINDS I Don’t Run – Mom + Pop
4 CAROLINE SAYS No Fool Like An Old Fool – Western Vinyl
5 LUCY DACUS Historian – Matador
6 CAMP COPE How To Socialise & Make Friends – Run For Cover
7 SOCCER MOMMY Clean – Fat Possum
8 FRANKIE COSMOS Vessel – Sub Pop
9 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Sex & Food – Jagjaguwar
10 WYE OAK The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs – Merge
11 REGRETTES, THE Attention Seeker [EP] – Warner Bros
12 SCREAMING FEMALES All At Once – Don Giovanni
13 NIHILIST CHEERLEADER Riot, Right? – Perfect Attendance
14 HABIBI Cardamom Garden [EP] – Modern Sky Entertainment
15 CAROLINE ROSE LONER – New West
16 LEBANON HANOVER Let Them Be Aliens – Optika
17 ANMLS ANMLS – Slovenly/Algo
18 KITTEN FOREVER Semi-Permanent – Rat Queen
19 BREEDERS, THE All Nerve – 4AD
20 PREOCCUPATIONS New Material – Jagjaguwar
21 EZRA FURMAN Transangelic Exodus – Bella Union/PIAS
22 YOUNG FATHERS Cocoa Sugar – Ninja Tune
23 AMEN DUNES Freedom – Sacred Bones
24 HALEY BLAIS Let Yourself Go [EP] – Self-Released
25 NO THANK YOU All It Takes To Ruin It All – Lame-O
26 OLDEN YOLK Olden Yolk – Trouble in Mind
27 DEAD PARTIES All Our Times – Self-Released
28 MINT FIELD Pasar De Las Luces – Innovative Leisure
29 ED SCHRADER’S MUSIC BEAT Riddles – Carpark
30 SHANNON AND THE CLAMS Onion Easy Eye – Sound/Nonesuch
Pack baseball is #2 in the country!!! John and Benjamin get you caught up on that, Tennis, Golf, and Track & Field! John also gives you the low down on the NBA playoffs as well as a little family history.
The Local Beat: Eggy Strange
DJ Sparrow and DJ Whatsherface chat with Eggy Strange about his newest release, his upcoming show, and how he made the switch from sad boy screamo to rap.
Pat Junior. What can i say about a man who has come to be a staple in the NC Hip-Hop Community… For those of you who don’t know Pat Junior’s work, he is a writer, rapper, and producer from Brooklyn, NY. Pat moved down to Raleigh and began to make a name for himself in the Music community here. In 2016, I was introduced to his music. Pat has been putting out work ever since and his growth as an artist and musician is evident in his sound. His newest album “Black & Mild: Black Wayne” is no different. He continues to grow the themes of getting laid off and wanting to support his dreams as well as his wife and family in both an emotional sense and financially. Leading up to this project Pat had been laid off four times in the past seven years. He speaks on this often in his lyrics and you can tell that this has had a huge impact on his outlook on life and music. This is where Black Wayne starts.
All, now
The project opens with pat speaking on themes he has rapped about in the past. He’s been laid off again and is starting to realize that he wants more than he has. He wants to be more for his wife more than anything but i think this can extend out to his friends and even to himself. The first track especially feels like he has been broken for the last time but for the first time, he says he needs a pivot. Pat makes it known that he is moving away from working a regular job because the pain of losing his job so frequently showed him that music should be his path in life.
In his music this point in time was visible. His production became more polished. His rhymes and comparisons became smoother and intelligent, yet still digestible. You could even hear a shift in his voice. Passion that was always present in his work became magnified and clear.
The transition is very natural from “All, now” into “to The Dawn.” His production experience shines on this track. The beat is smooth but still has the edge as he raps lines about pushing forward through his pain and past experiences. The listener can hear that he wants to push his own boundaries because he wants to be the best he can be and then some. He has made it so far already that he has to keep pushing forward. This really reminds me his song “always forward ft. thedeeepend” that was released on his first Black & Mild project (Highly recommend the Sinopsis remix of this track). While these two songs have similar themes in my opinion, you can hear the new found edge in Pat’s voice on “to The Dawn” and in the second verse that edge creates a huge musical impact. He speaks on other more mediocre rappers getting the same acknowledgement from crowds even though Pat is pushing the boundaries with his lyrics. This transitions into the chorus and then into the smooth track “an ode to a jumpoff.”
an ode to a jumpoff.
This is a song that had me grooving from the time I heard the first beats. Timmy V kills it with the production using moody synths that have a melancholy decay to them that really complements Pat’s voice and cadence. The lyrics are relatable and when combined with the production, it creates one of my favorite Pat Junior tracks of all time. Pat shows off his lyrical skill on “an ode to a jumpoff.””You always ruining the best times/ Keep me company but kill mines/Always blocking out the sunshine/You go again and come again with each climb” is the hook and it really shows that even though this person (or thing) comes up at the worst time and he feels like he could jump, he doesn’t because he has to keep pushing forward.
smoke break // two
This instrumental interlude really shows off some of Pat’s production skill and gave me a minute to process everything i had heard up to now in this album. Pat speaks on some dark topics and the track leading up to this interlude is pretty heavy once you break his metaphore. This track also does a good job at changing the pace a little and transitioning into the second part of the project.
let it… (breathe)
This track is the deepest on the project. Pat talks about letting go of problems and talking to people despite your problems. Pat is saying that by putting conflict out in the open and being real with someone you can maintain relationships and not just keep things pent up inside. While i love the message, this has to be one of my least favorite songs from Pat. It feels like it drags on with the chorus at the end. This may have been an effect he was going for but it feels like a marathon. It keeps listeners in the same tone that is provided by “smoke break // two” and then transitions until the hardest tracks on the project.
the ride ft. Jodi
This was the single from this project and rightfully so. “The ride” is a good summary of the whole project. Pat hits a lot of the same themes as he has throughout the project and communicates his need to leave his mark. He knows that people are going to hate but he just wants to do this for himself and his wife. The production on this track complements the contemplative nature of his vocals. He is deep in thought and that translates well to the listener.
aye, aye. Ft. Swade
This is classic pat junior flow on a refined lyrical plane. He knows his mission in the game now and is going to do whatever it takes. It’s almost like he was given orders by a higher power and he will do anything it takes to fulfill them. His flow in the first verse is insane and the lyrics match.
“Really been guarding my space, up/Light saber knight with the ace, tucked/Biting every bullet til I taste, bucks/Chucking dead weight to the waste, yuck” Pat is about to do anything it takes to make it in the game and the way he portrays this in both black and mild projects is brilliant. Swade also bodies the second verse and plays on the themes of the album. He talks about just wanting to provide for his mom and that he wants to “be a king but [he] can’t be rodney” in a reference to the late rodney king. He continues to speak he preaches peace but that would change whenever someone tried him. The pairing on this track creates an insanely cohesive song and i hope that we can see more from the pair in the future. This leads us into my favorite track and the first I heard from Pat.
s.o.t.b.
Stepping out the batcave. Pat makes alot of refrences to Batman and gotham city in all his work and it works for him. This track has been a hit of his for some time now, but this was the first time it was used as more than just a single. It fits and is a great closer for this project. Pat has pushed passed his fears and is determined more than ever as he steps out of his batcave and enters his personal gotham city. He doesn’t know what to expect, but he is ready for anything. The production is also the hardest on the album and the way he uses repeating beats and pitch bending creates an erie vibe and really complements his lyrical style.
black & mild: black wayne is an awesome follow up to the first black & mild project. It shows Pat’s growth as a musician and artist. His writing on the project blew me away compared to his past work even though it was already at such a high level. Everything seemed to come together on this project for Pat. Its deep and shows a vulnerable side to the artist that we have caught glimpses of in the past but has never been fully fleshed out like it is on black wayne. This project has me really excited for the first full length from Pat.
P.S. Check out Smoke Signals by pat junior and Sinopsis. It is the first black & mild project remixed by a great producer and provides a different vibe from the original. Highly recommend.
The Local Beat: Noah Cross
Dj Sparrow and DJ Whatsherface interviewed frontman Taylor Turner of Noah Cross on the local beat before their show at Imurj. They talked about everything from the venue they’ll be playing at to the band’s plans for the future. Taylor brought a guitar and played a stripped-down set live as well.
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Pack is Life 27
John and Benjamin chat with a member of NC State’s Cheerleading team to get an idea of what it means to cheer for the school, as well as what it takes to be a national champion, and give a recap of what went down with Track & Field, Tennis, and Gymnastics.
Off the Record: Shakori Hills Promoters
DJ Sparrow and DJ Whatsherface interview promoters for the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, coming up this May in Pittsboro, NC!