WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student Radio10/26: Mikky Ekko @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
10/27: The Underachievers @ Cat’s Cradle
10/28: Peaches @ Cat’s Cradle
10/28: Nikki Lane @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
10/28: Blistered @ Kings
10/29: July Talk @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
10/30: Bedowyn @ King’s
10/31: Kings’ Halloween Bash
10/31: The Districts @ Cat’s Cradle
11/1: Day of the Dead @ Kings
1. ALEX G – Beach Music – Domino
2. BEACH HOUSE – Depression Cherry – Sub Pop
3. DILLY DALLY – Sore – Partisan
4. SODA SHOP – Soda Shop – Velvet Blue
5. MIKE KROL – Turkey – Merge
6. LA LUZ – Weirdo Shrine – Hardly Art
7. HOMESHAKE – Midnight Snack – Sinderlyn
8. DESTROYER – Poison Season – Merge
9. MICHAEL STASIS – RIP III – Arbutus
10. PALEHOUND – Dry Food – Exploding In Sound
11. WIDOWSPEAK – All Yours – Captured Tracks
12. TEEN DAZE – Morning World – Paper Bag
13. SHOPPING – Why Choose – Fat Cat
14. THE WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND I AM NO LONGER AFRAID TO DIE – Harmlessness – Epitaph
15. FIDLAR – Too – Mom And Pop
16. U.S. GIRLS – Half Free – 4AD
17. MORNING HARVEY – Love And Love And. EP – Self-Released
18. JULIA HOLTER – Have You In My Wilderness – Domino
19. TELEKINESIS – Ad Infinitum – Merge
20. TAME IMPALA – Currents – Interscope
21. FOALS – What Went Down – Warner
22. POTTY MOUTH – Potty Mouth EP – Planet Whatever
23. BOYTOY – Grackle – Papercup
24. GIRLS NAMES – Arms Around A Vision – Tough Love
25. COKE WEED – Mary Weaver – Beyond Beyond Is Beyond
26. SILICON – Personal Computer – Weird World
27. CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye – Glassnote
28. OBERHOFER – Chronovision – Glassnote
29. MENACE BEACH – Super Transporterreum [EP] – Memphis Industries
30. THAYER SARRANO – Shaky – Guildwater
WKNC TOP 5 ADDS
1. PURE BATHING CULTURE – Pray For Rain – Partisan
2. NEON INDIAN – Vega Intl Night School – Mom And Pop
3. BABES – Untitled (Five Tears) – Barsuk
4. SUNWOLF – Follow The Dreamers – Self-Released
5. ALEX BLEEKER AND THE FREAKS – Country Agenda – Sinderlyn
10/19: Caspian @ Kings
10/20: Protomartyr @ Kings
10/20: Cannibal Ox @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
10/21: Widowspeak @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
10/22: The Devil Makes Three @ Cat’s Cradle
10/23: Rasputina @ Cat’s Cradle
10/23: No BS! Brass Band @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
A few minutes into her set, after blazing through “Under a Rock” and “Misery over Dispute”, frontwoman Katie Crutchfield noticed the visibly positive crowd reaction and remarked “I guess I should keep coming back”. That Tuesday night was the third time Waxahatchee has visited the Triangle in the past year; one previous show at Cat’s Cradle and one at this year’s Hopscotch Festival. Crutchfield’s songwriting is versatile, ranging from the haunting low-fi ballads of her debut American Weekend to grungy 90’s rock of her first Merge release from earlier this year, Ivy Tripp. In contrast to her solo acoustic set at Hopscotch, this show leaned heavily towards the latter. Neither Crutchfield nor her bandmates touched an acoustic guitar for the duration of the set.
The high point of the show was a rearrangement of the somber American Weekend highlight “Grass Stain” to fit into the sound and attitude of the new record. Many of the lyrics, such as “I don’t care that I’m too young to be unhappy” felt more rebellious than melancholy in this new context. While I would not have complained if more of the gorgeous acoustic songs of Waxahatchee’s early work were performed, Crutchfield showed how capable and confident she at delivering this new sound. Closing the show with a performance of my favorite Cerulean Salt track “Dixie Cups and Jars”, she displayed the powerful lyrics and great guitar riffs that make her such a fantastic songwriter.
The opening acts Weyes Blood and Try the Pie also put on solid performances. Try the Pie’s upbeat and straightforward rock music to get the night rolling was contrasted by the wistful atmospheric sound and winding vocal melodies brought by Weyes Blood. Natalie Mering of Weyes Blood showed up for her set alone, bringing just an acoustic guitar, effects pedals, and an iPhone. The guitar was run through a variety of pedals that are more often paired with an electric setup, and the iPhone was used to supply airy synths and percussion. It was an unusual but hypnotizing performance that provided a great segue into the main act.
The BET Cyphers haven’t been the same since Kendrick Lamar burned them down in 2013. Seriously, there should have been a charity event for the families of all the rappers killed at once that night (we will never forget *praying hands*). But if you watched the Cyphers on Tuesday night, you might have noticed a very bold statement made. It was subtle, but important, especially if you were watching in North Carolina.
The North Clack was well represented this year, with impressive performances by Jackie Spade from Kinston, Rain910 from Fayetteville, T-Top of Fuquay-Varina, and Raleigh’s own King Mez. Unless you’ve only been paying attention to Drake for the past year, you know that the North Carolina Hip Hop scene has been on the rise. T-Top has been making waves on BET’s Ultimate Rap League, dismantling MCs in the battle circuit; and King Mez was heavily featured on Dr. Dre’s latest album “Compton.”
The Cyphers don’t have a good track record for creating stars individually, but the fact that the state was represented so extensively, shows that NC’s strength in the game is finally being appropriately recognized.
Check out this year’s Cyphers here:
http://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards/cypher.html
K.A.A.N Interview
If you’re a fan of bars over bullsh*t rap, look no further than one of the DMV area’s most promising up-and-comers, K.A.A.N. The 24 year old Maryland native is a student of the greats, like Big L, 2Pac, and Big Pun, but unlike the hoards of wannabe rappers that claim the same thing, you can here their influences echoing in his extraordinarily complex and high octane raps. Go to his Soundcloud page, listen to “Kaancepts,” and try not to jump out of your chair screaming. Not gonna happen. He blesses the classic “Deep Cover” beat in a multi-syllabic double time flow that definitely has Pun smiling up in heaven.
Recently, K.A.A.N. put out a mixtape EP where he flows on the Golden Era’s most classic beats, like “Shook Ones,"Flava In Ya Ear,” and more. The EP is called “1/12/199?” and definitely worth peeping. He plans on putting out his first full project with original production some time next year, so stay tuned on his progress because I have a feeling that his name is going to ring bells sooner than later.
10/13: Red Fang @ Kings
10/13: Waxahatchee @ Cat’s Cradle
10/13: Bottle Rockets @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
10/15: Matt Pond PA @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
10/16: Kooley High @ Kings
10/16: Blitzen Trapper @ Cat’s Cradle
10/17: Archers of Loaf @ Cat’s Cradle
10/17: Braids @ Kings
10/18: Telekinesis @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom
On September 17th, Phian interviewed The Charming Youngsters before they played at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub for Local Band Local Beer. They featured four tracks during the interview: Resourcerer, Sentinels, Brave Me, and Black Birds. If you want to find out more about The Charming Youngsters, check out there Facebook Page.
Local Band Local Beer: Durty Dub
Last Thursday, DJ Dilemma interviewed Durty Dub before they played at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub for Local Band Local Beer. They discussed the origins of the band and the group’s affiliation with the larger African beats community. If you like what you hear, you can check out more at Durty Dub’s Facebook page.
WKNC’s weekly public affairs show “Eye on the Triangle” will air a special Diversity Education Week themed episode on Tuesday, Oct. 13 as part of NC State’s 6th Annual Diversity Education Week. The hour-long program will feature interviews about minority students and faculty at NC State, interviews with female faculty in underrepresented STEM majors, and other local news and features concerning diversity in education. “Eye on the Triangle” with hosts Ian Grice and Mirtha Donastorg airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on 88.1 FM and wknc.org/listen. Previous shows can be found on the WKNC blog and through our iTunes podcast.
