The background behind Father/Daughter Records is literally all in the name of the company; a father and daughter who joined forces to contribute to the greater good that is the music industry.
Being out of San Francisco, what brought Father/Daughter Records to the Hopscotch Music Festival is their signed bands that played at the festival this year: Mutual Benefit (Played at Vintage 21) & Gems (Played at CAM).
Jessie (the daughter in Father/Daughter Records) was nice enough to sit down with us for a little bit to give us some insight as to what she does and how she really appreciates what the Raleigh/Triangle is doing for the music scene.
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to see Hiss Golden Messenger, whose latest album Lateness of Dancers is perhaps one of my favorite albums of 2014.
Opening the show was Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, who I saw perform seven days prior at Hopscotch to an attentive audience at Fletcher Theatre. Opening a cappella with “Maria’s Gone,” a song made famous by Jean Ritchie, Sauser-Monnig had the audience at full attention like a mountain storyteller telling tales of bygone days. One of my favorite tunes she played at Hopscotch also made the Cat’s Cradle setlist, Eddy Arnold’s “Cattle Call,” a song about driving the western ranges. Her quiet, folksy rendition could put you out in the old west as much as Arnold’s original.
The second opener was a Philly folk-rock band, Strand of Oaks, who I had heard of on the radio back home in NJ, but hadn’t delved too much into their music until seeing their show. The project of singer-songwriter, Timothy Showalter, there was plenty of guitar shredding and drum breaks to be had, which took the audience from captivated listeners to really active participants, with people in the crowd dancing and head bobbing from the front to the back of the venue.
The two openers really got the crowd pumped for Hiss Golden Messenger’s homecoming concert. When M.C. Taylor and his band started, they had the whole crowd moving from the gate with “Red Rose Nantahala” and moved right into “Saturday’s Song” from Lateness of Dancers. Towards the middle of the set, Sauser-Monnig came out to join in with “Day O Day,” along with a number of other tunes from the latest album. The whole band, consisting of Scott Hirsch on bass, Matt McCaughan on drums, William Tyler on guitar, Terry Lonergan on sax and guitar, and Phil Cook on keys, guitar, and banjo, put on an awesome show as they played though songs from Hiss Golden Messenger’s different albums. Phil Cook played a stellar, Duane Allman-esque, slide guitar solo on “Lucia” to wrap things up, at least before the encore.They came back out and finished with two songs, the final being a hard rocking, sax heavy rendition of “Call Him Daylight”, quite different then the acoustic rendition I was familiar with from WKNC’s Lounge session.
From what I had heard of Hiss Golden Messenger’s shows in the past, they are never to be missed and always excellent, and I can finally confirm those words are indeed the truth.
Hailing from Winston-Salem, NC, Judy Barnes is a musical group with a unique approach to their artistry. Like any true opera-inspired rock and roll band, all members of the group bring their own musical talents and experiences to create captivating tracks. Since 2000, Jodi Burns (vocals, piano) has been creating and exploring concepts that now constitute the repertory of Judy Barnes today. Expect rich harmonies, pulsating instrumentals, and angelic vocals composed in pure symphonic drama.
Jodi Burns and Tim Nolan joined me at Hopscotch Music Festival during WKNC’s live stream from Wristband City to talk about the journey of Judy Barnes and their self-described live performances full of “sad songs with jokes in between.”
Karl Kuehn, known across the N.C. music scene as front man/drummer of Museum Mouth and “almost rapper” OK McQueen, recently released new material under his new project, Family Bike. The duo stopped by Wristband City for a quick interview on the eve of their debut show at the Negative Fun Records Day Party.
Our first Fridays on the Lawn outdoor concert of the semester is almost here! Bring your friends and hang with WKNC on Harris Field in front of Witherspoon Student Center for free music, food, and fun!
This month we’re stoked to have a full band set with David Childers of Overmountain Men as well as a solo set from Nathan Golub, a primitive guitar artist from Durham, NC.
Did we mention that there will be free food? INSOMNIA COOKIES will be provided to all!
Parking can be found in Dan Allen Deck in all spots marked “C”.
The first Cibo Matto song I ever heard was Birthday Cake, almost 15 years ago, in the video game Jet Grind Radio. I hated it. Every time it came on I felt like I was going crazy.
And then, somewhere along the way, I fell in love with it, somehow. I started to like the feeling of going insane while Miho Hattori screams, “Extra sugar, extra salt, extra oil and MSG!”
I’ll admit, back in the days of Kazaa, I downloaded most of the songs from their albums, Viva La Woman! and Sterotype A, listening to the few songs I had endlessly, on repeat. I once played DJ at a friend’s party, and spun Cibo Matto tracks nearly the whole night. Most people wanted me to stop DJing so they could play whatever top 40 garbage was popular then.
I found out that Cibo Matto had released a new album earlier this year, when an awesome WKNC DJ spun MFN, from their new album, Hotel Valentine. I immediately recognized Hattori’s distinct voice, and even called the DJ to gush about how much I love Cibo Matto.
Ever since then, I had been trying hard to see Cibo Matto live. When I originally got into them, I figured the band was finished touring and making new music, and that I would never get that chance.
On Wednesday, Cibo Matto tweeted that they were coming to the Visualite theatre in Charlotte on Friday, so I packed my bags, bought tickets, and raced to Charlotte at the end of the week.
It was so worth it.
They played with a full band, and a guest guitarist, Nels Cline. Each of the band members wore white, reminding me of a cross between high fashion models and house painters.
Cibo Matto kicked off the set with the chill tune Sugar Water and rolled into BBQ – one of the songs I had managed to miss from my Kazaa days. After BBQ came Spoon, which was one of the best songs of the set.
Then everyone grabbed some sheet music, and Hattori grabbed some lyrics and started a cover of Águas de Março. It was a nice rendition, but lacked the distinctive Cibo Matto sound that they have previously given to the About A Girl cover. It’s probably a work in progress and I hope to hear a finished product soon.
Yuka Honda and Miho Hattori dancing together.
Blue Train, Moon Child, Deja Vu, and 10th Floor Ghost Girl came after, hyping up the energy in the club to a boil. The band left the stage after 10th Floor Ghost Girl, but the audience immediately began shouting “Encore, encore!”
The band took the stage for one final song, the one we all wanted – Birthday Cake.
Everyone shouted the lyrics and jumped up and down. “Extra sugar! Extra salt! Extra oil and MSG!”
It’s been a long time coming, but I finally got to see Cibo Matto. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
There is one more week until the end of my favorite season of the year. Here are some of the best Afterhours albums from this season:
Porter Robinson – “Worlds”
This NC artist takes a very different approach compared to his last album. A very light electro sound that was made to go against the grain of current EDM. Lots of indie & pop influence will be found.
Amp Live – “Headphone Concerto”
Some of the best production this year. A beautiful mix of live instruments with synthesizers. This album is broken up into three distinct parts. Many cool guest vocalist and several hiphop songs.
ODESZA – “In Return”
Dope beatz from ODESZA with Deep Percussion and high synth melodies. More downtempo-chill songs but a nice variety from song to song. A very well put together album. I dig the positive vibes I get from the songs. It’s nice because downtempo songs are usually darker, sometimes even somber.
Chet Faker – “Built On Glass”
Some of my favorite male vocals I have heard released this year. The instrumentals are as smooth as this man’s voice. This album draws a lot from Flume, Chet was even featured on the song “Left Alone,” but this record is a bit jazzier.
Tensnake – “Glow”
A top notch house producer who keeps getting better. By house, I mean the older Chicago style house. Tensnake also throws in some post-dub and many great guest vocalists.
Slow Magic – “How To Run Away”
Light, midtempo, and catchy. Wordless vocals and guitar riffs chopped up into an ethereal swirl. Very vibrant synths and percussion.
Hippie Sabotage – “The Sunny Album”
This album is super chill, but NOT boring. The producers do a good job of keeping things interesting while still keeping the chill vibes and avoiding heavy drops with crazy wubs. Common theme here is big bass with unique drum beats and overall chill vibes.
Lone – “Reality Testing”
Jungle and house album with cool jazz influence. No lyrics, just smooth synths.
Mndsgn – “Yawn Zen”
This album favors murky, underwater sounds dripping with syrupy chimes. What really brings it all together is the trippy jazz undertones. No song is longer than 3 minutes and there are no vocals.
Man it’s a great time to be living in the 919 and just in North Carolina in general. After catching up from the summertime transitions, I have come to find many local jewels in the muddy mess that is the beginning of the year. There is a TON of great local NC music! Check out WKNC’s most recent local adds below, share them with a friend, or play them all for your family. So go get that mason jar full of Cheerwine and fill your brains with the latest in local NC music!
David Childers “Serpents of Reformation” (This guy will be at our FOTL on 9/19, spread the word & bring your friends because he is literally one of the most influential songwriters from the state!)
Being such a great songwriter, Childers does not let up any of those talents in this latest album. Although Childers can be a little religious with some of his music, it is clear in “Serpents of Reformation” that David is looking to branch out and appeal to a wider audience. Experimenting with his traditional folk sound a little bit, David Childers has deep roots to NC that will just never fade away…There is a reason the Avett Brothers ALWAYS cover his songs.
Museum Mouth “Alex I am Nothing”
This album has been played frequently over our airwaves the past few weeks and that is because it is awesome, beautiful, and emotional in all the best ways possible. Museum Mouth gets in your face with their fuzzy punk feel, combining very honest and heartfelt lyrics that make you want to scream (possibly cry) along with them.
Circuit Frost “Keepers From 2014”
Hailing out of our very own Raleigh, NC, Circuit Frost seems to have a lot of potential with their smooth indie melodies. With not a whole lot of material out yet, this band is definitely one to keep on your radars.
Hiss Golden Messenger “Lateness of Dancers"
This is the fifth album by the local talent M.C. Taylor. Recorded in a tin roof, the songs of this album seem to smoothly flow easily into one another, and capture the peaceful setting that it was recorded in. Taylor harmonizes perfectly with Alexandra Sauser-Monnig (Mountain Man) on a lot of the songs in the album which just makes it just that much better. If you missed out on his latest performance at the Cat’s Cradle then I feel bad for ya son.
Old Hours "Even in the Sun”
This is a wonderful indie folk group from Durham, NC. Old Hours creates music that is very soothing, but still full of shouts and some electric guitars. The band is made up of duo Anna Carlson & Nathaniel Walberer who are able to harmonize perfectly to put your mind racing through the trees and clouds above.
So those are some of the highlights folks! I hope you enjoy them and can spread the knowledge to your beautiful friends of the Triangle or to those far beyond the Triangle. Help us show the world the overflowing amount of musical talent that North Carolina has to offer!
