Category: Blog

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Concert Review

Show Review: Conor Oberst at the Warner Theatre

Sitting just three blocks from the White House in downtown D.C. is the extravagant and elegant Warner Theatre. Never had I imagined getting the chance to see the notable Conor Oberst, let alone at such a remarkable venue. This had to be one of the most memorable Thursday nights I have experienced in quite a while, which made the four and a half hour journey to get there all the more worth it.

Opening up for Conor Oberst was Daniel Johnston, a legend himself. A shaky performance by the well-known artist was much appreciated by the entire crowd. He ended his set with the great “True Love Will Find You in the End.”
Although best known for his band, Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst’s music career also includes Monsters of Folk, Desaparecidos, and Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. Even though on a solo tour, Conor played songs from almost every one of these bands. One might think that the lack of variety in instruments and voices that normally accompany him would take away from the overall quality of the show; however, none of these were really missed and it’s what made for a truly special performance. His emotional vocals filled the entire theatre as the audience sat and listened to songs such as “Milk Thistle,” “Land Locked Blues,” “June On The West Coast,” “Map Of The World,” and of course “Lua.” He would stop once in a while to explain how he wrote the preceding song when he was fifteen years old and how it made him feel slightly embarrassed. This made me remember an interview where he stated that he does not usually play these old songs, which made this particular performance even better.

Conor Oberst on stage

He also played a couple new songs. One he dedicated to his brother’s second child and the other told the story of an old friend. It was these personal connections and his lyrical improvisations that kept the crowd captivated creating a truly memorable night. His two-hour performance was all I had expected and more.

The good news is that everyone in the triangle can experience some Conor Oberst magic for them selves in February when he stops by the Cat’s Cradle on the 17th with his band, Desaparecidos.

Desaparecidos

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC Afterhours’ RPM Charts and Adds – Nov. 26

Each week, WKNC compiles a list of charts and adds.

TOP TEN:

1 SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA Fragments Exceptional

2 LUKID Lonely At The Top Werkdiscs

3 BLACKBURNER Planet Earth Attack Cleopatra

4 3:33 In The Middle Of Infinity Alpha Pup-Parallel Thought

5 SOUNTRACK Halo 4 The End

6 BOYS NOIZE  Out Of The Black Boysnoize

7 BASTINADO The Hard Six

8 TWO FINGERS Stunt Rhythms Big Dada

9 MADEON Madeon [EP] Columbia

10 VITALIC Rave Age Pias

Adds:

1 ETIENNE DE CRECY Essentials Pixadelic

2 STEVE BUG Noir Poker Flat

3 DIAMOND VERSION EP 1 + EP 2 Mute

4 SATURDAY, MONDAY “Headshake” [Single] Despotz

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC’s Charts and Top 5 Adds – Nov. 27

Each week, the WKNC music directors tally up spins for new releases and submit their top charts to CMJ.

Top 5 Adds:

1 TYVEK On Triple Beams In The Red

2 MOGWAI A Wrenched Virile Lore Sub Pop

3 DEVOTCHKA DeVotchKa Live With The Colorado Symphony Cicero

4 DIAMOND VERSION EP 1 + EP 2 Mute

5 DARWIN DEEZ “Free (The Editorial Me)” [Single] Lucky Number

Top 200: 

1 BABIES Our House On The Hill Woodsist

2 TAMARYN Tender New Signs Mexican Summer

3 MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER Melody’s Echo Chamber Fat Possum

4 BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW Cobra Juicy Rad Cult

5 TY SEGALL Twins Drag City

6 IO ECHO IO Echo Iamsound

7 SIC ALPS Sic Alps Drag City

8 TAME IMPALA Lonerism Modular

9 BAT FOR LASHES The Haunted Man EMI

10 BARBARAS 2006-2008 Goner

11 TAKEN BY TREES Other Worlds Secretly Canadian

12 PRINCE RAMA Top Ten Hits Of The End Of The World Paw Tracks

13 WHY? Mumps, Etc Anticon

14 TITUS ANDRONICUS Local Business XL

15 EL PERRO DEL MAR The Pale Fire Control Group

16 MOUNTAIN GOATS Transcendental Youth Merge

17 CHAD VALLEY Young Hunger Cascine

18 DUM DUM GIRLS End Of Daze SUB POP

19 CORIN TUCKER BAND Kill My Blues Kill Rock Stars

20 SUN AIRWAY Soft Fall Dead Oceans

21 ALT-J An Awesome Wave Canvasback

22 METZ Metz SUB POP

23 PEOPLE GET READY People Get Ready Brassland

24 CHILD ACTOR Victory Fake Four

25 HAMMOCK Departure Songs Self-Released

26 SUFJAN STEVENS Silver And Gold Asthmatic Kitty

27 LUYAS Animator Dead Oceans

28 FLUME Flume Future Classic

29 NIGHT MOVES Colored Emotions Domino

30 SOLID GOLD Eat Your Young Totally Gross National Product

Categories
Miscellaneous

Help Get WKNC an Encore on mtvU!

Back in September you may have seen WKNC featured for a week on mtvU’s College Radio Countdown. We had some of our wonderful staff put together a video and more, that can be found here. mtvU shared on Twitter that they would be having an encore feature of the most loved college radio station (who we think is us, duh).

But we need your help!

 

 

 

So, if you’d like to see WKNC featured again, tell the Twitter world! Make sure you use the hashtag #CRC to get your vote in.

Thanks everyone!

 

 

Categories
Concert Review

Show Review: A Very Sufjan Christmas!

Sufjan Stevens

Throughout the past decade Sufjan Stevens has cemented himself as one of the most talented and unique artists of our generation, with a diverse array of talents ranging from classically inspired folk pop to the aural adventures of the past few years with Age of Adz and BQE, it’s a toss up as to what direction any new music from Stevens is going to take.  When he announced his most recent release, Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10, I wasn’t too sure of what to expect…especially with the lead-off single of “Christmas Unicorn”.  The track was as bizarre as it was insightful and infectious (especially the seamless transition into Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”), which can pretty accurately describe the three plus hours of Christmas inspired material on Silver & Gold.  Shortly after the album announcement came news of the “Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long: Season Affective Disorder Yuletide Pageant On Ice” tour, a string of shows which would feature good ol’ “Sufjy Pants” spreading Christmas cheer by way of his modern takes on Christmas classics as well as his incredible new holiday inspired originals.

While some of the Christmas inspired material is brief and zany, like “Happy Family Christmas” a jaunting yet melodic track wishing that “Just this once for Christmas I want us all to be like one great big happy family”, and while the holiday is exactly a month away, Sunday at Haw River Ballroom felt like a gigantic family Christmas gathering.  With hundreds of concertgoers decked out in festive sweaters and unicorn horns, Sunday provided one of the most unique and magical show experiences one could ever wish for.  While opener Sheila Sapputo (better known as singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas) donned a Santa suit for a quirky Portlandia-esque bit of dry comedy, the highlight of the show could be nothing other than the marvelous display put on by Sufjan and company.

The show was broken up into bits of Sufjan originals and highly enjoyable breaks for Christmas classics from the Wheel!Of!Christmas!, a Price Is Right style spin-wheel designed to randomize the carols we’ve all grown to know and love.  Upon entrance we were all given a songbook, endearingly referred to by Sufjan as our “book of hymnals”, and these carols provided for some of the most memorable concert moments in recent memory.  While Sufjan originals like “Sister Winter” and the aforementioned “Christmas Unicorn” stood out amongst the set, the true highlights came from the innovative takes on old classics.  An electronically driven version of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” was a show-stopping performance, featuring vocoded Sufjan vocals and spastic electronic melodies that excellently juxtapose the calm and soothing stylings of the original.  After the Wheel of Christmas selected “Joy to the World” early on in the set, Sufjan brilliantly transitioned into a refrain from “Impossible Soul”, a track from Age of Adz, inducing shouts of approval from the crowd.

Sufjan himself described the show as, “running the gamut of Christmas from the profane to the insane”, and with inflatable unicorns being thrown out at the same show as inflatable Santa’s I’d say it’s a pretty accurate description.  The end of Sufjan’s set was haltered by the second fire alarm of the evening, but the band took it all in stride and led the crowd in an a cappella rendition of “Silent Night” divided between males and females in the first two verses followed by a harmonious ending as monitors blasted back to life and the set came to a beautiful end.  A roaring ovation from one of the most dense crowds I’ve seen at Haw River resulted in a three song encore of Sufjan originals from Illinois and Michigan.  Starting off his encore with a beautiful take on “Concerning The UFO Sightings Near Highland, Illinois”, the crowds anticipation was rapidly rising and greeted with “For The Widows of Paradise” which started as a solo banjo track and blossomed into a full band performance.  Closing with fan-favorite, “Chicago”, Sufjan thanked the crowd for being so wonderful and patient, but all thanks is graciously pointed towards Sufjan, the band, and the fine folks of Haw River Ballroom for housing such a beautiful show.  It’s very rare to build a sense of community within a single show, but the “Surfjohn Stephenopolous Sing-A-Long” certainly achieved just that.

Categories
Concert Preview

Tonight: Blow Me, Sandy at The Pour House

For everyone still drinking in the Thanksgiving spirit, there’s an event tonight you may be interested in. While we appreciate what we have, we should also be mindful of what we can do to help others. Tonight The Pour House combines our love for music with altruism and is hosting a benefit concert and silent auction for Hurricane Sandy victims, called “Blow Me, Sandy.”

The Pour House hosts several benefits throughout the year. Jac Cain was key in organizing this event.

“ I mean a lot of people got nothing. I was lucky enough that Jeff from Hank Sinatra was already trying to do the same thing. He gets credit for the lineup,” Cain shared.

The silent auction will have items including recording sessions, gift baskets and more.

“I’m excited about the silent auction,” Cain said. “Tres Chicas are donating a house concert. Eric Ambel is donating a day of recording at his studio in NYC. The Pour House is donating a hotel room two tickets and dinner for New Years. Lots of people are contributing.”

If you aren’t able to make it out today but would like to help out, you can donate or volunteer with The American Red Cross.

 

 

Categories
Miscellaneous

Record Store Black Friday: Thoughts from Local Record Store Owners

Hey y’all,

I hope everyone is excited to get fat and stuff on Thursday.  And then on Friday, to buy LOTS OF LPs!!!  You can peruse the releases that you (might) be able to purchase here (more on that later), but first, check below to see what some real local record store employees are excited about for this upcoming sales extravaganza.

Schoolkids Records’ employee Kyle Rosko is excited about a whole lot of releases.  Namely, the Beach Boys Surfin’ Safara 10", the White Stripes Live at Hotel Yorba 7", and the Skrillex Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites first press to wax.  I may have made up that last one.

Chaz of Bull City Records fame is really excited about the Scettore Studios Sessions from The Velvet Underground.  This is an acetate release from way back before The Velvet Underground & Nico was released, and features demo/alternate versions of some songs that ended up on that classic album.

Some guy from Offbeat Music in Durham, NC (sorry I didn’t catch you name, but your store is great!!)  is apprehensive about the day, because as of when I called him, he didn’t know what was going to be coming to the store.  He brings up an interesting point–that retail can be stressful, especially when you’re dealing with a bunch of stocking agencies that are smokin’ doobies rather than employing high-quality analytics systems that can give record store owners a better idea of what they’re getting.  Alas.

That’s all I got,

Have fun, eat good food, buy good music!

John

 

Categories
Non-Music News

WKNC to be off air for 70+ hours in December

In December, during winter break, many of the buildings on NC State’s campus along the Cates Avenue corridor will have their electricity cut off due to construction and renovation of Talley Student Center. This includes the building that houses WKNC, Witherspoon Student Center. According to an email from Stephanie White, a customer service representative from the Facilities Service Center:

“This disconnect is necessary for the contractor to enter the manholes along Cates Ave to install pull strings, bell ends, pull mandrels and grout around raceways.”

WKNC will be discontinuing on-air and online broadcasting during the following days and times:

  • 12/16 – 12/17   10pm – 8am

  • 12/17 – 12/18   9:30pm – 8am

  • 12/18 – 12/19   9:30pm – 8am

  • 12/19 – 12/20   6pm – 8am

  • 12/20 – 12/21   6pm – 8am

  • 12/21 – 12/22   6pm – 8am

  • 12/22 – 12/23   6pm – 8am

 

 

Categories
Concert Review Local Music

Show Review: Local Band Local Beer – Phil Cook & His Feat w/ SumnerJames

Phil Cook & His Feat

Two side projects shone bright on Thursday at Tir Na Nog, as Phil Cook and James Phillips shed their usual full-time bands for a more stripped down and intimate performance for the weekly Local Band Local Beer.  James Phillips (of Bombadil) made his first solo outing with the help of Elyse Thebner (Some Army, JKutchma & The Five Fifths) to fully flesh out his minimalistic electronic act inspired by his stay in Oregon earlier this year.

A far cry from his work in the quirky folk act of Bombadil, Phillips’ set up consisted of a laptop from which to blast beats and an array of synths to produce the dense soundscape that sets the somber yet hopeful tone of his solo work.  Joined by fellow local musicians like Stuart and Daniel of Bombadil and Christy Smith of The Tender Fruit, Sumner James transitioned surprisingly well for a debut live act.  Closing with the album’s lead-off single of, “Home”, James was borderline shouting his heart out on “Losing his mind” in the state of Oregon.  These tunes can be just as therapeutic to the listener as it evidently was for Phillips, much like the deep emotion and soul poured into the mostly instrumental tunes of Phil Cook.

Phil Cook is usually just accompanied by his feet on percussion, but with the addition of Yan Westerlund (brother of Megafaun drummer Joe Westerlund and regular drummer for Bowerbirds) on drums, the fans at Tir Na Nog were treated to a tight and blues driven performance from a vastly underrated local act.  In a mostly electric set, Phil Cook jammed out on open tunings that were oozing with emotion, notes were being bent to his will and captivating concert goers to move and shake like an old revival show.  From instrumental blues jams to a rootsy lullaby sung for his young son, Phil Cook displayed his breadth of talent with dobro jams and a strong sense of musical connectivity with Yan who provided simplistic yet driving rhythms for songs he was mostly unfamiliar with.  For a low key show from local side projects, these two acts displayed vast amounts of talent and promise, making for a fantastic way to spend a Thursday evening.

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT109 Raleigh Public Record 11/13/12

Last week, Eye on the Triangle did not air. Instead, the Raleigh Public Record was on air covering the election. And covering the Raleigh Public Record was Jake Langlois.

The world of undergraduate research can be extremely competitive. This week, Gene spoke with Kalyani Joeshani, on what you can do to differentiate yourself in the often cutthroat undergraduate world.

In the Lawless West, there is always one man you can count on to save the day. Here now is the Fearless Ranger.

As it gets colder, you might see a lot more people light up around campus to stay warm. What do students think about smoking on campus?

Listen to episode 109.