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Band/Artist Profile

July’s Local Artist of the Month: Bombadil

July’s Local Artist of the Month: Bombadil

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Non-Music News

Girls Rock NC Celebrates 10 Years of Empowering Women and Girls in the Triangle

Girls Rock NC is a nonprofit organization that empowers girls and women — through creative expression — to become confident and engaged members of our communities. Their programs use music as a vehicle for building community and self-­esteem. They accomplish this by focusing on the “three Cs”: creativity, confidence and collaboration.

In 2003, Girls Rock NC held their first camp for 29 girls at Carolina Friends School and became the third organization in the nation to provide this unique programming. Ten years later, Girls Rock NC serves over 225 girls annually with 40 music programs in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh. They have witnessed the efficacy of their programs over years as these girls become young women holding leadership positions, establishing successful bands, excelling in collegiate and humanitarian pursuits, and even returning to counsel girls at our camps. With over 80 dedicated volunteers and a growing number of partners, sponsors, musicians, parents, activists, and mentors, Girls Rock NC values the notion that advancement happens through collective participation and a desire to make a positive impact.

Throughout 2014, they will host a series of monthly fundraising events that will culminate in a big weekend long celebration in October. The event in October will feature workshops and activities that are great for all ages as well as nationally renowned performers, authors, and speakers. All these events will serve to celebrate this milestone with their community and share their refined and passionate vision of Girls Rock NC’s future. As they hire full-­time staff, expand year-­round programming, and seek a permanent building to headquarter operations, they are reminded of why they chose the Triangle as their home base and why they have been able to blossom in their outreach here. Truly, they are grateful for the powerful web of allies who help them grow fiercer and fiercer.

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Concert Preview

Local Band Local Beer: 1.30.14

Tonight’s edition of Local Band Local Beer at Tir na Nog Irish Pub in downtown Raleigh is a very special one featuring Inflowential, HaLo, Napoleon Wright II, and WKNC alum DJ Gonzo. This will be Inflowential’s first show in over a year, so it’s sure to bring a good time. 

This free show starts at 9:30 pm. 

Be sure to tune into WKNC at 5:00pm with DJ Kataclysm as she interviews the bands prior to their performance tonight. 

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC 88.1 FM Charts: 1/29/14

TOP 5 ADDS

1            BE FOREST            Earthbeat            We Were Never Being Boring           

2            HOSPITALITY            Trouble            Merge           

3            DUM DUM GIRLS            Too True            SUB POP           

4            QUILT            Held In Splendor            Mexican Summer           

5            TOGETHER PANGEA            Badillac            Harvest           

 

RADIO 200

1            PAINTED PALMS            Forever            Polyvinyl           

2            LOW FREQUENCY IN STEREO            Pop Obskura            Long Branch           

3            POW!            Hi-Tech Boom            Castle Face           

4            HISTORY OF APPLE PIE            Out Of View            Marshall Teller           

5            NO JOY            Pastel And Pass Out [EP]            Mexican Summer           

6            WARPAINT            Warpaint            Rough Trade           

7            THEE OH SEES            Singles Collection, Volume 3            Castle Face           

8            DUCKTAILS            Wish Hotel [EP]            Domino           

9            HIGH HIGHS            Open Season Deluxe Edition            fine time           

10            MALES            Run Run Run/MalesMalesMales            Fishrider           

11            SKY FERREIRA            Night Time, My Time            Capitol           

12            SALLIE FORD AND THE SOUND OUTSIDE            Summer [EP]            Partisan           

13            DESTROYER            Five Spanish Songs            Merge           

14            MOGWAI            Rave Tapes            SUB POP           

15            LOS CAMPESINOS!            No Blues            Wichita           

16            MUTUAL BENEFIT            Love’s Crushing Diamond            Other           

17            DOG BITE            Tranquilizers            Carpark           

18            TOY            Join The Dots            Heavenly           

19            KEVIN MORBY            Harlem River            Woodsist           

20            BLACK HEARTED BROTHER            Stars Are Our Home            Slumberland           

21            SEBASTIEN GRAINGER            Yours To Discover            Last Gang           

22            NOBUNNY            Secret Songs: Reflections From The Ear Mirror            Goner           

23            MILOSH            Jetlag            eOne-Deadly           

24            BOY AND BEAR            Harlequin Dream            Nettwerk           

25            MIDLAKE            Antiphon            ATO           

26            TRAPS            Boom Pow Awesome Wow            Castle Face           

27            HABIBI            Habibi            Burger           

28            STATIC JACKS            In Blue            Fearless           

29            GAP DREAM            Shine Your Light            Burger           

30            SON LUX            Lanterns            Joyful Noise           

Categories
New Album Review

New Daytime Music

The Rebel Set // How to Make a Monster!

Those 60s surf/garage rock sounds that are oh-so-popular these days, plus some campy special effects stuff, like screams and “haunted house” organs (think Wampire). Super upbeat, impossible not to tap your foot/bob your head to this while daydreaming about how you’re totally gonna chat up that girl/guy you like at that hip surf party next weekend. 

 

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Surf City // We Knew It Was Not Going to Be Like This

Don’t be fooled by the name – this is actually not surfy at all. It’s also probably not named after Surf City, NC, since these guys are from New Zealand. Presumably in a field, amidst a flock of sheep, they make relaxed, “slacker” psych rock. Dreamy and wistful, you know how it is.

 

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Bhavana Reddy // Tangled in Emotions

I don’t even know what to call this. Like, the Indian Fiona Apple. She is the daughter of a famous Indian dancing couple and is a dancer herself. Consequently, the theatricality of Indian dance comes across in these 4 tracks, which are dominated by Reddy’s alluring voice and backed by a jazzy, psychedelic, east-meets-west sound.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks // Wig Out At Jagbags

A guy as old as your dad but way cooler (no offense). This is nothing radically different from other Stephen Malkmus solo albums (characteristic wordplay that alternates between clever and nonsensical; sprawling, relaxed beats), but it’s still a really good listen.

Native America // Bad Weed / But Still Weed EP

Yeah, I rolled my eyes at the album title, too, but then I listened to it cause that’s my job. Energetic, wide-eyed, poppy, and sunny. Described as “flower punk,” which I think is a pretty apt description. This one was actually released last summer but somehow slipped through the cracks…anyway if you’re dreaming of sunnier days, then you should play this!

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Concert Preview

Interview with The Manimals // 1.27.14 // 7pm

Tune into WKNC this evening at 7:00 to hear Riff Raff & Sweet D interview The Manimals!

The boys are playing this Thursday at King’s Barcade with The Hell No and Virgin Lung. Doors at 8:30, show starts at 9:00. The event is all ages, so bring your little sister for some serious rock & roll.

More info about the event can be found here

Categories
Concert Preview

Double Barrel Benefit 11 Full Lineup

WKNC 88.1 FM will hold its eleventh annual Double Barrel Benefit concert Friday, Feb. 7 at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro and Friday, Feb. 14 at Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. Cat’s Cradle will host The Love Language to kick off the festival with Hammer No More the Fingers, T0W3RS, and GHOSTT BLLONDE supporting. Lincoln Theatre will feature Mount Moriah for the final night along with special guests to be announced, Loamlands, and Daniel Bachman.

 “The goal is to bring the established bands we’ve always loved to work with and promote the best new bands that we really believe in,” Bri Aab, general manager, said. “As a station, we want to help cultivate a community in which musicians can thrive. The Triangle has a deep local music history, and we hope to strengthen that relationship of music and the area.”

Because of the interconnected nature of the Triangle, WKNC is holding the first night of the festival at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, a Double Barrel first, and keeping the second night at Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. The station’s signal is also 25,000 watts, which puts the entire Triangle in its coverage pattern.

“WKNC has grown a lot over the past 10 years of Double Barrel, and this year we are changing it up to illustrate that,” Michael D’Argenio, program director, said. “I’m excited to be bringing this event to larger venues across the Triangle to expose more people to the great local music we have to offer.”

 

The idea for Double Barrel Benefit, a two-night event to raise money for station operations, came from former general manager Jamie Proctor in 2003. It has become a staple in the music community of North Carolina, and has dually served to promote great local musicians while also benefiting WKNC.

“It’s crazy to have both The Love Language and Mount Moriah this year,” Walt Lilly, station production manager and co-creator of “The Lounge” video series, said. “These are two incredible acts that have a national presence while staying rooted in the Triangle, and we are glad to have their homecoming at Double Barrel.”

“Not only is DBB a great platform to see already established artists in a unique way, it also pairs these acts with our favorite up and coming performers in the area.” John Kovalchik, operations manager, said. “We are very excited about the possibilities that this year’s event has in store.”

Tickets are on sale now at http://wknc.org/dbb11. Prices are $12 in advance and $14 at the door for each night and all proceeds benefit WKNC. Two-night passes are available for $22. The event is 18+. Doors for each show open at 8 p.m. with music at 9 p.m.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Matthew E White in the Lounge

Matthew E. White “Big Love” // WKNC’s The Lounge

Richmond songwriter Matthew E. White paid a visit to WKNC before his December show at King’s to perform an alternate version of “Big Love,” a cut off his debut album Big Inner. This is the forth session of The Lounge, which has been described by Indy Week as “a good way to hear tunes you might know in a different context." 

Matthew E. White, founder of Spacebomb Records in Richmond, Virginia, is also head of the jazz band Fight the Big Bull and was also a member of rock group The Great White Jenkins. Big Inner, which was released in 2012, can best be described from the following excerpt via his website: " Whether you’re a woman or man, White’s mournful, get-it-on voice may be all you can hear: I don’t want to live a day longer than you, so let’s meet the Lord together. You can call it soul music if you want. It’s his soul and it’s his music.” Big Inner is composed of seven songs and is the first release from Spacebomb Records. 

Matthew E. White has also collaborated with Justin Vernon, Sharon Van Etten, Megafaun, and The Mountain Goats. 

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC Local Music Charts – Jan. 6 – 20

We may not have a CMJ chart for local music, but that doesn’t mean we can’t let you know which local artists are getting the most spins on WKNC! Every two weeks we’ll be sharing the top five North Carolina-based artists that we play on WKNC. So keep checking back to see which artists are rising up the ranks, and perhaps your requests can send a few underrated folks into our top 5!

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1. Mount Moriah 

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2. The Love Language 

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3. Future Islands 

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4. Bombadil 

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5. Hiss Golden Messenger 

Categories
Concert Preview

Local Band Local Beer: 1/23/14

This Thursday, January 23rd, Local Band Local Beer will be featuring Henbrain, Vannevar, and Vanguard Party. As always, LBLB takes place at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in downtown Raleigh at 9:30pm every Thursday. This is a free event, so come and jam out to some local tunes! 

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Be sure to tune in Thursday evening at 5pm with DJ Kataclysm to hear her interview the bands before their performance!