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Concert Preview

Carolina Grown Preview: Dec. 6

As the year winds down, so does the steady flow of Carolina Grown shows. Sadly as a full-time student when exams roll around and the breaks come through, this road-worn DJ finds himself burning the midnight oil a bit too close. But, don’t mourn for the lack of new programs just yet, because there’s still two full shows left before we take a holiday break! This week’s edition of Carolina Grown on Dec. 6 will feature a guest that I’ve had planned for quite some time, but due to untimely holiday realizations and basketball games we’ve had to push him back a few times. However, I’m excited to finally have Brian Franklin from Bridges on this week to discuss the work on his debut full-length Glass Mask, and where the project will go from here.

Bridges made their first steps into the NC music scene this summer as they slowly released a few singles from their debut full-length Glass Mask. Once the album dropped in the beginning of October, the mood felt just right. There’s nothing like crisp fall weather for some low-key soundtracks of self-loathing and self-realization. Glass Mask chronicles the difficulties of loss and the struggles one goes through in overcoming these instances. Whether you put on a glass mask to hide it all or lament of your pain through tightly wound indie pop songs, everyone finds themselves ready to curl up with a nice record in a warm home and forget about all of your external woes. Glass Mask serves as a wonderful release for moments just like that.

Bridges’ music captures the manic frustration that comes along in life’s defining moments, and throughout the 5:00 hour I’ll talk with Brian Franklin about the process behind writing these songs and how Bridges came together. We’ll also be hearing some stripped down renditions of a few songs from Glass Mask, so tune in from 5-7 this Friday to hear tons of local goodness and to find out more about one of the most promising new acts in the Triangle.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Carolina Grown Podcast: NC Music Love Army on Nov. 29

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It’s been decades since the protest song had its heyday, when the streets were lined with thousands of flower-haired peace-loving demonstrators armed with guitars and voices. But this past summer it felt a bit like we were given an unfortunate glimpse into the past. The Moral Monday protests, led by the NAACP against the conservative upswing of oppressive laws, resulted in over 900 arrests of peaceful demonstrators. Throughout those weeks of non-violent defiance, North Carolina musicians came out of the woodwork to show their approval of the Moral Monday movement. Django Haskins’ simplistic anthem of “We Are Not For Sale” began as a rallying cry and evolved into much more.

Upon hearing Haskins’ song, acclaimed North Carolina artists Caitlin Cary (of Whiskeytown) and Jon Lindsay decided to band together and form the NC Music Love Army, a project that snowballed into something far more encompassing than anyone could imagine. Within the 6 months since the Moral Monday protests, the NC Music Love Army has already written, recorded and now released a full-length album of protest songs geared towards the N.C. state legislators. Last week I spoke with Caitlin Cary, Jon Lindsay and Skylar Gudasz about the formation of the Love Army, some of the pitfalls that they’ve come across since its inception, and where the project will go from here.

This past Saturday (Nov. 30) the group celebrated the album’s release at Cat’s Cradle, a show that was filled with protest anthems both new and old, along with a slew of special guests. During our conversation we speak about these member’s favorite protest songs, what listeners could expect from the show and heard an unreleased song from the Love Army, “Dear Mr. McCrory.”

Check out the stripped down song and the rest of our conversation.

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Non-Music News

Spring 2014 DJ Training

WKNC 88.1 FM, the student-run radio station at North Carolina State University, offers volunteer on- and off-air positions to full-time N.C. State students with a 2.0 minimum grade point average. To qualify for an on-air position, you must first complete a five week DJ training program and pass a written operator’s exam and demonstrative audio board test.

Anyone interested in becoming a WKNC DJ must first attend one of two interest meetings. The interest meetings will be Tuesday, Jan. 7 and Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 6-7 p.m. in 356 Witherspoon. During the interest meeting, the WKNC staff provides an overview of the radio station and its role on campus and in the community. Applications will be distributed, which must be completed and returned to the WKNC studios at 343 Witherspoon Student Center by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10. Individuals interested in electronic, hip-hop, heavy metal and public affairs are particularly encouraged to attend an interest meeting and apply for a spot in the WKNC DJ training program.

After reviewing all applications, the general manager will contact applicants via email regarding their acceptance. Decisions will be made by the general manager and program director, in consultation with the student board of directors.

The DJ training class will be held Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. on Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 in 356 Witherspoon. If someone cannot attend four of the five sessions or needs to come late/leave early each week, please do not apply for the training program.

See which of your friends are applying via the Facebook event.

Categories
Concert Preview Local Music

Carolina Grown Preview: Nov. 29

Just because we’re not on campus doesn’t mean the show won’t go on! For the last Carolina Grown of November, I’ll have the first hour entirely dedicated to the North Carolina Music Love Army, a group that’s comprised of some of the state’s finest musicians joining hands to create a unified voice of protest against our state’s current administrative decisions. Co-founders Caitlin Cary (of Whiskeytown) and Jon Lindsay are joined by Skylar Gudasz to discuss the founding of this coalition of well-known local musicians and what they hope to achieve with their recently released album. The second hour will of course be filled with local tunes!

This summer as the Moral Monday protests were coming to a head, Cary and Lindsay joined together and formed the NC Music Love Army after being motivated by Django Haskin’s (of The Old Ceremony) gripping protest song “We Are Not For Sale.” Though the months have passed and Moral Mondays fizzled out a bit, the NC Music Love Army is still going strong. On Saturday, Nov. 30 they’ll celebrate the release of their album We Are Not For Sale at the Cat’s Cradle, a show in which some of the state’s most revered musicians will come together to celebrate their songs of protest.

The album is broken up into two parts, the first 5 tracks (or Side A) are comprised of songs that the Army recorded together in-studio, while Side B (which they “fondly” refer to as the “guerrilla side”) features contributions from artists like Hiss Golden Messenger and Shirlette Ammons. Caitlin, Jon and Skylar joined me to discuss a bit about the reception that they’ve received from the project thus far, the logistics of organizing such a large-scaled project and their history with protest songs.

Tune in on Friday at 5:00 to hear our full conversation along with an in-studio performance of a Love Army track that’s not featured on the album called, “Dear Mr. McCrory.”

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Carolina Grown Podcast: Art of Cool on Nov. 22

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North Carolina’s music scene is arguably the best it’s been in history. While the past has seen small pockets of the scene flourishing, whether it be the early-90s college rock scene, the hip-hop uprising of the late 90s and early 00s, or the recent flux of world class festivals, it seems like everything has finally started to come together for everyone. Hopscotch has brought national attention to Raleigh’s indie rock scene, and now Art of Cool seeks to do the same for Durham’s jazz scene. While many may feel that the genre is an antiquated area of music, Al Strong and Cicely Mitchell are doing everything in their power to change that.

When The Art of Cool began it was little more than a way for local jazz musicians to find quaint and intimate places to share their sounds. But what began in art galleries around the Triangle has swiftly flourished into one of the most promising festivals in recent memory. This past summer the Art of Cool announced their plans to hold a two-day festival in downtown Durham and on Nov. 15 they announced their brilliant lineup. Art of Cool is bringing some of the most renowned jazz artists from the area alongside some of the fastest rising upstarts to make for a unique and mesmerizing weekend in Durham.

This past Friday, Al and Cicely joined me in the studio to talk a bit about how the project came together, took of so quickly, and what people can expect from this exciting festival. Throughout the hour we ran down some of the most anticipated artists that will be performing on the weekend of April 25 along with some of the weekends festivities–which include master classes, day shows and artist panels.

Check out our full conversation, and for more information on the festival you can head over to the festival’s official website.

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Non-Music News

EOT133 Women’s Center 11/19/13

As you’ve probably heard, NC State’s Hofmann Forest is up for sale, and there is a lot of talk about its future.  Michaela has more.

The Women’s Center at NC State is hosting the Silent Witness Project, which was highlighted on last week’s show, but there’s more to the Women’s Center than meets the eye.  Sydney sat down with Otis McGresham to find out more. 

In the next episode of Poet’s Corner, Selma brings you more poetic talent found right here at NC State.  In addition, an anonymous poetic submission is shared.  

Talk of development surrounds what some cite as a historic section of Hillsborough Street.  Michaela has the story about the controversy.

Each year, the Human Rights Campaign publishes the Municipal Equality Index.  Nick has the report on how North Carolina cities scored.

Listen to all this, plus national and international news from Andrew and Sydney, weather with meteorologist Katie Costa, Ben with sports, and a community calendar.

Nick Savage and Andrew Eichen bring you another edition of “Eye on the Triangle,” live each Tuesday at 7 p.m. on WKNC 88.1 FM and wknc.org/listen and available as a downloadable podcast.

Listen to episode 133.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Coke Weed Interview

Coke Weed stopped by the WKNC studios before their Nov. 1 show at The Cave in Chapel Hill. Listen to their conversation.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Porcelain Raft Interview

Porcelain Raft stopped by the WKNC studios to talk with the Kenosha Kid. Listen to their conversation here, and don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on any of our great artist interviews.

Categories
Non-Music News

Rock & Shop Market: Nov. 30, 2013

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On Saturday, November 30, 2013 from 11am-5pm The Rock & Shop Market will take place at the Durham Armory. The Rock & Shop Market is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience; an indoor fashion, art & music flea market featuring emerging, independent local and national designers selling their wares plus live music by local performers.

The local market was created in 2004 to help support and celebrate the burgeoning indie arts scene of professional designers, artists, and musicians in the Triangle and beyond.

Bands and DJs will include Old QuarterPrypyatSee Gulls, and DJ E Main. There will be 75 designers including Fleet Co., Freaker USAOak City CollectiveLauren Amos Designs, and much more! Food trucks will also be there including GussysKoKyu BBQWill & PopsPie Pushers & Chirba Chirba.

The schedule is as follows:                               

11:00am – Market opens
11:00 – 12:00 DJ E Main
12:00 – 1:00 Prypyat                                    
1:00 – 2:00 DJ E Main
2:00 – 3:00 See Gulls
3:00 – 4:00 DJ E Main
4:00 – 5:00 Old Quarter         

Categories
Local Music Music News and Interviews

Local Artist of the Month: Whatever Brains

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When it comes to describing Raleigh’s experimental punk outfit Whatever Brains, quite a few things come to mind. The band dabbles into plenty of unfamiliar territories for a band that most would pigeonhole into the “punk” category, one the band doesn’t even sound too privy to. Rather, they see themselves firmly within the realm of modern electronic music, morphing together elements from aggressive rock like punk and garage while melding in elements of psych-rock to create a caustic conglomeration of sounds. For our November Artist of the Month feature I sat down with Whatever Brains to talk a bit about the music that inspires them, their opinions on the North Carolina punk scene, and what we can expect from the band in the future.

What resulted was a spastic interview that covered everything from the band’s origins with local music to their favorite cereal and youtube videos. The conversation is a bit indicative of what you can expect from the band’s music, regardless of how the direction you’re taking with it you know that you’re in for something that’s entertaining. While Whatever Brains’ past three untitled full-lengths have displayed a gradual progression from spastic punk stand-outs to electronically leaning front-runners, the band’s humility continually shines through. Whether you’re looking to find out about the band’s upcoming release, slated to be a “rock opera” split-single, or to hear about what they’re listening to in their free time, our Local Artist of the Month feature pinpoints what makes Whatever Brains tick.

Vocalist Rich Ivey delves into his songwriting process and the importance of lyrics while one of the band’s numerous keyboardists William Evans tackles the topics of contemporary influences. For the next forty minutes you can immerse yourself in our off-kilt conversations about the past, present and future of one of the region’s most underrated acts, Whatever Brains.