Category: Blog

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Carolina Grown Podcast: Jan. 3 w/ Ryan Gustafson

image

For the first Carolina Grown of 2014, some of the finest North Carolina songwriters graced the show. One of which stands atop the new era of alt-country goodness while the other serves as a gatekeeper. For the first hour I was joined by Ryan Gustafson of The Dead Tongues to talk a bit about what he’s been up to for the past year since the release of Desert, and of course it’s been quite a bit.

Gustafson staked his claim as one of the area’s premiere songwriters back in 2009 with his debut LP Donkey, but in the four years between his first and second full-length he had his hands in many a pot. Gustafson played with the likes of Max Indian, The Love Language, Mandolin Orange and The Human Eyes all whilst working on instrumental work as well. But when Gustafson announced his return to songwriting with The Dead Tongues it felt like the region let out a collective cheer. Desert was one of the most well received albums of 2013 and Gustafson has stayed busy at work since the album’s release.

Throughout the hour I spoke with Ryan Gustafson about his songwriting origins, the lapse between full lengths, all of the roles he’s been filling around the area and importantly what’s to come from the songwriter in 2014. Amidst all of the conversation Gustafson performed two new songs in the studio as well as a track from Desert. Fans of the songwriter can dig deeper into his psyche and get a stripped down treat of some new and old favorites with this session. 

Check it out.

Categories
DJ Highlights

WKNC DJs’ Best of 2013: Part 1

We asked all of the kind DJs we have here at WKNC what their top lists for 2013 are. Over the next few days we’ll post the myriad of lists ranging from top albums to top colors.

DJ PRISM: Music Director

Top 5 Albums of the Year

1. Grouper – The Man Who Died In His Boat

2. Pity Sex – Feast Of Love

3. The Pastels – Slow Summits

4. So So Glos – Blowout

5. Boards Of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest

Ceebeegeebee: Assistant Music Director

Top 5 Albums of the Year

1. Austra – Olympia

2. !!! – Thr!!!er

3. Medicine – To the Happy Few

4. Braids – Flourish // Perish

5. The Strokes – Comedown Machine

DJ May Day

Top 5 Albums of the Year

1. CHVRCHES: The Bones of What You Believe

2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mosquito

3. Daughter, If You Leave

4. King Krule, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon

5. HAIM, Days are Gone 

Honorable Mention: Summer Camp, Summer Camp

DJ Soulwood: Jazz

Top 5 Albums of the Year

1. Snarky Puppy “Family Dinner Vol. 1”

2. Gregory Porter “Liquid Spirit”

3. Christian McBride “People Music”

4. NO BS Brass Band “RVA All Day”

5. Stacey Kent “The Changing Lights”

albatross


Top 5 Albums of the Year

1. Austra – Olympia


2. Savages – Silence Yourself 


3. Poliça – Shulamith


4. CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe


5. Danny Brown – Old

Top 5 #hashtags of the Year


1. #neverstop


2. #winthetickets


3. #based


4. #nühomeless


5. #bangers

Salt Water Jaffee

Top 5 Albums of the Year

1. Devendra Banhart: Mala

2. Bibio: Silver Wilkinson

3. The Growlers: Hung at Heart

4. Rhye: Woman

5. Bass Drum of Death: s/t

TOP 5 THEMED SHOWS OF 2013

1. Covers

2. Names

3. Places

4. Breakup Songs

5. Colors

Categories
Miscellaneous

5 Christmas Albums That Don’t Suck

With at least half of your local radio stations broadcasting the same overplayed Christmas songs non-stop, the sappy Hallmark element of the season can seem inescapable. To help you survive these last couple of days, here are five albums (and links!) that make spending extended periods of time with your family seem more bearable:

My Morning Jacket “Does Xmas Fiasco Style”

Bright Eyes “A Christmas Album”

Parenthetical Girls “Christmas.”

Sufjan Stevens “Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas”

Gruff Rhys “Atheist Christmas”

– Happy holidays, y’all –

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Giveaways for the week of 1/6 – 1/12

Keep it tuned to WKNC all week long for your chance to win tickets to any of these great shows below! Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it, and you and a friend could be hitting up some of the coolest local acts around.

Wednesday, January 8 – Songs: Molina – A Memorial Electric Co with Loamlands @ The Pinhook

Thursday, January 9 – Totally Slow with The Bastages and The B-Side Project @ The Pinhook

image

Thursday, January 9 – Perfect Pussy with Whatever Brains and Davidians @ Kings Barcade

image

Friday, January 10 – Mods & Rockers Revue with Archbishops of Blount Street and The Kinksmen @ The Pinhook

Friday, January 10 – Orquesta Gardel @ Kings Barcade

image

Friday, January 10 – Cracker with Camper Van Beethoven @ Cat’s Cradle

Saturday, January 11 – Mipso with South Carolina Broadcasters @ Kings Barcade

Saturday, January 11 – Spider Bags with Midnight Plus One @ Cat’s Cradle Back Room

image

Sunday, January 12 – Cate Le Bon with Kevin Morby @ Cat’s Cradle Back Room

image
Categories
Local Music Music News and Interviews

January’s Local Artist of the Month: Hiss Golden Messenger

image

Hiss Golden Messenger

is a true testament to the musicianship that resides in the Triangle. Both in a live setting and on the record, Hiss Golden Messenger is a roll call of many of the great musicians who come together under Durham songwriter M.C. Taylor and Brooklyn recordist Scott Hirsch to make something incredible.  The albums are a careful work of genius that brings together a wide-range of genres that together scream “North Carolina.”  Their most recent effort Haw brings together some of the best of the best to create their fullest, most beautiful album yet.  Seeing Hiss Golden Messenger at their show at Haw River Ballroom was such an incredible treat.  The Triangle came together for a night of music led by some of the giants of the local scene who brought to life this music that is so wholly North Carolina.

Taylor and Hirsch have released 4 albums as Hiss Golden Messenger including last year’s Haw.  Named for the river that strikes right through the heart of North Carolina, the album is their most adventurous to date as the duo expanded and enlisted the help of some old friends.  The band consisted of Megafaun’s Phil Cook, The Black Twig Picker’s Nathan Bowles, and William Tyler.  Each of these men is a great musician in their own right and came together to round out Taylor’s incredible vision perfectly.  Like their previous albums, Haw brought together wide array of different genres including folk, blues, country, and soul.  While Hiss Golden Messenger is a champion of an older country era, the music is universal and draws people that have never before been a fan of these genres.  As such, Haw was incredibly well received by people of all genres as it made the rounds on both local and national end of year lists.

On January 14th, their second album Bad Debt is being reissued after coming to an untimely end.  All copies of the original CD edition were destroyed in a warehouse fire during the London riots in 2011.  Bad Debt was written during the time of the collapse of the global economy.  Now after its symbolic demise, these songs will see the light of day 5 years later.  While we may not know what the future of the global economy may hold, these songs still hold weight as we look towards the not entirely cheery future.  But the future may be a bit brighter with Hiss Golden Messenger reminding us we aren’t alone in our struggles.

Tune in to hear our interview with Hiss Golden Messenger during Carolina Grown on January 17th as we discuss what lies ahead for them.

Check out a review and listen to a track off of Bad Debt on Pitchfork.

Hear the interview now.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Matthew E. White Interview

Matthew E. White stopped by to chat with WKNC’s DJ DiGiorno before his Dec. 14 show with Howard Ivans at King’s Barcade.

Listen here.

Categories
New Album Review

New Daytime Music

The Moth & The Flame // “&”
((electro pop))
Just a fantastic balance between the dark and languid and the aggressive and driving. Intelligent rhythms and great vocals set this release apart.
 
The Ian Fays // "The Most Spectacular Party"
((indie pop))
I don’t usually go for the quaint cutesy stuff, but The Ian Fays’ whimsy is rooted in a strong sense of sincerity. Their twin harmonies and minimal accompaniment make their sound completely original.

Males // “Males Males Males”
((garage pop))
Top notch hooks with that oh so beloved bratty garage aesthetic all the kids are clamoring for these days.

Sebastian Grainger // "Yours to Discover"
((electro pop))
Ex-member of Death From Above 1979 does not sound much at all like his old band. Some decent hooks in here, but it ultimately sounds like he’s trying too hard.

Static Jacks // “In Blue”
((power pop))
For anyone who just can’t get enough of Weezer.

Cut Copy // “Free Your Mind”
((indie electronic))
Not too many groups are brave enough to tackle the rhythms of acid house like Cut Copy. 
Categories
Music News and Interviews

The Love Language Interview

Stu McLamb and Autumn Ehinger from The Love Language stopped by WKNC to talk with DJ DiGiorno about their Dec. 6 and 7 set of shows at King’s Barcade with Sylvan Esso. Catch their conversation, which includes recorded versions of the songs “White Rabbit” and “Hi Life.”

"King's

After the interview, they stepped out of the studio and into the lounge, where they performed “Faithbreaker” and “Golden Age” as part of WKNC’s “The Lounge” video series.

And did we mention The Love Language is headlining the first night of WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit 11 on Friday, Feb. 7 at Cat’s Cradle?

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Sylvan Esso Interview

Sylvan Esso performs at the 2013 Hopscotch Music Festival

Local-ish indie rockers Sylvan Esso spoke with DJ C’est La Bri in advance of their Dec. 6 and 7 performances at King’s Barcade with The Love Language.

Sylvan Esso on WKNC

Categories
Festival Coverage

Shakori Hills Purchases Their Festival Site!

Just a week ago, December 10th, two non-profits jointly purchased the 73-acre farm land that is the site of the Shakori Hills Music Festival. Also known as simply “Shakori” or “GrassRoots,” this four-day festival in Chatham County, NC takes place twice a year. Shakori brings together thousands of local people and beyond for several days of music, participatory dance, craft vendors, a kids’ area, delicious food vendors, a healing arts tent, a sustainability forum, and the beautiful Chatham County countryside. 

“We have had two angel investors since we found this site in 2002,” explains Shakori Hills GrassRoots festival founder, Jordan Puryear. “They have generously held on to this land until we could grow, and until we were able to finally raise the necessary funds to purchase the site. We wouldn’t have done it without them, or the festival-goers that helped us raise the downpayment last year. It’s been such a great community effort – as they say, ‘It takes a village.’“

“We would love to build a permanent indoor dance pavilion so we can have more events throughout the year,” says Sara Waters, Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival Coordinator. “We will be able to include the community by adding more educational programs like camps and workshops, bringing local artists and educators in to share their talents. Now we can work on improving the property so that we can bring all of our dreams to life.”

Now that the amazing folks that run the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festivals own the grounds, the opportunities abound and people of the Triangle, Triad, and beyond can look forward to even more cultural arts offerings for our community to enjoy!