Category: Blog

Categories
Festival Coverage

Phuzz Phest 2013 Line-Up Announced

Shuffle Magazine announced the line-up for Phuzz Phest 2013 today. Phuzz Phest is an annual, weekend-long music festival that takes place in Winston-Salem, NC. In its two years of existence, Phuzz Phest has featured some of the most talented local musicians as well as several of the best, but most underrated, indie acts from across the nation. This year the festival takes place April 4th through the 6th across downtown Winston-Salem. The line-up this year is the best we have seen in this still young festival. If only the bands that started with the letter “L” showed up, I’d still be there.

The festival this year features 32 bands amazing local and national artists. Although the day parties and after parties are still to be announced, past years have proven that these are just as incredible as the night shows of the festival. One of the most notable national acts this year are Baltimore’s Lower Dens who latest effort “Nootropics” left these psychedelic pop-rockers towards the top of many “Best of 2012” lists. Other notable national acts include self-proclaimed baroque acid-rockers Invisible Hand, shoegaze noise-pop group Eternal Summers, and psychedelic punk group IYEZ. This festival also features some great local acts who have been receiving a lot of national attention such as garage-rock gods Spider Bags, orchestral-folk kings Lost in the Trees, and the ever-explosive, indie-rock favorites The Love Language. Other North Carolina champions featured are new Merge signees Mount Moriah and folk-favorites Hiss Golden Messenger. Triangle natives The Lollipops, Some Army, Airstrip, Lilac Shadows, Robes, and The Toddlers also make the list. With this very well-rounded line-up, this year’s Phuzz Phest promises to be the best yet. See the full line-up below.

 
Phuzz Phest 2013 Line-Up

Airstrip (Carrboro)
Alligator Indian (Asheville)
Blood Waves (Winston-Salem)
Bolmongani (Winston-Salem)
Burglar Fucker (Winston-Salem)
Dark Prophet Tongueless Monk (Winston-Salem)
Drag Sounds (Greensboro)
Elim Bolt (Charleston)
Estrangers (Winston-Salem)
Eternal Summers (Roanoke, Va.)
Hiss Golden Messenger (Durham)
Invisible Hand (Charlottesville, Va.)
IYEZ (Brooklyn)
Joint D≠ (Charlotte)
Kill Devil Hills (Brooklyn)
Late Bloomer (Charlotte)
Lilac Shadows (Carrboro)
The Lollipops (Raleigh)
Lost In The Trees (Chapel Hill)
The Love Language (Raleigh)
Lower Dens (Baltimore)
Motorist (Winston-Salem)
Mount Moriah (Durham)
Nightdogs (Brooklyn)
Robes (Carrboro)
Some Army (Carrboro)
Spider Bags (Chapel Hill)
Toddlers (Carrboro)
Torch Runner (Greensboro)
White Laces (Richmond, Va.)
Wilde Blood (Winston-Salem)
William Tyler (Nashville)

Categories
Non-Music News

WKNC pint glasses are here!

 

WKNC now has for sale pint glasses. The glass, which features the lovely logo of WKNC is at the bargain price of $5. Be sure to pick yours up before they run out. They will be available at Double Barrel Benefit X February 1 and February 2 at the Pour House, and the day party at Tir Na nOg on February 2.  You can also find them at any other event that WKNC can be found. For those that can’t wait to get their hands on one, you can pick them up at WKNC’s offices in 343 Witherspoon Student Center only during normal business hours, 9 a.m and 5 p.m.

Categories
Weekly Charts

WKNC Afterhours’ RPM Charts and Adds – Jan. 15

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 BOYS NOIZE Out Of The Black Boysnoize
4 SOUNDTRACK Halo 4 The End
5 DADA LIFE The Rules Of Dada So Much Dada
6 ETIENNE DE CRECY Essentials Pixadelic
7 LINDSTROM Smalhans Smalltown Supersound
8 TENSNAKE In The House Defected
9 VITALIC Rave Age Pias
10 TRUST TRST Arts And Crafts

Adds:
1 OFFSHORE Bake Haus Big Dada
2 MYTH SYZER HYT(EP) Self-Published
3 KRIS MENACE Features Compuphonic
4 COLIN EDWIN AND JON DURANT Burnt Belief Alchemy
5 DOBIE “…But Fear Itself” [Single] Big Dada

Categories
Concert Preview

Must See Shows For This Week (1/14-1/20)

This week is going to be a great one for shows in the Triangle, but it could involve some tough decisions on certain nights.  Check out some of the best shows listed below and many more listed in the Rock Report.

 
Tuesday, January 15th- Spider Bags and Gross Ghost at The Pinhook, 9pm

These bands are two of the best acts in the area both live and on the record.  Gross Ghost released their Grip Tapes’ debut “Brer Rabbit” in March of last year and showing that in their several years of existence they have already crafted a sound of their own.  This diverse album features hints of lo-fi garage rock, 90’s era indie rock, as well as some influences 60’s pop-rock.  Last year they were seen playing all over the Triangle, but most notably at WKNC’s 9th Double Barrel Benefit and the 3rd annual Hopscotch Music Festival where their music lit-up the audience.  They are followed up by Spider Bags.  Spider Bags are beginning to become a household name in the North Carolina.  They are known for their incredibly energetic live shows that will leave your ears ringing for days.  Their latest effort has been receiving a lot of national attention including an 8.1 review on Pitchfork as well as sitting number 1 atop PopMatters’ Top Overlooked Albums of 2012.  This is a show that you don’t want to miss.

 
Thursday, January 17th- Birds and Arrows with Katherine Whalen at Tir Na nOg, 10pm

Katherine Whalen of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame is back at it again.  Her solo work is often labeled under the title of “folk music,” but her new sound encompasses so much more.  Her new album titled “Madly Love” has something there for everyone.  Birds and Arrows are an incredible act that were seen at last year’s Double Barrel Benefit.  The trio’s folky sound led by a cello appeals to every audience  with their well-perfected live show.  The trio has well stood the test of time in an area that has seen many folk acts come and go.  It is amazing to see three people translate such intricate music perfectly to the stage.  This is a show is a folk-lovers’ paradise and a great introduction to anyone else.

 
Friday, January 18th- Bleeding Rainbow and Jenny Besetzt at Duke Coffeehouse , 9pm

If you have yet to go to a show at Duke Coffeehouse, there is no better time.  The atmosphere there always makes for the most energetic and intimate shows.  Greensboro natives Jenny Besetzt open up the night.  Jenny Besetzt are a brand new band who have exploded onto the local music scene.  They turned many heads when they performed at last year’s Hopscotch Music Festival as well many different shows all around the Triangle.  Their debut LP “Only” dropped this past October.  Their sound is a fusion of dream-pop and shoegaze with a punch which they describe as “dream-punk.”  The night ends with indie-pop quartet Bleeding Rainbow out of Philly.  This band has only released a handful of 7 inches, but with their debut album due out at the end of this month their are bound to break big.  With several different tracks being reviewed by Pitchfork and the like, they have created quite a buzz for themselves.  This is bound to be an amazing show that you do not want to miss.

 
Friday, January 18th- Annuals with The Lollipops and  Eros and the Eschaton at Local 506, 9pm

This night starts up with the great Greensboro husband-wife duo Eros and the Eshaton.  Their sound falls somewhere between shoegaze and dream-pop.  This new act has been turning heads opening for many different acts over the past year.  They are followed up by The Lollipops.  This lo-fi indie pop bedroom project of Iggy Cosky has expanded into a full band project and exploded onto the scene in the past year with their numerous recordings.  Their live shows have proven themselves time and time again to be just as fun as their songs.  The night ends with the always entertaining Annuals.  Annuals’ name speak for themselves.  This 6-piece indie pop group out of Raleigh have been a household name in the Triangle since the release of their critically acclaimed debut in 2006.  They have been known for their energetic live shows.  If you have not seen them yet, there is no better chance then with this great supporting cast.

Categories
Concert Preview

Telekinesis Announces New Album and Tour Coming Through Triangle

On Sunday, Telekinesis’ Michael Lerner posted a mustache-clad selfie superimposed by, “1/08/2013 IMMA BE ALL UP IN YOUR INTERNET. STAY TUNED.” And it’s not like fans of Telekinesis have been waiting for word of a new Telekinesis album for 692 days or anything.

Yesterday, fans of Telekinesis were given a lot to get excited about. In store this spring are a new album and a full length tour from the band. Telekinesis’ Michael Lerner announced the upcoming release of the band’s third full-length album, entitled Dormarion. The album is slated for release on April 2, 2013 by the triangle’s own Merge Records. Lerner previously worked with Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie on the recording of the 2009 debut album, fittingly titled Telekinesis!, and 2013’s Domarion will feature production work by Spoon’s Jim Eno.

The tour following the album’s release will stop in the Triangle on May 5 at The Local 506. As the album will feature talented musicians borrowed from other acts, it is no surprise that the tour will showcase some as well. You can look foward to seeing Say Hi’s Erik Elbogen, The Globes’ Eric Walters, and Wild Flag’s Rebecca Cole trotting across the continent with Lerner as Telekinesis.

You can check out a single from the upcoming Domarion, “Ghosts and Creatures,” here.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Generationals join Polyvinyl and announce new album

Information has released on the new album from the New Orleans rock duo Generationals. Their next album, the follow-up to the amazing Actor-Castor, will be released on April 4. Titled Heza, this will be their first album on their new record label, Polyvinyl, who also announced they will be joining the label on the same day information on the new album was released. Additionally, Generationals released their newest single, a track titled “Spinoza.” They will be leaving their previous record label Park the Van in order to make this transition. Generationals will be joining the likes of Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, and Japandroids at Polyvinyl. We’ll just have to wait and see if joining a larger independent label means more success musically.

Listen to their single “Spinoza” below:

 

Categories
DJ Highlights

Things We Look Forward to in 2013

2012 was a great year for us and a great year in music.  If you haven’t seen our best of 2012 post yet, you can check it out here.  After spending the past month filtering through other best of 2012 lists to see what I missed from this year, it is time to look forward to next year.  Some of our WKNC DJs share with us the top 5 things that they look forward to in 2013.

 

DJ GRZA

Atoms for Peace

1. Atoms For Peace album
2. The return of Daft Punk
3. Inaugural edition of Mountain Oasis
4. Alt-J at Cat’s Cradle
5. Jim James’ solo project

 

DJ DiGiorno

1. Art Lord and the Self-Portraits 10-Year Anniversary Reunion Show at Kings
2. WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit X
3. Hopscotch Music Festival 2013
4. New Bombadil Album “Metrics of Affection”
5. New Frightened Rabbit Album “Pedestrian Verse”

 

Crystal Beth

1. 4th annual Hopscotch Music Festival
2. Double Barrel Benefit 10
3. Fleetwood Mac reunion tour
4. Kidz Bop 23
5. Public Enemy being inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 

CMYK

1. Earl Sweatshirt’s new album
2. More Future Islands shows in town
3. Less Gangnam Style flash mobs
4. Anything that Beck does in 2013
5. A new DOOM album or 3

 

DJ C’est La Bri

1. The tenth anniversary of DBB, lineup’s gone be crazy
2. The second annual DBB Day Party and Market!
3. HOPSCOTCH, ALL DAY ERYDAY
4. Some exciting new promotional events at LBLB with Tir Na nOg- secrets!
5. Being graced with more Indy Weekly Grayson reviews to put up on my fridge

 

Seagull

Mikal Cronin

1. Mikal Cronin’s new album
2. Mikal Cronin’s local show, since he signed to Merge
3. Everything Captured Tracks puts out
4. Ty Segall Show!
5. New Deerhunter album (please?)

 

DJ CJ

IBMA

1. IBMA World of Bluegrass events moving to Raleigh
2. Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival 2013 (both Spring and Fall)
3. The Fourth Annual Hopscotch Music Festival
4. Atoms for Peace’s debut album
5. New Local Natives album

 

Virginia Werewoolf

Eternity of Dimming

1. New Frontier Ruckus Album – Eternity of Dimming
2. Arrested Development (better than music)
3. Desaparecidos Reunion Tour
4. New Thermals Album
5. Hopscotch 2013

Categories
Concert Preview

WKNC’s Guide to New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is always a very important night. It signifies the end of one year and the beginning of the next. It’s a huge responsibility to make sure that you end 2012 on a good note and bring in 2013 in the best way possible. So how do you do this sans Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve? Well WKNC is here to help you make the best decision. This New Year’s Eve seems to have something for  everyone in the Triangle. From salsa to jazz, hip hop to indie rock; this New Year’s Eve seems to cover all the bases. With so many great options, it’s hard to go wrong.

The biggest event of this year is without a doubt New Year’s Jazzin’ Eve with Art of Cool at the Cotton Room. The headliner of this event is the incredible hip-hop duo The Foreign Exchange. The Foreign Exchange features Raleigh-native rapper Phonte (formerly of Little Brother) and famed Dutch producer Nicolay. This show also features some amazing jazz by the Al Strong Quintet, Marcus Anderson, and Yolanda Rabun along with special guest DJ Apple Juice Kid.  There will also be a special performance by Toon and The Real Laww who were most recently seen bringing down the house at Tir Na nOg for Local Band Local Beer several weeks back.  This event is complete with a chicken-and-waffles breakfast buffet.

If this event doesn’t seem quite your speed, Kings Barcade and Neptune’s Parlour in Raleigh are hosting New Year’s Eve Double Decker Debauchery. This event features DJ sets by Jon Yu, Sean McKee and Michael Perros.  It also includes your customary champagne toast and countdown to midnight, followed by an anything but normal full band set from The Lollipops.  The Lollipops rocked like it was their last moments on earth at Local Band Local Beer’s End of the World Party at Tir Na nOg and you can expect much of the same here.  If you haven’t seen these guys yet, I can think of no better way to ring in the New Year.

Some other notable events around the Triangle include the Salsa Party at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro featuring Orquesta GarDel & DJ Keith Ward; the Dance Party at The Pinhook in Durham with DJs Shahzad, Treee City, Trademark, and Queen Plz; and the North Carolina Symphony in Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh conducted by Jeff Tyzik with special guest drummer Dave Mancini.

With so many great opportunities all around the Triangle, there is no bad way to spend New Year’s Eve.  Whether you are rocking with The Lollipops at Kings or watching the acorn drop in City Plaza, you can be assured that you will have a great New Year’s Eve.  Check out the full list of events in the Triangle below to find the best event for you.

Raleigh
Kings Barcade & Neptune’s Parlour – The Lollipops & DJs Jon Yu, Sean McKee and Michael Perros
Meymandi Concert Hall – North Carolina Symphony conducted by Jeff Tyzik with Dave Mancini on drums
Tir Na Nog – U-Phonik & Wake & District Pipes & Drums
The Pour House Music Hall – Barefoot Manner & The Morning After
Berkley Cafe – GruvGlu LOOPED w/ MCLC, Matic, Special Blend, Severe & Outburst, AudioRush & Xander, Beastmode, Noisydrums, Andrew Cappaletti, Tyler Buck Vs. Bassik, Zom-B, Trizzak, Jordan Clark, SeanEboy & Shuhandz & Roudee
First Night (downtown) – Delta Rae, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Saints Apollo, and many more
Deep South the Bar – Hanks for the Memories w/ Hank Sinatra & Debonzo Brothers
Lincoln Theatre – Revolution Raleigh w/ DJ WOBBLE Factory / Vertical & DJ FM
Southland Ballroom – Cry Wolf & Unlimited Gravy

Durham
The Cotton Room – The Foreign Exchange, Al Strong Quintet, Marcus Anderson, Yolanda Rabun, DJ Apple Juice Kid, & Toon and The Real Laww
The Pinhook – Dance Party featuring DJs Shahzad, Treee City, Trademark, & Queen Plz with appearances by Toon and the Real Laww
Motorco Music Hall – The Wusses & The Pusses
Broad Street Cafe – Hog, B Side Project, Spiralfire, & JKutchma
Casbah – Peter Lamb and the Wolves & Kate McGarry

Chapel Hill/Carrboro
Cat’s Cradle – Salsa Party with Orquesta GarDel & DJ Keith Ward

Categories
Music News and Interviews

S. Gold to Visit 88.1FM WKNC Tonight at 9:30pm

Raleigh native, S. Gold, will be dropping by the studios of 88.1fm WKNC for an interview with Mir.I.am tonight, December 29th at 9:30 pm. S. Gold has been making waves in the rap industry since 2003 as part of LAZRSO Records and recently released a new mixtape, The Storm.

Check out the latest video off The Storm, ’Say Hey.’

Find out more about S. Gold:

Bandcamp | Twitter | Facebook | ReverbNation | Email| EargasmEntertainment | Youtube

Categories
DJ Highlights

WKNC DJs pick the best albums of 2012

Now that the year 2012 is coming to a close us here at WKNC look back at our top five albums of the year once again. Although we might not always agree on what is the most amazing, the love of great music not only kept us excited throughout 2012, but we look forward to the amazing music that it will bring as well. Take a gander at what are a few of the albums we loved throughout this year, as chosen by WKNC DJs. See you in 2013!

 

Sarahnade

1. Caspian – Waking Season
2. El Ten Eleven – Transitions
3. Spider Bags – Shake My Head
4. Pinback – Information Retrieved
5. Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits

 

C. Deuce

1. Yeasayer – Fragrant World
2. Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
3. Hundred Waters – Hundred Waters
4. Sweet Valley – Eternal Champ
5. Miike Snow – Happy to You

 

CMYK

1. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
2. Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
3. Beach House – Bloom
4. The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth
5. Oceanics – Bright People

 

JKG

1. Dan Deacon – America
2. MAKE – Trephine
3. The Album Leaf – Forward/Return
4. Dads – American Radass (this is important)
4. El Ten Eleven – Transitions

 

Zaps

1. Father John Misty – Fear Fun
2. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
3. Bowerbirds – The Clearing
4. Lost In The Trees – A Church That Fits Our Needs
5. Jukebox the Ghost- Safe Travels

 

Seagull

1. DIIV – Oshin
2. Tame Impala – Lonerism
3. Ty Segall Band – Slaughterhouse
4. Mac Demarco – 2
5. Beach House – Bloom

 

DJ DiGiorno

1. Howler – America Give Up
2. Beach House – Bloom
3. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
4. Father John Misty- Fear Fun
5. Dr. Dog- Be The Void

 

DJ GRZA

1.  Flying Lotus – Until The Quiet Comes
2.  Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
3.  Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
4.  Kendrick Lamar – good kid, M.A.D.D city
5.  Alt-J – An Awesome Wave

 

The Mattador

1. Grouplove – Never Trust a Happy Song (Released 2011)
2. Dr. Dog – Be the Void
3. Passion Pit – Gossamer
4. Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
5. Supreme Cuts – Whispers in the Dark

 

DJ Smitty

1. The Menzingers – On The Impossible Past
2. Red Collar – Welcome Home
3. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
4. Murder By Death – Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
5. Hop Along – Get Disowned

 

DJ Ones

1. Andrew Bird – Break if Yourself
2. Tame Impala – Lonerism
3. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
4. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
5. Grizzly Bear – Shields

 

DJ Salinger

1. The Avett Brothers – The Carpenter
2. Grimes – Visions
3. The XX – Coexist
4. Toro y Moi – June 2009
5. Oberhofer – Time Capsules II

 

Muta

1. GRiZ – Mad Liberation
2. Purity Ring – Shrines
3. Submotion Orchestra – Fragments
4. Badbadnotgood – BBNG2
5. XXYYXX – XXYYXX

 

May Day

1. Beach House – Bloom
2. Purity Ring – Shrines
3. The Walkmen – Heaven
4. The Helio Sequence – Negotiations
5. Oberhofer – Time Capsules II

 

Billy

1.Stripmines – Crimes of Dispassion
2. Oiltanker/No Tomorrow – Split LP
3. The Sword – Apogryphon
4. High On Fire – De Vermis Mysteriis
5. Mob Rules – The Donor

 

Walter-Ego

1. Dan Deacon – America
2. Death Grips – The Money Store
3. Spider Bags – Shake My Head
4. The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth
5. Dr. Dog – Be The Void

 

DJ Sweet D

1. Grimes – Visions
2. Purity Ring – Shrines
3. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
4. Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
5. Grizzly Bear – Shields

 

Major Tom

1. Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
2. Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory
3. Tame Impala – Mind Mischief
4. The Shins – Port Of Morrow
5. Beach House – Bloom

 

DJ ACORN

1. Micachu & The Shapes – Never
2. Daughn Gibson – All Hell
3. The Music Tapes – Mary’s Voice
4. Schoolboy Q – Habits & Contradictions
5. Murder by Death – Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon

 

Anastassia

1. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
2. Ty Segall Band – Slaughterhouse
3. DIIV – Oshin
4. Grass Widow – Internal Logic
5. Grimes – Visions

 

Spaceman Spiff

1.  Chromatics – Kill for Love
2.  Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
3.  Wild Nothing – Nocturne
4.  Grimes – Visions
5.  Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits

 

DJ CJ

1. Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill
2. Carolina Chocolate Drops – Leaving Eden
3. Steep Canyon Rangers – Nobody Knows You
4. Trampled By Turtles – Stars & Satellites
5. Old Crow Medicine Show – Carry Me Back To Virginia

 

ALASKA

1. Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra – Theatre is Evil
2. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
3. White Lung – Sorry
4. Perfume Genius – Put Your Back N 2 It
5. La Sera – Sees the Light

 

DJ Mason

1. Lost in the Trees – A Church That Fits Our Needs
2. Beach House – Bloom
3. Death Grips – The Money Store
4. Grimes – Visions
5. Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship