This Saturday, Dec. 3, Raleigh’s own American Aquarium will be recording a live album with Shovels & Rope and Kenny Roby at The Pour House Music Hall on Blount Street!
That’s homegrown, y’all. Buy your tickets online here.
Category: Blog
Categories
Local Favorites Play the Cradle
Sunday, November 27 Lonnie Walker, Ed Scrader’s Music Beat and Future Islands took the stage at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. According to Sam Herring, it was the best-selling show yet of their US tour – and it was date #30.
Local band Lonnie Walker opened. The set started a little early and was shorter than the fans wanted. What can we say – we love Lonnie. After closing out with their most popular songs, Ed Scharder’s Music Beat took the stage. The two-piece is from Baltimore, where Future Islands now reside. The songs were short but powerful, up-in-your-face without scaring you away.
Jenna writes:
If you think you don’t like Future Islands, go to one of their shows and you’ll think again. Watching this band live is an unforgettable visceral experience that will leave you tired, sweaty and wishing for more. You will be entranced by frontman Sam Herring’s theatrical stage presence and how every word he sings is so infused with genuine energy, passion and (usually) heartache. Sam is charming, entertaining and rigorously emotional all at once and his performance is one from which you will not be able to look away – you will see him crouch to the ground, jump, dance and beat his fists against his chest all while singing in his gruff and deeply yearning vocals. In between songs, Sam steps out of this character and engages the crowd instead with lighthearted anecdotes that starkly contrast the intensely emotional songs. The way the band interacts with the audience is humble despite all this, letting you know they’re excited and grateful to be there, too.
Over the past few years every Future Islands show I’ve attended has seemed more packed than the one before it, and Sunday night’s performance at Cat’s Cradle was no exception. This is a band that consistently puts on a stellar live show and that has helped them continue to build a loyal following in the Triangle, and hopefully beyond. While their records are absolutely worth thousands of listens, if you have never seen Future Islands before I guarantee that after you do, you will appreciate this band in a way that you cannot even imagine now.
Last Sunday, Future Islands along with Lonnie Walker and Ed Schrader’s Music Beat captivated the audience at Cat’s Cradle with their diverse and energetic performances. These are three unique live acts that are definitely worth keeping an eye out for, whether you missed the show on Sunday night or because you can’t wait to see them again.
Nov. 29, 2011
Sorry! Eye on the Triangle will not be having a show this week.
We hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving.
Join us next week for our second to last show of the semester!
Hip-hop fans have been waiting. Ever since the split of North Carolina hip-hop group Little Brother, many have eagerly anticipated the moment when Phonte would step back in the limelight, grab the mic and start to rhyme again. But the past few years have witnessed Phonte forging his path as a successful R&B crooner with Grammy-nominated act The Foreign Exchange, with all thoughts of rapping in the back of his mind, appearing once in a blue moon. So when it was mentioned that Phonte was set to finally release his debut solo album, anticipation hit the roof. And when it was revealed that Phonte and 9th Wonder, the producer of Little Brother fame, had reunited earlier this year, Little Brother fans rejoiced. Everything seemed ready for the debut of Phonte Coleman. The question was who would take front and center: “rapping Tay, four-and-half-mic honoree/Or singing Tay, first-time Grammy nominee”?
While each side of Phonte appears on the album, it’s the rapper that takes center stage here, tackling themes that don’t stray far from the material he has been putting out over his career. The themes of the common man are heard, stories of ourselves at our worst and best. “The Good Fight” is a song about money woes, uncertainty of keeping the job and all the frustrations of a 9-5 that the majority of Americans face, especially in the midst of an economic downturn. “Ball and Chain” weighs the pros and cons of marriage, specifically the suffocation that occurs when love dies out in the house. And of course the album has its fair share of lyrical wizardry, such as the back and forth wordplay of Phonte and Pharoahe Monch on “We Go Off” and the opening track “Dance in the Reign.”
Lyrically, Phonte is better than ever. His album combines the rawness and honesty of his Little Brother persona with the maturation he achieved with his recent work as singer of The Foreign Exchange. Having written for himself and other artists since starting his adventures with The Foreign Exchange, Phonte has clearly polished his skills as a lyricist and now, on this debut album, he brings that experience and writes verses like a “pro with the prose/what a concept.” Even with his weaker punchlines, Phonte’s wit and charisma pulls him through, making the lines seem as if he’s delivering them with a wink and a sly smirk.
The production, for the most part, is solid. Nothing stands out, however, and it serves more as backdrop for the lyrical wordsmith to pick up his mic and paint images with words. 9th Wonder provides the same repetitive drum patterns and looped samples that he has become well-known for (whether that is for better or worse). Swiff D introduces the album on “Dance in the Reign” with a church organ and takes it to the church with a synth and Phonte preaching to the congregation. S-1 and Caleb bring a modern production to the quiet-storm sound with hard-hitting drums and an atmospheric sound that allows Phonte and Carlitta Durand to get musically romantic on “Gonna Be A Beautiful Night.”
Overall, Charity Starts At Home features mature, honest, and raw songs from N.C.’s top-notch spitter and crooner Phonte Coleman. It may not feature a breakout song, hold mind-blowing production, but it holds plenty of love and humility that hip-hop seems to have lost in recent years. The last line of the song “Who Loves You More” sums up the album perfectly: “I got a room and a microphone and a family I ain’t seen in months. And I played this record a million times just hoping you would play it once.” Phonte is one of us. He works hard at his job and goes through the struggles in life and love, just like any of us, hoping that someone will take notice at least once. “Let that boy saute!”
Bad Movie Review – This week Jake reviews Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, another amazing piece of sci-fi gold that you “have to” see.
Roth Brewery – Chris talks to the owners of Raleigh’s newest and smallest brewery to find out how it all began.
Students for Concealed Carry On Campus – With many gun scares on NC campuses recently, this student organization has been gaining some attention. Jay talks to the president and vice president of the club to see what they’re all about.
Seventh Day Adventists – Jake speaks to the vice president of the Adventist Christian Fellowship at NC State to see what makes this church different from others.
Categories
This week on Eye on the Triangle
Happy Thanksgiving!
Class may be out for Thanksgiving break, but we’ve got one more show for you before we go!
This week, Chris Cioffi visited a local brewery started by a couple of N.C. State graduates and took a behind the scenes peek at what it takes to run a brewery. Jake Langlois spoke with a member of the Adventist Christian Fellowship to find out a little more about who they are and what they stand for, and Jay Tomblin interviewed two members of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus group to discuss the recent gun-related incidents on campuses around North Carolina, as well as why concealed weapons should be allowed on school campuses.
As always, Nick and Dave return with This Week in History, and Jake reviews another bad movie. Be sure to tune in; it’s going to be a great show!
Azealia Banks may be a name unfamiliar to most listeners out there, and that’s because she hasn’t recorded her debut yet and her touring history has been rather scarce compared to most artists. But this isn’t stopping Banks from being one of the most heralded up and coming artists; among those singing her praises, NME decided to put her atop their Cool List for 2011.
The list itself seeks each year to organize a handful of artists that NME has deemed cool for that year. What exactly that means is still quite vague. Regardless, NME has the task each year of sorting out which music makers go where, and each year it seems as if NME has to dip into a pool of artists that don’t seem as repetitive. However, this year features the return of several artists who seem to garner a large amount of NME press as it is.
With all this in mind it doesn’t surprise me that NME would change their focus in terms of who makes the list. Although they seem to regurgitate a lot of individuals each year (Jarvis Cocker, Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, and so on to a ridiculous extent), this year seems to highlight some of the biggest up and comers. This includes the likes of Lana Del Rey, and Ellery Roberts (of Wu Lyf). With the desire not to keep chucking out the same handful of artists each year it makes sense that Banks would reach the top. This is not to say that NME has forgotten their old favorites as they still dominate the list. They are back and in great force as expected, but I digress.
There is a lot more to Banks’ topping of the 2011 NME Cool List. Her initial touchdown as a proper recording artist is based heavily in England. Banks recently finished up one of her first small tours in the United Kingdom with dates earlier in November in Glasgow and London. Banks will also be soon moving to London to record her debut alongside Paul Epworth.
With this type of visibility and promise, alongside the growing need for NME to introduce some new artists to their list and Banks’ critical start within the UK, it makes sense that the magazine would put her atop their list this year.
Top 10 2011 NME Cool List:
1. Azealia Banks
2. Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)
3. Honor Titus (Cerebral Ballzy)
4.+5. Tom Meighan and Serge Pizzorno (Kasabian)
6. Lana Del Rey
7. Rhys Webb (The Horrors)
8. Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts)
9. Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys)
10. Ellery Roberts (WU LYF)
1. Gloominous Doom – Cosmic Superghoul (DRP)
2. Megadeth – Th1rt3en (Roadrunner)
3. Isole – Born From Shadows (Napalm)
4. Cradle of Filth – Evermore Darkly (Nuclear Blast)
5. Machine Head – Unto The Locust (Roadrunner)
6. Iced Earth – Dystopia (Century Media)
7. Ashes Of Your Enemy – Anthem (Zenergy)
8. Animals As Leaders – Weightless (Prosthetic)
9. Generation Kill – Red White And Blood (Season Of Mist)
10. Dub Trio – IV (ROIR)
Categories
Reflections on a Winter 2011 Playlist
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/22958631[/vimeo]
Let me start by saying I had no intention of creating a definitive, all-encompassing Winter 2011 playlist. A feat like that should be left only to the people who can spend all of their hours sorting through thousands of albums, identifying the standouts, and only then would they be able to define what they believe a Winter 2011 playlist should consist of.
Knowing that my capacity as a human to waste away my days listening to music is limited, I instead turned to a modest sum of tracks that embody what I would describe as making for a pretty good Winter playlist that consist of songs released in 2011.
The problem for every individual’s list is that it means something unique or holds a special attribute to them, and I am no different when it came to my formula for selecting songs. For me it meant that this playlist would encapsulate a few things: some of the best tracks of the year, and those that would send off vibes for what I would describe as being that of a “winter nature.”
What exactly do I mean by something having a winter nature? It’s pretty simple. I looked for tracks that would be incredibly rewarding to listen to while trudging through the rough winter weather or those which would be pleasant to warm up to after a day filled with having to deal with the growing loss of daylight.
Either way, after limiting myself to only tracks that came out this year, I think I came up with a pretty decent set of songs to listen to for the next couple of months on those days where you feel as if the season may have gotten the best or worst of you. Is it subject to change? Absolutely, and your feedback is always welcome as to what should be added to the playlist. And I have a way to share it with everyone that has Spotify; you can open it up here and listen to the playlist.
For everyone else the current tracklist is below:
01 The Dodos- Companions
02 Chad VanGaalen- Do Not Fear
03 Future Islands- On the Water
04 The Drums- Days
05 Youth Lagoon- July
06 Bon Iver- Wash.
07 The Antlers- I Don’t Want Love
08 Atlas Sound- Te Amo
09 I Break Horses- Winter Beats
10 The Raveonettes- Recharge & Revolt
11 Deleted Scenes- Bedbedbedbedbed
12 Wye Oak- Fish
13 Wild Beasts- Deeper
14 Bombadil- Short Side of the Wall
15 Megafaun- Hope You Know
16 Fleet Foxes- Bedouin Dress
17 Real Estate- All the Same
What do you want to see on the Winter 2011 playlist? Leave your suggestions below.
Real Estate has fallen into somewhat of a song-writing algorithm. I’m assuming their music making process works something like this:
- Lead Singer, Martin Courtney puts together a few chords and some lyrics.
- Matt Monandile (who has also achieved some praise for his exploratory guitar project, Ducktails) adds a catchy and psychedelic guitar hook.
- Alex Bleeker follows the ideas with some bass, and a simple, rolling rhythm is added to finish it off.
Almost every single song follows this premise…which makes it exceedingly frustrating to pin down what makes Days so good.
Real Estate has always focused on perfecting easy-listening surf rock that retains a certain sense of sentimentality. That uniqueness manifests itself in wandering melodies and ambiguous emotions. While their previous releases have found themselves situated comfortably in smaller indie DIY-centric labels, such as Underwater Peoples and Woodsist, this record had a lot to live up to. Getting signed to a larger indie label like Domino is a serious deal these days and rising to the occasion was probably a mixture of exciting and stressful. Having to deal with the additional room high-fidelity recording practices is daunting enough, not to mention all of the expectations that high-profile music critics have been prophesying since the band’s 2009 debut.
In no uncertain terms, Real Estate pulls it off with Days, all the while staying true to their earlier releases. What makes this record so fantastic is its easy-going demeanor. Every song fits into the larger context of the release perfectly. In particular, transitions seem extremely transient (in a good way) and no stand-out tracks eclipse the cohesive nature of the record. Instruments and vocals are clear and no instrument sits too high as to cause any obscurity.
In a gutsy move, Real Estate decided to re-record a song off their 2010 Reality 12", “Younger than Yesterday." When I saw this on the track-listing I was extremely concerned, having had one of my favorite songs (The Love Language’s "Brittany’s Back”) de-lofi’d, only to have much of its gusto disappear. For Real Estate, this was not the case. Being able to work with a proper studio setup helps the melodies and nuances of each song on Days stand out. Since the focus of Real Estate’s music has never been on emotional charge, the absence of grain doesn’t cause any loss of ambiance.
The only minor issue I wrestle with in regards to Days is that Real Estate stays a bit too “safe” in order to achieve continuity. Aside from the psych-heavy “Kinderblumen” written by Matt and the Garage croon on Alex’s “Wonder Years,” every song features Martin Courtney at the helm. While he is an amazing songwriter, I’d be seriously impressed if they could retain this album’s coherence with more flexibility in musical roles between the band’s members. “Out of Tune,” which features (or rather, includes) synth-styling from Daniel Lopatin of Oneohtrix Point Never fame, could use a bit more influence from the guest as well. It’s important to note that these issues have nothing to do with the actual music presented in Days, and are more of just wishes from a long-time fan.
In all seriousness, Days is one of the best releases I’ve heard this year, and its spot on the WKNC Pick of the Week column is well-deserved. Make sure you listen to this one and go see Real Estate the next time they come to the Triangle! If you thought their guitars have impossibly brilliant tones on album…just wait.