WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student RadioThis week we’ve got some golden giveaways on WKNC!
Be the right caller when the DJ asks for it and you could win tickets to:
10/27: MiMOSA at Lincoln Theatre
10/29: Jason Isbell at Casbah
10/30: Blonde Redhead at Cat’s Cradle
10/30: Mantras at the Pour House
10/31: Caribou at Cat’s Cradle
10/31: Marxtravaganza (featuring Bright Young Things, Tomahawks, Brett Harris, and more!) at Slim’s
annnnd
11/3: MGMT at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
Remember, you have to listen to win!
John interviews the three candidates running for the 16th district of the North Carolina Senate: Incumbent Democrat Josh Stein, GOP challenger Michael Beezley, and Libertarian challenger Stephanie Watson. Taylor talks about the Wolfpack’s tough loss to ECU, Mark shares his fall recipe ideas, and Chris brings you another Gardening Minute.
Get spooky, baby! This Thursday WKNC and Tir Na nOg bring you the scariest bands to hit the Raleigh scene: Left Outlet, A Rooster for the Masses, and The Alcazar Hotel. I know you’re heart is racing with fright already! n all seriousness, Local Beer Local Band Night is FREE, 21 and up, and the nightmare starts at 10 p.m. Keep an eye out for Big Boss’s pumpkin beer. AHHH!!!
Easily the hottest gay band in Raleigh, this band features: “T.Lemuel…soothe sayer from another place; D.Smith….dulcet notes stolen from siren songs; L.Bennett…aural massaging with ivory and circuit; St. Anthony…self-destructive plunges into the deep and; C-Tron Bravo…booming pounding grooving." This band is most likely to rock your face off and steal your boyfriend. Yummmmm
This band is too good. You might have caught them at Hopscotch during our Local Beer Local Band day show at Tir Na nOg. Their album review by Grayson Currin in the Independent Weekly said, “The Rooster still sings truth to power over angular guitar lines and hi-hat pulses, whether riffing on the downtown void King’s Barcade left behind on ‘No Party Downtown’ (the band released Rojo there in 2006) or territorial tendencies on ‘Headwaters.’” Well thankfully, Kings is back (was anyone there this past Saturday?? Luckies…), A Rooster for the Masses is playing music, and everyone will be happy.
"Inspired by the music and philosophies of such seminal bands as The MC5, Morphine, and The Violent Femmes, The Alcazar Hotel play straight up Rock & Roll, no qualifier (indie, alternative, punk, etc.) necessary. Their first release “Songs from The Alcazar Hotel” (Knockdown South, 2005) was a widely received hit in Amsterdam, The Netherlands after Dawson moved there in 2006. After a year of squatting and busking, Dawson returned to the states to record their follow up album, “Come ON! Dig The Unified Theory!” “…The Unified Theory” was recorded with a blistering set up of 2-string bass, electric guitar, and vicious drums at Delta Recording Service in Como, Mississippi. It features guest appearances by Jimbo Mathus of The Squirrel Nut Zippers and Luther Dickinson of The Black Crowes & North Mississippi Allstars.”
There will be a really scary interview on Thursday from 7-8pm starring myself and Left Outlet. Be sure to tune in on the creepyness.
The NCSU College of Design has a lot going for it: the prettiest slice of campus, convenient juxtaposition with Pullen Park and the railroad tracks, the coolest bikes, an awesome-looking dean…and the list continues. In short, the cool place to be is rarely far from Brooks Hall. This Saturday (October 24th) will be no exception, as the Design Council will be throwing their annual Halloween Bash.
This year’s shindig features treats from different poles of the local music spectrum: the always-charming, Dylan-scented indie troubadours Lonnie Walker, the exceedingly talented hip-hop monarch King Mez, as well as DJs The Biters and Holygrailers.
Tickets are ten bucks; full event info is available here!
This past weekend, October 16, marked the longest drive to see a single concert for a large amount of people, including myself. Some fans journeyed over 5 ½ hours, if not more, all to see a few bands—Local Natives, The Ruby Suns, and The Union Line—at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC. Once the show began, I understood why.
The Union Line, a five-piece from California, started off the night. Creative drum beats were a staple in each song laced with pretty guitar and Natives-esque vocals. While most shows’ opener band encourages a crowd to linger at best, The Union Line had the crowd engaged and dancing within the first song.
The Ruby Suns followed with a poppier set; think Toro Y Moi if they ate too much sugar. Regardless of the slight genre change, it kept everyone energetic.
Following was the headliner for the night, Local Natives. With only one LP out, Gorilla Manor, I was surprised to see a sold-out show. The fanbase was incredible, especially for such a new band. It was shoulder-to-shoulder and impossible to move as far front as I would have liked. The set started off strong and hit every song on the album. Another pleasant surprise was Local Natives actually sounds better live, in my opinion. Everything—vocals, drums, guitar, etc.—was on point, in addition to crowd interaction. Another very unique aspect of this band is each member alternated instruments every song or so.
One of my (many) favorite parts of this show particularly was how eager the bands were to meet the fans. Every member from the three bands took time to hold a conversation with fans, sign autographs, joke around, and take pictures with the best college radio station in NC.
Good afternoon!
We have some great giveaways that are going like HOT CAKES!
October 21: The Love Language at Kings
October 22: Goner at Kings
October 23: Airiel Down at Lincoln Theatre
October 23: Gray Young at The Pour House
October 23: The Moaners w/ Embarrassing Fruits at Kings
October 24: Small Black at Kings
October 26: Muse w/ Metric at the RBC Center
Remember, you have to listen to win!
As usual, Tir Na nOg and WKNC present Local Beer Local Band Night. This Tursday, October 21 features music from Mount Moriah, Old Bricks, and Filthybird! Same rules: starts at 10 p.m., ages 21 and up, and FREE.
I’m always a sucker for a band with female vocals. The folks at the Pinhook said, “These guys are kind of a cosmic Americana western eastern totem spirit animal.” They just had their record release party at the Pinhook on the 15th of October. If you didn’t catch them there, see them this Thursday!!
I just saw these guys at the album release party for Veelee. That in itself was an amazing show, I hope you were able to make it. Although this band encompasses the same exact members as Motor Skills, the sound is entirely different. Stuart, the singer, reminded me of Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, in the most wonderful way.
Folk rock in the best way. I have a girl crush on Heather… don’t tell….
Old Bricks is going to come hang out with me in the studio on Thursday from 7-8 p.m. Be sure to tune in!!
88.1 WKNC Pick of the Week 10/15, written by DJ Ones, WKNC deejay
It’s hard to believe that it has been nine years since Superchunks’s last full-length album. Aside from recording a track here and there, Majesty Shredding comes as the Chapel Hill band’s storming entry back into the forefront of the local music scene. Although the legacy of Superchunk will most likely spur talk about the history of Merge Records and the earlier punk scene of Chapel Hill, it is increasingly difficult to fail to acknowledge their arsenal of great music.
Almost a decade has gone by and Superchunk has not missed a beat. Starting from the first track, “Digging for Something,” the album channels that same heart and drive prominent throughout their career. Upbeat, anthemic, and full of great guitar riffs, Superchunk proves they are still hyper enough. The high-paced tracks keep coming. “My Gap Feels Weird” punctuates a more mature, higher-quality production that never loses sight of their distinct sound. Subtly layering the vocal styling of lead singer Mac McCaughan, the track progresses and builds toward a strong ending—the likes of which do not disappoint. However, the band does show they can perfect slow-paced pop tracks. “Rosemarie” offers a great transition out of the upbeat into the relaxed, and is still able to deliver the distinct Superchunk kick. Tracks like “Hot Tubes” and “Fractures in Plastic” are sprinkled throughout to give the listener a general break, and they are a necessary breather for an otherwise fast album. They also show how Superchunk has strengthened so many areas of their overall sound over the decades.
Nevertheless, prepare to strap yourself down for this album. Barely skipping a beat, Superchunk delivers epic guitar riffs that penetrate almost every song and are timed masterfully within the tracks. Where other bands may attempt to write songs that are similar in nature, very few are able to execute them on the same level as a band as experienced as Superchunk. Majesty Shredding ends on one of the highest notes any album for the year has. “Everything at Once” starts with the simple background vocals of the band and builds with the introduction of McCaughan’s high-registering vocals. The track builds a sense of anticipation released with a face-melting guitar solo. With every member firing on all levels, it is hard to deny that fans of Superchunk, or the power-punk sound that signified the band’s career, will be disappointed with their latest release. The wait has been well worth it as Superchunk has crafted another album that not only will reignite the interest of old fans, but will also fit nicely as one of their most complete albums to date.
88.1 WKNC Pick of the Week is published in every Friday in the print edition of Technician, as well as online at technicianonline.com and wknc.org.
The Foreign Exchange, popular Indie-Soul/R&B/Electronica/Hip-Hop duo will be calling in to “Real RnB Radio” on 10/16 in celebration of the release of their third album, Authenticity.
Authenticity, in stores 10/12, is the follow up to the Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed Leave It All Behind, which featured hits “Daykeeper,” “All Or Nothing,” “Take Off The Blues,” and “I Wanna Know.”
The Foreign Exchange is comprised of Hip-Hop underground legend Phonte of Little Brother and Dutch producer/musician Nicolay. The duo met on the message boards of Okayplayer.com in 2002 and formed the group without having ever met, hence the name The Foreign Exchange.
Listen to “Real RnB Radio” with Mir.I.am for the live interview Saturday night at 10:30 p .m. ET on 88.1FM WKNC or stream live at www.wknc.org.
The Foreign Exchange will be having a listening party for Authenticity Sunday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the Six Plates Wine Bar.
Chris interviews Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Mike Beitler, plus Evan’s message about recent teen suicides, Mark’s restaurant review, and Tyler talks about how the football team is back on track.