Category: Blog

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Concert Preview Local Music

2nd Thursday = Brewer Series at LBLB

Come to this week’s lblb/pound pound/## to catch Goodbye, Titan, Minor Stars, and Monsonia!

Lots of fun stuff to do this week thanks to WKNC and Tir Na nOg and New Raleigh. First of all there is the awesome line-up, second, there will be awesome delicious local beer. In particular Craggie Brewing Company from Asheville, NC will be there with THREE beers to choose from:

Burning Barrel- a bourbon chipotle porter

Antebellum Ale- an 1840s North Carolina beer recipe

Cask of the Battery Hill- an English style rye ale

Can’t wait to get my hands on all of these. There is a different brewery at the pub every month on the second Thursday so be sure to mark your calendars! Oh, and the music. Goodbye, Titan is always a great band to see live. I haven’t seen Minor Stars yet but they’ve gotten awesome reviews in the Independent and a lot of other places, so I’m absolutely excited for that one. And Monsonia I’ve heard once through the door at the Nightlight. We didn’t feel like paying to get in (so used to free shows at Tir Na nOg , I guess) so I stood outside to listen, and I can tell you right now that they kind of sound like Arcade Fire.

As always it starts at 10 p.m., 21 and up, and FREE. See you there, friends.

 

Categories
Concert Review

Papercuts Float Through Raleigh

This past Thursday served as the end of March (and, hopefully, the cold). It also served as the second show WKNC has presented at the still-pretty-newly-reopened Kings in downtown Raleigh (the first being this year’s Double Barrel Benefit).

UK-via-Italy act Banjo or Freakout opened the show with a set of airy songs not too far removed in style from Papercuts. Backed by a drummer and bassist/guitarist, main man Alessio Natalizia worked his way through a set of songs culled largely from his recently released, self-titled full-length debut. The first half of the set saw the trio playing songs full of interesting arrangements, with Natalizia’s echo-laden, airy vocals up front. Unfortunately, the remainder of the set saw the band work their way through a handful of interchangeable standard-indie-rock songs that lacked the charm of the first half. That said, it’ll be interesting to see where Natalizia takes Banjo or Freakout’s sound.

Jason Quever, the main force behind Papercuts, brought along a full band to flesh out his dreamy songs, reminiscent of a male-fronted Beach House meets The Clientele. Touring behind the release of new album Fading Brigade, one of the best releases of 2011 so far, Quever and his band brought the songs to life with the sort of laid-back energy found on the recordings. The small, but appreciative, crowd swayed along to the effortless grooves of songs like “Do What You Will” and “Chills,” cheering the band back out for a brief, but well-received, encore.

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Music News and Interviews

We have Mumford & Sons tickets!

Live Nation will be presenting English folk-rock band and recent Grammy performers, Mumford & Sons to the Raleigh Ampitheatre for a June 8 performance. Tickets for Mumford & Sons at the Raleigh Ampitheatre go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com, but 88.1 has them now. When the WKNC deejay asks for it, be the correct caller at 919-860-0881 or 919-515-2400 and score a pair of tickets to the show!

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Music News and Interviews

Giveaways are a lot like hot cakes…

They are delicious and they are going FAST! (only you don’t have to pay for them… )

This week at WKNC we have some amazing giveaways we are pretty excited about. We’ve also got something AMAZING coming next week, so stay tuned (literally). Or become our friend on facebook to find out NOW.

4/6 Black Lips @ Cat’s Cradle

Bronzed Chorus @ Pinhook

4/7 Destroyer @ Cat’s Cradle

Surf City @ Kings

Movie: Hanna @ Mission Valley Cinema

4/8 Fridays on the Lawn: Midtown Dickens and Butterflies @ Harris Field (Just kidding, you can’t win tickets… its FREE for everyone!)

 

4/9 Dr. Dog @ Cat’s Cradle

 

Rotting Christ (Chainsaw) @ Volume 11

4/13 The Greenhornes @ Kings

 

Remember, you have to listen to win!

Categories
Concert Preview Local Music

April 7 Local Beer Local Band

Welcome to April friends! To kick off the month, and hopefully the warmer weather, WKNC and Tir Na nOg are happy to bring you North Elementary and Organos! Music starts at 10 p.m., 21 and up, FREE, and it is the cool thing to do.

Both of these bands are local music favorites and I have not seen them enough.  I am also super excited because they are putting out a 7" Split together. Will this show be a preview of the awesomeness ahead? Guess you’ll have to show up to find out! Waiting to hear back to see if these two bands will talk to me LIVE ON AIR from 7-8 p.m. this Thursday.

ALSO there are very yummy burgers at the pub as well as yummy yummy beers.  Drink it upppp

 

I will see you at the pub.

Categories
Concert Preview

Hammer No More The Fingers To Play Area Record Stores

Durham trio Hammer No More The Fingers are set to release their new album, Black Shark, on April 5. To celebrate the release, the band will play three in-store shows at local record stores. The band will play at CD Alley in Chapel Hill at 3 p.m., Bull City Records in Durham at 5 p.m., and Schoolkids Records in Raleigh at 7 p.m. The shows are free, so get out and support some local music and businesses.

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Music News and Interviews

Local Beat Mini Exclusive: The Huguenots

The Huguenots have been getting airplay on WKNC for nearly four years now, but the group has yet to release anything official but some spare demos. That is until April 8, when the group is putting out their first LP. The Huguenots are known for the super poppy and upbeat music they seem to craft effortlessly and their enjoyable live shows, but finally, the band will release some tangible music. Founding member York Howie came in to represent the band and share a couple unheard tracks from the upcoming album. It had been awhile since I interviewed the Huguenots, so we caught up and took a look back at where it all began at UNC Asheville. York was a wonderful guest and gave us an insightful look into the recording of the album and told us how it all came together.

The Huguenots: Local Beat Mini Exclusive

You can catch the Huguenots at their album release show at the Local 506 on April 8 where they are playing with the Tomahawks. Tickets are $6

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Local Beat Mini Exclusive: A Rooster For The Masses

It has been quite some time since A Rooster for the Masses put out a new album, but the popular local group is doing just that on April 15 at Kings Barcade when they release their third and newest LP No One Is Ready. Still upbeat with a touch of disco and an air of reggae, ARFTM has certainly kept the same vibe with this record as their past discs, and that is a wonderful thing.  Founding member Adam Eckhardt and myself shared a brief 30 minute conversation where he reflected on the history of the band and its current state as well as the new album. We also listened to several new tracks including “No One Is Ready,” “Make Much Sense,” “At The Gates,” and “Die By Day.” Give it a listen below:

A Rooster For The Masses: Local Beat Mini Exclusive

The doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. Greensboro-based Decoration Ghost and Raleigh favorites River City Ransom are also playing. Tickets are $6 online and $8 at the door.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

SoundOff18 The Rural Alberta Advantage/ The Mountain Goats

This week K’nuckles joins DJ Ones to review new albums by The Rural Alberta Advantage and The Mountain Goats.

Listen to episode 18.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones’ Five Music Facts from the past week

1. LCD Soundsystem has announced that they will follow-up their final show at Madison Square Garden on April2 with a national tour. When asked about the change in heart, frontman James Murphy said, “I don’t know. I thought it would be cool to go out with a bang. I was probably too hungover to realize what I was doing.” (via DerpSounds)

2. Jack White has announced the latest creation of Third Man Records. In following up with the Double Decker album, a 12 inch with a 7 inch record inside, White has announced the Triple Decker. This new concoction contains a 12 inch with a 7 inch on the inside with a CD within the 7 inch. White claimed, “We’re really bringing a new experience to music. This isn’t a gimmick. This is a revolution.” (Daily Speaker)

3. The New York band Yeah Yeah Yeahs have revealed a change in direction for their next release. The band, which has yet to announce their next album, will be renaming themselves. The No No No’s will be the next name for the trio. (PhonoFun)

4. Bjork is set to release a new album. The album, which will be heavy metal instead of Bjork’s usual pop sound, is set to released sometime, possibly never. Inspired in part by the work of Slayer, Bjork told reporters lots of words in a quiet and incoherent fashion, none of which the writers could decipher. (DeckCheck)

5. In an effort to confuse future fans, She and Him have confirmed that the follow-up to “Volume 2” will be titled “Volume 4.” (Rolling Herp)

April Fools!