Well, if you are, WKNC has more tickets available for the Passion Pit show at The Fillmore Charlotte on June 11. Be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it between now and June 10th, and you could win tickets for you and a friend.
Category: Blog
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Of Montreal at it again
“Go with what you know” can be a dangerous adage to follow when deciding what to spend your hard-earned money on in the ways of live music. Seeing the same band, or the same types of bands, unwaveringly can make you bored, poorly-rounded, and generally not fun to be around. Conversely, excessive experimentation and willy-nillyness in your show-going can lead to tired feet, confusion, and a real skinny wallet. Appropriate balance is key; of Montreal is your huckleberry.
Wednesday was the third time (for second time at the Cradle) I’ve seen the much-lauded Elephant Six troop from Athens. And, as always, they failed in every way possible to disappoint.
When you see of Montreal, you know you’re going to hear great music; you know you’re going to get a great live performance. What keeps you coming back, to quote my favorite political actor of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, are the “known unknowns.” The on-stage theatrics, the costume changes, the audience involvement: you know they’re all coming, you just don’t know how.
Kevin Barnes has a way about picking out great openers, too. (E.g., They tapped the now teen-infectious MGMT well before they worked their way into cute girls’ iPods and everyone else’s guilty conscience (don’t lie), as well as the oh-so-fabulous Sugar and Gold.) This time,the opener was the densely-populated (two divas, a bad-ass sax player, a helmet-wearing keys player, two exceedingly talented guitar players, and a drummer who somehow managed to keep up the rhythm) Noot d’Noot:
an Atlanta-based freak-funk hipswaying acid jazz group up to whom the crowd warmed quite well. Oh yeah, and a lead male vocalist (seen in the above with his hands in the air) who looked a whole lot like this guy:
Like I said, of Montreal failed miserably to disappoint. Alas, there was no coffin filled with shaving cream, no on-stage faux-hanging (both featured when I saw them last, in Durham), but there were plenty of gas mask-wearing bishops:
and, of course, the obligatory trash can-mounted feather blaster:
I’ll certainly see these guys (and gal) next time they pop up in the triangle. It’s a safe way to spend your show-cash: you know what you’re gonna get, but there are sufficient “unknowns” to keep you coming back.
T.A.
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EOT31 Best Of 5/26/10
In this week’s EOT we chose some of our favorite segments from the past year and served them up for you to enjoy!
I have another amazing privilege in getting the chance to interview Of Montreal tomorrow night at 5 p.m.! Of Montreal plays later that night at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, and you can hear their interview with me, DJ Ones, before you head out to the show.
Of Montreal is the spectacular band from Athens, Georgia, whose career has spanned the better part of almost two decades. The band has released over ten full length albums with one more entitled False Priest coming sometime later this year. The band has reached growing levels of success over the past decade with their 2007 album Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? reaching number 72 on the Billboard Charts, and their 2008 release Skeletal Lamping reaching 38.
And if you have questions for the band leave, them in the comment section below or tweet them to @wknc881
Listen to WKNC this week for these exciting giveaways:
Left Outlet with Tin Djinn (pictured) at The Pour House, on June 1.
Also, Reverent Horton Heat at Cat’s Cradle on June 3.
…And we still have passes for Robin Hood and Sex and the City 2.
Keep listening for these giveaways and others on 88.1 WKNC!
If you live around Raleigh, Kooley High is one of those groups that everyone seems to be familiar with through word of mouth or after seeing one of their many concert posters promoting their next gig around town. They perform regularly around the Triangle, yet, somehow, I had yet to see one of their shows until now. After procuring a pair of tickets to their show at the Pour House on Friday, May 28, I was pumped to finally see them live.
It was a good thing I was pumped because, rather than letting the unexpected downpour dampen my mood, I used it as a funny conversation starter when seeing other concert goers who had obviously suffered the same water soaked journey from their car to the venue.
The opening artists got the crowd warmed up by the time Carlitta Durand took the stage. Her energy was positive, quirky, and contagious from the get go. When she started singing, everyone was captivated by her soulful lyrics and smooth sound. Her backup singers blended perfectly, and the band played with such energy and passion that almost seemed old school. Undoubtedly, Carlitta performed a beautiful and moving set.
As Kooley High took to the stage, the crowd was ready and the energy was intense. Kooley High did not disappoint and used the energy of the crowd to push it further. Each individual of the group brought something fresh and new to their sound, while still managing to rhyme effortlessly as a group without one person overbearing the others. Their set was tight and powerful. For all of the people in attendance, it was a great way to spend their Friday night.
Even though you may not be able to catch the Rockabilly Hour every Sunday (GO PACK BASEBALL!), you sure can check out these great events going on this week!
This Thursday, 6/3: REVEREND HORTON HEAT with Cracker and the Legendary Shack Shakers at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro (I will also be celebrating my birthday there that night!)
Also, on Saturday, June 5 ROAD RASH, at Puckett’s in Charlotte… the first annual car show with some great bands…
I will be there admiring the hot rods and the great music!
Laurie Lu
The Rockabilly Hour
Sundays, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
rockabilly@wknc.org
1. Arcade Fire has announced specifics for their upcoming album entitled The Suburbs. Earlier in the week, the band released a special 12’’ single with two songs from the upcoming album. They have also announced a release date in early August. (via NME)
2. MIA has recently tweeted the phone number of a New York Times journalist who recently published an article that detailed the artist in an unflattering light. In response Lynn Hirschberg, the writer whose number was publicly released, responded saying, “She’s a provocateur, and provocateurs want to be provocative.” Hirschberg also stated that she found MIA’s response, “not surprising.” (via Guardian)
3. Due to Bono’s recent back surgery, U2 had to cancel their upcoming tour and headlining of Glastonbury. It was then later released that the band that would be replacing U2 at the upcoming festival would be Gorillaz instead. (via BBC)
4. The New Pornographers’ Kathryn Calder is set to release her own solo album on August 10th. Following fellow bandmates including Neko Case, Calder’s first solo album is entitled Are You My Mother? (via Pitchfork)
5. David Byrne is suing the Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, alleging that the Talking Heads’ song “Road to Nowhere” was used in an advertisement without permission or proper licensing. Byrne is seeking $1 million in damages. (via ABC)
1. GORILLAZ Plastic Beach (Virgin)
2. HOT CHIP One Life Stand (Astralwerks)
3. TORO Y MOI Causers of This (Carpark)
4. SUGAR AND GOLD Get Wet! (Antenna Farm)
5. FOUR TET There is Love in You (Domino)
6. BASSNECTAR Cozza Frenzy (Amorphous-Child’s Play)
7. NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB The Optimist (The Numbers)
8. JAVELIN No Mas (Luaka Bop)
9. VARIOUS ARTISTS Best of 80s Dance (Capp)
10. SLEIGH BELLS Treats (Mom and Pop)
A few hours before Kooley High performs at the Pour House for their farewell Raleigh show, Foolery and Charlie Smarts wanted to come in and chat about their hip-hop legacy in North Carolina as well as their expectations for their futures in New York. The band plans to continue to make new music up north, but not before they have a great send-off tonight which will include classic Kooley High tracks mixed in with some new surprises.
Listen to part of the interview here: