Categories
Concert Review

Ellos Me Tengan (The Yo La Tengo Show Recap)

If one were to compile a canon of influential independent artists that have truly shaped the genre,  Yo La Tengo would certainly have a spot on the list. At least that’s what I’ve been told. The New Jersey trio began their debut over twenty-five years ago.  Now that’s something to contend with. I wasn’t even born. Sunday night marked the second night performance for the band at Cats Cradle and although it didn’t officially sell out (like the previous night), I still encountered parking issues and a crowded venue. I’d never seen Yo La Tengo perform, but I had spun their tracks modestly over the air in the past and was somewhat familiar with their discography. Needless to say, I had a lot of expectations.

My first surprise for the evening was the crowd itself. As someone who’s use to seeing Cats packed with a  rowdy youthful bunch for shows of the likes of Caribou or Of Montreal, Tengo’s turnout was a lot more, well, experienced. Not that I’m complaining, but it certainly did speak to the years of influence and fan base the band has acquired. My second surprise of the night was right after frontman Ira Kaplan, drummer and wife of Ira, Gerogia Hubley, and bassist James McNew took the stage. A large game show wheel was carted to the front. Its pie slices were outfitted personally to fit song choices to be played by the band that night. A few selections included songs by their associated acts, Dump and the Condo Fucks. Another pie slice featured songs with people’s names in them. The band finally chose an overly eager man in the front row who convinced us he had been waiting at Cats all week for the show.  His spin lasted a few moments before stopping on the choice for songs that started with the letter ’S’.

DJ Chuck also attended the show and commented that “Yo La Tengo have been around so long, and their catalog is so vast, that it’s hard to know every song of theirs. They did close out the set with a couple I did know however, those songs being the fan-favorite Sugarcube and Sudden Organ."  He continued on to say, ” after a half-hour break, the band came back on for their second, wheel-less set. Running through a barage of songs that ranged from quiet and pretty to loud and full of feedback, the band closed the set with a 20-plus minute song that started out quiet and gradually built it’s way up to a noisy climax, with guitarist Ira Kaplan swinging his guitar around like a madman, inducing all kinds of feedback.“

The band came back out for a short encore consisting of Autumn Sweater, their cover of Daniel Johnston’s Speeding Motorcycle, and another cover which Chuck nor I didn’t catch the name of, but was a quiet, acoustic number.

I was pleasantly happy that Yo La Tengo pulled tracks from their most recent album release from September 2009, Popular Songs. It’s a great album which features the bluesy sexual rock and roll of Here To Fall, beautiful folk with More Stars Than There Are In Heaven and nostalgic instrumental with The Fireside. Yo La Tengo’s show proved to be just as versatile where their age was showing- in a good way. The trio seems to have adapted to the trends of music over the years, but they have never let it label or define them. Their performance had me on Sunday, (Ellos me tengan), and I think I can finally appreciate their role within this eclectic music genre.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

4th Annual NC Underground Music Awards

The 4th annual North Carolina Underground Music Awards (NCUMAs) will be held on March 19 in Greensboro, NC.

The NCUMAs is the brainchild of Carl Major Potter III and sister Sanedria Potter and is a chance for unsigned, independent and local R&B and Hip-Hop artists, deejays, and producers and to be recognized and rewarded.

The nominees have already been chosen (by the fans) and voting is currently open up until two weeks before the show. Performers will be announced shortly.

The event will take place at The Carolina Theater and tickets to attend the show will become available soon.

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT52 Haiti: One Year Later 1/25/11

This week, we have quite the show for you:

  1. Mark Herring, our correspondent has prepared a story commemorating the year anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake.
  2. I got acquainted with the new Zip Car Program on N.C. State University’s campus.
  3. We will have a cutting from the Burning Coal Theater’s newest production, Blue.
  4. Then, later, We will have a segment from Kyle Jones about what it really means to be organic.
  5. We will also have readings from authors published in this year’s Windhover, NC State’s literary magazine.
  6. Weather, Sports, and finally, some representatives from The NC State University Ducks unlimited club will  stop by to talk about their organization.
Categories
Concert Preview

Moving Island Buoyancy Benefit!

Get your socks on!  The 28th and 29th is going to be a music packed weekend! A new warehouse for music and art is opening up in downtown Raleigh called Moving Island. Moving Island is a community education facility focused on emerging arts, empowering technology, and the business of living. Top founders include Chris Riddle, Adam Crane, Maria Albani, and Kelly Crisp. A couple of these kids are going to join me in the station on Friday the 28th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  Be sure to tune in!

The benefit will feature some of the best bands in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area as well as DJ sets, comedy, and dance. These artists are donating their time and skills to help jump-start Moving Island for their opening in March:

Friday:
The Big Picture 7:30 p.m.
Organos 8:15 p.m.
Wowser Bowser 9:00 p.m.
Gray Young 10:00 p.m.
Veelee 11:00 p.m.
Lonnie Walker 12:00 a.m.

Saturday:
Young Volcanoes 3:00 p.m.
Old Bricks 4:00 p.m.
Special Mystery Guest! 5:00 p.m.
Schooner 6:00 p.m.
Intermission/Q&A About what Moving Island is/does/plans to do! 7:00 p.m.
Kid Future 9:15 p.m.
Naps 10:00 p.m.
Juan Huevos 10:45 p.m.
Heads on Sticks 11:30 p.m.
Motor Skills 12:15 a.m.
DJs presented by Denmark Records 1:00 a.m.

Tickets are $8 per day in advance ($10 per day the day of) or $15 for both days in advance. Tickets will be available through Schoolkids Records in Raleigh, CD Alley in Chapel Hill, and Bull City Records in Durham, as well online through Brown Paper.

Tickets:http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/148232.

Information was found at the Moving Island website found >> HERE! (click me)

Categories
Concert Review

Megafaun Show RECAP!

Saturday, January 22, the second night of the Megafaun weekend, I was lucky enough to get into the sold out show. I got off work at ten thirty and raced over to Kings. Upon entering I found out that I had missed Cloudlines. Super bummed, I reached for a Duck Rabbit Milk Stout. I made my way through the crowd and took a seat at my favorite viewing spot, behind the sound booth. Brad Cook was the first of Megafaun to walk out on stage. The crowd excitedly greeted the rest of the band as they got ready to play. We were greeted back with “What the f*ck did we do to get all of you here tonight,” …or something like that.

After a couple songs, Megafaun talked of the band Megafun and jokingly played one of their super fun, silly, dancy tracks. The show continued, and I stood singing along to my favorite song of theirs, “Volunteers.” I must say it is too good live. Another beer in the show was wrapping up. The audience was still as enthused as when Megafaun first got on stage (some of these guests still enthused since last night’s show).  The show had ended and we clapped ourselves to death until we got our encore. The song would be acoustic. No microphone either. The ENTIRE audience was silent. It was eerie and amazing to have a packed out show fall dead silent to hear what Megafaun was offering us. Following this song Megafaun pulled some extra friends on stage to play other instruments, including a harmonica.

A great show.  This was my first time seeing a full Megafaun show.  Can’t wait to do it again!

Categories
Non-Music News

Preview for the January 25 Edition of Eye on The Triangle

This week, we have quite the show for you:

  1. Mark Herring, our correspondent has prepared a story commemorating the year anniversary of the Haiti Earthquake.
  2. I got acquainted with the new Zip Car Program on N.C. State University’s campus.
  3. We will have a cutting from the Burning Coal Theater’s newest production, Blue.
  4. Then, later, We will have a segment from Kyle Jones about what it really means to be organic.
  5. We will also have readings from authors published in this year’s Windhover, NC State’s literary magazine.
  6. Weather, Sports, and finally, some representatives from The NC State University Ducks unlimited club will  stop by to talk about their organization.

So, tune in Tuesday, January 25, from 7 to 8 p.m. here on 88.1FM for all this and more, on Eye on The Triangle.

Categories
Concert Preview Local Music

Local Beer Local Band Lineup Jan. 27

Watch out world!  Here comes WKNC and Tir Na nOg’s weekly local show! This week we’ve got Aminal and Wylie Hunter & The Cazadores! Show starts at 10 p.m., 21 and up, and FREE!

Aminal

“If pop music is a wild animal, then this Chapel Hill trio’s domesticated it, teaching it to sit up, roll over and lay in their lap. Their songs amble with unhurried grace and purr with ineffable charm. Frontman Patrick O’Neill has a gift for vocal melodies that insinuate themselves into your confidences so completely that, after a couple of listens, you’re ready to buy them a round of drinks. The songs boast a woozy ebb and flow fueled by a vibrant rhythm section that’s capable of unspooling the sound with the measured skill of a master angler loosening and locking his reel.”  – Hopscotch Music Festival

Wylie Hunter & the Cazadores

“Chapel Hill-based band… reminiscent of early Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers… Triangle’s Independent Weekly has said the band’s ‘excitability and wanderlust are worth watching.’”- Taken from the Wylie Hunter & The Cazadores MySpace Page.

Lastly, let me just say that since Mark Connor has become the bookers for the Local Beer Local Band series I have not stopped being impressed by the bands he has brought us.  Crystal Bright & The Silver Hand is possibly the most unique and interesting band I’ve seen in a while.  Also, last week’s Naked Gods gave such a lively, dance-able show. I cannot wait to see either of these bands again!

**There will be no live interview this week due to the broadcast of a Women’s Basketball game.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Giveaways for week of January 24

Giveaways are a win-win-win situation for everyone involved. You get to listen to the great tunes at WKNC, the DJs get to talk to you (we LOVE calls)  and you can win tickets to some awesome shows! Win, Win, Win situation.

This week, you could win tickets (you +1) to:

1/27: Alejandro Escoveda at Cat’s Cradle

1/28: American Aquarium at King’s

1/28: Robbie Fulks Duo at Casbah

1/29: American Aquarium at King’s

1/29: Best Coast at Cat’s Cradle

Best Coast

1/29: Kickin’ Grass Band at The Pour House

Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it, and you could win!

Tune in to WKNC online or 88.1FM on your dial!

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT51 Our First Show of 2011!

This week, we wanted our show to revolve around Martin Luther King Day. We spoke to Toni Thorpe of the AACC, and John Coffey about the Norman Rockwell Exhibit at the NCMA. Also, weather, sports, poetry and much more!

Categories
Non-Music News

EOT51 First Show of 2011 1/18/11

WKNC welcomed public affairs director Chris Cioffi as the new host of “Eye on the Triangle” in this first episode of the spring semester and 2011.

Assistant public affairs director Mark Herring took a trip to the North Carolina Museum of Art to learn more about Norman Rockwell. A portion of the Rockwell exhibition includes images that Rockwell created towards the end of his life. Many of these images deal with the civil rights movement, and we felt it be a timely story the day after the commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Chris sat down with Ms. Toni Harris Thorpe of the N.C. State African American Cultural Center to find out what Blacks on Wax is, why everyone calls Thorpe ‘Mama’ and how to make Black History Month last all year. They also discussed the AACC’s mission, events and programs for the upcoming year.

Technician’s Taylor Barbour joined Chris in the studio to discuss the NFL playoffs and the N.C. State University men’s basketball team’s game against Duke this week.

Contributor Jacob Downey interviewed NCSU Assistant Professor Dr. Kim Ebert to discuss how social scientists study racial inequality in a colorblind era.

If you like to read the “88.1 WKNC Pick of the Week” in Technician each week, you have Jon Gomes to thank for coordinating it all. He stopped by WKNC (since he was here already) and gave us his top five albums of 2010.

This semester, “Eye on The Triangle” has forged a new relationship with the NCSU literary and visual magazine, Windhover, to bring you some voices from the annual publication as a recurring part of the program.  This week, Robert Nunley reads us a few of his poems. Submissions are closed for this year, but look for the magazine around campus this spring.

Subscribe to the “Eye on the Triangle” podcast via iTunes.

Listen to episode 51.