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Concert Review

Major Lazer + Rusko + Sleigh Bells = dance party

Major Lazer’s North Carolina tour stop this past Tuesday at Cat’s Cradle proved to be one sweaty, non-stop dance party.

Sleigh Bells opened the show with a mix of loud, distorted guitar, blasted beats, and the yelping, chanting vocals of singer Alexis Krauss. The duo did a fine job warming up the crowd for what was to be a night of non-stop dancing and mayhem. They played a mix of blog favorites including as “A/B Machines” and “Crown on the Ground” and new tracks likely to appear on their debut album due out later this year.

Immediately after Sleigh Bells closed out their set, British dubstep artist Rusko took the stage to the sounds of a bass-maxed-out version of Petey Pablo’s “Raise Up”. From there, he cruised through crowd-pleasing remixes of Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘n’ Nite” and Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek”, in addition to original tracks such as “Woo Boost” and the Tupac-sampling “Da Cali Anthem”.

Following a brief intermission at the end of Rusko’s set, Major Lazer main men Diplo and Switch took to a table of CDJ’s and laptops at the back of the stage. The lazer lights came on and the party wouldn’t let up for another hour-plus. With hype-man/MC Skerrit Bwoy bouncing around the stage in his colorful mohawk and a bikini-clad dancer pulling moves that looked like something a gymnast might do in a strip club, the crowd went absolutely insane. People were bouncing. People were dancing. The whole crowd was swaying. Foam lazer-guns were thrown into the crowd. As the duo mixed their way effortlessly from Major Lazer hits “Pon De Floor” and “Keep It Goin’ Louder” into tracks they’ve produced individually, Skerrit Bwoy and the dancer took to pulling off moves straight out of the “Pon De Floor” video (warning: NSFW). The chemistry between the two was obvious, both wearing ear-to-ear grins the entire time.

I had heard that the show was supposed to run until 2 a.m., but was cut short after a guy fell and busted his head open , which was evident due to the pool of blood near the back of the room. Regardless of whether or not the show was supposed to go on for another two hours or not, Major Lazer brought what is likely to be one of the best-remembered dance parties the Cradle has ever seen.

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Weekly Charts

Top 10 Afterhours albums on WKNC last week

Here are the top 10 albums played during the Afterhours format over the past week, compiled by our Afterhours Music Director Joseph Brookes.

1. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
2. Pretty Lights – Making Up A Changing Mind EP
3. Funckarma – Dubstoned 3
4. Pantha Du Prince – Black Noise
5. Felix Cartal – Popular Music
6. Telephoned – Telephoned EP
7. Rusko – Woo-Boost EP
8. Kraddy – Android Porn Remixes EP
9. RJD2 – The Colossus
10. Heyoka – Marklar

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Take a gander at these giveaways!

New month, new shows, new giveaways!

Check out the great shows that are happening this week that WKNC is giving away tickets to:

Monday, April 5

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists w/ Screaming Females & Pink Flag @ Cat’s Cradle

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Wednesday, April 7

Manchester Orchestra w/ The Features, Biffy Clyro & O’Brother @ Cat’s Cradle

Technoiz Wednesdays w/Juan Juevos, MYL SMARTHMOUF, Dutches Headbangerr & DJ Charlie Burnett @ The Pour House

Thursday, April 8

Holy Ghost Tent Revival w/Sol Driven Train @ The Pour House

Temper Trap w/The Kissaway Trail @ Cat’s Cradle

Friday, April 9

Bowerbirds w/Midtown Dickens & Veelee @ Cat’s Cradle

Old Habits w/Mandolin Orange @ The Pour House

Be sure to tune into WKNC 88.1 FM or stream online for your chance to win! For a complete list of local shows check out The Rock Report.

Categories
Concert Review

The Big Pink rock Cat’s Cradle

After winning an NME award last month, The Big Pink embarked on their North American tour, and were so kind as to give Carrboro’s own, Cat’s Cradle, a visit.

Playing tracks off of their latest album “A Brief History of Love” the band started off their set with fuzzy synthesizer and heavy guitar tracks.

Without taking any breaks the band went from one excellent track to the next. Their high energy intro included such songs as “Too Young to Love” and “At War With the Sun.”

The band then transitioned to slower songs from their latest release. The crowd enjoyed songs like “Velvet,” “Crystal Visions,” and “Love in Vain.”

As the set progressed they eventually started to take a break to thank the audience. At one point during the set he said he felt so much love in the room he wanted to “Fuck out all of our brains.”

The band then gave a special treat to the audience by playing some new songs that have yet to be released. Easily the highlight of DJ Ones’ night was drummer Akiko Matsurra and Milo Cordell, whom both played amazingly.

The band finished off an already amazing set with their hit song “Dominoes” which had the packed Cat’s Cradle jumping unlike ever before. The highlight of the night for DJ Mollypop came when the energy that had been building and flowing throughout the venue during the set reached its ultimate zenith during “Dominoes." All in all, The Big Pink put on an amazing set which featured some of their best tracks, and tracks we’ve never heard before. For the fans of The Big Pink, these guys are a great to see live!

Categories
Music News and Interviews

DJ Ones’ Five Music Facts from the past week

1. The Libertines are set to reunite after they played their last show together in 2004. The band is set to play both the Reading and Leeds festivals. All 4 of the original band members will be returning in late August. The only area of uncertainty has been the status of Pete Doherty who has run into problems with the law as of late. (via Pitchfork)

2. Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse is currently in the process of writing for a Cartoon Network show entitled “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.” Brock is said to be working on a special that the show is creating, and no exact date for when the show will air has been announced just yet. (via Pitchfork)

3. Toro y Moi has had to cancel several tour dates after being robbed. After their show in Brooklyn the band’s car was broken into with member Chaz Bundick having his laptop and passport stolen. No plans have been made to make up those missed shows. (via Pitchfork)

4. Jack White has revealed that The White Stripes’ song “Seven Nation Army” was almost not released. The group’s record label at the time was initially opposed to releasing the duo’s most easily recognizable song as a single in 2003. White said, “I wanted to put Seven Naiton Army out as a single. The label in England and the label in America both didn’t want to.” (via NME)

5. Band of Horses have announced the tracklisting and the release date for their follow up to 2007’s “Cease to Begin.” The new album entitled “Infinite Arms” is set to release in mid May, and their first single from the album is the track “Compliments.” (via NME)

Categories
Concert Review Local Music

LBLB Photos from April 1

The Height

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Nuclear Power Pants

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Lonnie Walker

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Categories
Concert Preview Local Music

Nuclear Power Pants, Height join Lonnie Walker for Local Beer Local Band

Independent Weekly’s Grayson Currin describes Baltimore band Nuclear Power Pants as “heavy psychedelic pop, with thick group vocals piled over sheets of synthesizers and stacks of riveted percussion.” Tonight’s Local Beer Local Band at Tir Na Nog is the second of a three-night gig featuring Nuclear Power Pants with Baltimore neighbors Height and local boys Lonnie Walker.

Categories
Non-Music News

WKNC welcomes new general manager

The North Carolina State University Student Media Board of Directors has selected Tommy Anderson, a junior in political science from Concord, as the new general manager of WKNC 88.1 FM. Since joining the staff in fall 2008, Anderson has held numerous positions at the station, including board operator, daytime music assistant and personnel director. He most recently served as the station’s program director. Anderson begins his one year term Thursday, April 1. Anderson replaces Rocky Mount senior Mike Alston, who will graduate in May with a degree in civil engineering. Kieran Moreira, WKNC’s promotions director since Jan. 2009, will take over as program director.

Categories
Concert Review

The Road Went On Forever…

…and that party, it still hasn’t ended.

Oh, listeners of Americana Blues & Co – you know how I love me some Robert Earl Keen.  The man was back in town, hitting the Lincoln to play for the usual crowd of drunks, fun-lovers, and good-time aficionados.  In fact, it appears the NCSU student body president Jim Ceresnak is a fan.  I didn’t know he was right behind me until my helpful brother informed me after the show.

But, on to the show!

Sons of Bill opened up and, like last November, showed that they can hold their own.

These are a group of good ol’ boys from Virginia with a sound that pulls together influence from outlaw country with a dose of Gram Parsons.

When REK and his band came on stage, the audience was in for a big surprise.  They played a lineup of lesser-known, lesser-played songs.  The people expecting him to tear through No. 2 Live Dinner looked a little confused and certainly didn’t know the words, but some (like me) were thrilled to hear some favorites that we thought we’d never hear live.  (Mine is “The Raven and the Coyote,” by the by.)

The best part of a Keen show, in my opinion, is just letting go and having fun.  This is a band of seasoned pros who know how to put on an excellent show.  Next time you’re in town, give ‘em a try.  I know I’ll be there.

Categories
Concert Preview

Independent Weekly releases Hopscotch Music Festival line-up

The Independent Weekly announced the line-up for its first Hopscotch Music Festival today.  The festival will take place in downtown Raleigh on September 9, 10 and 11 2010. Headlining the festival are Public Enemy, Panda Bear and Broken Social Scene. A plethora of local favorites will be playing as well.

Here’s a list of the bands scheduled to play the festival, with more to be released April 12:

9th Wonder & Friends, Active Child, All Tiny Creatures, American Aquarium, Americans in France, Atlas Sound, Balmorhea, Bear in Heaven, Best Coast, Birds of Avalon, Black Congo NC, DJ George Brazil, Broken Social Scene, Brutal Knights, Richard Buckner, Burning Star Core, Cannabis Corpse, Caitlin Cary’s Small Ponds with Tres Chicas, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Cults, Greg Davis, Double Dagger, Double Negative, The Dynamite Brothers, EAR PWR, ExMonkeys, First Rate People, Followed by Static, Ben Frost, Fucked Up, Future Islands, Golden Boys, The Golden Filter, Goner, Gray Young, Ryan Gustafson, Hammer No More the Fingers, Harlem, Harvey Milk, Horseback, John Howie Jr. & The Rosewood Bluff, I Was Totally Destroying It, Javelin, Jeb Bishop Trio, Juan Huevos, Kill the Noise, The Kingsbury Manx, Kooley High, Kylesa, The Light Pines, Lonnie Walker, The Love Language, Lucero, Luego, Max Indian, Erin McKeown, Megafaun, Midtown Dickens, The Moaners, The Monologue Bombs, Motor Skills, Mountains, Jon Mueller, Marissa Nadler, No Age, Ocean, Old Bricks, Panda Bear, Pattern Is Movement, Pictureplane, Plague, Pontiak, Public Enemy, The Rosebuds, Schooner, Sightings, spcl gst, Spider Bags, Thien, Tigercity, Tortoise, Treasure Fingers, US Christmas, Sharon Van Etten, Veelee, Vincent Black Shadow, War on Drugs, Washed Out, Weedeater, Whatever Brains, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Yip-Yip.

Tickets go on sale April 1. For more information, check out this article from the Independent Weekly.