WKNC’s 21th annual Double Barrel Benefit is Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at Kings in Raleigh. Night One features music by Boy Named Sue, applefield, Stan Y Dengy and Vivider. Night Two has performances by My Sister Maura, Carpenter / Cohen, Sk the Novelist and .memoria. The Double Barrel Benefit fundraiser accounts for five percent of WKNC’s annual income. Doors for each night are at 7:30 p.m. with the first performance at 8 p.m.
Night One – Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, 7:30 p.m. @ Kings
Boy Named Sue (headliner)
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe our sound as rooted in 90s Alternative rock with the likes of The Lemonheads and Oasis with influences of punk (The Replacements), blues (Chuck Berry), and Classic Rock & Roll (Tom Petty).
If you had to suggest one track to introduce listeners to your band, what would it be and why?
I would suggest either “Carolina Summer” or “My Dirty Soul” off of our most recent EP, “Finer Things” because I believe they best represent the band as a whole and for a first-time listener, you get a pretty good idea of what you’re getting into with us.
What is your favorite memory of a show you’ve played before?
We were playing a basement in Philly and in our set we played a song that we had yet to release which would end being the title track to our “Finer Things” EP, and during the song we got out of sync for a moment. While it seemed like a mistake, we actually came to rewrite that part of the song as it was played in that Philly basement.
What are some of your biggest inspirations?
Life.
Learn more about Boy Named Sue
applefield
How would you describe your sound?
Blissed-out fuzz laden guitar music
If you had to suggest one track to introduce listeners to your band, what would it be and why?
“Underlined.” It’s from our first single release; it represents our style well.
What is your favorite memory of a show you’ve played before?
Seeing the crowd reaction to our first show at Kings.
What are some of your biggest inspirations?
2000s TV shows, JRPGs, “Isn’t Anything” by My Bloody Valentine, Silent Hill, Surrealism
Learn more about Applefield
Stan Y Denghy
How would you describe your sound?
Our sound is a combination of five nationalities and cultures crashing together in a rhythmic manner. We sing in Spanish, but the sounds range from reggae, rock, and funk to Egyptian maksum and cumbia.
If you had to suggest one track to introduce listeners to your band, what would it be and why?
I’d say check out our live session on YouTube, called “Live at After Dark.”
What is your favorite memory of a show you’ve played before?
We toured last year and got to play two shows in Harlem, New York City. Some of the coolest places and faces.
What are some of your biggest inspirations?
Los Destellos, Mohamed Mounir, The Strokes and Rawayana are among our biggest influences.
Learn more about Stan Y Denghy
Vivider
How would you describe your sound?
I’m pretty genrefluid and like to channel an ever-evolving sound. At this time my DJ sets tend to include electro-inspired techno, hard dance, experimental breakbeats and ghettotech.
What are some of your biggest inspirations?
My artistic goal is experimentation, which allows me to enjoy the process of mixing. I’m inspired to share music from various underground queer producers and producers of color like WTCHCRFT, dazegxd, Ariel Zetina, Luz1e and many more. I’m also super inspired by the warmth and support of the local DJ community in N.C. Some artists that come to mind are Flex Ariani, Velle, Brydecisive, Holdenxcess, Ver, Poetic Note, etc.
Learn more about Vivider
Night Two – Friday, Feb. 15, 2025, 7:30 p.m. @ Kings
My Sister Maura (headliner)
My Sister Maura is an indie shoegaze outfit based in Raleigh and composed of three members: guitarist Katie Quinn, bassist Elijah Hall, and drummer David Moore. The trio blends elements of shoegaze, dream pop and post-punk into a formidable wall of sound, proving that they are not afraid to experiment by shifting from heavily distorted guitars to haunting jangle pop riffs to soft and blissful near-ballads. With the release of their debut full-length LP “So Long” in September 2023, My Sister Maura honed in on a sound that stays true to their identity and established themselves as a fresh voice in the indie rock scene.
Learn more about My Sister Maura
Carpenter / Cohen
How would you describe your sound?
A few people have told me it sounds like psychedelic folk or psychedelic Americana. I think it has those elements but there’s also a lot of pop.
If you had to suggest one track to introduce listeners to your band, what would it be and why?
“Flying Fish.” It’s probably my favorite song on the album. It’s about a certain Republican congressman from North Carolina whose theatrics backfired on him.
What is your favorite memory of a show you’ve played before?
That’s a hard one because Joshua Carpenter and I have played a lot of shows in different bands together and separately. But in October we played a sold-out show at The Fruit in Durham, and our friend Julie Odell sang harmonies with us on a few songs, which was pretty amazing.
What are some of your biggest inspirations?
Burritos, Guild acoustic guitars, Gemini pickups and boutique echo/reverb pedals.
Learn more about Carpenter / Cohen
Sk the Novelist
NC EMCEE 🧳🧳🧳
Learn more about Sk the Novelist
.Memoria
How would you describe your sound?
GED mathcore
If you had to suggest one track to introduce listeners to your band, what would it be and why?
“Humiliative” by Meshuggah.
What is your favorite memory of a show you’ve played before?
A very nice gentleman at a recent show told us that we reminded him of Advent.
What are some of your biggest inspirations?
Weird repetitive riffs, playing too fast, the Thursday night electronic block on WKNC. Anything that makes you say “hell yeah.”