Hear Here: Week of April 4

A new month and an insanely busy week around the state for music, numerous awesome releases and numerous awesome shows whether they be in the Triangle or out west (or both!).  North Carolina based Mountain Goats and Megafaun are stopping through and giving the state a one-two punch with The Cat's Cradle and The Grey Eagle, and Destroyer and War on Drugs are doing the same.  But with some heavily anticipated album release shows and awesome tour stops as well, there's a plethora of shows to hit up this week so lets get to it.

Show of the Week: The Mountain Goats w/ Megafaun @ The Cat's Cradle on Friday, April 8



Tuesday, April 5
Civil Twilight w/ Atomic Tom, A Silent Film @ Local 506 in Chapel Hill, NC
$10
The South African group Civil Twilight has been a band that's been drawing comparisons to U2, Radiohead, and The Police since they burst onto the US scene with their self-titled debut back in 2009.  Their music has been featured prominently on prime time shows like House and One Tree Hill and it's no wonder why when you hear the band perform.  New Bern was lucky enough to have these guys play a house show here, but of course I was unlucky enough to have missed it, but the town couldn't stop touting their praises for months afterwards.  The soaring falsetto's and the delayed guitar, the soothing melodies and the crashing of the drums, it's all there and it's all beautiful.  Civil Twilight is a band to keep an eye on as they grow, because they put out a powerhouse of a self-titled debut and if the band continues to explore their boundaries then who knows what these guys are capable of producing.

Wednesday, April 6

Destroyer w/ War On Drugs,  Surf City @ The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC

$12

Destroyer is the epitome of modern smooth.  Dan Bejar's subdued, reassuring lyrics wrap themselves around you and show you that life is just fine.  Self described as “European Blues,” Destroyer certainly brings a sense of foreign high-class to their music.  This is definitely one show I'm not going to miss.

Also playing at The Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC on Thursday, April 7 with Shithorse instead of Surf City

Friday, April 8

The Mountain Goats w/ Megafaun @ The Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC

SOLD OUT

Two of North Carolina's finest embarked on a tour together and they're giving the good old tobacco state two dates in one weekend, two dates that are sure to be the most exciting shows of the week.  After seeing John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats at a crowded Pinhook last year I thought it would be near impossible to top, but a sold out Cat's Cradle show with Megafaun opening just may do it.  The Mountain Goats are on the heels of their Merge debut with "All Eternals Deck" being released just last week, and it's one of the band's finest efforts in recent years.  Not to mention Megafaun just got finished recording a new album, and getting to hear some new songs from an upcoming record is always an invigorating experience, especially when you're already anxious for the release.  Between John Darnielle's unique aura of charisma and what's sure to be a crowd full of die hard fans who'll be spouting lyrics right back at him with the beautiful folk sounds of Megafaun, this is easily my most anticipated show of the year so far.  But if you didn't get the chance to get a ticket and don't feel like driving to Asheville for the other NC date, I'll be heading up to Chapel Hill for a show review that will be up at the end of the weekend!

Also playing at The Grey Eagle on Sunday, April 10

The Huguenots w/ The Tomahawks @ Local 506

$6

The Huguenots are a band that's been heard around the Triangle for nearly four years, but this show marks the celebration of the first tangible release that The Huguenots have put out and good lord is it a good one.  The Huguenots have crafted a brilliant album of poppy indie rock in their self titled debut that still has a retro tinge but has enough contemporary elements to make the band interesting and invigorating.  Filled with reverberated harmonies and head bobbing rhythms, The Huguenots are bringing in some live favorites for the new album and some newer songs that will be sure to draw in anyone that hasn't heard the band before.  With an album that's been so long in the works it's great to see it get a release, and with a band as great as The Tomahawks opening that gives you all the more of a reason to head out to the 506 and check this show out.

Butterflies w/ Midtown Dickens @ Harris Field at NC State in Raleigh, NC

WKNC Presents Fridays on the Lawn

Two very different bands but two bands that will be sure to mesh incredibly together, especially when it's a free show provided by WKNC.  The Fridays on the Lawn series has brought some excellent bands together to play out at Harris Field, and Butterflies and Midtown Dickens will be an excellent soundtrack to what's projected to be beautiful weather on Friday night.  The folksy bluegrass styling and spine tingling harmonies of Midtown Dickens combined with the upbeat and catchy hooks of Butterflies will provide for a great night out in Raleigh, and theres really no reason not to check it out, I mean it's free!

Saturday, April 9th

Fair to Midland w/ Periphery, Scale The Summit & The Great Liars @ The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC

$12 in advance/ $14 at the door

Fair to Midland – the name sounds folksy enough.  Don’t let album names like “Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True” and “Arrows and Anchors” fool you, though.  These guys are all electric guitar rock and sonic vocals. Their riffs are catchy and their lyrics are sincere, and you can be sure that their songs are full of meaning.  Originating from Texas, the band gained popularity in the Dallas scene in 2004, and won Best Metal Dallas Observer Music Award in 2007 and 2008.  This should be an exciting show.

                                    

J Mascis w/ Kurt Vile & The Violators @ The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC

$18 in advance/$20 at the door

J Mascis is known as the driving force in Dinosaur Jr., one of the most influential bands of the 80s and 90s.  Solo, J brings the same nasal drawl and sense of passive wonder, but is musically more acoustic, trading the distorted, gainy electric guitar for an acoustic one and intimate vocals.  It is a welcome pause from the noise of Dinosaur Jr.  But for those who need a little electric, Kurt Vile & The Violators won’t let you down.  Vile’s voice sounds like Panda Bear’s from Animal Collective, which mixes perfectly with the backdrop of guitar.

Also playing at The Cat's Cradle on Sunday April 10

Dr. Dog w/ Floating Action @ The Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC

$16 in advance/$19 at the door

Dr. Dog are a band that blends the elements of Americana and psychedelic with elements of 60's pop and much more.  It's hard to lump Dr. Dog into any categories, so it's best to just put them in one of their own.  Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken (bassist and guitar player respectively) share lead vocal duties, but the harmonies that are provided by the entire band is what really gives Dr. Dog their shine, it's the icing on top of the already superb cake.  Not to mention there's North Carolina band Floating Action opening as well, the project fueled by Seth Kauffman that combines elements of indie pop with blues, soul, and Americana that ends up providing a one of a kind sound that consists of rootsy vocals on top of ethereal guitar parts, resulting in a mesmerizing sound that you can't seem to turn away from.