Hear Here: Week of June 6

Summer is in full effect in the tobacco state, we've got blistering heat usually coupled with awesome bouts of humidity but it's all okay by me if we keep get awesome shows week in and week out.  It seemed like all of last weeks shows with national touring acts had practically all sold out before the week of the show, but we've got some great acts coming in this week with tickets still on sale.  The Decemberists and Best Coast will be playing at the Raleigh Amphitheater, and there's some pretty great local bills for this week too.

Show of the Week: Brice Randall Bickford w/ Phil Cook, Django Haskins, Lee Waters, Heather McEntire @ The Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC



Thursday, June 9
All Tiny Creatures w/ Phil Cook, Shedding @ King's Barcade in Raleigh, NC
$6 in advance/$8 day of
I had the joy of seeing All Tiny Creatures at Hopscotch 2010 at The Pour House and the show was absolutely stellar in every sense of the word.  All Tiny Creatures are a Wisconsin quartet with lead by Thomas Wincek who you may know better from the Justin Vernon side-project of Volcano Choir or Collections of Colonies of Bees. On their latest album, "Harbor" you can find vocal work from the boys in Megafaun, Justin Vernon, Roberto Carlos Lange, and much more.  All Tiny Creatures create an absolutely joyous sound that's filled to the brim with excellent ethereal harmonies, and beautiful post-rock sounds that weave together unfathomable emotions and feelings.  All of their work is intricately layered so when you get to hear the band perform it right in front of you it adds an almost surreal experience to it, it all just sounds so massive and intricate that it's almost overwhelming.  Also you'll hear no qualms from be about how often Phil Cook's name has been popping up around the Triangle with his solo shows because quite frankly he's a joyous act to see as well.  Great lineup for what's sure to be a great show.

Friday, June 10
The Rosebuds w/ Onward, Soldiers @ Brooklyn Arts Center in Wilmington, NC
$10 in advance/$12 day of
The Rosebuds have just released their heavily talked about new album "Loud Planes Fly Low", one that's going to be an absolute joy to listen to.  The couple broke up but kept the band together, and interesting decision that will make make for an incredible story to be told on their newest release.  The Rosebuds have a sound that borders on many different genres but all-in-all settles neatly into a sound of their own.  The Rosebuds have a busy summer ahead of them including a tour with Bon Iver, but for this first week of their album being out the band will be all over North Carolina.  They'll be playing Tuesday night acoustically at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh to celebrate their album release, and also at Kings Barcade on Saturday night.  However, this lineup with Wilmington favorites Onward, Soldiers is my favorite of the bunch.  It's always great when bands stop out in the eastern part of the state, especially when it gives them the chance to hook up with awesome bands like Onward, Soldiers.  These two groups will no doubt mesh will together, the rootsy but contemporary sounds of Onward, Soldiers will provide an excellent warm-up to the Wilmington crowd for the joyous act of The Rosebuds.

Saturday, June 11
The Decemberists w/ Best Coast @ Raleigh Amphitheater in Raleigh, NC
$34 lawn/$47 reserved
Pricey shows, pricey shows.  The Decemberists are certainly an excellent live band to see, I got the joy of seeing them on their "Hazards of Love" Tour when they stopped through Raleigh and the band put on a show that would be impossible to forget.  I highly doubt myself paying upwards of $50 to go see the band though, but so it goes, that's just what comes with the woes of being a Billboard chart topping artist.  Regardless of price this will be a great show, The Decemberists' unique blend of eloquent lyrics with the newer folk/country sound that they've adapted for their latest release, "The King Is Dead" will be great to see on stage and the band always fills the crowds with energy when playing their older works.  The interesting part of the show comes with openers Best Coast, the lo-fi surf rock group that was on the pages of every magazine or blogger throughout 2010.  Best Coast provides for dance-able singalongs with simple lyrics but catchy hooks.  Many people's problem with Best Coast is the lyricism, but once you get bast the simplicity and appreciate the lackadaisical sound of Best Coast, it's incredibly enjoyable.  Another show that'll be a joy, but a bit pricey for my tastes.

Thao & Mirah w/ Bobby, Led to Sea @ Local 506 in Carrboro, NC
$14 in advance/$15 day of
Thao & Mirah are a powerhouse duo of female songwriters who have meshed together beautifully to create an incredible project.  Thao Ngyuen is usually seen with The Get Down Stay Down, but in 2011 she released an album with acclaimed folk singer/songwriter Mirah and surprised us all yet again with another phenomenal album.  Their self-titled studio album was produced by Merril Garbus of the buzz-worthy band Tune-Yards.  Thao & Mirah blend their sounds together perfectly and getting the chance to hear their two beautiful voices mesh together live or on a record is an absolutely joyous experience.  Bobby is a band who's got an upcoming release towards the end of June who blend together folk music with avant-garde qualities of psychedelic music and post-rock, adding in entertaining poly-rhythms and that trait that I'm always a sucker for, awesome harmonies.

Brice Randall Bickford w/ Phil Cook, Django Haskins, Lee Waters, Heather McEntire @ The Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC

FREE

Brice Randall Bickford's album release party is something I've been looking forward to for a while.  You may know Brice better as the frontman of The Strugglers, but dropping the name and getting a deal with Trekky Records has led to a new album from Brice and quite frankly it's awesome.  Brice Randall Bickford worked with Scott Solter (The Mountain Goats, John Vanderslice, Spoon) on his latest album and it's turned out to be an excellent piece of work.  Bickford has mastered the line between subtle, stripped down Americana sounds and lush, invigorating works with enough layers to get lost in.  The joy in this lineup isn't just in the free show with Bickford's excellent new album available for purchase, but the opening acts are filled by some of the best songwriters in the Triangle.  Django Haskins of The Old Ceremony, Phil Cook of Megafaun, Lee Waters who has worked with Camera Obscura who will be providing a rare solo show, and Heather McEntire of Mt. Moriah will all be playing at The Cradle on Saturday to make for a powerhouse lineup.  This is by far the show of the week, with all of these talented artists gathering under one roof something incredible is bound to happen.  Stay checking back with The Bottom String this week to check out a review of Brice Randall Bickford's new album!