Hopscotch Highlight on: T0W3RS

T0W3RS at Hopscotch 2011

T0W3RS is a band that exploded onto the scene with the help of last year's Hopscotch.  Coming in with strong momentum from a badass Lonnie Walker cover, the band proved that they were about to be a fixture in the Triangle's music scene.  Since last year's day party at Hopscotch the band has released an EP and a full-length entitled, If All We Have Is Time.  With the release of their full length the band has received an overwhelming response that seems to share the general consensus that T0W3RS are one of the brightest acts in the state.  The band has recently announced a new release that they're putting out at Hopscotch called Wyatt EP.

With a new EP in tow expect the band to put on another fantastic Hopscotch set.  Last year's Dayparty show was one of the most memorable sets of the entire festival for me, the excitement was permeating throughout the room and it was clear that T0W3RS weren't going anywhere soon.  The band has already improved in leaps and bounds from their debut EP to their first full length, I'd expect much more of the same with their new EP.  The experimental fuzz pop tunes that T0W3RS have been putting out display a breadth of influences that have all molded into a unique and enamoring sound that I simply can't turn away from.  There's no doubt that I'll be heading down to check out T0W3RS after I see Little Hollow on Saturday night.  T0W3RS will be performing at the Contemporary Art Museum at 9:30.  T0W3RS are kicking off a high energy bill that'll be going hard the whole night, headlined by the swiftly rising Detroit rapper Danny Brown (who I'm anxiously awaiting to see for the 2nd time this year) and Flosstradamus.  Check out "The Cardinal/The Finch" from If All We Have Is Time below.

Bottom String Session #20: River Whyless

Photo courtesy of: Emily Ritter

Music on the Mountaintop was one of the finest festival experiences I've had in recent memory.  With a full day of gorgeous weather and wonderful bands, Foscoe, North Carolina won my heart over in 10 hours.  Grandfather Mountain Campground serves as the perfect festival site, and it's safe to say that this Bottom String Session proves just that.

I caught up with Ryan O'Keefe from River Whyless on Saturday, August 25 and got the pleasure of filming an incredible session by a stream nestled within Grandfather Mountain Campgrounds.  Ryan performed "Unfound Door" from River Whyless' debut full length, A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door, which was released earlier this year.  The band was just added to the Shakori Hills Fall lineup, adding to an already extensive list of fantastic local acts on the bill.

Hopscotch Highlight on: Dash

Dash is from Wilmington, NC and will be performing
at the WKNC/WUAG College Radio Showcase
on Thursday, September 6 at White Collar Crime

While they may not be playing an official Hopscotch show, Dash will be one of the weekend's highlights for me at the WKNC/WUAG College Radio Showcase, taking place at White Collar Crime on Thursday September 6 from 12:00-5:00.  Really White Collar crime is my only day party planned for Thursday, with Trioscapes (jazz-fusion side project from Dan Briggs of Between the Buried and Me, featuring members of Brand New Life, Casual Curious and Eyris), The Big Picture, and Casual Curious as well as Dash, there is no better place to spend the first day of Hopscotch.  Dash is a band that's been swiftly building momentum around the Triangle, with two highly touted shows at Kings I'm already aching to see the band at White Collar Crime.

The band has only released one single thusfar with "Into The Sounds", but that single is an absolutely incredible snapshot for the potential and talent that lies within this band.  Displaying a sound similar to that of Passion Pit or Phantogram, Dash weaves together an electronic soundscape that displays depth and instant accessibility.  The band has a heavy focus on their live performances, their most recent show at Kings on August 24th was only the band's 3rd show, but it featured a string section accompaniment that seemed to go off brilliantly.  This is a band that will surely continue to blossom and evolve in ways that I can't yet imagine, but for now let's revel in the strong footing this band has set for themselves in their earliest stages.  Below you can find a video from the band's first show at Kings Barcade earlier this year.

Hopscotch Highlight on: Zack Mexico

Zack Mexico from Kill Devil Hills, NC

Friday night is going to be a bit of here, there, and everywhere for me.  While the night will start with a heavily anticipated set from Built to Spill, I'll be wandering around for Jesus & Mary Chain most likely.  Catching the earlier half of Nests set is going to be a must for me, but the first club show I've got to be at on Friday is definitely Zack Mexico.  Based out of Kill Devil Hills, it's always joyous to see a young band from eastern North Carolina make worthwhile music, as the scene out there is a strange land filled with beach music and christian rock, but alas Zack Mexico joins the ranks of the few that break that mold.  At times they can sound like a psychedelic surf rock act, yet at others they can sound like an ambient punk band, they're a versatile and talented quintet in their early 20's with limitless potential.

Zack Mexico just released their first EP on Raleigh label DiggUp Tapes back in April titled, Abberation of Celestial Kokomo.  These spaced out surf jams are filled with deep, yet enchanting vocals that glide smoothly over these dense tracks.  They're a diverse band with songs that are a break from the norm of the Carolina music scene, yet they still seem to fit snugly in with the Triangle's booming scene.  With the blessing of DiggUp Tapes I'm sure this is just the first of many more fantastic releases we'll be hearing from Zack Mexico.

Zack Mexico will be playing at the Contemporary Art Museum on Friday, September 7 at 9:30 PM

Hopscotch Highlight on: Little Hollow

Little Hollow from Chapel Hill, NC

As our second installment of Hopscotch Highlights, we're focusing on a Saturday night act that's facing a dreaded 9:00 slot.  It's always a split decision of staying at City Plaza or booking it out of there early to catch an awesome club show, but usually the latter has proven to be the best bet for me.

While The Roots will no doubt be putting on a stellar live performance, my eyes have been set on act that I've been trying to see for at least over a year.  Little Hollow, also known as Logan Pate, has been producing an enchanting blend of electronic music and R&B/Soul for the past few years and Hopscotch serves as the perfect opportunity to showcase this local gem that's yet to see much recognition.

You can find some of Little Hollow's earlier work on the Logan Pate band camp, The Difference Between Moths and Butterflies does a fantastic job of encompassing the "sleepy soul" sound that Pate uses to describe Little Hollow as well.  Grip Tapes has helped bring yet another incredible act of the North Carolina scene to the limelight, and after Hopscotch I wouldn't be surprised if we started hearing a lot more from Little Hollow.  While the 9:00 time slot also holds The Roots, The Toddlers, and Grohg, Little Hollow's unique and soulful stylings are sure to command your attention, leaving you mesmerized with his smooth melodies and raw emotion.

Little Hollow will be performing at White Collar Crime on Saturday, September 8 at 9:00 PM

Hopscotch Highlight on: Jenny Besetzt

Jenny Besetzt from Greensboro, NC

Two weeks from today will mark the beginning of my third year at Hopscotch.  My third year of checking out from the real world and into an absolute marathon of music for three days straight.  It's hard to walk through downtown Raleigh without hearing the sounds of Hopscotch, and it's wonderful to see the place bustling for three days straight with the sole purpose of seeing as many awesome live acts as possible.

With 175 bands playing Hopscotch it may be a bit hard to determine who you want to see, but we can certainly do our best to help!  From now until Hopscotch we'll be posting previews for some of the shows we're most looking forward to throughout the weekend, and we'll be kicking it off with one of the local acts I'm most excited to see, Jenny Besetzt from Greensboro.

Jenny Besetzt is preparing for the release of their first full length this fall, and it's quickly becoming one of my most anticipated releases of the year.  They've got a knack for dreamy pop hooks, coated in reverb and tinged with nostalgia.  Their sound is a blend of shoe gaze and pop, but even that is a broad description of a band that's quite simply hard to pigeon-hole.  You can determine the genre you'll place them in by checking out their track, "Teenage Lions, featured on a recent DiggUp Tapes compilation.

Jenny Besetzt will be performing at White Collar Crime at 9:00 PM on Thursday, September 6
and Friday, September 7 at the Blurt Magazine and Schoolkids Records Hopscotch Day Party at Deep South at 12:00 PM.

Preview: Music on the Mountaintop

We're a mere two days away from Music on the Mountaintop and I for once can barely contain my excitement.  This three-day festival held at Grandfather Mountain Campgrounds kicks off on Friday right around noon and will be bringing an incredibly talented and diverse group of artists for the festival's fifth installment.  With what's looking like a beautiful weekend ahead of us, we'll go ahead and give you our list of bands we're most excited to see on the mountaintop this weekend.