Tobacco Town was released on October 22, 2012 Caudle will be performing in Raleigh at The Pour House on Saturday, November 24 w/ Wylie Hunter, Onward, Soldiers and Old Quarter
Tobacco Town marks the first solo album from The Bayonets' lead singer Caleb Caudle, and the release is a step in a far different direction than that of the rambling rock n' roll tunes of his full time band. Trading in electric guitars for acoustics, banjos and fiddles, Caudle steps into a folkier direction that allows his sincere lyrics to take the forefront while soothing instrumentation allows the listener to glide through an album thats remarkably easy to listen through. Think of it as Petty trading in the Heartbreakers' rockin' status for a more low-key and personal "Wildflowers", while the album isn't nearly as monumental as the aforementioned, it makes the same transitional steps that allow the songwriter to focus more on personalized lyrics and speak on topics that may be strayed away from in a bar friendly band like The Bayonets.
Tobacco Town starts out strong with a hopeful yet somber tune, "Blue or Gray" but picks up steam with one of the album's highlights, "Hesitate". While Caudle's lyricism is definitely a strong suit, his talent lies mostly in his ability to craft addicting melodies out of these meaningful tunes. "Hesitate" is one of the poppier tracks on the album, standing tall with a catchy chorus to counteract its jangly verses. But for every track like "Hesitate" comes ones like "Midnight Beauty" or "Little Reminders", while they have some memorable lyrics that can strike up vivid images like, "Little reminders of you in the pockets of my jeans/Your hair on the pillow, the vinyl still out of the sleeves", they can tend to drag on with melodies that feel a bit too static. However, while these tracks may not pop as much as others, each one has stellar composition that pays off greatly with stellar vocal harmonies and violin parts from guests like Caitlin Cary and Haley Dreis. While the opening tracks feel hit or miss, Tobacco Town finds its stride towards the second half of the album with a cohesive and seamlessly flowing string of songs that give us a peek into Caudle's psyche.
Justin Lacy and The Swimming Machine released Overgrown on October 30, 2012
Overgrown is the debut album from Justin Lacy and The Swimming Machine, and the band has leapt into the proverbial deep end with this dense and boisterous release. With a massive presence and cacophonous yet focused sound, The Swimming Machine has burst upon the scene with a stellar debut that ranges from carnival-esque madness to gypsy folk punk at the drop of a dime. Their self proclaimed orchestral gutter folk is a truly unique sound that is unparalleled by their peers, while they pack a heavy Americana tinged punch that feels reminiscent of fellow Wilmington band Onward, Soldiers , Justin Lacy and The Swimming Machine have built their own niche and filled it with fantastic and triumphant anthems.
Overgrown takes the listener on an aural journey that boats nightmarishly dark overtones juxtaposed with bright brass lines and dance invoking swing. Album opener "In Cold Blood" introduces Lacy's jaunting melodies accompanied by a powerful orchestral presence that sets the tone for the rest of the album. The Swimming Machine can simultaneously invigorate the listener with their energy that seems to pour from the speakers and captivate them with their seamlessly woven layers of fuzzed out guitar, upright bass, brass, and woodwind. Tracks like "Cellophane" are perfect representations of this feat, this song is bursting with life and bouncing melodies that perfectly counteract the abrasive grit of Lacy's vocals.
T0W3RS plays at Kings Barcade on Saturday November 3 for DiggUp Tapes Monthly Show Series with Alpha Cop and Zack Mexico
T0W3RS have been swiftly building momentum throughout the past year, through dazzling sets around the state and a massive full-length that was released back in April, If All We Have Is Time the band has been building a heavily devoted fan base. Until now the band's output was primarily from the groups brainchild, Derek Torres, but with their latest EP the group has approached writing with a bit more collaborative of an effort. Wyatt was initially released at Hopscotch through a scavenger hunt for the 5 cassingles that were hidden throughout downtown Raleigh, but last week the band celebrated the official release of their latest EP. Wyatt is a perfect representation of the gradual growth and exploration that the band is doing, they're still drawing heavily upon their influences but are equally stepping out of their comfort zone to define a niche of their own.
Wyatt begins with "Mobius Strip", a track that kicks off with a fuzzed out guitar and Torres clever wordplay giving us just enough personal insight to be able to feel like we're truly looking into the songwriters life while remaining instantly relatable. "So I know what I say/That doesn't mean that I like what I say", Torres keeps his vocals relaxed but with enough of a bounce to perfectly counteract the continuous chugging of the distorted guitar for the verses. "Mobius Strip" boasts an anthemic chorus, one of many that can be found throughout this EP which will surely make for some fantastic live moments. It's clear that Jacki Huntington's influence made a difference in this EP, high pitched whirs and harmonies give the album far more depth than If All We Have Is Time, the band is beginning to stray from the path with wonderful results.
Jenny Besetzt is playing w/ The Lollipops
Thursday, October 24 @ Kings Barcade in Raleigh
Within the past few years Greensboro has blossomed into a fantastic asset in the North Carolina music scene, acts like Braveyoung and Bronzed Chorus have helped kickstart the independent music scene in a town that's been ruled by oversized coliseum shows for years. As the days go by it seems like Greensboro becomes a more and more lucrative stop, with local record store CFBG acting as a venue for names like Titus Andronicus, Ceremony, Dinosaur Feathers, and oodles of locals, the city is truly beginning to develop a sound that fits within the spectrum of North Carolina's scene.
Jenny Besetzt is the band that can spearhead this resurgence in the Triad, the band just released their debut full length Only, but the album feels like a comprehensive and fully realized vision rather than an exploratory debut. Driven by tight drums and sweeping synths, the fuzzed out shoegaze of Jenny Besetzt is an addicting sound that serves as the perfect contrast to this ever changing fall weather we get in North Carolina. You're likely to go from a slow brooding synth line into a guns blazing guitar riff backed by punk-esque drum beats in seconds flat, making this the perfect album to pop on your headphones to and go about your chilly yet suddenly sweaty day...or maybe that's just me.
The bristling rhythms found within this album are one of the main reasons to check it out, these songs have the ability to turn around on a dime, making for an album that's incredibly joyous to listen to time and time again. John Wollober's vocals are nestled snugly within the instrumentation, serving more as a vessel to evoke powerful emotions through warm melodies rather than words on paper. However, those who value lyricism being displayed in the forefront will still get everything they wish for, as Wollober's lines instantly snap you back to the days of a blissfully ignorant youth whose world is slowly becoming more realized.
Sharon Van Etten plays The Cat's Cradle on Friday, October 26 w/ Damien Jurado
If you've been following The Bottom String for a while then it's no surprise to you how enamored I am with Sharon Van Etten. Her stellar songwriting and heart clenching vocals are unparalleled, she perfectly combines musical simplicity with depth and wonder in her lyricism. If you've been a fan of Van Etten's recorded material then I'd say you quite simply HAVE to see her perform these songs live, the sincerity pours out through these catchy tunes, eliciting a softly spoken singalong throughout the crowd that brings a sense of community to these shows.
Sharon Van Etten will be playing at The Cat's Cradle this Friday, October 26 with another incredible up and coming song writer, Damien Jurado. Jurado has been honing his craft for fifteen years now, his tenth studio album Maraqopa was released in February of this year and he's one of few artists who continues to get better with each release. Much like Sharon Van Etten, Jurado's strength lies within his lyricism and his ability to instantly take you to his darkest or brightest place. Likened to artists like Nick Drake or Elliott Smith, Jurado's beautiful lyrics nestle themselves snugly within the confines of an equally gorgeous arrangement.
Did I grab your attention yet? Good, because now I can inform you of the pair of tickets I'll be giving away for the show! Send an e-mail with the subject line: Sharon Van Etten to thebottomstring@gmail.com and you'll be entered into the contest. No e-mails will be accepted after Midnight onWednesday, October 24.
Check out videos from Sharon Van Etten and Damien Jurado below:
As I arrived on Thursday with my car loaded up with camping gear I was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy. One of the first things said to me as I stepped onto the grounds was a simple phrase, "Welcome home" that stuck with me for the rest of the festival. As I left on Sunday I realized how excited I was to come back, despite my shivering damp exterior I was genuinely ecstatic at the thought of Spring Shakori. That's what separates Shakori Hills from other festivals, the sense of family and community that can be felt at Shakori is simply unparalleled. One can walk out of the festival with bundles of new friends that you'd have never crossed paths with had you not shared the same love of music.
And that's really the demographic this festival caters to, music lovers. Fans of every genre can walk away pleased with a lineup that includes a Grammy winning bluegrass band, a Grammy nominated jazz-funk group, and a legendary reggae band. Shakori Hills had mostly beautiful weather with the exception of a late night/early morning storm on Saturday that left Sunday with dreary, cold weather. The music persevered and the sun shone on as Sunday saw some of the strongest, liveliest acts of the weekend including Malian songstress Fatoumata Diawara and the legendary Wailers.
Regardless of weather, the festival brought another strong and diverse lineup that was filled with some big local and international names putting on unforgettable live performances. I'll be giving you a rundown of everything I saw this weekend from Thursday onward, so let's get to it!
I've made no attempts at hiding my adoration for this band, they're quickly becoming one of my favorite local acts and I haven't even gotten to see their live show yet! Music on the Mountaintop had me sold on two acts, River Whyless and Dr. Dog. While I didn't get to see either band due to terrible traffic on I-40, I did get to film one of my favorite Bottom String Session's with Ryan and get a few copies of A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door, one of which was the ever-looping soundtrack to my three hour ride back home. River Whyless are making some of the most compelling music in the state right now, while some can draw comparisons to Lost in the Trees due to their classical folk orientation, River Whyless has a more contemporary take on the sound. It's clear that influence from ethereal post rock bands has bled into the band's songwriting, and their unique 'baroque folk' sound is something to swoon over.
While you may know the band by their old moniker, Do It To Julia, they've since changed up their approach with a new name and a new sound. River Whyless have released one of the strongest albums of the year, A Stone, A Leaf... doesn't have a weak track on it. The album flows together brilliantly with captivating imagery and complex soundscapes. After talking with Ryan O'Keefe at MOTM he informed me that most of his songwriting takes place outside, a fact that becomes astoundingly clear when listening to the album. River Whyless sings of heartache and despair, of doubting faith, of fleeting hope but a promise for tomorrow. The lyricism is incredible, which makes the beautiful harmonies that much sweeter. Halli Anderson's voice is commanding yet subtle, it can tug on your heartstrings and speak to you with sincerity and presence. O'Keefe's voice retains many of the same qualities, but features a trademark quiver that gives his vocals an unfiltered vulnerability, making their sound all the more personal.
River Whyless is a band that fits in perfectly with the vibes at Shakori. When I saw their name on the roster I knew they'd have precedence, their music has a connection with people and the Meadow Stage is the perfect place to display it. It's earthy music that shines simultaneously with its simplicity and its extravagance. One minute you'll hear Halli playing a rustic fiddle line, the next you'll be immersed in her classical prowess. The sounds of River Whyless are real, natural and devastatingly beautiful.
While the band is playing a stacked time slot with Hoots & Hellmouth and Jonathan Scales Fourchestra playing around the same time, I know River Whyless will not fail to amaze the festival goers. The middle of a gorgeous farmland sounds like the perfect setting for a show from River Whyless, and this unique experience will be one of the weekends highlights for sure.
Check out our aforementioned Bottom String Session with Ryan O'Keefe from Music on the Mountaintop. River Whyless will be playing on Friday, October 5 at 5:00 p.m. on the Meadow Stage:
