Listen To New Music From Lilac Shadows and Jenny Besetzt

Find me a better local label than DiggUp Tapes.  I'd give you time to do so but I highly doubt that said label exists right now.  DiggUp has been firing on all cylinders lately, whether they're releasing incredible music from some of the state's fastest rising acts, consistently putting on fantastic shows around the Triangle, or reviving the tried and true art of cassettes, the label is always giving back to this tight-knit music community.

Most recently the label has been putting out stellar Cassingles featuring new tracks from some of my favorite local acts.  We've been given some stellar new music from The Human Eyes, Spider Bags, Oulipo, Body Games and much more in the past few months.  However, the label's most recent release proves to be one of the standouts of the past few months.

Lilac Shadows and Jenny Besetzt recently teamed up for an east coast tour that kicked off with yet another Cassingle release show, marking the debut of two new fantastic songs from these local gems.  Lilac Shadows contributed a shimmering new song called "Turn It Off", trading in their darker, moody sounds for a dazzling pop tune that oozes with summer aesthetics.  While the group's lyricism retains its bleek and somber tones, the melodies are bursting with energy, soaring above pulsing rhythms and driving guitar lines.

Jenny Besetzt on the other hand, deliver a down-tempo track with a slow-build to counter Lilac's in your face pop tune. John Wollober's vocals provide a haunting tint to this minimalistic track. "Dennison Corners" is mostly comprised of a repeating chord progression and Wollober's bleak, static melody that glides slowly through this low-key track.

Listen to the two new songs below and share your thoughts:

Holy Ghost Tent Revival To Release An Album Of Previously Unheard Recordings, "The Blood Beneath"

The slow rise of Holy Ghost Tent Revival has been filled with many ups and downs, members have come and gone, their sound has evolved and fans have cheered and jeered at the developing sound of these raucous performers from Greensboro.  While some applaud the natural progression of this former rag-time folk group, many have found themselves yearning for the bluegrass days of Patrick Leslie and Mike O'Malley.  Well yearn no longer, as Holy Ghost Tent Revival have announced the June 10 release of a The Blood Beneath, a "lost album" from 2010 that highlights the group's beloved beginnings.

Along with this announcement the group has released two of the fifteen tracks to be featured on The Blood Beneath, "Shadow Rag" and "Hopelessly Longing".  Both songs immediately take me back to the packed-out, sweat-filled shows of the group's past.  Stephen Murray and Patrick Leslie's smooth harmonies fill "Shadow Rag", packed tightly into a mix that's bursting with soaring horns and vivacious rhythms.  "Hopelessly Longing" begins with a slow build and Leslie's lone vocals, but erupts into the group's familiar call and response trade-off of vocal duties.

The album features an early recording of Sweat Like The Old Days' "Young Black Hair" and various other tracks from the early days of HGTR.  While the album won't be getting a physical release, it will serve as a digital glimpse into the past of a dynamic group of North Carolina musicians. Holy Ghost's unfiltered sense of self has always led to powerful songs capable of commanding listeners to lose themselves to the timeless twists and turns of their infectious sounds.

You can pre-order The Blood Beneath for $10 on the group's Bandcamp and receive a download of "Shadow Rag" and "Hopelessly Longing".  But for now you can also preview the tracks below:

Album Review: "Vermillion" by Dirty Art Club

Vermillion by Dirty Art Club is released on May 28
on Phonosaurus Records

I can't remember the last time a local band surprised me as much as Dirty Art Club.  The Charlotte based duo of Matt Cagle & Madwreck deliver dense tracks filled with hip-hop styled breaks and psychedelic instrumentation, but most importantly they're capable of eliciting emotion through their music.  When I first heard Hexes, Dirty Art Club's 2012 EP, I was immediately enthralled by their brilliant Dilla-esque production.

Hexes contained dark undertones and a chaotic sense of direction, but Vermillion is vastly different in that sense.  Vermillion is filled with bright melodic exploration, showcasing heady tracks with entrancing rhythms and tight percussion.  Coated sun-soaked, reverb washed grooves, Vermillion is another incredible release for a band that's on the fast track to great things.

Album opener "Hemlock" glides along with a constant, smooth bassline and choppy vocal samples but gradually expands into a surprisingly expansive track with airy woodwinds and lush strings.  The song seamlessly deviates from its bassy foundation into an easy listening soft-rock dreamscape for it's closing seconds to make for an even more fulfilling transition to the standout "Sun Burn."  The aptly titled track plays out like a sepia-toned summer soundtrack thats filled with soulful samples, funky basslines and commanding rhythms.

Ears to the Ground: "Calm Down" by The Love Language

The Love Language's new album, Ruby Red will be
released on July 23 on Merge Records

Fans of the North Carolina music scene are most likely already familiar with The Love Language, the brainchild of Stu McLamb.  Their debut full-length wowed listeners with lo-fi bedroom pop that was crafted in a grandiose manner.  Crackles and hisses couldn't quell the mighty presence of McLambs vocals and the band quickly picked up steam, signing to Merge Records for their 2010 follow-up Libraries.  While their self-titled record gained them local notoriety, the shimmering summer sounds of Libraries gave the group national attention.

Stu McLamb wears his heart on his sleeve in these albums, the songs pour out like a late night heart-to-heart with an old friend.  The raw grit and intensity of their lo-fi debut has blossomed into fully fleshed out anthems of heart-ache and nostalgia.  The Love Language has since gone on to perform at festivals like Coachella and most recently debuted a brand new track from their upcoming full-length Ruby Red on Pitchfork.

"Calm Down" is driven by snappy percussion and sharp basslines, coated in McLamb's reverb washed vocals.  The sonic progression in this band continues, expanding upon the strong foundation set forth by their previous efforts.  "Calm Down" bursts into an explosive chorus of rich textures and powerful melodies, and the rest of Ruby Red feels quite similar.  I got to listen to the test pressing as I was interning at Merge last week and must say that the group has continued to grow stronger, the songs are crisp and full of energy while maintaining a balance between slow-churners and faster songs of summer.  The album's closer is capped with a robust string arrangement, further solidifying the expansion of this already sonically immense group.

Ruby Red won't be released until July 23 but you can hear "Calm Down" below.  Also check out the video we shot at Hopscotch 2011 of the group performing a cover of Diana Ross and The Supreme's "My World Is Empty Without You":

Ears to the Ground: "Soak Our Days" by Free Clinic

Free Clinic

When I started the Ears to the Ground feature earlier this year, I figured it would serve as a good way to introduce new bands to the readers who are simply looking to expand their local music horizons.  So why not start sharing individual tracks from these upcoming groups in the state that may not have full lengths or complete releases to review or promote?  Ears to the Ground will do just that!

What better way to introduce this new series than with Free Clinic?!  Free Clinic popped up on my radar late last year, Ben Rose's blissful beach pop is sharp and sleek, coated with a distant tinge of nostalgia for careless summer days.  Free Clinic has recently taken on Villa Verde's Josh Sullivan and Wesley Hewett to fill out a rhythm section and the new trio will be playing with Virgins Family Band and Justin Lacy & The Swimming Machine at Satellite Bar in Wilmington on May 18.  With a June 29 date with Gross Ghost at The Soapbox, Free Clinic looks to be building up some momentum for yet another release this year.  Although Better When I'm High was just released in March, Free Clinic has already released a new track from an upcoming release.

"Soak Our Days" is filled with Beach Boys-esque harmonies that create a vast soundscape for this tight reverb washed pop tune to work its magic.  Rose's lyrics lead to reminisced daydreams of spending summer days in the sun, perfectly coalescing with the surf-rock vibes emanating from the instrumentation.  Free Clinic is an incredibly exciting group that's filled with potential, not to mention they're joining a Wilmington scene that seems to continue its rapid growth.  I'm stoked to see this eastern North Carolina scene blossom into something incredible, because it's well on its way.

Mountain Oasis brings Nine Inch Nails, Bassnectar and Neutral Milk Hotel to Asheville

Trent Reznor will pull double-duty at Mountain Oasis
with Nine Inch Nails and How To Destroy Angels
Photo by: Rob Sheridan

When news first broke about Mountain Oasis nobody really knew what to expect about the festival.  There was debate going on over whether or not Moogfest would get pushed to a different date (it did, April 25-27) and what kind of overlap these festival's lineups would have.  Mountain Oasis is entering a bustling North Carolina festival scene, after Hopscotch released a dazzling lineup last week it was going to be difficult to steal the thunder of the Triangle's premier festival.  But if Mountain Oasis' goal was to get people talking, they've certainly done it.

The festival seemed to be geared towards electronic music, but the lineup announcement that came this morning featured one of the most diverse and eclectic collection of groups that I've seen in recent memory.  Headlined by a re-united Nine Inch Nails, Mountain Oasis boasts EDM mega-stars like Bassnectar and Pretty Lights while simultaneously featuring indie-icons like Neutral Milk Hotel, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Animal Collective.

Show Review: Shakori Hills Spring 2013

Paperhand Puppet Parade on Saturday at
Shakori Hills

Once again, eager festival goers made the trek to the gorgeous grounds of Shakori Hills for one of the most intimate and unique festivals on the circuit today.  Through tornado warnings and rapidly changing weather conditions, fans rallied for the music.  From April 18 - 21 a diverse array of incredibly talented musicians graced the multiple stages of Shakori Hills for one of my favorite festivals in recent memory.  There's something about the unity that comes from weathering a massive storm inside of the woods that makes for an incredible festival experience.  To hell with the muddy pants, to hell with the soaked clothes, last weekend was about the beautiful experience of connecting with individuals through the power of music.

That's one of the most fantastic things about this bi-annual festival, they've shed all of the pretensions that come with the festival circuit, nobody is vying to be the hippest, nobody is trying to shed light on the most obscure bands of the weekend.  These people are out here to share the timeless experience of witnessing live music from all over the world.  Acts came from lands as far away as Zimbabwe and Brazil and as local as Pittsboro and Chapel Hill to create a wonderful festival filled with good vibes and good times.

Thursday

Keller Williams and The Travelin' McCourys

You couldn't ask for more perfect weather to kick off this long weekend of festivities.  I arrived just before the opening ceremony and got to catch a bit of the opening act of the festival Cyril Lance, but the first group that I was truly excited for was Hindugrass, an invigorating and fresh blend of bluegrass and Indian-fusion featuring string players from Lost in the Trees backing up the insanely talented John Heitzenrater as he took listeners on a musical adventure through various cultures.  Hindugrass was a fantastic start to the festival and served as a wonderful way to get prepared for the weekend's events.  Shortly after Hindugrass ended I made the quick transition to the main stage to check out Keller Williams & The Travelin' McCourys.  A sizable crowd gathered to see this blistering bluegrass crew that features of one of the jam-band scene's most adored guitar players.  It was fantastic to get the chance to see Keller work his acoustic magic live, but I stayed for a few brief songs before taking in the sounds from the comfort of my camp site.  Being able to relax in the woods and still have all of the music be perfectly audible is just another one of the fantastic perks of Shakori.  Shortly after Keller and The McCoury's ended I headed back to Carson's Grove to see Onward, Soldiers as their raw Americana tunes provided a sharp burst of energy to the evening.  Rambling through favorites like "Watery Grave" and "Monsters" Onward, Soldiers captivated the crowd with their energetic set of gritty and powerful tunes.  After Onward, Soldiers tore down the house at Carson's Grove I passed on the festival's staple set of Donna The Buffalo and headed back to the campsite where I ended up making the biggest mistake of the weekend and falling asleep before I got the chance to see Diali Cissokho.  I was kicking myself all weekend for missing this Dance Tent set, but thankfully I got to make it up with their second set later on in the weekend.