WKNC announces Fridays on the Lawn lineups

It goes without saying that two of my favorite things in the world are free food and free music. When the two come together for three special nights then all of the woes and stresses of life suddenly seem worth it. Okay, so that may be a little bit over the top, but it's still pretty damn close to how excited I am about this spring's Fridays on the Lawn lineup. Every semester WKNC, N.C. State's student run radio station, puts on a handful of free concerts on the titular lawn at Harris Field on N.C. State's campus. The past few events have been displaced due to construction on Witherspoon Student Center, but alas the event has returned back to it's home on the corner of Dan Allen Dr. and Caites Ave. and this spring has one of the most impressive lineups in recent memory.

On Friday, March 21, T0W3RS will be headlining the free event alongside openers White Cascade. Recently T0W3RS has become the talk of the Triangle, going into showzilla mode with the new solo set-up. The band was previously best known for their psych-leaning indie rock, but since the beginning of 2014 the band has shrunken back to the solo guise of Derek Torres. But despite the truncated lineup, T0W3RS' sound is bigger than ever. Torres' new live act boasts an unparalleled stage presence amongst the region, he's meticulously crafted an entrancing set filled with disco infused rhythms and inundating melodies that linger in your head for days. The sense of showmanship is usually worth the price of admission alone, but when the show is free AND includes some Jimmy John's to boot, there's no reason not to check it out. Openers White Cascade will ease fans into the evening with some heady shoegaze-inspired tunes that will serve as an excellent soundtrack to soak in the sun and celebrate the beginning of spring.

On Friday, March 28, Gross Ghost will be taking over the lawn with openers Cat Be Damned. Allegedly set to debut some new tunes, Gross Ghost will be bringing a high-energy set filled with fuzzed out semi-garage rock anthems. While the band's instrumentation never gets too complicated, the sense of symmetry amidst the melodies and instruments is enough to hook the listener in and leave them in a daze, singing along to songs that they never even knew. Song structures may be simplistic, but Mike Dillon's lyricism is nonetheless poignant, combining hard-hitting emotionalism with driving rhythms and the occasional nonchalant punkery together for an immensely enjoyable time. Openers Cat Be Damned kick off the evening with a sly twist to the folk rock formula, combining the lyrical prowess of bands like Built to Spill with the dynamism of experimental college rock and the simplicity of folk music. Oh and how could I forget that there'll be free burritos from Moe's?!

Lastly on Friday, April 11, J Kutchma and The Five Fifths will close out the series with what's sure to be a raucous night of roots-leaning rock n' roll. It's hard to put the intensity of Kutchma into words, he's a showman cut from the same cloth as Springsteen with the intensity of a punk rock frontman. One minute the frontman can be seen gently strumming his acoustic and crooning into the microphone over pastoral landscapes, but the next he's dropping to his knees and swinging his guitar wildly whilst beating his chest and shouting to the sky. Kutchma's lyricism is simultaneously intensely personal and insanely relatable, a line that many songwriters struggle to tow. While the openers for this date have yet to be announced, Kutchma alone is reason enough to pull yourself out to Harris Field and soak in some of the free sounds of some of the area's finest local musicians.

Each event will kick off at 5:00 and last until 7:00, with food being available on a first come first serve basis. Maybe I'm a bit biased due to my involvement with the station, but I can proudly say that Fridays on the Lawn is one of the most enjoyable events that local fans can take in. When the weather cooperates what's better than plopping a blanket down on the grass, eating some free food and supporting your local music scene. Absolutely nothing in my book.

The Bottom String's Top 10 North Carolina Albums of 2013

10. Magpie Feast - Out of the Womb
While Magpie Feast has long flown under the radar, albums like Out of the Womb do their damndest to make sure that that doesn't last much longer. Out of the Womb is by far Magpie Feast's most polished and fully realized effort to date, it's filled with rich contemporary explorations of traditional music staples.

Each song fits comfortably within the leak between your standard folk rock and old-time blues, providing a foot-stomping rhythm to drive these tightly packed songs. Luscious viola lines flesh out Matthew Southern's simplistic melodies, weaving together a deftly painted picture of vibrant images. With equal parts Devendra Banhart and Jack White, Magpie Feast combines two age-old genres to make for a fresh and invigorating sound. Out of the Womb provides a brief glimpse at the potential this band contains.

9. Gross Ghost - Public Housing
With a new label and a new line-up, Gross Ghost came out of the gate strong with the lead-up to Public Housing. A spot at Hopscotch's main stage thrust the band into the local limelight and their stellar sophomore release cemented their spot there. Public Housing feels like a natural extension on Gross Ghost's previous work, it explores all of the pitfalls of your mid-twenties ranging from love and loss to the constant sting of uncertainty.

However, Mike Dillon and company approach the unknown with a steady garage rock swagger, bringing memorable hooks and headstrong rhythms that nestle snugly in the listener's head. Public Housing is one of those records that beckons a repeat listen, the minute that "Hair of the Dog" fades out you find yourself jumping right back to "Seeds," struggling to pull yourself from the infinite loop of heartache and redemption.

8. Mount Moriah - Miracle Temple
Mount Moriah has long been a staple of the North Carolina music scene, but their Merge Records debut thrust the band to new heights. Miracle Temple finds the band brimming with a steady sense of personality and determination. Few things have changed sonically since their self-titled release, but from the opening notes of "Younger Days" it's clear that Heather McEntire is one of those musicians that lives with songs in her heart.

Every track on Miracle Temple seems to have a stamp of unfiltered personality hidden within the lyricism. Whether you're bouncing and singing along to tracks like "Bright Lights" and "Rosemary" or taking in the slow-build of tracks like "Swannanoa" and "Telling the Hour," you're most certainly soaking in the gorgeous intricacies that line this record. Between McEntire's sultry vocals and Jenks Miller's meticulously crafted guitar work, it's hard not to fall in love with a record like Miracle Temple.

7. Peter Lamb and The Wolves - Humble Pie
Peter Lamb and The Wolves opened up the doors to North Carolina jazz music for this unenlightened music journalist. A few years ago I caught the band at Shakori after heavy recommendations, but the release of their sophomore album Humble Pie turned me into a die-hard fan. Humble Pie is filled with both standards and originals, but each track feels remarkably fresh. Peter Lamb and The Wolves take New Orleans style swing-jazz to a new level, bringing some of the areas finest musicians together for a raucous take on one of the most vibrant genres.

Tracks on Humble Pie toe the line between exploratory jams and intricately structured songs. Top all of that off with Mark Wells' guttural and soulful vocal stylings and you've got an all-star jazz group that knows how to get folks moving. Whether it be stand-out classics like "That Mellow Saxophone" (which is anything but mellow) or zany originals like "Mixing in My Bowl," it's hard not to move and groove to the fine sounds of Peter Lamb and The Wolves.

6. Mipso - Dark Holler Pop
Mipso began as a group of college students moonlighting as musicians, but with the release of Dark Holler Pop marks the first full-time effort from this young band. The difference that a bit of time makes is astounding, as Dark Holler Pop feels like the beginning of something truly special.

While Mipso's previous release Long, Long Gone was an impressive debut, Dark Holler Pop seamlessly combines elements of classic bluegrass with contemporary folk-rock to create an infectious sound that caters to both traditionalists and young fans of acoustic music. Tracks like "A Couple Acres Greener" display this sentiment perfectly, the structure follows that of your standard bluegrass tune while the content finds the narrator torn between Sunday mornings and Friday nights. Dark Holler Pop explores mortality, religion and Southern aesthetics with an acoustic pop sheen that makes even the darkest of thoughts a palatable, downright enjoyable listen.

5. Bombadil - Metrics of Affection
I'll never forget the moment I fell in love with Bombadil, as the band took the stage at Fletcher Opera Hall at Hopscotch 2011 I knew that they would immediately become one of my favorite acts in the state. Since their valiant return to the scene they've proved that their untimely hiatus served as a stepping stone for the band, pushing them forward to unimaginable musical territories like those found on Metrics of Affection.

Through pseudo-rap verses/spoken word pieces and fanciful pop gems, Bombadil touches upon the importance of friends and family, the struggle of letting go of lost love and everything that makes up your day-to-day routine. Metrics of Affection serves as a brilliant soundtrack for your days, as Bombadil's lyrical excellence digs deep into the listener and makes you question the way you're living your life. But it's not all weighty songs of introspective self-reflection, tracks like "Angeline" bring along infectious melodies and vibrant harmonies to lose yourself in. Through quirky word play and fantastic instrumentation, Bombadil has crafted yet another whimsical album that fans to fall in love with them all over again.

4. Hiss Golden Messenger - Haw
M.C. Taylor has swiftly become one of North Carolina's finest songwriters, receiving as much acclaim from international outlets as he does local. When listening to Haw there's little room to speculate why that happens, Hiss Golden Messenger is quite frankly one of the best acts to call North Carolina home in recent memory. On Haw, Taylor meshes the political and the personal into one amorphous entity that shouts of creatures with forked-tongue and local landmarks with equal amounts of passion and sincerity.

Haw is a trip into the very fiber of Southern living, through the rich imagery and mystical instrumentation Taylor has crafted an album that emits images of front porch swings and backyard bonfires. "I've Got A Name for the Newborn Child," bounces along with nonchalance but underneath its simplicity lies a song that's oozing with personality and purpose. Haw takes me back to an afternoon in spring, soaking in the mild sun rays and brisk breeze without a care in the world but the tender tones that fill my eardrums. M.C. Taylor has the ability to silence a room with the pluck of a string, and when you listen to Haw you immediately know why.

3. The Dead Tongues - Desert
The return of Ryan Gustafson is arguably my favorite part of 2013. The standout songwriter may only have two full-lengths under his belt as a solo artist, but they're both some of the finest albums crafted by a North Carolina songwriter since I've began following the scene. Gustafson garnered heavy praise with his debut album Donkey back in 2009, so when he made his return with The Dead Tongues this year the fans and critics lined up with unbridled anticipation.

Somehow Gustafson lived up to all of those lofty expectations with Desert, an album that tackles lofty topics like depression and unrest with a hopeful sense of determination. From the opening lines of "Call Out To Me" it's clear that the four years in between albums was well worth the wait, as every track on Desert is a crucial piece of the larger scheme afoot. Whether it be a three-minute pop song or an expansive track like "Milestone," Desert has the ability to speak to the listener through Gustafson's unabashed honesty and sincerity. Desert marks the welcomed return of one of the area's most talented songwriters, let's just hope we don't have to wait four more years for another release.

2. Ryan Sheffield and the Highhills - Telescope
Albums like Telescope are what keep me interested in the ever-changing local music scene. Everyone goes into an album with some sort of expectation crafted, whether it be from the artwork or the band name, there's a certain image in your mind of what this art is going to be. I'm not quite sure what I expected from Ryan Sheffield and the Highhills, perhaps it was another notch in the increasing indie-folk belt. But what I got was far from that. The minute that "The Waves" took over my stereo I was overcome with a sense of excitement that I've not had in a long time when it comes to local music. There's no front when it comes to Sheffield lyrics and that's what makes it all so fantastic.

Telescopes takes a microscopic look at some of life's most ambitious aspects and gives it a playful, yet powerful spin. Whether Sheffield is singing of our relative unimportance in "Infinitesimal," the woes of touring in "Road to Montreal" or the folk-rock standard of lost love in "Postcards," the listener is guaranteed to receive an inimitable take on life's ups and downs. While Sheffield's lyrical excellence is enough to draw you in, the robust instrumentation is what keeps you hooked. Soaring horns perfectly compliment the simplistic acoustic foundation of these songs, and as Sheffield's voice slowly rises to a shout it's enough to send shivers down your spine. Telescope is one of those rare albums that draws you in to the very core of a songwriter while not being the sad-sack trope that many songwriters lean on. Telescope is a mesmerizing debut from a band that I'm incredibly excited to see more of in the future. Let's just hope that they make it out to the Triangle soon.

1. Virgins Family Band - Honeylion
The minute I heard Honeylion I knew that it was likely to take the spot as my favorite album of the year. Few bands have left me as breathless as Virgins Family Band upon first listen, they're one of the most unique bands to have come upon the North Carolina scene in years. Combining elements of grandiose indie folk, subdued psychedelic rock and breathy jazz vocals, Virgins Family Band are an amalgamation of contemporary and classic rock. With awe-inspiring harmonies and rattling percussion, Virgins Family Band has plenty to love, but their excellence lies in their restraint. It'd be easy to come out strong from the gate with barn-burning tracks like "Lily Molusco," but throughout the entirety of Honeylion the band follows a natural ebb and flow that draws the listener in to focus on the intricacies that make up these brilliant songs.

The slow build of album opener "Moon Breath" gives a good idea as to the pacing of the album, it begins with hushed tones and gradually builds to explosive percussion and rambling guitar lines before slowly settling back into a soft close. Tracks seamlessly flow together to craft a lush piece of work in which individual tracks serve as both a crucial piece to the puzzle and a stellar piece of standalone work. Honeylion is at once smooth and immense, perfectly straddling the line between calming and invigorating. Since the release of Honeylion Virgins Family Band has continued trucking along, dealing with lineup changes along the way and rolling with everything that comes their way. 2014 holds nothing but promise for this young group, and I for one can't wait to see where the band goes from here.

Show Review: Gross Ghost w/ Last Year’s Men, Schooner

In celebration of Gross Ghost’s newest release, Public Housing, they threw a party with a solid lineup on Friday, November 22. The show was at Cat’s Cradle’s newly opened “back room,” located in the same building as the Cradle in Carrboro but a separate space entirely. This was my first time there and I really enjoyed the set up. You can find it by walking behind the Arts Center or the Cradle depending on where you parked. Pro tip: there’s a new parking deck that’s usable for show overflow parking, which came in handy considering the main room also had a show going on that night. Immediately when you walk in you have the bar to your left and the stage on the right. I watched the show from the upstairs area, a bit compact but great vantage point with both seated and standing room available without feeling a disconnect from the downstairs crowd.

Simply put, Schooner gets you pumped. They were a great choice to kick off the night. Bouncing around and switching off instruments between members depending on the song, they played old and new tunes. Juan Huevos joined them on stage to rap during “Still in Love,” a pretty chill track off of their newest album Neighborhood Veins. It added a different flavor from the album version and really complimented the vibe of the song.  The new songs translated well to a live performance, and as usual, the band didn’t disappoint.

Last Year’s Men followed, rocking out with a few scattered dance moves and head bangs.  It’s absolutely impossible to stand still during their shows. Within a few strums you’re inevitably going to be tapping your foot, drumming on your bottle with your free hand or dancing. A vivacious band with fast guitar riffs, they cracked some jokes between songs and easily impressed the people in the crowd who were unfamiliar with them before.

Gross Ghost, hosting the night, looked overjoyed to hop onstage and share their new songs. While most of the show focused on Public Housing tracks, they still hit all the favorites from Brer Rabbit, including “Leslie” and “Architect.” The new songs were equally as catchy, offering stomps and hooks that became earworms. Some of my favorites of the night were “You Will” and “Seeds.” The album as a whole has been getting significant play on the local college radio stations and good reviews across the board. The band brought the energy that solidified this. Vocals followed the guitar melody that came to life with Mike Dillon’s stage presence. Thankful and appreciative of the crowd, they had a hell of a set, including cameo appearances from local artists, too. Christy Smith of the Tender Fruit joined for supplementary vocals on “They Say,” and Stu McLamb of The Love Language took over bass at the end of the night. 

Album Review: "Public Housing" by Gross Ghost

"Public Housing" was released on Oct. 29 on
Odessa Records. Gross Ghost will be celebrating
their album release this Friday, Nov. 22 at Cat's Cradle's
new Back Room w/ Last Year's Men and Schooner.

“It starts this way/nothing to do nothing to say,” Mike Dillon desperately sings out as the opening track to Gross Ghost’s latest full-length Public Housing kicks in. A brisk drum beat and bouncing bass line drive along until the electric guitar frenetically bursts through the mix, setting the tone for what’s to come on this enthralling sophomore release from Gross Ghost.

While their debut Brer Rabbit relished in playful poignancy, Dillon and company go straight for the throat on Public Housing, an album the chronicles a hectic period of couch surfing during the post-break up wake. Tracks like the album’s opener “Seeds” display a lot of the sentiments that can be found on Public Housing, Dillon wears his emotions on his sleeve as he runs the gamut of reactionary tales. While the overarching themes delve into looking back on loves lost, their sonic foundation is strongly geared towards the future.

Public Housing is a crisp record that was recorded at The Pinhook in Durham, one of the attributing factors to the unequivocal energy that oozes out of these tracks. The addition of longtime collaborator Christopher Hutcherson-Riddle has allowed the drums to serve as a powerful driving force for these rhythmically focused songs. Vocal melodies will frequently mirror the guitar riffs, making for wonderful interplay between all of the various textures in place. Public Housing finds Gross Ghost putting together all of the pieces that make for a tight, cohesive band with a strong drive to succeed.

Whether it be the unforgettable hooks on tracks like “You Will” or the unshakeable grooves on “Howlin,” Dillon’s songwriting is the strongest it’s been to date on Public Housing. While Brer Rabbit was a wonderful album that I still find myself drawn to, it very much just tackled the surface of this band’s potential. Public Housing plunges deeper into the rabbit hole, allowing for intimate connections with these tracks. The album’s lone acoustic excursion, “Dissolve” is filled with insatiable longings of “wanting it all,” and manages to fit in perfectly with the distorted anthems it’s surrounded by. This can easily be attributed to that constant sense of connectivity with these songs, Dillon has poured himself into these tracks and it’s paid off immensely.

Whether you’re hulled up in the house or barreling down the interstate, Public Housing’s versatility lends itself to plenty of listening situations. The introspection allows for listeners to entrench themselves in these tunes while the upbeat, jangling instrumentation makes these songs capable of filling you with uncontainable energy, driving you to shake, sway and shout along to these infectious songs. Public Housing gives Gross Ghost a powerful foundation to build upon, with two fantastic releases behind them there’s an undeniable spotlight shone upon this group. It’s clear that Public Housing is only the beginning for this newly cemented lineup of Gross Ghost, and there’s nowhere but up to go from here.

Show Preview: Gross Ghost w/ Last Year’s Men, Schooner

Gross Ghost at Kings Barcade at Hopscotch 2013

Gross Ghost are having their record release party at Cat’s Cradle’s newly constructed back room on Friday, November 22. The night will be stacked with local rockers Last Year’s Men and Schooner opening.

Schooner celebrated their much awaited first national release Neighborhood Veins (PotLuck, 2013) at the end of September.  The album got high reviews from outlets such as Pop Matters and BLURT magazine, which isn’t surprising considering the local love they’ve seen over the years. It showcases a good balance between fast and slow paced “pop-indie-psych-soul” with echoing low vocals from Reid Johnson. A good handful of the songs you’ll find yourself not being able to get out of your head, or at the least get caught dancing to at stop lights in the car.

Chapel Hill’s Last Year’s Men are some of the most fun guys to watch or just have general banter with. Expect garage rock reminiscent of The Stooges and Spider Bags with the energy of someone who just shotgunned a PBR then set the can on fire. Currently on Churchkey Records, the band has one full length out, Sunny Down Snuff that’s packed full of solid tracks that translate well to a live show.

Gross Ghost’s second full length LP Public Housing came on Odessa Records on October 29. This record marks a follow up to their debut Brer Rabbit (Grip Tapes, 2012), that was so well-received that the band snagged a main stage slot at this year’s Hopscotch Music Festival, opening for Future Islands, Holy Ghost!, and A-Trak. Public Housing follows the Gross Ghost sound consistently accomplished on the first album, and continues with ten tracks of fuzz, hooks, and catchy melodies. Seeing the band perform is always a treat, and with new material to share it will have a fresh spin of energy.

Doors are at 8:30 pm and the show starts at 9:30 pm. Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 day-of. Gross Ghost is also offering half off the price of CD or vinyl purchases with admission. For more information about the show, visit www.catscradle.com.

Show Review: Hopscotch Music Festival, Day 3

Spiritualized @ City Plaza

By the time Saturday rolled around exhausted is one of the words I had in my rolodex to tell people how I was feeling when asked. But despite my energetic woes, there was no way that I'd miss out on the full days worth of shows that came along with Saturday's Day Parties. While the move shows my nonsensical youth at work, my day began right at 12:00 thanks to Trekky's Day Party and an open bar thanks to Team Clermont. Because what better way to battle hangovers than with a quick round of day drinking?

Winston-Salem's fuzzed-out rockers Estrangers kicked off the day for me, so while half of this attendance was for the free booze the other was most definitely to see this fantastic band. Their debut full-length Season of 1000 Colors (you can check out my review in Creative Loafing Charlotte today!) was released earlier this summer and proved to be one of my favorite local releases of the first half of the year. It's unfair to make Love Language comparisons of any local act that's got reverb-washed, classic pop stylings--but frankly the comparison is apt when it comes to Estrangers. Phillip Pledger's unrestrained vocals are liable to turn on a dime, ranging from delicate croons to passionate wails.

Immediately after Estrangers came a solo set from Hi Ho Silver Oh and it was one of the few sets this year that absolutely blew me out of the water. Everyone packed upstairs for the quaint show, but Casey Trela held nothing back in a powerful set that slowly evolved into a riveting full-band display with locals Joah Tunnel and Josh Kimbrough joining Trela for fully fleshed-out interpretations of his raw, attention-grabbing tracks. Trela's folk inspired melodies took form over a looped guitar that added depth and complexity to his bone-chilling vocal delivery. I walked in oblivious to this former North Carolinian's act and immediately left with the desire to immerse myself in their work. A stellar set that set the bar high throughout the day.

Show Review: Hopscotch Music Festival 2013, Day 2

A-Trak @ City Plaza

14 hours of live music will take something out of you--I can attest to that. But the prospect of another full day of even more exciting festivities is enough to push me to drag my ass out of bed and immerse myself in a whole new day of beer drinking, fried food gorging and most importantly live music consumption. Hopscotch's three-day run is a unique festival experience, I've trekked out to Bonnaroo and know the woes of spending your days camping in the sun, but Hopscotch is an equally exhausting experience believe it or not.

However, one of my favorite parts of Hopscotch is the ability to revisit some of these acts--whether they be local or not--that you haven't seen in years and suddenly stumble upon. That's what my day was filled with on Friday, an afternoon of high-energy rock music from a wide array of genres. I begrudgingly attended my Friday class and made it downtown just in time for Last Year's Men to begin their set at Slim's. Last time I saw these guys was ironically enough at Hopscotch...at Slim's, so this was definitely a familiar environment for me. Their buzzing brand of garage rock continues to wow me as I experience the band in this tightly packed setting that is absurdly conducive to their sound.

After Last Year's Men finished up their raucous set I checked out The Everymen from New Jersey behind Slim's. Of course I feasted on free booze and veggie burgers, but the highlight of this experience was most definitely the discovery of an absolutely wonderful live act. The Everymen packed out Slim's back porch despite the beating sun and rocked harder than anyone I saw on Friday (including Valient Thorr). At one point the keyboardist picked up his instrument and pulled out a rocking behind the head solo which is arguably the most rock and roll thing a keyboardist can do. Their lively set even drew a crowd of underaged kids on the adjacent parking deck which everyone began to gawk over as well. All in all Slim's served as an awesome kickstart for my Friday.

Hopscotch Itinerary: Friday, Sept. 6

Ah, Friday. Even though we're only a day away I'm still stressing out about who I'm going to see, what sets I'm going to cut out of early and who I'll sadly miss all together. Even with this year's cancellations, Friday's lineup is still one of the strongest for a single day that I can remember. Day Parties kick into full effect on Friday and City Plaza starts off in the evening with an eclectic but incredible combination of locally and internationally acclaimed artists.

Since there's no WKNC commitments taking up the afternoon, Friday is thankfully a day entirely dedicated to bouncing around venues for some of the incredible Day Party showings. There's some local goodness of all varieties that'll be performing in downtown Raleigh this afternoon, so I'll surely be making my rounds throughout most of the day parties.

The Pinhook has teamed up with Cirque Du Vol Studios for an afternoon filled with some of the area's most talented female artists like Shirlette Ammons, Des Ark and the fantastically fun Creedence Queerwater Revival (featuring Kym Register and a barrage of CCR covers!). Their hilariously titled Bitchfork Day Party takes place at Cirque Du Vol and kicks off at 11. Deep South's Schoolkids Day Party is another awesome one with standouts like Onward, Soldiers and Kenny Roby. Slim's Churchkey Day Party is always a ridiculously good time and this year's lineup features some incredible acts like Spiderbags and The Beets. It'll also be nice to check out Caleb Caudle on Friday at The Hive as well as First Person Plural at Tir Na Nog. While it'd be sweet to get to see Thurston Moore performing at Kings for the Three Lobed/WXDU Party, I remember how packed Kings got for last years XDU show, so I'll likely stray away from that venue.

Big Boi, Local Natives, John Cale and nearly 172 others to play Hopscotch 2013

Big Boi will be headlining Hopscotch 2013
Performing Friday, September 6th at City Plaza

Since its inception Hopscotch has been a festival filled with diversity.  From Panda Bear to Public Enemy, Flaming Lips to Guided By Voices, and The Roots to Built To Spill, we've seen a wide variety of acts grace the now 15 stages that make up the Hopscotch Music Festival.  Each year we've see bigger names, deeper lineups and a consistent focus on local music and 2013 proves to amplify each of these aspects.  This morning the Hopscotch lineup was released to an eager audience that have let out a collective cry of joy over what many are calling the best lineup yet.

While many festivals boast the same acts, Hopscotch is built around unique experiences.  Concert goers can experience sets at Hopscotch that simply aren't possible anywhere else on the festival circuit.  Whether it be The Breeders' Last Splash set or The Rosebuds cover of Sade's Love Deluxe, Hopscotch contains one of a kind sets from some of the finest active, and even inactive acts.  Whether it be a seldom seen set from the stoner-metal pioneers of Sleep or the eclectic lineup of Gross Ghost followed by Future Islands followed by Big Boi at City Plaza, Hopscotch provides a bit of something for everyone.

Tickets for Hopscotch are on-sale now with a 3-Day Pass at $125 and a VIP pass at $180.  Single-day passes will be available in June, but quite frankly passing up on such an incredible weekend at such a phenomenal price would be a huge mistake.  I'm already absurdly excited for September, between Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson, Local Natives and countless other acts I know this is going to be yet another unforgettable weekend.  The full lineup can be found below:

Hear Here: April 12-17

Show of the Week: Wavves @ Kings Barcade
Sunday April 14

Friday April 12
Lonnie Walker w/ Oulipo @ Harris Field on NCSU Campus in Raleigh, NC
Free
When you combine WKNC, Lonnie Walker, Oulipo and free food there is literally no way to lose.  While the event will most likely have to be moved to the Wolves Den at Talley Student Center due to the impending doom of a thunderstorm, that will make no difference in how wonderful this show will be.  I've been waiting for what feels like ages to see Lonnie Walker once again, and from what I've heard their return at Kings was something truly special.  Combine the long awaited return of Lonnie Walker with the exciting live act of Oulipo and you've got a recipe for a fantastic experience.  Oh, did I mention it's free?

Mount Moriah w/ Mac McCaughan & Airstrip @ Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC
$10 in advance/$12 at the door
On the heels of a fantastic sophomore full-length, Mount Moriah will be playing a massive show at Cat's Cradle on Friday.  Joined by Mac McCaughan of Superchunk and the booming indie rock of Aitstrip, it's going to be a night filled with exciting music from diverse acts.  Miracle Temple was an album that displayed dynamic growth for Mount Moriah, getting to see these new tracks live will be a fantastic live experience.  Mount Moriah's shows are so special because Heather McEntire's vocals just ooze with passion.  Her voice is commanding, so much that it's hard not to focus all of your attention on the visceral live show that you're experiencing.  There's some shows where you'll find disenfranchised concert goers glued to cell phones and chatting amongst themselves, but Mount Moriah compels you to put down those phones and connect with their powerful songs.  That's what makes their shows show special, their ability to connect with the crowd through sheer talent.

Hear Here: January 25 - January 31

Finally, Hear Here has returned!  In case you're not familiar with our old series, Hear Here is a weekly feature that highlights all of our favorite upcoming shows around North Carolina with a strong focus in the Triangle.  This week is absolutely packed with phenomenal shows, from indie legends to rising stars, the tobacco state sees one of the strongest day-to-day schedules we've seen in a while.  From the frenetic garage masterpieces put out by the prolific Ty Segal to the transcendental folk tunes of the reclusive Jeff Mangum, there's a bit of something for everyone within this batch of shows.

Show of the Week: Jeff Mangum w/ Tall Firs @ Brooklyn Arts Center in Wilmington, NC

WKNC Double Barrel Benefit 9 Announces Lineup

WKNC's Double Barrel Benefit 9
will be held on February 3 and 4
at The Pour House in Raleigh, NC

This afternoon DJ Kligz and Adam Kincaid from The Local Beat announced the lineup to WKNC's 9th annual Double Barrel Benefit, to be held on February 3 and 4 at The Pour House.  WKNC is NC State's student radio station and it has become quite the staple in the Carolina music scene between all of its outlets for local talent such as The Local Beat, Fridays on the Lawn, and Double Barrel Benefit.  Double Barrel is always one of the most exciting collection of local artists sharing the same bill, all helping to give back to the station for WKNC's biggest fundraiser of the year.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't biased about how excited I am for this event because I volunteer for KNC, but it sincerely has an excellent array of some of the Triangle's finest talents.

You Should Know: Gross Ghost

You Should Know is a series that has been long awaited for me, after dropping the interviews from Bottom String Sessions it was a conscious decision to add a video feature to the blog, but the matter of bringing it all together was a bit more.  You Should Know is a video feature on local bands that highlights the band's formation, future, and a bit of everything else in between all the while focusing on the aspect of the band that has made them so prominent on the scene for me, their music.

Gross Ghost was kind enough to invite me out to their cabin outside of Carrboro to film our session, upon driving through the dirt roads and passing the "No Trespassing Signs" with an ominous "wrong turn" type of feel to it, Aggie and I came to the end of the path and pretty much dropped our jaws at how incredible this place looked.  Mike later informed us of his gun-toting neighbor being basically harmless, then gave us the grand cabin tour so to speak.  Mike, Tre, Rob, and TJ are all incredibly endearing individuals and upon finding out that they'd planned to film full band inside of the cabin I basically had an inner fanboy freakout over the fact that I'd get to see my own private Gross Ghost set inside of an empty cabin in the woods.  It was as awesome as it sounds.

Around The Triangle: Bottom String Session #16, Local Beer Local Band, Hammer No More The Fingers, Architecture in Helsinki

Photo Credit: Agatha Donkar

It's been busy times for The Bottom String lately with holidays and exams lumping themselves together, but we're jumping back on the train to keep bringing the goodness to ya!  We've got our You Should Know with Gross Ghost coming up this week as well as two new Bottom String Sessions, plus the beginning of our Year End lists!  For starters though we'll backtrack some and provide some awesome captures from the past few weeks with Architecture in Helsinki at The Cat's Cradle, Local Beer Local Band with Gross Ghost and Lilac Shadows, as well as Hammer No More The Fingers, Lonnie Walker, and Free Electric State at Nightlight.

Also after the jump is our Bottom String Session with Sinful Savage Tigers from the backyard of Andrew Marlin.  A stellar set of songs from an excellent upcoming folk band from Carrboro, Sinful Savage Tigers performed "Natural Ghost" from their debut release as well as "Ballad of John Grove" off of their latest album, "The Last Night Of The Revels".

Hear Here: November 16 - November 25

Mike Dillon of Gross Ghost from our "You Should Know"
session

Last week held one of my favorite shows of the year with Bombadil's glorious album release show at The Cat's Cradle so it's going to be pretty hard to follow that up with something better, however there is a show from one of my favorite bands at the Cat's Cradle this week so let's see how that plays out.  With a show I've been waiting ages for from Manchester Orchestra  at The Cradle on Thursday, much of the week falls back behind the shadows of my favorite band (yes, yes, now you know that Manchester Orchestra is one of the bans I fanboy over).  However, Chapel Hill is loaded with shows this weekend as well as a few gems popping up in Raleigh and Durham.

Show of the Week: Manchester Orchestra w/ White Denim & The Dear Hunter at The Cat's Cradle on November 17, 2011

Hopscotch Day 3 Review

The Flaming Lips @ City Plaza

Starting off Saturday was the strangest feeling, a combination of exhaustion and excitement for the day to come even if it's going to be full of sweating, walking, and fighting crowds.  It's mainly okay because of The Flaming Lips though.  Our day started off a little bit late after trying to work out a ticket issue for a friend in need of admission to The Flaming Lips, but once it was all settled out we headed downtown to get on with our last day of Hopscotch'ing.  Choosing between Day Parties today was a doozy, there were so many incredible bands playing at the same time that it was hard not to find something that wasn't jaw-droppingly great.