Album Review: "Only" by Jenny Besetzt

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 Ticket Giveaway

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 on Wednesday, October 24.

Check out videos from Sharon Van Etten and Damien Jurado below:

Shakori Hills Fall 2012 Review

Mason's Apron

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!

The Shakori Essentials: River Whyless

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:

The Shakori Essentials: Suénalo

Shakori Hills is exactly seven days away now, with anticipation rising I've come to realize how devastatingly excited I am for the two sets of latin-afro jazz party that is Suénalo.  Shakori Hills allows you to find bands that you're entirely ignorant about in genres you're mostly unfamiliar with, but somehow connect with these acts on personal levels.  Suénalo is a band hailing from Miami, FL that seemingly only comes this way for Shakori, giving you all the more reason to see this glorious show while you can.  The band has two sets that are unparalleled on Friday and Saturday evening on the Meadow Stage and Dance Tent respectively, I for one know that I'll be attending both shows.

Last Spring I was anxiously waiting for Equanimous Minds in the Dance Tent and battling between staying around to hang out with my friends or trudging through potential rainfall to see Bombadil when I heard the lively, riotous sounds of Suénalo.  Any apprehension I had about missing the local favorites were tossed out the window, within minutes I was awkwardly arm flailing along with the droves of equally excited crowd members.  The experience was absolutely invigorating, from their deep Afropop/Cuban influence blended with upbeat hip-hop stylings to the bombastic energy the band permeates whilst on stage, it's easy to find yourself overcome by the jaunting yet melodic rhythms.  Equanimous Minds was the highlight of the festival for many I went with (an electronic act standing out at a Grassroots festival?  Preposterous!), but I for one couldn't help but feel like Suénalo stole the show, hell possibly the festival.

Suénalo's MC, Amin De Jesus is a charismatic leader for the band, conducting the crowd as if they were his little marrionettes.  He says jump and the crowd leaps.  He shouts, "Suénalo!" they shout "Suénalo!" twice as hard with ear-to-ear grins.  Their music is somewhat of an anomaly at the festival, while there's always diverse talent drawing influence from every corner of the world, none seem to do it with such flare and finesse as Suénalo.  Recently celebrating their 10 year anniversary, the experience they have together is clear.  Saying this band is tight is an understatement, they've allowed their talents to flow together freely and developed a precise call and response style that makes for a fantastic soundtrack for your all night dance party.  Get ready to dance your ass off, because Suénalo's infectious good vibes will be taking the main stage on Friday, October 5 on the Meadow Stage at 11:00. I'd imagine such a prominent Friday night set will lead to a fantastic crowd for the band's set on Saturday, October 6 in the Dance Tent at 11:00.  Do yourself a favor and become a part of this, hell maybe even attend the Latin Dance Workshop that'll be going on in the Dance Tent right before Suénalo on Saturday night.

The Shakori Essentials: Jonathan Scales Fourchestra

Shakori Hills serves as one of the finest outlets for finding new music that North Carolina has to offer.  The sheer diversity in the lineup allows festival goers to expand their musical palette, taking in sounds of Latin jazz, Cajun zydeco, or socially conscious hip-hop on a day to day basis.  I know I for one never expected to see a band like Diali Cissokho & Kairaba, but once I happened upon their performance I was entranced by it.  Shakori is a melting pot of musical genres that somehow fit perfectly together, despite their vast differences.  Let's look at Friday evening for example, the 5-7 block is stacked with fantastic bands from highly different genres.  I'll be split between three shows in this two hour span, River Whyless, Hoots and Hellmouth, and Jonathan Scales Fourchestra.  One of the great parts about Shakori is how close all of the stages are to each other, Meadow to Carson's to the Cabaret tent equates to a leisurely stroll as you ease your way from baroque folk rock to dancy roots rock to a steel pan lead jazz-fusion trio.  Jonathan Scales Fourchestra will be the first band from this trio that we preview for Shakori, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone at Shakori that's packing as much power as this group from Asheville.

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra mixes the sounds of contemporary experimental jazz with a classically trained composer become steel pan virtuoso.  While Scales' steel pan subtleties are on prominent display, the band's true depth lies within how talented every single member of this band is.  Percussionist Phill Bronson seamlessly switches from time signature to time signature, displaying a rhythmic prowess that's easy to lose yourself in.  However, you can just as easily become enamored in how smoothly Cody Wright churns out technically proficient bass riffs with such ease and emotion.  The way the Fourchestra can command a crowd is mystifying, and a high energy set in the Cabaret Tent would make for a fantastic addition to your Friday evening schedule.

The band will be performing on Friday October 5 at 5:30 pm at the Cabaret Tent.

Check out video from the band's performance in New Bern's incredible venue, Broad St. Social Club:

The Shakori Essentials: Lost in the Trees

It's no surprise to any fan of the Triangle music scene that Lost in the Trees, rose to stardom.  The band's unique style of combining rustic and deeply personal folk music with that of grandiose chamber music was a recipe for success, it's a sound that eases you in with relatable lyrics and clinches your attention with perfectly orchestrated instrumentation to coincide with the rise and fall of Ari Picker's heartfelt stories.  It's been three long years since Lost in the Trees played Shakori Hills, and their Saturday afternoon set on the Meadow Stage will be the perfect homecoming for these local standouts.  It's already set to be the highlight of my weekend, it's been over a year since I last saw Lost in the Trees as a bright eyed fanboy, plopped cross-legged on the floor of Fletcher Opera Hall...far too long if you ask me.

Lost in the Trees have been touring non-stop lately, recently finishing up a run of shows with The Head and The Heart and Fleet Foxes side-project Poor Moon before that.  The band is getting ready to hit the road once again and Shakori will be the first stop on yet another lengthy nationwide tour, this time with fellow North Carolina act Midtown Dickens.  While they're playing again in the Triangle in December at Reynolds Industry Theatre with a full chamber orchestra, their set at Shakori Hills will be a truly unique and magical experience.  The folks that attend Shakori are embedded within this music scene and the passion that any one person can feel for this band pales in comparison to the feeling of singing along with a field full of like minded individuals.  I'll be missing the latter half of Unknown Tongues (playing at 3:30 in the Dance Tent) to check out the full set from one of my favorite North Carolina artists playing one of my favorite North Carolina festivals.  The best possible way to spend a Saturday.

Check out the band's performance of "Time Taunts Me", the title track from their first EP which recently just got its second pressing on Trekky Records with a stunning white vinyl.  Time to buy copy number two?

Lost in the Trees plays on Saturday October 6 @ 4:00 on the Meadow Stage