RTP-area local music and culture

[grady AT ibiblio.org]

Thursday, May 13
Bellafea [http://www.bellafea.com/], des_ark [http://www.des-ark.org],
Heart Beats Red
[http://www.portlandmercury.com/2000-09-07/music.html]
Gate City Noise, Greensboro

This is an early show, as are all Gate City Noise shows, pretty much.
Let's say 8:30-ish, or so. Bellafea and des_ark are both man-lady
drums-gtr duos from the Triangle area, and they're two of my favorite
bands. As all shows are great at Gate City Noise (they are! every one
I've seen, at least), I expect they'll become 2 of your favorite bands
as well.

Heart Beats Red are three women from the pacific northwest.



Thursday, May 13
Kingsbury Manx, Destroyer
[http://www.mergerecords.com/band.php?bio=true&band_id=29], Frog Eyes
[http://www.angelfire.com/indie/infinite/frogeyes.html]
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro

Martin says:

should be a good one.  The Kingsbury Manx you know, local heroes and
all. And I don't think they have played many shows lately, so its good
to welcome them back on the stage.

Frog Eyes are from Victoria BC and are a sight to behold.  Spastic
rhythms and caterwauling vocals that tend to leave the audience in
some sort of trance. Frontman Casey Lander flails about like some sort
of possessed professor of Classical Greek Mythology.

Destroyer is Daniel Bejar from Vancouver BC, and he will be backed on
this occasion by Frog Eyes.  Destroyer's latest CD, "Your Blues", was
released by my employer Merge Records (full disclosure) and is one of
my favorites in a long time.  Of course with the help of his friends
in Frog Eyes he manages to deconstruct the album (which is simple and
theatrical using mostly midi-orchestration) completely, tearing it a
part and putting it back together again as some sort of
rock-n-roll-epiphany.



Thursday, May 13
Challenger [http://www.challengermusic.com/], Fire Parade
[http://fireparade.topcities.com/ ], Manamid [http://www.manamid.com]
Ace's Basement, Greensboro

Challenger are the boys (that is, everybody except Roby) from
Milemarker, plus Jessica Hopper on bass, or so says their website.
You'll have to figure out their sound on your own. Fire Parade are
from Wilmington, and Manamid are from Greensboro, and are kinda
Dischordy.



Thursday, May 13
Shannon Wright [http://www.southern.com/southern/band/SHAWR/], All
Astronauts [http://www.allastronauts.com/], Stations
Project Space 211, Winston-Salem



Friday, May 14
Califone [http://www.flydaddy.com/bands/califone/califone_fr.htm],
Ameliorate
Go! Studios Rm. 4, Carrboro



Friday, May 14
Apollo Heights
[http://www.praxismagazine.net/article.php?mag=4&id=74]
Local 506, Chapel Hill

Danny & Daniel Chavis (not only are they brothers, they're identical
twins) were in the Raleigh-based Brit-influenced swirlgazer-rockband
The Veldt for years and years. After a long period in the wilderness
of The Music Industry, which included some time split between NYC and
NC, they're now both living in NYC, I believe, and their new band is
called Apollo Heights.



Friday, May 14
ManBand [http://www.manband.us/], Strange, The Gaze
Kings, Raleigh

Strange are a super-echoey psychedelic rockband from Raleigh--their
demo is murkily excellent, with lots of banging and booming and some
definite nods to the Birthday Party, Jesus & Mary Chain, and
Psychedelic Furs.

ManBand are from Asheville, and they've got the rhythm section from
the brilliant new wave band Piedmont Charisma, plus ex-Archers bassist
Matt Gentling.



Saturday, May 15
Challenger [http://www.challengermusic.com/], des_ark
[http://www.des-ark.org], The Ghost of Rock
Go! Studios Rm. 4, Carrboro

The Ghost of Rock are punk rock just the way I like it -- old, crabby,
and still fully capable of kicking the ass of just about any other
band they share a stage with. If they don't always do so, it's out of
pity, not lack of ability.

des_ark are a fiery gtr-drums duo who leave a swirling mass of
crushed-out kids in their wake whereever they go. At least among those
kids who didn't get close enough to smell 'em.

Challenger are 3/4ths of Milemarker and as I haven't heard them, I
can't tell you whether they're more "rock" than MM, or less, but I'll
bet it's one or the other.



Saturday, May 15
Hotel Lights, The Balance [http://www.thebalanceband.com/], Scott
Phillips
Kings, Raleigh

Hotel Lights is the new band of ex-Ben Folds Five drummer Darren
Jessee. Scott Phillips is the keyboardist & singer for Raleigh band
Goner. The Balance have ex-Ashley Stove guitarist Jim Brantley, and
Portastatic drummer Matt McCaughan.



Sunday, May 16
Q and not U, Engine Down [http://www.enginedown.com/], Cub Country
[http://www.jadetree.com/bandpages/bio_cubcountry.html], Cheers To No
Tomorrow
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro

This is a benefit for Go Studios manager & Fin Fang Foom guitarist
Mike Triplett, who had his ass whomped earlier this year by a severe
case of spinal meningitis. Serious, serious stuff, and it left a
serious pile of medical bills in its wake.



Sunday, May 16
Monsonia [http://www.monsonia.com], Rocketfire Red
[http://www.rocketfirered.com]
Local 506, Chapel Hill

Rocketfire Red are from Raleigh, and they're a K Records-style
pop-rock-punk band. I forget what I know about Monsonia, other than
that one of them is brother to one of the ladies of Rocketfire Red.



Tuesday, May 18
eX-Girl [http://0505.net/ex-girl/menu_E.html], Cantwell, Gomez, Jordan
[http://www.cantwellgomezandjordan.com], Cold Sides
Go! Studios Rm. 4, Carrboro

eX-girl are from Japan, and I have this vague recollection of CGJ
bassist Anne Gomez speaking highly of them last time they came through
town. In my universe, that'd be high praise indeed, assuming I'm
recalling correctly.

Cantwell Gomez & Jordan make their spazzy noise-rock with a lethal
combination of consummate skill, a deep and abiding love of fucked-up
noise, and an equally deep & abiding love of American Popular Music.

Cold Sides are a whole new band, sort of, now that Dave Cantwell isn't
their drummer. Pick up their new 12" at the show to hear the last
stuff Dave recorded with them, and then watch their set to see what
they've become without him.



Tuesday, May 18
Schooner, 1984 [http://www.nineteeneightyfour.org], The Close
[http://www.thecloserocks.com]
Kings, Raleigh



Wednesday, May 19
Second Husband, A Problem of Alarming Dimensions
[http://www.8088records.com/problemofalarmingdimensions/], The Tape Is
Now The Music, Dirt Pond
Go! Studios Rm. 4, Carrboro



Wednesday, May 19
The Know, Hearts and Daggers, Art of Fiction, Getty
Kings, Raleigh



Wednesday, May 19
Sister Machine Gun [http://www.smg.org/], Manufactura
[http://www.auriclemedia.com/manufactura.htm], Christ Analogue
[http://www.christanalogue.com/]
Local 506, Chapel Hill



Thursday, May 20
Recess [http://www.dyss.net/nightlight/]
Nightlight, Chapel Hill

The Nightlight website says:

Recess is an experimental music night where several performers play
for about 20 minutes each. This month’s Recess will be focused on
girlz, chicks, broads, ladies, and wimyn including: Sara Bell (of
Sharkquest and Regina Hexaphone), Amelia Burch (of Roxotica), Amy
Wilkinson (of Bringerer), Joyce Ventimiglia (of Holy Roman Empire),
Dawn Shepherd (of Rocketfire Red), Carrie Shull (of a million musical
projects including playing with Eugene Chadbourne), and Kerry Cantwell
(woman about town and secret drummer).



Thursday, May 20
Patty Hurst Shifter [http://www.pattyhurstshifter.com], The Balance
[http://www.thebalanceband.com/]
Go! Studios Rm. 4, Carrboro



Thursday, May 20
Rise, The Billy Carter Band, Dude Garden
Kings, Raleigh



Friday, May 21
$2 Pistols, Barn Burning [http://www.barnburning.net/], David Childers
and the Modern Don Juans
[http://www.davidchilders.com/Main_Body.shtml]
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro



Friday, May 21
The Rosebuds [http://www.therosebuds.com/], Bellafea
[http://www.bellafea.com/], The Quarantines
[http://www.freelon.com/quarantines/main.php]
Local 506, Chapel Hill

Rosebuds & Bellafea used to be Wilmington homies, and anybody who's
ever met a Wilmington band will tell you that (with one apparently
glaring exception who haven't played around here in years so nevermind
them) those kids take care of their own. So much so, in fact, that for
the next little while, Bellafea guitarist Heather McEntire will be
rocking the guitar with the Rosebuds. Double-extra pop jangle. Yet
more chances for Ivan to leap ever higher in the air.



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