RTP-area local music and culture

[grady <grady AT ibiblio.org>]

Aquarius Records says of the Robbers on High Street record:

"I swore we would try to review this record without mentioning it, but 
what can you do? It's so blatant and obvious and undeniable. This band 
sounds EXACTLY like Spoon. I mean exactly. Dark and moody, shuffly 
rhythms with brooding pianos and a voice that is uncanny its similarity 
to Spoon's Britt Daniel. But to that we say "so what?!?" This record is 
awesome. And for us at least, who can argue with a new Spoon record, 
whether it's by Spoon or not. Granted, there -are- differences. The 
Robbers are much less experimental. way more poppy and accessible. And 
when they rock they definitely slip into Strokes / Interpol territory, 
which again is not necessarily a bad thing. There's also a liberal 
sprinkling of horns which is a nice surprise too. I usually defend bands 
who have a singer that sounds like another singer (sounding like Ozzy is 
a common example) because you can't really help how you sing, your voice 
is your voice for the most part, but when the voice that sounds much 
like another singer, is then complimented by a band that just happens to 
sound like that other singer's band, well then you gotta wonder just a 
little, if the band thinks to themselves "Holy shit, we sound a lot like 
Spoon." So if you're a stickler for absolute originality, then The 
Robbers On High Street might be a bit to close to -that- other band. But 
if you're looking for some dark and intense, catchy and rocking 
experimental pop, you'd be hard pressed to do better than Tree City. At 
least until the new Spoon record. "

http://www.aquariusrecords.org/

kcollins wrote:
> 3 great bands will be playing this wednesday for $7 ($3 if you're a
> duke student) at the Duke Coffeehouse.
>
> Ambulance Ltd: out of NY, NY--influences include the Beatles, the
> Stones, Spiritualized, Elliot Smith and The Smiths. Has a lot of great
> reviews online.
>
> VHS or BETA: will be touring with Duran Duran later this year. Their
> sound is a mix of rock and dance beats. Singer sounds very similar to
> the singer for The Cure.
>
> Robbers on High Street: out of NY, NY as well. don't know much about
> them, but looks like they are on a nation wide tour.
>
> -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene