RTP-area local music and culture

[grady <grady AT ibiblio.org>]

Thursday, July 27
Elevator Action (http://www.elevatoractionband.com/), The Ashley Crash 
(http://www.myspace.com/theashleycrash), Johnny Fever and the Frantics 
(http://www.myspace.com/jfandtf)
Marvell Building, Durham



Thursday, July 27
Bible of the Devil (http://myspace.com/bibleofthedevil), Viper 
(http://myspace.com/viper), Valkyrie (http://myspace.com/valkyrie)
Kings, Raleigh

The photo on Bible of the Devil's MySpace page showed a buncha dudes in 
sleeveless denim jackets playing Flying V's, and if that's not Metal, 
I'm fucked if I know what is.



Thursday, July 27
Alvarez Painting (http://www.trekkyrecords.com/alva/index.html), Red 
Collar (http://www.myspace.com/redcollarmusic), Grasshopper 
(http://www.ahhgrasshopper.com/)
Wetlands, Chapel Hill

Grasshopper make good old-fashioned indie-rock; the song I heard seemed 
to involve spite, or loathing, but in a melodic kind of way. Like I 
said, good ol' indie-rock.

Alvarez Painting is what you get when a bunch of kids who were born in 
the late 80s grow up in the shadow of the Chapel Hill music scene. 
Duelling guitars, off-kilter song structures, and a sort of intensely 
warbly vocal style that has actually become sort of a Trekky Records 
trademark (see also: Mortar and Pestle, Vibrant Green).



Friday, July 28
Black Heart Procession (http://www.southern.net/southern/band/BHP00/), 
Devics (http://www.devics.com/), Castanets 
(http://www.asthmatickitty.com/musicians.php?artistID=2)
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro



Friday, July 28
The Midnight Gladness Band, Dirty Little Heaters 
(http://www.thedirtylittleheaters.com), Dry Heathens 
(http://www.myspace.com/dryheathens)
The Cave, Chapel Hill

All three of these bands are on the new 307 Knox Records "Certified 
Diskette" compilation which is (a) free, (b) 2 CDs, and (c) pretty damn 
good, so you should either hit yr local record store & look for it, or 
go to the show & hit up the bands.

In the nearly-indecipherable notes I took while listening to the comp, I 
tagged Dry Heathens "twangy pissed-off indie-rock," while Midnight 
Gladness got off with "Monday Nites at the Black Lodge." I really gotta 
track down a decent copy of the Twin Peaks pilot episode.

I recorded (badly) the Dirty Little Heaters cut on that comp, so let's 
not discuss that, and instead remind you that they're blissfully loud 
and emphatic in everything they do.



Friday, July 28
The Nein (http://www.thenein.com/), DJs Mothersbrothers, Mowing Lawns 
(http://www.dyss.net/mlawns.html)
Nightlight, Chapel Hill

This show marks the triumphant return of one Mr. Finn Cohen, 
singer/guitarist for the Nein and bona-fide World Traveler, who recently 
returned from some kind of bizarre summer-study program in Russia which 
involved lots of drinking, late nights, and interviewing random Russians 
about, yes, Satan.

I keep waiting to get to see the full-band version of Mowing Lawns, but 
the version I keep seeing is the Todd-and-Mike alone with acoustic 
guitars, so while I can tell you about that (remind me of Rubeo, lots of 
intricate plucking, did a truly badass Urinals cover with Crowmeat Bob), 
I can't tell you anything about the other (nor, for that matter, about 
which version you're getting this night anyway).



Friday, July 28
Colossus (http://www.myspace.com/thecolossuswillcrushyou), Space Age 
Polymers (http://www.sapcoonline.com/), Uncomfortable 
(http://www.myspace.com/uncomfortablenoise)
Kings, Raleigh



Friday, July 28
Husky (http://www.huskyrock.com), Imogene (http://www.imogene.info)
Wetlands, Chapel Hill

Husky come from that fertile Charlotte instrumental space-rock scene 
(yes, that's the first time anybody's ever used *that* phrase in print). 
Or, rather, either they're part of the Pyramid posse, or there might 
actually *be* a fertile Charlotte instrumental space-rock scene, because 
they're making big wide-open-vista rock with lots of Vibrolux.



Saturday, July 29
The Sibling Project (http://www.thesiblingproject.com/), The Tattle 
Tales (http://www.thetattletales.com/), The Vents 
(http://www.myspace.com/thevents), Down in the Dumps 
(http://www.myspace.com/downinthedumps)
Chaz's Bull City Records, Durham



Saturday, July 29
Chicago Afrobeat Project (http://chicagoafrobeatproject.com/ ), Global 
Repercussions (http://www.globalrepercussions.com/)
The Flying Anvil, Greensboro



Saturday, July 29
Gray Young (http://www.myspace.com/grayyoung), Invasion 
(http://www.myspace.com/invasionmusic), Alias Smith & Jones 
(http://www.myspace.com/aliassmithandjonesband)
Kings, Raleigh

Alias Smith & Jones features Greg Eades & Bill Westall of Vanilla 
Trainwreck, as well as Danny Kurtz of the Backsliders (as well as 
Utility Bass in a metric ton of other local bands).

Our man Chris Toenes, writing in the Independent Weekly, had this to say 
about Invasion:

"Invasion is a nascent band, just formed in March, that trespasses into 
more recently familiar territory for Triangle musicians--the drone-wash 
of guitar-only noise-play. Joe Mazzatelli, 18, just graduated from 
Chapel Hill High last year and formed the band with Eugene, Ore. 
transplant Riley Miller."



Saturday, July 29
Midtown Dickens (http://www.myspace.com/midtowndickens), Charles Latham 
(http://www.myspace.com/sircharleslatham), The Veldas 
(http://www.myspace.com/theveldas)
Joe & Jo's, Durham

Midtown Dickens are part of the Durham antifolk scene; they write songs 
about whatever (radio, Tetris, breakfast, whatever) & sing & play them 
on guitar, banjo, accordion, saw, etc. Sometimes they back up that 
skinny ol' agitated/agitator Charles Latham, whereupon they all become 
Charles Dickens.

The Veldas are a gtr/drums duo; the demo I heard was actually close 
enough in sound (if not execution) to PJ Harvey to justify the comparison.



Saturday, July 29
American Aquarium (http://www.americanaquarium.com/), Pawnshop Ruby 
(http://www.pawnshopruby.com/), Maxwell/Mosher 
(http://www.maxwellmosher.com/)
Local 506, Chapel Hill



Saturday, July 29
Bibis Ellison (http://www.myspace.com/bibisellison), Tigersaw 
(http://www.tigersaw.com), Annie Palmer 
(http://www.myspace.com/anniepalmermusic)
Wetlands, Chapel Hill



Sunday, July 30
Dan Bryk (http://www.bryk.com/), Chris Moore (http://mooresong.com/), 
Lee Feldman (http://www.leefeldman.com/)
The Cave, Chapel Hill



Sunday, July 30
The Vibe Killers (http://www.myspace.com/vibekillers)
Slim's Downtown, Raleigh

The Vibe Killers are the boozy bar-rock band fronted by ex-Backsliders 
frontman Chip Robinson.



Sunday, July 30
This Song is a Mess But So am I (http://www.thissongisamess.com), So, 
Pink-Red (http://www.myspace.com/sopinkred)
Nightlight, Chapel Hill



Sunday, July 30
Terrorcouple (http://www.terrorcouple.com), Cyanotic 
(http://www.cyanotic-online.com/), Vampire Beach Babes 
(http://www.vampirebeachbabes.com)
The Cave, Chapel Hill



Monday, July 31
Colossus (http://www.myspace.com/thecolossuswillcrushyou), The Hem of 
His Garment (http://www.myspace.com/thehemofhisgarment), Jean-Claude Jam 
Band (http://www.myspace.com/jeanclaudejamband), Oak Island 
(http://www.myspace.com/oakisland)
Chaz's Bull City Records, Durham

The Hem of His Garment are a large & amorphous local band; they may or 
may not include members of In The Year of the Pig, It's Reigning Men, 
DeYarmond Edison, Bellafea, and untold others. They are all about 
massive phase-shifting overlapping drone to make you poop yr pants; the 
so-called Brown Sound.

Colossus are a big ol' metal band of the freakout variety. The other 2 
bands are from Boston.



Monday, July 31
Oneida (http://www.enemyhogs.com), Birds of Avalon 
(http://www.myspace.com/birdsofavalon), Monotonix 
(http://www.monotonix.com/)
Kings, Raleigh

Oneida are, of course, the massive-wall-of-organ-noise freakout stoner 
bad-trip band from up north somewhere. Highly recommended if you're into 
volume-induced paranoia.

Birds of Avalon are from Raleigh & they're made up of ex-members of the 
Cherry Valence & The Weather, among others. Little more psych than 
either of those bands, though.

Cultural Exchange Month continues with Monotonix, who are on tour from 
fucking Tel Aviv. They also appear to be a heavy-fuzz freakout downer 
psych band. It must be somewhat bizarre to be driving around the US 
playing rockmusic while yr country is at war with one of its immediate 
neighbors (I mean, we're at war in Iraq, but it probably doesn't feel 
the same as if we were at war with Canada, with Canadian rockets falling 
on Detroit & Buffalo, and the US Air Force laying waste to big chunks of 
Toronto, ya know?).



Tuesday, August 1
Caltrop (http://www.myspace.com/caltropband), Blag'ard 
(http://www.blagard.com/), Monotonix (http://www.monotonix.com/)
Reservoir, Carrboro

2nd night of Tel Aviv heavy fuzz/psych band Monotonix's whirlwind tour 
of the Triangle. Tonight they're sharing a bill with brothers Sam 
(Caltrop) and Joe (Blag'ard) Taylor. Caltrop are heavy/sludgy, in a 
similar vein to Sam's 90s band El Sucio. Blag'ard are weirdo-guitar 
indie-rock, kinda Archers-y at times, in a similar vein to Joe's 90s 
band Capsize 7 (though Blag'ard is usually 1 or at most 2 people, which 
gives it a different feel from the more steamrollery Capsize 7).



Tuesday, August 1
The Meek (http://www.myspace.com/themeekusa)
The Library, Chapel Hill



Tuesday, August 1
Black Mona Lisas (http://www.myspace.com/theblackmonalisas), Table 
(http://www.myspace.com/table), The Cassandra Project 
(http://www.swiftbennett.com/photowerx/index.cfm?cid=175&gal=PERFORMANCES)
Raleigh Music Hall, Raleigh

Table is Russ and Tom from the Chickens; they remember when punkrock got 
slow & sludgy, and they like it that way.

The Cassandra Project include Eliza from Blackstrap, Jason Fagg from a 
host of Durham bands, and some other folks I didn't recognize, perhaps 
in part because they were all wearing evening gowns, sashes & tiaras in 
the photos I saw.



Tuesday, August 1
The Minders (http://www.theminders.com/), The Kingdom 
(http://www.diealloverme.com/)
Local 506, Chapel Hill



Wednesday, August 2
Pink Razors (http://www.myspace.com/pinkrazors), Crossed Eyes 
(http://www.myspace.com/chriscarraway), The Marked Men 
(http://www.themarkedmen.com/)
Chaz's Bull City Records, Durham

Crossed Eyes are some kinda Street Sharks offshoot from Raleigh. Pink 
Razors are from Richmond. The Marked Men are on Swami Records, the label 
run by RFTC's John Reis, home to the almighty Hot Snakes.



Thursday, August 3
Velvet (http://www.velvetpop.com), snmnmnm (http://www.snmnmnm.com/), 
Carter Gaj (http://www.myspace.com/cartergaj)
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro



Thursday, August 3
Man Man (http://www.wearemanman.com)
The Flying Anvil, Greensboro



Thursday, August 3
Second Story Man (http://www.secondstoryman.com), Audubon Park 
(http://audubonpark.blogspot.com), White Whale (http://www.whitewhale.us/)
Local 506, Chapel Hill

Audubon Park are returning from a summerlong semi-hiatus prompted by (a) 
the interminable finishing-up work they've been doing on their upcoming 
full-length debut, and (b) bassist Finn Cohen's hijinx in Russia. There 
is probably also a (c); well, here's one: sometime soon singer/guitarist 
David Nahm will be moving to Harrisonburg, VA, to take up his new 
full-time job as MacROCK emcee, so AP shows will become yet still fewer 
& further between. So please, get while the getting's good.

White Whale are the latest Merge Records hot young things, from Lawrence 
KS. They actually feature Matt Suggs (ex-Butterglory) so I guess they 
ain't *that* young.



Friday, August 4
Double Negative (http://www.myspace.com/thedoublenegative), Cross Laws 
(http://www.myspace.com/crosslaws), Black SS 
(http://www.myspace.com/blackss), Our Times 
(http://www.myspace.com/ourtimes)
Chaz's Bull City Records, Durham



Friday, August 4
The Clientele (http://www.mergerecords.com), Great Lakes 
(http://www.myspace.com/greatlakesband)
Local 506, Chapel Hill



Friday, August 4
Grass Widow (http://www.myspace.com/grasswidow)
Kings, Raleigh



Saturday, August 5
Adult Film Makers (http://www.demonbeach.com), Arrogance 
(http://www.arrogance.us/), Parthenon Huxley 
(http://www.parthenonhuxley.com/)
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro

Arrogance are the legendary 70s NC band who dared to play original tunes 
in an era of a sharp and damn-near-uncrossable divide between Rock Stars 
and Local Bands, whose job it was to interpret the work of the Rock 
Stars when they weren't around. (A sometimes uncomfortable number of 
their songs were actually about what a drag that dichotomy was, but 
nevermind that). Member Don Dixon went on to somewhat bigger things as a 
producer (REM, Smithereens) and solo artist. Lately they reunite every 
couple of years so that all the folks still around from that era can 
lecture the rest of us on what rock and roll is really about.

Parthenon Huxley used to operate under a different pseudonym, Rick Rock, 
under which he penned one of the most enduring pop/new-wave masterpieces 
ever to emerge from North Carolina, "Buddha Buddha." If you haven't 
heard it, please don't embarrass yourself by trying to refute me. 
Subsequent to that, Parthenon decamped to LA to experience adventure on 
a grander scale, which he achived a few years ago in part by joining a 
reformed ELO.

The Adult Film Makers is a Bad Checks side-project featuring current 
Checks drummer Rock Forbes, and Clif Mann, who plays bass for the Checks 
& played guitar for both Pipe and the Ghost of Rock.



Saturday, August 5
Elevator Action (http://www.elevatoractionband.com/), Dirty Little 
Heaters (http://www.thedirtylittleheaters.com), On Three 
(http://www.myspace.com/ericonthree)
Local 506, Chapel Hill

On Three are the new slightly-more-countryish rockband fronted by 
ex-Fake Swedish guitarist Eric Haugen. Elevator Action are a revved-up 
powerpop band from Charlotte. Dirty Little Heaters are a gtr/drums duo 
from Durham who get most of the way to where they're going on the 
strength of singer Reese Gibbs's remarkably powerful yowl.



Saturday, August 5
Noncanon (http://www.myspace.com/noncanon), The Heavy Pets 
(http://www.myspace.com/theheavypetsraleighnc)
Kings, Raleigh

The Heavy Pets are a new(ish) Raleigh band featuring Art Jackson, who 
fronted the amazing Greensboro psych/rock band the Mercury Birds, and 
the delighfully self-indulgent Greensboro Southern Rock band Allnight.

Noncanon is the new gtr/drums project of Danny Vaughn (Hourly Radio, 
Mothlight, DMVB) and Rob Koegler (Cheap Heat, various jazz combos).



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