RTP-area local music and culture

[pineview <quicklikeabunnyreviews AT gmail.com>]

Right on, DJ Stevo!


 On Feb 27, 6:16=A0pm, DJ Stevo <djst... AT wknc.org> wrote:
> If you can believe it, there are even a few decent bands out of Cary.
> Mindblowing, I know. =A0For a prescient example, may I present the work
> of one Hunter Macdermut, otherwise known as The Tourist. =A0His jazzy
> blend of folky, intelligent pop is good enough to make me forget about
> the last time my diminuitive Geo Prizm was phalanxed by crazed SUV
> drivers on a recent trip to Crossroads Plaza.
>
> Now, being a staunch Raleighite, I'd like to respectfully refute your
> point regarding the allegedly malodorous composition of Raleigh
> music. =A0Granted, Raleigh's taken a lot of hits lately; we lost Kings
> last year, the Lincoln Theatre has become the domain of the cover
> band, and the Hideaway closed a month ago, but we sure as hell ain't
> dead over here. =A0Grab your headphones, open your ears widely, and
> check out groups like The T's, Dan Bryk, The Love Language, Goner, A
> Rooster for the Masses, Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass-Kicking
> Team, The Whistlestop, The Magic Babies, Black Taj, TV Knife, Birds of
> Avalon, Strange, and Heads on Sticks for naught but a taste of the
> quality of our music. =A0While you're at it, do a quick Google search
> for 'Comboland' and learn about the rich history of our music scene,
> much of it focused on Raleigh as well.
>
> On a similar topic, I guess the thing that really gets me about your
> column/blog is the fact that it's so easy to learn about local music
> around here. =A0As Kelly said, there are three excellent weekly local
> music radio shows, like Ross' superlative show on XDU from 4-7PM on
> Sundays, Robin/Will's Backyard BBQ on XYC from 8-9PM on Sundays, or
> even my own show, The Local Beat, on KNC from 5-8PM on Fridays. =A0If
> the radio isn't your bag, read Bryan's Diversions section over in the
> Daily Tar Heel, Ross' trianglerock.com listings, David Menconi's music
> blog, or Grayson's tireless local music coverage in the Indy. =A0All of
> these things should convince you that you're sitting squarely in the
> middle of the best damn music scene in the world right now. =A0At least
> that's what I believe, after 3 years of working with local music, and
> you should too if you're going to write about it.
>
> So... =A0I hereby extend an open invitation for you to come out with us
> KNC folk on Friday nights to check out the awesome world that is
> Triangle live music. =A0You haven't lived until you've sung your heart
> out with the band and an undulating blob of your best friends at a Red
> Collar show, danced to the sheer joy that is an Old Ceremony release
> party show, had your heart broken by the plaintive musings of a
> Prayers and Tears or DKD song, rocked out hardcore with the entire
> town of Durham at the Duke Coffeehouse to the strains of Hammer No
> More the Fingers, or a hundred other experiences I could talk about.
> Local music is something profoundly moving, with brilliance and great
> emotional power, a balm to the soul, and a bit of an obsession to
> those who have figured it all out. =A0I'll reiterate one of Kelly's
> points, as it doesn't sound like you've been properly exposed, and we
> too would be glad to help you discover your new favorite bands.
>
> Just please, please don't write stuff like 'the music scene around
> here stinks' without doing the proper research. =A0I know that you
> wanted to confine your ire to Cary and Raleigh, but it ain't true,
> it's bad journalism, and irresponsible to the bands and media who work
> hard to make this music scene as awesome as it is. =A0If, after you go
> to some awesome rock shows and listen to some of the area's best
> bands, you still think so, that's fine by me, but I think that that's
> probably impossible.
> -Stevo
> djst... AT wknc.org