Thanks to Dirty Little Heaters and Sir Arthur!

(Dirty Little Heaters) Thanks so much to everyone who came out to Slim's last night to help me celebrate my birthday! I had a blast, and I was so excited to introduce Dirty Little Heaters and Sir Arthur & the Royal Knights to several of my friends who hadn't seen them before. Both bands totally rocked, but Sir Arthur in particular were tighter than I'd ever seen them before. They need to wear those ruffled shirts at every show!

   

 

Videos of Monotonix, Sir Arthur & Polar Bear Polar Bear

I've had two friends tell me that I steered them wrong by telling them to go see Monotonix, who put on a typical crazy show to a packed house Monday night at Pour House. Both of them told me explicitly they thought the band sucked. I guess I hadn't done a good job of explaining Monotonix to them. Monotonix isn't about good music, though their recorded output can be entertaining. Monotonix live is purely and simply about watching three Borat-looking dudes break stuff and abuse each other (and sometimes the audience). If you're not into that, you won't be into Monotonix. Here's some video of them breaking stuff and abusing each other from the other night. (VIDEO DELETED) Before Monotonix were Sir Arthur, who are quickly becoming my favorite band in the area, though I really prefer it when they wear the '70s party suits. Finally, Polar Bear Polar Bear opened up, and I'm really no more enlightened as to who they are than I was last week. They sound a little like Interpol, and they like to dress up in Arctic wear and play surrounded by clouds of smoke-machine smoke. I think they're off to a good start, and I'd like to hear them again, though it honestly was a little gloomier than I wanted to hear while waiting for Monotonix.

Suburban Sweethearts last show with Joe tonight!

This is assuming that there's electricity at Slim's. I've also been told that Sir Arthur is playing tonight at Sadlack's.

From the post on myspace:

Mr. Joe Yerry will now be devoting all of his time to the Bleeding Hearts, in addition to continuing to make Slim's Downtown Distillery Raleigh's own little rock and roll heaven...
http://www. myspace. com/thebleedinghearts
http://www. myspace. com/slimsdowntownraleigh

In Joe's place, we are honored to welcome local hot shredder and all-around righteous cat, Mr. Andy Kerr, who of course you all know from the amazing local group, the T's...
http://www. myspace. com/thettttt

For now, all you need to know is that band's favorite choice rockers will remain, but the band name will change, (as well as a new MySpace page). And fear not gossipers, everyone is still friends, and everyone is happy... ;) We love Joe and all that he does...



C'mon out on Friday, 9/5 to celebrate this current line-up's final blow-out, and also help support the cause... This show will be a benefit for the American Cancer Society. I'm sure everyone has someone they love who has been stricken with the disease, so show some love with us... We'll be giving out all the leftover Suburban Sweethearts T-shirts to whoever wants them. All we ask in return is that you donate something at the door, all of which goes to the ACS. No donation is too small. Give what you can to help the cause, and you get a shirt.

My strangest rock experience of the year so far

Yeah, I know 2008 is young, so something will come along soon to make this experience not so strange. But for right now, seeing two local hipster bands, and a very un-hipsterish sports bar, right off of Glenwood South of all places, is number one on the list. I e-mailed a friend earlier in the day and told him what I was up to last night. He e-mailed back and said "have fun tonight on Glenwood South (never thought I would write something like that)." The bar is called Double Down. As far as I can tell, they don't have a Web site, but they're located right behind Mojos on Peace Street, near the Glenwood intersection. Unlike that storied street, whose neon bars cater mainly to monied businessmen and surgically enhanced hot-bodied babes. Double Down is a metal-lovin' sports bar. The type of place where people go strictly to shoot pool, watch the game and get drunk. The type of place that plays Bruce Dickinson's solo CD before the show (I'll admit, I had to ask who it was -- I was convinced it was Queensryche). The type of place where you really wouldn't expect to see Proof and Sir Arthur & the Royal Knights. I hadn't seen Proof before, but I liked their Afghan Whigs-meets-Fugazi sound. Jeramy from The Greatest Hits recently became their singer, so if anyone out there has seen them before, please let me know how you think the band has changed since he joined. Here's a video. Needless to say, this place didn't have much in the way of stage lighting. Sir Arthur took a few songs to warm up, but once they got going, they totally tore it up. And speaking of tore up, if certain folks out there can't remember much of the show last night, this video is for you.

Sarah Borges rocks

I wouldn't have thought good honky tonk could come from Boston, but Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles proved me wrong last night. She's a pint-sized girl with a big voice, and a phenomenal backing band, including a guitarist with an incredibly natural feel for his instrument. Check out the video. This is the first song they played last night at the Hideaway.

(Video removed)

Coming up on Sunday at the Hideaway is North Carolinian Jim Lauderdale, who, I was told last night, is from Beaufort. But when I checked that online today, I see that he's from Statesville. Maybe I'll get to chat with him on Sunday and find out the scoop. Following Jim (it's an early show), The Makes Nice and Sir Arthur and His Royal Knights will be at Slim's. The Makes Nice include a former member of The Champs, but my understanding is that they're much more pop-oriented than that band.