I'm on New Raleigh!

Folks, I'm going to start writing a weekly "5 questions with ..." for New Raleigh. My first one, with Brian Walsby, was published tonight here.

I've been a fan of New Raleigh for a while. The folks who run it are all cool, passionate, and eager to cover what's happening in Raleigh. Plus, they're volunteers, which means they are truly excited about what they're covering. They aren't getting paid to do it.

This column won't replace what I'm doing here, but will be a nice compliment. I'll still do my weekly list of shows here, but plan to start including my shows in New Raleigh's calendar. I'll probably start embedding some of my videos on New Raleigh as well, but plan to maintain the bulk of them on Vimeo (update -- still slogging along adding all my old videos to that site).

Local music news round-up

Will try to do this more often:

Bombadil has released a mini-documentary about the making of their new CD (Triangle Music)

Ross is having the same problem with BCHQ as I am. (alt.music.chapel-hill)

If you can stand looking at this photo of a neckbeard, you'll read some good news about IWTDI. (Music.MyNC)

Live Nation to fans regarding U2: Just trust us. (On the Beat)

Nice photos of Pink Flag and Whatever Brains. (WKNC blog)

I may have a new favorite band

If you follow me on twitter, you know that I finally did something I've been planning to do for a while: I tweeted from a show. The show in question was Pink Flag and Whatever Brains at Tir na Nog last Thursday, and the reason is that Pink Flag absolutely rules. Seriously, I hate to gush because that kind of sounds simultaneously insincere and groupie-like, but I just can't think of enough good things to say about this band. First off, they're girls, and of course, I love to see girls because, honestly, it brings back fond memories of my own band days. They're cute and innocent and a little dorky, which is generally a formula for really crappy musicianship, but Pink Flag can actually play. The guitarist and bass player are really good; the drummer is great, plus she smiles the whole time and looks like she's having the time of her life. And they can all sing, and often sing together. I could start trying to connect what they're doing to the whole Riot Grrrl, and try to say something insightful about how they're the daughters of the original movement, but really all you need to know is that they rock. This clip is called "Dirty Hair Party."
Pink Flag from Mann's World on Vimeo. After getting all excited over Pink Flag, you'd think I'd be really pumped up for Whatever Brains, who are pretty much the most talked-about band in Raleigh right now, but they honestly had no impact on me whatsoever. I didn't like them, and I didn't dislike them. They were just kind of there. But I was obviously alone in my opinion because they had a pretty big audience who were all into what they were doing. I'll check them out again and see if they eventually affect me one way or the other.
Whatever Brains from Mann's World on Vimeo. See more photos.

Cool shows this week: Pink Flag and more!

(Pink Flag -- photo by Jude Eden)

THIS WEEK'S SHOWS



SHOW OF THE WEEK

Thursday, March 26: Whatever Brains with Pink Flag, Tir na Nog
Pink Flag manage to be angry and cute at the same time. They're the girls I wish I had been in high school. The Indy's recent review of Whatever Brains' cassette-only release and 7-inch record (which has been picked up for distribution by Matador) describes them as "hooky-and-hissy" and "jagged and noisy," which pretty much hits the nail on the head.

Thursday, March 26: Proof with Medications and Edie Sedgwick, Berkeley Cafe

Friday, March 27: Richard Bacchus & the Luckiest Girls, Slim's


Friday, March 27: John Howie Jr. & The Rosewood Bluff with Mike Slaton, The Cave

Friday, March 27: ASG with Colossus, Black Skies and Power Pellut, Volume 11 Tavern
I liked ASG's "Win Us Over," even if it was more on the polished side than I usually enjoy. Colossus and Black Skies are easily two of the heaviest bands around here.


Friday, March 27: A Rooster for the Masses, Pour House
Check newraleigh.com for a ticket giveaway for this show.


Saturday, March 28: Mike Roy & Rob Watson CD-release party with Kenny Roby's Mercy Filter & the Kennebec Duo, Pour House

Saturday, March 28: A Rooster for the Masses, with Death to the Details and The Authority, The Cave

Saturday, March 28: Caltrop with Curtains of Night and Sled, The Pinhook
Caltrop is part of my personal trio of heavy favorites (along with Colossus and Black Skies). I'm hoping Curtains of Night will grow on me more after I see them live.


Saturday, March 28: COC Blind Volume 11 Tavern
COC Blind is Reed and Karl, plus assorted others, playing the "Blind" in its entirety.

Tuesday, March 31: The Ex-Monkeys, The Cave

NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS

Wednesday, April 1: Secondhand Freespace panel on Online Marketing, Local 506
David Rose - KnowTheMusicBiz.com
Jed Carlson - Reverbnation.com
Lindsey Kronmiller - Merge Records
Mike Robinson - Annuals
Moderated by Heather McDonald - About.com: Music Careers

Wednesday, April 1: Langhorne Slim, Cat's Cradle

Wednesday, April 1: Black Skies, Reservoir Bar


Thursday, April 2: North Elementary with I Was Totally Destroying It, Tir na Nog

Thursday, April 2: The New Romans, with Fan Tan, Pinhook

Friday, April 3: North Mississippi All-Stars, Lincoln Theatre

Saturday, April 4: Scott Phillips, Royal Bean
Scott from Goner. Early show (8 p.m.)

Saturday, April 4: Transportation, The Cave

Saturday, April 4: Bluegrass festival with Old Habits, The Pit

Saturday, April 4: Brian Walsby/Melvins double release show, Tir na Nog
With Double Negative, The Loners, Goner and Des Ark

Sunday, April 5: Caltrop, Reservoir Bar

Tuesday, April 7: Neko Case, Fletcher Theatre

UPCOMING IN GENERAL

Thursday, April 9: The Magpies, Tir na Nog

Thursday, April 9: The Haw River Rounders, Pinhook

Friday, April 10: Bombadil, Lincoln Theatre

Friday, April 10: Shake It Like a Caveman, Sadlack's

Saturday, April 11: Urban Sophisticates, Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, April 16: John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff with Gambling the Muse, Pinhook


Thursday, April 16: Magic Babies with The Huguenots, Tir na Nog

Thursday, April 16: John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff, with Gambling the Muse, The Pinhook

Thursday, April 16: IRATA with Count Von Count, Reservoir Bar

thursday, April 16: A Rooster for the Masses with Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Local 506

Friday, April 17: North Elementary, Pinhook

Friday, April 17: Kenny Roby, Sadlack's


Friday, April 17: The Whistlestop, Pour House

Friday, April 18: Duo Fest with Beloved Binge and Mecca Normal, Pinhook

Saturday, April 18: Starmount, Sadlack's

Monday, April 20: 420 Fest with H.O.W. and Black Skies Volume 11

Tuesday, April 21: Dreadg with Torche and Maps and Atlases The Brewery

This week's cool shows: Sorry About Dresden and more!

(Sorry About Dresden) THIS WEEK'S SHOWS Friday, March 20: American Aquarium, Lincoln Theatre Friday, March 20: Steep Canyon Rangers, The Pour House Old-time bluegrass from Asheville. SHOW OF THE WEEK Friday, March 20: Embarrassing Fruits with Sorry About Dresden and Blag'ard Local 506 Sorry About Dresden is the long-running other band from I Was Totally Destroying It drummer James Hepler. Blag'ard is a two-man Chapel Hill pop-rock freak show. I'm not that familiar with Embarrassing Fruits, but what little I've heard sounds like they would have been right at home playing a house party with Polvo in 1991. Saturday, March 21: Johnny Cash Birthday Celebration, The Pinhook Sunday, March 22: Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz, Great Hall UNC Student Union 7 p.m. free show sponsored by the UNC Southern Folklife Collection. Tickets are required and will be available through the UNC Student Union Box Office. NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS Thursday, March 26: Whatever Brains with Pink Flag, Tir na Nog Pink Flag manage to be angry and cute at the same time. They're the girls I wish I had been in high school. The Indy's recent review of Whatever Brains' cassette-only release and 7-inch record (which has been picked up for distribution by Matador) describes them as "hooky-and-hissy" and "jagged and noisy," which pretty much hits the nail on the head. Friday, March 27: Richard Bacchus & the Luckiest Girls, Slim's Friday, March 27: ASG with Colossus, Black Skies and Power Pellut, Volume 11 Tavern I liked ASG's "Win Us Over," even if it was more on the polished side than I usually enjoy. Colossus and Black Skies are easily two of the heaviest bands around here. Friday, March 27: A Rooster for the Masses, Pour House Saturday, March 28: Caltrop with Curtains of Night and Sled, The Pinhook Caltrop is part of my personal trio of heavy favorites (along with Colossus and Black Skies). I'm hoping Curtains of Night will grow on me more after I see them live. UPCOMING IN GENERAL Thursday, April 2: North Elementary with I Was Totally Destroying It, Tir na Nog Tuesday, April 7: Neko Case, Fletcher Theatre Thursday, April 9: The Magpies, Tir na Nog Wednesday, April 1: Langhorne Slim, Cat's Cradle Friday, April 3: North Mississippi All-Stars, Lincoln Theatre Saturday, April 4: Scott Phillips, Royal Bean Scott from Goner. Early show (8 p.m.) Saturday, April 4: Brian Walsby/Melvins double release show, Tir na Nog With Double Negative, The Loners, Goner and Des Ark

Static Minds episode 4 is out!

And it looks like a good one. In honor of our recent rainy spell, Joel and Erik hav mixed together Mudhoney, Howlin' Wolf and Neil Young among many others.

Check it out.

Return of Red Fang and Early Man

Wednesday was Old School night at the Pour House, with a bunch of folks coming out to see Portland's Red Fang, which includes former Raleighites David Sullivan and John Sherman. Last time they were around, they opened for The Fucking Champs, and really kind of blew them away. Evidently they're now bigger than I realized because on Wednesday, Early Man, with whom they're on tour, opened for them. Not sure if that was just for Raleigh (it being a half-hometown and all) or if it's like that for the entire tour. Regardless, they again blew everyone away.
Red Fang from Mann's World on Vimeo.I never saw Early Man as a duo, but I have to say I like how they sound as a quartet more than what I've heard on their record. If you listen closely at the beginning of this video, you can hear a smitten Ms. P say, "Make sure you get a shot of the drummer."
Early Man from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Merge to release Wwax compilation

Mac McCaughan's pre-Superchunk band (which also featured Brian Walsby on drums and Wayne Taylor on bass) has become a bit legendary in its own right. In honor of the label's 20th anniversary, they're going to release a compilation of their works. Here's the info from the press release: As part of our 20th Anniversary year, we are clearing out the Merge vault! Like It Or Not is a compilation of casettes and 7" releases from Mac McCaughan's pre-Superchunk band, Wwax. Like it Or Not is available exclusively as a digital download in the Merge Store. Stay tuned for more Merge classics re-issued digitally as 2009 continues! Mac's description: This is a collection of all the studio recordings that Wwax made, all done at Duck Kee Studios on Bickett Blvd in Raleigh in 1987 and 1988. Tracks 1 & 2 were released by our friend Steve Skrzyniarz on his label Leopard Gecko out in Tacoma. The next seven tracks came out on Merge in a double 7" format. The Songs "All Begins Again," "Just Like" and "Misinvite" were originally released as part of the 7" box set Evil I Do Not To Nod I Live, a collection that also included records by Egg, Slushpuppies, Black Girls, and Angels of Epistemology. The last two tracks were on a Wwax cassette that was Merge's second release ever. They include a Saccharine Trust cover we did live, plus the demo of the song "Seven" that we recorded at my house and that I always preferred to the better-sounding studio version. We took turns singing the songs in Wwax, but they all bear the mark of Wayne's idiosyncratic sense of timing and Brian Walsby's uncanny ability to keep up with him. The sound is also shaped by the fiberglass Ovation Breadwinner guitar that I borrowed from Wayne and played exclusively through his tiny gray spray-painted Peavey Champ, which achieved a brittleness I've not been able to capture since! This is the first digital release of Wwax songs other than a couple stray tracks here and there, and it's strange to hear recordings that are certainly artifacts of a certain era that's not hardcore but not really something else specific either...which is how they sounded then, too. Tracklisting: 1. Pumpkin 2. Inn Town 3. Seven 4. Like It Or Not 5. Straw Man 6. Corduoroy 7. Grows On Trees 8. Price of Gas 9. Counting Thoughts 10. Beachworld 11. All Begins Again 12. Just Like 13. Misinvite 14. I Am Right (live) 15. Seven (demo) Wwax was: Wayne Taylor - Bass / Vocals Brian Walsby - Drums / Vocals Mac McCaughan - Guitar / Vocals

Cool shows this week: Red Fang and more!

(Red Fang) THIS WEEK'S SHOWS SHOW OF THE WEEK Wednesday, March 11: Red Fang with Early Man, The Pour House Portland's Red Fang feature former Triangle rockers David Sullivan (Shiny Beast) and John Sherman (various, including Mercury Birds), and are heavy enough to steal the show from Early Man, IMHO, seriously benefited from adding a bass player and second guitarist. Thursday, March 12: Vetiver, Cat's Cradle San Francisco freak-folkies with roots in Greensboro's early '90s pop-genius group Raymond Brake. Thursday, March 12: Lonnie Walker with Lake Inferior, Tir na Nog Lonnie Walker is one of my new favorite bands, and also one of David Menconi's Great 8. Check out my video of them ,a href="http://mannsworld.blogspot.com/2009/02/testing-out-vimeo.html">here and the Great 8 multimedia here. Friday, March 13: Colossus, Reservoir The masters of modern NWOBH can either be amazing or totally sloppy in their live shows. Let's hope this is a good night for them. Friday, March 13: In the Year of the Pig, Nightlight bone-crushingly heavy, with two drummers, two bass players and a guitarist. There will also be an early event from 6-9 p.m.: NL Collective Art Show- check out North Carolina artists during Chapel Thrill's Second Friday Art Walk 6PM-9PM walk, bike, booze around Friday, March 13: Hellrazor, Dive Bar Thrash Friday, March 13: American Aquarium, Lincoln Theatre Friday, March 13: Olympic Ass-Kicking Team with Chip Robinson & the Heavy Beat Outfit, The Pour House The OAK Team is the creative vehicle for local pop genius Terry Anderson, whose "I Love You Period" is one of the ultimate stuck-in-your-head-all-day songs (sorry about that!). I still haven't caught former Backslider Chip Robinson's new band, but I've heard nothing but good things aobut them. Saturday, March 14: The Proclivities with The Moderate, and Django Haskins Pour House The Proclivities are happy, sunny pop. The Moderate are from D.C. and significantly less sunny but just about as poppy, only with a slight twang. Django you know from The Old Ceremony, but he has a significant solo output too. Saturday, March 14: Automag, The Brewery OK, I know I'm getting old, but I rarely recognize any of the names on the Brewery's roster these days, yet every time I go, there's usually a pretty good crowd there. Long running local metal band Automag is one of the few I know on their current schedule. Saturay, March 14: Maple Stave with Tiger Bear Wolf and Actual Persons Living or Dead The Pinhook Greensboro's Tiger Bear Wolf got a lot of press about three years ago, then seemed to disappear. Glad to see they're back, and I hope this means they'll be recording soon. Sunday, March 15: Swap Meet, The Pour House Come get some free stuff! 6 p.m. NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS Wednesday, March 19: Huguenots with The Catch Fire, Nightlight The thing I really like about The Huguenots is that whenever I see any of them around Chapel Hill, they're still dressed in the same skinny-tie-and-blazers outfits they wear on stage. I kind of appreciate that dedication. Before I decided to find out what The Catch Fire were all about, I decided that, based on their name, they were a a Bob Marley tribute band, and that they were going to perform my favorite Marley record, "Catch a Fire", from start to finish. Turns out they actually sound more like the Hold Steady. Wednesday, March 19: Lake Inferior with I Was Totally Destroying It, Local 506 Friday, March 20: American Aquarium, Lincoln Theatre Friday, March 20: Steep Canyon Rangers, The Pour House Old-time bluegrass from Asheville. Friday, March 20: Embarrassing Fruits with Sorry About Dresden and Blag'ard Local 506 Sorry About Dresden is the long-running other band from I Was Totally Destroying It drummer James Hepler. Blag'ard is a two-man Chapel Hill pop-rock freak show. I'm not that familiar with Embarrassing Fruits, but what little I've heard sounds like they would have been right at home playing a house party with Polvo in 1991. Saturay, March 21: Johnny Cash Birthday Celebration, The Pinhook UPCOMING IN GENERAL Thursday, March 26: Whatever Brains with Pink Flag, Tir na Nog Friday, March 27: Colossus with Black Skies, volume 11 Friday, March 27: Richard Bacchus & the Luckiest Girls, Slim's Friday, March 27: ASG with Colossus, Black Skies and Power Pellut, Volume 11 Tavern Friday, March 27: A Rooster for the Masses, Pour House Saturday, March 28: Caltrop with Curtains of Night and Sled, The Pinhook

Catching up: Static Minds

Static Minds put on a great show Thursday night at Tir na Nog. Unfortunately the video I recorded didn't turn out well, so I thought I'd leave you with an .mp3 from the band's new three-song CD, which they were giving out at the show. If you like what you hear, you're in luck because the band is hoping to have a full vinyl release by the end of the year. See more photos. "Feel Good," by Static Minds 

This week's cool shows: Loners and Bain Project!

(The Loners) THIS WEEK'S SHOWS Thursday, March 5: The T's with Static Minds, Tir na Nog SHOW OF THE WEEK (TIE!) Friday, March 6: The Loners, Tir na Nog Release party for new Cd, "The Revolution" with Dirty Little Heaters and Pinche Gringo. $6 cover or $10 combo cover which includes LP and MP3 download. Friday, March 6: Night Prowler with Judas Rising, Lincoln Theatre Friday, March 6: Strange Faces, The Pour House Friday, March 6: Future Islands with Goner, Berkeley Cafe From the press release: Triangle/Triad electro/dance-punk favorites Future Islands return to Raleigh with their Wham City collective colleague Ed Schrader. Raleigh's beloved power pop trio Goner will open the show Friday, March 6th at the Berkeley Café. Goner rides the success of their latest release, Rock N’ Roll Always Forgets. Having played together for a decade, Goner continuously upgrades their level of performance. It gets louder, it gets faster, this trio’s sound consistently keeps you bouncing. Following this Triangle favorite, Future Islands unleashes their hyper-energetic electro madness once again. They return to the Carolinas straight from European tour ready to share some enthusiasm. The Village Voice describes their sound as full of "...happy happy hooks, wiry dance grooves." Combined with Baltimore comedian Ed Schrader, a well-rounded eclectic evening to remember is guaranteed. For more band details, please visit their web pages at http://www.myspace.com/futureislands and http://www.myspace.com/goner . $6 cover for 21+, $8 for 18+. Friday, March 6: Thad Cockrell with Caitlin Cary, Pour House Old friends and collaborators Caitlin and Thad have been busier with other projects in the past couple of years, so it's good to see them back together again. Saturday, March 7: Hank Sinatra, Slim's SHOW OF THE WEEK (TIE!) Saturday, March 7: Bain Fundraising Concert, 313 Martin St., Raleigh THE LINEUP THUS FAR (subject to change): 12:00-Razor Wire Safety Net 1:00-Tomas Phillips 2:00-Subscape Annex 3:00-Craig Hilton 4:00-Benito Crawford there will be a 1 hour break from 5-6 6:00-MG3+One 7:00-The Tender Fruit 8:00-Old Bricks 9:00-Ivan Rosebud 10:00-Mount Weather Dj FTB to provide interlude music throughout the night. Space provided and concert sponsored by Clearscapes. Saturday, March 7: Curtains of Night, Reservoir Saturday, March 7: Nathan Oliver with Schooner and The Proclivities, Local 506 Saturay, March 7: Cool John Ferguson and the Swingin' Johnsons, The Pour House Saturay, March 7: The Virgo 9 with The Wigg Report and Blood Red River The Pinhook Saturday, March 7: Nathan Oliver, with Schooner and The Proclivities, Local 506 Sunday, March 8: Future Islands with Lonnie Walker, Nightlight Sunday, March 8: Hymns with Death on Two Wheels and The Bridges, Slim's Sunday, March 8: Future Islands Nightlight NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS Wednesday, March 11: Red Fang with Early Man, The Pour House Thursday, March 12: Vetiver, Cat's Cradle San Francisco freak-folkies with roots in Greensboro's early '90s pop-genius group Raymond Brake. Thursday, March 12: Lonnie Walker with Lake Inferior, Tir na Nog Friday, March 13: Colossus, Reservoir Friday, March 13: In the Year of the Pig, Nightlight There will also be an early event from 6-9 p.m.: NL Collective Art Show- check out North Carolina artists during Chapel Thrill's Second Friday Art Walk 6PM-9PM walk, bike, booze around Friday, March 13: Hellrazor, Dive Bar Friday, March 13: Whatever Brains, Slim's Friday, March 13: American Aquarium, Lincoln Theatre Friday, March 13: Olympic Ass-Kicking Team with Chip Robinson & the Heavy Beat Outfit, The Pour House Saturday, March 14: The Proclivities with The Moderate, Pour House Saturday, March 14: Automag, The Brewery Saturay, March 14: Maple Stave with Tiger Bear Wolf and Actual Persons Living or Dead The Pinhook Sunday, March 15: Swap Meet, The Pour House Come get some free stuff! 6 p.m. UPCOMING IN GENERAL Wednesday, March 19: Huguenots with The Catch Fire, Nightlight Wednesday, March 19: Lake Inferior with I Was Totally Destroying It, Local 506 Friday, March 20: American Aquarium, Lincoln Theatre Friday, March 20: Steep Canyon Rangers, The Pour House Friday, March 20: Embarrassing Fruits with Sorry About Dresden and Blag'ard Local 506 Saturay, March 21: Johnny Cash Birthday Celebration, The Pinhook Thursday, March 26: Whatever Brains with Pink Flag, Tir na Nog Friday, March 27: Colossus with Black Skies, volume 11 Friday, March 27: Richard Bacchus & the Luckiest Girls, Slim's Friday, March 27: ASG with Colossus, Black Skies and Power Pellut, Volume 11 Tavern Friday, March 27: A Rooster for the Masses, Pour House

Here's why you should go to The Remedy

OK, this is only tangentially about music. The tangential part being that tonight while I was in The Remedy, I counted members of at least four bands either working or patronizing the place.

Today was the grand opening, and New Raleigh wrote about it here. That made me want to check it out too, and I wasn't disappointed. It's small, but tastefully decorated, with a full bar, and a nice selection of vegetarian and meat sandwiches. Plus, they have an all-day breakfast option. I tried the Capri sandwich, with a Chardonnay that tasted like sun-warmed honeysuckle. Barkeep Dave Justice graciously allowed me to try the other white wine options, including a vibrant Gruner Veltlinger. My companion tried the French toast with a Highland Oatmeal Porter, and though he didn't say much, he cleaned his plate, which is always a good sign. I can't wait to see how their Bloody Marys stack up against those at Slim's, Tir na Nog and The Landmark.

When we first arrived, there were only a few people in the place, but by the time we left, it was packed. I forsee great things happening for The Remedy, and lots of business, which means you need to go check it out now before the rest of downtown discovers it.