Metal comes to Raleigh

First off, sorry for posting that extra blurry photo of Colossus, but that particular guitar player really does make the funniest moves on stage, and that was the best of the ones I captured. The photos I got of Man Will Destroy Himself at Slim's are even blurrier. At least Caltrop and Black Skies turned out OK. Anyway, downtown was strangely quiet on Wednesday night. I was under the impression that Colossus, Caltrop and Black Skies at the Pour House was going to be THE show of the month. Everyone I knew was going, and everyone they knew was going (though, since "everyone" in Raleigh all mainly know each other we're really talking about a fairly contained group of people). Eventually the Pour House did fill up, but there was a significant number of people who missed Black Skies's bone crushing set. Luckily I captured their first song, "Chain of Command" for you:

Black Skies - "Chain of Command" from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Caltrop was second on the bill, and probably the most highly anticipated since they rarely play Raleigh. They also put on a great show, and I captured a new, un-named song. But honestly, the best part of their set was the hilarity that ensued during the soundcheck. Soundman extraordinare Jac Cain kept trying to get the confused band members, who were really just interested in turning up and playing, to turn down a bit and tell him what they wanted in the monitors. It turned out just fine. Here's the video.

Caltrop -- New song as yet unnamed. from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Colossus ended the show and sounded perfect. I've said it before: These guys have a tendency to be either really sloppy or really amazing. Wednesday was a good night for them. Here's "A Year Later There's Still Meat in the Skull."

Colossus -- "A Year Later There's Still Meat in the Skull" from Mann's World on Vimeo.

After the show, we made our way over to Slim's for the last bit of Man Will Destroy Himself. Here's "Fuse."

Man Will Destroy Himself - "Fuse" from Mann's World on Vimeo.

This week's cool shows: Heaviness at the Pour House, plus the Bee Ball

THIS WEEK'S SHOWS

Wednesday, May 27: Man Will Destroy Himself, with Rotten Sound, Maruta and Bile Nephresis Slim's

SHOW OF THE WEEK (tie!)
Wednesday, May 27: Colossus with Caltrop and Black Skies, Pour House
A dream show for fans of heavy, sludgy music. Read my Five Questions article with Colossus on New Raleigh.

Thursday, May 28: The National, Lincoln Theatre

SHOW OF THE WEEK (tie!)
Friday, May 29: The Bee Ball with Atomic Rhythm All-Stars, Berkeley Cafe
What would you do if you could go back and have a prom the way you REALLY want it? Likely you'd have a good band, cool people and alcohol that wasn't chugged in the back seat of a car before going in the venue. The Beehive presents a grown-up version of the prom complete with a great band, alcohol and the knowledge that your cash is going to local organizations that are making a difference in the lives of others. Full disclosure: I am a member of the Beehive. Come see me, because I will be working the door during the first part of the evening.

Friday, May 29: Pin Projekt 2009: A fundraiser for the Troika Music Festival, with Cool John Ferguson, Pinhook


Friday, May 29: Black Skies with Pride Parade and Dirty Little Heaters, Reservoir Bar

Friday, May 29: Viper with ,Doom Syndicate Volume 11

Friday, May 29: Tin Djinn, The Last Tallboy and The Revolutionary Sweethearts, Slim's
The Last Tallboy is a new band with the following local folks: Bill McKelvey, Bass: Joey Chorley (Trousers, Savage Nights, Formerly Another Toomstone Dreem.), Drums: Terry Ford (Savage Nights, formerly Another Toomstone Dreem) and Bart Tomlin, (A Rooster for the Masses) vocals.

Bart also sent me the following info on the other two bands:

A Tin Djinn is riffy, 70s-esque glam pop rock (think Marc Bolan, David Bowie).

The Revolutionary Sweethearts Vocals and Guitar: Brandy Tanner (Bright Boy), Bass Guitar: Rich Flickinger and Drums: Rob Lackey (A Rooster For The Masses, occasionally The Rosebuds).


Saturday, May 30: "The Voltaic Festival version 1.0 with 6 bands and a hot fashion show,"Volume 11

Saturday, May 30: Impossible Arms, Schooner, Woody Sullender, Actual Persons (Living or Dead) at Nightlight
Triangle Music event page.

Saturday, May 30: Kennebec, Pour House

Saturday, May 30: Lonnie Walker CD-release party at Ahpeele Warehouse
The band will also play an in-store at Schoolkids at 5 p.m. Read about the show and the AWESOME new Raleigh tees being made by Ahpeele.


Sunday, May 31: RebusFest
Rescheduled from when it was rained out a couple of weeks ago. Let's hope that doesn't happen again! This year's fest includes The Loners, Dirty Little Heaters, Kenny Roby's Mercy Filter, The Magic Babies, Tin Star and DJ Midnight Cowboy.


NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS
Wednesday, June 3:Thad Cockrell, Duke Gardens

Thursday, June 4: Hammer No More the Fingers, The Station


Saturday, June 6: Band Together concert, Lincoln Theatre

9th annual concert to benefit the Lucy Daniels Center with Rusted Root, The Rosebuds, Chatham County Line, and Hobex will play. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show.


Friday, June 5: CPSFC's Save Our Arts benefit
Starts at 6 p.m.: Trotter Building (410 West Geer St, Bull City)
Phil Cook (Megafaun) and His Feet Tin Star (Durham) Tender Fruit (Christy Smith of Nola) Sweet By and By (Durham) The Great White Jenkins (Richmond, VA) The Never (Chapel Hill) with NC Dance Institute Dancers Language Arts (Durham)

Saturday, June 6:TGWY, The Great White Jenkins, Phil Cool of MegafaunBull City Headquarters
From the Facebook events page: Richmond's TGWY specialize in a beautifully ramshackle, indie-rock take on blue-eyed soul. The ingredients include cathartic organ, plaintive melodies, stirring arrangements, subtle exotica, even a healthy blast of skronky noise. With able backing from the Hollywood Cemetery Horns, the groups new EP is lo-fi delight.
-Virginia Living Magazine

The Great White Jenkins of Richmond, Virginia
Phil Cook of Megafaun (and his feet)
and another rad band (for real.)...tba!

UPCOMING IN GENERAL

June 13: Dark Meat, Local 506
Crazy, shamanistic Athens, Ga., collective that has to be seen to be believed.

June 20: John Dee Holman, Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park, Cary
3 p.m. show, Free!
From the PineCone press release
Born in Orange County, North Carolina in 1929 and celebrating his 80th birthday this year, John Dee Holeman grew up on a small farm and began playing the blues at the age of 14. Though he never met Blind Boy Fuller, Holeman credits Fuller with teaching him to play guitar. He says he learned to play by listening to Fuller's records and by playing with musicians who had learned directly from Fuller. Holeman uses both the Piedmont and Texas guitar styles in his playing.

Video of Lonnie Walker at Artsplosure

Ever since I first saw Lonnie Walker, I've been trying to describe them to myself. They tag themselves as alt-country punk, and while they have some elements of both styles, neither truly fits. The closest I could get was comparing them to Violent Femmes. Then last week I played them for my SO, who immediately hit it on the head and said, "This sounds like Camper Van Beethoven."

Having never really listened to CVB, I can't say how true his assessment is. They were just one band that never grabbed me, but now I'm thinking I should go back and listen to them again, because I love Lonnie Walker so much.

Artsplosure would seem to be a perfect venue for them, but the intermittent rains on Saturday thinned the crowd considerably, and made the crowd that was there a bit lackluster. Still, they did debut a new song, and got hilariously creative with the song "Grape Juice," turning the line "fucked up" into "yup yup" for the family-oriented audience.

Lonnie Walker from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Rebusfest postponed

Just got this:

Due to the weather (plentiful rain is predicted for tomorrow) RebusFest will be postponed until Sunday, May 31. We are very sorry for any inconvenience, and hope that you can attend on the 31st!

First Harp, now Paste

OK, if you want to keep your magazine afloat, don't let me write for you. Seriously. Tonight I, and other Paste contributors, received this e-mail from Paste Editor-in-Chief Josh Jackson:

Hi all,

I know you're all very aware of the financial troubles Paste has been in, as many of you are still owed money for articles you wrote, illustrations you drew or photographs you took several months ago. We've continued to make payments to the printer and the Post Office to keep the magazine alive in hopes of digging out of our hole and have made a lot of progress on the expenses side—getting rid of the CD that accompanies Paste, cutting out most all of our travel, taking across-the-board paycuts, shrinking the page count and assigning less freelance work—all of which have kept us going, but not really helped to dig us out of the hole and make us right by you guys. The last months have been particularly hard on our cash flow and have taken us to the point where we can't get out of it on our own.

Rather than shut our doors, we're launching a reader appeal today to help save Paste. Many of the artists we've worked closely with over the years—folks like Neko Case, The Decemberists, Of Montreal, She & Him, Josh Ritter, The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls—have donated rare and exclusive tracks to give to anyone who donates to the cause. Sixthman has donated a cabin on next year's Cayamo Cruise and bands like R.E.M. and Band of Horses have donated signed posters to be given away to random supporters, as well.

Our hope is that we'll raise enough to catch all of you up to current. Short of that, we'll be catching you up as much as we can. We've hated falling further and further behind with the people who've made Paste what it is, and we know most of you rely on freelance work for your living. We can't thank you enough for your patience. And our deepest gratitude goes to those of you who've continued to write, photograph and illustrate for us as our debt to you has grown.

More information can be found on the reader appeal page, which will be going live in about 30 minutes at http://www.pastemagazine.com/savepaste, but you're also welcome to call me on my cell (removed by Karen) with any questions. If you'd like to help, the best thing you can do is share the appeal with anyone you know who enjoys seeing your work in the magazine—or anyone who might want to donate just to get some really great and exclusive music.

We look greatly forward to the days where Paste is growing in pages (and assignments) and is once again known for always paying folks on time.

Thanks for all you do for us,
Josh


From Karen: Looks like they've got some interesting items for giveaway. And it would seriously be a shame to see Paste go under.

This week's cool shows: Pick n' Bitch and more!

THIS WEEK'S SHOWS


Wednesday, May 13: Durham Rangers Old Time String Band, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 13: Snoop Dogg, Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, May 14, Matthew Barber, Milltown

Thursday, May 14: Sorry About Dresden with Dirty Little Heaters, Tir na Nog

Friday, May 15: Holidays for Quince block party, Nightlight
With Screaming Females, Bellafea, Caltrop, The Curtains of Night, In the Year of the Pig, Liza Kate (cd release), Mount Moriah, and The Moaners. More bands and details TBA.

Friday, May 15: Old Habits, Pour House


Friday, May 15: Countdown Quartet, Seaboard Cafe



Friday, May 15: Let's Get Small!: Ukulele Challenge and Benefit Concert, Pinhook
According to the Pinhook Website: Proceeds of Show (asking for suggested minimum donations of $5) go to Ukulele's for Peace.

Friday, May 15: KIFF with Dead Kings, Dive Bar


Saturday, May 16: Kreator with Exodus, Volume 11 Tavern
Classic German metal.


Saturday, May 16: Chatham County Line, Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park, Cary
3 p.m. show. Free

From the PineCone press release:

Formed in Raleigh 10 years ago, the home-grown Chatham County Line has traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, winning awards in the bluegrass world and the singer-songwriter world. Dave Wilson, the band's lead singer and guitarist, does most of the group's songwriting. John Teer (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, back-up vocals), Chandler Holt (banjo, dobro, guitar), and Greg Readling (bass, pedal steel guitar, back-up vocals) provide the foundation for Wilson's creations while adding harmony and texture that make the music shine.


SHOW OF THE WEEK

Saturday, May 16: Insplosure, so check that out as well.


Sunday, May 17: Carolina Bluegrass Festival, Koka Booth Amphitheatre


Sunday, May 17: Rebusfest
This year's fest includes The Loners, Dirty Little Heaters, Kenny Roby's Mercy Filter, The Magic Babies, Tin Star and DJ Midnight Cowboy.


Tuesday, May 19: Goes Cube, Slim's
Metal from Brooklyn with a local angle: New bass player Matt Tyson is a former Raleighite who founded the influential Ear Farm music Web site. Read more here. Check out my Five Questions interview with Matt Tyson.

Tuesday, May 19: Wizardry, The Reservoir
Brooklyn's Wizardry has songs with titles like "Drink from Thy Chalice" and "The Falconer" so you know I'll be at this one.



NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS



Wednesday, May 20: Coalition to Unchain Dogs benefit, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 20: Clutch with Wino's Band, Cat's Cradle
Wino (St. Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan) is a doom-metal legend, but due to the recent death of his bass player, he will be playing this show acoustic. Righteous Fool, the new band with Reed Mullin and Mike Dean, will also open.

Friday, May 22: Colossus with Blackholicus and Gollum, Reservoir Bar
I think it would be really funny, for fans of both bands, to put Gollum and Bombadil on the same bill.

Friday, May 23: the Old Ceremony with The Love Language.


Saturday, May 24: Hark the Sound, an Eve Carson benefit, Pour House

Wednesday, May 27: Man Will Destroy Himself, with Rotten Sound, Maruta and Bile Nephresis Slim's


Wednesday, May 27: Valient Thorr with Colossus, Pour House

Thursday, May 28: The National, Lincoln Theatre

Friday, May 29: Black Skies with Pride Parade and Dirty Little Heaters, Reservoir Bar

Friday, May 29: Viper with ,Doom Syndicate Volume 11

Friday, May 29: Tin Djinn, The Last Tallboy and The Revolutionary Sweethearts, Slim's
The Last Tallboy is a new band with the following local folks: Bill McKelvey, Bass: Joey Chorley (Trousers, Savage Nights, Formerly Another Toomstone Dreem.), Drums: Terry Ford (Savage Nights, formerly Another Toomstone Dreem) and Bart Tomlin, (A Rooster for the Masses) vocals.

Bart also sent me the following info on the other two bands:

A Tin Djinn is riffy, 70s-esque glam pop rock (think Marc Bolan, David Bowie).

The Revolutionary Sweethearts Vocals and Guitar: Brandy Tanner (Bright Boy), Bass Guitar: Rich Flickinger and Drums: Rob Lackey (A Rooster For The Masses, occasionally The Rosebuds).


Saturday, May 30: "The Voltaic Festival version 1.0 with 6 bands and a hot fashion show,"Volume 11

Saturday, May 30: Kennebec, Pour House

Saturday, May 30: Lonnie Walker CD-release party at Ahpeele Warehouse
The band will also play an in-store at Schoolkids at 5 p.m.

The Love Language: "That shit is RIGHT ON!"

(The Love Language)

I've never been one to begrudge a good band making it big. Seriously, why demand that a talented songwriter schlep across the country in a beaten-up van, sleeping on floors and playing only to a few dedicated souls while worrying that his six weeks on the road may mean the end of his part-time barista day job? If someone's good, I have no problem with them making a comfortable living that allows them to create art. I have no problem with them making a boatload of cash as long as they can maintain that creative spark (and whether or not you have to be downtrodden to be creative is a whole 'nother argument). But last night while I was at the Pour House watching The Love Language, a band that is probably going to be quitting their day jobs very soon, I couldn't help but think to myself, "Dag, I wish this awesome band didn't have so many douchebags for fans."

Let me back up for one second. As you likely know, The Love Language grew out of the Capulets (check out an old Capulets video that I shot at Kings in January, 2006), a band that had a lot of great hooks and dedicated fans of their own. So even if the Love Language hadn't been very good, they likely would have at least drawn in some of that bands old fans. But as it turns out, the Love Language is good. Hair-raisingly good. "I'm witnessing greatness in the making" good. And that's getting them written up and played by bigger fish than just the local bloggers, and putting their music in the ears of a lot of people who not only refuse to wear their baseball caps the way God intended, but not only can't communicate their love of this band with anything other than a fist bump and an ear-piercing "WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

You want proof? Just check out the video I shot of "Nocturne," the band's opening song last night at The Pour House -- a video shot from the vantage point of standing between two fools who wanted to yell over the top of my head the whole time. Among the gems you'll hear on this video: "Whoooo!" "WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" "WHOOO-HOOOO-HOOOOO!!!" and "DUDE! That dude is TALL!" All of this occurs before the band even gets to the first verse.

The Love Language - "Nocturne" from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Now, before anyone gets their panties in a wad and starts hatin' on me for hatin' on some overzealous and really loud fans (who, once again, are showing their love for an amazing band), I'll just point your attention to the title of this post. That overzealous message of approval came not from some headbanging frat boy. It came from my partner The Wizard, a normally articulate music lover who was so blown away by The Love Language, that all he could do was point and stammer, finally squeaking out "that shit is RIGHT ON!" I agree totally.

The Love Language - "Providence" from Mann's World on Vimeo.

(the Love Language - Providence)

Whatever Brains opened, and I'm happy to report I liked them a lot more this time 'round. One of my friends compared them to "Green Day meets the Sex Pistols." Personally they remind me of The Fall.

Whatever Brains from Mann's World on Vimeo.

This week's cool shows: Bowerbirds, Love Language, Roman Candle and more!

(Bowerbirds)


THIS WEEK'S SHOWS

Wednesday, May 6: Peter Lamb & the Wolves, Humble Pie
Also on May 20.



Thursday, May 7: Hearts & Daggers, Pour House
Outlaw country


Thursday, May 7: Embarrassing Fruits, Tir na Nog

Thursday, May 7: The Pneumonics, Sea Cow, Pinhook

Friday, May 8: Battle Rockets with Gray Young, Slim's

Friday, May 8: Regina Hexaphone, City Tap, Pittsboro



SHOW OF THE WEEK
Friday, May 8: Bowerbirds with La Strada and Wes Phillips, Local 506
Get a sneak peak at the new Bowerbirds CD on Friday. They'll be previewing new material from their upcoming CD, "Upper Air," set for release on June 7.


Saturday, May 9: Antiseen, Volume 11 Tavern
It's kind of weird to call this band "venerable" but after 25 years, I think they deserve the term.

Saturday, May 9: Red Collar, Local 506

Saturday, May 9: The Love Language and Whatever Brains, Pour House
Check out my Five Questions interview with the Love Language's Stu McLamb on New Raleigh!

Saturday, May 9: Grappling Hook, Minor Stars and Le Weekend, Pinhook


Saturday, May 9: Roman Candle, Cat's Cradle
The delimma of the evening: Whether to catch The Love Language at Pour House or Roman Candle at the Cradle. Since the Love Langueage is playing around a good bit, you might be better off to check out the always-entertaining Roman Candle. But if you haven't yet seen The Love Language, you really should catch them before they're too big for the clubs.


Sunday, May 10: Mommie at Tookie's Toys/Moxie Kids, Cameron Village
Mommie is an all-star local kids' music band, who will be playing a Mother's Day show at 4 p.m. at a toy store in Cameron Village. This is a good, free, kid-friendly show of interest not only to hip parents, but to fans of guitarist Bo Taylor (Motorolla/Motorcaster, Bandway), who is apparently playing organ for this particular show. Bring a chair.



Sunday, May 10: Dash Rip Rock, Pour House

Monday, May 11: Ghost, Local 506
Japanese psychedelic freak rock.



NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS


Wednesday, May 13: Durham Rangers Old Time String Band, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 13: Snoop Dogg, Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, May 14, Matthew Barber, Milltown

Thursday, May 14: Sorry About Dresden with Dirty Little Heaters, Tir na Nog

Friday, May 15: Holidays for Quince block party, Nightlight
With Screaming Females, Bellafea, Caltrop, The Curtains of Night, In the Year of the Pig, Liza Kate (cd release), Mount Moriah, and The Moaners. More bands and details TBA.

Friday, May 15: Old Habits, Pour House


Friday, May 15: Countdown Quartet, Seaboard Cafe



Friday, May 15: Let's Get Small!: Ukulele Challenge and Benefit Concert, Pinhook
According to the Pinhook Website: Proceeds of Show (asking for suggested minimum donations of $5) go to Ukulele's for Peace.

Friday, May 15: KIFF with Dead Kings, Dive Bar


Saturday, May 16: Kreator with Exodus, Volume 11 Tavern


Saturday, May 16: Chatham County Line, Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park, Cary
3 p.m. show. Free

From the PineCone press release:

Formed in Raleigh 10 years ago, the home-grown Chatham County Line has traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, winning awards in the bluegrass world and the singer-songwriter world. Dave Wilson, the band's lead singer and guitarist, does most of the group's songwriting. John Teer (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, back-up vocals), Chandler Holt (banjo, dobro, guitar), and Greg Readling (bass, pedal steel guitar, back-up vocals) provide the foundation for Wilson's creations while adding harmony and texture that make the music shine.



Saturday, May 16: Insplosure, so check that out as well.


Sunday, May 17: Carolina Bluegrass Festival, Koka Booth Amphitheatre


Sunday, May 17: Rebusfest
This year's fest includes The Loners, Dirty Little Heaters, Kenny Roby's Mercy Filter, The Magic Babies, Tin Star and DJ Midnight Cowboy.


Tuesday, May 19: Goes Cube, Slim's
Metal from Brooklyn with a local angle: New bass player Matt Tyson is a former Raleighite who founded the influential Ear Farm music Web site. Read more here.

Tuesday, May 19: Wizardry, The Reservoir
Brooklyn's Wizardry has songs with titles like "Drink from Thy Chalice" and "The Falconer" so you know I'll be at this one.

UPCOMING IN GENERAL

Wednesday, May 20: Coalition to Unchain Dogs benefit, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 20: Clutch with Wino's Band, Cat's Cradle
I truly couldn't care less about Clutch, but Wino (St. Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan) is a doom-metal legend. If you're into heavy music at all, you absolutely need to see this show.
UPDATE: Due to the recent death of his bass player, Wino is going to continue the tour acoustic. I don't know how in the world that's going to work, but it sounds interesting.

Friday, May 22: Colossus with Blackholicus and Gollum, Reservoir Bar
I think it would be really funny, for fans of both bands, to put Gollum and Bombadil on the same bill.

Friday, May 23: the Old Ceremony with The Love Language.


Saturday, May 24: Hark the Sound, an Eve Carson benefit, Pour House

Check out my interview with Stu McLamb

Just published on New Raleigh, my interview with The Love Language's Stu McLamb. Thanks to Stu for doing this, and thanks to Bladen County Records owner (and former Raleighite) Matt Brown for facilitating.