Photos of KEN Mode, Inter Arma and Hog

(Inter Arma)

This one's going to be quick. KEN Mode, Inter Arma and Hog played Local 506 this past Saturday night (Aug. 3). All three bands were great, most especially Inter Arma, who put on the best show I've seen by them this year. I know I saw that every time I see them, but each show really is better than the last. I had been on the fence about going to Hopscotch, but now I might get a ticket just to see them on Saturday at the Lincoln Theatre. 

I hadn't seen Hog in quite some time. Their set seemed completely new to me. Their guitarist, Alec Ferrell, told me they have a record done, and are now just figuring out how to release it. I'm looking forward to hearing it. See more photos. 

This week's cool shows: ANTiSEEN, the dBs, Witch Mountain and more

It's going to be a good week for longtime fans of North Carolina music. Two of the state's most venerable bands -- from very different spots on the musical spectrum -- are playing Saturday night. ANTiSEEN, which celebrates 25 years this year, will bring the mayhem to Slim's along with KIFF and Bad Idea for the Show of the Week. If ANTiSEEN celebrating 25 years doesn't make you feel old, I don't know what will. Meanwhile the dB's will hold a record-release party for their first album with all-original members in 30 years over at Motorco.

Also this week in Raleigh, female-fronted Portland doomsters Witch Mountain will play Kings with Hog and Lord Dying (also from Portland) this Wednesday (tomorrow night).

Hopscotch Day Parties, Day 3: Mann's World Party and Local Time

Many thanks to everyone who came out to my day party yesterday at Kings! The bands sounded awesome, and we had a good crowd. Thanks to all the bands who played, thanks to Patrick from Death Came Down the Mountain who actually flew in from Portland for the show, thanks to Kings for letting me hold it at the club, and thanks to Kaci from Pabst Blue Ribbon who came out and gave out some cool goodies, including bike bells, T-shirts and headbands. We got started a little late, but we had fun. 

Hog was the first band. 

Hog at the Mann's World Day Party from Mann's World on Vimeo.

MAKE from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Death Came Down the Mountain from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Black Skies from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Before my show I caught Flute Flies at the Raleigh Times Local Time party.

The Flute Flies from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Weekend wrap-up: Bad videos from Ragnarock

I have to say, maintaining this blog, and taking photos at shows had made me appreciate light men (and women) everywhere. Seriously, there are a lot of clubs in this area that take great care with their sound (and some who don't) but few who bother to make sure the band looks good on stage. Now, by saying that, I don't mean to completely rip apart Reservoir, because they are hardly the only club in this area with bad lighting, but as you can see from these videos, their lighting is pretty godawful.

I caught much of the Saturday Ragnarok show at Reservoir, mainly so I could check out MAKE (above). As you may know, they're one of the band playing my day party during Hopscotch. And I had booked them simply on the strength of their recorded output. I am glad (and thankful!) to say that they rock just as hard live as they do on their recordings. Their show Saturday was amazing, and thanks to the fact that the lights were left all the way up during the show, it's the only video that even halfway decent. The others are almost pitch black and good for listening only.


MAKE from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Following MAKE were In the Year of the Pig, Systems and Ruscha. Ruscha didn't do it for me (though i'll give them another try), and Systems grew on me during the show. In the Year of the Pig was great, especially Dave Cantwell's super powerful drumming.


In the Year of the Pig from Mann's World on Vimeo.


Systems from Mann's World on Vimeo.


Ruscha from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Announcing: The Mann's World Hopscotch Day Party!

On Saturday, Sept. 11, yours truly will present a Hopscotch day party at Kings with four of my favorite heavy local bands! This is going to be a free show, and will take place during the afternoon (start time isn't set, but it will definitely be done by 5:30 p.m. so you can go catch Public Enemy and the Love Language).

I'm proud to announce that the line up will consist of two of my long-time favorites: Black Skies (above) and Caltrop;  plus two bands that have recently blown me away: MAKE and Hog. In fact I'm so impressed with MAKE that I put them on this bill without ever having seen them live. They're that good.

This is a FREE show, and will be a good appetizer for the amazing Hopscotch show to happen at the Berkeley (U.S. Christmas, Kylessa, Weedeater, In the Year of the Pig) and the Pour House (Dungen) that evening. I should also note that this is not an official Hopscotch event, but that Grayson and Greg have been very cool about helping those of us (including Trekky Records, Churchkey and 307 Knox) who are putting on day shows.

I am really excited about this show and hope you all can make it -- and since it's a free show, I hope you drink lots of beer and buy lots of merchandise to make it worthwhile for Kings and the bands.

See you there!

Video of Hog, Bastard Sapling and Inter Arma

Since Durham's Hog (above) often plays with Caltrop (one of my local favorites) I thought it possible I might like them too. Turns out I like them a lot. So much so that I'm going to check them out again tomorrow at the July 4 Metal BBQ at Nightlight. This is a daylong event starting at 3 p.m. so get there early!

Here's video of Hog on Thursday night at Slim's. Hog opened the show, followed by Richmond's Bastard Sapling and Inter Arma, both of which shared several members. Bastard Sapling was a little too black metal for my tastes, but I liked the doomier Inter Arma. Caltrop still wasn't on at 1 a.m., so I had to skip them. See more photos.

(Inter Arma)


Hog from Mann's World on Vimeo.


Bastard Sapling from Mann's World on Vimeo.


Inter Arma from Mann's World on Vimeo.