Weekly wrapup and looking ahead - week of Feb 15, 2013

Closing in on the last couple weeks of my day job and my show calendar is filling up nicely. I'm still not 100% what the future holds for me professionally, but I am working behind the scenes to try and step up the blogging and show review content... to be continued!

Local Beer, Local Band: Katharine Whelan and A Mad Affair - Tir Na Nog - 02/07/13

Not a densely attended show, once again, I will blame the weather... It was raining and cold and overall shitty out... but I finally got to see Ms. Whelan do her solo thing:

 

Seeing live music with musicians is always a completely different experience than seeing a band with buddies who just like music... I spent the majority of her set absorbing comments from Jay and Brian re: "What kind of guitar is that, that she's playing?" (a tenor guitar) and the pointing out of the U2-esque VOX amp, as you can kinda see to her left. the boys practically tripped over themselves to get up front first after her set to get the scoop.

I enjoyed the set, it was a lot more down-tempo than most, right up until the last song that kicked a little swing. I knew to expect subdued, as the only thing I've really heard from her post-SNZ's is the work she did with Stephin Merritt for the 6ths albums (ps, if you've not investigated these albums, I highly recommend "Hyacinths and Thistles"...) I'd be interested to hear recorded work, but google seaches leave me empty handed... anyone?

My Friend Valerie's band was next - A Mad Affair

A Mad Affair is basically everything that is still a little bit pure and chaste in local indie-folk music; the perfect formula of acoustic guitar, upright bass and ukelele... Valerie has always had one of the most stunning voices I have ever heard and it seems to have been created specifically for the bright, cheery, quirky Americana folk sound that these three have found together. I wish I had seen this show on a warm April Sunday afternoon outside on a porch with a Sangria and paper fan, rather than stuck in the dark dreary rainy almost midnight Irish pub... But hey, maybe that's the point, the sweetness of it all makes you a little bit warmer on the inside. Favorite moment: the cover of "Tonight You Belong to Me" from the Jerk. I was soooo waiting for that trumpet solo!!! (it didn't happen). A Mad Affair is one of those bands where, if I ever can find myself in a situation where I want to marry someone and I get that dream wedding by the lake with paper lanterns and a pig pickin', I'd love them to play.


Saturday: Gray Young in-store performance at Schoolkid's - 02/09/13

I forgot to take this after the show, I will never forgive myself.

Are you tired of hearing about Gray Young in my blog? HAHA TOO BAD. Okay seriously, if I had consistent access to U2 or Morrissey shows, the way I do to Gray Young, then you would only be seeing U2 posts. But I do not, so you see Gray Young posts...

the boys played for about 30-40 minutes worth of material from the new Album, Bonfire, which was released like... sometime... recently... I don't know... I should know. February... sometime. (I did the kickstarter thing and the guys know I am the superfan, so I've been hearing a lot of these songs for a while. and I got my vinyl copy in the mail a while back... but I did buy myself a CD version after the performance, just to cover all bases.) We also got a random Staysail song, which, I think we can all agree, is perfectly acceptable aka WONDERFUL.

Chas takes a random stroll around to browse the diverse selection of vinyl, mid-song... I AM KIDDING. he is just being awesome, as per yooshe.

I took 8,000 pictures, as is par for the course, but I feel this is the moral imperative as the self-appointed fanclub president. that being said, I REALLY LIKE THIS ONE, but it is quasi-Dopko deficient :/

I  haven't really gotten the chance to review Bonfire on the blog, but I am worried that I will come across as too gushy and biased (I am). I have thought about it since I first heard it a few weeks back, as to what I would say about it, but I keep coming to the conclusion that any attempt would be akin to a mother writing an essay about why her kid is the smartest and cutest kid in the world. 

DON'T FORGET: (Like I would let you): The CD Release Party with Wesley Wolfe and Bronzed Chorus has been rescheduled for March 29 at King's!!!

Here is how happy I am after a Gray Young show:

note: U2 shirt peeking out - unplanned but excellent!

Brian wanted me to close out my weekly review by giving the random guy playing acoustic Paul Simon cover songs, etc., in the front room at O'Malley's Pub last night. We had a brief discussion about being "that guy playing music at the front of the bar no one is looking at"... I've never been "that guy" - I am too ragingly ego-maniacal. I would break down and cause a scene, probably.

Other local music news 

(btw, anyone have any opinion or interest in the arbitrary "Just Announced shows" posts? They are fun for me to write and scoop other blogs, but I'm not sure if sticking with just the bi-weekly wrapups is the key or not. I'd be interested in your thoughts!)

• Just announced: The Black Keys and Flaming Lips at Walnut Creek, July 11. tickets on sale 02/15, or Black Keys fanclub presales go up Thursday, 02/14/13. That'd be a nice Valentines' gift, eh? I'd like to go to this and the prices seem reasonable ($30-$60) but I don't know, I was so spoiled by Hopscotch...
• WKNC has a thorough article up on their blog re: Art Lord and the Self-Portraits, who are playing their 10th anniversary show at King's Thursday night.They are playing with Lonnie Walker.  (Lonnie Walker opening for Future Islands??? WHOEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING! - said no one ever.) Also Sam Herring (Future Islands) is playing a FREE show tonight in the front room of 506 tonight with Rapdragons and 83 Cutlass at 9pm - RANDOM!
• Brian John Mitchell aka Remora aka my boyfriend has launched a new Kickstarter campaign called "Droneuary" - "A month recording thirty hours of songs & drones of source material for Remora's new album." I couldn't be more proud. Also, it would appear that several local and not so local artists may appear on the recordings (including yours truly!)
•  This week: 
• Art Lord (aka Future Islands) at King's, Thursday (Valentine's Day) 02/14/13
• The Love Hangover at King's, Friday 02/15/13
• Caspian at Local 506, Saturday, 02/16/13

• Just Announced:
• WAVVES at King's, April 14th
• DUCKTAILS at King's, March 7th 
• FOALS in Charlotte at the Neighborhood Theater, May 1. With Surfer Blood. I gotta make this happen. I've tried to see Foals twice now. love them.They are also playing the Orange Peel in Asheville on June 12. Maybe I do both, eh???

Where I've been, Where I'm going - week of Jan 25, 2013

Busy, Busy, Busy!

First some news:

• If you missed it, be sure to check out my local venue guide (made some changes this morning in, fact!)
• My good friends at Crank Arm Brewing Company have their Kickstarter Launch Party / Beer Tasting Tomorrow (Friday) night at Raleigh Times from 5-8. If you haven't already, you should hit up their Kickstarter and get psyched for the opening of the Brewery this Spring (in the former White Collar Crime space)
• I found out this past week that I am being laid off from my current position of 8 years at the end of February. this means several things; you will probably see more updates from me, as I may be having more time to do so and I will be working on more personal projects... SUCH AS: My boyfriend and I have started a Custom Button Printing side project. contact info, templates and prices are listed in the link!
• Holy Shit it is cold outside! 

Where I've been:

• Jan 12, my buddy Courtney and I wandered off to Chapel Hill for the 2012  Tar Heel Soundfest. It took place at three venues (Cave, Nightlight and 506) and I was pretty disappointed by the turnout, but the sound was amazing. Ended the night at 506 with White Cascade:  

•  After hearing the news about my layoff, my boyfriend (Brian John Mitchell) and I headed down to Myrtle Beach. He played a show (As Remora) with Wicked Gift and Feel No Other at a fairly decent Biker-ish Bar called the Rockin' Hard Saloon. I thought Brian was excellent, but the patrons of the bar were blitzed and surly and the set was cut short. The other bands were excellent and hey, guess what... Myrtle Beach has a music scene...! Who knew?? (Interesting fact: I got folks to do the electric slide.)

• A last minute addition to the weekend, Brian and I found ourselves at the "first of an upcoming matinee series" of shows at Chapel Hill Underground. The show started 6ish with a band called The Bros. Alien, as the headliners... One of Silber's band's, Irata (amazing, btw) and then something new and yummy: a band called Set and Setting, from St. Pete Florida. I'd highly recommend giving these guys a listen - double drummer sludgy post-rock... aw yiss!!! They (along with Irata) are playing at The Flat Iron in Greensboro this coming Sunday if you are around.

Where I'm going:

•  Tonight is officially side-Project night at Tir Na Nog for LBLB; Bands/performers from North Elementary, Schooner, etc will be playing. I cannot confirm 100% that I will be at this show, as it is barely going to get above freezing today, so like... I dunno, man. I wanna, but dang.
• Tomorrow night I would walk through the fires of hell or infinite snow-drifts for... GRAY YOUNG'S CD RELEASE PARTY!!! the new album, Bonfire, is being "officially" released (although, those of us that backed their kickstarter already have a sneak peek ;)) They are playing with Wesley Wolfe and the Bronzed Chorus at King's Barcade. Doors at 9, no pre-sale tickets, so get there early! SNOW, BE DAMNED!
• January's 919noise showcase is going to be at Nighlight on Jan 30. featuring M is We and Isotroposphere
• Thursday, Jan 31, Brian and I will be at Maya on Tate in Greensboro; he will be performing/providing ambient drone for a feminist poetry reading... word.
• DILEMMA TIME: (Brian/silber will have a vendor booth at double barrell, but dang lookit that lineup for the metalfest!!!) .....Feb 1-2:  Double Barrell Benefit at the Pour House **OR** Feb 1-2  Second Annual Bull City Metal Fest at Casbah - what's a girl to do??

Look-ahead, get this on your radar now:

• The (14th annual) Love Hangover is at King's Feb 15...  a tradition and an added Bonus: Erik Sugg (of Corvette Summer) and Rose Higgins (who demolished us all as Janis Joplin at this year's Great Coverup) are playing a set together!!! also... Maria and Reid are playing a set together and I may barf. (i kid.... xoxoxo...)
• Caspian will be at the Local 506 on Feb 16 (been looking forward to this fo-evah)
• Menomena will be at Motorco on Feb 20 (not to be missed. if you've never seen them live, you're missing out!)

 Holler if you spot something i've missed that is like all, not to be missed and such.
xoxo
karla anne

Karla Anne‘s Raleigh(ish) Live Music Resource Guide for Performers and Voyeurs

This is something I was recently urged to publish by some local musicians/bands/fans... How does my music calendar stay so flush? How do I know when and where to be? How do I know the folks I know to contact when trying to get myself or other bands booked? This is a pretty basic resource guide to the resources I use to stay active in the “scene,” man.

SO YOU WANT TO PLAY A SHOW, EH?

Just you, your acoustic, and a suitcase full of dreams, right? Well, pony up, Tracey Chapman: here’s where to start. These are your bare-ass-basic Open Mic Night venues and “Hey, you got anything open on a Tuesday at 6pm?” venues. And by “venue” I mean, there is probably a mic stand somewhere in this bar. But hey, Everybody’s gotta start somewhere… if you’re in the DTR, this is where you take the big leap. Or, if you’re bored, there’s nothing going on at any of the regular hotspots, and you want to pretend you’re a music scout, go to these places... Find a cool new band before all your friends do.

Note: these are literally in no order what-so-ever... Just listed as I thought of them... Professional!

• Trali Irish Pub – Way up on Brier Creek, but they have live music on Friday and Saturday nights

• Spy – Mostly a dance club, but sometimes live mix Djs – this is mostly for the house music scene kids

• London Bridge – Same as Spy, but I have a strong booking contact here for summer concert series/hopscotch day shows or DJ sets.

• Architect – stay away on the weekends, unless for sure you know who is DJ’ing or if there is a Hip Hop Act you are looking to see. This place is bizarre. I’ve only really wound up there on a lark with the Graffiti kids to see hip hop shit. They have a secret VIP area... What?

• Royal James – So far, I’ve wandered in on two shows here. They have a pretty cute/decent setup here, excellent patio, and best art in town, but they just need a consistent scene. I don’t think it could be too hard to get a show here as they are pretty new and eager for a crowd.

• Woody’s City Market – Live music Friday nights... Email to book. I don’t know these guys, really. Sometimes there are DJs on Saturdays.

• Overtime Sports Pub – way up on New Bern almost to 540, but Acoustic Open Mic night on Thursdays and their site says “LIVE BANDS FRIDAYS” but I have never seen a band play here. Someone go play there, that would be interesting and I’m always up for decent cheese fries.

• Zydeco – (across from Woody’s in City Market) – no idea when or who plays here, but there are shows always listed on their site and I hear music coming from there all the time. A couple times this past summer they set up a live stage out in the parking lot… kinda cool.

• Napper Tandy’s – of all the Irish Pubs that swarmed DTR in the mid 2000’s, Napper’s is still my favorite. Best food, best staff, best Trivia night, and overall best. They have live music on Saturday nights and isn’t hard to get on the calendar, you just have to get in line. Also, trivia is Tuesday nights and it is the best because they have a “name that tune” round – aww yisss.

• Irregardless Café – a lot more live music is played here than you would think or than you probably remember. Check out their Google calendar, like, every day there is something. I would assume you would need to be acoustic/low key to play here, so like… Colossus, you dudes stay home… or just come for the delightful brunch.

• 42^nd Street Oyster Bar– on the Lounge side on Fridays and Saturdays. Also added bonus of freshest/best seafood in town… And now I crave crab legs.

• Loafers Beach Club – on Creekside by Longbranch. Obviously this is a Shag/Beach music club, but they do have live music. It’s just pretty freakin specific.

• Champions Mission Valley – I’m not going to post every Karaoke night in town, but this is where I go for my Karaoke (Monday nights). Tuesday nights is an open mic blues jam. Random Saturdays they have live music. Also, there is always a drum kit on stage there. It is like, a house drum kit? That is a mystery to me.

• Champions Plaza West – Over by the Harris Teeter near Warlock’s – Live music Friday nights. Sometimes.

• Brewmaster’s – (if that’s still what it’s called)Was Cherrybomb at some point, used to be Joe’s Place. They have a music calendar, sorta.

• Pickled Onion – up on Falls of the Neuse - acoustic open mic on Tuesdays, live music (sometimes) on Saturdays

• Fat Daddy’s – they have live music down in the pool hall sometimes. Not sure about open mic nights or whatnot. Check their facebook? 

• Schoolkids Records – they have an events page that is never updated, but if you like them on facebook, they have random in store shows all the time.

• Katmandu – This used to be The Comet, which used to be attached to the Brewery. Somehow, and I’m not even sure, this new little like, emo/screamo-straightedge-baby punk scene has taken it over. I wouldn’t know this except I hang out at Cup a Joe on Hillsborough street pretty much always and these kids overflow into Cup, because they don’t drink, or maybe are too young to drink. And there are always flyers on the windows of Cup now for bands, scrawled with drippy blood fonts, and named “My Uncle is trying to Kill Me” or “Wherever You Want To Eat Tonight Is Fine With Me Just Not Red Lobster Again”. I don’t understand this scene. It makes me feel old. But I keep thinking I’m going to wander over there and see what the hell is going on, I just can’t get the Care enough to do it. This bar had cornhole tournaments, Jägerbomb specials, is right across the street from East Village and was frat-central until like, a minute ago… like I said, I am clueless on this one. If anyone can clarify WTF is going on over there or can find a link to a show calendar, please comment.

• Hope Café – Part of a church, but they have live bluegrass on Thursdays and live music on Saturdays, but assume it is... Wholesome? This is south of Raleigh off Tryon, kinda near Larry’s Soul food Buffet.

• Brooklyn Heights – not been here yet, as its GloSo (Glenwood south) and I tend to avoid that shit like the plague, but they have live music often, or so their website would imply. Looks cute; I’d go.

• Mandolin – Five points-ish – over where no restaurant could ever last on the corner of Oberlin and Fairview. So far this place is getting rave food reviews, so they added a live music night on Tuesdays in their bar. I’ve not hit it up yet, but one of you guys go play, so I can check it out.

• The Oxford – I’ve never gone to a “show” here because the atmosphere, not unlike Isaac Hunters or Big Easy, is so tribal tattooish, ex-Marine, and meatheadly that I can’t handle it. And yes, I know I come off like a smarmy hipster bitch here, but I promise. I have tried to like these places; I’ve just been burned repeatedly… ANYWAY… Oxford has a live music calendar on their site. Someone is apparently booking these shows for people. You check it out. If I like you enough, I’ll go. I mean, let’s be honest, is The Oxford really gonna book like, Goner or something? No. they are not cool enough for Goner. But honestly... who is?

• Busy Bee – I dunno. Or the Hive. I’ve only really seen Hopscotch day shows here. But there is a ton of shit on their calendar all the time. Just like… not anything I care about.

• Sadlack's –Anybody can play Sadlack’s. If you don’t mind playing a show at 4pm on a Tuesday, then this is your place. but also, Sadlack’s is an institution and I will be loyal until the end. But hey - I’ve seen tons of “bigger” shows here as well. Some of my best Hopscotch day shows have been at Sad’s.  Also they have amazing food. Also Michael is the most blazingly hot bartender on earth and I am quasi-smitten with him (sorry, his wife – I kid!)

• Black Flower – I have had no luck with this place. Not seen any decent shows here, but I refuse to give up on its validity, especially now that Dive Bar has bitten dust. Their event page confuses me and I have never had a real reason to go, but I keep thinking one day I might.  

SO YOU’RE BORED BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO RISK IT AT SLIM’S WITH THE GUTTERPUNKS / HIPSTERS

Some or most of these places are actually Museums or Galleries… These places don’t always have shows, but sometimes they do. Follow them on facebook or check their sites. Or if you’re looking to book with these venues, contact them via facebook or their website. I mostly don’t have any sort of contact with these venues, but some of their events I have attended. I’ve mostly only seen live stuff at these sites for Hopscotch or Summer Concert Series.

• 18 Seaboard – mostly summer concert series in conjunction with J Betski’s, etc.

• NC Museum of Art – Blue Ridge Rd – the best are the concert/movie combos they do in the summer.  (I met Kate Pierson of the B-52s because of one of these shows – AWESOME.) I check their calendar often.

• Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) – still getting its footing, but gaining momentum. A big hit on First Fridays. Music shows there are totally arbitrary. Definitely a Hopscotch Day Show venue, though.

• Amplified Art – I’m assuming this place is still open, although I haven’t seen any shows there in like a year. Mostly a gallery, but like, a really cool Pop Art Gallery, lots of show flyers, etc.

• NCSU Stuff – Check this main, big-ass calendar for events on campus. Anything from lectures, art shows, movies, or music.

THE REGULAR SPOTS, IN ABSOLUTELY NO ORDER

I will link direct to the events pages for show-attendees

• The Nightlight (Chapel Hill) – remember this used to be the Skylight Exchange? I loved Skylight so much. Now, I don’t know. looks like someone’s basement. But folks play here. Somehow.

• The Cave (Chapel Hill) – co-owned by Slims’ folks in Raleigh. Mostly local acts, but sometimes curveballs show up.

• Chapel Hill Underground - Once upon a time this place used to be called "Hell" - don't know much about what's going here, but I am going to a show here Sunday night, so I will let you know. 

• Pinhook (Durham) – mostly local, mostly trivia night and/or the bartenders amusing themselves with random shit, but again, curveballs… I saw Shonen Knife here about a year ago… SHONEN KNIFE! Random…

• Motorco (Durham) –despite the “drama” associated with this site, I still have loyalties to it, as I helped dig it out of the ground. This venue seems to go through ups and downs, busy local acts, then nada (NFL games are the only thing on the roster?) then suddenly – WHOA! I AM GOING TO SEE MENOMENA THERE IN FEB! YAY! Random…

• Casbah (Durham) – I’ve really only gone to see friends’ bands there. When I think about Casbah, I miss Troika.

• Broad Street Café (Durham) –  I’ve seen some of the best shows of my life here. (aka Vienna Teng!) Always worth a look to see who is showing up here.  They also have an Open Mic night, but I’ve never been.

• Fullsteam Brewery (Durham) – their calendar is mostly food trucks, but I swear I’ve seen live music here before.

• Duke Coffeehouse (Durham) – not a huge venue and not often truly “booked” but some really cool stuff comes through here sometimes.

• Haw River Ballroom (Saxapahaw) – For the right act, it’s worth the drive.

• Local 506 (Chapel Hill) – 50/50 amazing shows and total doo-doo. Most of my worst AND best drunk stories about shows are somehow always centered around 506. Might have something to do with those massive PBRs they sell. (PS - dear 506, thank you for finally getting a real website calendar - love it!)

• Cat’s Cradle (Carrboro) – there is always something going here - insider info, go to the Station after the show, that's where the bands hang out, man! Sometimes they get on the "stage" (seen it happen a couple times. fun.)

Raleigh only:

• Deep South – These guys will take care of you, good people, good venue. They have Open Mics on ...Tuesdays I believe? This is one of my favorites and a good “foot in the door” to the Raleigh scene open mic night for beginners. Unless you suck, then can’t nobody save you.

• Slim’s – the launching pad for everyone, if we ever lose Slim’s, we will lose the scene. I stand firm by this belief.

• King’s Barcade – Viva Kings! If you are a carryover from the olden McDowell Street days, you know how vital King’s is to the Raleigh music scene. If you are new to the scene, then you know how vital King’s is to Raleigh music. King’s is Raleigh’s answer to Cat’s Cradle… there is always something worth seeing. I have been known many, many times to just… go, even when I have no idea who is playing. The dream is to get shows to skip Chapel Hill and come to King’s. I fight on. I will tell you guys trying to book – you will need music up online for Paul to hear first and then assume a 2-3 month lead time to confirm.

• The PourHouse – scenesters would probably refer to this as “the hippie bar”, but they have a pretty diverse schedule. Back in the day, sure, it was all Pink Floyd and Phish cover bands, but I think Hopscotch raised PH’s cred a notch or two.  As far as I know, they still have open mic on Mondays.

• Berkeley – Used to be like, a blues bar. Then Berkeley was the hub of the drum n bass/jungle/house music scene in Raleigh, and then all of a sudden (pre-Dive Bar) it was like, all hardcore shows. Now I have no idea. Like I said, I just really miss their blues open mic night. I don’t think I’ve gone to a show here specifically outside of Hopscotch … like… ever. No real reason, just no shows have drawn me here.

• Longbranch – Hey man, you never know. a few years ago I saw Jerry Lee Lewis here. and he played the piano with his ASS, therefore I will always give LB a peek.  Apparently Longbranch is drawing in this wild house/club scene. I couldn’t say for sure, as I am thoroughly not interested in a house music scene that would bloom from a country and western bar.

• Lincoln Theater – Oh, let me tirade about Lincoln for a minute… I could go on forever, but I will summarize. I think Lincoln Theater is *the* best venue in Raleigh, but I cannot figure out what the fucking problem is here? Why can they not bring in shows? The sound/board/staff/parking/everything about Lincoln blows the Cradle out of the water, but I cannot figure out why they can’t book shows? Like, someone amazing comes in about every other month and the rest of the time it serves as a glorified cover band palace. I really want to talk to their booking agent and figure out how to fix this. it makes me crazy. I love Lincoln, I want to see the better/bigger bands omit the Cradle and come to Lincoln. Let’s make this happen, people.

• Tir Na Nog – When it’s not random-ass Irish bands, this is pretty much the place we are all at on Thursday nights for Local Beer, Local Band… God Bless Tamplin.

• White Collar Crime – Crank Arm Brewing Co - Not sure if this will have show space yet or not. to open Spring 2013. Go hit their Kickstarter NOW if you haven't already :)

• Southland Ballroom – I have yet to step foot in this place, but they have the most eclectic and bizarre show calendar ever, I always check it just for the amusement factor. Maybe one day someone incredible will pop up on there – who knows???

ARE YOU FAMOUS? YOU WILL PROBABLY PLAY HERE & I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG – CALL YOUR AGENT

I have zero contacts to these places, because I am not famous. But I always check these sites for cool shows that might pop through, because you never know.

• Red Hat Amphitheater – call it whatever you want, DTR-er’s will still just keep calling it The Walt.

• Koka Booth Amphitheater – in Cary, worth the drive. Usually.

• Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts – this site lists all three of the auditoriums (Meymandi, Fletcher, Memorial) and their upcoming shows/performances

• DPAC – sometimes music, sometimes lectures/stand-up, sometimes theater, always worth a look.

• The Ritz – (was disco rodeo, was the Ritz, now the Ritz again) – they don’t have their own site, as far as I can tell. I think mostly it is like, “Cat’s Cradle Presents At...” but I’ve found ticketmaster typically lists the current bookings with tickets for sale

• Carolina Performing Arts Center – mostly classical and all snooty; but I have a weakness for “world music” and there will forever be some Ozomatli or Fela Kuti popping through on here.

• PNC Arena – I dunno. Taylor Swift. Or Hockey Games. You never know. You may just be better off trolling Ticketmaster for this venue.

• Raleigh Convention Center – check this calendar, it’s weird; sometimes there is music on it.

CATCH-ALL

This is an invaluable calendar to have bookmarked. Anything you may have missed on your radar; music, arts, theater, oddball shenanigans, festivals, etc… it’ll show up here.

Truth: I check this site every day.

• Downtown Raleigh Alliance Events Calendar

And as always, you can hit my Google Calendar to see when and where I’ll be if you’d like to stalk me or simply trust my excellent music judgment skills and tag along. 

I'm planning on this being a "living document" and I am open to suggestions, corrections or additions.

The Heart is a Bloom

i AM IRRITATED WITH MYSELF.

I haven't been to any shows in a long time.  I went to LBLB with Roo (of course) a couple weeks ago in an attempt to see Leugo, but was so distracted by actually being out and about that i forgot to watch the shows (of course). Not so soon after, I wandered up to King's to see some low-fi deepthrashmetal band I have actually never even heard of, but i got in for free, so i went. and everyone was wearing black. and i was wearing a bright white U2 WAR shirt (of course). so I felt slightly out of place before suddenly realizing it was after midnight and i had to be up for work the next morning and bolting.
then i was sitting here on a Saturday night with $7 in my checking account and listening to my morrissey pandora station, feeling slightly sorry for myself, re-reading past entries and being frustrated with myself for not going to more shows. i miss shows.

then i had this crazy revelation. Imagine...! imagine if i had been writing reviews since the beginning; I was 15 years old the first time i saw U2 in 1992 when the Pixies were the opening act. And you know, in a weird way, i almost did. I have been a writer my whole life, to be honest. I made a list the moment we got home and stuck it inside the $25 ZOOtv program i bought that night in Hampton, VA and entitled it "THINGS I WILL NEVER FORGET ABOUT TONIGHT" ... there were things like "the screaming pixies guy" and "the guys with the big papier-mache heads wandering through the crowd before the show" and "BP Fallon in the Trabant before the show" and "the guy on the bus on the way home that kept softly calling out the "woo-woooooo"'s from BAD". I don't know why i felt it necessary to write that list, i apparently have a memory like a steel trap. i could tell you pretty much 99% of the occurrences, start to finish, of that whole evening despite the fact that, yes, it was 20 years ago.

and i'm suddenly realizing I've been a super duper mega-ultra U2 superfan for 20 years.... NICE. *self-high-five*

SO... I'm listening to the Moz Pandora, and we got a little "disappointed" popping up right now and I start thinking about wow... what if i had known what to do back then? If i had known that i could have written this sort of thing instead of hoarding NMEs and Selects and Spin magazines? I saw moz for the first time in 1995 at the Ritz (now Disco Rodeo) in Raleigh. he played three or so songs before storming off stage because of his discontent with the security at the show. (he said "Gently, Gently... It's not World War Three" before walking off stage. le sigh!) I was not disappointed. I was a weepy mess. I am a morrissey-cryer. He comes out, I sob like a baby until he walks away. that's how it goes. I have seen him several times since, including Dublin, Ireland, and the same thing happened... weepy mess.

So If i start listing it all out, from the early onsets of Raleigh's own Johnny Quest, to Elbow, or Moz, or James, or Tricky, or Beck, or Moby... If I really let myself think about it; i may not have the world's most impressive resume, you know? I don't have a degree from a super prestigious school and I've been in mostly administrative accounting positions for the majority of my adult career... but, man oh man, if you start listing out the shows... the bands... the amazing shows I have seen... the incredible musics that have gone in these slowly failing ear-holes, I do not know many who can top it, except my baby boomer friend at work who went to Woodstock... The ORIGINAL Woodstock. bad-ass.

So here is my idea. I am going to list out a few shows. Some real goodun's that I've had the absolute privilege to see, and let you guys vote, via comments as to which 'blast from the past' review i shall write for my next review. bearing in mind however, unless i find shit online, there will be no pics or proof of my attendance. it will be strictly a first person narrative and you will have to assume i really went. I am promising you now... I did.

here are the choices:

Midnight oil and Ziggy Marley - 1992
Johnny Quest - 1991
Hopscotch fest year one
Hopscotch fest year two
El Ten Eleven - 2011
Lollapalooza - circa 1995/1996
YES - 1992
OK GO - 2010
The Who - 1993
Major Lazer/Rusko - 2010
U2 - 1992, 2005, 2009 - (will probably be a MEGA post, whichever one, if not all. which i would happily do, btw)
Celine Dion - 2009 (HA!! FOR REAL!!)
David Byrne - 2001, 2009 and like, a few other times i can't think of right now.
Vienna Teng - 2010
Ozomatli - 2010 (includes real good heartbreak story and awesome video)
Muse - 2010
Any others you're thinking of you know I went to and I'm forgetting right now... bring it on... mama loves a challenge.


(ps - re-watching all kinds of U2 vids from shows i went to on the youtubes, getting all kinda sentimental... so if i can sway any sort of "vote", imma tell you right now; you want real me/all passion... pick the U2sers.... http://youtu.be/87Xl5GAzuBo - YOU GUISE.)