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.
- 42nd 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
