What do you get when you’re assigned the task of putting together an event that pits local bands against one another in friendly competition to benefit charity? Band Together Executive Director Matt Strickland has an idea.
You’re a musician with no groupies? Get some. Believe it or not, groupies don’t have to be just one of the many vices of success in the entertainment industry, and they don’t have to be trophies in the game of fame. In fact, they can ultimately foster greater success.
We’ve all hit that wall — the one that hits you as you walk into the regimented buffets of Lenoir or Ram’s and view the same salad bar, pancakes, falafel, and beef vindaloo that you’ve seen over and over again for weeks, wishing for something different.
Effingham Monster Study 3 stars Folk rock Sometimes, it’s better when listening to a new artist to have no idea of what to expect.
Each week, we’re going to round up new tunes and bring them to you here on the Dive blog. Check out our next installment from James Stramm!
Grown Up Avenger Stuff Sparkleton 4 stars Rock The quirky quartet Grown Up Avenger Stuff automatically captivates your attention with its new release, Sparkleton, an album that can be adequately described as just plain fun.
Youth Lagoon Wondrous Bughouse 2 stars The story is nothing new: distraught young songwriter retreats to his bedroom to craft an album of introspective lo-fi pop that runs the gauntlet of what it means to be young, heartbroken and unsure of yourself.
Psychedelic rock band Tame Impala paid a visit to the Cat’s Cradle last Thursday, playing to an energetic and sold out venue. The Australian group has been busy touring across the U.S. to promote its critically acclaimed sophomore album Lonerism.
The dust has settled, and all that remains is an unbelievable comeback, the best actor of his generation, the next great actress and a couple other notable moments. The 85th Academy Awards were less about the mediocre, first-time host-at-anything Seth MacFarlane, and more about the worthy and likeable award winners.
Friday 2/22 Toddlers EP Release Show Kings Barcade, Raleigh 9 p.m., $6 Local melancholic pop act Toddlers are celebrating the release of their new 19 EP with a gig at Kings in downtown Raleigh.
Parenthetical Girls embraces its pop instincts while keeping the edges sharp with the newly released Privilege (Abridged). This cohesive album is by far the band’s best to date, boldly asserting Parenthetical Girls as one of the best indie-pop outfits today. Dive verdict: ?????
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds keep to the “water’s edge” in its 15th album Push the Sky Away, continuing with the band’s signature sound. Dive verdict: ?????
Swedish indie-poppers Shout Out Louds have made a career out of catchy melodies and dance floor-ready grooves. The band’s 2005 debut Howl Howl Gaff Gaff set the stage for a promising and interesting young band toying with garage pop hooks and playful synth textures.Dive verdict: ??½
In a society with its media dominated by the glamour of youth, any film centered on anyone older than 60 is incredibly refreshing. Even though “Quartet,” directed by Dustin Hoffman and based on Ronald Harwood’s play, lacks believability and action and is filled with predictability, it does ignite a passion for life. Dive Verdict: ???½
What’s love got to do with it? In the Oscar-nominated film “Amour,” apparently everything — and nothing. Dive Verdict: ???½
On the music genre spectrum, one would place noisy rock and heavy metal far, far away from the more tender and swooning tendencies associated with folk. But here in the Triangle, you shouldn’t be surprised to find musicians who dabble, quite wonderfully so, in both extremes.
Virgins Family Band, formerly VIRGINS, is a local group out with a new album and a lot of energy. Local 506 will be hosting the band for a double album release show with Baobab on Friday night. Virgins Family Band just released its second album, Honeylion, earlier this month and is eager to spread the word.
Each week, we’re going to round up new tunes and bring them to you here on the Dive blog. Check out our first installment from Mimi Mendouga!
As you’ve probably seen in your Facebook feeds, Bonnaroo released the lineup for its 2013 festival yesterday.
Foxygen is a band on the rise, with its new album We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, making waves from Pitchfork to NPR. The band, consisting of vocalist Sam France and guitarist Jonathan Rado, creates multi-layered psychedelic pieces in a signature chaotic, yet organized fashion that thrills listeners.
