Sarah Kucharski

Luna Performs Live at the Cradle

Luna Saturday, June 22 Cat's Cradle The fearless foursome that constitutes the band Luna gave the Cat's Cradle audience almost everything they could have asked for. Members Dean Wareham (vocals, guitar), Sean Eden (guitar), Britta Phillips (bass) and Lee Wall (drums) dabbled in the artistry of the band's decade-long history. Incorporating songs from 1994's Bewitched, arguably its best album to date, with tunes from Penthouse and its latest release Romantica, to name a few, Luna revealed its "hard" rock side.

Spacey Pop Band Luna To Appear at Cat's Cradle

The final leg of space-pop band Luna's promotional tour for its latest release, Romantica, will feature a stop at Cat's Cradle on June 22. Formed in New York City in 1992, Luna has fallen prey to the traditional mantra of, "It's hard to keep a rock band together," according to frontman Dean Wareham. The band was originally named Luna 2 and featured ex-Chills bassist Justin Harwood and former Feelies drummer Stanley Demeski alongside Wareham.

Merritt at Her Best on Stage

Diamond in the rough Tift Merritt has been polished clean and set in platinum. After a brief stint in the recording studio, the Southern rock artist returned home with a debut album under her belt and a cleaner, more sophisticated sound. Merritt opened her show with "Virginia No One Can Warn You," the second track from Bramble Rose, released June 4. The pint-sized powerhouse seemed refreshed, full of grit and glad to be in front of a familiar audience.

Brit Comedy Veers Between Laughs, Soft-Core Porn Flick

"Crush" 2 Stars While "Crush" has been billed as a sort of girls'-night-out emotional bender, it would be more appropriately described as a mindless journey through a room-temperature piece of Swiss cheese. Not only is the material relatively uninteresting, far from heart-warming and trite, it is one of the most uncharming British comedies ever shipped stateside.

Christine Kane Celebrates CD Release at ArtsCenter

Christine Kane Carrboro ArtsCenter Saturday, April 6 5 Stars Originally hailing from Virginia but currently living in western North Carolina, Christine Kane is the embodiment of country summers, back porch swings and Southern girls. Her voice transposes itself from languidly sauntering through fields of tall grass to exuberantly jaunting across an old wooden dance floor.

Superior Animation Makes 'Ice Age' A Fun, Frosty, Family-Oriented Flick

"Ice Age" 4 Stars While "Ice Age" may not be the next coming of animated perfection, this family-friendly film is sure to please. Starring the voices of Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo to name a few, "Ice Age" weaves a story of good conquering evil via acceptance and loyalty to friends. Romano, ("Everybody Loves Raymond") lends his voice to a woolly mammoth named Manfred, a solitary ancestor of the elephants who refuses to migrate south with all the other animals at the coming of the Ice Age.

Introverted Band Weezer Becomes Classic, Gains New Fans

Weezer Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena Friday, Feb. 22 4 Stars Nerd rock is dead. While it might not be as drastic as selling out, Weezer has fallen victim to countless hipster pre-teens. The once charmingly introverted, alternative band's image has listed toward the trendy and commercialized. The figurative sweater has been destroyed.

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Pistols Aim For True Country Grit

Two Dollar Pistols Cat's Cradle Thursday, Dec. 13 4 Stars In the days of overcommercialized mass-marketed alterna-country, it's refreshing to find an earnest pair of cowboy boots and a six-string guitar. The antithesis of Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, the difference with the Two Dollar Pistol is that they wear their hats both on and off the stage and don't need a flashy lights show to make the audience pay attention. With authenticity on its side, the band is two-stepping its way into a much-deserved national spotlight

Brit Band Leaps Onto American Music Scene

Starsailor love is here 4 Stars Often called Britain's next big thing, alternative rock band Starsailor reached its homeland's Top 10 with its single "Alcoholic." Almost six months later the group is releasing its popular album in the States -- indeed, love is here.