New Years Eve

Although New Years Eve is the most overrated holiday of the year, you can make the best of it by venturing out to see some great live music. Slim's Downtown has Raleigh's own A Rooster for the Masses, or you could ring in the new year at The Local 506 in Chapel Hill with The Love Language plus psychedelic chick rockers Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies. Both bands accurately represent the spirit of young local musicians on the rise.

Recommended listening :

• A Rooster For The Masses - " No Party Downtown"

• The Love Language - "Providence"

• Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies - "Can you dig it?"
  

Connells / Mayflies USA images

Thanks again to Jed Gammon for capturing these images. More HERE.

The Connells @ The Pour House Tonight

If any band defines the excellence of local music which makes us all swell with pride it's The Connells. I am only 28, but I fondly remember songs like "74-75" and my perfect fitting Fun and Games t-shirt . The Connells grew up with everyone else and they've been kind enough to get together and play a few shows a year - including every Christmas. This performance is a homecoming of sorts , not only for The Connells but also for those who came up loving their music. Chapel Hill power pop outfit Mayflies USA will open.

Photos from The Berkley Cafe

More Here

Jeanne Jolly & The Mistletoes @ The Berkley Cafe 12-17

Ring in the Christmas season at the Berkley Cafe in Raleigh Thursday night with an evening of cheer and merriment from our favorite rock and country vocalist Jeanne Jolly. Friends Chis Boerner ( The Proclivities, Small Ponds) and Matt McCaughan ( The Proclivities, The Rosebuds) join with pianist and accordion player Grant Osborne and bassist Jamie McFarlane to form The Mistletoes to celebrate the season. This will be an evening of stellar musicianship and holiday spirit.

The Whigs @ Local 506 Tonight!

This evening The Local 506 in Chapel Hill welcomes one of many truly great bands from Athens, GA, The Whigs. Since 2002, they've released three albums and toured the world with acts like Kings of Leon and Dead confederate; both tall on the indy-rock platform. Their second album, Mission Control, best represents what the Whigs are after.

Birds of Avalon @ The Pinhook 12-12

Psychedelic rockers Birds of Avalon are playing at the Pinhook in Durham Saturday night with bad girl group Violet Vector and The Lovely Lovelies. One half of Raleigh's Birds were formerly garage rock troubadours The Cherry Valence until 2004.

TONIGHT

Asheville indy-pop outfit Stephaniesid is playing The Pour House with The Proclivites tonight. Stephanie Morgan's soulful vocals blend well with the dreamy instrumentation of the band while her lyrics are sharp and playfully witty. "Drinking at a Party" and "White Guys Selling Cars" among other infectious tracks will be interesting to see live. Check out Warm People or Grus Americanus to get a taste of what Stephaniesid has to offer. You won't regret it.

Jed Gammon's Pics from DAC

Apparently Mr. Coe didn't move around much.

More here.

Friday Night

Sharp tongued fast talkers Lonnie Walker are bringing their special brand of folky punk- rock to the Local 506 in Carborro friday night with I was Totally Destroying it and Animal. In Raleigh, Widespread Panic producer and friend Sam Holt's Outformation will be performing at The Lincoln Theatre with local boys Waylandsphere.

Saturday Night

Foul mouthed country legend and self proclaimed "long haired redneck" David Allen Coe is playing the Lincoln Theatre saturday night. I know he will play "You Never Even Call me by my Name." But if we get lucky he'll do something from his Underground album or the 18 X-Rated Hits compilation. Coe is a true outlaw. In fact, he killed an inmate while serving time for assault. If that ain't country, I'll kiss your ass!

Photos By Jed Gammon

Check out more shots from The Pour House Friday night here.

Real Estate @ Local 506 11-2

New Jersey foursome Real Estate are coming to the Local 506 Wednesday night in support of their self-titled debut album. Mellow, melodious, and chill seems to be the trinity of adjectives buzzing around these guys. This will be a laid back evening, save a few hard pounding beats from Real Estate drummer Etienne Pierre Duguay. Chapel Hill's It is Rain in my Face will open.

BIG NEWS!

• Raleigh to build new amphitheater downtown!