Rapids Jam Music Festival June 16-18 Roanoke Rapids, NC

For the first time in history, a highly anticipated Music Festival is coming to Roanoke Rapids, NC.  As we all try and forget the whole Randy Parton debacle, a ray of light comes in the form of major country music artists such as the one and only Willie Nelson, the award winning Lady Antebellum, Hootie and the Blowfish's Daruis Rucker, Sugarland and many more.  The Rapids Jam Festival will not only provide the town of Roanoke Rapids and its outlying communities with a yearly festival, it also hopes to pump at least 3 million dollars into the local economy.  The festival will include 3 days of live music, food, and fun for the entire family.  Camping is available and highly recommended for an event such as this.  Visit the Rapids Jam Music Festival for complete lineup and ticket information.

We Are Raleigh...A Benefit for the Red Cross- Raleigh Chapter

The Pour House in Raleigh has put together quite the crew of local favorites for two nights of live music to help those victimized bu the deadly tornadoes from the weekend of April 15th. 

LINEUP :

Wednesday May 25th

Former Six String Drag front man Kenny Roby.

Tres Chicas singer and violinist Caitlin Carrie with  guitarist Chris Boerner  in  Small Ponds

  

The Debonzo Brothers

Raleigh Indie Rock outfit Jack The Radio 

American Aquarium's very own  BJ Barham 

Thursday May 26th 

The ultimate tribute  to Guns and Roses  Appetite for Destruction 

Chapel Hill 's dark and psychedelic  Bitter Resolve

Raleigh rockers The Last Tallboy 

Once and Future Kings 

Stella Lively (acoustic)

 

The Hot At Nights and Filthy Bird @ Marsh Woodwinds Friday 5-20

 Marsh Woodwinds is a simple store on Person Street in downtown Raleigh selling musical instruments of the woodwind variety- saxophones, clarinets, etc.  The friendly owner holds dear the sanctity of his space and believes strongly in providing the community with a welcoming venue to relax and enjoy local music, especially jazz.  My one visit to Marsh Woodwinds left me speechless as if I discovered a secret.  I quickly realized the uniqueness of the upstairs venue, the atmosphere created by the music and the overwhelming hospitality from the proprietor.  All I really feel comfortable saying is this: If you come see Matt Douglas and Chris Boerner's jazz outfit, The Hot at Nights, this Friday evening at Marsh Woodwinds, come prepared to respect the rare environment and enjoy  the music.  Greensboro's Filthybird will share the bill.

Upcoming Shows!

Since the Calendar came out looking terrible I will continue to post shows I would go to  here on the main page of the BLOG.  Please visit venue Websites for full listings. 

Funnyman Steve Martin is as entertaining on the banjo as he is at juggling cat's.  See him pick with North Carolina based bluegrass outfit The Steep Canyon Rangers at the DPAC Saturday May 21st (if you can get tickets...good luck.)

Former members of the highly influential group Galaxie 500, Damon and Naomi are performing at The Arts Center in Carborro Thursday May 19.  If we are lucky they will play some old favorites.

Remember Corrosion of Conformity?  No?  They are a Metal Band who formed in Raleigh back in the 90's and they are playing at  Cat's Cradle on Thursday May 26.

Alt. country sensation Grace Potter and The Nocturnals are playing The Lincoln Theater with Futurebirds, one of my favorite new bands from Athens, GA.  Also joining the bill: Gary Clark Jr. and Julian McCullough. 

Django Haskins and The Old Ceremony have been and always will be a true symbol of the Triangles fertile music scene.  They and Dex Romwebber and the New Romans are performing at  Cat's Cradle Friday May 20.

PRIMUS IS COMING! PRIMUS IS COMING!

Bassist and eccentric (to put it mildly) Les Claypool is a proud representative of the ugly underground from which a great deal of the greatest music in history is created.  His primary group, Primus, has abashedly constructed sounds and visions strange enough to freak people out, but also great enough to keep the band in the limelight for years at a time.  If you watch South Park, you should know that the opening song was written and performed by  Claypool. Now Primus is out in support of their first album together in twelve years,  set for release sometime this year   Get your tickets now for Primus at Memorial Auditorium  in Raleigh May 31st.

I remember being alone at my parents’ beach condo when I was very young and the video for “Mr. Krinkle” came on MTV and it scared the living shit out of me.  A pig man playing stand up bass?  At that point the novelty was more enticing than the music, which turned around quickly when I was older and braver. Sailing the Seas of Cheese and Pork Soda were the two albums which held the highest content of ripping musicianship, dark humor and style that set Claypool, drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander and guitarist Larry LeLonde apart from anything I had ever heard.

Primus, although deranged in appearance, had major success in the 1980's and 90's with hits such as "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver", "My Name is Mud" and "Wynonna's Big Brown Beaver."  Also, Claypool's style as a bassist is percussive in many ways. He can slap the strings with his thumb (which, according to legend, has a spring implant) creating a sound similar to a drum roll. 

You may remember Claypool teaming with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and Police drummer Stewart Copeland to form Oysterhead. The trio made made one record, The Grand Pecking Order, and toured ferociously, playing to the jam band crowd who hilariously tangled with  Primus's hard core fans.  Other projects Les Claypool formed include Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, which was made up of drummer "Brain", anonymous and frightening guitar virtuoso Bucket Head and former Parliament  Funkadelic and Talking Heads keyboardist Bernie "Woo" Worrel.  His touring band as a soloist - Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade toured in the early 2000's during Primus's hiatus. 

Get your tickets now for their performance at Memorial Auditorium May 31st.

Interpol at Disco Rodeo 5-4-2011 - Quick review.

Interpol blew the rusty doors off of the grimy hovel that is The Disco Rodeo last evening.  Right from the get-go, The New York based quintet feverishly delivered their signature pulse pounding brand of dark indie rock. Although the sound at the former Ritz theater was and always is atrocious, the bands sound engineer made it work.   Hardly a second of rest was taken by any of the band members, save the time between the last number and the triple encore.  Paul Banks' vocals were in top form as was the quick paced guitar styling of Daniel Kessler.  Adding just the right amount of lurid electricity to the sound of Interpol live , Brandon Curtis ( formerly of The Secret Machines) contributed his  talent on vocals and keyboards.  We were very lucky to hear tracks from their third (and my favorite) record , Antics, including "Evil" and "Slow Hand" as well an array of powerful songs from other studio efforts, both old and new.  Judging from the high energy, razor sharp performance last night at The Disco Rodeo, Interpol is moving full steam ahead, forging their place in musical history as a true standout in the the world of alternative rock.