The Moderate this Friday 11-26 at The Pour House

Old friends The Moderate will bring in the holiday spirit at The Pour House Friday night. We are excited to see the progress Raleigh's Jim Dempsey and Drew Marks have made since their last visit.

Meet the REAL American Gangster this Sunday @ Quail Ridge Books

REMINDER TO COME TO QUAIL RIDGE BOOKS AT RIDGEWOOD SHOPPING CENTER IN RALEIGH AT 4:30 PM THIS SUNDAY NOVEMEBR 14 TO SEE AND HEAR IN PERSON IKE ATKNSON,THE MASTERMIND OF THE BIGGEST DRUG SMUGGLNG RING IN THE WORLD IN THE 1970S AND 80S.

AUTHOR RON CHESEPUIK, AUTHOR OF “SERGEANT SMACK”, THE BOOK ON IKE’S LIFE AND NOTORIOUS CAREER, WILL JOIN IKE WHO WILL DISCUSS HIS REACTION TO THE FILM AMERICAN GANGSTER THAT HE FINDS “GROSSLY MISREPRESENTS” THE REAL STORY.

IKE’S SMUGGLING RING OPERATED OUT OF NORTH CAROLNA AND THAILAND AND WAS COVERED EXTENSIVELY LOCALLY.

More to come on Ike and his story soon.

Ariel Pink @ Cat's Cradle tonight! Jeanne Jolly and Chris Boerner Friday.

The one and only Ariel Pink will perform this evening at Cat's Cradle. Pink's career as a bona fide avant freak folk rocker has met with negativity and ridicule over the years while simultaneously gaining the attention of audiences worldwide. Haunted Graffiti is the title of a series of recordings put out by the artist over the past several years and also serves as the name of his touring act and band. Pink's music is driven by raw emotion and inner turmoil which he delivers well beneath layers of buzzy melodies and beats he usually creates with his mouth. This evening's performance should be one to remember.

When Raleigh musicians Jeanne Jolly and Chris Boerner perform together , the product is usually pleasing The two are set to perform at The Berkley Cafe this Friday night before Scott Miller. Singer/ Songwriter Jolly is out supporting her new latest offering : Falling in Carolina.

Jerry Joseph and Wally Ingram @ The Pour House Tuesday 10-9

Jerry Joseph is part of a large familiar guild of musicians, singers, and songwriters including master instrumentalist David Lindley of the 1970's psychedelic outfit Kaleidescope. Many know Joseph through his connection to Widespread Panic bassist David Schools through their band Stockholm Syndrome as well his own group The Jackmormons. Joseph is currently touring with friend and collaborator, percussionist Wally Ingram.

MGMT @ Meymandi Hall November 3rd , Indesicion & Waylandsphere @ The Pour House November 6th

I can't figure out if you pronounce MGMT as "management" or if I should just say the letters. Either way, Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh welcomes the Brooklyn juggernauts to the stage this Wednesday evening. Since 2007, MGMT has made a name for themselves all over the world working with acts like MIA and opening for Paul McCartney. Their second record, Oracular Spectacular, debuted at number 11 on Great Britain's pop charts, went on to earn a Grammy nomination and placed high on the "best" lists of many reputable music magazines. After hearing their latest release , Congratulations, it looks like MGMT's meteoric rise to fame has only begun.

Listen : Time to Pretend


Indecision can be categorized as a jam band in league at one time with Widespread Panic, but in my opinion they are so much more. They represent a time in the lives of many people when things were alright and being carefree was just as important as being careful is today. For some it was college or high school or maybe their late twenties. I fell in love with the song "She ain't no Betty" when I was 15. Their songs are reminiscent of a latter day Doobie Brothers and they can play the hell out of Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne". Catch them at The Pour House in Raleigh Thursday November 6th with Raleigh's own WaylandSphere featuring Katherine Roach on vocals.

Todd Barry

This week : Macy Gray, Blonde Redhead, Caribou, Todd Barry

Raspy voiced soul singer Macy Gray performs this evening at the Carolina Theater in Durham. Gray's rise to fame began in the late 1990's with her hit song "I Try" which garnered 5 Grammy Awards. Gray has since offered her talents as an actress and reality television star. Behind those giant sunglasses and beneath that mop of hair lies one hell of a singer songwriter.

The Cat's Cradle welcomes no wave trio Blonde Redhead to the stage Saturday October 30th with German DJ Pantha Du Prince. Blonde Redhead's 2004 release, Misery is a Butterfly was the break out album for most listeners and in my opinion their best work.

Canadian electro - rock outfit Caribou will play Halloween night at the Cradle. I've never seen them live, but from what I understand they put on a mesmerizing performance.

Known for his deadpan delivery and mellow disposition, comedian Todd Barry will be telling jokes at Kings Barcade Thursday evening. He appeared regularly on VH1's Best Week Ever, The Late show with David Letterman, and as a guest on various sitcoms.

Jeanne Jolly, Darius Rucker, 311, and The Love Language

Alternative country songstress and Raleigh native Jeanne Jolly is sweating it out, performing 3 times a day, every day at the North Carolina State Fair October 14th - 24th. If you have not had a chance to witness Jolly, by all means take advantage of this opportunity to do so. She and her band can be seen on the waterfall stage at 12:00 , 3:00 and 6:00.

All of you Hootie and The Blowfish fans get ready! That's right, Darius Rucker will perform at the Fair on the evening of October 23rd in support of his new album Charleston, Sc 1966. In my opinion, Rucker gets points for being the first African American singer to master the "yeah" vocal styling a la Eddie Vedder and Scott Stapp. I realize comparing those two is sacrilegious as Scott Stapp is the Anti-Christ, but you get my point.

311 will perform downtown at The Raleigh Amphitheater Saturday October 30th. Hopefully your piercings from the 90's haven't healed over yet and you can locate some blue hair dye that washes out in 24 hours or before work on Monday morning. All jokes aside, 311 is an amazingly talented and influential group whose work has maintained a high level of gravitas among the musical community since their rise to fame in the 1990's

311 - "Down"

Raleigh's very own The Love Language returns from their tour of the United States to play a homecoming show at Kings Barcade ( now on Martin Street) this Thursday night. VeeLee and Laughing Man will open.

Built To Spill - Oh Yeah (Live Letterman 2009)

Deerhunter and Built to Spill at Cat's Cradle

The very foundation of Cat's Cradle will shake this weekend with a performance from Atlanta rockers Deerhunter Saturday night and a show from the immensely robust sounds of Built to Spill on Sunday. Since their debut release Turn it Up, Faggot! Deerhunter has procured a blend of gutsy rock with an infectious dose of danceable beats and thoughtful songwriting. Their live show packs a punch and which will surely be elevated with electronica outfit Casino vs. Japan and New Jersey's Ducktails opening.

Built to Spill is out in support of their latest studio effort, There is no Enemy. I saw them at Cat's Cradle 3 years ago and my ears are still ringing.