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It's time to celebrate POINTLESS YEAR END LISTS!!!

Top 11 records of 2011!!!
(These are kinda sorta in order, as much as I could make them so.)

2.   Mount Moriah - Mount Moriah (Holidays for Quince)
That voice....beyond mesmerizing.  And every song a gem.  I see big things for these locals.  The shows are
already getting crowded, see them while you still can in an intimate setting. 
Lament


3.   Jeff The Brotherhood – We Are The Champions (Infinity Cat)
I liked this record a lot, a weird combination of pop and stoner metal.  Then I saw them live, and they shot WAY
up my list.
Bummer
Diamond Way


4.   The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient (Secretly Canadian)
This might have been the best start-to-finish album of the year, the one you listen to completely every time.  So
it kinda sounds like a Tom Petty cover record...big deal. 

5.   Beirut - The Rip Tide (Pompeii)
I've listened to Beirut for ages, but this was the first album b them that full grabbed me.  The managed to finally
combine their love of ethnic folk music sounds with pop hooks, and I easily listened to this album more than
anthing else they have produced. 

6.   USX - The Valley Path (Neurot)
With each passing album these mountain rockers continue to hone their sound, and they've now reached the
point where they are damn near impossible to classify.  I've zoned out to this fabulous release many times.
(No MP3s - the damn album is just one long song, and I don't wanna upload the whole album.)


7.   J. Mascis – Several Shades of Why (Sub Pop)
Dude, J Mascis.  the man is pure gold in my eyes.  Pretty much anything he puts out will figure high on any
year end list I create. 
Is It Done
Not Enough


8.   Future Islands – On The Water (Thrill Jockey)
No, it's not as strong as their last record "In Evening Air", maybe a little more introspective, a little more
experimental...but it's still pretty damn enjoyable. 
Before The Bridge
Give Us The Wind


9.   Moonface - Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped (Jagjaguwar)
One of two Wolf Parade side projects on my list, this finds Spencer Krug combining organs and key-
boards and electronic drums into some surprisingly organic music.  Organic and incredibly delightful.
Return to the Violence of the Ocean Floor


10. Richard Buckner - Our Blood (Merge)
What I said about J Mascis pretty much applies here - Richard Buckner can do no wrong in my book,
and anything he puts out will be a favorite of the year. 
Escape
Traitor


11. Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital (Sub Pop)
The second of the two Wolf Parade side projects, and a great reason to post nudity.  This time it's
Dan Boeckner and his crazy hot wife Alexei Perry, doing their own impression of what it would sound
like if Bruce Springsteen had a dance pop band. 
Memories of the Future

    

Somebody knows the true meaning of Christmas...formal dances with manger-born Jews. 



Brad from Megafaun sent me this photo of his cute new hound, dressed nattily in a fancy sweater.  This
hound is judging you, so tread lightly. 

I'd hoped to put up my year end lists with this entry, but I'm lagging...look for them in a week or so if you care. 

Passing train.  Durham, NC. 

Mouse, bath time.  Cary, NC.

Burt in the afternoon sun.  Cary, NC. 


Roadside flora.  Westbound I-40, NC.


Catawba Greenway.  Marion, NC. 

Kumail Nanjiani
Local 506
12/23/2011

I love comedy shows.  And even better than comedy shows are comedy shows in rock clubs.  The tickets are usually
much more affordable, no silly drink minimums and a very low-key atmosphere.  As long as the jokes are funny, a faux
brick wall and cocktail waitresses aren't really a necessary part of me laughing. 

Sadly we don't get many good comedy shows around here, so I was stoked when I saw Kumail Nanjiani announced
at the Local 506 just before Christmas.  I thought it odd that a Pakistani born, LA based comedian would be performing
in a rock club in a college town over Christmas break just before the holiday, until he started talking about his wife who
was raised in Winston-Salem.  I was a little worried attendance might be low, with all the kids back home, but the room
was full and happy to be hearing the funny. 

I'm not entirely sure how to review a live comedy show, but the end result was Kumail is funny as shit - we laughed our
asses off.  And I knew this going in, having seen him on a couple of specials (not to mention the terrible-but-awesome
"Franklin & Bash", where he plays a neurotic assistant), but no matter how much you see of someone on TV, nothing
beats laughing in person.  Kumail's comedy is very story/anecdote based, seemingly taken from his actual life but
probably/certainly embellished for maximum laffs.  Hopefully he makes his way back here again - it would appear that
forced holiday visits to the in-laws pays off for comedy fans in these parts. 

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Beirut
Cat's Cradle
12/8/2011

It's getting harder and harder to get myself to go to shows in Chapel Hill...my laziness has grown to epic levels (this
laziness also seemed to rear up right around the same time Kings re-opened and good shows started happening
again in Raleigh).  Unless I've purchased a ticket I just can't get motivated to drive out there, and there are even times
when that isn't enough.  I really REALLY wasn't feeling like driving out there this evening, but the ticket wasn't cheap
and the newest Beirut album "The Rip Tide" is one of my very favorite releases of the year.  So like Willie Nelson,
I was on the road again. 

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Future Islands
with Ed Schrader's Music Beat
Cat's Cradle
11/27/2011

I spent the entire Thanksgiving break in Washington DC looking at museums and such, so the prospect of driving out
to Carrboro for a show wasn't very appealing...but the ticket was bought and having seen this line-up a few times now,
I knew it would be a good time, tiredness aside. 

   

I'm pulling my pud for Jesus and updating websites in Netscape Composer for the devil.  It all works out in the end. 

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The Sea & Cake
Local 506
11/11/2011

I celebrated the meaningless adulation of the date 11/11/11 by going to see The Sea & Cake in Chapel Hill.  I saw
them for the the first time in this same town (no big surprise there), only at the Cat's Cradle with Trans Am and Tractor
Hips opening on May 4th, 1997.  No, I'm not some sort of date savant, I've still got a poster I bought at the show on my
wall (a poster by Casey Burns, no less).  I've seen them maybe one or two other times since then, and a couple of Sam
Prekop solo shows, but you just don't get that many opportunities to see the great band live. 

<><><><><>



Spider Bags
with Wesley Wolfe and TOW3RS
Tir Na Nog
10/20/2011

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M83
with Active Child
Kings
10/29/11

The only show I've anticipated more than this one all year was the "secret" Archers of Loaf show way back in January. 
When they announced M83 was going to be playing Moogfest up in Asheville, I would have definitely gone whatever
day they played despite not giving a shit about much of the other music and the tickets being damn expensive.  Then
when they announced a stop at Kings, that not only I'd get to see them in town but in a very small venue...well, musical
nirvana washed over me. 

Active Child opened the show.  I'd seen them play for free a few months ago at Deja Mi Fest in front of the Lincoln
Theatre, and was really neither here nor there on them - some interesting moments but overall not really my style of
music.  I felt only slightly better about them this go around.  It certainly helped that the sound in Kings was much better
than that outdoor show, as this group has a certain subtlety to their music.  I think the big draw of the group is part of
what keeps me away - Pat Grossi's voice.  While undeniably remarkable, his operatic style of singing doesn't exactly
ruffle my feathers.  I did like the music for the most part though...maybe not the harp so much, which makes them
sound like Antony & the Johnsons crossed with Joanna Newsom.  But the rest of the time, probably two-thirds of the
set, had a nice Hot Chip feel to it.  Certainly, they were a fitting opener for M83, and the crowd seemed to dig it, or at
least dig it as much as they could given how amped up everyone was for the headliner. 

M83 brought an arena rock show to a 250 person venue, complete with extravagant light show and sizable crew of
surly roadies who yelled at me because there were some empty beer cans on the edge of the stage.  Beer cans that
weren't mine, for the record, not that that kept them from being assholes.  But none of that mattered once the intro
started, which led into the first single "Midnight City" from their new album "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming" and it was on
from there.  Anthony Gonzalez might be a (mostly) one man operation in the studio, but live he leads a four piece band...
a band with more pedals than a Guitar Center, multiple keyboard stations, and even an awesome modular synthesizer. 
Oh an lasers.  And light boards.  And a smoke machine.  They played a nice, long set, made up mostly of the new
record but with just enough older tracks (Teen Angst, Kim & Jessie, Guitar & a Heart, etc) thrown in to keep us long-
time fans happy.  Of course I was beyond happy from the first note from all the way to the last note.  Easily one of the
best shows of the year...I'll be talking about this one for a while. 

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OCSC 10th Anniversary Party
with Crooked Fingers, Kerbloki, and Seven Brides for the Meatwagon
Cat's Cradle
10/15/2011

Just because I've never actually been to the OCSC, doesn't mean I don't want to celebrate their success.  Especially
when it involves a bunch of great bands.

Due to some family in town and a late dinner stuffing myself silly with Mexican food, I got to the Cradle just after
Crooked Fingers had started their set.  I've seen them a thousand times so it wasn't end of the world that I was late,
but there is also a reason I've seen them so many times - Eric Bachmann always delivers a fantastic show, time and
time again.  His sound might slightly morph between different styles, but that booming deep voice of his always ties the
music together, much like The Dude's rug really tied the room together.  And like most Crooked Fingers shows, the
band was almost completely different from every other time I've seen them, working as a standard four piece this go
around.  The material was mostly from their great new album "Breaks in the Armor", but there were a few oldies thrown
in there for us long-time fans like "Broken Man", "New Drink for the Old Drunk", and "You Can Never Leave".  There
was quite a bit of singing along to "New Drink", and I'm not just talking about myself.  I'd would say I hope they come
back around soon, but we all know they will...and I'll be there, and it will be a great show, as always. 

Despite having known JB forever, I'd never seen his band Kerbloki perform live before.  I know at one point they were
just a fairly straight-forward hip hop group featuring middle aged white men, but at some point they added the rhythm
section of Caltrop and it really gives them that extra...ummph.  Anytime you've got multiple ridiculous outfit changes from
multiple band members, you're probably dealing with a good time.  The songs are only mildly funny, with titles like "No
Drinks on the Dance Floor", and live you can barely understand what is being said anyways, but the group really brings
them to life and jumps around on the stage like kids half their age wish they could.  The crowd was bumping and
dancing and laughing the whole set - sure, JB and the rest of the band members probably knew at least three-quarters
of the attendees, but who cares...a good time is a good time. 

I'm not sure it's possible to adequately describe the final band of the night, Seven Brides for the Meatwagon.  I first
became aware of these guys years and years ago when they would play the Mammoth Records christmas parties in
the late nineties.  Basically, it's a cover band featuring local musicians (most noteworthy Jim Wilbur and John Wurster
of Superchunk), playing sloppy covers of a wide range of songs.  One minute you'll be getting a Pavement or Dinosaur
Jr or Archers of Loaf track, and then that will be followed by Smashmouth or Barenaked Ladies or Ke$ha.  It's a delight-
ful, fun mess that written down or even told as an anecdote to friends doesn't sound nearly as enjoyable as it actually is. 
But there is something about a bunch of middle aged white guys playing a drunken, disheveled version of Ceelo's
"Fuck You" that really pleases me to no end.  And it wouldn't work if they played all the time of course, but seeing them
every 5 or 10 years?  The joke never gets a chance to get old. 

Time to stock up on all of the necessities to get through the winter.  Here is a snapshot of me buying cigs and liquor
at my local bodega.   Bodega means "goat store" right?  My spanish is a little rusty. 

Dead bird.  Cary, NC. 


Tall weeds.  Cary, NC.

The War on Drugs
Kings
10/11/2011

Despite my snarkiness with some friends that the new War on Drugs record "Slave Ambient" is the best album Tom
Petty has released in years, I was pretty pumped to see them play again.  Cause even if it does sound a whole lot like
Petty, it's still a great fuckin' record - and has gotten a ton of spins since I got my sticky little fingers on it.  Kings wasn't
packed but it was fairly full, and despite being a partial anti-social shut-in I knew a ton of people there.  No doubt if you
polled my local group of friends, this record would come the closest to getting the "record of the year" nod, and across
a fairly wide swath of music fans. 

Clearly, the love goes both ways, as the War on Drugs declared their love for the town multiple times...I'm sure it helps
that they seem to have friends here, and I'm sure constantly getting smoke blown up your ass is never a bad thing. 
Early on they noted they were going to play about 90% of their songs, and they might have even gone over that number. 
They played over an hour and a half, definitely playing my two favorite songs "Arms Like Boulders" and "Baby Missles"
and pretty much anything else I might possibly want top hear.  At some point about halfway through their set, front man
Adam Granduciel asked for a volunteer from the crowd to help with some guitar on one of their songs, and local rocker
Andy Holmes (of Old Bricks) joined them not only for the next track but for a few more throughout the night.  There was
no encore, just a solid block of rock from one of the best new Tom Petty cover bands out there today. 

Pipe
Motorco
10/7/2011

Pipe.  PIPE!  PIPE PIPE PIPE PIPE PIPE!!!!!  Can you tell I was excited to see these guys again?  I couldn't even tell
you how many times it's been, but seeing punk rock's version of Guided by Voices never gets old.  The crowd wasn't
very large but they were enthusiastic, peppering singer Ron Liberti with beer cans for the duration of the show.  The
set list was a typical Pipe set list, including "Ashtray" and "You're Soaking in It" and all the usual suspects - but the real
surprise is they played a *new* untitled song.  When the hell was the last time Pipe had a new song?!?  I was both be-
wildered and excited, fondly daydreaming that there might even be a new seven inch or album in the future...well, maybe
a seven inch.  A new album seems about as likely as this band getting the due they've deserved for almost 20 years now. 

Tonk
Kings
10/1/2011

Local classic country purveyors Tonk decided to make an appearance at Kings, and who was I to stay at home and
miss that?  After a night of watching football and eating cheeseburgers with friends, it was the best way to end the night. 
As per usual they played a wide swath of classic country songs, some known and others not.  A couple of the highlights
were "Be Real" by Sir Douglas Quintet and Nick Lowe's "Lately I've Let Things Slide".  Yeah the Nick Lowe song isn't
country but it is awesome so who cares.  I know there was a Gary Stewart song played too but my mind fails me on
what it was.  There were also a couple of original tracks, with the comically titled "She Likes To Love Me Early and
Often" standing out in my hazy brain.  There were quite a few audience members dancing, and i don't mean rock show
bobbing-your-head dancing like I've perfected - real dancing, couples dancing.  I don't do that kind of dancing, but
appreciate their enthusiasm.  In the event it wasn't already obvious - Tonk were awesome.  If you have any love at all
for classic country, you'd be a fool not to go see them live. 

TOW3RS with Naked Gods & Cellar Seas with The Toddlers
Kings & Tir Na Nog
9/29/2011

This was a night of two free shows - one at Kings, the other at Tir Na Nog.  The only thing better than a free show is
two of them withing short walking distance of each other. 

First up was Naked Gods at Kings.  I'd heard of these kids for a while, but this was my first time seeing them.  Boone
hasn't exactly produced a ton of great bands, and growing up near there you automatically assume most anything leav-
ing that town is going to have a strong hippie stink to it.  Luckily, that was not the case here - to put it in simplest terms,
the group reminded me of a southern rock version of the great British band Doves.  The singer had a nice voice,
reminding me at different times of David Bazan and Jim James of My Morning Jacket.  I didn't love every single song
they played, but I liked enough of their songs to recommend them to others and try to see them again myself. 

I made my way down to Tir Na Nog after that, hoping to catch Cellar Seas, but things seemed to be running behind here
and The Toddlers were probably in the middle of their set.  I'd never even heard of this band, but from what I could
gather they are a fairly new act out of Chapel Hill.  The singer had a really deep, interesting voice, a voice that colors
their songs more than most voices do.  When they played slower songs they had a resemblance to the Doors.  When
they played more upbeat songs, they had a Joy Division feel to them.  Now I'm no Doors hater, but I'll let you guess
which tracks I found more appealing. 

Cellar Seas closed out Local Bands Local Beers at the Nog.  Now I can try and pretend to write about these guys (and
gal) from an objective point of view, but let's be honest - I'm friends with three-quarters of the band and this is being
written for my shitty website so I don't see any reason to fake it.  They play a catchy, pleasant brand of country-tinged
roots rock, and I like it.  I don't just "friend rock" like it either - songs like "Nightshade" and "Carousel" would be damn
fine songs even if I didn't know most of the band (and woulda know all of the band if D-Mike hadn't up and moved to
Austin).  Also, they just released a free EP for download that has the two songs mentioned above and a couple of other
gems.  Grab it here. 

I made my way back up the hill to catch most of TOW3RS set.  I'd been hearing about them a little bit, and I'm always
game to check out the newest local buzz bands.  Smart decision on my part - this is a young, powerful band.  The songs
are catchy, the music is big, the band members are cute and if there were a betting pool I'd put my ten cents on these
cats being the next local break out artist.  The best way I could describe their sound is early, pre-disco Of Montreal, a
little bit of Lonnie Walker's jangle and a dash of Danielson Famile's quirkiness.  To top it all of the gig was being entirely
lit by a showing of the film "Independence Day"...nothing like a little indie pop while Will Smith is being projected on the
side of the band.  I will be sing this band again very soon, and very often, hopefully.

    

Fall is finally here.  No better time of the year for a nice bike ride.  As you can see, I'm ready...

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I went ahead and put all of my Hopscotch festival reviews over on the review website.  Specifically, you can find:
Day one HERE,
Day two HERE,
Day three HERE.

Also, I put all my photos from the show there too:

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Deja Mi Fest - Durham
with American Aquarium, Stuart McLamb, and Gray Young
Motorco Music Hall & Fullsteam Brewery
9/1/2011

I could get used to to Deja Mi throwing all these free gigs.  The first one in Raleigh was a larger, multi-day affair featuring a
bunch of touring bands, but this Durham outing was more focused on our great local acts.  And as an added bonus, there
were a bunch of food trucks there so that I was able to stuff myself silly while rocking out. 

The first act was Gray Young and they played inside of Full Steam.  I mean, not inside of the giant beer vat or anything,
though that might have been kind of awesome.  I've been meaning to see them for quite some time, so it was great to
finally be able to check that off my list.  They were quite good, very much like their album...post-rock/post-emo or some
such ridiculous descriptor.  What I'm saying is they reminded me a lot of Appleseed Cast, and maybe some older bands
like Sunny Day Real Estate and Christie Front Drive.  Since those are three bands I've loved for years and still to this day,
being reminded of them is very much a good thing.  And now I'll have to work on crossing them off of my list of "bands I
need to see again". 

Stuart McLamb from the Love Language was up next, playing a solo set in the garage of Motorco.  He played a mix of
electric and acoustic songs, mostly Love Language tracks from their first two albums but a few covers as well - I remem-
ber "Jealous Guy" was in there, and a Frank Black song that escapes me now.  I remember Stu sounding particularly
great on "Lalita" and "Blue Angel", but that's probably because those are two of my favorite Love Language songs.  At
one point he took his acoustic, sat down on the edge of the stage, and a played a few songs sans amplifications.  Hell,
if I had a booming voice like his, I'd perform in this fashion all the time - it's powerful stuff. 

I missed the next band shooting the shit with friends and eating from the many food trucks always parked at these venues,
but eventually I staggered back into Motorco, to the main stage this time, where American Aquarium were closing out
the night.  They play very straight-forward rockin' alt-country, a mix of classic mid-nineties local output like Whiskeytown,
and singer BJ's obvious hero Bruce Springsteen.  Catchy songs full of pedal steel and organ and vocals with a strong
drawl, it's like they read my mind on what makes a good alt-country song.  Well, to be fair, that's pretty much what every-
one thinks a good alt-country song ought to sound like.  Except maybe Howe Gelb, who thinks they should sound like a
combination of long winded "King of the Road" covers and beat poetry.  But that is another story entirely.  These Raleigh
kids play constantly, so if you've never seen them before don't worry, they'll be playing again very soon.  And probably
again soon after that.  This is a good problem to have. 

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Deja Mi Fest
With Free Energy, Wye Oak, and Active Child
Lincoln Theatre (or rather out in front of it)
7/23/2011

The Deja Mi app put on a free two day festival all around Raleigh, and this was the big headliner gig.  They set up a
stage in front of the Lincoln Theatre, invited some food trucks and paid for some buzz-worthy out-of-town indie bands to
come peddle their sounds to the masses.  they also apparently invited a thunderstorm which greatly delayed things, but
nonetheless, free is free and my grumpy ass can only bitch so much. 

This thing was going on all day but between the rain delay and my general laziness I got there in time to see Philadelphia's
Free Energy.  I love their song "Dream City" but didn't know much else about them.  Turns out that song was fairly rep-
resentative - they have a big corporate pop sound, with Weezer/OK Go style songs that sound like they should be on
top 40 radio, but still easily loved by the non-top 40 crowd too.  Yeah, some of it's a bit cheesy, and they have a stage
presence that is probably more appealing to 14 year old girls than me, but they were still enjoyable.  And even live
"Dream City" is a great song.

Wye Oak was the real motivating factor for me coming out, and they were up next.  This coed duo from Baltimore were
rumored to be ferocious live, and that rumor proved to be well founded.  I'd listened to their record a while back and was
really neither here nor there on it, but after seeing the band live I need to go back and revisit it ASAP.  It was instantly
obvious where the band's reputation comes from and why Merge signed them - singer and guitarist Jenn Wasner.  I
don't mean to sell her band mate Andy Stack short, who does a great job, but she is completely captivating.  And I'm
not just talking about being captivating to my base animal tastes, physically ogling her (she reminds me a bit of Patricia
Arquette from the mid to late nineties) - no, she shreads a guitar, has a great voice, and really owns the stage.  You
can't stop looking at her.  You don't want to stop looking at her.  I wish I was looking at her right now.  You could probably
compare them to a more rock version of the Spinanes, and I loved the Spinanes.  Maybe a hair of early Liz Phair be-
fore she started sucking.  I want to see this band again and again. 

I watched a little bit of Active Child before heading out.  I'd heard their name before and that's about it - turns out they
are eletronica harp rock!  Yes, harp rock!  On top of that, the singer has this crazy voice...I guess what I'm saying is this
group is the male version of Joanna Newsom.  Only less attractive and much less irritating.  I didn't mind it actually, in
the small dose I saw, but not sure I could sign on for a full show or buying an album or anything.  But as far as electronic
harp rock goes...you could do worse.

The heat of summer got your down?  Yeah, me too.  That, and a bunch of chickens. 

Burt, free of leash in our newly fenced in backyard.  Cary, NC.


Loose feather.  Cary, NC.

The Charming Youngsters
with Goodbye, Titan
Tir Na Nog
8/18/2011

There were a bunch of good things happening this night, so I took it upon myself to go to the free one.  The was another
installment of Local Beers, Local Bands, a Thursday night mainstay that gets me off the couch more often than not. 

I was going to the show specifically to finally see the Charming Youngsters, but I got there in time to see the second
band as well.  I didn't know dick about them, or even their name until they stated it later in their set.  They were a local
instrumental outfit called Goodbye, Titan.  I guess the local is implied right?  The band walked a fine line between the
indie and metal versions of heavy post rock.  The comparison touchstones are obvious - Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky,
Mono, Pelican, etc.  Look, there is only so far you can go in this genre, so really it comes down to quality, not originality -
and these guys absolutely destroyed it.  Whatever it is.  I was floored with how talented they were, and was mesmerized
by the group from the start of their set until the last note. 

After many failed attempts, I would finally see the Charming Youngsters.  It seemed like they were always playing on
a night I had a ticket for another show or I was on the other end of the country or god knows what reason, but now it
would finally happen, barring some manner of natural disaster.  I already knew this from hearing their online recordings,
but they play a whimsical sort of pop, the sort of pop made popular over the last decade and a half by Elephant 6 col-
lective and their like-minded ilk.  The really reminded me a ton of some San Francisco bands I used to see all the time
when I lived there, Shimmer Kids Underpop Association (which became Society of Rockets) and Cubby Creatures. 
The five-piece hybrid Greenville/Raleigh band knows their way around a pop hook, and we're all better off for it.  They
also have a nice male/female vocal interplay that reminds me a bit of Papas Fritas, and goddamn do I love that first
self-titled Papas Fritas album.  And for the record I'm guessing this entire band was in elementary school when that
record came out.  Everyone should go buy that record, and the Charming Youngsters cassette, and hell if you happen
across some Shimmer Kids that would suit you nice too.  Whimsical pop!

Death Cab For Cutie
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
8/8/2011

I don't go to giant concerts often, but when I do I like to make sure it's on a super hot night when I can sweat myself silly
like a wrestler trying to cut weight.  The wife wanted to go see Death Cab For Cutie, and I like them well enough so why
not?  I mean, other than the price and the temperature and pretty much everything about seeing shows in a venue this
size.  Let's start with parking - we got there right when the show started and had to park in this far satellite lot.  I timed the
walk from there to the venue, and it took almost twenty minutes at a brisk pace to get there.  Not that I mind walking as a
general rule, but that is just silly.  Then you plop down in the chairs you carried in, a good 150 to 200 yards from the stage,
and then squint at the band trying to make out what is going on.  On the plus side, I got to eat a frozen lemonade and
some popcorn while listening to live music, not something that happens at regular shows. 

With all that snarkiness aside, Death Cab sounded pretty good.  I'm kinda impressed that even though they've grad-
uated to such large stages, they've remained the same four-piece they've always been.  They weren't a particularly
exciting live band when I saw them over a decade ago, and they still aren't.  But I don't think most folks are going to see
Death Can and expecting a Lady Gaga type of performance.  They played songs from their entire catalog, even playing
a few older tracks like "President of What?" from their first album and "Title Track" and "Company Calls" from the
second record, easily my two favorite releases of theirs, as well as a lot of songs from their next couple of releases.  I
suppose that is one big difference (usually) between the arena shows and smaller club shows...when a band is touring
clubs after releasing a new album, they usually play a ton of songs off of it, often barely giving the back catalog it's due. 
But when you hit this level of stardom, you give the fans what they want, and that means playing lots of older songs.  so
for any negative nancyin' i do about this giant gigs, that is definitely a plus. 

Also, I would quickly note that Scotland's Frightened Rabbit opened the show and what I saw of them, only two or
three songs, sounded great.  They clearly fit in well with their countrymen like The Twilight Sad and Camera Obscura
and the like.  Really need to make a point of seeing them if they roll through the Cradle on a headlining gig. 

(Photo found online...I wish there were some bumper car tracks around here to take photos at!)

Ed Schrader's Music Beat
with Fossil Eyes and Gross Ghost
Kings
7/29/2011

this shindig  was the official "after party" of the big Bon Iver & Rosebuds show happening down the street at the amphi-
theater.  Now i'm not sure what an after party really is or what sort of elaborate bidding process is involved in becoming
the official one, but it basically boiled down to a free show with some good bands and a bunch of random people
hanging out hoping there might be an appearance by Bon Iver (there wasn't). 

I specifically left the house on this hot-as-shit night to see Baltimore's own Ed Schrader's Music Beat.  I saw this duo
open for Future Islands a few months back, and they completely blew me away.  Who knows how to describe them -
protopunk noise rock maybe.  Ed plays a floor tom and sings while Devlin plays bass and sings a little back-up.  Their
songs are simple and to-the-point and damn catchy, songs like "I Can't Stop Eating Sugar" and "Rats" and "Gas
Station Attendant", all super short bursts of manic rock that leave me mesmerized.  They are very much a "love them or
hate them" band, and I couldn't be any more firmly entrenched in the "love them" camp.  Hell, I'm ready to start a fan
club devoted to them. 

That was the meat of the evening, but let us talk briefly about the two pieces of bread holding that in.  I got into Kings
about halfway through Fossil Eyes set, another act from Bodymore, Murderland.  When I first walked in they had sort
of a jangly psychedelic lo-fi pop thing going on, which was fine but nothing spectacular.  But then for their last couple of
songs they really cranked up the guitar in a very Velvet Underground/Sonic Youth way, and I was really feeling the shit
out of that material.  Will be curious to see which direction the band heads in, but there are definitely the building blocks
of something good here. 

The other side of the bun were the evening's closers, local lads Gross Ghost.  I'd actually never seen them before -
I feel like they've been on a number of bills I've attended, but for reasons that are beyond me I never actually saw the
band perform.  Singer Mike Dillon is no stranger to hooks, and the Gross Ghost material has plenty of that.  It's no
secret I absolutely love his other band Motor Skills, and I'm dying for them to put out a record, but these guys ain't a
bad appetizer to tide me over.  I'm kinda hard pressed to think of what exactly they remind me of - upbeat poppy punk
songs with a lot more emphasis on the pop, and the occasional garage rock moments.  Hell, they even had one song
where it was just Dillon and a dude on violin.  I was definitely glad to finally see the group play, but I'd be lying if I didn't
admit it just made me wish Motor skills were also performing that night. 

Moonface
with Flow Child
Kings
7/22/2011

Because of all the Deja Mi fest nonsense that was going on this weekend, this show got pushed up in the night and
ended up being one of the rare early gigs that I've grown to love so much.  Go see some great live music and get home
by 11?  Yes please!

Flow Child opened the show.  I had no idea who this was.  Turns out it was a young, blond haired lad with a wispy mus-
tache and a t-shirt at least three sizes too big for him.  He was set up in the front of the stage with a heap of synths and
keyboards and pedals and god knows what else all piled on top of one another.  When he started out it was sort of an
abstract/ambient/electro-noise thing, the sort of thing I tend to tune out on...not terrible, just not for me.   But then the
songs would eventually form into what most would recognize as a typical tune structure, and he would sing over them with
a very Animal Collective-like vocal style.  The end result was actually quite interesting and enjoyable and I totally would
have bought his CD if I hadn't earmarked every cent of cash I had for the new Moonface record.  I look forward to hearing
his recorded output though. 

I love pretty much everything Spencer Krug touches, but I didn't even know who or what Moonface was until a couple of
weeks before this show.  Apparently when the dude was holed up in his house suffering through a Canuck winter he de-
cided to make a record full of synths and organs and marimbas and electronic drums and, well, nothing organic other
than his voice.  And it's that easily identifiable voice that makes you feel right at home - the music might be slightly
different but this is still Spencer Krug, so folks who dig Wolf Parade or Sunset Rubdown already have a leg up on this. 
Live, Krug was posted up behind a bank of keyboards and effects and had some dude there helping out on drum pads
and other stuff that I couldn't identify.  They turned out all the lights, turned on a desk light shaped like a globe, and pro-
jected on the back wall some weird looking dude making with the weird dancing.  And it fucking rocked...or at least
rocked as much as anything can really rock when it's being entirely played on organ and electro-drums.  It was a very
sparse crowd, but I gotta think everyone there was digging it as much as I was - I really couldn't have been any more
impressed.  And not just with the songs, but with Krug's musicianship as well...I'm not one to typically dwell on such
things, but he was absolutely shredding multiple keyboards at once while singing.  I was mesmerized by all aspects of
this outing, and hopefully the low numbers don't keep him from coming back again. 

Fucked Up
with JEFF the Brotherhood
Kings
6/28/2011

Fucked Up singer Pink Eyes is a pretty fat dude.  Not huge, not what I'd call obese, but he's definitely big.  And god-
dammit, he fuckin' owns it.  As a large lad myself, it does me proud seeing him flaunt and strut and put on a hell of a
show with his shirt off and the crowd adoring him.  "Hell of a show" doesn't even do it justice...he's like a caged panther,
pacing and staring and then attacking the crowd with great ferocity.  I don't typically get overly excited over Fucked Up's
brand of melodic hardcore, but when you can pair it with a great stage show and extremely enthusiastic fans, well, the
whole scene is a real joy for my eyes.  I perched myself over to the side so I could enjoy the melee without being in the
middle of it, and so I could take some mediocre photos without getting my costly camera covered in sweat and beer,
but Kings is so small and intimate that you still feel like you are a part of things.  Even not really knowing their music I
had a great time, and will definitely see them next time they come around.

To be perfectly honest my main motivation for going to this show were openers JEFF the Brotherhood, and then I
went and drag-assed my way getting to the club and missed a chunk of their set.  Big time bummer, but at least they'll
be around again for Hopscotch this fall.  I've listened to their fuzzed-out garage-punk on record for a little bit now, but it
wasn't until seeing them live that I saw the Mudhoney connection in their sound.  Maybe more like Mudhoney's feisty,
rebellious teenage sons, but still.  I really, really dug what I got to see of them - maybe not as exciting to watch perform
as Fucked Up, but playing music I am way more into. 

The Reigning Sound
The Grey Eagle
6/24/2011

Weird Asheville hippies.  Not the sort of thing you expect to see at a Reigning Sound show, but when the gig is a
benefit for some sort of feed-the-poor or save-the-orphans sort of endeavor (I forget exactly what the cause was), then
all of the sudden the patchouli crowd is out in droves.  Maybe not the best setting to see one of my favorite bands (and
moreover to introduce some of my friends to their music), but fuck it, they put on a great show no matter how much
weird spinny dancing was going on.  They played a nice, long set, with highlights including "Stormy Weather", "Stop
& Think It Over", "West Texas Sound", "Reptile Style", and "Drowning".  There were some actual Reigning Sound
fans there, piled up in front of the stage, but we were definitely outnumbered.  Lesson learned: be careful going to
benefit shows in Asheville, or you might become ensconced in hippies.  Not that that would have deterred me with
this band, but with someone I'm not quite as excited about...

Bowerbirds
with Mount Moriah
Motorco Music Hall
6/5/2011

The Bowerbirds got the lucky break of being selected to open for the Arcade Fire up in Charlottesville, which resulted in
us local folks getting a great Sunday night show in Durham at the Motorco. 

Mount Moriah opened the gig, and to be honest, them getting added to the bill is what put it over the top that I'd drive to
Durham on a Sunday night (Sunday night is by far my laziest point durning the entire week).  It's gotten to the point that I
make every effort to see every show this band plays.  Their set consisted of all the typical songs they usually play, that
being most of their album. as well as one new song which seemed to be called "Connecticut to Carolina" and really re-
minded me a lot of Jackson Browne.  The band seemed a little "looser" than usual, subtly messing with the tempos and
delivery of the lyrics.  I have no idea if anyone else noticed this, but I've listened to their album so much and have seen
them so many times that it stuck in my ear.  Worth noting is this show continues my trend of seeing them with a different
drummer every single time - for this gig, it was Megafaun brother and member of nearly every local band in the land in-
cluding the Bowerbirds, Dan Westerlund.  How he can remember all the parts to all the songs of all the bands he is in is
completely beyond me. 

Despite having listened to the Bowerbirds for years, and even knowing them a little bit, I'd never seen a proper concert
by them.  I saw a stripped down/acoustic version of the band a few years back at some sort of political fundraiser that
started (for reasons I never understood) fairly early on a Saturday morning...I think it was 2008.  Billy Bragg was there. 
So now I was finally seeing them up on a stage with a full band and no Billy Bragg standing off to the side distracting me. 
And I'm kinda kicking myself for having waited this long - they're a great live act, very lively for such a folky group, total pro
performers and musicians as well.  Sure, there were plenty of legitimate reasons for missing their shows over the years,
other plans or out of town, but I'm sure there were at least a couple of times I couldn't pry myself off of the couch.  Such is
life, so be it, and all of that shit.  They played a lot of songs off of their first record (which I've listened to a ton), a lot off of
their second record (which I've only listened to a little bit), and even some new tracks - all of it sounded great, not a dud
in the bunch.  And the crowd ate it up like a fat man with a complimentary buffet coupon at Golden Corral. 

It was a great evening of music at Motorco.  Incidentally, this was my first trip there, and it's a great club to see a show
in.  Add on top of that there always seems to be food trucks parked just outside of the club, and that makes me one
happy man.