Free mixtape from 9th Wonder and the M1 Platoon

The Durham-bred young guns in M1 Platoon just released We Not Them: Part One, the group's second mixtape of the year, with the guidance and beat production of none other than 9th Wonder. Expect soulful boom-bap with the Platoon's army of rappers swapping drawled, energetic rhymes.

Check out the mixtape here.

Concert Review: The Everybodyfields – The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C. – 9/26/08

Playing to a sparse crowd on one of the first days of fall, East Tennessee's The Everybodyfields brought their brand of modern moonshiner's folk to Greenville, S.C.'s Handlebar. Filling the headliner’s spot after tourmate Will Hoge’s scooter accident and subsequent hospitalization, Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews, with help from their hired guns, meandered through nearly two hours of pitch-perfect autumnal melancholy. Whether Everybodyfields devotees or Hoge holdovers, audience members were treated to an intimate, down-home performance of recent standards and new material.

Backed by a buoyant rhythm section and incorporating pedal steel, keyboards and lead guitar, Quinn and Andrews traded between acoustic guitar and electric bass, pausing to share musings on the life of a touring band in the Southeast. Quinn, bearded and bedecked in thrift store couture, charmed with his goofy and afflicted warble, but was ultimately overshadowed by his female counterpart. Andrews, who performs with the coy manner of Emmylou Harris or Neko Case, lets her radiant voice and songwriting compensate for any lacking pretense or showmanship. The lithe and sandy-haired chanteuse stole the show, even during the tense moments she shared the microphone in harmony with Quinn's trembling tenor.

Playing with the earnest aplomb of a rural bar band, The Everybodyfields’ set varied to blend the familiar and the fresh: wistful tear-jerkers, celebratory two-steps and modern mountain ballads. Hitting a dynamic stride on the numbers "Aeroplane" and "Everything is Okay" from 2006's Nothing is Okay, the band started to live up to the promise on which their label, Ramseur Records, is banking.

With studio time scheduled for their fourth album, Quinn expressed to me over a post-show bourbon his excitement about the upcoming sessions, hinting of fertile ground for songwriting. With former labelmates the Avett Brothers enjoying a meteoric rise to stardom, it's not hard to imagine The Everybodyfields following that model, crafting a compelling set of folksy AM pop tunes and cultivating their own cross-section of Carolina devotees.

By Drew Harkins.

Peter Holsapple blogs about songwriting, unveils new tune

Peter Holsapple (of The dB's fame) has been blogging about the process of songwriting for The New York Times, as part of a collection of songwriters' explorations called Measure By Measure. In his latest post, Holsapple unveils his new song "All Talk" and ruminates on the influence of Bob Dylan on himself and on his significantly younger bandmates in Durham's Luego. It's an interesting read.

Congratulations to our winners

Congratulations to the winners of Shuffle's Annuals ticket giveaway: Meredith who gets to see the band in Asheville and Austin who will see them in Raleigh.

Enjoy the shows!

This ticket giveaway is 'Such Fun'

Shuffle Magazine will be giving away one pair of tickets each to Annuals Oct. 29 show in Raleigh at the Lincoln Theatre, and their Oct. 30 show in Asheville at the Orange Peel. Both shows find Annuals playing behind their sophomore full-length, Such Fun.

Entering the giveaway is simple. Register for Shuffle's mailing list by creating a username at Shufflezine.tv. If you've already registered, you've already completed the first step. Then watch your inbox for further instructions. Winners will be announced tomorrow!

Good luck!

Here's an mp3 of "Confessor" from Such Fun to get you in the mood.

American Idol loser, Blake Lewis loses it

American Idol reject Blake Lewis (to be forever known as the beat-boxing dude) showed up as scheduled for his Oct. 16 performance at Columbia's New Brookland Tavern--a leg on Lewis' tour of clubs that seem awfully small for a bona fide television star. All was going well until the beat-boxing diva saw the flier (pictured above) that local openers Dino-Mech had posted to promote the show. Taking offense to the mocking depicted on the flier, Lewis demanded Dino-Mech be removed from the bill. They were, and now they've got the best story ever to tell about how Blake Lews, the American Idol reject, is a total jerkface.

More reports:
Free Times: The Playlist - Blake Lewis Pulls A Dick Move
SceneSC: Dino-Mech vs. American Idol Loser
VoteForTheWorst.com: Dino-Mech = The Most Awesome Band Ever

Don't forget....

Ben Folds Five reunion show on streaming video

For those of you who missed the reunion of Ben Folds Five, and their front-to-back performance of The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner at UNC-Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall, perhaps it will delight you to find out the entire concert (piece by piece), plus interview footage with Folds is streaming now at Myspace.

Stereogum has highlights for the impatient.

Free music from Transportation

In conjunction with the release of its long-awaited LP, Daydreams, Chapel Hill trio Transportation has decided to release the out-of-print fan-favorite Transportation Hour CD-R as a free download via its label, Fractured Discs. All 18 tracks of arena rock and power pop finesse are once again available by directing your browser here (or by downloading the tracks, as listed below).

The Transportation Hour
01 Baby You're So Young
02 Let it Out
03 Distance
04 Better Love Somebody
05 Stormbringer
06 M16
07 Lady Moon
08 Metal
09 Pocketful of Sun
10 Heva
11 Perfect Vision
12 Our Song
13 Sold My Heart
14 Beautiful Woman
15 Be Good (All You Sinners)
16 Hold Your Ear To The Shell
17 Let The Water Take You Down
18 Long Walk Home

More free political concerts

Merge Records, following the success of this spring's Superchunk/Arcade Fire double bills for Obama, has decided to help organize two more events for the Obama campaign. The shows will center on driving early voters to the polls, by luring them with the promise of live sets from acts including The dB's, Superchunk (acoustic, no less), The Reigning Sound, Tift Merritt, Portastatic, Bowerbirds, Megafaun, I Was Totally Destroying It, Greg Humphreys, Ivan Howard of The Rosebuds, etc...

Details, as per a Merge press release, are as follows:

With help from the Obama Campaign and a bunch of great North Carolina musicians, we've set up two concerts to promote voting and more specfically voting EARLY to help turn NC blue for Barack Obama.

NC ROCKS FOR CHANGE free concerts during the last week of EARLY VOTING in NC!

Asheville, NC

10/28 @ The Grey Eagle

Bands start at 8pm

The Reigning Sound

Tift Merritt

Chris Stamey (dBs)

Portastatic

Greg Humphreys (Hobex)

Electric Owls (ex Comas)

TICKETS FREE!

Pick them up when you vote this week outside UNC-Asheville's Zeis Hall, which is by the Quad at 1 University Heights. Tickets will be handed out beginning at 10 am on Thursday, October 23rd, and will remain there during voting hours until they are all given away- so from 10-6, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday.

*** AND ***

Chapel Hill, NC

11/1 @ Graham Terrace at UNC

(Adjacent to the Morehead Planetarium Early Voting Site)

VOTE on the LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING!

9 AM until 1 PM

Enjoy Coffee, Doughnuts and Rock while you vote!

The dBs

Superchunk (acoustic)

Ivan Rosebud

Megafaun

I Was Totally Destroying It

Bowerbirds

Greg Humphreys

Regina Hexaphone

Portastatic

Check www.NCForChange.com for updates and information.

UPDATE: Add BILLY BRAGG to the Chapel Hill show. Holy shit. (So says Raleigh News & Observer music critic David Menconi)

Free music from The Apple Juice Kid

Chapel Hill beatmaker extraordinaire, The Apple Juice Kid, has released Miles Remixed, a free instrumental album built around Miles Davis samples. The release is sponsored by Okayplayer.com and Illroots.com. The album also features musical contributions from Matt Brandau (The Old Ceremony), Mark Wells, DJ Merlin and Daniel Hart (The Physics of Meaning, Polyphonic Spree, St. Vincent).

The Apple Juice Kid says the following:

This is an instrumental album using only Miles Davis samples, that was originally intended to be a modern soundtrack to a movie about the life of Miles Davis. The last track features Yahzarah and Raheem Devaughn, two very talented vocalists that I loved working with. I have been a huge fan of Okayplayer for a long time, ever since my former band Sankofa was opening for The Roots, and am extremely excited to have Illroots partner with them to release this album for FREE!!!

Download Miles Remixed here.

Paleface releases odds and ends compilation

Anti-folk legend and current Concord resident Paleface has self-released Paleface Faves, a 14-track collection of the troubadour's favorite recordings, some unreleased, to be exclusive tour merchandise. This, of course, comes shortly after the announcement of Paleface's signing to Ramseur Records and the release of a new studio LP, The Show Is On The Road, slated for Spring 2009.

Paleface Faves
01. Say Hello - 2008
02. Was Oblivious - 2003
03. Woody Submarine - 1991
04. Blood - 1997
05. Play Guitar - 2000
06. Thanks For Comin - 2003
07. Clowns Be Dazzled By Gadgets - 2003
08. New Age - 2001
09. Dancin Daze - 2003
10. Watchin The Planes Come In- 2004
11. Lullaby King Kong - 2002
12. With A Girl Like You - 1990
13. Brooklyn Girl - 2007
14. Pay For Taxis - 2006

James Taylor shows and ticket distribution announced

By now you've probably heard that Grammy-winning singer/songwriter James Taylor is putting on five free shows in North Carolina in support of the Obama campaign. What you might not know is the where and when of all this.

Recently announced details--which are listed below--should remedy the situation.

Sunday, October 19th

Charlotte Concert for Change
Ovens Auditorium
2700 E. Independence Avenue
Doors Open 1:30pm

Charlotte Ticket Distribution Locations

South County Regional Library
5801 Rea Road
Friday Oct.17th
11am-7pm

Plaza Midwood Regional Library
1623 Central Avenue
Friday Oct.17th
11am-7pm

University City Library
301 E. W.T. Harris Boulevard
Friday Oct.17th
11am-7pm

Sunday October 19th

Asheville Concert for Change
Martin Luther King Park
50 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Doors Open 6:30pm

Asheville Ticket Distribution Locations:

UNC Asheville, Zeis Building
1 University Heights
Friday Oct.17th and Saturday Oct.18th
10am-6pm

West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Road
Friday Oct.17th and Saturday Oct.18th
10am-6pm

Asheville Senior Opportunity Center
36 Grove Street
Friday Oct.17th and Saturday Oct.18th
10am-6pm

Monday, October 20th

Chapel Hill Concert for Change
Fetzer Field – behind Carmichael Auditorium on South Road
UNC Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill NC
Doors Open 5:00 PM

Chapel Hill Ticket Distribution Locations

UNC Chapel Hill Planetarium
250 E. Franklin Street
Friday Oct.17th, Saturday Oct.18th, and Monday Oct.20th
9am-4pm

Carrboro Town Commons
301 W. Main Street
Carrboro, NC
Friday Oct.17th, Saturday Oct.18th, and Monday Oct.20th
9am-4pm

Orange County Public Library
300 W. Tryon Street
Hillsboro, NC
Friday Oct.17th, Saturday Oct.18th, and Monday Oct.20th
9am-4pm

Tuesday, October 21nd

Raleigh Concert for Change
Moore Square
200 South Blount Street
Raleigh NC
Doors Open 11:30 AM

Raleigh Ticket Distribution Locations

Raleigh for Change HQ
130 E. Morgan Street
Raleigh, NC
Friday, Oct. 17th, Saturday Oct.18th and Monday Oct. 20th
9am-6pm

Boleyn Heights for Change HQ
600 St. Mary’s Street
Raleigh, NC
Friday, Oct. 17th, Saturday Oct.18th and Monday Oct.20th
9am-6pm

Galaxy Theater
770 Cary Towne Boulevard
Cary, NC
12pm-6pm on Friday, Oct.17th, Sunday Oct.19th and Monday Oct.20th
9am-6pm on Saturday, Oct.18th

Tuesday, October 21st

Wilmington Event Location
Greenfield Lake Ampitheater
Third Street & Park Street
Wilmington NC
Doors Open 5:00 PM

Wilmington Ticket Distribution

In Government Center Plaza- Patio of Sombrero Azul
127 S College St
Wilmington, NC
Friday, Oct.17th and Monday Oct. 20th
2pm-5pm

Free mixtape from Big TReal

Big TReal, the self-proclaimed "best MC in 17% of the world," has released The Return of Joe Grizzly, a new18-track mixtape as a free download. Production credits include N.C. heavyweights Khrysis and 9th Wonder, while guest verses come compliments of Skyzoo, Kam Moye (Supastition) and Big Remo.

Download The Return of Joe Grizzly here.

Ornette Coleman to perform at UNC-Chapel Hill

In what will be only his fourth U.S. performance this year, free-jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman is slated to play at UNC-Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall Nov. 13. Tickets, on sale now, range in price from $30-65. Student tickets are $10.

Coleman, now in his 70s, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning saxophonist known to be one of the most controversial innovators in the early free jazz movement. His albums, The Shape of Jazz To Come and Free Jazz are canonical classics.

I Was Totally Destroying It announces free digital EP

Triangle power-pop quintet I Was Totally Destroying It has announced details for the free online release of the follow-up to 2007's self-titled LP. The seven-song Done Waiting EP will be posted as a free download at ReverbNation.com on Oct. 28.

The EP was recorded at Warrior Sound in Chapel Hill, concurrently with the band's yet-to-be-released second full-length, Horror Vacui. The EP's title track is already streaming at the band's Myspace and ReverbNation sites.

Done Waiting
1. Done Waiting
2. Teeth
3. The Masquerade
4. Get In Line
5. Like Cavalry
6. I'm Broke And So Is Everything I Own
7. Radar Song

Band of Horses enters the studio

It's been more than a year since the Mt. Pleasant, S.C.-residing Band of Horses unleashed its sophomore spectacle, Cease To Begin, upon the world. And now, it's time they started work on the next batch of songs.

And so it shall be done, at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, no less. Very few details have been released at this time, but the band claims this forthcoming third album will boast a tracklist longer than 10 songs, and songwriting contributions from all band members.

No news about a release date or title.

Jazz drummer Joe Chambers to teach at UNC-Wilmington

Famed jazz drummer Joe Chambers has been appointed a Thomas S. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Jazz in UNC-Wilmington's Department of Music, Wilmington's Star News Online reports. The New York-based percussionist made his name as a session musician for the Blue Note label, recording alongside such luminaries as Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea and Charles Mingus.

Rosebuds Mash-ups

The Hood Internet, a mash-up blog, has recently posted two mash-ups of The Rosebuds. The first, from August, is a remix of "Get Up Get Out," from The Rosebuds' Night of the Furies, featuring verses from Aesop Rock.

Most recently, though, is The Hood Internet's T-Pain & Lil' Wayne vs. The Rosebuds track "I Can't Believe It's Not Life Like," which borrows the title track to the Raleigh duo's just-released fourth LP.

Stick that in yer earhole.

Troika Music Festival schedule

The full schedule for the Troika Music Festival, which spans three nights, Nov. 6-8, in Durham, has been announced. Tickets are on sale now at Troika's Web site.

Single-day passes for Thursday and Saturday are $5, while Friday's main event costs $15. All-access, three-day passes are available for $20.

Thursday, 6 November

Durham Central Park, Foster Street
8:30PM Future Kings of Nowhere
7:45PM Lost in the Trees
7:00PM Paleface
6:15PM All Your Science
5:30PM Angelo Spencer

Duke Coffeehouse, Crowell Building, East Campus, Duke University
11:15PM Red Collar
10:15PM Sorry About Dresden
9:30PM Le Weekend
8:45PM Sequoya
8:00PM Pink Flag

The Pinhook, 117 West Main Street
11:15PM Future Islands
10:30PM Screaming Females
9:45PM Juan Huevos
9:00PM Dylan Gilbert
(DJ) Alex Kotch

The Marvell Event Center, 119 West Main Street
10:45PM Midnight Gladness Band
10:00PM Doly Toro
9:15PM Oso Optimo
8:30PM Sawteeth McTweedy

Alivia's, 900 West Main Street
9:00PM Brett Harris
8:15PM Bob Funck
7:30PM Matthew Boles

James Joyce, 912 West Main Street
10:15PM Jews and Catholics
9:30PM Simple
8:45PM Sugar in the Dirt
8:00PM Fujiyama Roll

Broad Street Café, 1116 Broad Street
11:30PM Puritan Rodeo
10:45PM Fontana
10:00PM Shakermaker

Friday, 7 November

Carolina Theatre, 309 West Morgan Street
10:45PM The Rosebuds
9:30PM Kimya Dawson
8:30PM The Old Ceremony
7:30PM Bellafea
5:00PM Girls Rock NC Program

Bull McCabe's, 427 West Main Street
12:45AM Ex-Monkeys
11:55PM Wigg Report

Saturday, 8 November

Broad Street Café, 1116 Broad Street
12:15AM Hammer No More The Fingers
11:30PM The Dry Heathens
10:45PM The Scott Waite Debacle
10:00PM Death to the Details

The Pinhook, 117 West Main Street
11:00PM I Was Totally Destroying It
10:15PM The Travesties
9:30PM The Pneurotics
8:45PM Resist Not

Duke Coffeehouse, Crowell Building, East Campus, Duke University
11:35PM Tooth
10:45PM Midtown Dickens
10:00PM The Curtains of Night
9:15PM Cantwell, Gomez, and Jordan
8:35PM The Gates of Beauty
8:00PM Clawform

James Joyce, 912 West Main Street
10:15PM Velvet
9:30PM *SONS
8:45PM The Heist and the Accomplice
8:00PM Sea Cow

The Sirens Lounge, 1803 West Markham Blvd.
11:00PM Schooner
10:15PM Nathan Oliver
9:15PM The Proclivities
8:30PM Rat Jackson

The Marvell Event Center, 119 West Main Street
10:30PM A Rooster for the Masses
9:45PM Dr. Powerful
9:00PM Veronique Diabolique
8:15PM The Virgo 9

Alivia's, 900 West Main Street
9:30PM Spencer Scholes
8:45PM Tea & Tempests
8:00PM Clayton Sabine

New Rosebuds video

Nice Fox from Kelly Rosebud on Vimeo.

The Rosebuds have made a video for "Nice Fox" from their recently-released fourth full-length, Life Like. Enjoy.

New Mountain Goats EP available for download

The ever prolific, Durham-residing John Darnielle has made a triumphant return to the EP-format, releasing not one, but two tour-only 7-inches for his "The Last Happy Night of Your Life" tour with Kaki King. One is the Black Pear Tree EP, a six-song collaborative piece with King--the first 200 of which are to be printed on colored vinyl, so take note, collectors. (You can stream "Thank You Mario But Our Princess Is In Another Castle," from the Black Pear Tree EP on Pitchfork).

But it's the four-song Satanic Messiah EP, limited to 666 physical copies (clever, eh?), that Darnielle has made available for download at the convenient price of whatever you want at satanicmessiah.com.

Both EPs were recorded by Scott Solter at his Baucom Road studio is Western N.C.

The only Carolinas date on the tour is a Nov. 5 stop at Carrboro's esteemed Cat's Cradle. For those willing to travel some, tour dates are listed below.

October
13 - Chicago, IL, Park West
14 - Milwaukee, WI, Pabst Theatre
15 - Omaha, NE, The Slowdown
17 - Denver, CO, Bluebird Theater
18 - Salt Lake City, UT, In the Venue
20 - Seattle, WA, Showbox
21 - Portland, OR, Wonder Ballroom
23 - San Francisco, CA, the Independent
24 - San Francisco, CA, the Fillmore
25 - Los Angeles CA , Troubadour
26 - Los Angeles CA, Troubadour
28 - San Diego, CA, the Belly Up Tavern
29 - Tucson, AZ, Club Congress
31 - Lubbock, TX, Tequila Jungle

November
1 - Austin, TX, Antones
2 - Dallas, TX, Granada Theatre
3 - New Orleans, LA Republic
5 - Chapel Hill, NC, Cat's Cradle
6 - Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
7 - Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of the Living Arts
8 - Brooklyn, NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
9 - New York, NY, Webster Hall

Stream the New Foreign Exchange

Leave It All Behind, the sophomore LP from The Foreign Exchange (Phonte of Little Brother with Wilmington-based producer Nicolay), recently went on sale digitally on iTunes, but it's streaming for free on Myspace. The 2xCD version of the album is available Tuesday, and a deluxe vinyl edition is on the horizon as well.

Carolinas bands at CMJ

The 2008 CMJ Music Marathon takes place Oct. 21-25 in New York. The following are bands from the Carolinas who'll be representing our region.

• Adventure (ex-pat)
  
• Alina Simone (ex-pat)
• Annuals (Raleigh)
• The Bronzed Chorus (Greensboro)
• Dexter Romweber Duo (Chapel Hill)
• George Clinton (ex-pat)
• Hotel Lights (ex-pat)
• Little Brother (Durham)
• The Physics of Meaning (Chapel Hill)
• Portastatic (Chapel Hill)
• The Rosebuds (Raleigh)
• The Sammies (Charlotte)
  

Valient Thorr preps DVD release

Valient Thorr, the gang of Venusian hard-rockers who call Raleigh home, will release Valient Thorr In Heat, a DVD chronicling the band's five-year existence, on Nov. 4 via Volcom Entertainment. Pre-orders available now via Insound.

Trailer posted below.
Valient Thorr IN HEAT dvd trailer

Seth Kauffman = Floating Action

Black Mountain, N.C.'s resident lo-fi soul groove whiz kid, Seth Kauffman, is now operating under the moniker Floating Action. To make matters even more confusing, Kauffman's been in the studio working on his next album, titled, you guessed it, Floating Action.

A brief statement from Kauffman, er, Floating Action's label, Park The Van Records reads, "You'll eventually see everything on our site that refers to Mr. Kauffman's shady shady past as the new phoenix from the mire, Floating Action -- but until then, enjoy the confusion."

Enjoy it we will. Floating Action recently dropped by the Daytrotter studios to record a session, unveiling the new nomenclature as well as three new songs. Chack that out here.

More David Byrne dates announced

David Byrne, as previously reported, is bringing his "Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno" tour to Raleigh. But he'll also be playing in Charleston and Charlotte, as the tour extends into the winter. The Raleigh show is Dec. 8 at Meymandi Concert Hall. Byrne's bus will then head south to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, Dec. 9, and then back up to the Old North State for a show at Charlotte's Ovens Auditorium Dec. 10.

This tour, which features no opening act, is in support of the latest Byrne/Eno collaboration, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. Tickets for the Raleigh and Charleston dates go on sale Friday.

R.I.P. Baumer

Columbia pop quartet Baumer has decided to call it quits. The band's last show is scheduled for Nov. 7 at Headliners in Columbia with Charlotte's The Noises 10 opening. Fans have one other chance to see the band on Nov. 3 at Charleston's Music Farm.

Baumer's recording career officially began with the release of 2006's Come On, Feel It on New Jersey-based Eyeball Records (An Albatross, The Number 12 Looks Like You). This year saw the release of what will become Baumer's final studio LP, Were It Not For You. Eyeball will release Baumer: The Complete Recordings digitally via iTunes on Nov. 25.

Baumer issued the following statement:

Friends,

You've probably noticed the past few months have been tough for us with cancelled tours and other things completely out of our control. Its been hard, but it has given us time to reevaluate where we are and what the future of Baumer looks like. One thing we never wanted to do with this band was to beat a dead horse. We always said that if it was time to move on we would. Its really painful, but we've come to the conclusion that its time for Baumer to come to an end. We are extremely sad, but we know its the right thing for us.

We don't even know where to begin to show you guys how grateful we are for your support. You are the reason we got here and what kept us going for the past 4 years. We've come up with a couple things that will hopefully communicate how much we appreciate you guys. We've been in the studio finishing up the two songs we had left. We also have a friend that is working on a few remixes of some old favorites. So what does this mean for you? On November 25th Eyeball will be releasing "Baumer the Complete Recordings" on I-Tunes. This will a complete collection of all the music
we've ever worked on including, but not limited to, "Were It Not For You" "Come On, Feel It" plus all the b-sides, demos and remixes we can find. Its our way of saying "Baumer loves You".

Our final show will be November 7th at Headliners. The first 100 people in the door will get a free copy of the 2 brand new songs and the remixes. We will also be having a crazy sale on all of our merch. We look forward to seeing you all there and saying goodbye.

Again, please keep supporting independent music. Actually BUY records and merch. Pay to go out to shows. Again BUY PURCHASE & PAY FOR MUSIC....this is the only way bands can keep making music. So find a band you love and support them totally because they need you just as much as you need them.

We love you all and are grateful for each one of you...
All Our Love,
Baumer

Dex Romweber makes his acting debut, jams with Dave Matthews (?!)

Dexter Romweber, the former Flat Duo Jets frontman, makes his acting debut in "Lake City" alongside Sissy Spacek, Keith Carradine and Rebecca Romijn. In the movie, Romweber plays "Frank," the guitarist in Keith Carradine's band. In other odd-pairing news, Romweber's joined in the fictional band by none other than Dave Matthews. "Lace City" is directed by Perry Moore (producer for "The Chronicles of Narnia" franchise), and debuted in April at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Since filming for "Lake City" wrapped, Romweber's returned to music with The Dexter Romweber Duo, featuring his sister Sara (Let's Active, Snatches of Pink) on drums. The duo has been working on its Bloodshot Records debut with producer John Plymale and a bevy of guests including Cat Power, Neko Case, Exene Cervenka and Rick Miller of Southern Culture On The Skids, aiming for a February 2009 release.

Dexter Romweber Duo Tour Dates:
10/23 - The Red and The Black, Washington, D.C.
10/24 - Railroad Street, Linfield, PA
10/25 - Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY (Bloodshot CMJ Showcase/day show)
10/25 - Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY (night show)
10/26 - Abbey Lounge, Boston, MA
10/29 - Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ
10/30 - The Triple, Richmond, VA
10/31 - The Garage, Winston-Salem, NC
11/6 - Casa Nueva, Athens, OH
11/7 - Dangerously Delicious Pies, Baltimore, MD
11/8 - Dogfish Head, Milton, DE
11/22 - Tap House, Norfolk, VA

Stream the new Annuals and Crooked Fingers records

Such Fun, the sophomore LP from Raleigh's Annuals, and Forfeit/Fortune, the latest from Chapel Hill ex-pat Eric Bachmann's Crooked Fingers hit stores today. Both are streaming at AOL's Spinner.com.

Music Maker documentary premieres this month

"Toot Blues," a 74-minute documentary on the history of the Hillsborough, N.C.-based Music Maker Relief Foundation and its founder, Tim Duffy, is set to premiere at the New Orleans Film Festival on October 15 at the Prytania Theater.

The film, directed by Chris Johnstone, focuses on Duffy's interaction with and support for the blues music and musicians in the South. Carolinas blues-fans can also look for appearances by Cool John Ferguson, the late Cootie Stark and John Dee Holeman among the performance footage from Music Maker's deep roster of Southern blues greats.

The premiere showing is followed by a free after-party at Checkpoint Charlie's featuring live performances from Alabama Slim, Little Freddie King and Slewfoot.

Project Symphony announces debut

Ari Picker, the brains behind Lost In The Trees, is a man of many talents. Beyond his orchestral pop troupe, he's a classical composer and the founder of Project Symphony, an organization dedicated to providing a means of encouraging orchestral music and community development in Chapel Hill.

Picker writes in a press release: "A year ago I started Project Symphony, a non profit organization which has a two part mission: the first part is to expand the local classical music scene by commissioning young artists to write original music for concert orchestra and to have their pieces performed, and the second part is to use the money raised from ticket sales to these performances to give donations to local charitable causes, may it be environmental, social, or artistic."

Nov. 1 will mark Project Symphony's debut showcase as Picker unveils his Symphony No. 1 in C Minor. He'll also perform with Lost In The Trees as a supporting act, and Megafaun's Phil Cook will give a solo performance.

Tickets are already on sale and are priced in three tiers, at $30, $20 and $10, depending on seating at UNC-Chapel Hill's Hill Hall Auditorium. Proceeds from ticket sales are split 50-50 between funding the next Project Symphony performance and a donation to Chatham County Together, a mentoring organization.

David Byrne comes to Raleigh

Still promoting Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, his latest collaboration with Brian Eno, and following a Sept. 21 show in Asheville, rock legend David Byrne has added an appearance in Raleigh to his tour. David Menconi, of the Raleigh News & Observer reports a scheduled David Byrne performance Dec. 8 at Meymandi Concert Hall.

Tickets go on sale Friday.

Backseat Dreamer release announced

Spartanburg, S.C. electro-ambient project Backseat Dreamer has announced the release of Love Not Found, an eight-song EP that will mark the outfit's inaugural release for Atlanta-based Stickfigure Recordings.

The EP sees physical and digital release Oct. 28, and will be followed by a self-titled full-length, tentatively scheduled for a March 2009 release.

Love Not Found
1. intro
2. heartache
3. and forever
4. i don't feel it
5. ever changing
6. love not found
7. untitled love song
8. empty hearts

R.I.P. The Young Sons

Charlotte pop-rockers The Young Sons are no more. Citing irreconcilable differences, the band dissolved without ever releasing its promised album, Hearts, Inc. The band's Myspace page has been wiped clean, with a promise to become the Web home of a new band. Details are yet to be announced.

Regarding the break-up, The Young Sons issued the following statement.

the young sons are over

hey everyone,

it's been a long time coming, but as of this past weekend, we ended the young sons. suffice it to say that there were many obvious irreconcilable differences, and none of us had the heart to carry on with it the way things were.

john, mike and i really wanted to see the full young sons album "hearts inc." come out on itunes, as we spent a good deal of time and energy on that recording, and it only seems logical to have the album exist as an artifact of the band that was, and of this past year together. at the time of writing this, justin williams has decided that of the 12 songs we recorded, he's taking half (the 6 he principally wrote), and not allowing us to release the record in full. it's a shame, because the rest of us can't wait to get on with our lives and new projects, and frankly, could care less about holding on to these jams in any way other than as a document of the group that is no more.

so maybe one day you'll be able to have the option to own that one and only full-length by the young sons. and maybe not.

at any rate, this page is going to be another music page for my new album and band, and will no longer have anything to do with the young sons.

i will post some new music in the next few days and make some other announcements soon. thanks to everyone who supported this band, hard as it was on us all. it meant the world to me, and i'm so glad those relationships are still in tact and fruitful.

later.

jon

The Sammies play Brooklyn Vegan's CMJ showcase

The Sammies, fresh off the Sept. 23 release of sophomore LP, Sandwich, have been pegged to play Brooklyn Vegan's showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York Oct. 21 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The Queen City quartet plays alongside hype-magnets Ponytail and "singing DJ" Jens Lekman.

Brooklyn Vegan has the following to say:

The Sammies are a North Carolina band whose new album Sandwich became a slight obsession recently. I'm glad I didn't judge the book by its cover and that they said yes to coming up and playing the show.

Tickets are $15 and go on sale Tuesday. CMJ badgeholders admitted on a first-come-first-served basis. Drink specials promised.

The Rosebuds to tour with Megafaun

With their fourth LP, Life Like, only a week away from its release, The Rosebuds have announced their tour to support the new album, and they're bringing along their neighbors, Durham's Megafaun, who are still touring behind Bury The Square.

The Rosebuds/Megafaun tour starts Nov. 7 in Durham, where The Rosebuds play the headlining slot at Carolina Theatre as part of the Troika Music Festival. Megafaun will then hit the road with The Rosebuds for six more dates, traveling from Nashville to St. Paul.

Dates listed below.

The Rosebuds/Megafaun

• 11/7/08 - Carolina Theatre, Durham, N.C. (Troika Music Festival w/ Kimya Dawson, The Old Cermony and Bellafea)
• 11/11/08 - Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN (w/ The Spinto Band)
• 11/12/08 - Radio Radio, Indianapolis, IN
• 11/13/08 - Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
• 11/14/08 - High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI
• 11/15/08 - The Picador, Iowa City, IA
• 11/16/08 - Turf Club, St. Paul, MN

Brian Walsby on NPR

Since moving to Raleigh in 1986, Triangle music veteran Brian Walsby has built quite the reputation. He counts among his musical credits Patty Duke Syndrome (Ryan Adams' pre-Whiskeytown rock band), Polvo and the ATP-bound Double Negative. He's releasing a compilation of songs from his old bands, Siberian, Daddy and The Patty Duke Syndrome, called Brushes With Fame, which comes with a three-page booklet of background on the bands.

But he's also a reputed cartoonist, whose book series Manchild was greenlighted for a fourth issue last month.

Walsby was also featured on Frank Stasio's NPR show, "The State of Things," yesterday. Downloadable and streamable audio is now available online.

R.I.P. Love Craft

Winston-Salem quartet Love Craft has decided to call it quits after a final show, which takes place tonight at Elliot's Revue in Winston-Salem.

Tonight's your last chance...
...to come out and get loved up by Love Craft.


Fer serious, this will be your last chance to not only see us play, but to see the four beautiful bastards you collectively know as Love Craft in the same room...hell...even in the same time zone. Eric is leaving for Cali soon, Jacob lives in The Dirty Ham, so come get a quad shot of love from Love Craft while you can.


Elliott's Revue, Trade Street, Winston Fuckin' Salem, in the North Cackalack.


10:00 or so. No opening band...just more Love Craft than you can stand. If all goes well, two sets with every song we've ever written. Yep, you heard it here.


We still LOVE you all.


LC

Free Kooley High compilation

Compiled by bloggers Zillz (of zillasays.com) and Travis (of wydublog.com), Burn After Listening, is a compilation of tracks from the young Raleigh hip-hop group Kooley High, a group whose music the two bloggers found they shared a common love for. The collection draws from Kooley High's Summer Sessions EP, Raleigh's Finest mixtape and rare tracks as well. Burn After Listening also features contributions from Median, Chaundon, Edgar Allen Floe and 9th Wonder.

Kooley High - Burn After Listening

Double Negative plays ATP in the UK

The All Tomorrow's Parties-sponsored Nightmare Before Christmas Festival, curated by the Melvins and Mike Patton, might be the loudest ever. Aside from the curators (Patton, operating with Fantômas), the line-up includes, among others, Isis, Torche, Butthole Surfers, Big Business, Mastodon, The Locust, The Dirtbombs, Monotonix, The Damned, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks and Raleigh's ferocous Double Negative.

Double Negative takes it's melee of a live show to the festival with its Raw Energy EP still fresh--and awesome.

Red Collar unveils new recordings

Ever since the release of The Hands Up EP in March of 2007, Durham-based Red Collar's increasingly large fanbase has been clamoring for the promised full-length follow-up, recorded by Brian Paulson, and tentatively titled Pilgrim.

The LP is still without a release date, or even a label to back it.

But, as of today, four cuts from the unreleased record are available to tease eager ears via MySpace. Three of the featured tracks are re-recorded songs from the EP, "Stay," "Hands Up" and "Used Guitars," but "Rust Belt Heart" will be new to anybody that didn't get a chance to download the band's live session at Duke University's radio station, WXDU, a few months back.

Red Collar at Myspace

photo by Allie Mullin.