Durham

Live Review: Hiss Golden Messenger @ 9:30 Club — 1/15/20

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , .

Hiss Golden Messenger - 930 Club - 01.15.19
MC Taylor fronts Hiss Golden Messenger at 9:30 Club on Jan. 15, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Anyone entering the 9:30 Club would have known immediately they weren’t attending any ordinary show. After all, you weren’t really passing into the familiar concrete space of the popular club at the end of the U Street Corridor. Rather, you were stepping foot into some sort of old-time fortune-teller’s boutique, a sacred space for sorcerers or sorceresses, or maybe some secret place of worship.

But, for what, those unfamiliar with Hiss Golden Messenger were probably unsure.

Continue Reading

Live Review: The Mountain Goats @ 9:30 Club — 4/26/19

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , .

MountainGoats19
Mountain Goats perform at 9:30 Club on April 26, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

I’m way late to the party when it comes to The Mountain Goats but my excuse is that the musical road that brought me to John Darnielle and company was very long and winding. To say the least. It finally took me to 9:30 Club to see the band recently.

Continue Reading

Preview: Moogfest 2019 @ Durham, NC, 4/25-4/28/19

Posted on by in Preview and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

DanielMiller_JoeDilworth01
Daniel Miller (Photo by Joe Dilworth)

Moogfest, the top synthesizer festival and conference, celebrates its 15th anniversary in Durham, North Carolina, on April 25-28, 2019. The festival will feature a keynote presentation by Martin Gore of Depeche Mode as well as Daniel Miller of Mute Records, along with performances by Thomas Dolby, Kimbra, GAS, Tim Hecker (performing with the Konoyo Ensemble), Matthew Dear, US Girls, and more.

Moogfest recently released the full schedule of events for this year’s festival. Here is our list of the Top 10 things to see and hear at Moogfest 2019!

Continue Reading

Ticket Giveaway: Moogfest 2019 @ Durham, NC, 4/25-4/28/19

Posted on by in Preview and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

MG_B&W_1_Travis Shinn_web
Martin Gore (Photo by Travis Shinn)

Moogfest, the top synthesizer festival and conference, celebrates its 15th anniversary in Durham, North Carolina, on April 25-28, 2019. The festival will feature a keynote presentation by Martin Gore of Depeche Mode as well as Daniel Miller of Mute Records, along with performances by Thomas Dolby, Kimbra, GAS, Tim Hecker (performing with the Konoyo Ensemble), Matthew Dear, US Girls, and more.

You can win a pair of general admission tickets to go with Parklife DC!

Continue Reading

Live Review: The Dead Tongues @ Jammin Java — 2/17/19

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , , , .

The Dead Tongues
The Dead Tongues perform at Jammin Java on Feb. 17, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)

I walked around Jammin Java on Sunday, its brick walls reflecting the stagelights, crowd slowly filling in. My wife asked if I wanted a beer; we went to the bar, where a gaggle of musicians ordered drinks, special opener Molly Sarlé holding a bouquet of white and yellow flowers. Ryan Gustafson, also known by his stage name The Dead Tongues, walked away last, but not before I could say, “I’m really looking forward to the show.” He stopped, turned, looked me in the eyes, telling me “Thanks so much,” with a hand on my shoulder.

Continue Reading

Live Review: HC McEntire @ Jammin Java — 2/2/19

Posted on by in Live Review and tagged , , , , , , .

HC McEntire
HC McEntire at Jammin Java on Feb. 2, 2019. (Photo by Matt Ruppert)

I remember when I first saw HC McEntire play on a stage with Mount Moriah, knees shivering with the music, her voice echoing off the tin ceiling and walls of Boot and Saddle in Philly. Cavernous, passionate, and ultimately transformative, in many ways. I read my journal from around that show and it has a quote I think is worth sharing – “Shimmying, we are alive,” which is a reference to the song, “Hail, Lightning” from their eponymous album.

Her recent show at Jammin’ Java was equally transformative.

Continue Reading