Showing posts with label durham. Show all posts

Monday, June 7, 2010

mp3: Megafaun -- "Volunteers"

mp3: Megafaun -- "Volunteers"

Durham's Megafaun is putting out a mini-album on Sept. 14. Read about the process on Hometapes' Tumblr.

Here are some Megafaun tour dates...

06/08/10 Arlington, VA @ IOTA Club & Cafe #
06/09/10 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s #
06/10/10 Cambridge, MA @ Regattabar
06/11/10 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall #
06/12/10 Buffalo, NY @ Sound Lab #
06/13/10 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Big #
06/15/10 Milwaukee, WI @ Club Girabaldi #
06/16/10 Eau Claire, WI @ House of Rock #
06/17/10 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon #
06/19/10 Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop #
06/21/10 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
06/22/10 Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
06/23/10 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
08/06/10 Portland, OR @ Pickathon
08/07/10 Portland, OR @ Pickathon
09/11/10 Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Fest - King’s
^ with Tift Merritt
# with Sam Quinn

More after the jump...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

review: All Your Science Volume 2

All Your Science
Volume 2
Self-released, 2009

Review by Andrew

The new album from Durham duo All Your Science is appropriately titled Volume 2 given that it follows their debut Volume 1 and that this second record seems, in some ways, a continuation of their first effort. The sound of the sophomore work is nearly identical to the first record's clean but lo-fi feel, which certainly isn't a bad thing. The guitar and drums (and other assorted instruments) and sparse vocals echo on each song like you're standing in a dimly lit basement watching the band live. It's the perfect sound for All Your Science. As far as the songs on Volume 2, the band has not strayed too far from their difficult to describe style of shoegaze meets drum and bass meets indie rock. However, on this latest effort, it's clear that the band has taken more time to fully realize their ideas, adding unexpected instruments and some really interesting rhythms.

"Club de Sons" opens the record with Dave Z. laying down a quick, almost tribal drum beat that guitarist Lu Lubenstein quickly tags along with, playing bent, surf rock guitar notes that fall into the gaps of the staccato rhythm. The sparse and clean guitar sounds almost cheerful, but also haunting before finally devolving into a distorted musical car crash in the final twenty seconds. Both members sing on "This Time," a slow song about lost love that floats along on a gentle lilting guitar riff and plodding drums. The song has a catchy chorus that sounds honest and actually quite pretty with the duo's voices simultaneously clashing and meshing.

The songs “Burried” and “Powder Down” both feature intricate playing by this pair, while also demonstrating a new versatility. “Burried” contains a few brief measures of banjo playing that could not be more unexpected or welcome. The guitar line the banjo apes is an intricate, almost metal sounding riff that—both on guitar and banjo—adds a really interesting texture to the song. The rhythm of “Powder Down” is fast and driving, with Dave Z. slamming his snare drum along to a subdued guitar riff that somehow sounds great with a frantic accordion. If anyone ever needs music for a scene in a movie with a high speed unicycle chase through a circus, this just might be the perfect song.

Dave Z. plays a mini drum kit, one he designed to be carried on his back while riding a bike, and this is the set he also uses when recording. That he's able to get so much noise and provide such interesting and varied beats to the songs with this limited set-up is a real testament to his drumming abilities. Likewise, Lu Lubenstein manages to do a lot with her guitar (and piano) playing, which has become more intricate and captivating since the last album, as she has as good a sense for when to play a note as when to leave a space empty.

Volume 2 is an enjoyable record that is especially satisfying because it demonstrates a good deal of growth since All Your Science's debut. If you have the chance to catch the band live, you probably should check them out, as they put on a really fun show. Until then, though, you can enjoy both of their records for free at http://www.4gre.org/allyourscience/

You can also check out a short documentary all about the backpack drum set: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399243/ More after the jump...

Monday, November 9, 2009

Troika Festival Wrap-Up Links

Future Islands on Friday night of Troika. Photo by Jeremy from Secret Carrboro Ninja Patrol

Didn't make it to Troika in Durham, NC this year. I'm a loser. If I was a real media outlet, I would've "dispatched" somebody. Too bad. Luckily, a few fine folks were there:

The Secret Carrboro Ninja Patrol has a breakdown of many of the sets, along with pics, pics, including Lonnie Walker and The Love Language. And don't forget the Beard Patrol, either.

Wallow in the goodness here (Day 1), here (Day 2) and here (Day 3).

Mann's World comes through with a video offering of Rat Jackson, The Loners, and The Love Language with some advice for the fest organizers.

Daily Tar Heel lays it out with Day 3 love.

In retrospect, here are the Scan's picks and the Daily Tar Heel's picks.

If you find some more reviews/pics from other sources, let me know in the comments and I'll add them.

More after the jump...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

2009 Troika Fest in Durham, NC

Troika Festival is this weekend in Durham, NC.
Was just going to make some picks for the Troika Festival this wknd in Durham, but screw it, here's the whole schedule with some nice vids scattered in.