Curse you, rock critics, for all your bastard progeny, for every would-be young Bangs cum Kerouacs, for every would-be dharma bum who ever put his inchoate musical thoughts to paper. It’s all of you that we have to blame for every callow, untried youth who feels compelled to insert himself into his “rock” narrative, for […]
Angie Carlson
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Scene & Heard
Happy TrailsWell pardners, after almost two years as the Indy’s music editor, I’m moving on. Working on a weekly paper is like living in a whirlwind–you’re never quite sure what day it is because you’re always working on events a week (or two or three) ahead. Time goes by quickly; seasons are those things you […]
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Analog Rhythms
ASHEVILLE–From the young Thomas Wolfe through Bauhaus refugees at Black Mountain College to composers like John Cage and Walter (later Wendy) Carlos, Asheville has a history of providing a haven for creative types. It seems only fitting, then, that the man who pioneered analog synthesizers, as well as building theremins–that otherworldly, sci-fi sounding instrument–should have […]
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Openers
Gearheads–this one’s for you. With a dizzying array of computer programs, rack effects units, and digital effects boxes and modules that can approximate every sound and amp tone you can imagine, there have always been a group–a sect, if you will–who firmly held to their beliefs in the inimitable quality of analog equipment. For fans, […]
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Circuit Bending
When the occasional brand X keyboard shows up in Goodwill or thrift stores, they’re nearly always in need of some TLC. Which is where guys like Mike Walters come in. Walters, an A/V guy who repairs and sells vintage keyboards on his mysterycircuits.com site, got into circuit bending–modifying cheap circuits and keyboards to create hybrid […]
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Spirits of ammonia
I’d had a headache that was shakin’ my nerves and rattlin’ my brain, to quote Jerry Lee Lewis. For the record: Had not been drinking near enough to promote the kind of cranial throbbing I was experiencing, a headache which, like resourceful viral strains and cockroaches, seemed to have developed an immunity to any pain […]
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High Art, Hillbilly Style
Operating out of an old brick storefront space on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, Tenn., two graphic design artists have realized a dream–to start a successful letterpress design and poster company here in the digital age. Relying on centuries-old technology–Guttenberg used the “rolling press” and handset type to print the first Bible–Yee-haw Industries’ partners Kevin […]
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Buzzsawyer
Originally a four-piece (they’re still looking for a rhythm guitar player), relocated Pittsburgh, Pa. rockers Buzzsawyer play punk-edged hard rock, the heavy, chord-driven kind played by pre-hair metal bands back before the genre became a parody of itself. This eight-song release (seven originals and a cover of the KISS classic, “Deuce”) is a follow-up to […]
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Scene & Heard
Durham Music Venue Takes a HitAs part of Durham’s newly vibrant live music scene, Bully’s Basement was definitely a player, booking an eclectic blend of local indie rock bands, touring artists and Americana/alt-country acts. Not any more. This past Sunday night, Aug. 4, two of the partners, John Chesson and Lem Campbell, worried about the […]
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Scene & Heard
Benefit for Cynthia Brown’s U.S. Senate CampaignRingside in Durham and Rhythm/Light Productions (DADA co-founder Jenn Duerr’s organization) are sponsoring a benefit for U.S. Senate candidate Cynthia Brown. “This is the most progressive candidate we’ve ever seen for a Senate seat in this state,” says Duerr of Brown, who favors raising the minimum wage to $8.50 […]