The strength of community drives the hip-hop scene in this state, where the artists pull together to put on shows, improve recording situations and, most importantly, grow a larger listening audience. At the Cat’s Cradle on Saturday, May 28, a passel of the area’s busiest and best MCs grab the mic with a full backing […]
Chris Toenes
Posted inNews
in three-night beat party
It wasn’t planned that way, but this Thursday through Saturday offers a triple dose of the best in local hip hop. First off is The Big Bad Beat Battle with Dox, DJ Rez, Applejuice Kid, DJ Forge and more, Thursday at The Pour House in Raleigh. This DJ Battle supreme bases its tenets on beats […]
Posted inMusic
Sound support
Dave Schmitt may not be a name that jumps out at Triangle music enthusiasts, but without his work over the years the scene here would be markedly different. This Saturday at Local 506, where many know Schmitt as the man behind the soundboard, an all-star cast will perform at a benefit to help him pay […]
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Homebrew
Conceived as a way to raise awareness about the wealth of talent currently residing in the Triangle, Heard Together is a real triumph that manages to slice off a thick cross-section of the area’s music. In choosing to go for album tracks as opposed to unreleased material, this compilation is able to establish a high […]
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Homebrew
It’s been three years since The Sames released their self-titled EP; three long years to those who adore their barbed melodies sheathed in gauzy dissonance. The band tightens their interpretation of the pop song on You Are the Sames, as the hummable verse-to-chorus modes run on the fuel of dense instrumentation; piano, theremin and Wurlitzer […]
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Homebrew
This band might have been your life, if your ear bent toward the anti-schools of DC post-hardcore, bass-thud rage from Chicago or their conjoined offspring in the Northwest. The herb monsonia relieves dysentery; the guitar, bass and drums trio taking the name here growls and scowls through five numbers, ranging from high dynamic moves to […]
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Homebrew
The Corps may sound like a small orchestral group, replete with strings and nimble arrangements, but the full sound comes from just two Durham musicians, James Hepler and Chris Rossi. Hepler played drums in Sorry About Dresden and other projects; Rossi runs a home studio, Spacelab, where he’s recorded local groups including Cold Sides, Des_Ark […]
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Homebrew
Taj Mahal’s support of original blues and roots culture started around the time of his own career in the ’60s. Since meeting Tim Duffy, founder of the Music Maker Relief Foundation based in Hillsborough, he’s been an artistic consultant for the group and serves on their board of directors. Music Maker’s mission to provide real […]
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in musical options
Under the slogan “Not the same old new music,” the Durham collective pulsoptional brings refreshing takes on adventurous modern classical compositions by famed pioneers like Steve Reich and Henry Cowell, and their own work. This annual spring concert, held at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, features […]
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Ruff rider
When did the British start rapping? The phenomenon did not begin last year, but it would be easy to make the mistake, given the recent hype. What did change was the movement by young MCs and producers like Dizzee Rascal, coming to Cat’s Cradle Thursday, April 21, to cross-pollinate homemade electronic beats with their own […]
