Hank Williams set one of many blueprints for singing sad songs with “Moanin’ The Blues.” When I first saw Mary Johnson Rockers sitting on a stage at the Shakori Hills Songwriter Circle, she was surrounded by several local Americana artists. Her delivery put her apart: With a touch of twang above all, she was “Moanin’ […]
Dan Schram
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Video: NC Music Love Army played the NCGA Friday, this evening at Moral Monday
On Friday afternoon, members of the North Carolina Music Love Army played a few songs in front of the N.C. General Assembly. They’ll reprise that performance with an appearance at today’s 11th Moral Monday protest on Halifax Mall. Check out a clip from Friday’s performance below, and see our cover story on NCMLA.
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Simple Music Video Series: Luego TV’s “Send Me On Time”
Patrick Phelan and his newly dubbed Luego TV project will release their third album, TV, next week. Recorded in Nashville along with his usual cohorts Jeff Crawford producing and Nick Jaeger on lead guitar, Phelan found inspiration from some unlikely sources: “The biggest inspiration for the record were some idols of mine: Eddie George, LeBron […]
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Video: American Aquarium moves its quiet Duke Gardens show indoors
On Wednesday evening, Raleigh favorites American Aquarium were set to perform at the lush Sarah P. Duke Gardens for the Duke Performances “Music in the Gardens” series. Due to expected rain, though, the show was moved indoors to Motorco Music Hall. American Aquarium had planned a very quiet acoustic set that usually wouldn’t fly in […]
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Video: Mike Cooley of Drive-By Truckers at Local 506
Saturday night, Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers returned to Local 506 in Chapel Hill for the first time in many years. Cooley reminisced on his time living in Durham and the plethora of songs he had written and first played out in the Triangle. Throughout the evening, he picked his way through 20-plus songs […]
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Video: Billy Joe Shaver at the Berkeley Cafe
The last time legendary Texas songwriter Billy Joe Shaver visited Raleigh, he played the Hideaway BBQ just before that venue shut down. He returned this past Monday for a show at the Berkeley Cafe, just as its storied music hall prepares to do the same at the end of June. Shaver, 73, played to a […]
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Video: John Fullbright at the ArtsCenter
John Fullbright, the darkhorse Americana Grammy nominee of 2012, performed Thursday, June 13, at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. The 25-year-old Oklahoman, an incredibly versatile songwriter and instrumentalist, ran through most of his Grammy-nominated album From the Ground Up, mixing in covers of songs by Dan Bern (“After the Parade”) and Jimmy Webb (“If You See […]
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Video: Chip Robinson at Casbah’s songwriters circle
Saturday night at the Casbah brought about the continuation of the venue’s series of songwriters circle shows, with performances by Jason Kutchma, Chip Robinson, Kevin Abernathy and Mic Harrison. Below are three clips from songs played by Robinson, including two oft-overlooked ballads (“Psychic Friend” and “Two Candles”) from the Backsliders’ 1999 album, Southern Lines. Robinson […]
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Video: JKutchma & The Five Fifths at Duke Gardens
Duke Performances’ annual summer series, Music in the Gardens, kicked off Wednesday evening as JKutchma & The Five Fifths played a record-release party for Sundown, USA, which Kutchma released in two different versions (with the band and solo). Kutchma and company performed to a full crowd on the lawn of the gardens as, fittingly, the […]
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Video: James McCartney visits Durham
Alternating between piano and acoustic guitar, James McCartney played solo Thursday night at the Casbah in Durham. McCartney is currently touring the Southeast, playing small clubs behind his debut LP, Me. The release showcases a collection of breezy pop numbers that at times touch on the abstract. The Durham crowd welcomed McCartney but seemed a […]