Life as a music critic can be odd. No, not Cameron Crowe-watching-as-Kate Hudson-spins-around-the-room-naked odd; odd as in the conversational conundrums in which we often find ourselves. We’re a friendly lot, and most of us like to talk to people. Inherently, we like to talk about music. Inherently, we find that a host of those who […]
Grayson Haver Currin
Bio: Grayson Haver Currin was the music editor of INDY Week and the co-director of Hopscotch Music Festival.Twitter: http://twitter.com/currincy
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Raleigh Rhythms
Untitled Troy “He’s the best singer in Raleigh, no doubt,” Troy Smith raves of his bandmate Rob Watson, sitting across from him at a table at The Rockford on Glenwood Avenue. Trouble is, Watson doesn’t even sing in his and Smith’s nascent acoustic pop five-piece, which had its first show at Helios on November 1. […]
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Raleigh Rhythms
HELP WANTED It’s no surprise that Alejandro Escovedo has friends that want to help. After all, Escovedo–who stepped to the forefront of modern songwriting with his undefinable and ecletic songwriting following stints with The Nuns, Rank and File and The True Believers–is among the most influential musicians and personalities of the last 15 years. Escovedo’s […]
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Desitively not Bonnaroo
If the North Carolina State Fair were a concert, it would–without question–be the biggest country music festival in history. It would be bigger than Fan Fair, but the friendly staff and those autograph tables that frequenters of that Nashville boot-scoot have come to love and expect would certainly be missing. Certainly the State Fair wouldn’t […]
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Raleigh Rhythms
Hot Times at The Lincoln As the first snare beat dropped, Ross–an N.C. State student who swears that the musicians of Sound Tribe Sector 9 “are the absolute best in the world”–leaped from the lower bar at the Lincoln Theatre, nodding his head along to the pulse thumping from the stage even before his feet […]
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In musical warmth & beauty
In many ways, Warmth & Beauty is Thad Cockrell’s debut album. In a true story that is now a staple of alt.country mythology, Cockrell headed into the studio years ago with Chris Stamey to cut a one-day demo, leaving with Stack of Dreams, an EP Cockrell sold locally, before distributing it as a proper record […]
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In trucking
“When I’m an old man sitting around somewhere, I’ll put that record on and I know that I’ll smile,” rattles Patterson Hood, the Mark Twain-adoring guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for one of the best and most literate rock n’ roll acts anywhere, The Drive-by Truckers. Hood, at home in Athens, Ga. after a landmark performance […]
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In the moment
When Kevin Carlberg–the energetically rhyming frontman of California fusion-based rock quintet Pseudopod (pictured above)–hit the road last year in support of Ohio roots-rock-reggae revivalists O.A.R., he expected to be making decisions about autographs, setlists and solos. After all, Pseudopod–a smart, funk-filled blend of G. Love sauce, Dave Matthews Band steam and UCLA Music Department scholasticism–was […]
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In forecast
“I hope you’re ready for The Weather/I hope you came prepared,” howls Craig Tilley, during the title cut from the self-titled debut of his straight-ahead, in-your-face-with-liquor-on-the-breath Raleigh rock ‘n’ roll steamroller, The Weather. Huge, cascading melodies backed by crunched guitar licks and some absolutely incendiary drum work. They’re not reinventing the wheel, but they’re doing […]
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In magical melodies
Before Willy Porter goes to bed at night, he probably brushes his teeth and puts on pajamas–most likely one leg at a time. Right before he tucks himself in, though, Porter takes his guitar out of tune, dropping a half-step here or an octave there. When he wakes up, he plays until he finds something. […]