American Aquarium, T. Hardy Morris The Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 Were it not for the T-shirts handed out to Krispy Kreme Challenge participants, “American Aquarium” would have been the most popular phrase sported on apparel in Raleigh during the first weekend of February. Legions of the alt-country outfit’s loyal followers descended upon […]
Spencer Griffith
Bio: Spencer Griffith lives in Raleigh, where he teaches school and writes about bands.
Posted inReviews
Record review: Happy Abandon’s Heavy Lines EP
Heavy Lines, the debut EP from the quartet of UNC grads known as Happy Abandon, begins sparse and slow, with just a twinkle of keyboards and guitars. But “Severed Seams” builds dramatically toward a lush surge, its ebb and flow not unlike the patterns of a banjo-less Mumford and Sons. Sighing, melancholic verses explode into […]
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After 14 years as a Raleigh staple, Goner drops the rock to become GNØER
More than two years have passed since Goner released its last record, Faking the Wisdom. But do not expect an album-release party in the near future from the keyboard-led Raleigh trio, which has crafted Springsteen-like rock epics without so much as a guitar for the last decade. Goner is done. Well, kind of: With the […]
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Journey through the Badlands: An interview with Jack the Radio
With the release of Jack the Radio’s terrific third studio album looming, Spencer Griffith sat on the back patio of Slim’s on an early October weeknight to talk with the Raleigh outfit’s singer/guitarist George Hage and multi-instrumentalist Danny Johnson. They discussed their songwriting and recording processes, Badland’s two-sided sound and growing through the local community. […]
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Record review: Jack the Radio’s Badlands
JACK THE RADIO BADLANDS Jack the Radio plays the Lincoln Theatre Friday, Oct. 16, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10–$15. Young Yonder and Caleb Caudle open. For an interview with the band, see www.indyweek.com. Duality has long been a theme for Raleigh’s Jack the Radio. The band has spent, for instance, the past decade balancing […]
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Live: Finding best of IBMA’s World of Bluegrass beyond club stages
IBMA Bluegrass Rambles Downtown Raleigh Tuesday, September 29 & Wednesday, September 30, 2015 From the moment I walked into the Raleigh Convention Center to pick up my IBMA credentials on Tuesday afternoon, it’s been hard to escape the banjo rolls and fiddle licks that’ve been thick in the downtown Raleigh air. Just two days in […]
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Hopscotch 2015: Locals (and some Australians), day and night
Hopscotch Music Festival Downtown Raleigh Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 From solid last-minute substitutions to serendipitous encounters with fellow festivalgoers, Hopscotch is known for the unexpected. My final day started with a minor dose of the latter when Grandma Sparrow arrived to introduce Phil Cook’s daytime set at The Pour House to the bewilderment of many. […]
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Precise planning, packed schedule: Spencer Griffith’s Hopscotch map
My approach to Hopscotch planning could be described as a little obsessive, what with the venue-to-venue flow chart I scrawl onto an official schedule after carefully planning how to maximize the number of acts I can catch on my prioritized list of well-researched performers—must-sees often circled and must-misses crossed through. Despite having limited time to […]
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Record review: Mipso’s Old Time Reverie
Early in their career, Mipso seemed determined to defy conventions in the ways you would expect from a trio of college kids aiming to revitalize acoustic Appalachian traditions. The group’s playful spirit and an array of modern influences led to live, string-based covers of pop hits by Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, The Beatles and The Police; […]
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Live: Cary gets all shook up with Alabama Shakes and Courtney Barnett
Alabama Shakes, Courtney Barnett Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary Wednesday, June 10 After the Alabama Shakes followed its gritty debut LP Boys & Girls with the ambitious Sound & Color in April, it was apparent there were changes afoot for the foursome. Last week’s show in Cary proved that the daring outfit’s evolution hasn’t been restricted […]
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