NPR First Listen of New Beach House Album

Beach House's new album, Bloom, coming out on Tuesday, May 15th. While browsing the racks of Schoolkids Records, Myth started playing, followed by a few others from the album. I enjoyed listening to Bloom so much that I wanted to stay and listen to the whole album. I did find out that NPR is already hosting a Free Listen of the entire album on its website and it is fantastic. Have a listen for yourself.

Hopscotch 2012 Lineup Announced

Fans enjoy The Flaming Lips at The Plaza Stage, Hopscotch 2012

The Independent's Hopscotch Musical Festival in Raleigh, NC is back for the third year with a stellar lineup featuring something for just about every musical taste. This year's headliners include The Roots, Scottish 80s alt-rock group The Jesus and Mary Chain, Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo, and Liars. Hopscotch is unique in its support of the homegrown music scene. Notable locals include Birds of Avalon, Roman Candle, The Beast, Arnold Dreyblatt/Megafaun, and The Mountain Goats. Even with the sheer amount of local groups there are bands from all across the US and the world, for that matter (High Wolf, Hubble, and Holograms are all European). Other US bands include Damien Jurado, Ducktails, and Wye Oak, as well as numerous others.

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, Hopscotch 2011

With so many bands in so little time how do they fit them all in three days? Hopscotch makes use of many well-known venues in the area but also utilizes bars and clubs with smaller stages for smaller acts. Concerts are ongoing at fifteen venues all over downtown, starting at staggered times so patrons can hopscotch Raleigh, giving festival-goers a chance to see what Raleigh is all about. The festival features headlining shows at The Plaza on Fayetteville St. on Friday and Saturday night.

Titus Adronicus at Tir Na Nog, Hopscotch 2011

VIP passes are already sold 
out and 3-day wristbands are on sale now for $110. One day passes will be available soon. Check their tickets page for availability. Look for band previews on Final E Chord in the months leadng up to the festival. All photos shown, courtesy of Ronny Nause Photography.

Wayne Coyne surfs the crowd

The Dodos

Concert Recap: Hammer No More the Fingers with The Big Picture

The Big Picture

It was an amazing night complete with stellar live music at the Tir Na Nog this Thursday. First on the stage was The Big Picture, a big cast of all-star local musicians from the NC Triangle music scene. The songs were very interesting to listen to and avant-garde in a sense. One song seemed to be inspired by Ratatat, the next sounded like Flaming Lips, all the while featuring Lost In the Trees-like vocals and harmonies (the entire band singing together). 

Duncan on guitar

Joe Hall on guitar

Headlining was the Durham indie-rock trio, Hammer No More the Fingers. The set started off with Duncan (bass, vocals) playing two songs on a guitar tuned baritone. I was very excited to hear Duncan play guitar, as he has always stuck to the bass. HMNTF played about 8 new songs which was very exciting. This leads me to wonder if a new album is in the works. The new songs had very unique sounds; funky, emotional, even reminiscent of Radiohead at times. Other tunes captured that classic bass-driven HNMTF sound with crisp, soaring harmonies that so many fans desire. Their encore set featured two of my favorites: Vodka Grasshoper and O.R.G.Y. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday night--did I mention it was free?

Finishing an epic set

Upcoming Concert: Hammer No More the Fingers with The Big Picture, Thursday, March 1st

Joe Hall on guitar, Duncan Webster on bass

Raleigh is in for quite a treat on Thursday. Hammer No More the Fingers, the indie-punk/pop/rock trio from Durham, N.C. is headlining Tir Na Nog Irish Pub's weekly Local Band, Local Beer Night.

 Jeff Stickley on drums

HNTF has been rocking the Triangle for years and just recently released their third and most polished album last year. Their sound is unique and tricky to describe, as even they admit. Some critics call them emotional rock, without being emo. For me, Weezer comes to mind as a major influence (see Vodka Grasshopper). The songs are short and catchy, with melodies and choruses sure to have you on your feet, moving to thumping bass-lines and up-beat drumming.

The Big Picture

The Big Picture is opening up for HNMTF and I can't wait to hear them, as they feature a mix of some of the bigger names in the Triangle music scene (Johnny and Joah Tunnell of The Never, Nick Radford of The Annuals, Leah Gibson of Lost in the Trees). They're described as experimental pop, at times reminiscent of The Arcade Fire. Come enjoy a local brew and some awesome local music this Thursday at 10 p.m.!


Hammer No More the Fingers - Shark (Black Shark, 2011)
Hammer No More the Fingers - Radiation (Looking for Bruce, 2009)