The Archers of Loaf were darlings of the indie world in the early to mid-'90s, thanks to an off-kilter sound that was edgy and challenging, yet melodically accessible at the same time. Cornerstones of the Chapel Hill, NC, indie scene that also spawned Superchunk and Polvo, the Archers' chief inspirations were the Replacements and Sonic Youth, but that only began to tell the story. Their music was frequently likened to a more intense, raucous version of Pavement's postmodern pop, and indeed they shared key elements: fractured song constructions, abstractly witty lyrics, clangorous guitars, and lo-fi production. More rooted in punk and noise rock, however, the Archers took the dissonance, white noise, and angularity to greater extremes, and played with more overt commitment and enthusiasm in concert. The Archers became a hip name to drop with their acclaimed 1993 debut, Icky Mettle; several more accomplished albums followed before the group called it quits in 1998.
Thursday, May 10th, 2012. 9pm. $18 advance / $20 day of show. All Ages. Get your tickets NOW, this show will sell out.
Jill Andrews has been a musician all her life: from her first original tune in kindergarten - a ditty about the letter P - to the stage at Fillmore East. Jill picked up a guitar for the first time when she was 19; armed with only three chords, she had all she needed to create deep and soulful songs with lonesome melodies and haunting lyrics. In 2003, Jill teamed up with Sam Quinn to create the everybodyfields...it was an undeniable musical union. And the face of Tennessee's roots music would never be the same. The everybodyfields played Bonnaroo and Floydfest, honkytonks, bars, and theaters from coast to coast. Paste Magazine listed them in their "Best of What's Next" issue in September 2008, saying that they "straddle old and new, bitter and sweet, desperation and transcendence with an arresting command." Jill's taking that arresting command into her new solo project, but the themes will be familiar, and fans who've fallen head over heels for her material can expect that signature alt-country, roots-rock sound to deliver and grow. Her songs will warm you like a winter quilt - or chill you to the bone. Either way, when you hear Jill Andrews sing, you will remember it.
Friday, February 3, 2012. 9pm. $10 advance / $12 day of show. Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets. Limited seating available.
Saturday, January 28, 2012. 9pm. $10. Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets. Standing room only. You don't want to miss this.
Langhorne Slim "Cinderella" from Kemado Records on Vimeo.
It is a special time for Langhorne Slim as he is so proud to announce and present Be Set Free, his mighty third album being released by Kemado Records. One of the most endearing and standout qualities of Slim's live shows is the sureness that one is always entering a genuine gospel-like musical experience full of little miracles. Be Set Free has captured this charisma and spirit -the "hold your heart" moments and "raise a drink" dance vibes shine throughout with lush string arrangements and the fine sonic talents of drummer Malachi DeLorenzo, new bassist Jeff Ratner and new keyboard/banjo player David Moore. Langhorne's stronger than ever vocals lead the journey blending his poetry through the beautiful chaos and bearing a wisdom that reflects a broken heart battling the perils of true hope.
Saturday, January 21st, 2012. 9pm. $10 advance /$12 day of show. Advance tickets are available online and at our local outlets. With Last Year's Men & Jon Lindsay!
It's time to get hip to Fred Eaglesmith....Award-winning singer-songwriter, he inspires comparisons to icons like Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen, tops the roots music charts, and boasts devoted fans that include a slew of his fellow songwriters. High-profile tastemakers in the know ? fellow musicians like Toby Keith and The Cowboy Junkies as well as film folks like Martin Scorsese and James Caan, to name a few ? consider him one of the stellar musical and lyrical talents of our day. Though a decidedly grassroots artist in the thematic focus of his songs and how he pursues his career, playing some 180 shows a year across North America as well as Europe and Australia and releasing his own records under his cheekily-titled A Major Label imprint, Eaglesmith boasts an impact that far better known musical acts can only dream of.
Thursday, January 5, 2012. 8:30pm. $15 advance/$17 day of show. Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets.
Acoustic Syndicate was born in December, 1977 when Joe and Fitzhugh McMurry, a couple of brothers from Cleveland County, NC got together and decided to get their kids bluegrass instruments for Christmas that year. The kids were brothers Fitz Jr. and Bryon McMurry, and their cousin Steve McMurry. Fitzie, as he was known back then, got a Gibson Hummingbird guitar. Bryon got an Eagle banjo and Steve got a fiddle from Sears & Roebuck. All were excited and happy. The trio was nicknamed the "The Maple Creek Three" by Fitzhugh Sr. They learned a few songs, mostly church songs from the Methodist hymnal, and threw in a couple of country and bluegrass numbers and before long they were playing whenever they could…mostly serving at the pleasure of the parents at family gatherings and church functions. Joe and Fitzhugh, taking great delight in the results of their scheme, had unwittingly laid the foundation of what was to become Acoustic Syndicate. The boys spent the remainder of their childhood and adolescence singing, playing, living and working together on the family farm in Cleveland County.
Saturday, December 31, 2011. 9pm. $20 advance / $25 day of show. Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets. Come ring in the new year with us!!
When Sam Roberts titled the first song on his first full-length album Hard Road, he wasn’t just referring to the many trials and tribulations of the touring musician — because lord knows we don’t need another song by a sad-sack singer-songwriter about feeling homesick while looking out the van window. On Hard Road, Roberts was essentially laying out a map for his career, acknowledging early on that the key to longevity and continued relevance is to never to take the easy route, even if the impressive stats he’s racked up since writing that song — platinum records, No. 1 chart rankings, multiple Juno Awards (all in Canada) — could seemingly afford him that luxury. For Roberts’ fourth album, Collider, traveling the hard road meant uprooting himself from his home and family in Montreal, and putting his trust in a stranger to lead the way.
Though the Sam Roberts Band may be named for its singer and primary songwriter, Roberts has long relied on his inner circle — guitarist Dave Nugent, guitarist/keyboardist Eric Fares, bassist James Hall and drummer Josh Trager — to translate his ideas into sound. And on Collider, that circle expanded to include Chicago-based producer Brian Deck, a veteran of acclaimed indie-rock bands Red Red Meat and Ugly Casanova, but also a seasoned studio savant who’s overseen albums by everyone from Modest Mouse to Iron and Wine to Califone to Gomez. In other words, someone who values classic pop songcraft and disorienting sonic experimentation in equal measure.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011. 9pm. $10 advance / $12 day of show. Advance tickets available online and at our local outlets.
