PopUp Chorus - "Ho Hey" (Lumineers cover)

Durham's wonderful PopUp Chorus performed at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC, as part of the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation benefit on 8/9/14.  For those who don't know about this group already, it's composed of anyone who wants to show up and sing. They chose the Lumineers' "Ho Hey" this time.  They often pick more esoteric, less well-known songs, but they figured at least some of this rather random crowd would be likely to know a more popular song. The selection lent itself well to a chorus.

From their website:
"Founded by arts entrepreneur and event promoter, Lauren Bromley Hodge, the PopUp Chorus launched at Motorco in Durham, NC in January 2014. Seamus Kenney, musician, composer and middle school chorus teacher, artfully conducts the PopUp Chorus events.
Singers arrive and learn two themed songs each week, which they perform, record and film on the same night. The PopUp meets again a week later to sing two new songs. It is never the same group twice…"

I'm sure they will release a much better quality video than this, but I just wanted to share, because what they do is just beautiful.  It's really amazing what Kenney can get out of a group of ragtag kids, grandmothers, and hipsters in about a half an hour.  PopUp Chorus has been on a bit of a break in the summer, but will be picking up the weekly performances at Motorco in Durham soon.

Free Clinic - "Young"

As I already said on the Facebook page, I know I've been referencing and writing about Wilmington's Free Clinic and Raleigh's GHOSTT BLLONDE a lot lately.  But between them, they give NC two of the best bands ANYWHERE doing the beachy, indie-pop thing. Whereas most bands treading similar territory just ape 50's-60's styles in a slightly updated homage (see Best Coast), these two temper ragged, punk edges with much more original melodies and song structures. This makes them infinitely more interesting and fun.

While GB is a bit more trashy and thunderous, FC are more a kind of breezy punk; their songs  just make y wanna melt into the music.  But they both can  write the heck out of a melody.

So following the GHOSTT BLLONDE video just posted, here's one of Free Clinic from across town the same night.    My camera doesn't quite capture their sound as well as seeing them live, or their recorded stuff.  Go to their bandcamp page and givem a proper listen.  

GHOSTT BLLONDE - "Dissonance" (video from the 7" release show)

Merge 25 - Saturday Photo Gallery

Here's a gallery of the Merge 25 Saturday outdoor shows.  Just a few little bands:  Vertical Scratchers, The Love Language, Ex Hex, Mikal Cronin, Bob Mould, Teenage Fanclub, Caribou, and Neutral Milk Hotel.

The sun shone brightly... 

 Laura Ballance (Superchnk, Merge co-founder) handed out earplugs...

 Margaret Cho MC'd...

And Vertical Scrathers kicked off the day.

You could tell it was gonna be a sweaty one.  

The Love Language followed...

Ms. Cho handed out party favors (set lists)...

 ... while inside, mad scientists worked (Wesley Wolfe making records)...

 ... and we all took refuge from the heat.

Back outside, Ex Hex cranked up the rawk...

... and Mikal Cronin prepared to roll.

Mikal Cronin from above...

Mary Timony (Ex Hex, Helium, Wild Flag) enjoying Cronin's set.

More heat refugees.

Then Bob Mould showed the kids how to really rock...

  

 Drummer Jon Wurster (Bob Mould band, Superchunk, The Mountain Goats) was really having fun...

... as was Margaret Cho, who sang "See a Little Light" with Mould!

All the musicians jockeyed for position backstage to watch Teenage Fanclub's set.

 And Caribou (almost) closed out the night as the sun hung low.

  The crowd and Ms. Cho enjoting Caribou...

Then, as the sun set, and the cameras were put away, Neutral Milk Hotel took the stage (and I snuck out my brand new Deluxe MS Paint 8-Bit camera)...

I couldn't help it.

Merge 25 - Friday Photo Gallery

Last weekend's Merge 25, Merge Records' 25th anniversary party, was one whirlwind of great music.  "Friday day" and Friday night had some great shows.  I barely made the end of the Dinner Party Download taping at Nightlight, but was able to catch Teenage Fanclub play one song in probably the most intimate setting in which you'll ever see a band of that stature play.  Then I head over to OCSC to catch slightly younger band, St. Rich garage-out the back lot.  

The night at Cat's Cradle started with probably my favorite set of the entire festival, by Hospitality.  It seems I'm always most excited about the new bands I haven't seen live yet... restless musical soul, I guess.  But they were great.  Amber Papini's vocals are truly unique, and the songs are catchy as hell.  Wye Oak were another highlight (as always), and although I missed most of Destroyer's set (and all of David Kilgour's), what I did catch made me wish I had seen more... the horns were chaotic and hypnotic.  But hey, I was talking to Bob Mould, so you can forgive me. :)

More photos from Saturday's big show to come soon.

Teenage Fanclub...

 St. Rich...

Hospitality...

 Imperial Teen...

 Wye Oak...

 Destroyer...