Hopscotch Saturday Day Parties (9/6/14)

The day parties are always a highlight of Raleigh's annual Hopscotch Music Festival, and this year was no exception.  Among the plethora of these free daytime mini-fests, the Phuzz Sounds Day Party (now in its third year) is proving to be consistently one of the best.  Thrown at the Hive by the Phuzz Records/Phuzz Phest bunch from over in Winston-Salem, it's my choice as the place to settle in if you just want to pick a single spot to hear lots of great music, without trekking all over downtown.  And maybe to get over your Friday night Hopscotch hangover with some good food (or have a little hair of the dog).

This year had a great line-up, starting with Wilmington's Free Clinic.  I am loving everything these guys put out, including their supposedly "rough" B-side Demos comp.  It's got some great tracks, including the beachy, breezy Wasting Time, which for the life of me I don't remember if they played!  I know they played the (impossibly) even better Off My Rocker, from the MixGrotto Tape 17 Compilation (GET IT HERE!).   Listening to this bands' blissful pop will extend your summer at least a few months, and having missed their nighttime set on Thursday, was the ideal way to start my Hopscotch Saturday.

Free Clinic (at the Hive)

Another great day party was at Slim's.  While I didn't attend it directly, I caught some of it second-hand.  I'd heard Raleigh's Naked Naps was a last-minute add to their Spazzscotch III line-up, which suited me just fine.  Between Free Clinic songs, I caught some of their angular, simple-yet-complex punk from above, on the rooftop at the Hive.

Naked Naps (at Slim's)

Then it was back inside to see See Gulls.  The crowd was beginning to load in for this one, so I opted to stay back and enjoy mostly the sounds (seen them many times lately).  These sounds are truly worthy of the buzz they've been getting, and worthy of the crowds they attracted at Hopscotch (both here and for their show later that night).

People waiting for SeeGulls (which would become a theme for the day)...

See Gulls (at the Hive)

After seeing See Gulls gulling, it was our magnanimous hosts' turn.  Phillip Pledger and Drew Braden (guitar and drums in the first photo below) not only play in Estrangers, but run Phuzz Records... which is developing a habit of signing the buzziest bands around.  They themselves were the first, and their 60's-influenced big melodies and hooks had the crowd warming up for the evening.

Estrangers (at the Hive)

If I was gonna make it to the next day party, I needed sustenance.  So I popped back out to the rooftop again to grab a bite (I shoulda pitched a tent back there).  No sooner do I sit down to order does a crowd begin to build on the roof.  As it turns out, ANOTHER surprise last-minute booking at Slim's down below was setting up and about to start:  Lonnie Walker!  They've been a favorite since I first saw them some time ago, so this was a real lagniappe for me (translation for non-NOLA-folks: "bonus", "extra").  I heard they're finally about to put out their second album, and had a few copies at their opening gig for St. Vincent and Spoon the night before at City Plaza.  This made me doubly disappointed that I missed their City Plaza gig.  But they played a great song (Teenage Poem) that I hope will be on it, and I promise to post a video of it later.

In short, the two shows I accidentally witnessed from the Hive's back deck made the Slim's day party one of the best, if unpredictable, of the festival.

Lonnie Walker (at Slim's)

Back in the Hive, the crowd had swelled even more from the See Gulls set, sardine-like now, to catch t0w3rs.  Raleigh's Derek Torres was becoming the talk of the festival even before (and in anticipation of) the big band set he was planning for his night show at Pour House.  But this was his more typical recent solo set.  Again, I stuck near the back, since I'd seen and photographed t0w3rs many times lately, was fully planning on being at the nighttime set, and wanted to skip out to see what was left of a few other day parties.  As usual, Derek killed; palms of his hands.

t0w3rs (at the Hive)

t0w3rs literally raging against the towers, performing Ours...

I would miss only one band of this great "Phuzzy" line-up at the Hive (Asheville's The Tills, on Phuzz along with Estrangers and t0w3rs).  I caught them at Phuzz Phest in April, and their trash-rock take on Beatlesque sounds was great.  But other sounds beckoned, and my feet were ready to head north (well, to find a pedi-cab to head north).  But here's a shot of them anyway!

Most of the Tills hanging out on the Hive rooftop... 
(I swear the Till on right is Will Clinton's -- of Wichita Falls -- doppleganger.  I even called "Will" to him from behind at the show... I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy.)

So, I hopped some carbon-neutral transpo over to Legend's for the Let Feedback Ring! day party, which (like Slim's) alternated between inside/outside shows.  I had heard good soundz from this DC combo, The Caribbean, on the Hopscotch site, and needed to expand beyond just my milieu of just local bands for at least one day party show.  Online, they sounded sort of breezy/jazzy Euro-pop, which I was in the mood for.  Live however, they reminded me more of 90's guitar-indie, but from a mellower place, which was fine by me.

The Caribbean (at Legend's)

Then it was outside and back to the local thing to see Some Army.  Hadn't seen them in a while (they play far too little since flooding local clubs after releasing their excellent self-titled EP).  Frontman Russell Baggett tells me an album's in the works; yes, please.  As for Hopscotch, the psychy/jazzy/indie take on Americana was a a great segue between the punkiness of earlier shows to the country sojourn I was about to take.  It was a nice setting, outside in a beautiful courtyard, surrounded by green, with a few wafts of air to go with the musical breeze.

Some Army (at Legend's)

As for my sojourn to the country... well, it was really only a few blocks back south (and towards my hotel, which was another bit of lagniappe).  But it was to see best practitioners of the art of country music in these here parts, and that would of course be John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff.  It's been too long since I've seen this bunch; they are always a good time.  The Guitartown Day Party at Berkeley Cafe was a good setting for this:  shotgun room, gotta squeeze to the back (if you want to see the band), just about enough space for dancing to bump into everyone nearby (including the band).  With songs like Everything Except Goodbye and Handfull of Heartaches, Howie hits all the right lyrical notes.  But he has the kind of guitar-slingin' authenticity in his singing and stage presence that only comes from being deeply studied in the roots of country and western music.  Howie's not borrowing from the tradition, he's adding to it (contrary to most current country "stars").

And the band are some genuine players:  Tim Shearer on lead guitar, Billie Feather on bass, Nathan Golub on slide, and (for this show at least) SCOTS drummer Dave Hartman.  Feather takes control of a standup bass bigger than her in a way that is, quite simply, impressive.  And Golub's slide makes everyone I've seen him play with twice as good... always a highlight.  I hear great things about his solo album.

John Howie, Jr., and the Rosewood Bluff (at Berkeley Cafe)
(I didn't go sepia on these because they were country -- well, maybe partially -- it's just that the color versions were just so damn colorful it distracted from the musicians!  Maybe I'll post the color ones on the Facebook page later.)

As the sun began to wane, so did my day party experience.  The Guitartown party was another indoor-in-the-front/outdoor-in-the-back party, and Michael Rank played a sublime set of his dark roots-rock-Americana on the back patio.  The single accompaniment of mandolin lent a sweetness to the outlaw edge that's more apparent when he's with his band Stag.  Equal parts Merle Haggard, Steve Earle, and Keith Richards, No Depression calls him "a contender for the King of DIY Americana".

Michael Rank (at Berkeley Cafe)

The sun sets on a great series of day parties at Hopscotch...

The Berkeley was a pleasant way to end my day partying.  Plus, I was only a short walk from my hotel (for a much needed break before the night shows).

Between Friday night and the day parties Saturday, it had already been a great Hopscotch.  Maybe I was just choosing wisely from the musical buffett, but I hadn't seen a bad show yet.  But keep your eyes on this page; next up, Saturday night! (talk about yer lagniappe)

Hopscotch Friday Night (9/5/14)

I only did two nights (and one long day) of Raleigh's annual Hopscotch Music Festival this year.  As usual, it was packed with a wide variety of great national and international acts... but with a ton of room set aside for local/regional bands.  If you read this blog, you know the latter (usually in the indie/punk/pop vein) are the bands I gravitate towards, so my Hopscotch experience was guided by that.  But my Saturday menu (from which I'll post appetizers and entrees later) also included some country, electronic, and brass.

I started the night with the marquee names at City Plaza, Spoon and St. Vincent.  Although I missed the local opener, the incredible Lonnie Walker, they graciously made up for it by playing a late-scheduled set just below where I was having my lunch the next day!  Such are the days at Hopscotch.

I was really looking forward to Spoon, having last seen them more than a few years ago when they opened for Archers of Loaf on that band's last tour (before their recent resurrection).  I've loved them ever since.  As little as they tour, I secretly wished they would end up being one of the headliners this year.  My wish was granted, and they lived up to it.  For a massive catalog that's been consistently great, they played most of what you'd want to hear, with a decent dose from the new They Want My Soul (Rent I Pay, Inside Out, Do You).  Among my favorites that they played:  Got Nuffin, Beast and Dragon Adored, I Turn My Camera On, Don't Make Me a Target, the Underdog, and more.  I was pleased they played the slower Black Like Me near the end... beautiful song.

While I'm not as familiar with the music of St. Vincent, I was looking forward to it, having liked what little I had heard.  Annie Clark is the real deal.  Although some think her persona affected and music too off-kilter, I found her very genuine and a complete original.  And she can wail on guitar!  Sounds like she's as influenced by classic rockers such as Rush and (early) Yes as newer wavers like Pylon and Talking Heads.  Whatever influences glom together in her brain to make music, the performance was simply stunning.  She's a lightning rod onstage; energetic and interesting to watch.  And her genuine nature could be seen in the way she addressed the crowd... and the way she spent time in the middle of the night talking to local musicians (so said the members of Free Clinic, one of Saturday's highlights from the day parties).

I don't normally enjoy larger venue (i.e., outdoor, arena) shows, preferring the intimacy and visceral energy of a club show.  But this night was an exception, as both bands proved they can hold the masses enraptured.

Spoon (at City Plaza)... sorry, no good photos of St. Vincent (but there are many elsewhere)

After the big outdoor show, I trudged over to CAM (Contemporary Arts Center) on the edge of downtown to catch a favorite, Raleigh's GHOSTT BLLONDE.  Marc Kuzio and company clearly enjoyed the massive space, which has held some of the better Hopscotch shows in the past.  Their 50's-vibin' trashpop melodies had the large crowd dancing, and growing as the show went on.

GHOSTT BLLONDE (at CAM)

Hopscotch characters seen on the way to the next show...

One of the non-local acts I wanted to see was Palehound.  This New York-based quartet are young, but you wouldn't know it from the polished playing and songwriting.  Their melancholic indie-punk edge was reminiscent of darker stuff by the Breeders, with maybe a bit of Angel Olsen in the vocals, which were very nice.

Palehound (at Slim's)

 

Zack Mexico is one of my favorite North Carolina bands, hailing from way out on the Outer Banks.  The lines at Deep South were long (all weekend), but it was worth it to get in for about half of their set.  With St. Vincent, these two were a tie for the second best set at Hopscotch (that I saw, anyway).  Their weird, psych-surf-jammy meld is just pure, distilled, rock'n'roll energy... intense yet fun.  Seldom do I enjoy a song that goes on for longer than 7 or 8 minutes.  But later on this blog, I'll post a 10-minute smoker that they closed with.  Stunning set (even just the half).

Zack Mexico (at Deep South)

After yet another trek across downtown (pant! pant! pant!), I chose to close the night in the shotgun establishment that is Slim's for a packed show from the highly recommended Potty Mouth.  They're from Massachusetts, and these four go back to old school with a wild (and also a little surfy) punk rawk sound, but a poppiness and humor that makes you think they could be from the opposite coast; Portland ca 1990 or SoCal ca 1980.  I'm glad I opted for this rather than go have my delicate sentiments offended by some house painter at an opera house.  Instead, Potty Mouth provided a fun close to Hopscotch Friday night.

Potty Mouth (at Slim's)

Saturday day party, and Saturday night show photos to come soon, as well as a few more videos (T0W3RS video posted yesterday).

T0W3RS - "Silk Hope/M.P.D.B." - Hopscotch 2014 (Pour House, 9/6/14)

I'll post photos later (of this and other Hopscotch shows), but I just wanted to get this one out there since so many are mentioning this set as a highlight.  I tried to clean up the audio to no avail, so please excuse the "too-near-the-speakers" flub.

This full-band set by the normally solo T0W3RS was, by my reckoning, the single best set of the this year's Hopscotch Music Festival.  It was at the Pour House in Raleigh, and included (depending on the song) up to a 10 or so people onstage, including a team of acrobats! (sadly not in this video, but as I mentioned, photos to come later)  Philip Pledger from Winston-Salem's Estrangers and Phuzz Records pops in for a little guitar near the end.  Other bandmembers come in large part from Chapel Hill's Virgins Family Band.

I've seen T0W3RS play many times, and they just get better and better.  This return to the band format (after a year or so solo) upped the ante even further.  Derek Torres's T0W3RS is one of the very best in a fertile Triangle music scene, and hopefully, more will find this out with the release of his album, TL;DR,  on Phuzz Records in November.

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)