I think this may be my second favorite place in the world outside of the state of North Carolina (Camden Yards is my favorite). Not this Econo Lodge specifically, but Bristol in general. We’re in Tenne-virginia for the 10th Annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion this weekend; keep an eye out here for photos and out…
superchunk @ the nasher museum of art
Unbelievable. Phenomenal. Amazing. Pick an adjective for “blew my mind” and it’s the right one. What a set. More photos behind the jump. Set list, courtesy Mr. McCaughan himself: So Convinced/Water Wings/Crossed Wires/My Gap Feels Weird/Song for Marion Brown/Watery Hands/Let It Go/Fractures in Plaster/Rosemarie/Shallow End/Punch Me Harder/Mower/Digging for Something (w/ John Darnielle)/Pink Clouds/Hyper Enough/Everything At…
superchunk — majesty shredding
Superchunk — Majesty Shredding. Out 9/14, Merge Records. On Monday night, I made a metaphorical horrified face at Ash over IM, at the thought that someone my age or older had literally never heard of Superchunk before this week. I’m not judging! I was simply surprised, because at the age of 14, Superchunk put out Foolish and some…
those darlins @ local 506
Those Darlins, at the top of their game, are excellent: playing ironically earnest kitschy cowpunk — like “Wild One”, the unquestionable highlight from 2009’s self-titled debut, and their stellar cover of “Let’s Talk Dirty In Hawaiian” from this year’s Prine tribute album, Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows — and harmonizing in a way that manages…
bristol rhythm & roots 2010 preview
The boys in Holy Ghost Tent Revival turned me on to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion two springs ago, when I was hanging out in the studio with them. “It’s great,” they said. “You should go.” A couple of months later, Josh Daniel from the New Familiars told me the same thing. Last August, Ian…
trekky records day-dream day party
There are definitely things that I’m sorry to have missed about Hopscotch; anything that big happens, something is bound to happen that you’re sorry to miss. But I got my money’s worth — ie just the cost of drinks — and far far more, at Trekky’s Day-Dream day party. The Triangle has a host of…
hopscotch day parties: trekky day-dream
I’m not attending this weekend’s on-going and much-hyped Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh for a variety of reasons — most notably timing; next weekend is Bristol Rhythm & Roots and I’m too old to do back to back festivals like that — but I can assure you that I will be attending Trekky Records’ Hopscotch day…
embarrassing fruits — frontier justice
Embarrassing Fruits — Frontier Justice. Out 9/21, Trekky Records. Last fall, I heard Joe and Lee of the Fruits do a cover of Big Star’s “September Gurls”, acoustic and imbued with an obvious deep affection for both the song and the band they were covering. It was at the Trekky Milltown showcase, and I remember…
in focus photography grant 2010
Two and a half years ago, a virtual stranger — a virtual stranger then — sent me her well-loved Nikon F65 and a drawing by her son, because she was working to pay things forward, and she thought I could use an upgrade from my point-and-click. I did use it. I shot dozens of rolls…
ryan bingham — junky star
Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses — Junky Star. Out 8/31, Lost Highway Records. I walked out of a Ryan Bingham set once. I’m not proud; I just want y’all to have all the facts. Two and a half years ago, he played the Local 506, American Aquarium opened, and I won free tickets to…
brand new kind of photography 