Comment Archives: Stories: Music: The Year in Music
Re: “The Triangle's Top 32 Tracks of 2012”
I bought a couple of these albums. Great stuff. Any chance of getting the mp3s so I can check out the bands I haven't seen?
Re: “Will The Avett Brothers' popularity overshadow N.C.'s roots music past and sterling present?”
This is a wonderful, thoughtful -- and thought-provoking -- piece, Corbie.
Re: “Will The Avett Brothers' popularity overshadow N.C.'s roots music past and sterling present?”
I think this is a good article, but I have to say as a long-time Avett fan, I think that us people on the "outside" think more about their effects & influence on the broader N.C. & Americana music world than they ever have. It seems to me like they are a band who just loves to write and play music, and they dont worry much about what category people want to put them in. Many Avett fans don't like their new record, or the CMT stuff, but that's where they are now as a band... dont judge them for being successful. I tend to think they did it the right way, no one can accuse them of "selling out." They worked hard for 10+ years, through 7 or 8 releases before gaining any mainstream success. Folks are always going to envy those who "make it," and it seems like there is a little of that envy going on in this article.
Re: “The Triangle's Top 10 Albums of 2012”
"I'm just glad I live in a place where it's easy for a music editor to come up with a Top 10 local album list that's hard to argue with but would be easy to add to. "
Well said!
Re: “Has the Triangle's venue surge finally found its carrying capacity?”
I think that the answer lies in venues like the Dive Bar - successful on it's rep. If the venue book good music, the crowds will come. Please no more "Battle of the Bands" or Tribute bands, Raleigh. How about some artists on the way up instead?
Re: “The Triangle's Top 10 Albums of 2012”
Oh, I love the "I can't believe you didn't include ______ in your best of list" game! On one hand, it's sort of ridiculous arguing over an essentially pointless list; how can one distill all of the area's worthy and diverse output down to an objective grouping of 10? On the other hand, list making, as well as criticizing those lists, is irresistible!
So my nomination for overlooked album is Caltrop's "Ten Million Years and Eight Minutes". I can't believe I'm alone in thinking this.
I'm just glad I live in a place where it's easy for a music editor to come up with a Top 10 local album list that's hard to argue with but would be easy to add to. May I suggest a Top 15 or Top 20 next year? Or maybe a Top 10 as voted on by readers? That might be interesting to compare to the "official" list.
Re: “The Triangle's Top 10 Albums of 2012”
dB's "Falling Off the Sky". 'Nuff said. Of course, maybe they don't meet your definition of "local", whatever that is...
Re: “The Triangle's Top 10 Albums of 2012”
I can't believe that American Aquarium's Burn, Flicker, Die is not on this list!
Re: “Has the Triangle's venue surge finally found its carrying capacity?”
The number of venues certainly helps create the problem but I think a larger issue is the complete control of much of the good touring bands by Cat's Cradle booking. Clearly, they've run a fantastic venue for many years and deserve all the success they have. But their domination in booking really affects any other venue's success (in Chapel Hill & Durham especially). Taking the shows that they don't have the date or space for is one of the only ways to get big shows.
How can new venues ever get their footing if they can't book shows people want to come see? I don't know what the solution is to this..but clearly King's and Pinhook are having some success where the other newer venues are not.
Re: “Will The Avett Brothers' popularity overshadow N.C.'s roots music past and sterling present?”
Really well-written and eloquently stated; I think this article straddled that delicate line between crediting the band for the ways in which it's augmented folk music in the South while simultaneously overshadowing its origins. I'm not an Avetts fan, but know plenty who are. I guess you can't fault people for liking the easiest point of access to a style of music, even if that point of access lacks much nuance, traditionalism or innovation.
Re: “Two glimpses into the Triangle's often overlooked musical diversity”
Thanks for the article Sylvia..... mara
Re: “Two glimpses into the Triangle's often overlooked musical diversity”
Belly dancing is fun!
Re: “North Carolina is an inexplicable hotbed for American Idol heavyweights”
Quick clarification, Michelle: The People cover seems to have first been cited in the press Sept. 23, 2008. Its cover was dated Oct. 6, 2008. Thanks.
Re: “North Carolina is an inexplicable hotbed for American Idol heavyweights”
Clay's son was conceived by in vitro Fertilization which is a lot different from artificial insemination.
The coming out issue of People Magazine hit news stands on Sept 23, 2008.
How many more things can you get wrong? Let's all count the ways.
Re: “North Carolina is an inexplicable hotbed for American Idol heavyweights”
And Clay was CRADLING his son on the cover of People magazine, not clutching him.
Who hired this hack?
Re: “North Carolina is an inexplicable hotbed for American Idol heavyweights”
The backlash came because you wrote it without any evidence to back up the story and without considering that every celebrity has stalkers that claim intimate relationships. David Letterman had one that was convinced they were married. The Letterman stalker was treated like a stalker. Clay's stalker was ridiculously treated like a witness before Congress.
This article further perpetuates the tabloid gossip. Bad show on your part!
Re: “Split ticket”
Yes! I agree. I think we need to make sure clubs are opening doors to all ages sometimes and having earlier shows, too. There are great venues with great people booking them in Durham... and throughout the triangle. Local bands are what make most of our clubs possible. I think the point is that we need to reach out to broader audiences to make this work, and most everyone is trying to do just that. We have a vibrant scene, we have enormous support from bands and those that love 'em, we need to reach out so no one gets burned out, all the while supporting each other in doing so. 2011 is going to be great.
Re: “Split ticket”
As a local musician who's been playing the Triangle for years now, one who is also fortunate enough to have genuine public interest in his musical endeavors, I must say that I have been subject to some terribly condescending attitudes from some of the venue representatives mentioned in this article. I feel that if these individuals would truly like to see local support for their venues and to see all of their hard work pay off, they need to practice a little more patience and tolerance for the bands who are gracing their stages. I've been so put off by the treatment I've received from some of these folks that I've never stepped foot into their clubs again, let alone contacted them about performing again. It's supposed to be about good times and genuine grass-roots support, not snotty attitudes and conflict. Thankfully, as is also mentioned in this article, there are plenty of options for local bands these days in terms of where to play all throughout the Triangle, and you'd better believe that word gets out as to who treats bands well and who doesn't.
Re: “Split ticket”
I think the thing that all of the venues need to decide is if they want to be an eclectic mix through the week or cater to a particular crowd. I'd like to see more non-rock-n-roll houred venues (music shouldn't run 11pm-1am on a Tuesday) & more places that aren't so dirty I don't feel uncomfortable inviting my sister to a show. A major problem going on is 75% of the folks attending shows are part of the music scene (meaning they themselves are in local bands) & we (as an artistic community) need to find a way to draw more income from other folks rather than all of us passing the same dollars back & forth to each other. How do we do this? By getting more venues to cater to the idea of getting people to go to see live music two or three nights a week instead of watching TV & movies seven nights a week as a life long habit. Which means having venues that cater to high schoolers & venues that cater to young parents & venues that cater to people who have to get up at 6am the next morning. Are there too many venues & not enough local talent? I say no. Just not enough excited attendees.
Re: “The Triangle's Top 32 Tracks of 2012”
I too am hoping the mp3s & critics comments are "coming soon". They've introduced me to some great bands in past years that I otherwise would have overlooked.