Three weekend performances give the state's musical roots new light
Bright future
by Grayson Currin @currincy
At least once a week, someone mentions a new Triangle band that's soon to play its first show or cut its first demo. Indeed, there's a wealth of local music so broad that it forms an expansive canopy above, teeming with a panoply of forms as varied as you can imagine—country and country-rock, noise and noise-pop, free jazz and Latin jazz. Wander a bit, and you can hear it all.
That canopy is supported from beneath by a roots system so deep that it sometimes surprises even natives like myself. From the string-band music associated with the state's western reaches to the jazz luminaries whose birthplaces form a connected-dot web of influence across these 100 counties, North Carolina's musical heritage stands as a singular well that's supported the growth of some of the country's best traditions.
This week, we look at three North Carolina bands that use a cultivated understanding of and respect for that past to move forwad. These acts aren't tributes or even necessarily that nostalgic: As Birds or Monsters, Carolina Chocolate Drop Justin Robinson works old ideas into nebulous structures, glancing at hip-hop and grandiose indie rock through his traditional-music lens. Headed into its fourth decade, the Red Clay Ramblers wrap a wealth of Tar Heel history into complex, captivating musical sprees. An immigrant to the mountains, Grammy winner David Holt surrounds his brilliant renderings of century-old songs with an enthusiasm for sharing their context.
All three bands take to various Triangle stages this weekend, presenting you new sight lines into our old but surviving sounds.
- To create paragraphs in your comment, type <p> at the start of a paragraph and </p> at the end of each paragraph.
- To create bold text, type <b>bolded text</b> (please note the closing tag, </b>).
- To create italicized text, type <i>italicized text</i> (please note the closing tag, </i>).
- Proper web addresses will automatically become links.
Latest in Music Feature
-
Former Brooklyn rocker Kamara Thomas pursues a singer-songwriter future in Durham
Monday at Casbah
- Jun 19, 2013
-
Triangle music mainstay Rusty Sutton moves west, with fond memories of a decade well spent
One night in the Cradle's green room, KRS-One asked me how I got the name Rusty. When I told him it was short for Russell, he responded with, "MAAaaAAAn, you too smooth for a name like RUSTY! I'm calling you Crisco from now on!"
- Jun 19, 2013
-
Guitarist Warren Haynes sheds light on Jerry Garcia the songwriter, with assistance from the N.C. Symphony
Thursday at Red Hat Amphitheater
- Jun 19, 2013
- More »
More by Grayson Currin
-
Raleigh Brewing Co.'s bold vision
Tucked into a 19,000-square-foot warehouse along Hillsborough Street, Raleigh Brewing is more like an old familiar haunt than a room that's only been open for three months.
- Jun 19, 2013
-
The week in music: May 22-29, 2013
10&2: a dozen gigs for your consideration
- May 22, 2013
- More »
