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Two weeks after being dropped by new local label Neckbeard Records, Triangle hard-pop quintet I Was Totally Destroying It has now signed to excellent Portland imprint Greyday Records. The label—responsible for releases from Head of Femur, Southerly, Mayday and a dozen others—will release the band's "double EP," The Beached Margin/Done Waiting, on 12-inch vinyl on August 11. Printed in a limited edition of 250, each copy of the 11-track curio will include a digital download code for the entire EP and an exclusive digital bonus track. This EP was originally slated for CD-R release on Neckbeard in a similarly limited edition. The band's second album, Horror Vacui, will chase the EP's heels, as it's due on Greyday October 13 on CD and through the expected digital outlets.

That's not the only bit of news today for IWTDI: The band confirms its show Friday, May 22, at Local 506. Though the show remains a launch party for Neckbeard, IWTDI will play "because we want to share the stage with Lemming Malloy and Gray Young—not because we support or agree with the recent decisions or business practices of Neckbeard Records."

"We're all happy over here for IWTDI regarding their recent signing to Greyday," says Neckbeard co-founder Steve Salevan, "and we're looking forward to purchasing their new album as fans. We wish them the best in their future endeavors."

Lemming Malloy will release its debut LP, The Return of the Norfolk Regiment, that night. It will be the first release for Neckeard, which—in full disclosure mode—is a new joint co-presented by longtime Independent Weekly contributor Bryan Reed. For the excellent covers of the EP and LP and the full text of the band's statement, click that there jump.

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Less than a week after The Rosebuds and Lost in the Trees played Golden Belt to raise funds for Durham Arts Council, another enclave of popular local musicians has announced its own fundraiser for the grant-, class- and space-providing nonprofit: Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon (who received a DAC grant in 1990 and has long supported the organization in return) will record a short session with The Beast—the eclectic hip-hop band fronted by her son, Pierce Freelon—Thursday, May 21, at the new Sound Pure Studios in Durham. The band and the singer will attempt to demystify the recording process in a panel with Sound Pure founder Todd Atlas, and dinner and wine donated by the nearby Piedmont will be served. Only 25 tickets will be sold for the intimate session. They're available for $100 each through DAC. All things considered, not a bad deal.

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• Birds in a van.

Last night, two locals—Bowerbirds and Lost in the Trees—shared a four-band bill at Manhattan's Mercury Lounge. Throughout the evening, a trickle of excited correspondence from members of both bands announced that a special guest had come to watch Bowerbirds' set: Neutral Milk Hotel leader/ de facto hermit/ "Salinger of indie rock" Jeff Mangum. There's, of course, little to report about the appearance besides just that—no collaborations, no serious hangouts. Mangum just watched and, between songs, held his beer between his teeth to clap.  Maybe he'll come down to Chapel Hill later this year?

On the news tip, though, Dead Oceans will release Bowerbirds' second LP, Upper Air, Tuesday, July 7.  (And, just to get it right, I co-released Bowerbirds' first album on this here label.) The Birds will likely offer some of those songs up ("Northern Lights," please) at a homecoming show at Local 506 Friday, May 8, before heading to Europe for a festivals-and-clubs tour later in the month. New in the Lost in the Trees world: Billions, one of the most esteemed booking agencies in the land, recently acquired the band, and they seem to have piqued some national label interest of late.