Martin Hall - Project Manager at Yep Roc Records. A grizzled veteran of the local scene, Halls is the former publicist at Merge Records (1998-2007), and music director at WXDU-Durham (1992-1994).
What I am looking forward to at Hopscotch:
- Flaming Lips - always a great show
- Superchunk - godfathers of the local scene
- William Tyler
- Cheyenne Marie Mize
- Sir Richard Bishop
- Pepper Rabbit
- Toro Y Moi
- Fight The Big Bull
- Kort
James Bailey – National Publicist at Yep Roc Records. Manages national media campaigns for the Yep Roc Music Group.
Lower Dens - Thursday 9:30 p.m. @ Kings
Twin Hand Movement is one of my favorite records of the past year. Fell in love with it on a camping trip and have been smitten ever since. They are everything that's good about moody drone and atmospherics. A low bass hum is present throughout, pushing the songs along and giving them a thick spine to hang the often high octave vocals on. Think Jeff Buckley fronting the slower, spacier side of The Jesus and Mary Chain. i.e. totally freaking awesome.
Generationals - Friday 11 p.m. @ White Collar Crime
This whole line up at White Collar is killer. Old Bricks (on local label Grip Tapes) > Generationals > Royal Bangs is a really eclectic and varied run of bands, but there is an unidentifiable common thread there somewhere....I swear. It's probably just that all of these are bands make GREAT records that you need to hear if you haven't already. Generationals consist of two Baton Rouge via New Orleans musicians/songwriters/tinkerers who were formerly in one of the best pure pop bands of the last decade, the now defunct The Eames Era. Now they make retro-yet-modern-as-hell, lo-fi soul music that will definitely lubricate all in attendance. If you're in the mood for a fun, dancey, party atmosphere, their set will be the place to be. Drinks will flow, blood will spill.
Drive By Truckers - Friday 7 p.m., City Plaza
Their boozy, grimy, southern aesthetic may not be as en vogue as it once was, but they don't care and neither should you. Just like they have been for over a decede, they are one of the best live rock bands in America, and on a given night, they might just be the best.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Saturday, 11:30 p.m. @ Five Star
This drugrug-wearing band of weirdos from yes, you guessed it....Portland, OR, drop breakbeats as easy as most bands drop cash at the bar. You will likely assume they stole most of them, but they didn't. Any band that sounds like a DJ spinning 45's that he has spent most of his adult life digging for is pretty right on in my book, and these dudes seem to do it with a style and laissez faire-ness that's usually absent these days from anything you might want to call "funky". Can't wait to hear/see what it's like live.
P.S.
Oh, and did I mention that Guided by Voices are playing? You should probably go check that out, yeah, probably... just sayin.’
Hank Stockard - Online Marketing & Promotions
I think my goal at Hopscotch is to celebrate the local NC music scene which Pitchfork has called "one of the most interesting and active in the country right now" and also get the treat of seeing some of the best national touring bands all in one place over the course of one weekend. I went to the festival last year and had an amazing time and I can't wait to see how much it's grown this year. It really is a special treat for music lovers in the region and I hope this is just the beginning of an event we can look forward to enjoying for many more years to come.
THURSDAY
- The Love Language
- Ford & Lopatin
- Cassis Orange
FRIDAY *basically not leaving White Collar Crime all night!
- Old Bricks
- Wesley Wolfe
- Royal Bangs
SATURDAY
- Toro Y Moi
- Future Islands
- Gross Ghost
- Heads on Sticks
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Jeremiah Lewis - former radio promoter and now, project manager at Redeye Distribution and a very funny improv comic who can be seen at DSI in Carrboro.
Future Islands - By far the band I'm most excited to see. It's like if Tom Waits were in an indie space-rock band.
Royal Bangs - My friends but also have an amazing live set that will blow people away
Toro Y Moi- I wanna dance!!!
Weekend - It's almost as if Joy Division were around today, this is probably what they would sound like.
The Dodos - one of the most underrated acts around. Also, the songwriting is very heartfelt and amazing.
Budos Band - I wanna dance again!!!
Great Local Acts to see (and former local acts)
Gross Ghost - probably the best local live act around town. The Love Language praises this band and so does everyone else who is serious about music out of the Triangle.
The Love Language - If the beach boys teamed up with Neutral Milk Hotel and had a baby, this is what it would sound like.
