JKutchma & Spider Bags to headline Double Barrel Benefit

It's almost time for an annual tradition in the Triangle, WKNC's Double Barrel Benefit concert featuring two nights of fantastic local music. The shows will return to the Pour House in downtown Raleigh on February 1 and 2.

The Friday, February 1, lineup will feature JKutchma and The Five Fifths, Lilac Shadows, Jenny Besetzt and Lollipops. The Saturday, February 2, lineup will feature Spider Bags

Hopscotch 2012 Day 1: Airstrip, Lilac Shadows, Trash Talk

All photos by Kevin Norris

Early on in the first night of Hopscotch, the Berkeley Café was nearly full for the late local band conglomeration, Airstrip. Featuring members of Horseback and Veelee, the quartet features jangly melodies supported by drones and a rumbling rhythm section.



Both catchy and rocking, Airstrip seems poised to be another buzzed about local band.




Two blocks over, I

Hopscotch 2012 Day 1: Lilac Shadows at Kings

All photos by Kevin Norris

Carrboro band Lilac Shadows kicked off the 2012 Hopscotch festivities at Kings Barcade. With the aid of some projected psychedelic visuals, the band sounded stellar.

Sam Logan's catchy, dream-like songs felt even more lush live than they do on record and the band were solid. The title track from the band's debut release, the Shallow Madness EP, was particularly

Future Islands coming to Chapel Hill on Friday

Triangle regulars Future Islands were set to open for Passion Pit on a run of dates ahead of the release of their new album, but the those July dates were canceled yesterday (the Passion Pit show in Raleigh as well as other fall dates are still on). These cancellations left Future Islands with some time on their hands which is good news for the Triangle.

The band will play an intimate show at

Album Review: Lilac Shadows - Shallow Madness

The new EP from Carrboro’s Lilac Shadows, Shallow Madness, is made of a strange substance. It’s thick, but not impenetrable. It’s slick, but not artificial.

Listening to Shallow Madness is like diving into a viscous liquid. Remain still and the music — particularly “Rise” and “What Dreams” — will suspend you in its depths. However, put forth enough kinetic energy and “Bloodworth” and the title

New music from Lilac Shadows - "A Shallow Madness"

Carrboro band Lilac Shadows, led by Sam Logan (formerly of the Hugenots), are gearing up to release the Shallow Madness EP with a big release show at Kings in Raleigh on Saturday, March 31, and have been kind enough to share a song from the release with us.

The song is "A Shallow Madness," which goes from psychedelic to catchy pop in five minutes and twenty seconds. Stream or download the tune