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Arts & Music

Gimme Five! MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger

When MC Taylor left San Francisco for North Carolina almost three years ago, it wasn’t just the city he was leaving behind. Over four full lengths (’99’s Venture Whites, ’01’s Bless You, ’04’s Witch Season, and ’06’s Hearts) and one EP (’04’s Dead Diamond River), his band, The Court and Spark, had explored that eerie space between early country and psychedelic rock to cult reception and critical acclaim.  Thus, the big move east meant an extended hiatus for that group and a step away from a vibrant local music scene that had been incredibly supportive.  However, It also meant the beginning of a new chapter — a spot in grad school at UNC– and the head space to flush out his newest musical venture–Hiss Golden Messenger, a self-described part-time band and joint venture with fellow former-Sparker  Scott Hirsch that stretches country rock infusion beyond the psychedelic and into some ghostly plain inhabited by musical outsiders past.

Conjuring slithering imagery and mystical transmission, the name Hiss Golden Messenger reflects the sound well.   On the debut, 2009’s Country Hai East Cotton, Taylor, Hirsch and a curated crew of collaborators set bluesy lamentations to spaced-out grooves, abstract alt-rock fair to dub beats.  It’s a sprawling sound blending ambient texture with country stomp and resulting in a mid-tempo folk-nit jam-roots vibe that mystifies.  The live translation of all that lackadaisical experimentation ranges depending on the number of sidemen available (for Hirsch is currently homesteaded in Brooklyn) and Taylor’s mood.  Most nights round these parts, you’ll find Taylor alone with an electric guitar, a pedal, and an acoustic set to the side ready for him to pluck a pick-and-grin inspired original or lay claim to some old favorite, like Gary Stewart’s “Drinking Thing.”

And you can catch this version of the Hiss Golden Messenger live show this Friday, April 9 at The Nightlight where Taylor will play as a part of In the Year of the Pig‘s CD release party.

Now just five questions to wet your curiosity:

1. If your band were a car, what sort would it be?

Probably one of these:

Or maybe a 1975 Lincoln Mark IV, chopped and dropped.

2. When did the idea for Hiss Golden Messenger come up?

Probably about 2005 when things were disintegrating in San Francisco.

3. Describe how becoming a father has changed the way you think about (or relate to) music.

That would take a long time. I’m not as keen on traveling anymore, and I spend a lot of times really fussing with songs to get them right. Babies—like songs—are unpredictable, but if you go at them with a little patience, you might could come out the other side with something really nice and totally unpredictable. Music is more important than ever at home. Elijah—who is one-year-old—can do a killer dance to Tony Joe White’s “Even Trolls Love Rock and Roll.”

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?

Me and some pals do like to dig in the bins for records that would fit into one of these micro-genres (thanks Brendan): honky-conch, zero hour, boot-cut, illegal vibrationz, shrimp plate, grabass, turbofocus, beach weirdo, troll-stroll, stone loner/brokedown van, Canadian smugglin’/gettin’ to the gig, damp and wobbly, wink-stink, high stakes, sneaky jams, boogie-hole.

This basically means late-era (always late-era) Merle Haggard, Joe Stampley, David Allen Coe, Eddie Rabbit, Ian Tyson, Tanya Tucker, Juice Newton, John Conlee, Jimmy Buffett, and Florabama’s own J. Hawkins, who has a song on his first record simply called “Shit.” And tons more.

I mention this stuff because I want to see it in print.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)

I dreamed of being a musician. It’s turned out fair to middling.

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You can check out the not so fair or middling music of Hiss Golden Messenger this Friday, April 9, at The Nightlight.  And by all means, be sure to give MC a high five when you see him!

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Miscellany

Wake up y’all! PDF version of today’s Citizen now up!

Here’s the link: http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/citizen040810.pdf

Enjoy! And don’t forget to support Citizen advertisers.

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Arts & Music

Advance Notice: The Week in Happenings 4/5-11

Mon -4/5

  • Ted Leo & The Pharmacists / Screaming Females / Pink Flag @ Cat’s Cradle – $13 adv / $15 at the door

Tues – 4/6

  • Mitch Easter / Citay / Birds of Avalon @ Local 506 – $8
  • Southern Memphis Stringband @ Berkeley Café – $12 adv / $15 day of the show

Wed – 4/7

  • White Rabbits / Let’s Wrestle @ Local 506 – $10 adv / $12 at the door
  • Manchester Orchestra / The Features / Biffy Clyro / O’Brother @ Cat’s Cradle – $14 adv / $17 day of the show

Thurs – 4/8

  • Butterflies / Wood Ear / Cassis Orange @ The Pinhook – $5
  • Holy Ghost Tent Revival / Sol Driven Train @ The Pour House – $6 adv / $8 at the door

Fri – 4/9

  • DTH Diversions Show: Luego / The Beast / Dirty Little Heaters / Jason Kutchman @ Local 506 – $FREE!
  • In the Year of the Pig CD Release Party / The Golden Fire Pig Orchestra / Monsonia / Hiss Golden Messenger / The Collection of the Late Howell Bend @ The Nightlight – $TBA
  • Old Habits / Mandolin Orange @ The Pour House – $7 adv / $10 at the door
  • David Gray / Phosphorescent @ DPAC – $35-$60

Sat – 4/10

  • All Your Science / Polite Sleeper / Charming Youngsters / Sequoya @ The Pinhook – $5
  • Red Sparowes / Doomriders / Make @ Local 506 – $10 adv / $12 at the door

Anywhere else?

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Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Autumn Ehinger of Cassis Orange

After successfully graduating from UNC in 2006, Autumn Ehinger took the show on the road…or herself rather and wound up in some pretty random places.  She moved to Virginia to participate in archaeology digs, the middle of nowhere Arizona to work in a national park, to Japan to teach English, and had a few other “pseudo-aimless wanderings” before sticking a stake in the ground in the “ultra-rural” town of Stedman, NC.  The rambling may have broadened her horizons, but it also made it hard to put a band together like she had in college.  Though the ability to collaborate was stifled, Autumn thankfully realized her drive to create wasn’t and thus came tumbling out the songs and sounds of Cassis Orange.

The product of the past four years’ travels, the music of Cassis Orange is a whirlwind of homesickness spun out with keyboards, glockenspiels, and cheap electronics.  Casio beats trill over lyrics about the battles of love and settling down.  Autumn’s voice surges out with startling intimacy amongst a numbingly trance-like rhythmic fill.  It’s lo-fi music made with digital technology, emotional strife with a fluttering cadence.

You can hear the Cassis Orange sound for yourself this coming Thursday, April 8th at The Pinhook where she’ll open for Butterflies and Wood Ear.  And you can also look forward to a number of upcoming dates because (who’d of guessed it) Autumn’s on the move again and Durham’s her next mark. (Lucky us.)

Now just the usual five question assault:

1. If your band were a city, which would it be?
Tokyo, Japan, specifically the Monzen-Nakacho neighborhood. I lived there a couple years ago, in a tiny apartment where I slept in a twin bed with my roommate because there was literally not enough space to sleep on the floor. The Cassis Orange songs always end up having to do something with my time there, directly or indirectly. And the band name is a popular mixed drink in Japan.

2. When was the moment you first thought music was something you might like to try?
In high school I was really obsessed with 1970s punk. I had a photograph of the Ramones going to a show at CBGB–they were on the subway, carrying their crappy instruments in a bunch of gross-looking shopping bags because they didn’t have any money for cases. I remember thinking, “Awesome! They are the best band ever, and totally broke!” And I was totally broke too, so that made me think I could also have a band or do music without always finding some dumb excuse not to.

3. Describe your typical Saturday morning routine.
My typical Saturday morning routine involves sleeping late enough to ensure I never develop a Saturday morning routine.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?
I really like the music they play at Cracker Barrel.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)
In elementary school I wanted to be an archaeologist. I rekindled the idea in college, and did do archaeology work for a while after I graduated. It’s really arduous physical work though, and I am basically a weakling, so after digging test pits in a cotton field in Virginia in a 100° August, I decided I would be ok with moving to a more indoors-y job. And now I really like teaching, so I think it all turned out well.

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Swing back by next week for the newest installment of gimme five and be sure to mosey over to The Pinhook on April 8th to hear Cassis Orange live. And by all means, give Autumn a high five when you see her!

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Miscellany

PDF version of today’s Citizen (with Mill) now up!

Here are the links:

regular section: http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/citizen040110.pdf

Mill: http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/printedmill/mill0410.pdf

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Arts & Music

Advance Notice: The Week in Happenings 3/29-4/4

As for me, I’ll be singing “Roscoe” to myself pretty much constantly until Saturday night …and, you know, everyday after that.

Mon – 3/29

  • King Khan & the Shrines / The Fresh & Onlys / Junkers @ Cat’s Cradle – $14 adv / $16 day of the show
  • Animal Alphabet / Jacquelyn Lee @ Local 506 – $FREE!

Wed – 3/31

  • Junior Astronomers / O God the White Whale @ Local 506 – $FREE!
  • CHADSTOCK featuring Chad Byrne (of Robosapien) / Cougar Poacher / Dave and Kerry Cantwell / Freaky Charlie @ The Nightlight – $TBA
  • Casual Curious CD Release Party with Workday/Schoolnight @ The Pinhook – $5

Thurs – 4/1

  • Mr. Mouse’s 10 Year Anniversary Party featuring Brandon Herndon & John Pardue @ The Cave – $TBA
  • I Was Totally Destroying It / Ben Davis and the Jetts / Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun @ The Pinhook – $5

Fri – 4/2

  • Brett Harris CD Release Party featuring Luego / Bright Young Things @ The Nightlight – $TBA
  • The Whispers & Stephanie Mills @ DPAC – $37.50-59.50

Sat – 4/3

  • HWYL / Stratocruiser / Swaso @ The Cave – $TBA

Sun – 4/4

And? Please share.

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Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Nathan Tarr of Wood Ear

Nathan Tarr was a stranger in Pittsburgh.  Moving there from Greensboro in 2002 had meant not only losing his comfort, but also leaving behind two bands.  The uneasiness inspired him to put pen to paper, melody to guitar and churn out a string of songs that, though he kept them quiet for a while, ended up as the initial blast of Wood Ear. With a sound that tiptoes on the edges alt.country, Wood Ear nods in the direction of bands like Uncle Tupelo’s world weary nouveau traditionalism, but strays from their melancholic restraints. Combining straightforward licks, Tarr’s gnawing vocal, and lyrics obsessed with the ticking clock of time, Wood Ear’s music is a battle between apathy and ardor.

With only a 6 song EP to its record (released in 2006), it’s hard to tell where Wood Ear will go in the future, but with Tarr and his steady crew of accomplices (Nathan Golub [of Fontana, the Rosewood Bluff, etc], Frank Andolina [of Fontana], Nic Brown [Longwave, Skeleton Key, Snuzz], and Krystal Black [of Dirty Version, Killing Frost, Vireo]) to back him up, it promises to be an entertaining ride. Check in to hear how Wood Ear’s evolving on Thursday, April 8th at The Pinhook where they’ll be joined by (our friends) Butterflies and Cassis Orange.

Now just five little ole bitty questions:

1. If your band were one of The Golden Girls, which would it be?

I wish I could say Sofia, but Dorothy is probably most accurate.

2. When can listeners expect a new Wood Ear record?

Rather than releasing a proper record, I’m going to release a series of singles on the website (soon to come). I’ll have two new songs out by May and four or five more by the end of the year.

3. Describe your feelings about “alt.country.”

I could take it or leave it.  People know what sound you are describing when you use it but it seems pretty ridiculous in this day and age with the lines between genre’s being blurred as much as they are.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?

I’ve listened to a lot of Bad Brains and Born Against in my time.  Lately I can’t stop listening to Converge.  I also really like Carole King.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)

I don’t remember having strong ambitions for being anything as a kid but when asked I think I said biologist or rock star.  I guess it turned out all right since I’m a biologist and I’m sure to be a rock star after this interview.

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Walk on over to The Pinhook on April 8th to hear Wood Ear for yourself and come on back around these parts next week for the newest installment of five.  And by all means, be sure to give Nathan a high five when you see him!

Categories
Miscellany

PDF version of today’s Citizen now up!

Here’s the link:

http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/citizen032510.pdf

Categories
Arts & Music

Advance Notice: The Week in Happenings 3/22-28

If you aren’t confused about where you should be Thursday night (to say nothing of Friday), then you should really get your head checked.

Tues – Sat – 3/23-27

  • Black Banjo Gathering Reunion on the campus of App State in Boone, NC featuring: Corey Harris, Alice Gerard, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Riley Baugus, Otis Taylor, John Cohen, Gail Gillespie, and Joe Thompson among many others.

Tues – 3/23

  • The Ruby Suns / Toro y Moi / It is Rain in my Face @ Local 506 – $8
  • Dark Water Rising / Red Pony / Gossip Grows on Trees @ The Pinhook – $5

Wed – 3/24

  • Sgt. Dunbar & The Hobo Banned @ The Cave – $5

Thurs – 3/25

  • Shearwater / Wye Oak @ Local 506 – $10 adv / $12 at the door

Fri – 3/26

  • Dirty Little Heaters (CD Release Party) / The Loners / The Moaners / The Big Death Scene @ The Pour House – $7
  • Transportation / Minor Stars @ The Cave – $TBA
  • Drug Horse Joint EP Release Party (2 new songs from 3 bands): Max Indian / Ryan Gustafson / The Light Pines @ Local 506 – $7
  • Jason Isbell $ The 400 Unit / Caleb Caudell & The Bayonets @ Lincoln Theatre – $13 adv / $15 day of the show
  • Let Feedback Ring Festival: Gray Young / Jason Kutchma / Solar Powered Sun Destroyer / Finn Riggins @ Slim’s Downtown – $5

Sat – 3/27

  • Wilco @ DPAC – $35 SOLD OUT (but worth the risk of standing outside the venue for tickets)
  • Reggae Relief for Haiti featuring dub Addis / Jam Rock / Mickey Mills and Steel / Arif (from The Anchants) / Curry Don / Sparkles of Positivity Nelson / D.H.I.M. Reggae Band / The 7 Experience / Truth and Rights @ Cat’s Cradle – $10 suggested donation
  • J Gore & The Alternative @ The Cave – $TBA
  • Let Feedback Ring Festival: Caltrop / Static Minds / The Huguenots / Termperance League (ft Bruce Hazel) @ Berkeley Café – $?

Sun – 3/28

  • Lawrence Arabia / Gossip Grows on Trees @ Local 506 – $8

Anywhere else?

Categories
Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Billy Sugarfix

summertempests“I should rent some movies / Lock myself in my room / Try to get my drinking under control / Post a new entry to a blog that no one reads / And concede / That I’m getting old,” Billy Sugarfix reasons in the first lines on the first track (“Out Like a Lamb”) of his latest record Summer Tempests.  But, if you’ve caught even a whisper of any of Sugarfix’s incredibly creative output, then you know that isn’t reason, it’s madness and it’s exactly the opposite of what needs to happen. No concession, no “getting older” so-called maturity should impede the art that so seemingly nonchalantly flows through his head and out to his fingertips onto blogs and televisions and especially into speakers.

Sugarfix has made an ineffable mark on the local scene.  A montage of his time might note his rambles rocking out as one third of the much beloved Evil Weiner, his jaunts busking solo, his moments crafting pop vocal gems as one half of Password to Larkspur Lane, and even his side business creating custom serenades.  That foreshortened list of credits alone would be evidence enough of his energy and  drive, but, ever the entertainer, it’s also not the end for Sugarfix.  Just recently, he’s started a new project, Billy Sugarfix’s Carousel, a five piece chamber pop ensemble that features a few familiar faces.  Curious ears can catch this chapter of the Sugarfix experience live at The Nightlight on Saturday, March 20 where the Carousel will be joined by The Houston Brothers, Anna Bullard, and John Harrison of North Elementary.

And now just your standard nonstandard five question interrogation:

1. If your band were a movie, what would it be?ed wood

Ed Wood, and by that I mean the biographic film directed by Tim Burton.  When you boil it all down this film is about a bunch of oddly skilled misfits who pool their resources to make something really unique, which is what I hope to do with Billy Sugarfix’s Carousel.

2. When did you start collecting Busby style hats?

Evil Wiener has a song called Marching Band.  When it first came out Ron Liberti and Groves Willer got me this really nice red one to wear when we played the song.  I ended up wearing it until it was all but destroyed.   When it became absolutely un-wearable I began looking for a replacement.  I couldn’t find one exactly like it so I just began collecting every one that I came across.   Ever since I started this collection I have been given constant positive reinforcement in the form of questions such as this one, so as long as you all keep asking me about it I’ll keep collecting them.  I currently have 17.

billysugarfix3. Describe your feelings about performing. (Why do you often wear a mask, costumes, etc?)

I use the mask to represent a devil may care attitude and an absolute commitment to entertain.  I will admit though, that I’ve felt my guitar style is so simplistic that it isn’t enough to carry a performance and I therefore wear the mask to compensate for the lack of finger-picking and lead lines.   I’ve recently started being a lot more serious about guitar playing and have decided to temporarily discontinue the use of masks, and to compensate for my developing skill by surrounding myself with brilliant musicians such as those in the Carousel (Justin Blatt-Viola, Sara Zaleta-vocals, Doug Vuncannon-Double Bass, Wendy Spitzer-Oboe)

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?

Enya.  I like Enya.  Yes that’s right…the Celtic New Age “Sail Away” lady.  I think Orinoco Flow is a brilliant piece of music.  So there.

Another huge influence that deserves mentioning is the Trekky Yuletide Orchestra.  Seeing all those strings, brass,  and woodwinds work in a rock club setting really kind of set me on the path to writing for and incorporating  classical instrumentation into what I’m doing.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)

I was dead set on being a fighter pilot until I discovered that the Air Force no longer used bi-planes.

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Take a ride on Billy Sugarfix’s Carousel this Saturday, March 20 at The Nightlight.  And by all means, when you see him give Billy a high five!

Categories
Miscellany

PDF version of today’s Citizen (and 2010 Gardening Guide) now up!

Here are the links:

Citizen regular section: http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/citizen031810.pdf

2010 Gardening Guide special section: http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/specsections/GardenGuide2010.pdf