Categories
Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Reese McHenry of The Dirty Little Heaters

dirtylittleheatersSpend any amount of time listening to The Dirty Little Heaters and you’ll see why their new record heralds them as The Champions of Imperfection. This quartet’s ferocious garage rock sound is an expert balance of fever and fervor built on ragged riffs, charging percussion, howling vocals, and (a fairly new addition) zealous keyboard runs.  The music is as sincere as it frayed, which in a way mirrors the band’s own evolution.

These Durham based rockers have faced their share of tumult, going through near break-ups and lineup changes that have left lead singer Reese McHenry as the only stalwart of the original lineup.  Despite that quaking beginning (or perhaps because of it), the current crew— McHenry, keyboardist Doug White, drummer Dave Perry, and bassist Rob Walsh— have clearly decided to channel their creative energies into a caterwaul of rock. Lingering frustrations are dispelled in song, minor aggravations are howled, and love is laid bare with the same vehemence some would ascribe to hate.  In short, this is a band that demands, not asks, for your attention and you can give it to them this Saturday, February 20th at the Local 506 when they celebrate the release of Champions of Imperfection along with local rockers Red Collar and Pink Flag.

And now the five most troublesome questions Reese McHenry’s faced in at least five minutes:

reesemchenry

1. If your band were a breakfast cereal, what would it be?
I hope Lucky Charms because that would be magically delicious but the truth is this band is more like Wheaties drowned in whiskey.

2. When exactly did rock die and what are The Dirty Little Heaters doing about it?
We all know that Starship killed rock and roll.  How one band can fall from Surrealistic Pillow/White Rabbit to Knee Deep in the Hoopla/We built this City is seriously beyond me.  As a band we struggle and truly try  to write the greatest songs on the face of the earth -  being a balls heavy rock band comes naturally. Hopefully we’ll be able to write really good songs before we get to “We Built This City” – but we’ll see what happens.

3. Describe your feelings toward Kiss.
I desperately love Kiss!  Kiss was the first band I really took to by my own volition – and I first liked them by physically seeing a copy of the record Kiss Alive 2 that my friends older brother had. If there was ever a movie about my life that moment, when I was 7 years old, would be the pinnacle (because it led me to this set of questions, see?).

cover_alive2_large_rear

Seeing the live pictures of that band and the blood (I now realize fake but then…) truly blew my mind. I complained until my mom bought it for me and –  the booklet!  The Tattoos!  Now, mind you, I had yet to hear any music from Kiss.  I put every tattoo on, covering my arms, and put side 1 on the turntable.  My life was transformed.  My mom made me wash my tattoos off before dinner (still unforgiven by me) and I would not answer to anything but Beth from then on.  My grandma called me Beth until the day she died – not always but as a nickname.  I still listen to and love this record.  I defend my love of Kiss quite frequently.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?
Rob loves Lady Gaga and Karaoke – this whole band really loves (or will sing) karaoke.  My favorite kind of music is 50s and 60s pop but I really am drawn to anything with a catchy chorus.  Rob likes early 90’s grunge and Doug was influenced by Prog/Noise rock.  We all listen to Supertramp at top volume in the van and we talk about food incessantly.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)
I always wanted to be a happy rocker.  I am a happy rocker.

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Catch Reese and the rest of The Dirty Little Heaters at the release show for their new disc Champions of Imperfection this Saturday, February 20th at the Local 506 and be sure to give ’em a high five while you’re there.

Categories
Miscellany

PDF version of today’s Citizen now up!

Here’s the link:

http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/citizen021810.pdf

Categories
Arts & Music

Advance Notice: The Week in Happenings 2/15-21

No excuses, just plenty to do. Get on it.

Mon – 2/15

  • “The Love Hangover” @ The Pour House – Get over your Valentine slump with a lineup featuring Caitlin Cary & Matt Douglas, Sara Bell & Phill Cook, Alexandra Day and Hunter MacDermut, Karen Kletter & Aly Khalifa, and Rachel Hirsh & John Booker. $7

Tues – 2/16

  • Harry Connick, Jr. @ DPAC – $48-95

Wed – 2/17

  • American Aquarium / John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff @ Local 506 – $8
  • Dean & Britta “13 Most Beautiful People: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests” @ Reynolds Theater – $28 / $24 / $5 for Duke Students

Thurs – 2/18

  • Laura Veirs and the Hall of Flames / Old Believers / Cataldo @ Local 506 – With a heralded new record and one hell of a track record as one of Portland’s smartest troubadours, it’d be a shame to skip seeing Miss Veirs in action. $9 adv / $11 at the door
  • Transmography / La Snacks / K_niv_es @ The Cave – If you like your music one part experimental one part early 90s post rock, then this is the lineup for you and they’ve come all the way from Austin just to prove it. $5

Fri – 2/19

  • Dirty Little Heaters CD Release Show with Red Collar and Pink Flag @ Local 506 – $7
  • SWASO / Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies @ Cat’s Cradle – $5 adv / $7 day of the show
  • The Punch Brothers @ Reynolds Theater – Apparently sold out but worth tracking down a ticket to see Chris Thile and his new best mates tear down some bluegrass in proper fashion. $32 / $24 / $5 for Duke Students

Sat – 2/20

  • Bull City / The Dynamite Brothers @ The Pinhook – $5
  • Carrboro Home Brew Fest featuring The Whiskey Smugglers, Popsie’s Field, Lizzy Ross and the Little Bear that Barks, and Black Swamp Bootleggers @ The Nightlight – Head out to sample the very best of what Carrboro’s home brewmasters have to offer and hear some local faves kick it into gear while you ramble. $10 suggested donation

Sun – 2/21

  • Dark Star Orchestra @ Lincoln Theatre – A primer for those who have never heard of these guys, they recreate Grateful Dead concerts solo for solo, note for note, flub for flub. American Beauty reignited, indeed.  $20 adv / $24 day of the show

See you out there! (and where else?)

Categories
Miscellany

Chapel Hill Town Council agenda 2/15/10

It’s public hearing night in Chapel Hill.
Agenda Items

1. Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2035 Long Range Transit Plan. (R-1)
1. Introduction and recommendations by the Manager.
2. Comments by citizens.
3. Comments from the Mayor and Council.
4. Motion to recess public hearing.
PRESENTER: Steve Spade, Transit Director and David Bonk, Long Range & Transportation Manager
RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Council receive public comment at tonight’s public forum and refer the comments to the Manager.
2. Land Use Management Ordinance Text Amendment – Jordan Watershed Riparian Buffer Protection. (R-2)
1. Introduction and recommendations by the Manager.
2. Comments by citizens.
3. Comments from the Mayor and Council.
4. Motion to recess public hearing to September 20, 2010.
PRESENTER: Sue Burke, Stormwater Engineer
RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Council and authorize Town staff to submit the draft ordinance to the State for review and approval.

Categories
Miscellany

Carrboro Board of Aldermen agenda 2/16/10

7:30 Tuesday at Carrboro Town Hall
Link to agenda items.

CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings
2. Request to Set a Special Meeting of the Board of Aldermen
3. A Resolution Giving Staff Direction on the 2010 Legislative Breakfast
4. Request to Set a Public Hearing on an Ordinance Amending the Carrboro Land Use Ordinance Provisions Related to Natural Constraints Mapping for Determining Open Space Requirements and Other Miscellaneous Procedural Requirements
5. Town Code Amendment Related to Parking Along Roberson Street
OTHER MATTERS
1. Request for Board Approval of a Banking Services Contract

Categories
Weather

Road update from Carrboro

Carrboro Public Works crews started plowing off
accumulated snow on arterial and collector streets this morning (2-13-10)
at about 3:00 am and treating with salt/sand as necessary. Temperatures
fell several degrees below freezing at about this time. Many secondary
roads with accumulated snow were also plowed off. As of this writing
(8:00 am) temperatures are beginning to rise, but hovering near the
freezing mark and motorists should be cautious.

The Town of Carrboro, NC Public Works Web Site is available at the
following location:
http://www.townofcarrboro.org/pw/default.htm

Categories
Community Weather

HK on J postponed

This from the organizers:

Due to severe weather conditions that have been forecasted for North Carolina, the 4th Annual HK on J (Historic Thousands on Jones Street) has been postponed until February 27, 2010.

Categories
Weather

Maybe, also, who knows?

The amount of snow we get looks like a total crapshoot. Here’s an excerpt from the forecast discussion via NWS:

WHILE FEEL FAIRLY CONFIDENT ABOUT AMOUNTS ACROSS THE SOUTH…NOT SO CONFIDENT ACROSS THE FAR N-NW. DUE TO THE SOUTHERN TRACK OF SYSTEM AND BEST DYNAMICS OCCURRING TO OUR SE…WILL SEE A DEFINITIVE CUT-OFF OR GRADIENT IN PRECIP AMOUNTS SOMEWHERE OVER THE NORTHERN PIEDMONT. BELIEVE THAT AMOUNTS DEPICTED ACROSS THE NW PIEDMONT ARE WORSE CASE SCENARIO. CLOSER TO RALEIGH/TRIANGLE…WILL LIKELY SEE A SHARP GRADIENT IN SNOW AMOUNTS FROM AN INCH OR SO AROUND FALLS LAKE TO CLOSE TO 3 INCHES NEAR HOLLY SPRINGS AND FUQUAY-VARINA.

Categories
Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Reid Johnson of Schooner

schoonerDeparting from its lofi beginnings as a four-track project by lead singer/songwriter Reid Johnson, Schooner‘s music has blossomed since its 2003 debut.  Through their growth, the band (currently: Reid + Billy Alphin, Chris Badger, and Maria Albani) has ostentatiously dreamed up arrangements that alternately tap into a sort of swooning shoegaze Americana and a bratty thrash at the edges of modern college rock.  The lyrical compliment has remained equally as adventurous.  Languid one minute and ferociously sincere the next, tunes like “Trains and Parades” and “Pray for You to Die” are addictive as much as they are elusive.

On their newest EP, Duck Kee Sessions, the Schooner crew ups the ante once more, retaining the woozy vintage undertones but adding spooky pop vibe.  They’re also giving it all up, donating all the proceeds from their new tunes to the totally worthy cause of fighting cancer with CyTunes.org— a website built to honor their dear friend and local music fanatic, Cy Rawls.  Though Cy may have lost his battle with brain cancer, the music community has rallied around his memory to offer up exclusive downloads to raise money for cancer research.  The Duck Kee Sessions is the latest, but definitely not last, offering and it’s available for download right now. You can also join Schooner (+ The Popular Kids [comedy by the Rosebuds’ Kelly Crisp], VeeLee, and Erie Choir) for a release party on Feb 19th at the Pinhook.

Great music, a great cause, and now five greatly perplexing questions:

1. If your band were an incarnation of Madonna, which would it be?

Chronologically it would be “Like a Prayer” but “Borderline,” “Holiday,” and “Lucky Star” are my favorite songs, therefore I’d have to go with the original article “Madonna.”  Plus she was involved with Basquiat at the time for crying out loud.

theduckkeesessions2. What made you/when did you decide to release the newest Schooner music on CyTunes?

After having this EP recorded and sitting around waiting to be released, I felt like CyTunes would be the most meaningful place for it.  I was good buddies with Cy; we used to play basketball together and do sketch comedy in “The Popular Kids” comedy troupe that would perform at Kings Barcade.  Giving the music to a cause felt right, especially after working with a sweetheart like Jerry Kee on the recording.

3. Describe the last dream you can remember.

I keep having the same theme going on lately where instead of walking I’m able to jump and float/swim through the air.  I can hop up on a roof, over a tree, etc, but can’t seem to move terribly quickly.  Every time it happens I can’t decide if it’s a frustrating condition, or if it’s an amazing skill–all I know is that I’m the only one operating by these rules.  Analysis is appreciated.

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

Not sure if these would necessarily surprise people, but I’m a Reggae fan, I dig on some Don Ho, and I like noise/anti-structured music, most notably when it is created by acoustic instrumentation.  Also, being an NC State fan is a big influence as it teaches you the meaning of loss and suffering.

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

reidminussoundWhen I was a kid I’m pretty sure I wanted to either be a professional baseball player or draw for a living.  When I was about 11 years old I got hit in the head by a wild pitch, therefore ending the “don’t think too much at the plate” era and thusly my amazingly promising baseball career (not sure if dry humor comes across in print).  I pursued the drawing thing some, taking some design classes at NCSU, but I was way too ADD to commit my life to such an immersive course of study.  However, I’ve been playing music forever and writing since I was a teenager, so I think I’ve got a pretty good thing going.

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Be sure to stop in round about this time next week because you never know who’ll be up next.  And if you make it out to the show on the 19th (and you really should) by all means give Reid a high five if you see him.

Categories
Miscellany

PDF version of today’s Citizen now up!

Here’s the link: http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/citizen021110.pdf

Categories
Arts & Music

Advance Notice: The Week in Happenings 2/8-14

Much to do. Much to see.  Potential for heart warmth or ache mid-week for our Heels and at the end of the week for ourselves when that holiday I dare not name makes everyone a little crazy.  Here’s hoping for happy hearts and making it out to as much of this madness as possible.

Mon – 2/8

  • Soihadto / It is Rain on my Face @ Local 506 – Soihadto features the lead stylings of none other than Ace of Cakes master goofball Duff Goldman. Worth it. $8

Tues – 2/9

  • Galactic / T Bird and the Breaks @ Lincoln Theatre – $20 adv / $25 day of the show

Wed – 2/10

  • UNC vs. Duke Live on the Big Screen @ Local 506
  • The Small Ponds / Laura Cortese @ The Cave – The Small Ponds are Caitlin Cary (founding member of Whiskeytown, Tres Chicas) and Matt Douglas (singer and songster for The Proclivities). This is I think enough said. $5
  • Holy Ghost Tent Revival / The Woes / The Moneynotes @ The Pour House – $6 adv / $8 at the door

Thurs – 2/11

  • Simplified / Cool Kid Collective @ Local 506 – $8 adv / $10 at the door
  • Brandi Carlile / Amy Ray’s Rock Show @ Cat’s Cradle – Apparently this is sold out, but if you’ve ever seen the Brandi Carlile Band take it on the road you know it would be worth standing outside to wait for unused tickets. $25

Fri – 2/12

  • NC Comedy Arts Festival
    • @ Local 506: Comics and Chords  -> Comics: Chris Fox (Greensboro, NC), Trent Bowles (Raleigh, NC), Ghuffran Ali (Chicago, IL), Carolyn Castiglia (New York, NY) / Chords @ 10:00: Proof (John Walker, Greg Eyman, Jeramy Lowe, Mike Salmon) and The Torch Marauder – $10
    • @ Cat’s Cradle: featuring Edie Brill and Mike MacRae – $13
  • UNC-CH MFA Collaborative Art Show featuring Multi-media Installations / Videos / DJ’s! @ The Nightlight – $FREE! (runs 6-9 pm)
  • Demolition String Band / The Moaners / Pneurotics @ The Cave – $5
  • Drive-By-Truckers @ Lincoln Theatre – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 two night pass

Sat – 2/13

  • Carolina Brewery 15th Anniversary Show featuring  The Mugs / Graveyard Fields / Butterflies @ Local 506 – Here’s your chance to catch our friend Josh Kimbrough and his band of Butterflies in action with the added bonus of hearing the newly formed Graveyard Fields and Carolina Brewery’s Brewmaster Jon Connolly’s rockin’ rag tag of southern rockers The Mugs. $7
  • Mardis Gras at the Pinhook! featuring The New Town Drunks / The Kinksmen / The Squares / Children of the Horn + a dance party @ The Pinhook – $5
  • Drive-By-Truckers @ Lincoln Theatre – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 two night pass

Sun – 2/14

  • The Foreign Exchange @ Cat’s Cradle – $20 for individuals / $18 each for couples purchasing a pair of tickets
  • Wanda Jackson / The Lustre Kings @ Berkeley Café – Here’s your chance for Valentine’s Day With The Queen Of Rockabilly, an honest to God Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, and one hell of a lady. $15 adv / $15 day of the show

And?