Ethan Regan – The Only Tour Ever
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Illiterate Light
It’s dangerous to put Illiterate Light in a box, especially with the release of their new album, Arches. Are they a guitar-driven indie rock duo? Kaleidoscopic neo-psychedelia? Synth-kissed, harmony-laden folk? What does one do with an album beginning with “fake tits and diet coke,” then pivoting to train derailments in rural Ohio and never-ending black holes? These prolific farmers-turned-rockers have captured the energy of their live shows—fans crowd-surfing, moshing, crying, and crooning—and infused it into their latest release. “We’ve always been shape shifters, moving between heavy, dark distortion and gentle sweet fingerpicking, writing aggressive songs, introspective songs, and love songs, exploding and embracing,” reflects singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman. “Smashing it all together used to feel strange, but now there’s a glue between everything we do. Our fans get it. They care less about genre. All they care about is feeling. And that’s all we care about. Are you alive or not?” Illiterate Light’s third album, Arches, is not a passageway but an arrival. “We’re no longer striving to define a sound,” said drummer Jake Cochran. “We’re leaning into sides of ourselves that have felt off-limits, sticking to what feels right rather than concerning ourselves with comparison.” Out November 1 via Thirty Tigers, the record is bursting with thunderous anthems, biting lyrics, and lush harmonies. The band originated in the Shenandoah Valley in 2015 when multi-instrumentalists Gorman and Cochran began playing music together while working on an organic farm. Eventually, they left the farm to focus on music, adopting the moniker Illiterate Light from a Wilco lyric. After several years of non-stop touring, they signed with Atlantic Records and released their eponymous full-length debut in late 2019. Two years later, they signed with Thirty Tigers and, in 2023, issued their critically acclaimed LP, Sunburned. Shortly after, they released two additional EPs, making Arches their fourth release in two years. Arches was recorded in two very different locations: small-town Appalachia at Gorman’s home studio and Hollywood, CA at Sunset Sound with producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes, Beck, The Killers). “We wanted the best of both worlds,” says Gorman. “We spent several days with Joe at Sunset. To record vocals in the same live room as so many of my heroes—Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Dylan—was unreal. I knew I was in a holy place.” The LA session was paired with sessions in Virginia, where Gorman and Cochran co-produced the bulk of the record with longtime collaborator Danny Gibney. In their hometown, they experimented with soaring instrumental journeys and had friends sit in on the sessions to keep things lively. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | TikTok
Augustana
Augustana (@danlayus) presents an array of music from his 20 year career in a powerful, intimate solo performance highlighting his latest studio album, Something Beautiful. From the artist’s evergreen hits “Boston,” and “Sweet and Low” up through his inspiring and energetic new material, Dan Layus brings fans even closer to the songs that they know and love. Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
The Wildmans
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Dyke Night
Welcome back for the latest edition of Dyke Night, celebrating 2 years as a safe space for the Triangle dykes, trykes, and their friends ;). Relax, grab a drink, and slip in to the sweet sonic sensations provided by DJ Triple AAA & DJ Mas Culina. Then be ready to scream, cry, and sing the praises of the devastating Poison, Espi O’Najj, & your host, Lady Dyke. Tipping encouraged. This is an 18+ event, so don’t forget your ID! Masking encouraged.
Drag Queens Are Coming
Carolina Waves Showcase & Open Mic
Hosted by Mir.I.am ALL AGES. FREE TO PERFORM. FLASHDRIVES ONLY. $15 ENTRY.EARLY ARRIVAL HIGHLY SUGGESTED / FLASHDRIVES ONLY FOR TRACKS. ALL AGES / GENRES / TALENTS / INSTRUMENTS WELCOME Email [email protected] with questions
Bit Brigade Performs “Super Mario World” + “F-Zero” LIVE
Bit Brigade performs rock covers of full NES game soundtracks as their gamer speedruns the game live on stage. “When was the last time you attended a live music performance with a genuine element of risk involved? And no, going to a Gwar show with a white t-shirt on doesn’t count. When Bit Brigade takes the stage your mind will frantically oscillate between “Oh! Agh!! Please don’t die!!” and “YES! He’s doing it!!” Combining the dread and daring of a live video game speed run with the spot-on technique of a live band covering the musical accompaniment to everything you’re seeing on-screen in real time, Bit Brigade will have you swinging between the two mediums. From thrashing about to live renditions of your favorite stage themes, fingers yearning to the sky in a rock ‘n roll parody of sea anemones seeming to silently plead, “Please, feed us more fretboard pyrotechnics!,” to being locked in stock-still rapture as the infallible maestro of the d-pad, Noah McCarthy, takes on the final boss and risks his video game life under the threat of intense peer scorn (or the reward of night-long glory and a credits score). No matter the outcome, Bit Brigade must play on until the deed is done – which it always is – on the first (and last) try. Once Noah’s NES buzzes on, there’s no turning back.” – Metalhead Mike of The Shizz, summer 2011 Website | Facebook
BabyJake
Florida-born Jake Herring, known professionally as BabyJake, may have appeared to be an overnight success, but his journey to the spotlight was anything but instantaneous. His hit single Cigarettes on Patios took off in 2019, garnering 200M+ streams and earning him a certified gold record and a major label deal. He would release two albums from the same vine, until the upheaval of the pandemic saw him splitting with his label and at a pivotal turning point. But giving up was never an option for Jake, and his resilience set him on a new path: an ascetic journey to rediscover himself, shedding his shag haircut in favor of a buzzcut, naked skin marked by the tattoos he collected along his journey. He found the answer on his upcoming album Beautiful Blue Collar Boy, a bouquet of songs rooted in the beauties and hardships of day to day life. Drawing influence from the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Tweedy, BabyJake stays true to his north star of confident storytelling and songwriting. On Beautiful Blue Collar Boy, Jake trades in the late night parties for the simplicity of authenticity, hard work, and a meaningful life to come home to. This chapter of BabyJake reveals a man stripped down to his American roots, with each song painting a small vignette of BabyJake’s blue collar dreams. Now planted in Nashville, TN, Jake returns to us as a Beautiful Blue Collar Boy. Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
Essenger
Sworn enemy of the genre police, Essenger spawned into the metaverse in 2018, becoming the ultimate nexus to unite fans of retrowave, hip hop, and electronic dance music. With lyrics ranging from emotive anthems to sci-fi plots, his formidable powerhouse of synths and infectious vocal hooks and are no match for the alternative music scene. Essenger signed with independent label FiXT Neon in 2020 with his debut album After Dark, followed by various Monstercat collaborations and setting the stage to bring his live act into virtual reality and perhaps soon, a city near you. Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Soundcloud
