Hayes Carll – ‘We’re Only Human’ Tour
We’re Only Human Hayes Carll isn’t preaching or teaching. He’s not interested in telling the rest of us what to do or think. But he is charting out a personal guide for his life, quieting the noise, and sitting with his real voice – the one that’s candid, consistent, and often inconvenient. We’re Only Human is Carll’s tenth album. Like his best lyrics, it is also an understated masterpiece, an honest snapshot of one man’s confrontation and delight with humanity’s biggest and most intimate questions. Where do we find forgiveness for ourselves and grace for others? How do we hold on to peace of mind and stay present? What can we—and should we––trust? And how can we moor ourselves to, well, ourselves, in the midst of confusing, trying times? We’re Only Human offers audiences the chance to listen to Carll as he listens to himself. “I’ve lived outside of myself for so long,” Carll admits. “Distractions, fear, anxiety, insecurity, and the complexity of being human in this world have so often pulled me away from being present or at peace.” “I feel like there’s been a voice riding shotgun all my life, pushing me to do better, but I’ve struggled to listen to it,” Carll says. “The idea behind this record was to do the personal work I needed to do, then codify those lessons in song to serve as sort of breadcrumbs to get me back on the trail if, and inevitably when, I get lost again.” Carll is more than two decades into a celebrated career. Praise from places such as Pitchfork and the New York Times––the latter of which yoked Carll’s ability to tackle tough issues with wry humor to Bob Dylan––punctuate a resume that includes Americana Music Awards and a Grammy nomination. His songs aren’t safe, but many of Nashville’s stars have recorded them, including Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, and Brothers Osborne. As a solo recording artist, Carll has long-since established himself as one of Americana’s most-played––and most loved––voices. His warm but crackling vocals, wit, and heart dance through wordplay that’s always clever, and never too precious. Through it all, whenever Carll points a finger, it’s most often at himself. As We’re Only Human collects moments of Carll figuring out how to be with himself, the songs feel forthright, hopeful, and timely. In today’s onslaught of instant gratification, rage-baiting headlines, glorified intolerance, and falling empathy, the record is a startling outlier: an artist’s raw, real-life effort to live well—both with himself and others. Carll embraces private epiphanies, and shares them with the world, allowing them to unfold for all to see and share. Of course, We’re Only Human is also art. So while appreciating the motivation and compelling themes driving it will underpin the listener’s experience, Carll’s album also matters because of the sheer brilliance of its execution. These are songs composed by a writer’s writer, wielding his considerable skill with precision and beauty. The album’s title track unfolds with plaintive piano and a mantle of grace. Carll sings, with a calming sincerity, “We’ll do most anything to avoid the pain / Hiding our hearts and casting the blame / 6,000 tongues, but we’re all the same / Ain’t no need to carry that shame / ‘Cause we’re only human.” Website | Facebook | Instagram
S.G. Goodman
S.G. Goodman returns from the Western Kentucky bottomland with her latest full-length album, Planting by the Signs, Available June 20, 2025 on her very own Slough Water Records via Thirty Tigers. Composed of songs inspired by love, loss, reconciliation, and the aforementioned ancient practice. Eleven tracks highlighted by the critically-acclaimed and award-winning artist’s singular voice and her penchant for juxtaposing vulnerable folk music with punchy rock ‘n roll, replete with chiming guitars, ethereal atmospherics, and her DIY ethos. Goodman provides a timely reminder that the only way forward is together, and that we must always take into account humanity’s dependence on and responsibility to the natural world.Back in the early hours of 2023, Goodman told her late friend Mike Harmon and his wife Therese that she wanted to base her next album around the concept of planting by the signs, which she had heard about growing up, and recently rediscovered while reading a volume of Foxfire. She remembered general points from her rural southern childhood – how planting a garden, or weaning a baby, or getting a haircut are best timed in accordance with the cycle of the moon. A concept diametrically opposed to the tech-obsessed, profit margin-driven mania swirling around her. Through exploring themes related to planting by the signs, Goodman hoped to help herself and others reconcile this jarring disconnect, as well to pass along the story of the practice to her nieces and nephews – the latter being a role she took very seriously. But it wasn’t an easy path to writing Planting by the Signs or to the recording studio. 2023 saw the passing of her beloved dog, Howard, as well as the tragic death of Harmon, a father figure and mentor. Mike was mentioned in Goodman’s song, “Red Bird Morning” on Old Time Feeling, her debut. Her band used to practice in the quonset hut behind his house. He would check on her house while she toured. Often, Goodman would call him for advice from the road. A few days before he died, he advised her about putting chains on her van during a snow storm. He once drove that same van from Boston to Chicago so the band could play a one-off in the middle of a tour. He was a rock for Goodman, and a rock star in his own right. Harmon’s death led to Goodman reconciling with her longtime collaborator and guitarist, Matthew Rowan, who had become estranged from her following a year of grueling live shows in 2021. Rowan and Goodman had met in their early 20s while at college in the Murray, KY, indie rock scene, and eventually began playing music together. His idiosyncratic guitar work became an essential part of her production. He wrote most of the guitar parts on her first two records, and their creative relationship stretched for nearly 10 years. But life on the road isn’t for all, one thing led to another, and Rowan decided to step away. After Harmon passed, Matt was one of the first people Goodman called. From there they began to mend their relationship, and eventually, once she started working on her new album, S.G. asked Rowan to be her co-producer. The album would not exist in its current form without their reconciliation. With over 150 performances on the books in ‘23, including headlining sold out tours and opening for the likes of Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell from Red Rocks to the Grand Ole’ Opry, there was also little time for songwriting, much less recording. Website | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
WXYC Presents: The All-Denim Disco
UNC Students $5 with One Card$10 for non students
School of Rock Chapel Hill’s End of Season Showcase
FREE and Open to the Public, but $10 donations at the door are kindly requested and gratefully received to help cover fees for students with financial need. Thank you for your generosity. 11:00am – Super Bowl Halftime Heroes!12:00pm – The Best of Beck!1:00 pm – Arena Rock!2:00 pm – Epic Album – Led Zeppelin’s “In Through The Out Door”!3:00 pm – A very special Senior Send-off Ceremony for our graduating high school seniors in the Performance Program!3:30 pm – Janis Joplin vs. Grace Slick!4:30 pm – Little Richard vs. Chuck Berry!5:30 pm – Best of Rage Against The Machine! Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Event
The Soul Rebels
Brass sensation The Soul Rebels started with an idea – to expand upon the pop music they loved on the radio and the New Orleans brass tradition they grew up on. They took that tradition and blended funk and soul with elements of hip hop, jazz and rock all within the style of a modernized and contemporary brass band. The Soul Rebels built a career around an eclectic live show that harnesses the power of horns and drums in a party-like atmosphere. The eight-member collective frequently appear on major record label releases with star artists including Sony Music artist GEazy’s single ‘When You’re Gone” featuring Lil Wayne, Def Jam artist Dave East and Nas’ “Godfather 4”, Big Freedia and Icona Pop’s “Pipe That” and Warner Music Group artist Phony Ppl’s new album. The Soul Rebels have scored original music for Walt Disney’s 2023 movie Haunted Mansion and appeared on the official soundtrack for Universal Pictures’ hit comedy Girls Trip. The Soul Rebels have impressed viewers with two appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series with Wu Tang Clan front man GZA, and headlined the global TED Conference. The Soul Rebels are riding high in 2024 after receiving national attention following the release of their new album, Poetry In Motion. The Soul Rebels continue to expand their international reach touring four continents including Europe, Australia, China, South Korea and Japan. Their explosive stage presence has led to live collaborations with the likes of Katy Perry, Nas, G-Eazy, DMX, Robin Thicke, Macy Gray, Portugal. The Man, Robert Glasper, Pretty Lights, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Matisyahu and most notably their new supergroup with the legendary Wu Tang Clan. The Soul Rebels continue to chart new territory and are respected for their ability to combine topnotch musicianship with songs that celebrate peace, love and soul. Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud
Post Animal
When Post Animal stepped into the studio for their new album, it was the first time all six original members were in the studio together for nearly a decade. Three band members had recently relocated away from Chicago, not to mention Joe Keery having left the band in 2017 to focus on acting. In the end they started right back up at the beginning, rediscovering that uncompromising closeness of connection they all shared from those endless hours spent in practice spaces and the late-night diner runs that follow. Prolonged stretches of time together not only reinforced the strength of their friendship—it reinvigorated their music. “If you want to get one hour of good painting in, you have to have four hours of uninterrupted time,” David Lynch once said. The product of a few straight weeks together, IRON (due July 25th) not only finds them reunited with Keery but is the embodiment of 30 days of camaraderie and unbound musical exploration, their renewed connection ironclad.After 2022’s sublime Love Gibberish, their first independent record, Post Animal found themselves sunk deeper into their work than ever before. They toured extensively, both on their own and with UK psych band Temples. By the time things settled down, guitarist Javi Reyes and drummer Wesley Toledo were back home in Chicago, while guitarist Matt Williams moved to Los Angeles, bassist Dalton Allison decamped for Ithaca, and multi-instrumentalist Jake Hirshland relocated to Brooklyn. “There was some burnout happening,” Allison says. But then Keery showed up at a New York tour stop, and the idea was hatched that they cut another record—all six band members together again, for the first time since 2017’s When I Think of You in a Castle. “That was near the start of Stranger Things, and now with it kind of coming to an end in my own life, we all felt it’d be great to do something like that again,” Keery says. “It was a labor of love.” The group focused on the experience and ignored any pressure. “We all agreed that even if we went and just hung out, we’d be happy with it,” Toledo says. “There was a real positivity and optimism among us.” They would set up camp at the Indiana home of their friends, tucked into some woodlands.The creativity driven by comfort is apparent from the opening instrumental track; “Malcolm’s Cooking” was recorded in part on a balcony overlooking the foliage, complete with the humid wind, insect whirring, and euphorically clinking bottles. Lead single “Last Goodbye” follows, a slow-loping look at the end of a relationship, a point in time somehow both uneasy and familiar. There’s a vintage AM radio glow to follow-up “Pie in the Sky”, a giddy-up bass and thumping percussion giving way to layered harmony. “Make me wanna sell my soul for just a bit of your shine/ How am I gonna fill this hole, if your heart ain’t mine?” they sigh in a fit of honest, unadorned adoration.“This record felt like a revitalization of our friendships and our band,” Hirshland says. “We always work collaboratively, but it’s amazing how reintroducing Joe into the mix brought back that dynamic from 2017.” Keery agrees, noting both how close they’ve remained despite so much change. “I was just appreciative to be spending this time, knowing we might not get another chance,” he says. “The record reflects that enjoyment, and you can feel the fun.” Website | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Six Foot Blonde
Six Foot Blonde is the rare combination of earnest and exciting, the synthesis of front-woman Julia Rusyniak’s tremendous vocal talent and heartfelt lyrics with a 90’s-alt-washed take on soul pop that is lush, tight-knit, and brimming with energy. The kind of band that means what they say in every song and dances with you to every word, Six Foot Blonde burst out of their local midwestern scene with enough excitement to draw crowds across the country in under three years. In 2024, the band finished their first national headlining tour, followed by the release of their debut album, “Ask Me How I Am.” Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | TikTok
Billy Raffoul
Telling universal stories soundtracked by unshakable melodies, Billy Raffoul strikes an intimate chord, tapping into the feelings and experiences we all share no matter where we call home. This relatability has consistently engaged listeners, yielding hundreds of millions of streams and sold-out shows around the globe for the award-winning Ontario singer, songwriter, and producer. Billy naturally absorbed a lifelong passion for music from his old man, Jody Raffoul, who shined as a singer-songwriter himself. Perfecting his songcraft and voice, he dropped music at a prolific pace, including the 1975 EP, The Running Wild EP, Live in June, and the full-length LP, A Few More Hours at YYZ. Among many highlights, “Acoustic” eclipsed 87.3 million-plus Spotify streams, and “Easy Tiger” reeled in 25.7 million Spotify streams. He progressed with For All These Years, featuring “Better,” “I Wish You Were Here,” and “Bliss.” He notably performed alongside Kings of Leon, Phoenix, and American Authors, in addition to collaborating with Amistat, Katelyn Tarver, and JJ Wilde. Plus, he garnered the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize for “Western Skies” and the 2023 INDIES “Song of the Year” for “We Could Get High.” Concluding 2023, Billy canvased South Africa on tour. The experience affirmed the boundary-breaking power of music. Upon his return, he initially penned ideas at home before decamping to Los Angeles, where he worked with producer Davis Naish. Now, he makes his closest connection yet on his forthcoming self-titled album, Billy Raffoul. Website | Instagram | YouTube
almost monday
Emerging from garage jams and D.I.Y. gigs, almost monday —Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar) and Luke Fabry (bass)—burst onto the scene in 2020 with a sound that embodies the sun-soaked essence of California. Their debut EP, don’t say you’re ordinary, produced with Mark Needham (The Killers, Fleetwood Mac) and Simon Oscroft (The Naked and Famous, DREAMERS), quickly gained traction with hits like “parking lot view” and “come on come on.” Their infectious energy and empowering anthems, notably “broken people,” along with the Sofi Tukker remix, garnered attention, propelling them into the Top 20 at Alternative Radio. In 2021, almost monday continued to shine with their second EP, til the end of time, and singles like “live forever” and “cool enough,” earning acclaim from Alternative Press, Forbes, People, GQ Australia, Earmilk, Flaunt, Ones To Watch and more. Festival debuts at Lollapalooza, BottleRock and Firefly and sharing stages with Kings of Leon, Dayglow, Walk The Moon and Joywave further solidified their rising status. The momentum surged into 2022 with coastal-inspired singles like “sunburn” and “sun keeps on shining,” earning radio success with the latter a top 10 hit on Sirius XM Alt Nation, a top 20 hit on Alternative Radio, and the official song of the 2022 Vans US Open of Surfing. Festival slots, Governor’s Ball, WonderBus and Innings Festival, alongside touring North and South America with The Driver Era, and headline shows in Japan and South Korea wrapped up the year. In 2023, almost monday maintained their indie-pop prowess with festival appearances including WonderRoad, Wonderstruck, Have A Nice Trip (Korea), and Life is Beautiful and tours with AJR, Weathers, and The Driver Era. 2022 hosted a string of singles led by the infectious “only wanna dance,” which premiered with V Magazine, “coast to coast,” the reflective “life goes by,” and “sweet feelings.” With over 400 million streams under their belt, almost monday’s feel-good vibes continue to resonate globally as they dive into 2024 with new releases like “is it too late?” (world premiered with Australia’s Triple J) and “can’t slow down,” a U.S. tour with Beach Weather, a summer arena tour alongside AJR and MXMTOON, dates in Mexico plus a six-week European tour with The Driver Era, and, on the horizon, a debut album coming later this year. The San Diego band’s music has been featured across various media platforms from ESPN, CBS, Bravo, HBO Max and Netflix, to FOX, TNT and beyond. Website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify
Brooks Nielsen (of The Growlers)
Brooks Nielsen, celebrated frontman of The Growlers and now a critically acclaimed solo artist, has firmly established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in independent music. As the frontman and creative force behind The Growlers, Nielsen helped define and popularize the Beach Goth movement—a genre-blurring, countercultural wave that left an indelible mark on modern rock. Over more than a decade, The Growlers built a fiercely dedicated international following, performed at major festivals, and sold out venues around the world. Their celebrated discography and electrifying live shows cemented them as one of the most influential underground bands of the 21st century. In addition to their music, The Growlers also founded and curated the Beach GothFestival, a groundbreaking event that brought together a wildly eclectic mix of artists—from Patti Smith and Bon Iver to Doja Cat and Mac DeMarco—making it a defining moment in the cultural landscape of the 2010s. Now, as a solo artist, Nielsen continues to push boundaries with the same fearless spirit. Since launching his solo career in 2022, he’s released four records—three of them in 2024 alone. His latest, A Ride I’m Waiting For, features the haunting duet “Without Eyes” with Sierra Ferrell and has been praised for its cinematic scope and emotional depth. On stage, Nielsen delivers an experience unlike anything else. Backed by a powerhouse band—Growlers drummer Richard Gowen, keyboardist Cole Riddle, and guitarists J.D. Carrera and Elyadeen Anbar—Brooks crafts a set each night that’s entirely its own. Drawing from his extensive solo catalog, deep cuts, Growlers classics, and unreleased material, his shows are long, loose, and alive. With no opening acts and performances stretching two and sometimes three hours, fans are invited into a world that feels as spontaneous as it does deeply curated. This Fall 2025 run is Brooks’s most ambitious solo tour to date, featuring first-ever solo plays in small towns, Aspen and Fort Collins, CO; Carrboro and Asheville, NC; Madison, WI; Ferndale, MI; New Haven, CT; St. Louis, MO; Boise, ID; Tulsa, OK; and Nashville, TN. There’s also a rare and intimate upstate New York show at the newly revived Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock—a venue rich with music history. In New York City, Nielsen will headline the legendary Webster Hall for the first time, marking his biggest solo show in the city yet—and in Chicago, he’ll play the iconic Metro, a rite of passage for generations of boundary-pushing artists. The 28-date tour wraps with the now-iconic Helloween shows at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on October 30 and 31—two surreal, sweat-soaked nights that have instantly become a rite of passage for Nielsen’s most devoted fans. Every year, Beach Rats from across the country—and around the world—make the journey for this once-a-year celebration of the strange and the sacred. It’s more than just a show: it’s a Mecca for the hardcore fanbase, a chance to mix with fellow travelers, share stories from the past, and revel in a night of music, mystery, and magic. If you know, you go. Website | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Growlers Spotify
