Knock on Wood – A Stax Records Tribute
Proceeds will go to help benefit the victims of Hurricane Helene With Special Guests John Howie Jr., Armand Lenchek, Thee Tim Smith, Lance White, Joe Bell, Willie Painter, Whiskey Honeys, Rob Sharer, Kimmie Wilson, Glenn Jones, Emma Davis, David Burney, Rebecca Newton, Nancy Middleton, Carter Minor, Michelle Belanger, Todd Jones, Alison Jones, Becky Lenchek, Julia Vo, Doug Guild, Teeyum Smith, David Shore, Mike Rosado, Larry Duckworth, Rob Mcintire, Kris Whitenack, Greg Bell, Tim Shearer, Alan Wilson, Luis Rodriguez, Jeremy Boomhower, Arch Altman, Tom Anderson, Danny Gotham, Crystal Bright
The dB’s
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Blind Pilot
The first Blind Pilot album in eight years, In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain emerged from a period of artistic crisis and the radical transformation of their creative ecosystem. “I went through a few years where I wasn’t able to write—I tried therapy, I read books on writer’s block, I went on writing trips, but nothing was helping,” says Israel Nebeker, frontman for the Oregon-bred band. After stepping back and reimagining his songwriting approach, Nebeker challenged himself to write an entire album in a month, then brought those songs to his bandmates with a newfound sense of receptivity. “I told myself that whatever songs came through in that month would be for the love of the band and music we make together,” says Nebeker. “Instead of being controlling in the studio, I wanted to let the songs live and breathe with the band as an entity. By the time we finished, it was the most joy we’d ever had in making an album together.” Produced by Josh Kaufman (The Hold Steady, David Wax Museum), In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain brings a potent new energy to the elegantly composed folk/indie-rock of past LPs like 2016’s And Then Like Lions. In a profound step forward for the band—whose lineup also includes drummer/co-founder Ryan Dobrowski, bassist Luke Ydstie, and multi-instrumentalist Kati Claborn—Blind Pilot’s fourth full-length unfolds with an exquisite fluidity, fully harnessing the undeniable chemistry. “In the past we’ve always been very serious and intentional about the process, but Josh often encouraged us to throw away our preconceived notions of what the songs were supposed to be,” says Nebeker. “So much of the album came from all of us playing live together, listening to each other and trusting our instincts, and really getting to the core of the song,” Dobrowski adds. The result: the most revelatory expression yet of Blind Pilot’s palpable reverence for music as a connective force. While Blind Pilot intends to tour principally as a quartet in support of the record, the album includes contributions from longtime trumpeter/keyboardist Dave Jorgensen and vibraphonist Ian Krist. In bringing the album to life, the band worked with a rich palette of instrumentation, handling each track with equal parts extraordinary care and unbridled spontaneity. For both Dobrowski and Nebeker—who formed an early iteration of the band as college students in the mid-aughts—those moments of ineffably closeness serve as the lifeblood of Blind Pilot. “For me making this album felt like celebrating being together and still feeling that deep connection that’s been a throughline for our entire adult lives,” Dobrowski says. “One of my very favorite things about music is the way it not only connects us as bandmates, but allows us to connect to an audience—and then within that audience, people end up connecting with each other. It’s this powerful thing that’s unlike anything else, and in a way it’s kind of like magic.” Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends Play R.E.M.’s ‘Fables of the Reconstruction’ and more
Today, Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy And Friends announce a 2025 U.S. tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s iconic 1985 album, Fables of the Reconstruction. After the pair’s acclaimed, sold out run honoring R.E.M.’s famed debut album Murmur, which saw the four original members of R.E.M. come together for the first time in 17 years at the tour’s Athens stop, the Fables tour will take Shannon & Narducy to nearly three times as many cities across the country, including shows in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and more, along with two nights in R.E.M.’s hometown of Athens, GA. Kicking off Friday, Feb. 14th at Pappy & Harriets in Pioneertown, CA, the tour will see Shannon & Narducy—alongside Jon Wurster (drums), John Stirratt (bass), Dag Juhlin (guitar), and Vijay Tellis-Nayak (piano)—playing Fables of the Reconstruction in full each night in addition to many other R.E.M. songs. Shannon, an actor/musician known best for his film/series/stage work, and Narducy (Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Sunny Day Real Estate, Verböten, Split Single) have been collaborating for the last eleven years, playing entire albums by some of their favorite artists such as Neil Young, The Modern Lovers, Bob Dylan, The Smiths, and T. Rex at various Chicago clubs. In July 2023, they performed Murmur at Chicago’s Metro to a full house, with a guest appearance from R.E.M.’s own Mike Mills. Initially planned as a one-off performance to honor both the album and venue’s 40th anniversary, the show’s success inspired Shannon and Narducy to take the project on the road. “I had never done a tour before. Jason nudged me after the Murmur set in Chicago at Metro. Now it’s all I want to do,” Shannon says. “I’m happy this one is twice as long. The last one was too short. This music is beyond comprehension and I cherish every chance I get to deliver it, even second generation. R.E.M. means the world to me. And this band led by Jason is stone cold ridiculous. Even if I never walked onstage, you would get a hell of a show.” Narducy adds: “After Michael and I took the band on the road playing Murmur, we discussed possibly trying something again in 2025. It will be the 40th anniversary of Fables Of The Reconstruction so we will open with that album, in sequence. Then we will dig deep into the R.E.M. catalog to round out the performance. Each show will have unique setlists. We love celebrating the music of this great band.” Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
Rubblebucket
Rubblebucket’s seeds were sown when Kalmia Traver and Alex Toth, the group’s front persons, co-writers and co-producers, first began a friendship as jazz students at the University of Vermont. Soon after, they formed Rubblebucket, using the project to delve into pop, funk, dance and psychedelia; performances have spanned Bonnaroo to Glastonbury to their self-curated Dream Picnic Festival, and they’ve collaborated with kindred genre-blenders including Arcade Fire and Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears. Their latest full-length LP ‘Year of the Banana’ is perhaps their deepest and grooviest work yet. It speaks to the power of transforming and adapting relationships in a time when the world needs it most. Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Dante High
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Umphrey’s McGee – Cruising Altitude 2025 Tour
Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee has been keeping fans on their toes for nearly 27 years now. Though often pigeonholed into “jam band” circles, Umphrey’s doesn’t fit that traditional mold; and their fans don’t either. Is it prog rock? Song-forward, Beatles-esque arrangements? Be careful, they might hit you with some metal riffs mid-set, too. Amongst 2,500+ gigs and 300 million+ tracks streamed, you-had-to-be-there moments include the band’s performance at the first-ever Bonnaroo and selling more CDs (remember those?) than any other act on the bill. A leader in the live music world, Umphrey’s McGee became the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service with UMLive.net, which houses recordings of every gig since 2005. The service has since grown and now lives on through Nugs.net, which is used by the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and more. Beyond intimate backstage encounters and ski trips with their most diehard fans, Umphrey’s McGee instituted the groundbreaking “Headphones & Snowcones” program, granting fans access to professional headphones and a soundboard-quality mix to listen wirelessly at shows. At their UMBowl, they empowered the audience to vote on the setlist in real-time and choose favorite improv themes via text message. In 2017, they stepped into another realm altogether by integrating themselves into the VR Platform Endless Riff. All of the above has earned the band status as kings of the live music scene with standing yearly engagements at iconic venues, their own events in Iceland (Rockjavick) and Mexico (Holidaze), and co-hosting Chillicothe, IL’s long-running Summer Camp festival. In April 2025, Umphrey’s McGee will lead their faithful fans on another bucket list musical adventure: Morockshow will feature three nights in Marrakech, Morocco, marking another signature event in an exotic location. Umphrey’s McGee’s latest release Asking For A Friend showcases more evolved songwriting and thoughtful arranging from a band continuing to grow and mature with their droves of die-hard, longtime fans. Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
Donny Benét
“Jeffrey Lebowski, is “The Dude,” Donny Benét, is “The Don.” Quite simply.” Praised and panned by critics as “Prince on a serious budget cut,” Donny Benét is best described as the favourite nephew to Uncles Giorgio Moroder, Alan Vega and Michael McDonald. Hailing from Australia, Benét’s debut album Don’t Hold Back confused and intrigued many whilst quickly establishing him as a cult figure in the Australian music scene. Donny’s piece de resistance The Don, which featured the breakthrough single Konichiwa facilitated his first invitation to tour Europe in 2018. In no time at all Europe had caught a fever that only Donny could quell each time he returned to perform. Several sold out European tours later, alongside regular US touring led Donny to follow up with his 2020 album Mr Experience and instrumental EP Le Piano. 2023 saw Donny creating his own label Donnyland Records, which led to the announcement and release of his 6th album Infinite Desires. Touring Europe and the US since 2018, Donny regularly sells out headline shows and has performed at festivals such as Outsidelands, Pukkelpop, Green Man Festival, Rock Werchter, Dour Festical, Down the Rabbit Hole, Pohoda Festival, Zomerparkfeest and Rock For Churchill, to name a few. A perfectionist, Benét writes, performs and records entirely by himself at the renowned Donnyland Studios. Vintage synthesisers and drum machines are used exclusively by Donny when presenting his hot takes on life, love and relationships. A masterful bassist, his songs are instantly recognised by their signature basslines, timeless production and tongue in cheek lyrics. Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
Chris Chism, Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam
Chris Chism Chris Chism was born and raised in Indiana but now operates out of North Carolina. Raised with bluegrass and classic country he always returns to it in his songwriting. He plays banjo and sings a unique blend of folk, and alternative music. Chris is celebrating the release of a new single “Drive My Car” this December. Website | Instagram Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam’s music stretches across the American roots music world, from acoustic old-time and alt country to electric blues and rock’n’roll, with touches of bluegrass and jam band energy. Website | Instagram Eric Lee Hardt A captivating songwriter and expressive performer. Eric Lee Hardt is a recent transplant to the Carrboro music scene you won’t want to miss. With a broad span of influence and experience, his music radiates the countless hours and miles that have crafted his unique sound. With lyric forward songs and guitar technique shaped by years of composition and real world experience gained through performance on the road. He delivers a musical experience you won’t soon forget. Instagram Roxanne Fortney (Formerly known as Breezy) Singer-songwriter from Chapel Hill, NC, using music to relate to people in the difficulties and beauties of love, life, and everything in between. Soft melodies that will make you feel something. Instagram
Shakey Graves
Across his career, Shakey Graves — a.k.a. the performance moniker of Austin, Texas-born Alejandro Rose-Garcia — has intentionally created thrilling musical adventures tailored to each fan: burning CDs and putting them in personalized decorated bags; building intricate scavenger hunts that send fans in search of unique tapes; and Bandcamp-exclusive releases. “The fans and musicians that really resonate with me — and the inexplicable ways that I find things that I like — are usually entirely through randomness and chaos and accident,” Rose-Garcia says. “I’ve always been on this quest to make people feel like my own music is a choose your own adventure.” As Rose-Garcia releases his new Shakey Graves album Movie of the Week — a collection of songs whittled down from epic-length recording sessions — he has devised one of his most innovative musical adventures yet. “For the album release, I’m setting up a website,” he says. “On this website, there will be a way to shuffle a collection of alternate tracks and unique songs from the sessions in seemingly infinite combinations to create new albums.” Thanks to this cutting-edge technology, fans will be able to own this alternate version and do whatever they want with it — giving them control over the destiny of the music. “Imagination really is the tool,” Rose-Garcia says. “The point is to make and create something yourself. Any way that I can allow people to apply their imagination over my music — and allow them to sculpt it using their own prompts — will let them create something new.” Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
