This year has seen a ton of fantastic local records perfect for gift-giving -- just check the tags on this post for a few suggestions on acts to look for. And for further specifics, click here.
Meanwhile, the annual "alternative" musical gift guide is coming on Dec. 14. Check previous years' installments here.
It's hard not to feel like we're on borrowed time with the Rosebuds, as far as keeping them our little secret here in the Triangle. They're picking up acclaim from all over, more with each new album; and Kelly Crisp, who does standup comedy as well as music, also has designs on a career path that would take her a long way from Raleigh.
"My ultimate goal is to be on 'Saturday Night Live,' but I can't make them understand that they need me today," Crisp says with a laugh. "My standup act is observational, more stories about things I see. At this point, I'd say it's more entertaining than funny. I'm still working at it, figuring out who I am as a comic. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's terrible. So I'm just trying to string together enough shows up there to where friends can bring the people who need to see me. It's a vetting process that can take a while. I'm giving it three years because I know it won't be this year. But Seth Myers is a Rosebuds fan."
Rosebuds play tonight in Durham as part of the Troika Music Festival. For more, see the interview in Friday's paper.
ADDENDUM (2/24/09): "Life Like" video.
So this week's James Taylor tour won't be the only get-out-the-vote shows happening here this election season. Coming to UNC-Chapel Hill's Graham Terrace (adjacent to Morehead Planetarium on campus) is a Nov. 1 lineup that offers up a superb slice of local music:
The dB's
Superchunk acoustic (which might be a first)
Ivan Rosebud
Megafaun
I Was Totally Destroying It
Bowerbirds
Greg Humphreys
Regina Hexaphone
Portastatic
It gets going at the rather non-rock-'n'-roll time of 9 a.m., and it's free -- they're even throwing in coffee and doughnuts.
UPDATE: Billy Bragg, who is playing in Durham that night, has been added to the lineup.
Friday's paper had an introduction to the local music scene, spotlighting seven shows that will give newcomers a feel for the breadth and depth of local music. And we have a change in the location of one of those shows, Inflowential's performance at Saturday's Obama-for-President rally. That event is now happening in Cary as part of Saturday's Lazy Daze Festival, 1-3 p.m. in the parking lot of Cary Obama headquarters.
Another act mentioned in the story is Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, playing Saturday night at Slim's in downtown Raleigh. VVATLL also play Thursday evening at Art on the Edge, a festival in downtown Raleigh. It's a free show also featuring Birds of Avalon, Cartridge Family and Huguenots.
For more verbiage about other acts spotlighted in that story, here are some links for Rosebuds, Megafaun, Red Collar and John Dee Holeman.
ADDENDUM (8/27/08): Stereogum interview with Megafaun.
The pace is picking up on the Cy Rawls benefit-show front. The most tantalizing one happens Aug. 29 at Cat's Cradle -- Superchunk's first local show since the May 2 Obama campaign rally, plus Rosebuds and Birds of Avalon. Cover is $25 (or $100, for which price Superchunk will play any song you request; hmm...).
Also on the books is an Aug. 21 metal bill at Local 506 with Tooth, Grappling Hook and Iron Maiden tribute band Up the Irons. Cover for that is $8. But heck, it's a benefit -- kick in $25 anyway.
UPDATE (7/31/08): This just in, the Cradle has another Cy benefit set for Aug. 17 with Polvo, Double Negative, Fin Fang Foom, Cantwell, Gomez and Jordan, and Magic Babies.
