Toward the end of Superchunk's Saturday evening Hopscotch set, Mac McCaughan stopped singing during "Digging For Something" and started talking. He said that Superchunk had never played Raleigh much over the years, but he'd come to a lot of shows here -- mostly at clubs that no longer exist, including the Brewery and Fallout Shelter. And as he looked out over the throngs in front of the City Plaza stage, McCaughan opined that it was mighty cool to have some punk rock happening outdoors in downtown Raleigh.

I'll say. From all appearances, Hopscotch's second edition could not have gone better. The weather was great, the vibes better (everyone seemed to be on their best behavior, on both sides of the stage) and the programming first-rate. South By Southwest is the gold standard for festivals like this, but I would say I saw more bands I really liked at Hopscotch than at South By Southwest this year.

Superchunk was a highlight, opening for Flaming Lips with an hour-long set that seamlessly integrated songs from the current album "Majesty Shredding" with older songs going back two decades. So were the Lips, with a psychedelic spectacle that turned City Plaza into the world's freakiest high-tech rumpus room. And earlier Saturday, I saw fine performances by Hammer No More the Fingers, Shirlette & the Dynamite Brothers and Youth Lagoon at a day party outside the Lincoln Theatre. I would have seen more, but I was beat after the Lips and called it an early night.

So after a highly successful year two, now comes the tricky part for Hopscotch's management: How do they manage growth in a way that makes the festival better, improving on (or at least keeping) the good things about the experience? Word of mouth about this year will be overwhelmingly positive, which means a lot more people descending on Raleigh for next year's event. That certainly has its upside, because growing the festival will allow Hopscotch to get better. But unchecked growth can also render a festival a gridlocked, unmanageable mess, something that South By Southwest seems perilously close to becoming.

We'll see. But for now, all that needs saying is: Well done.

Durham-based Merge Records routinely places albums at the top end of the Billboard 200 nowadays, so it's not exactly big news for the label to have a new release debut at No. 85. But this is special because the album in question is "Majesty Shredding," by the iconic local punk quartet (and founding Merge act) Superchunk. It's the band's first to draw ink on the big chart. Kind of amusing and surreal to see the group on there, sandwiched between platinum-selling acts Nickelback, and Paramore.

Way back in the early 1990s, I remember some talk about an album in the works to drum up awareness and support for Leonard Peltier, the American Indian Movement member imprisoned for the murder of two FBI agents killed during a 1975 shootout. Peltier has been a cause celebre in left-leaning circles for years, with many musicians and artists claiming he did not receive a fair trial.

But time went on and the album never materialized. In fact, I'd forgotten all about it until last week, when a link turned up. "Exiled in the Land of the Free: An Album for Leonard Peltier" is now available for free download, and the contributors' list includes some Triangle content -- two tracks by Corrosion of Conformity (one of them backing up Rage Against the Machine's Zack De La Rocha) and another by Superchunk. Check it out while you can.

(Thanks, Sue.)

As has been noted elsewhere, Carolina Hurricanes hockey games have quirky traditions unique to the Triangle. And yet the team is missing an opportunity to connect with its home town on an even deeper level, with the music played at the games. Most of what you hear during timeouts at the RBC Center is played-out wallpaper -- which is frustrating because there's so much fantastic indigenous music to work with. For example, isn't it a cool piece of local color that the Durham Bulls play Deep Gap native Doc Watson's version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch at their games?

So now that the Hurricanes are on the ropes in their Eastern Conference finals series, down 2-0 with games three and four happening in Raleigh tonight and Tuesday, I think it's time to freshen up and localize the playlist. And you know me, I've got suggestions. Here's a few songs to start with. Feel free to suggest more in the comments.

Flat Duo Jets, "Sing Sing Sing" (1989) -- When the Hurricanes score, the celebratory music is Blur's "Song 2" (plus a video of Ric "Nature Boy" Flair hollering, "It's a Carolina Hurricanes goal! Woo!"). Frankly, after three years, it's kind of stale. One potential replacement might be the 1936 Louis Prima standard, as rendered by Chapel Hill's late great Flat Duo Jets. A killer instrumental version that comes on like a runaway train, it would be just the thing to incite riotous celebrations (and I sure do wish I could find a version of it online; but check out "Pink Gardenia" here to get an idea).

Superchunk, "Hyper Enough" (1995) -- Superchunk songs have occasionally graced the RBC Center's Hurricanes playlist, but it's time the group graduated to regular rotation. And here's something to prime Hurricanes power plays, an anthemic fist-waver that stacks Mac McCaughan's yelp over crushing waves of guitars and a chorus perfect for mobs to yell along with: I think I'm hyper enough as it is!

Megafaun, "Lazy Suicide" (2008) -- You know those interludes between periods, when everyone is staring the Zamboni driving in circles to clean up the ice? This is what I want to hear then.

Petey Pablo, "Raise Up" (2001) -- By now, this one is pretty corny; and you sure couldn't play the whole thing without some serious editing, given the plethora of four-letter words in the lyrics. But looping the chorus over and over to turn it into a chant could be fun: North Carolina/C'mon and raise up/Take your shirt off/Twist it 'round yo' hand/Spin it like a helicopter!

Connells, "Stone Cold Yesterday" (1990) -- For the past 12 years, the Hurricanes have taken the ice to Scorpions' "Rock You Like a Hurricane" (a song with some truly unpleasant lyrics, but that's another story). I'd like to hear them give the anthemic "Stone Cold Yesterday" a try -- a song that should've been a gigantic hit back when it was current.

The Old Ceremony, "Papers in Order" (2007) -- Picture-perfect pop, with a jaunty piano hook that practically dares you to sit still. A delight.

Squirrel Nut Zippers, "Put a Lid On It" (1996) -- Hurricanes netminder Cam Ward is one of the best goalies in the NHL, and what he needs is a signature song that plays after an amazing save. So skip that funereal organ riff they play now and try the sassy hook from this song.

Rosebuds, "Get Up Get Out" (2007) -- A game played on ice calls for chilly music, and it don't get a whole lot chillier (or catchier) than this.

ADDENDUM: Here also is Mac McCaughan's arena playlist; plus a bit more on that. 

It's looking like a particularly awesome year for records by acts and alumni of the Triangle, and a bumper crop is coming out on April 7. Among that day's bounty:

Ben Folds -- The expatriate Chapel Hill pianist has a release titled "Ben Folds Presents: University A Capella!," consisting of college a capella vocal groups covering his songs. Folds plays Wednesday at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Fittingly, UNC-Chapel Hill's Loreleis are among the opening acts.

Superchunk -- Not too long ago, it looked like Superchunk might never be heard from again. But now the group is dropping a mini-album called "Leaves in the Gutter," and Mac MacCaughan is even talking about a Superchunk full-length album. Will wonders never cease?

James Taylor -- Following up last fall's successful "Covers" album, the Chapel Hill graduate will release a mini-album called "Other Covers" on April 7. The seven-track set includes Chuck Berry's "Memphis" and Tom Waits' "Shiver Me Timbers."

Roman Candle -- Skipping ahead five weeks, this Chapel Hill pop band will finally emerge from years of record-label purgatory to release its second full-length album, "Oh Tall Tree in the Ear," May 12 on Carnival Recording Company. Check the first track, "Eden Was a Garden," streaming at the group's MySpace.

Sadly, local super-fan Cy Rawls is no longer with us after passing away from a brain tumor in October. But bands are paying tribute to his memory (and, not coincidentally, raising money to cover medical costs he left behind) with CyTunes, which goes online Friday at midnight. For a quick Cy primer, check this lovely remembrance by his friend Kerry Cantwell (and some national coverage from Pitchfork).

Red Collar, Dirty Little Heaters, Birds of Avalon, Hammer No More the Fingers, Superchunk and I Was Totally Destroying It are among the contributing music to the cause. There's also a free show/launch party tonight at Chapel Hill's Local 506 with Magic Babies, the Rosebuds-Schooner-Sames supergroup Flute Flies and more.

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. 

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. 

A: Superchunk, George Clinton and Annuals.

Q: What acts are cited as North Carolina's "all-time best band," "all-time best solo artist" and "best new band" in the Boston Phoenix's "50 Bands 50 states" feature, released just in time for the fourth of July?

(Thanks, Doug.)