Your New Favorite Band: The Moondoggies

Seattle's own, hipster approved Sub-Pop have recently expanded their empire to the smaller, even MORE independent label "Hardly Art". With only six releases under their belt, Hardly Art is already gaining attention in the indie music industry for debut's from artists such as The Pica Beats and Pretty & Nice. But this music reviewers pick for best Hardly Art debut LP is a group that hails from dreary old Seattle who go by the Moondoggies - and you guessed it, they're your new favorite band.
The hippie and classic country rock album art above may be enough to keep the average hipster from cracking open the spine of the Moondoggies debut LP, "Don't Be A Stranger" - but things aren't always as they appear to be. Yes, from opening track "Ain't No Lord" you feel sucked into a ancient folk country sound, feeling as though you're rocking back and forth on Pa's rickety old porch in killyourselfmiddleofnowhere, Kentucky. But delving deeper into the album, your rock n' roll heart will warm to the mix of folk, country, and psychadelic rock that the Moondoggies so perfectly harness. From the most traditional listener to the most contemporary, the boogie blues and harmonies of this four-piece collective will be sure to impress.
Unfortunately, the newness of this band means no national tours will be dropping the tunes to your doorstep anytime soon, so surfing over to their myspace will have to suffice - for now (http://www.myspace.com/themoondoggies). As always, stay tuned to WSOE to hear the Moondoggies on the airwaves, and sample our pick for the album's standout track below.

Alternative Read: Love Is A Mix Tape

Rob Sheffield used to write an article for Rolling Stone called "Pop Life". Tales from a middle aged music uber-appreciator who liked to tie his musical tastes in with all that is pop culture. Sound familiar? Rob Sheffield is so much like Chuck Klosterman (see: sex drugs and cocoa puffs, killing yourself to live, etc) that it's hard to believe they've been getting away with being clones of each other for this long without causing an uproar. However, after reading Rob's first memoir "Love is a Mix Tape", you might find that the two are not as similar as they seem. (Although they DO seem to be aware of one another's existence, as Klostermans raving review is printed on the front of the book). Like Klosterman, Sheffiled compiles his memoir into chapters that surround their stories around one major theme: music, or more specifically, how being a music-centered human being makes you deep, different, and awesome. Unlike Klosterman, Sheffield doesn't seem to have a cynical, darker view on his life. Rob's handicap instead is that he once was in a quirky and perfect relationship with a woman which turned into a quirky and perfect marriage. Then one day, in the middle of sewing a second hand mod dress, said wife died instantly from a brain aneurysm, leaving Rob in a permanent fetal position for two years. Chuck Klosterman may have had enough dysfunctional break-ups to last a lifetime (or so he boasts), but this is the kind of real, important emotion we don't find in Chuck's more humorous, lighthearted books.
Aside from the emotion factor, this memoir is just plain good. Each chapter is organized into mix tapes that Rob personally owns, collected over the years. Up here in Gen-X, we understand the concept of a mix "tape", as we've tried to recreate them with our digital CD's and playlists on our mp3 players. But the act of creating and playing a literal mix TAPE, is something we can only vaguely recall from our early years. Rob explains the late 80's through the 90's with a kind of romantic, rose colored haze, that even Hanson's Mmmbop seems like a lovely addition to the music world. Anyone will enjoy this memoir, for its humor, its human-ness, and its honesty. But anyone who genuinely enjoys music will relate on a level only we music craved individuals can process.

Alternative Find: Bull City Headquarters

I tend to group venues into three categories. First there's the headache venue. These tend to be stadiums, arena's, pavilions - something with a cell phone provider's name in the title that seats more people than you will ever know in your lifetime. I tend to attend shows at these venues one, maybe twice a year. If you want to see Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Coldplay, or (insert top 40 megastar here), you're going to have to pay to park, go through security checks, spend 10 dollars on a Busch Light, and rub elbows with the weirdo's of the universe. Ergo the title "headache". Second there's the go-to venue. "OMG! (insert your favorite alternative band here) is going on tour!" if they come to North Carolina, they're probably playing at your go-to venue. Around here that's usually Cats Cradle or Local 506. On the large to medium capacity size, tickets range from 10 to 30 dollars depending on the groups mainstream status. These first two categories of venues are fairly easy to locate and visit. Their existence is common knowledge, and your local record store probably sells tickets to the show (see: School Kids, CD Alley). But what about those underground, lurking in the shadows kinds of DIY venues? The places where door is cheap, sound equipment is cheaper, but bands are more heartfelt, more in your face, and more approachable? This is the venue that I refer to as the space, and Bull City Headquarters in Durham is the ultimate when it comes to local spaces.
It's essentially just one medium sized room. The back is loaded with a bunch of bicycles, because during the day BCHQ doubles as a bike co-op (see links list to the right). There are a few random pieces of furniture, a desk area where it seems someone does "work" - but mostly it's just a big empty room. A room that is perfect for setting up a few monitors and plugging in your favorite local band. This mission statement comes from the BCHQ website:
- create an opportunity to bring together neighborhoods through events such as public lectures, lending libraries and workshops.
- foster creative expression including but not limited to performing and visual arts, music events, and gallery exhibitions.
- offer public service through an organized meeting space, a bike co-op, and a resource center.
Those of you not from the Durham area don't need to worry - the space is open to anyone who wants to participate. You can go to the website to see a list of upcoming shows. Donation runs around $5, and remember to forget the substances at home - it's a drug and booze free space.
Can't wait to see the BCHQ? The Cause A Scene! Concert Caravan is driving together to an upcoming show:
- Tuesday October 7. The Midtown Dickens (Durham female fronted folk trio), A Collective of Dirt (folk from Washington), The Hail Seizures (another Washington folk group), and you guessed it...two more folk groups from Washington!
Caravan meets at Boney Fountain at 7 pm. Sign up a) by e-mailing wsoefm@gmail.com b) putting your name on the caravan list in the wsoe lounge. We provide the cars and the fun, you bring your friends! Save money! Save gas! Save your Tuesday night!

Your New Favorite Band: Death Vessel

Full, long brown hair. A high, steady soprano voice. Soft, gentle folk music that can only be described as "lovely". From the description, you'd think the mastermind behind Death Vessel would be a beautiful, sensitive woman. But regardless of his feminine voice and appearance, Joel Thibodeau is definitely a man. And due to the hype surrounding his recent release via Seattle's own Sub-Pop, he's a very happy one at that.
"Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us" is the soundtrack for the perfect sunny afternoon. The acoustic guitar is lightly finger picked and floats around banjos, an upright bass, bells, toy pianos, flukuleles, tambourines, and even a wine glass. Immediately, you feel transported to a grassy field, where you run barefoot through tall grass and wear nothing but worn overalls. Perfect for driving with the windows down during the last days of summer, laying in bed snuggled next to the significant other of your choice, or drifting off to sleep to - Death Vessel seems to have something for everyone.
Standout tracks are "Block My Eye" and "Bruno's Torso", though every song has plenty of listenability. And that's why Death Vessel is your new favorite band.
Listen below. You can hear Death Vessel at WSOE 89.3 FM (wsoe893.com)

Alternative Find: Skylight Exchange / Nightlight

Making your way to the Skylight Exchange, you start to feel like the things you've come to exchange are drugs. The entrace is located in a dingy alley next to the restaraunt Fuse on Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill. The alley is dirty and the exposed brick walls are covered with grafiti and a colorful array of old posters. But open the loosely hinged screen door and inside you'll find one of the most unique spots in all of North Carolina.

The Skylight Exchange (the venue's name during the daylight hours) is one, medium sized room - but it packs in a lot. Stuffed along the walls are used books ready for your purchase, and stacked in shelves not too far off are modestly priced used vinyls. You can also browse through their selection of gently used DVD's and our old favorite, the VHS tape. The center of the room is crammed with mismatching tables, chairs, and booths where you can read, write, work, or eat a sandwich. Yes, the Skylight is also a diner, stocked with an amazing selection of deli sandwiches, cakes, and beverages both hot and cold. In fact, books are half off with the purchase of a sandwich - and when you factor in that your book was only a few dollars to begin with, that's a deal by anyone's standards.

You never know what or who you'll run into during the daylight hours at the Skylight. One afternoon I came by and found a circle of a dozen fiddle players having a jam session. But if it's unique events you're looking for, then be sure to stop by the Exchange after hours, when it transforms into the NIghtlight.

Tables are scattered to the back of the store, the diner becomes a bar, and the platform near the back of the store is now a fully operational stage for both local and touring bands to cover. Every Tuesday- Friday are nights open for bands and other kinds of experimental noise making and the cover is always cheap. For other alternative kinds of nightly entertainment, Sunday nights are open mic and Monday nights are trivia.

But the nightlight can be used as a creative venue that works outside these perameters. By contacting the management you can finagle any kind of event you'd like. One night I was eating dinner, and suddenly a hoard of scenester Indie Rockers appeared, toting an old school projector. I thought we'd be in for a mega art house flick that I would never be able to wrap my head around. But when the projector started to whirl, I was surprised to find this group of Chapel Hill's finest were in to watch episodes of rainbow bright!

Needless to say, the Skylight Exchange / Nightlight is not your average venue, and due to it's alleyway entrace, a pretty hidden alternative gem in the triad.

The basic info on the Skylight follow.
Address: 405 1/2 W Rosemary St.
Number: 919 933 5550
Website: www.nightlightclub.com

Your New Favorite Band: Natalie Portman's Shaved Head

It's safe to assume that any collective group of people who dedicate their name to an actress is probably some kind of adoring fan club. But a group who name themselves after said actresses head? Definitely an indie rock band. And that's why Natalie Portman's Shaved Head is your new favorite band.

This very young and very eclectic foursome hail from Seattle, Washington and are currently causing quite a bit of buzz in the indie rock world - and not only for their odd name. One listen to their recently released debut LP, Glistening Pleasure, and you'll be dancing along shamelessly. Thanks to a dazzling array of synths, NPSH's retro-electro will rocket you back into the 80's (or what we 80's babies romantically imagine our birth era to have been like). But don't expect to find the lyrical depth and maturity of Conor Oberst here. With songs about beard maintenance and side-ways ponytails, you're likely hear about shamu and the tilt a whirl. But the in-your-face-tackiness of NPSH's music and appearance is so absurd that you can't help but laugh along with the recent high school graduates. And thanks to the extreme catchiness of their sound, you can't help but sing and dance along either.

Natalie Portman's Shaved Head is currently in rotation at WSOE. Check our their myspace at myspace.com/natalieportmansshavedhead . Or, sample below.

Elon sucks? Because YOU suck.

A close friend who graduated this past Spring had an interesting theory about Elon students: all the best and most interesting among us have seriously considered transferring.

Being a sociology student, his theory did not go untested. He polled his closest friends and sure enough, almost all had considered transferring at one point or another, most commonly their freshman year.

Naturally his theory was bogus, some of the most interesting students I know have never dreamt of leaving Elon. But he did have a point. Most of the people we hung around with came dangerously close to turning in our acorn - including me. The answer?

It's simple, really. My friend and I consider ourselves to be slight deviations from the Elon norm, something I like to refer as being "alternative minded". The kind of people who tend to listen to alternative genres of music (indie, electronica, folk, etc.), shop at alternative stores (record stores over best buy, thrift stores over the mall), watch alternative movies (art house flicks and independent movies over blockbusters) and in turn - lead alternative lifestyles.

Being an alternative minded person on Elon's campus proves to be challenging - no, make that overwhelming - to the doe eyed freshman because of one fact: there doesn't seem to be a collective community of alternative minded people on this campus.

Sure, there are plenty of them around. In fact, by your Sophomore year you've begun to realize they're everywhere, and you tuck the UNC application in the bottom of your drawer.

But why don't the scattered group of students at Elon who enjoy the same alternative lifestyles get together as a community? It's my belief that there isn't an umbrella organization or group to bring us all together. Until now.

Being "the only alternative", I feel that it's WSOE's responsibility to deliver everything alternative to Elon, not just music. That's why we've started Cause A Scene!. As the social chair of WSOE, Cause A Scene! is dedicated to offering events for the alternative minded students of Elon. We'll bring the scene, you bring the scenesters. After all, why D.I.Y when we can D.I.Together?

So. You're thinking of transferring, and you're thinking that Elon sucks? I've got news for you. Elon doesn't suck. Elon is actually rad. If you aren't having fun here, it's because YOU suck. You haven't tried to connect with people who you relate with, and we're going to make it easier for you. Take note of the calendar below, listen to WSOE, and stay tuned for much, much more Cause A Scene! sponsored events.