check check checkkkk it out

I just found a really amusing website.  Blackcabsessions.com is a collection of videos of indie acts playing one of their songs in the back of a cab.  Some sound surprisingly good.  The New Pornographers' mobile version of "All the Old Showstoppers" is my favorite so far.   Mainly because of the accordion.

Local Flavor: Durham's Best

The title of this post may be a little misleading, since I no longer live in NC, but I thought I would share some local bands I love before it got too late.

New Artica, Indie Pop, 

Chapel Hill, NC

The addition of Maigan Kennedy on cello lends a unique sound to the band's sometimes-electronic-sometimes-acoustic repertoire.

Download their EP for free here. (The hassle of signing up for Myspace is totally worth it.)  Pay attention to "A Simple," "Boom Clap" and "Why Would I Leave?"

Annuals, Alt/Experimental/Folk, 

Raleigh, NC

Now a staple of indie music festivals such as Bonnaroo, the Annuals got their start right in Durham's backyard.  Their music may be on my "max relax" playlist but it certainly won't put you to sleep.  Check out "Sore" and "Confessor" on their Myspace, and download some free mp3s of their older stuff from one of my favorite blogs.

Bull City, Southern Rock, Durham, NC

This isn't normally my go-to music genre, but Bull City is Lynyrd Skynyrd meets The Wallflowers to me.  I'm a fan of the sultry guitar solo on "Everything Falls Apart" and the mellow hook on "Game."  Listen here.  Plus, the drummer works at The Beanery...or whatever it's called these days.

Stella by Starlight, Indie/Electronica, Durham, NC

Duke's golden boys have come a long way since they played the Great Hall as "The Born Analogue."  With a multi-state concert tour underway, a far more electronic EP due out in a month or so, and a new management team, their future looks promising.  But what happened to Greg, drummer extraordinaire?  He's noticeably missing from the band's Myspace header, which now bills itself as a duo...

photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4.

I know this song is old, but vintage is in.

The first couple episodes of Entourage's fifth season have left me quite underwhelmed.  Even Ari Gold's insults, which usually get me all hot and bothered, just aren't doing it for me.  But during the last 60 seconds of episode two, I perked up.

As Vince and his friends drive off and the credits roll, Phoenix's "If I Ever Feel Better" begins to play.  I'll freely admit that this song was released as a single seven years ago, but it still feels current, effortlessly blending disco riffs with clean, fast lyrics.  Listen on their Myspace here.

If you like this song, you might also want to check out "One Time Too Many" and "Run Run Run."  Preview a track from their forthcoming album, too, which seems to predict a departure from their previous work.

photo credit: 1