The Pour House Hosts Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

Hope and optimism can spring from many situations, even a seemingly negative event such as war.  For Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, an unfavorable circumstance became one of opportunity and promise.  The band was brought together in 1997 when civil war forced Ruben Koroma and his wife Grace to seek refuge in Kalia, a refugee camp that bordered Sierra Leone.  While there, Koroma joined guitarist Idrissa Bangura (Mallam) and bassist Francis John Langba (Franco) in creating music to entertain fellow refugees. From there, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars was created.

While spending time at the Sembakounya Camp, the group was noticed by American filmmakers, Zach Niles and Banker White.  They were inspired by the musicians and the joy they brought to the refugees in times of despair and hopelessness. The filmmakers started to follow the band and documented their journey from camp to camp for the next three years, resulting in the film, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.  It's a compelling story of perseverance, hope and the healing power of music. 

When writing their first album, Living Like a Refugee in 2006, it was unplugged, natural, and written while sitting around the camp fire.  Now, the band has released their fourth album, Libation, with producer Chris Velan.  According to the band members, the inspiration and purpose behind the album is to "...pay respect to the dead; within the past ten years we have lost four members of the band, but we still feel that they are connected to us in everything we do, so we would like to pay respect to them."  The sound returns to the simplified acoustic instruments used in their first album, mixing the old with the new, creating an upbeat and positive vibe.  Each band member contributes to writing, so many different stories are told from varying perspectives.  Overall, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars wish to send, "messages of hope that will help people maintain peace in their communities."

Through the years, this group has had the fortune of sharing their powerful message to large crowds at festivals such as Bonnaroo, New York's Central Park SummerStage, and Japan's Fuji Rock Festival.  They have worked with and been supported by artists like Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Ice Cube, Angelina Jolie, and U2.  One of their most memorable moments was opening for the legendary Aerosmith at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut to 12,000 music lovers.
 

The success has been great for this group, but they don't plan on stopping any time soon.  They are looking forward to releasing a fifth album next year and intend on sharing their message of peace, hope, and harmony through their music. To learn more about the and purchase their album, visit their website. 

Raleigh is fortunate to have such an inspirational group playing at The Pour House Thursday, May 1.  The supporting artists for the night is the Senegalese band, Kaira Ba. To read more about this charismatic group, check out our previously posted profile.  The doors open at 7:30 and the show starts at 8. 

Local Spotlight: Jack the Radio Plays Band Together NC

 This Saturday, May 3, Band Together will throw their main event of the year with headliners Daryl Hall and John Oates and special guests, Robert Randolph and the Family Band.  Band Together is an organization focused on raising money for several different charities with the help of volunteers, sponsors, and board members.  They use music and fun to lift up our community by providing extra funds where needed; this year the funds will go to the community schools of Durham and Wake Counties.  Band Together refers to themselves as "the mullet:  business (and social good) in the front, party in the back."


In March, four local bands competed at Lincoln Theatre for the opportunity to open for Hall and Oates at Walnut Creek.  The last band standing was Jack the Radio, a southern-indie rock band based in the Triangle.  The group consists of A.C. Hill (vocals, acoustic guitar), George Hage (vocals, electric guitar, mandolin, keys), Danny Johnson (lapsteel, baritone guitar, keys, vocals), Chris Sayles (bass, vocals), and Brent Francese (drums).  The Triangle Beat spoke with the group about their experiences as a band, their latest album, and opening for the legendary Hall and Oates. 

The Triangle Beat:  How did the band come together?

Jack the Radio:  A.C. and George met while attending NC State University.  The two lived together for part of a summer and during that time started writing and recording. They released an EP in 2005 but took several years off to pursue other projects.  In 2009, the two started writing again and brought in drummer, Brent Francese and a bassist to fill out the sound. In 2010, after playing a show with his former band, we brought in Danny Johnson on lap-steel and later keys and baritone guitar.

TTB:  Who/what are your strongest musical influences of the band? 

JTR:  Early on we were heavily influenced by bands like Spoon for their musical and rhythmic pulse and instrumentation. Also local boys, the Avett Brothers for their passionate roots sound and use of acoustic instruments.  

As our band developed and we added members the sound evolved.  We were influenced by the soul and rhythm and blues of bands like the Black Keys and the Raconteurs, and even the sounds and tones they created.  Our members have all played in other groups with varying styles over the years which creates a great dynamic in our approach at times.

TTB:   How would you describe your latest album and how does it compare to previous albums?

JTR:  Our latest release, Devil In Here was released in August, 2013.  We approached this album in a unique manner, which made it completely different from our other releases.  It allowed us to explore a lighter side and reach a new audience who may not relate to our louder-swamp-rock sound.  The album was recorded live and unplugged with a string section on the majority of the songs.

TTB:  How do you feel about having the opportunity to open for Hall and Oates? 

JTR:  It's a huge privilege to be able to perform on one of the biggest stages in the region with newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Hall and Oates and of course the incredibly talented Robert Randolph and the Family Band.  We have to thank the amazing team at Band Together for putting on such an epic and charitable event and for the opportunity to connect with thousands of local show goers.  As the local boys, we hope to make NC proud.

Photo Credit: Jeff Reeves

TTB:  Who is the main songwriter for the group? What is your process for songwriting?

JTR:  Generally George and A.C. will bring song ideas to the band.  It could be anywhere from an idea for a riff or a more fully planned out song that already has melody and lyrics.  From there George and/or A.C. will get the vocal melodies and lyrics together and the band will work on additional instrumentation for things like lap steel, keys and bass parts.

We've definitely had songs that worked out great the first time and came together pretty seamlessly, but we've also had songs we've been working on for years that have only recently made sense for the band.  But that seems natural for us.

TTB:  What have been some of the most memorable highlights in your musical journey so far?

JTR:  In 2005, we started out writing music for ourselves.  It was really to see if we had the ability to get these ideas in our heads translated to (digital) tape. We were recording ourselves on an out of date desktop computer and writing digital drum loops.  That lead the sound to grow from being a duo into getting full band ideas down.  

Listening back to the songs we hit a point where we realized this wasn't just for our ears and a few of our friends' ears and we decided to create our debut, full length, Pretty Money and released it out into the world in 2011.  

TTB:  What would you like the public to know about you and your music?

JTR:  We our proud to say since then we have released another studio album, Lowcountry, as well as a live/stripped down album, Devil In Here, with the DVD, Live at Amplified Art.  Our music has also been licensed on several national and international radio commercials and TV spots since 2011.  Hearing 3 of our songs for the first time on television on a single episode of Anthony Bourdain's: No Reservations was for sure a surreal moment for the band. 

TTB:  How did you come up with the name, Jack the Radio? 

JTR:  Before the band started, George had a list, or more of a brain-dump, of band names.  "Jack the Radio" was the one he kept going back to and ultimately became the name of the band when he and A.C. first started writing together.  At first it was more of a call to action, but later the name developed into a character or metaphor Jack, the Radio who the band battles with music.

TTB:   What are your goals and hopes for your future as musicians? What will come next for Jack the Radio? 

JTR:  We are constantly writing and we are currently working hard in the studio tracking for the next release.  We are discussing the idea of releasing a split album or perhaps an EP or two in the next year.  We are also continuing to play regionally and focus on publishing and licensing our music in film, radio and television.

Join in the fun this Saturday while supporting the community schools of Durham and Wake Counties.  Ticket information and band information can be found at the Band Together website.  They are always looking for volunteers, so get involved, enjoy great music, and help the community.  Don't miss Band Together NC 2014!

CHVRCHES Interview

In 2011, the three members of CHVRCHES came together to create electro-pop music with lyrical depth.  They decided to take a chance and release their music via the internet, nervous about the way it would be received.  They quickly learned that there was no need for such nervousness because their new music was welcomed with warm acceptance.

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty have since released their first full album, The Bones of What You Believe.  The group has traveled all around the world, sharing their music and working with other incredible artists.

Lead singer, Lauren Mayberry, took some time to chat with The Triangle Beat about their first album, most memorable moments, and hopes for their future.

The Triangle Beat:  The group has hit recent popularity with some pretty passionate fans. How do you react to having such loyal fans suddenly?  Does it ever get a bit overwhelming?

LAUREN MAYBERRY:  We have been very lucky to have had so much support from fans, especially online when we first became 'a real live band', rather than a writing project between the three of us in the studio. Most people are really respectful and polite, and it's cool to see that our band appeals to lots of different kinds of people and crowds are always varied, from middle-aged guys who loved synth pop the first time round to teenagers.

TTB:  You all have been touring around the world to plenty of different places.  Would you say there is a difference between fans and their reactions in different parts of the world?

LM:  We have been lucky to play so many different places this early in our career, and it's great to see different places and make notes on where you'd like to go back to when you're not working... There are subtle differences between crowds depending on the culture but music is a thing that can often communicate regardless of the native tongue, I think. 

TTB:  What changes have you had to make to your songs when preparing them for a live performance? 

We worked hard making sure that we could translate the studio sound live and now have a pretty solid rig and gear set up so we haven't changed the substance of the songs themselves. We try to make sure a live show is just that - live - and not a play back party where everything is just played off a laptop. We play as much as possible on the synths, bass and guitar, and then use Abelton Live for beats and samples. 


TTB:   Is there one main songwriter for the group or is it all collaborative?  Is there a particular process for writing?

LM:  The songwriting is a three-part collaboration. No one ever comes into the studio with a completed song; we write everything in the studio together. We'll usually start with a beat or a sample or a new sound and then get an instrumental sketch of the song, before adding a vocal melody and lyrics last.

TTB:  Who are the band’s strongest musical influences?

LM:  The Cure, Kate Bush, Depeche Mode, 1980s movie soundtracks and lots of stuff in between. 

TTB:  You have played quite a few festivals at this point.  Who are some of the bands that you have enjoyed watching perform?

LM: It's been great to see bands we love playing at festivals when we get a chance to. Arcade Fire at Coachella was a highlight, as was St Vincent and David Byrne when we saw them last year.

TTB:  How did you come up with the name CHVRCHES?

LM:  The 'V' is actually a Roman 'U', and it's based on the logo design that our friend Amy Burrows made for us when we first started the band. Amy does the designs for all our LP and single covers, as well as the band merch too.

TTB:  What can we expect next from CHVRCHES?
  
LM:  We'll be playing a lot of festivals over the summer and continuing to tour whilst hoping to get a bit more time to write new material in the breaks...

The Bones of What You Believe is now on sale, visit the CHVRCHES' website for more information about the band and to see their full tour list. CHVRCHES will be playing a sold-out show at The Ritz on Monday, April 28, with support from The Range.  Doors open at 7, the show starts at 8.  It'll be a great start to the week!

Merlefest Spotlight: Mandolin Orange

As a part of The Triangle Beat's coverage of Merlefest 2014, our next spotlight is of a band that calls the triangle their home.  Based out of Chapel Hill, Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin combine their musical talents and amazing voices to form Mandolin Orange.  The band has been on tour for the past few months and will return to North Carolina to join the all-star lineup for this year's festival.  Emily recently spoke with The Triangle Beat about the anticipation of playing at Merlefest.

The Triangle Beat: This is Mandolin Orange's first time playing at Merlefest.  What does it mean for the band to be a part of this year's festival?

Emily: I remember going to the festival when I was 11 and even then I could tell that Merlefest was a special place. There are people that go year after year and they truly love every aspect of Merlefest and we are excited to be a part of it all this year.  As a festival, Merlefest is a staple event in North Carolina and it means a lot to be sharing the stage with so many of the greats in the music industry.

TTB: When will you be playing at Merlefest?

Emily: We will actually be performing three times at the festival.  On Friday we are playing from 6:30-7:15 on the Americana Stage.  Saturday will be really special when we get to take part in the midnight jam with other artists like the Steep Canyon Rangers and Della Mae. That should be a really unique experience.  Then on Sunday we will be performing on the Cabin Stage from 11:00-11:30.  

TTB: When playing a new venue or event like Merlefest, what do you hope people take away from hearing you play that might not be familiar with Mandolin Orange?

Emily:  Well I think anytime you are playing in front of a new audience, you hope that they are able to engage in your songs and that they care about what you provide musically.  It's always nice when you get a chance after shows to meet someone that heard you for the first time and they share about their experience.  Throughout our years of playing together, it is that positive feedback that has driven us onward and upward in our music.

TTB:  With both you and Andrew being from North Carolina, what has this past year been like getting the opportunity to tour all over the country?

Emily:  It has been a very busy year for us.   Until this year we had primarily stayed on the east coast, but this past year we've been able to play all over.  We just played our first shows in California as a part of this tour and we got a great reception from people all along the way.  There is nothing like coming back home though and playing at Merlefest is going to be a perfect ending to our tour.

TTB: Once you've finished your tour, what kind of things does Mandolin Orange have planned for the future?

Emily: As a band, we are always looking for new challenges and opportunities.  When we started playing together in 2009, our mentality was to always have something new to strive for and that mentality has guided us to where we are today.  That being said we are hoping to have a solid European tour in the near future and we would also like the opportunity to play other major music festivals like Merlefest.  

Mandolin Orange's most recent album, This Side of Jordan, was released in the fall of 2013.  In the days leading up to the festival, be sure to check out Mandolin Orange and stop by to see them while at Merlefest. You can get more information on Mandolin Orange by visiting their website at www.mandolinorange.com.

Merlefest Spotlight: Nu-Blu

The Triangle Beat is excited to announce we will be covering Merlefest 2014 live on Friday, April 25.  This year's lineup promises to be one that you don't want to miss, so get your tickets now at www.merlefest.org.

In anticipation of the start of the four day festival, The Triangle Beat will be spotlighting several area bands performing next week.  Our first feature is on the Siler City based bluegrass band, Nu-Blu.  The band features Carolyn Routh on vocals and bass, Daniel Routh on guitar, Levi Austin on banjo, and Austin Koerner on the mandolin. In a recent interview, Carolyn spoke with The Triangle Beat about the band's own excitement to be playing Merlefest.

The Triangle Beat: Is this the first time for Nu-Blu playing at Merlefest?

Carolyn: This is our first time playing Merlefest and as the landmark bluegrass festival of North Carolina, we are very excited to be a part of this year's lineup.  We will actually be performing twice on Friday, once on the Americana Stage from 12:15-1pm and again on the Plaza Stage from 6:15-6:45.  

TTB: As North Carolinians, how did Nu Blu get started and where did the name of the band come from?

Carolyn: Growing up I always had a love for music.  I remember as a young girl when other girls were doodling their names in notebooks, I was doodling song names and band names that I thought sounded good.  One of those names just happened to be Nu Blu.  At the time I was not a bluegrass fan, but as my love for music continued, it would end up being a perfect name for what is now our band.

As for the members of the band, I met Daniel, who is now my husband, in late December of 2000.  We shared in our love for music and ambition to make a career out of playing music from the beginning. After playing local street festivals and small town venues for the first few years, we added Levi to the group in 2006, who was only 14 years old at the time.  As we continued playing, Austin began filling in as our mandolin player only to become full time soon after.

TTB:  Playing at events like Merlefest, it is great exposure to people who might not have heard your music before.  What do you hope for someone to take away from hearing Nu-Blu play?

Carolyn:  For me personally, I feel like some people have a perception that all bluegrass music is the same and that turns them away from actually listening to the music.  With this in mind, we want those fans to be able to say, "You know I've never really liked bluegrass, but I really like what you are doing." At the end of the day, we don't want to be defined by a genre.  If a fan is enjoying the music, it doesn't really matter what genre it is.

TTB:  What are the goals Nu-Blu has moving forward as a band?  Can we expect another album soon?

Carolyn:   We are in a great place as a band right now.  Playing professionally has allowed us to make so many great connections and provided us with opportunities that you could never anticipate.  For example, we just played our first show on the gulf coast and we've now played all over the country and even Canada.  With this success, we hope to continue to mature both as a band and in the sound that we create.

As for an album, we just recently went back into the studio to start the recording of our next album.  It was originally set up for us to go back into the studio in December, but we didn't actually get to start until March.

TTB:  What can listeners expect to hear from the new album compared to previous recordings?

Carolyn:  Well with this album, we didn't really try to be different in our approach to the music but I think the maturity of the band allows for a different sound and emotional experience for listeners than previous recordings.  For me personally, it is all about creating an emotional experience for the individual and with the collection of songs we have selected for this album, I think it will be one that can provide that for our listeners.

If you plan on making it to the festival this year, make sure to add Nu-Blu to the list of bands you need to check out.  Prior to the festival, you can get a preview of Nu-Blu and additional information by going to their website at www.nu-blu.com.  Stay tuned for more band spotlights leading up to the start of Merlefest 2014 and we'll see you there.

  

Final Hopscotch Lineup Update

The Final Hopscotch lineup was announced today and the masterpiece is complete!  The finalized performance schedule will be released in July.  VIP passes are nearly sold out, so act fast!
The newly added artists are:

• clipping
• What Cheer? Brigade
• Vaadat Charigim
• Jason Lescalleet
• Ka
• Circuit de Yeux 

De La Soul will play on the City Plaza Stage.  This is the first time a third main stage has been used for this event.  De La Soul will perform on Thursday, September 4.  VIP and 3 day wristbands are still available.

The Hopscotch fest is taking place September 4-6 in various spots throughout downtown Raleigh. The initial lineup for the event was announced today and it includes some notable acts like St. Vincent, American Aquarium, Mastodon, and Sun Kil Moon.  See the full lineup poster below:

VIP and 3-Day wristbands are on sale now at the Hopscotch website. Tickets for individual days will go on sale in June. 

VIP WRISTBAND - $205 - CLICK TO BUY
All Hopscotch Club Shows +
2 City Plaza Headlining Shows +
Priority Access to Club Shows +
Opening Night VIP Reception on Thursday, Sept. 4 +
VIP Tote Bag

3-DAY WRISTBAND - $150 - CLICK TO BUY
All Hopscotch Club Shows +
2 City Plaza Headlining Shows

Forty more bands are still to be released, stay tuned for festival updates.  

New Politics Interview

New Politics will be headlining the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Raleigh tomorrow, April 13.  They will usher in the racers as they complete the challenging marathon or half marathon run.  Lead vocalist, David Boyd, took time to speak with The Triangle Beat about their journey to success, the culture shock of coming to America, and hopes for the future.



New Politics is comprised of three talented musicians:  David Boyd (lead vocals), Soren Hansen (guitar, bass, vocals, keys), and Louis Vecchio (drums).  Hansen and Boyd decided to make the huge move from Denmark to the United States after winning a contest that propelled their careers.  Originally, the third member and drummer was Poul Amaliel, but after spending some time in the U.S., he opted to move back home.  Soon after, Louis Vecchio of Long Island, NY auditioned by sending the two remaining members a video of him playing "Back that Ass Up" by Juvenile.  This caught the attention of Boyd and Hansen and the trio became the official New Politics.




Boyd stated that the move from Denmark to the U.S. proved to be culturally shocking.   However, the group loves the American idea that hard work pays off because they have been working non-stop for the past four years.  When Hansen and Boyd first arrived in New York, they were living off of ramen and barely had enough money to pay their rent.

Stress and panic took over at times, but they channeled those feelings to create genuine music.  Their second album, Bad Girl in Harlem, is all about that struggle.  It pans over the past three years, telling stories of missing home, meeting new people, and living unforgettable experiences.  Boyd admits that there is in fact, a bad girl in Harlem, "...there are probably several of them, actually," he jokes, but "Harlem" is based on his experience with one particular bad girl.  New Politics thrives on taking those every day events and turning them into catchy, fun, and danceable tunes.  

A New Politics show offers an endless amount of energy and enthusiasm.  Boyd has been dancing since he was very young and he tries to incorporate his skills into the show as much as possible.  It isn't unusual to see him doing full back flips on stage as he did on a Late Night with Seth Meyers show recently.  Although dancing is a strong love, music always comes first in his life, it's been his escape for several years.  All three members contribute to writing their songs, so Bad Girl in Harlem combines the experiences of each band member.  

How does the future look for New Politics?  Pretty golden, actually.  The group is constantly touring, trying to reach as many fans as possible.  They will begin their summer tour with Paramore and Fall Out Boy in June, which hits Raleigh on July 22 at Walnut Creek.  Before touring though, they have some time off in New York and hope to write material for a new album.

Catch them live tomorrow, April 13, at Raleigh's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon.  They are set to take the Red Hat Amphitheater stage around 10:30 as the runners approach the finish line.  It's free to the public, so come on out, cheer on the runners, support the community, and rock out to New Politics.