First Harp, now Paste

OK, if you want to keep your magazine afloat, don't let me write for you. Seriously. Tonight I, and other Paste contributors, received this e-mail from Paste Editor-in-Chief Josh Jackson:

Hi all,

I know you're all very aware of the financial troubles Paste has been in, as many of you are still owed money for articles you wrote, illustrations you drew or photographs you took several months ago. We've continued to make payments to the printer and the Post Office to keep the magazine alive in hopes of digging out of our hole and have made a lot of progress on the expenses side—getting rid of the CD that accompanies Paste, cutting out most all of our travel, taking across-the-board paycuts, shrinking the page count and assigning less freelance work—all of which have kept us going, but not really helped to dig us out of the hole and make us right by you guys. The last months have been particularly hard on our cash flow and have taken us to the point where we can't get out of it on our own.

Rather than shut our doors, we're launching a reader appeal today to help save Paste. Many of the artists we've worked closely with over the years—folks like Neko Case, The Decemberists, Of Montreal, She & Him, Josh Ritter, The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls—have donated rare and exclusive tracks to give to anyone who donates to the cause. Sixthman has donated a cabin on next year's Cayamo Cruise and bands like R.E.M. and Band of Horses have donated signed posters to be given away to random supporters, as well.

Our hope is that we'll raise enough to catch all of you up to current. Short of that, we'll be catching you up as much as we can. We've hated falling further and further behind with the people who've made Paste what it is, and we know most of you rely on freelance work for your living. We can't thank you enough for your patience. And our deepest gratitude goes to those of you who've continued to write, photograph and illustrate for us as our debt to you has grown.

More information can be found on the reader appeal page, which will be going live in about 30 minutes at http://www.pastemagazine.com/savepaste, but you're also welcome to call me on my cell (removed by Karen) with any questions. If you'd like to help, the best thing you can do is share the appeal with anyone you know who enjoys seeing your work in the magazine—or anyone who might want to donate just to get some really great and exclusive music.

We look greatly forward to the days where Paste is growing in pages (and assignments) and is once again known for always paying folks on time.

Thanks for all you do for us,
Josh


From Karen: Looks like they've got some interesting items for giveaway. And it would seriously be a shame to see Paste go under.

This week's cool shows: Pick n' Bitch and more!

THIS WEEK'S SHOWS


Wednesday, May 13: Durham Rangers Old Time String Band, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 13: Snoop Dogg, Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, May 14, Matthew Barber, Milltown

Thursday, May 14: Sorry About Dresden with Dirty Little Heaters, Tir na Nog

Friday, May 15: Holidays for Quince block party, Nightlight
With Screaming Females, Bellafea, Caltrop, The Curtains of Night, In the Year of the Pig, Liza Kate (cd release), Mount Moriah, and The Moaners. More bands and details TBA.

Friday, May 15: Old Habits, Pour House


Friday, May 15: Countdown Quartet, Seaboard Cafe



Friday, May 15: Let's Get Small!: Ukulele Challenge and Benefit Concert, Pinhook
According to the Pinhook Website: Proceeds of Show (asking for suggested minimum donations of $5) go to Ukulele's for Peace.

Friday, May 15: KIFF with Dead Kings, Dive Bar


Saturday, May 16: Kreator with Exodus, Volume 11 Tavern
Classic German metal.


Saturday, May 16: Chatham County Line, Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park, Cary
3 p.m. show. Free

From the PineCone press release:

Formed in Raleigh 10 years ago, the home-grown Chatham County Line has traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, winning awards in the bluegrass world and the singer-songwriter world. Dave Wilson, the band's lead singer and guitarist, does most of the group's songwriting. John Teer (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, back-up vocals), Chandler Holt (banjo, dobro, guitar), and Greg Readling (bass, pedal steel guitar, back-up vocals) provide the foundation for Wilson's creations while adding harmony and texture that make the music shine.


SHOW OF THE WEEK

Saturday, May 16: Insplosure, so check that out as well.


Sunday, May 17: Carolina Bluegrass Festival, Koka Booth Amphitheatre


Sunday, May 17: Rebusfest
This year's fest includes The Loners, Dirty Little Heaters, Kenny Roby's Mercy Filter, The Magic Babies, Tin Star and DJ Midnight Cowboy.


Tuesday, May 19: Goes Cube, Slim's
Metal from Brooklyn with a local angle: New bass player Matt Tyson is a former Raleighite who founded the influential Ear Farm music Web site. Read more here. Check out my Five Questions interview with Matt Tyson.

Tuesday, May 19: Wizardry, The Reservoir
Brooklyn's Wizardry has songs with titles like "Drink from Thy Chalice" and "The Falconer" so you know I'll be at this one.



NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS



Wednesday, May 20: Coalition to Unchain Dogs benefit, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 20: Clutch with Wino's Band, Cat's Cradle
Wino (St. Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan) is a doom-metal legend, but due to the recent death of his bass player, he will be playing this show acoustic. Righteous Fool, the new band with Reed Mullin and Mike Dean, will also open.

Friday, May 22: Colossus with Blackholicus and Gollum, Reservoir Bar
I think it would be really funny, for fans of both bands, to put Gollum and Bombadil on the same bill.

Friday, May 23: the Old Ceremony with The Love Language.


Saturday, May 24: Hark the Sound, an Eve Carson benefit, Pour House

Wednesday, May 27: Man Will Destroy Himself, with Rotten Sound, Maruta and Bile Nephresis Slim's


Wednesday, May 27: Valient Thorr with Colossus, Pour House

Thursday, May 28: The National, Lincoln Theatre

Friday, May 29: Black Skies with Pride Parade and Dirty Little Heaters, Reservoir Bar

Friday, May 29: Viper with ,Doom Syndicate Volume 11

Friday, May 29: Tin Djinn, The Last Tallboy and The Revolutionary Sweethearts, Slim's
The Last Tallboy is a new band with the following local folks: Bill McKelvey, Bass: Joey Chorley (Trousers, Savage Nights, Formerly Another Toomstone Dreem.), Drums: Terry Ford (Savage Nights, formerly Another Toomstone Dreem) and Bart Tomlin, (A Rooster for the Masses) vocals.

Bart also sent me the following info on the other two bands:

A Tin Djinn is riffy, 70s-esque glam pop rock (think Marc Bolan, David Bowie).

The Revolutionary Sweethearts Vocals and Guitar: Brandy Tanner (Bright Boy), Bass Guitar: Rich Flickinger and Drums: Rob Lackey (A Rooster For The Masses, occasionally The Rosebuds).


Saturday, May 30: "The Voltaic Festival version 1.0 with 6 bands and a hot fashion show,"Volume 11

Saturday, May 30: Kennebec, Pour House

Saturday, May 30: Lonnie Walker CD-release party at Ahpeele Warehouse
The band will also play an in-store at Schoolkids at 5 p.m.

The Love Language: "That shit is RIGHT ON!"

(The Love Language)

I've never been one to begrudge a good band making it big. Seriously, why demand that a talented songwriter schlep across the country in a beaten-up van, sleeping on floors and playing only to a few dedicated souls while worrying that his six weeks on the road may mean the end of his part-time barista day job? If someone's good, I have no problem with them making a comfortable living that allows them to create art. I have no problem with them making a boatload of cash as long as they can maintain that creative spark (and whether or not you have to be downtrodden to be creative is a whole 'nother argument). But last night while I was at the Pour House watching The Love Language, a band that is probably going to be quitting their day jobs very soon, I couldn't help but think to myself, "Dag, I wish this awesome band didn't have so many douchebags for fans."

Let me back up for one second. As you likely know, The Love Language grew out of the Capulets (check out an old Capulets video that I shot at Kings in January, 2006), a band that had a lot of great hooks and dedicated fans of their own. So even if the Love Language hadn't been very good, they likely would have at least drawn in some of that bands old fans. But as it turns out, the Love Language is good. Hair-raisingly good. "I'm witnessing greatness in the making" good. And that's getting them written up and played by bigger fish than just the local bloggers, and putting their music in the ears of a lot of people who not only refuse to wear their baseball caps the way God intended, but not only can't communicate their love of this band with anything other than a fist bump and an ear-piercing "WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

You want proof? Just check out the video I shot of "Nocturne," the band's opening song last night at The Pour House -- a video shot from the vantage point of standing between two fools who wanted to yell over the top of my head the whole time. Among the gems you'll hear on this video: "Whoooo!" "WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" "WHOOO-HOOOO-HOOOOO!!!" and "DUDE! That dude is TALL!" All of this occurs before the band even gets to the first verse.

The Love Language - "Nocturne" from Mann's World on Vimeo.

Now, before anyone gets their panties in a wad and starts hatin' on me for hatin' on some overzealous and really loud fans (who, once again, are showing their love for an amazing band), I'll just point your attention to the title of this post. That overzealous message of approval came not from some headbanging frat boy. It came from my partner The Wizard, a normally articulate music lover who was so blown away by The Love Language, that all he could do was point and stammer, finally squeaking out "that shit is RIGHT ON!" I agree totally.

The Love Language - "Providence" from Mann's World on Vimeo.

(the Love Language - Providence)

Whatever Brains opened, and I'm happy to report I liked them a lot more this time 'round. One of my friends compared them to "Green Day meets the Sex Pistols." Personally they remind me of The Fall.

Whatever Brains from Mann's World on Vimeo.

This week's cool shows: Bowerbirds, Love Language, Roman Candle and more!

(Bowerbirds)


THIS WEEK'S SHOWS

Wednesday, May 6: Peter Lamb & the Wolves, Humble Pie
Also on May 20.



Thursday, May 7: Hearts & Daggers, Pour House
Outlaw country


Thursday, May 7: Embarrassing Fruits, Tir na Nog

Thursday, May 7: The Pneumonics, Sea Cow, Pinhook

Friday, May 8: Battle Rockets with Gray Young, Slim's

Friday, May 8: Regina Hexaphone, City Tap, Pittsboro



SHOW OF THE WEEK
Friday, May 8: Bowerbirds with La Strada and Wes Phillips, Local 506
Get a sneak peak at the new Bowerbirds CD on Friday. They'll be previewing new material from their upcoming CD, "Upper Air," set for release on June 7.


Saturday, May 9: Antiseen, Volume 11 Tavern
It's kind of weird to call this band "venerable" but after 25 years, I think they deserve the term.

Saturday, May 9: Red Collar, Local 506

Saturday, May 9: The Love Language and Whatever Brains, Pour House
Check out my Five Questions interview with the Love Language's Stu McLamb on New Raleigh!

Saturday, May 9: Grappling Hook, Minor Stars and Le Weekend, Pinhook


Saturday, May 9: Roman Candle, Cat's Cradle
The delimma of the evening: Whether to catch The Love Language at Pour House or Roman Candle at the Cradle. Since the Love Langueage is playing around a good bit, you might be better off to check out the always-entertaining Roman Candle. But if you haven't yet seen The Love Language, you really should catch them before they're too big for the clubs.


Sunday, May 10: Mommie at Tookie's Toys/Moxie Kids, Cameron Village
Mommie is an all-star local kids' music band, who will be playing a Mother's Day show at 4 p.m. at a toy store in Cameron Village. This is a good, free, kid-friendly show of interest not only to hip parents, but to fans of guitarist Bo Taylor (Motorolla/Motorcaster, Bandway), who is apparently playing organ for this particular show. Bring a chair.



Sunday, May 10: Dash Rip Rock, Pour House

Monday, May 11: Ghost, Local 506
Japanese psychedelic freak rock.



NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS


Wednesday, May 13: Durham Rangers Old Time String Band, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 13: Snoop Dogg, Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, May 14, Matthew Barber, Milltown

Thursday, May 14: Sorry About Dresden with Dirty Little Heaters, Tir na Nog

Friday, May 15: Holidays for Quince block party, Nightlight
With Screaming Females, Bellafea, Caltrop, The Curtains of Night, In the Year of the Pig, Liza Kate (cd release), Mount Moriah, and The Moaners. More bands and details TBA.

Friday, May 15: Old Habits, Pour House


Friday, May 15: Countdown Quartet, Seaboard Cafe



Friday, May 15: Let's Get Small!: Ukulele Challenge and Benefit Concert, Pinhook
According to the Pinhook Website: Proceeds of Show (asking for suggested minimum donations of $5) go to Ukulele's for Peace.

Friday, May 15: KIFF with Dead Kings, Dive Bar


Saturday, May 16: Kreator with Exodus, Volume 11 Tavern


Saturday, May 16: Chatham County Line, Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park, Cary
3 p.m. show. Free

From the PineCone press release:

Formed in Raleigh 10 years ago, the home-grown Chatham County Line has traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, winning awards in the bluegrass world and the singer-songwriter world. Dave Wilson, the band's lead singer and guitarist, does most of the group's songwriting. John Teer (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, back-up vocals), Chandler Holt (banjo, dobro, guitar), and Greg Readling (bass, pedal steel guitar, back-up vocals) provide the foundation for Wilson's creations while adding harmony and texture that make the music shine.



Saturday, May 16: Insplosure, so check that out as well.


Sunday, May 17: Carolina Bluegrass Festival, Koka Booth Amphitheatre


Sunday, May 17: Rebusfest
This year's fest includes The Loners, Dirty Little Heaters, Kenny Roby's Mercy Filter, The Magic Babies, Tin Star and DJ Midnight Cowboy.


Tuesday, May 19: Goes Cube, Slim's
Metal from Brooklyn with a local angle: New bass player Matt Tyson is a former Raleighite who founded the influential Ear Farm music Web site. Read more here.

Tuesday, May 19: Wizardry, The Reservoir
Brooklyn's Wizardry has songs with titles like "Drink from Thy Chalice" and "The Falconer" so you know I'll be at this one.

UPCOMING IN GENERAL

Wednesday, May 20: Coalition to Unchain Dogs benefit, Pinhook

Wednesday, May 20: Clutch with Wino's Band, Cat's Cradle
I truly couldn't care less about Clutch, but Wino (St. Vitus, The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan) is a doom-metal legend. If you're into heavy music at all, you absolutely need to see this show.
UPDATE: Due to the recent death of his bass player, Wino is going to continue the tour acoustic. I don't know how in the world that's going to work, but it sounds interesting.

Friday, May 22: Colossus with Blackholicus and Gollum, Reservoir Bar
I think it would be really funny, for fans of both bands, to put Gollum and Bombadil on the same bill.

Friday, May 23: the Old Ceremony with The Love Language.


Saturday, May 24: Hark the Sound, an Eve Carson benefit, Pour House

Check out my interview with Stu McLamb

Just published on New Raleigh, my interview with The Love Language's Stu McLamb. Thanks to Stu for doing this, and thanks to Bladen County Records owner (and former Raleighite) Matt Brown for facilitating.