Katharine Whalen’s Lucky performs on Sessions at Studio B
Music video for “In Between the In Between” by The Alcazar Hotel
Guitarist Tyler Bryant performs for “This Week on MyNC”
Hall of fame honors musicians, songwriters and producers
Country music’s Jason Michael Carroll performs in studio B
Bombadil put together this doc on the recording of its new album
Lost in the Trees performs at the Pour House Music Hall
Five-year-old Liam Turnage plays the drums like a seasoned pro
Lonnie Walker performs at the Pour House Music Hall
Wild Light gives an exclusive acoustic performance on B-Sides from NBC-17’s studio B
Music video for the track “Life Like” by Raleigh-based indie-pop duo The Rosebuds
Jonas Fjeld and Chatham County Line perform at The Berkeley Cafe
WKNC hosted its sixth annual Double Barrel Benefit Feb. 6 and 7
The Great Eight gives exposure to well-reserved artists
Willie Breeding gives an acoustic performance for Music.MyNC and 100.7 the River
U2, Fleetwood Mac, Electric Light Orchestra influence Annuals
As the recession continues, people are looking for ways to cut costs
Cowboy Mouth performed back stage at the Lincoln Theatre Sunday for B-Sides
Confessor drummer Steve Shelton breaks down his drum parts
David Karsten Daniels performs “Jesus and the Devil”
Music video for “Higher Ground” by Patty Hurst Shifter
Kinnin returns with a morning show and Sunday Brunch
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals visit Letterman on Oct. 30, 2008
The Pressure Boys shot much of the video at the Carolina Theatre
The Connells recorded the video for “Scotty’s Lament” at The Pier
For the past six years, N&O music critic and On the Beat blogger David Menconi has picked the eight local musicians who he feels will make their rightful mark on the music scene.
The project is always a labor of love — having to start in November just to produce a full multimedia package ready to be released in February — Menconi each year pours through hordes of bands who call the Triangle home. However, with the birth of weekly events like WKNC’s Local Beer Local Band at Tir Na Nog on Thursdays, Menconi has found that the support of local venues has made it easier to find bands he may deem worthy of The Great Eight — and if not this year’s list, then maybe next.
“I often run across bands for the first time at [Local Beer Local Band],” Menconi says. “It’s a great thing; every week there’s a couple of other great bands — local — and often I haven’t seen them. It’s a great way to check in.”
The Great EightAlesana |
Although it is always satisfying to see the bands he picked in previous years become successful on a larger scale, Menconi remains humble.
“I’m not saying we’re great predictors,” he says. “But it is nice when bands you give some recognition to do go on to bigger and better things.”
What isn’t always satisfying is the backlash he sometimes receives with the release of the list. Sometimes bands are not interested in being featured on The Great Eight or even sitting still long enough to shoot a decent portrait for the feature; while other times local media outlets find the list to be a means for sparking controversy.
Just last year, the list stirred controversy when Independent Weekly published an article criticizing the annual list’s intentions as well as the N&O’s local music coverage. Despite the backlash, Menconi remained positive and fairly quiet about the situation, saying that anyone who paid attention knew that the claims against N&O’s local music coverage “just aren’t true.”
In years past, The Great Eight has included bands such as Annuals, The Old Ceremony, Megafaun, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Bowerbirds and Alina Simone. It’s easy to say that the majority of these acts haven’t yet “made it,” but all have garnered quite the buzz; especially in the last year. It is this year’s list, though, that contains some of the most phenomenal acts in the feature’s history — and perhaps that is partially due to the thriving music scene that has really begun to prosper here in the Triangle over the past couple of years.
With bands like Annuals, The Love Language, Chatham County Line and Bowerbirds as well as expatriates such as Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Tift Merritt really seeming to hit their marks recently, there’s no doubt that the rest of the United States is beginning to catch on to the fact that with our massive University communities, the Triangle is a breeding ground for musical talent.
Like in previous years, a Great Eight showcase will be held at Local 506 in Chapel Hill. This year’s concert will feature Lonnie Walker, Hammer No More The Fingers, Violet Vector the Lovely Lovelies and Double Negative on Feb. 13. Tickets for the performance are $5.
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