Blog: Mann's World

I truly meant to get this online this morning, to get the word out as soon as possible about this awesome benefit for the family of an extremely brave little boy . If you've ever had a love one battle cancer (and I have) you know it's a very draining experience, emotionally, physically and financially. Two-year-old Oliver Gant, son of New Raleigh co-founder Jed Gant, is battling a very rare cancer, and proceeds from this benefit will help the Gants, and benefit organizations that fight cancer. New Raleigh has some excellent details here . As it [...]

(Church of Wolves, night one) (Knives, night one) (Bitter Resolve, night one) (Bitter Resolve, night one) (Shadow of the Destroyer, night two) (The Body/Braveyoung collaboration, night two) [...]

I've been working on a story on Mark Holland (Jennyanykind, Jule Brown, various solo projects) for the Independent, so I went to see him play his acoustic country blues set last Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Station in Carrboro. Mark is a good guy (as is his twin brother Michael), and it was good to talk to him again. I have to say, it was pretty amusing to see some of the Chapel Hill hippies dance to this stuff. He'll be at the Blue Note on Feb. 15

Here are some photos of Johnson City's O C O A I (above), and photos and video of Generation of Vipers (below) from Friday at Dive Bar. O C O A I was as compelling (and loud) as when I saw them back in the summer. Unfortunately I couldn't get in a good position to record them, so I just stuck with still photography for their show. Generation of Vipers shares a member with O C O A I and two members with U.S. Christmas, but is a lot sludgier than either band. I [...]

I have a short Hearing Aid piece on O C O A I and Generation of Vipers (Saturday at Dive Bar) scheduled to run in tomorrow's Independent Weekly, so I'll let you read what I had to say about this show there. I'll just sum up my thoughts like so: It's gonna rock and you should go. I also have a short "Introducing ..." piece on Church of Wolves , but I actually had the privilege of seeing COW one more time after writing that piece. I have [...]

Continuing the mellow vibe that started with last week's post, this week's batch of new music is pretty and somewhat mellow. First up is "Red," the first song from Lost in the Trees ' upcoming (March 20) Anti- Records release A Church that Meets Our Needs. It's streaming now on NPR , so check it out. Next up is "Sweet Carolina" from the self-released first album by my longtime friend Mark Roper's band Kingdom of Rust . Mark and his friend Kevin Mitchell [...]

Here are a few photos and video from the Whores. show, Friday at Dive Bar. I hadn't seen them live before, but I really like their just-released Brutal Panda album, Ruiner. I didn't expect to get three songs on the video, but they kept playing, and I kept recording. This video really doesn't do drummer Travis Owens' powerful and totally insane playing justice. Throughout each song he was twirling drum sticks and at one point bouncing them off the ground. Unfortunately you can barely hear the vocals in this video. [...]

Mark Holland , along with twin brother Michael, is probably best known as one of the creative forces behind Jennyanykind. But he also releases music under his own name, and also as Jule Brown. Holland's most recent release is "The Best Country Blues of Mark Holland," which is pretty much as the name says: acoustic country blues at its best. Hear the menacing " Go Rider ," and the rest of the album, on Mark's Bandcamp page. He'll be at the Station in Carrboro on Jan. 26, and The Blue Note Grill in Durham on Feb. 15. Mark is also [...]

This week's Show of the Week features good music for a really good cause. Oliver, the 2 and 1/2 year old son of New Raleigh co-founder Jedidiah Gant, has cancer, and Sunday's benefit show at Tir na Nog will help his family pay for his treatments. As you can see from the poster, the band lineup is stellar, and there will be raffle prizes and even a Hot Date Auction (!). Other benefits are being planned and will be announced soon. Come on out and support this brave little guy and his family. [...]

Note: This post has taken a lot longer to complete than I planned. This was the first year that my mom came to visit me in Raleigh for Christmas, and it involved more work and more socializing than I anticipated! I imagine I'll be back at the beach next year! Despite what I wrote in a contentious Facebook discussion on the subject, I am not going to make Liturgy's Aesthetica my album of the year, even though I can see how it would be totally warranted. For one reason, I haven't even [...]

I'm not sure what the above graphic has to do with Organos , but it was on their Facebook page, and it looks similar to the symbol of my ancestral homeland , so I'm posting it. Another thing I don't quite understand, but find strangely compelling, is the band's (which is actually just Maria Albani) new video, which features close ups of people (including quite a few area musicians) smiling. Weirdly this reminded me of Godley and Creme's "Cry" video, but when I went back and looked, that video really didn't feature a whole lot of [...]

I don't think I'm alone in saying that Monday's show by legendary black metallers Inquisition at a cramped sports bar in North Raleigh will go down as one of the weirdest, and most awesome, shows I've ever seen. It was a last minute show. Word went round on Facebook late last week that the band had an open date and wanted to play in the area. Ira Rogers, who books a lot of punk house shows in the area and who ended up putting the show together, told me the story: "I got a [...]

My love of The Trousers, The T's and Cartridge Family has been well-documented here. Of the three, I'd have to say my favorite has always been The Trousers simply because this band played late-60s British blues and truly knew what they were doing. Unfortunately this past weekend was the last for all three bands because Stephen Gardner (above, drummer for The Trousers and Cartridge Family; singer/guitarist for The T's) is moving to Louisiana. Sadlack's basically had a mini festival for all three bands, with The Trousers playing their last show on Saturday, and Cartridge [...]

Just got word today that Bowerbirds will release their third album, "The Clearing," on Dead Oceans March 6, and will open their tour at Cat's Cradle on March 17. Here's the full track listing: BOWERBIRDS' THE CLEARING TRACKLISTING: 01. Tuck the Darkness In 02. In the Yard 03. Walk the Furrows 04. Stitch the Hem 05. This Year 06. Brave World 07. Hush 08. Overcome with Light [...]

This Saturday is going to be a little troublesome for me logistics-wise. Against my better judgement, I am going to try and see American Aquarium's album-recording show at the Pour House -- and I say "against my better judgement" simply because I expect the venue to be slam-packed. Given this band's ever-growing popularity, I fully expect there to be way too many people at this show, which I'm sure is really going to amp up the energy for recording. Can't wait. Kenny Roby is one of the openers. Unfortunately, The Trousers, one of my all-time favorite [...]

I am heading out of town for Thanksgiving (and my birthday), but wanted to quickly add these photos of Chimiara and Skeletonwitch from last night's show at Lincoln Theatre . This was my first time shooting there (other than an aborted attempt to shoot The Sword a few years back), and I have to give major thanks to the club for being so accommodating. The Eric from the club was super nice, the lighting was good, and there was a barrier that I could get in front of to shoot - though it did feel [...]

Show of the week for yours truly is undoubtedly Chimaira / Unearth / Skeletonwitch on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Lincoln Theatre. Skeletonwitch (above) is actually one of the opening bands on that bill, but their recent release, "Forever Abomination," is one of my favorites of the year, so they're the band I'm most excited about seeing. It's also an early show (doors at 6!) so don't miss it. I've created a Spotify playlist of the best heavy music of 2011, and Skeletonwitch is on there, so check it out. Username is mannsworld. [...]

Cough headlined Wednesday's show at Kings, but it really was Black Skies ' night. They celebrated the release of their excellent new album, "On the Wings of Time," and played a powerful set. The video is of my favorite song on the album, "Darkness and Disguise." [...]

This week's .mp3 is from Raleigh's River City Ransom , who I have been raving about since they stole the show as Meat Loaf a few years back during Raleigh Undercover. Their original stuff is just as impressive as their Undercover set. Think earnest, energetic anthemic pop with nods to U2 and Bruce Springsteen. Fans of IWTDI, Red Collar and American Aquarium will definitely like River City Ransom. This is "Bitter," off their just released album "We've Got Fucking Wolves." River City Ransom - "Bitter"

This week's show of the week is undoubtedly tonight's Cough/Black Skies show at Kings. Tonight is a CD-release show for Black Skies' excellent new release "On the Wings of Time." Cough is on their way back to Richmond after playing the Forward to the Apocalypse fest in Savannah. I had the pleasure of interviewing Michelle and Kevin of Black Skies last week, and was very proud to see the article in today's Indy . Thanks to Michelle and Kevin for being gracious hosts, and thanks to Grayson for letting me write the article. [...]