01/08/07 @ 03:33:01 pm by archivesadmin
By: Ben Brown
North Carolina’s role in the development of American indie rock cannot be overstated. Sure, the critics love to give the Pacific Northwest and Athens, GA, most of the credit, but dare I say, the critics don’t know their history.
The Triangle region of the Tarheel State has bred the most revered of underground forces, including bands like Superchunk, Small and Archers of Loaf, with storied record labels such as Merge and Jesus Christ. While the international indie-scape of modern day has evolved into something a bit more produced, nothing, I repeat, nothing beats the classic sounds bred on our own state grounds.
Today three busy bands from Chapel Hill—Schooner, Pleasant and North Elementary—still have those traditional sensibilities in their blood and you, too, can take in their sound intraveinously at Bella Festa (127 Princess Steet) on Saturday, January 13th.
Schooner is currently one of NC’s catchiest, melding an effective compound of conscious pop writing with near-tangible grit. Their third and latest recording, Rocky P, is a work of which they can be truly proud. The backlash-proof sturdiness of Guided By Voices and the upbeat thrill of the Wedding Present are recalled but perhaps not depended upon. They hit all the right chords, sing with pure sincerity and produce the most agreeable ranges of energy. If any word applies to Schooner’s music, it’s “warm.”
With the help of engineer Zeno Gill (Rosebuds, Portastatic), they have just wrapped up the production of their second full-length album, which guitarist/vocalist Reid Johnson promises to be “more ambient, lush and melancholy.” Keep your eyes and ears on alert for a springtime release date and touring to follow.
To make a cheap joke, Schooner’s good friends, Pleasant, are just as sweet as their name suggests. For the past six years, this band has been recording acclaimed material that has spent plenty of time on the CMJ charts and for good reason: Their sound is as infectious as you’ll ever hear. On their most recent work, Awkward as a Beehive, Pleasant’s sunny vibes are like honey, drizzled atop the catchiest Pavement tunes. It’s straight-ahead songwriting that pokes your ribs. Innovative? No. Do they care? Probably not. They write what sounds good, and they do it well. I’ll take that over the latest “art” band any day.
North Elementary slows it down a bit without losing any potency. Jangling pretty with acoustics and boom-y drums, they’ll instantly appeal to fans of Jim O’Rourke, Wilco or young R.E.M. Core songwriter John Harrison seems very deliberate in creating music that isn’t wildly different, but uniquely ornamented for a standard formula. Their album, released during the fall, Not For Everyone, Just For You, contradicts its title with accessible music that doesn’t seem thinned out or based on a single trick. Anyone can dig it, and there’s much to take in with every listen.
And did I mention they’re prolific? Look for another new album, Berendals, this coming March. Like Not For Everyone, it promises more doses of aural refreshment. With such ingenuity bursting from basic confines, they’re certainly doing their state proud.
Maybe it’s just a personal thing, but I’m glad my preferred standard of indie rock is still flourishing in its birth state of North Carolina. In such a cluttered and often contrived scene, this classic sound is a rather rare breed these days. Regardless of your sentiments, you’re going to have a great time at Bella Festa this Saturday.
Categories: General
