Here’s your all-American Super Bowl alternative if you also don’t give a fuck about most Northeastern football teams, or the NFL in general. On a stop from their tour with Rhode Island’s The Body, actual former Giant(s), Braveyoung, will execute a sonic blitz through heavy, slower-than-molasses anthems in an actual courtroom, called The Courtroom at Getty’s. Also performing is Charlotte’s own Monarchist and a new Rock Hill project by the name of Low to the Earth, featuring members of the excellent Nailbiter and Bay of Pigs. This is a real (halftime) show- hold the commercialism and bang your head. 

Doors at 9, rock at 9:30, pay $5 please. 

201 E. Main St. Rock Hill, SC 29730

Check out our first release!! A split tape from Asheville’s Slamming Door Orchestra and Blossoms (Charlotte). Features 9 songs between the two and is just $5! Please write us if you’d like a copy or see one of these bands in person.

Keepin’ it really real. 

Charlotte’s treasured news source for cognisant local and regional punk(s) is stoked to unveil their new website, and a loaded webstore which features new vinyl from Andy the Doorbum and a-soon-to-be released 7” from Philadelphia’s Mike Bell & The Movies, plus issues seven, eight, and nine of their radical zine by the same name. Get up, get out and get Self Aware! 

Chemical Peel @ Yauhaus 

12-8-12

The lips of east coast hip hop have run dry without well-versed Native Tongues; in the absence of some Illmatic presence, it’s state of mind sinks deeper into a cloud of misguided and unearned clout, as common sense cowers for dollars and wankstas are made kings for disgracing H.E.R. body.

As way too many may be unaware, NC heroes Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh and 9th Wonder- formerly Little Brother- stepped into the arena on behalf of those lyrical gods and rocked 21st century artificial motherfuckers proper with unstoppable soul(ed) out, super emcee punches. This trio of proud Durham-based gentleman delivered as flawlessly and cohesively as heads could hope for fresh into this new millennium, and then some. In their prime, LB brought it home, figuratively and literally. Serving hot sampled butter over heavy boom-boom-baps, consistently banging just as hard as back and forth rounds of seasoned verbal knockouts, they also magnified North Carolina’s spot on the music map, sharing their shine with a cast of equally talented regional rappers and vibrant R&B songbirds. They made the right moves, hustled hard, and donned a hip hop badge of honor bigger and badder than the state underground had ever seen. Unfortunately following in the giant footsteps of their forefathers, the LB movement peaked possibly too soon and has since dwindled. Luckily though, talent still recognizes talent and the departures have spawned an array of new projects, from important solo attacks to on-par collaborative projects. 

All this bittersweet reminiscin’ over rhyme and reason eventually inspired a late-night dig through boxes and stacks of old photographs in an attempt to find a few of the crew, including a shot of boy meets idol (9th Wonder, me cropped). Snapped and developed by yours truly at their 2005 Tremont Music Hall performance, the black and white prints above document my introduction to their classic, endlessly energetic live show, and also earned an A in my 10th grade photo class. For those unknowing, I hope you’ll take a climb up Little Brother’s deep-rooted, critically acclaimed family tree for a look back at impacts made, locally as well as nationally, and listen for those still to come. 

CHAUNDON

FOREIGN EXCHANGE (Nicolay + Phonte)

JOE SCUDDA

LITTLE BROTHER

NICOLAY 

PHONTE 

RAPPER BIG POOH

YAHZARAH

Don’t bother waking up from that history class snooze. Instead, imagine running with scissors through a galaxy of National Geographic back issues and encyclopedias before landing on a far out dimensional degree in collage college. Nearly every piece in this collection, hand cut by Bryan Olson, ripples the perceptual portal into imagination where world cultures and interstellar dream scenes collide as retro colors ooze and fuse the two together. If you believe that extraterrestrial mixed media masterpieces really do exist, phone home to the Glass Planet! 

Beat doctor Justin Aswell, one third of Charlotte hip hop brigade Mr. Invisible, taps out breaks and hits so quick it should be ILLegal. Think Ali on an MPC, or in this case, the Native Instruments beast called Maschine. The slight chance that you may be missing out on him or his crew and the doin’ that they do is much too much, so get yourself a checkup with his first Maschine Tutorial installment, Composing A Track From Start to Finish. In just 15 minutes flat, flavored with a dope nod to Tribe, watch and learn as the man takes you on an award tour of music-making machinery approached so accessibly, even a caveman Q-Tip can figure out how to kick it.