Worried Sick - The Hideout - 1992
from the cd "It Rained Fire Today"

Worried Sick were equal parts piss and vinegar. This is a pretty hard cd, but track it down if you can. It is full of the loudest raunchiest guitar sounds I've ever heard. It reminds me of The Small Faces or a grittier Badfinger. This song in particular reminds me of Uncle Tupelo on a good day.

Band Members:
Neal Dewan - Bass
Mike Kennedy - Drums
Michael Wilcox - Vocals
Peter May - Guitars, Vocals
Brian Sides - Guitars, Vocals

The Carneys - Bells -1990
from the unreleased album "1000 Nights and Counting"

from www.jeffreydeanfoster.com

Singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeffrey Dean Foster dates his musical career back in the mid-Eighties, when he co-founded The Right Profile. One of the first and best bands on North Carolina's fertile indie music scene, the Winston-Salem-based quartet played high-energy, rootsy rock and roll. Like many of Foster's musical undertakings over the past two decades, the Right Profile were ahead of their time. (Interesting footnote: Foster's foil in the Right Profile, pianist Stephen Dubner, went on to fame in the writing field as co-author of Freakonomics.)

Long before the Americana movement caught fire in this decade - before the genre even had a name - Foster also piloted an early-Nineties group called The Carneys which included Andy York (now with John Mellencamp), whose unreleased album is a veritable blueprint for Americana's synthesis of country, folk, roots and rock.

Band Members:
Jeff Foster - Vocals, Guitar
John Wurster - Drums
Tim Fleming - Bass
Andy York - Guitar

The Face Of Change - Sister Truth- 1992
from the American Helix cd "The Hour Of War"

When I played in Speck we played lots of shows with The Face Of Change. Mostly at places like the Wake Radio House. I have very fond memories of those days. We all had a lot of fun and I think there was a lot of creativity going on in those days. I always loved this band. Listen for yourself, I think you'll agree. Singer Michael Ramsey continues to make music with pearlmerchant.

Band Members:
Michael Ramsey - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Meredith Jones - Violin, Vocals, Bass
Charles Bonner - Drums
Forrest Maready - Electric Guitar, Piano, Bass, Vocals
Vera Ramsey - Vocals

Django Haskins - Ex-Best Friend - 2003
from the Alyosha Records release "OverEasySmokeMachine"

Described variously as "a cross between Elvis Costello and Tom Petty," "a pop stylist, with a quick lyrical wit and a card shark's finesse in delivering a hook" and "Norman Rockwell with a Telecaster," Chapel Hill, NC based songwriter Django Haskins makes mongrel American music. Django has recorded with producers Don Fleming (Sonic Youth, Pete Yorn) and John Plymale (Squirrel Nut Zippers), has had his music featured on MTV's 'Real World' and WB's 'Felicity', and received rave reviews in Billboard, CMJ, and many other publications, but it's in the live shows where the music really comes alive, thanks to good old-fashioned showmanship and grit. Django is now touring both solo and with his band, The Old Ceremony.

for more on Django Haskins visit his site or his myspace page.

Band Members:
Django Haskins - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion
Byron Isaacs - Bass, Backing Vocals
Neil Nunziato - Drums, Percussion

K.D. Rouse - Dirty Boys - 1999
from the cd K.D. Rouse and The Dirty Boys

In the fall of 1998 KD Rouse sprung onto the W-S music scene with a list of original songs that would have made the most seasoned songwriter blush. Recorded in live conditions that captured KD's honest and beautiful voice (as well as Sam Moss's blistering guitar work). "KD Rouse and the Dirty Boys" was released in the spring of 1999. Bad timing and unappreciative audiences caused K.D. to become disenchanted and she slowly fell out of sight. There the story may have ended but good news for us in 2005 KD was coaxed out of retirement to form The Sams.

Band Members:
KD Rouse - Vocals, Guitar
Sam Moss - Guitar, Background Vocals
Troy Pierce - Drums, Percussion
Randall Johnson - Acoustic Bass

Sons Of Adam - Everything Ain't Everything - 1994
from s/t cassette

What could only be considered a freakout of time and space. Sons of Adam appeared on the triad music scene and left a mark that will not soon be forgotten. They left behind this little 6-song cassette and a ton of memories for their fans. For more about Sons Of Adam check out The Dickens.

Band Members:
Fran Sandifer - Vocals, Guitar
Steve Graham - Bass
John Pfiffner - Guitar, Vocals
Frank Pyrtle - Drums

Soda Can - HouseDrunk - 1990
from the Forefront Records album - Powertool

Soda Can may have been from New Jersey but as far we're concerned they were North Carolinians. Trip Costner (now living in DC), Fred Mann (still living in W-S - I think in the same house) and Tom Gerridge (current residence unknown) moved to Winston-Salem and became a favorite band of Wake Forest U. frat parties. They spent endless weekends traveling the southeast spreading the Soda Can gospel. I have never in my life seen a tighter band live. Anyone who saw them knows what I am talking about. After a few years Fred had to take a break from music for medical reasons. Trip continued on with what became Squatweiler (a post is coming...trust me!). Fred later joined Squatweiler for their last album "Horsepower".

Band Members:
Trip Costner - Vocals, Guitars
Fred Mann - Drums
Tom Gerridge - Bass

Blackgirls - Broken Leg - 1990
from the Mammoth Records cd "Frequency - A Mammoth Sampler of North Carolina Sounds"

Blackgirls, including Eugenia Lee (guitar/vocals), Dana Kletter (piano/vocals), and Hollis Brown (violin/vocals), are a folk-pop band from North Carolina. Their two albums, released on the independent North Carolina label Mammoth Records, were produced by Joe Boyd, the head of Hannibal Records and a noted producer of such folk-rock performers as Fairport Convention.

Band Members:
Eugenia Lee - Guitar, Vocals
Dana Kletter - Piano, Vocals
Hollis Brown - Violin, Vocals

The Veldt - It's Over - 1990
from the Mammoth Records cd "Frequency - A Sampler of North Carolina Sounds"

from CMJ.com

The Veldt fell just short of being an anathema in the Chapel Hill indie rock scene of the early '90s. Sounding and looking nothing like the striped shirt contingent of Superchunk, Polvo, or Archers of Loaf, the band was more at home with the likes of England's dream pop bands. They were predominantly Black, an unfortunate mark against them. What could be more natural than Black men playing rock & roll? Keep the atmosphere of the Cocteau Twins and AR Kane, add some aggression and more prominent guitars -- that was the Veldt. They were influenced by Echo and the Bunnymen just as much as Jimi Hendrix and Prince, adding discernible lyrics and upping the emotional power where most bands of their ilk shied from the microphone, burying their vocals in guitar wash.

Founded in 1986 by vocalist Daniel Chavis and his brother and guitarist Danny Chavis, they added drummer Martin Levi two years later. With Cocteaus and AR Kane associate Lincoln Fong producing, engineering, and providing bass, the Veldt recorded Marigolds, an EP released in 1992 on Stardog/Mammoth. Shortly after its recording, they recruited a full-time bassist in David Burris. Signed on the strength of the EP to Mercury, they released Afrodisiac, an excellent, muscular dream pop record. In keeping with the AR Kane ties, studio comrade Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant) produced, while the Cocteaus' Robin Guthrie provided some guitar. A number of the record's tracks had "alternative radio hit" written all over them, but unfortunately this didn't happen. Ejected from the major label world, they issued Universe Boat on the independent Yesha, an EP of demos. At some point prior to the recording of the quietly-released 1998 album Love at First Hate (on their own End of the World Technologies), tensions between the Chavis brothers led to Danny's dismissal; Burris also left. Daniel carried on with Sam Clowney and Des White, but the band didn't survive long after support dates for the record.

Somewhat fittingly, the band received their warmest response while touring in the U.K with the Cocteau Twins. The textured guitars went over well, and concert goers were more than happy to see a band who could sound layered and emote vocally at the same time. As the well-worn cliche goes, this didn't translate across the ocean.

Band Members:
Daniel Chavis - Vocals, Guitar
Danny Chavis - Guitars
Joe Boyle - Bass
Marvin Levi - Drums

I am passing this along because I was really moved by the whole project. It actually relates to the site in any number of reasons and I encourage everyone to buy a copy to support this great cause. Kudos to John Plymale for organizing this. I will be adding a proper link on the site shortly but I really wanted to get the word asap.

www.songsforsixtyfiveroses.com

thanks to Patrick Richardson for bringing it to my attention.

Cheers,
Michael

Eleven Eleven - Real Men - 1988
previously unreleased

Imagine four college kids decide to start a band one day (we've never heard that story before, right?). One gets a job in Winston-Salem, NC (of all places) and the rest are coaxed into moving with offers of booze and free women, or was it women and free booze (doesn't matter because neither were free). They move into a killer old house in downtown W-S and commenced to making a whole lot of racket. They decided to throw a party and invited another local band Jonathan E (see my very first post) to join them. The party was a huge success and the rest is history as they say.

If I had a band that left behind just 2 songs and this was one of them I'd have a grin on my face. What started out as a drunken party game turned into a 2 minute experiment in... well I don't rightely know what ya call it. But its good!!!

Band Members:
Chris Myers - Vocals
Mike Morse - Guitar, Vocals
Richard Skinner - Bass
Richard Rothermel - Drums

Sugarsmack - Zsa Zsa - 1992
from the 3 AM cd ep - Zsa Zsa

from allmusic.com

The North Carolina alt-rock quintet Sugarsmack is led by vocalist Hope Nicholls, who was previously a member of roots rockers Fetchin Bones (issuing a string of albums that proved to be favorites of college radio during the late '80s). After the group's breakup, Nicholls formed Sugarsmack with her boyfriend/guitarist Aaron Pitkin, enlisting percussionist Deanna Gonzales, drummer John Adamian, and second guitarist Chris Chandek to round out the band. Sugarsmack issued their debut album, Top Loader, in 1993 on Chicago's Invisible label, while a sophomore album, Tank Top City, saw the light of day in 1998 (which also proved to be their major-label debut for Sire).

Band Members:
Hope Nicholls - Vocals & Saxophone
Aaron Pitkin - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Sequencing
John Adamian - Drums
Chris Chadnek - Guitar and Sequencing
Deanna Gonzales - Percussion and Electronic Percussion

Zen Frisbee - Crazy Steven - 1994
from the cd "I'm As Mad as Faust"

Chapel Hill's Zen Frisbee were ridiculously popular in their hometown. I don't really know much about them. Outside of owning this cd, I have seen the video to "Jonesin" on Norwood Cheek's excellent video collection "Young Rock". Those more knowledgable than myself, I invite you to comment on this band.

Band Members:
Clint Curtis - Drums
Kevin Dixon - Guitars, Vocals
Laird Dixon - Guitars, Vocals
Andrew Maltbie - Bass, Vocals
Brian Walker - Vocals, Guitar

Jeff Hart and the Ruins - Lovesick - 1995
from the album "Glances from a Nervous Groom"

Guitarist and songwriter for the Americana styled "Brown Mountain Lights", "The Nervous Grooms," the power pop "Frosted Sugar Bombs" and his own rock combo "Jeff Hart & The Ruins". He's played bass and guitar in other NC standouts such as the "Two Dollar Pistols", "Chris Stamey's Big Band" and "Robert Kirkland & The Hanks" (following the breakup of "Arrogance"). A 17-year veteran of the NC music scene, primarily in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill clubs. An NC original, he covers the gamut of styles from Flying Burrito Brothers, The Byrds, Ray Davies to Tom Petty and the Replacements.

Band Members:
Jeff Hart - Vocals, Guitar
Glenn Jones - Bass, Vocals
Bryan Sodemann - Drums
Brian Yamamoto - Guitar

Riff Doctors - Turn Me On - 1985
from the cd Teen Line Volume One - Powerpop & poprock 45s: R & S

from the liner notes:

In powerpop's darkest hour, "jangle" appeared in North Carolina. Partly from the usual powerpop roots (Mitch Easter loved Big Star) and a jangly guitar sound that Mitch inexpensively resurrected from mid-period Byrds records —but just as much from Don Dixon's long-running country-pop band. Arrogance. Unleashed on the masses, jangle quickly degenerated into guitar-band mumbling and jamming, but you might think of Frank Bednash's Riff Doctors as the first of the counter-revolution: twangy, hook-laden, brief, and totally popped-out. A couple years later, he'd hooked up with NYC's Donna Esposito (ex-Cyclones), and cut an amazing demo (with Mitch) that went nowhere til it became the B-side of the debut Cowboy & Spingirl 12" (Subway UK).

For those not familiar with the brilliant Teen Line series go here NOW!

Band Members:
Frank Bednash

Annabel Lee - Sweet Caroline - 1991
from the Accidental Records cd "Self Recognition - NC Sampler Of The Unsigned"

Raleigh's Annabel Lee were as polished and groomed for greatness as any band from NC. Led by the smoother-than-silk voice of Ashley Carter, Annabel Lee seemed destined for greatness. How many times have you seen me write that here? Great band, lost to time.

Band Members:
Ashley Carter - Vocals
Celeste Hodgins - Keyboards
Thomas Mills - Bass
Chris Sheridan - Drums
Christopher Stevens - Guitars

Sorry for the lack of postings lately. I was out of town all week AND we had some problems with the server. I am back now and the server has been fixed so I will be back to it asap. Thanks to all the folks who have responded to my request for guest postings. I can't wait to get them and share with the world.

UPDATE: someone just pointed out that my last posting by Superchunk was sort of telling. Well you're right I guess I have been one. HAR HAR!!! Please keep spreading the word!!!!

Cheers,
Michael

Superchunk - Slack Motherfucker - 1990
from the S/T Matador release

from cmj.com

Perhaps no band was more emblematic of the true spirit of American indie rock during the 1990s than Superchunk, the pride of Chapel Hill, NC. Following the D.I.Y. ethic to the letter, the group operated solely by their own rules, ignoring all passing trends by sticking to their trademark sound -- typified by the buzzing guitars and high, impassioned vocals of frontman Mac McCaughan -- and rejecting all major-label advances in favor of the unlimited freedom afforded by owning their own company, the highly successful Merge Records. Although Superchunk's resistance to the overtures of the music industry may have deprived them of the wider audience their work clearly deserved, perhaps their greatest legacy remains their unwavering dedication to the indie tradition, a model which all up-and-coming bands should strive to emulate.

Superchunk was formed in the college town of Chapel Hill in 1989 by singer/guitarist McCaughan, bassist Laura Ballance, drummer Chuck Garrison, and guitarist Jack McCook. Initially dubbed merely Chunk -- the "Super" prefix was later added to avoid confusion with a similarly named New York City avant-jazz band -- the group's debut single, What Do I, was soon issued on Merge, a label jointly run by McCaughan and Ballance. The follow-up was 1990's epochal Slack Motherfucker, MacCaughan's blistering tirade against a lazy Kinko's co-worker; the single was immediately hailed on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the definitive indie anthems of the era; and with the subsequent release of their self-titled debut LP, Superchunk was widely celebrated among the most promising young bands in America.

Band Members:
Mac McCaughan - Vocals, Guitar
Laura Ballance - Bass
Chuck Garrison - Drums
Jack McCook - Guitar

Mitch Cooper - Always On The Horizon -1986
from his self-titled 7" ep on Prismic Records

Charlotte's Mitch Cooper led the area's retro-60's psychedelic revitalization with the release of this e.p. in 1986. Shortly after, he formed "The Inn" and his vision was fully realized. The Inn released three LP's all with the same wonderful 60's-influenced West Coast-styled psychedelic-pop. They went from free-form freakouts to more structured flowing rock pieces. I saw them numerous times at the Milestone and remember a vivid light show, tons of balloons floating all around, and other sorts of visual enticements. From what I understand, they are still together.

Before the Inn, Mitch was the original drummer for Fetchin' Bones. He caused a local stir when he released an unauthorized bootleg of early Fetchin' Bones demos in the late '80's (right as Fetchin' Bones were signing to Capitol Records--and appeared to be on the verge of breaking out). Hope Nichols and Capitol Records threatened legal action, but nothing ever came of it.

Mitch is probably best known for a Todd Rundgren tribute cd he released in 1991 ("For The Love Of Todd") which featured contributions from Peter Holsapple, Mitch Easter, Don Dixon, The Woods, Jamie Hoover, Parthenon Huxley, and Bill Lloyd. He released a follow-up Todd tribute cd in 1995 ("Still There's More").

Fred Mills adds:

Cooper, along with his Inn cohorts, was also responsible for the now-lengendary series of "Psychedelic Psunday" happenings in Charlotte; each concert featured a brace of lysergic locals jamming from early in the afternoon until way into the wee hours of the next morning -- on Sundays, naturally -- in true Fillmore fashion.

Patrick Richardson

Band Members:
Mitch Cooper - all instruments

Marsha - Not Lookin For Action - 1995
from the cd Tornado Bait

In 1995, ex-Leap of Faith bandmates Joe Romweber and Norman Underwood were beginning to assemble material to take into the studio to record the follow up to Joe's first solo record - All Over. Norman suggested that they enlist the help of ex-Orange Driver bandmate/guitarist Matt Paul. They enjoyed playing so much they decided to form a band and make a go of it as Marsha. They then recruited bass player Jeff Umbarger to fill in the final spot releasing a full length cd - Tornado Bait on Joe's own Vertical 8 label. Making the Local 506 their "home away from home," the guys enjoyed limited success and played and recorded more for fun than anything else. Matt Paul called it quits a few years later and the band forged ahead as a trio recording a second full length album - Wigged Out in 1998.

Band Members:
Joe Romweber - Guitar
Norman Underwood - Drums
Matthew Paul - Guitar
Jeff Umbarger - Bass