Cast Iron Filter is gearing up for the release of their fourth album and first live release, Live From The Highway. The disc features 11 tracks (10 live and one studio track), six of which are new and five “spiced-up” versions of favorites off their earlier releases. The band recorded the album in St. Simon’s Island, GA with producer Mark Williams (Williams also worked with the band on their October 2001 release This Ugly Town). The band will host a CD Release Party Saturday, November 16, at the Visulite Theatre. For more details, check out www.castironfilter.com.
The Scott McCloud Group (featuring McCloud, Jeremy Shaw, Dustin Hofsess and Adam Snow) have released a new CD entitled On The Gig. The material was recorded at Jay Howard Studios with engineer Chris Garges. For more info, go to www.scottmccloud.net.
Garges has also been busy working with various acts including The Rude Mechanicals, Poprocket, Sinclair, godmanradio, Something So Far and Six Mile Creek.
Chyle has released a new disc, too, titled Letters To Bernadette. The material was recorded in Atlanta but mastered locally at The Playroom by Eddie Z.
Kris Krause of the locally based label Outside Recordings has announced the release of the label’s sixth album. The release is from Los Angeles-based techno producer Ben Milstein. A CD Release Party will be held on Friday, November 15, at the Steeple Lounge. For more details, check out www.outside recordings.com.
Another locally-based label, Gaff Music, recently released a new album from Tom Constanten. For more details on the release, titled 88 Keys To Tomorrow, visit www.gaffmusic.com.
On Friday and Saturday, November 22-23, the Sylvia Theater in York, SC will host an Old Time Fiddle Workshop and Hammered Dulcimer Classes. For complete details, contact Susan Sherlock at SVSherlock@aol.com.
Gastonia-based filmmakers Brad and Andi Ambrose will host a premiere party for their film Whisper on Friday, November 15, at the Great Aunt Stella Center. The film was shot in various locations in Charlotte and its surrounding areas, including Tremont Music Hall and 23 Studio/Pat’s Tavern. The soundtrack also includes local acts such as Karma, Gael Warning and Devan Smith. Gael Warning will be performing at the premiere as well. Showtime is 7pm and tickets cost $7. For more details, call 704-824-4212 or visit www.alternity-magazine.com.
Two local acts are working with Renelvis to help organize a benefit show at Tremont Music Hall on Friday, November 22. The Alternative Champs and Les Dirt Clods will both back the Filipino Elvis impersonator (and all around nice guy) for two separate sets. Among other activities, Renelvis will have his personal memorabilia collection on display, too. Proceeds from the show will benefit his daughter’s medical expenses (she is autistic and has Down Syndrome and requires therapy). Speaking of Les Dirt Clods, the band recently recorded material for a full-length release at the Kudzu Ranch in Mebane, NC (Rick Miller, of Southern Culture On The Skids, owns the studio).
Angwish will begin recording their second CD this month at Reflection Sound Studios with engineer Tracey Schroeder.
Robot vs Rabbit‘s latest CD, Trading The Witch For The Devil, was recently released by Mandragora Records. The band also has a new web address at www.robotvsrabbit.net. The RVR side project, My Brother The Cyclops, has also released a CDR of ambient/noise/drone recordings. The pieces were processed from field recordings during the RVR/Yume Bitsu spring tour. For more info, check out the website or contact contact@robotvsrabbit.net.
Deep South Entertainment (a Raleigh based management company and record label) will present its second annual Southeastern High School Battle of the Bands on Sunday, January 12, at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. The winner will record a three-song demo, have a song featured on the label’s upcoming compilation, Deep 4, and receive an expense paid trip to NYC in February 2003 to perform in a BMI showcase. Deadline for submissions is Friday, December 13. All members from the participating bands must be 19 or younger. Send a CD or cassette (containing a minimum of three songs), band picture, bio and contact info to: Deep South Entertainment, Attn: Battle of the Bands, 188-104 Wind Chime Ct., Raleigh, NC 27615. For more details, check out www.deepsouthenter tainment.com.
Club Vertigo at Lake Norman is now under new management. The club is also open three days a week now, Thursday through Saturday. For more info, call 704-892-2516.
In its first departure from the “zine world, Chapel Hill based Mere Exposure has released a compilation CD titled Patchwork. The disc features 14 tracks from artists from Chapel Hill and Seattle mostly, including the Dynamite Brothers, Superchunk, The Scaries and The Silent Seas. For more info, go to www.mereexposure.com.
This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2002.