Mount Moriah

Superchunk, The Mountain Goats, Iron & Wine, The dB's, Hiss Golden Messenger, Don Dixon & Marti Jones, Erich Bachmann (Archers of Loaf), and more North Carolina artists have contributed cover songs to a new benefit comp that aims to help much-loved, long-running Carrboro, NC rock club Cat's Cradle through COVID-19.

David Bazan seems refreshed and genuinely glad to be back as Pedro the Lion's frontman, and it's not even a nostalgia thing. The band is gearing up to release their new album Phoenix in February 2019 via Polyvinyl, and when they played the new song ”Quietest Friend” from it last night, it fit in perfectly with the classics.

Mount Moriah frontwoman H.C. McEntire recently released her excellent solo debut Lionheart on Merge, featuring collaborations with Angel Olsen, William Tyler, Mary Lattimore, Tift Merritt, Phil Cook, and others, and mentorship from Kathleen Hanna...

This week's Notable Releases include Scottish indiepop/punk band The Spook School, metal boundary pushers Tribulation, Migos' hugely anticipated 'Culture II,' and more.

The album features Angel Olsen, William Tyler, Mary Lattimore, Tift Merritt, Phil Cook, and more, plus "special guidance" from Kathleen Hanna.

The annual Raleigh, NC music festival also includes Angel Olsen, Big Boi, Margo Price, Afghan Whigs, The Make-Up, Mary Timony Plays Helium, and more.

Kym Register has been part of the Raleigh-Durham music scene for some time, both in folk-punk bands and as part of local venue The Pinhook. These days Register's releasing music as Loamlands, with a lush guitar pop sound that pulls from the late '70s rock and country.

Also: read an interview with Jenks Miller on his Horseback project.

Another week, another batch of records to grace our ears. The 1975 aren't on this list (and they wouldn't have been regardless), but you can head HERE if you want to read my thoughts on their record...

Pacific Northwest festival Pickathon has its 2016 edition on August 5 - 7 in Happy Valley, Oregon and they just announced the initial line-up which includes Jeff Tweedy, Yo La Tengo, Beach House, Ty Segall & The Muggers, Black Mountain, The Oh Hellos, Patrick Watson, Thee Oh Sees, Fruit Bats, Dan Deacon, Julia Holter, BADBADNOTGOOD, Alvvays, Protomartyr, La Luz, Ultimate Painting, Moon Duo, Ezra Furman, Sir Richard Bishop, The Woolen Men, and more...