Local legends Archers of Loaf are back with new music and a tour
“Cause she’s an indie rocker and nothing’s gonna stop her.” What a memorable lyric from Archer’s of Loaf’s “Plumb Line.” It’s a good week for indie rock bands coming to town. A couple of underheralded groups and an iconic comic returns to the Triangle.
Archers of Loaf
The details: Feb. 21, 9 p.m. Cat’s Cradle, 300 E. Main St., Carrboro. Sold out. 919-967-9053 or catscradle.com
There was talk two years ago of new Archers of Loaf material. And while it may have taken some time, the band announced Tuesday it will release a new song, “Raleigh Days,” on Feb. 20, the before their Cat’s Cradle show. It’s their first new song in two decades, according to the band’s website. Archers of Loaf failed to receive enough credit for its contribution to indie rock during the ‘90s. The band’s songs are moody, atmospheric and catchy. AOL is well worth catching, and . Eric Bachmann and his bandmates deserve a second act.
Bobcat Goldthwait
The details: Feb. 21 and 22, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Goodnights, 861 W. Morgan St., Raleigh. Tickets start at $21. 919-828-5233 or goodnightscomedy.com
Goldthwait was a busy comic a generation ago when he developed an unconventional style as an abrasive standup delivering dark comedy. The late comic Sam Kinison accused Goldthwait of stealing his persona, but the wiseguy had the last laugh. Goldthwait, 57, became a well-respected director, who was behind the camera during the early days of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Goldthwait’s work as a writer-director (Who doesn’t love the cult classic “Shakes the Clown?”) has usurped much of his time, so comedy dates have been irregular. Expect a loose, unpredictable night from the comic, who was the late Robin Williams’ best friend.
Sloan
The details: Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Cat’s Cradle, 300 E. Main St., Carrboro. Tickets start at $25. 919-967-9053 or catscradle.com
Sloan is right up there with the Archers of Loaf in terms of bands that have made an impact. “Smeared,” the Canadian band’s debut album, is a ‘90s classic that somehow floated under the radar, despite their knack for crafting Beatles-esque power-pop. Sloan released 11 albums after “Smeared” dropped with the same members.
Bassist-vocalist Chris Murphy told The Ringer in 2018 how the band has stayed intact. Distribute credit and revenue evenly, let everyone contribute creatively and beware of side projects. “I always felt bad even talking about my mistress band in front of my wife band,” Murphy cracked.
Todd Snider
The details: Feb. 27, 8 p.m. Haw River Ballroom, 1711 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road, Saxapahaw. Jontavious Willis will open. Tickets are $25. 336-525-2314 or hawriverballroom.com
Snider doesn’t pander or worry what fans think. His latest album, “Cash Cabin Sessions: Vol. 3,” released last year, was written in the wake of a painful divorce. However, Snider refrains from delivering break-up songs throughout the spare, acoustic album.
“I was more thinking about songs,” Snider told Rolling Stone in 2019. “There’s a lot of songs about songs on this album. Lots of singing about singing. There were lots of songs that were like, ‘She divorced me, and now...” But those didn’t make it. There were lots of those. ‘Oh, I’m so down because of a girl.’ I don’t like those songs.”
Arrive early to catch Lily Hiatt, who has inherited a songwriting sense from her father, John Hiatt.
Dermot Kennedy
The details: Feb. 26, 8 p.m. The Ritz, 2820 Industrial Drive, Raleigh. Tickets start at $35. 919-424-1400 or ritzraleigh.com
Kennedy, who has a clarion call for a voice when he lets loose, has become a star in his native Ireland. The singer-songwriter is establishing himself in the United States, thanks to his debut album, “Without Fear.” “Outnumbered,” the debut single, is an anthemic smash that has nearly 120 million streams on Spotify.
Kennedy, 28, delivers folk but with hip-hop and rock flourishes.
“I think that’s something we try to balance a lot of the time,” Kennedy told the Las Vegas Review-Journal earlier this month. “I wanted to take all those influences I’ve got, which could be as eclectic as David Gray and Drake or Bon Iver and Meek Mill. It really is like I’m drawing on both worlds.”
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 3:57 PM.