Recess' Spring Concert Preview

Spring is in the air and music is in the Triangle. See here for your guide of shows to see before the semester’s end.

Duran Duran 3/28 @ DPAC

Growing up, my mom would always play Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” in the car on our way to school, so naturally I assumed the band was old and no longer together. But they’re not! In fact, they’re on the first leg of their North American “Paper Gods” tour and will be putting on a show at Durham Performing Arts Center March 28.

Chance the Rapper 3/29 @ The Ritz

After canceling his Nov. 9 show at the Ritz last year, Chance is back. If you’re familiar with his music, this show is a no-brainer. Not only is he a talented rapper, but his energy and passion for his music means that you can count on a good show. So, assuming he actually shows up, this concert will be a great way to relieve your midterm stress (or to procrastinate studying for them).

Daughter with Wilsen 4/2 @ Cat’s Cradle

With timeless hits like “Youth,” “Smother” and “Medicine,” Daughter’s moody and ethereal sound is one that can only be fully experienced live. Joining them will be Wilsen, a similar-sounding artist whose music has a more minimalist feel that has been described melancholy and surreal. Cat’s Cradle’s 750-person venue will allow concert-goers to experience the up-and-coming bands in an intimate setting that will lend itself well to the feel of their music.

Magic Man & the Griswolds with Panama Wedding 4/8 @ Cat’s Cradle

This show promises to be a fun time. All three bands produce indie music with an upbeat feel that is feel-good and easy to dance to. So if you’re seeking a refuge from the hard beats and heart-pounding bass of Shooters music, this Friday night Cat’s Cradle show is just what you’ve been looking for.

Brickside 4/9 @ Duke Coffeehouse

Brickside 2016 is here! A full 12 hours of good music, vendors and food trucks right on East Campus at the Duke Coffeehouse. Some of the artists playing at the event include Grandmaster Flash, the rap legend previously part of the innovative hip-hop group The Furious Five; AJJ, a unique group whose music has been described as “folk punk”; Bad Friends; and Natural Causes. Wristbands for the event can be purchased at the Coffeehouse this week.

The Mowgli’s with Julia Nunes and The Rebel Light 4/10 @ Cat’s Cradle

This quirky indie pop musical collective hailing from Los Angeles, Ca. is coming to Cat’s Cradle April 10 along with singer-songwriter Julia Nunes and The Rebel Light, another indie pop band from LA. Although the Mowgli’s have received recent criticism for their newest album, Kids In Love (some claim that it does not live up to their 2013 hit “San Francisco”), the combination of these three artists has the potential to add up to an unforgettable show.

Fanfare Ciocarlia 4/11 @ Motorco

If you’re looking to experience a new type of music, this Balkan brass band’s concert is for you. The Romanian group, whose members are of Gypsy heritage, is described by Motorco as “a twelve-piece maelstrom of trumpets, tuba, clarinets, saxophones and percussion.” They draw influences from artists as diverse as Duke Ellington to Balkan wedding bands, and have performed in traditional ceremonies as well as concert stages around the world.

True Widow with Slimy Member 4/21 @ Kings

Although hardly upbeat, True Widow’s heavy and melancholy sound is the perfect feel-good-about-not-feeling-good music. Playing alongside them will be the band Slimy Member, who have a more punk feel but whose similarly drums and guitar-heavy music serves as an ideal complement to True Widow’s reverb-soaked melodies.

The Joy Formidable 4/25 @ Cat’s Cradle

The Joy Formidable has been relatively silent since 2013, but no longer. With the release of two new songs in 2016 and their announcement of a USA Spring Tour it seems this band is back on the rise. With previous hits including the classically alternative “Whirring,” this band is, in the words of The Guardian’s Michael Hann, “one for speakers, not headphones.”