Much to do. Much to see.  Potential for heart warmth or ache mid-week for our Heels and at the end of the week for ourselves when that holiday I dare not name makes everyone a little crazy.  Here’s hoping for happy hearts and making it out to as much of this madness as possible.

Mon – 2/8

• Soihadto / It is Rain on my Face @ Local 506 – Soihadto features the lead stylings of none other than Ace of Cakes master goofball Duff Goldman. Worth it. $8

Tues – 2/9

• Barton Carroll / Wood Ear @ The Pinhook – $5

• Galactic / T Bird and the Breaks @ Lincoln Theatre – $20 adv / $25 day of the show

• Jonathan Richman @ Cat’s Cradle – $10 adv / $12 day of the show

Wed – 2/10

• UNC vs. Duke Live on the Big Screen @ Local 506

• The Small Ponds / Laura Cortese @ The Cave – The Small Ponds are Caitlin Cary (founding member of Whiskeytown, Tres Chicas) and Matt Douglas (singer and songster for The Proclivities). This is I think enough said. $5

• Holy Ghost Tent Revival / The Woes / The Moneynotes @ The Pour House – $6 adv / $8 at the door

Thurs – 2/11

• Simplified / Cool Kid Collective @ Local 506 – $8 adv / $10 at the door

• Brandi Carlile / Amy Ray’s Rock Show @ Cat’s Cradle – Apparently this is sold out, but if you’ve ever seen the Brandi Carlile Band take it on the road you know it would be worth standing outside to wait for unused tickets. $25

Fri – 2/12

• NC Comedy Arts Festival Presents Comics & Chords
  • @ Local 506: Comics and Chords  -> Comics: Chris Fox (Greensboro, NC), Trent Bowles (Raleigh, NC), Ghuffran Ali (Chicago, IL), Carolyn Castiglia (New York, NY) / Chords @ 10:00: Proof (John Walker, Greg Eyman, Jeramy Lowe, Mike Salmon) and The Torch Marauder – $10
    
  • @ Cat’s Cradle: featuring Edie Brill and Mike MacRae – $13

• UNC-CH MFA Collaborative Art Show featuring Multi-media Installations / Videos / DJ’s! @ The Nightlight – $FREE! (runs 6-9 pm)

• Demolition String Band / The Moaners / Pneurotics @ The Cave – $5

• Drive-By-Truckers @ Lincoln Theatre – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 two night pass

• Bill Maher @ Progress Energy Center in Raleigh – $59.50 & $39.50

Sat – 2/13

• Carolina Brewery 15th Anniversary Show featuring  The Mugs / Graveyard Fields / Butterflies @ Local 506 – Here’s your chance to catch our friend Josh Kimbrough and his band of Butterflies in action with the added bonus of hearing the newly formed Graveyard Fields and Carolina Brewery’s Brewmaster Jon Connolly’s rockin’ rag tag of southern rockers The Mugs. $7

• WXYC Valentine’s Dance Party @ The Nightlight – $5

• Mardis Gras at the Pinhook! featuring The New Town Drunks / The Kinksmen / The Squares / Children of the Horn + a dance party @ The Pinhook – $5

• Drive-By-Truckers @ Lincoln Theatre – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 two night pass

• Lonnie Walker / Gross Ghost / Onward Soldiers @ Berkeley Café – $7

• Bill Maher @ Progress Energy Center in Raleigh – $59.50 & $39.50

Sun – 2/14

• The Foreign Exchange @ Cat’s Cradle – $20 for individuals / $18 each for couples purchasing a pair of tickets

• Wanda Jackson / The Lustre Kings @ Berkeley Café – Here’s your chance for Valentine’s Day With The Queen Of Rockabilly, an honest to God Rock’n'Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, and one hell of a lady. $15 adv / $15 day of the show

• Joseph Arthur @ The Art’s Center in Carrboro – $14 adv / $16 day of the show

And?

Here’s the link:

http://www.carrborocitizen.com/print/citizen020410.pdf

When his band Mortar and Pestle went bust, Josh Kimbrough decided that instead of taking some deserved time off, he’d channel his feelings into a batch of new songs.  So Kimbrough harnessed his chops and gathered his friends and launched Butterflies, a band whose music aims for some balance of college rock accessibility and acoustica living room sincerity.

Butterflies’ sole full length (to date), Nothing’s Personal, is an promising collection of tunes that showcase the band’s range.  The plaintive quality of Kimbrough’s songwriting and the tight-knit instrumentation brought by his full-time (Ross Connolly/TJ Maiani) and sometime (Katie Zickefoose/Bobby Britt/Joe Norkus) band-mates makes it clear that the title is but only wishful lying.  Nothing may be personal, but these songs definitely are.

As are the five toughest questions Kimbrough may have ever faced:

1. If your band were a book, what would it be?

I hate to do this, but my answer is a movie, not a book: A Few Good Men. Right now Butterflies is operating as a three piece, and I’ve got to tell you, TJ Maiani and Ross Connolly are unusually good men. After I’ve had a press pot of coffee, I’m not so bad myself. If you’ve missed Katie Zickefoose (keyboard) or Bobby Britt (fiddle) since we’ve scaled down to a triangle of testosterone, I can assure you that those two will be gracing our new record. We are working on it as you read this!

2. When was the moment you knew Butterflies was really going to work out?

Every time we find an excuse to pick up our instruments and make noise together, Butterflies is a success.  Other than that, I try not to think about whether it’s working out. There’s no time for that. Hopefully I’ll be able to look back once it’s over and have that moment.  That’s not to say I plan for it to ever end, but I also remember swearing to myself that I would never stop skateboarding, collecting basketball cards, and going to Toys “R” Us.

3. Describe the first time you ever wrote a song.

I was a little guy with a mini Casio keyboard and a supportive Dad. Having written songs for his jazz-fusion band in the 70s, my dad was a choice source for advice when I was inspired to write my first song. To get me started, he told me that a chorus is usually a general mantra or saying. I used the exact example he gave me and based the verses off of that. The keyboard was set  to banjo mode, which sounded nothing like a banjo. My Dad has taught me lots of songwriting tricks over the years.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?

Most members of Butterflies have a healthy appreciation of 80s punk rock. Minutemen, Black Flag, and Fugazi would be in this category. We are definitely inspired by the DIY culture that took root in that time period. Our sound, however, is probably more influenced by the first couple waves of bands that tried to sound like those bands.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How’d that turn out?)

I wanted to be an architect when I was a kid. I thought it would be a unique and practical way to exercise my creative instincts. I did not follow that dream. That’s so sad. Now I feel like I’ve let my childhood self down. We can’t end this on a bad note, though. Here’s a daily affirmation Stuart Smalley style: You know what? I think this is the best interview I’ve ever done. And you know what? I deserve it! [turns to mirror] Because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and, doggonit, Butterflies is playing Local 506 on February 13th!

- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Even if he did skirt the first question, you heard the man, go check out Butterflies live at the 506 on Feb. 13th!  And give Josh a high five when you see him!

Apparently, it’s the week for benefits and orchestral performances and tough decisions. Oh and Sunday you’ll just have to figure out something to do on your on.  Something tells me there’ll probably be something on television…you know like a House marathon or something.*

Mon – 2/1

• Sound Painting Orchestra Residency @ The Nightlight – First installment of a four Monday series featuring the SPO and their exploration of the improvisational composition process…or something wild and musically educational like that.  – $FREE!

• Wild Yaks / Old Bricks @ Local 506 – $3

Tues – 2/2

• Citizen Cope @ Cat’s Cradle – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 pass for Tues & Wed

• Comedy Open Mic @ The Cave

Wed – 2/3

• Citizen Cope @ Cat’s Cradle – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 pass for Tues & Wed

• Simple / Shit Horse @ The Pinhook – $5

• The Bootlegs / Fluff Chick @ Local 506 – $FREE!

• Triangle Jazz Orchestra Night @ The Arts’ Center in Carrboro – $FREE!

Thurs – 2/4

• Haiti Benefit featuring Chatham County Line, A Rooster for the Masses, Filthybird, The Hotwires, Roger Gupton, The Debonzo Brothers, and Andy Bilinski @ The Pour House – $12 suggested donation

Fri – 2/5

• Toubab Krewe @ Cat’s Cradle – $14 adv / $16 day of the show

• Embarrassing Fruits / Secret Message Machine / Brambler Ramblers (members of Inspector 22, Waumiss, and Kingsbury Manx) @ The Nightlight – $5

• Organos EP Release Party featuring Birds and Arrows and Ye Old Shoppe @ The Pinhook – If you recall, I’ve already featured and sung the praises of Organos AND Birds and Arrows. Now’s your chance to catch both in action at one of Durham’s best venues.  It couldn’t be a clearer opportunity, if I’d of planned it myself. – $5

• WKNC Double Barrel Benefit featuring Max Indian, Bellafea, VeeLee, and The Light Pines @ The Pour House – $7 adv / $9 at the door

Sat – 2/6

• Bob Marley Birthday Bash featuring Mickey Mills and Steel, Jamrock, dub Addis, Truth and Rights, Joel Keel, and DJ Ras J @ Cat’s Cradle – $15 adv / $20 day of the show

• Sinful Savage Tigers / Mandolin Orange / Ox Magnolia @ The Cave – $5

• Dylan vs. Petty for Haiti featuring Big Fat Gap, Birds and Arrows, Gambling the Muse, It Is Rain On My Face, Mandolin Orange, Mary Johnson Rockers, The Pneurotics, Semi-Formal @ Local 506 – $5 minimum donation

• Mountains / Horseback / Tape / Ghosthand @ The Nightlight – $5

• WKNC Double Barrel Benefit featuring Roman Candle, Spider Bags, Midtown Dickens, and The Tender Fruit @ The Pour House – $7 adv / $9 at the door

*God, how I wish it really was a House marathon.

A couple of years back, one of the Greensboro Four explained the day to a group of students at Rashkis Elementary School.
Sorry about the shaky camera.

Here’s the info:

Due to road conditions from the winter storm, residential garbage will not be collected on Monday, Feb. 1.

Monday’s route will be collected on Tuesday, Feb. 2, if road conditions permit.

If roads still are icy Tuesday, Monday’s route will be collected on Wednesday, Feb. 3, and Tuesday’s route will be collected on Thursday, Feb. 4.

For up-to-date information, call 732-1270 Ext. 78.

This from the town:

9:30 am – Carrboro Public Works crews worked Sunday night into Monday morning spreading salt/sand mixture and re-plowing difficult areas. Most main roads are relatively clear but will become slushy again today with rising temperatures. Most residential areas remain snow/ice packed. Crews will be out working again today checking roads as needed. As noted yesterday, the downtown business area roads (Main St., Weaver St.) are in relatively good shape and downtown public parking lots have been cleared. Crews are also clearing snow at bus shelters. The Libba Cotten and Francis Shetley bike paths have both been plowed. All roads and paths remain slippery/dangerous and drivers/walkers should use caution.

Residential trash collection routes normally scheduled for Monday, February 1 have been postponed until Wednesday, February 3. This change was made to minimize having large trucks on slippery and narrow roads in residential areas.

The gates at Wilson Park and Anderson Park will remain closed until Town staff is able to evaluate park facilities and possible tree damage, and clear some of the roadways and parking areas. It is hoped that the gates will be opened sometime on Monday, February 1.

This from the Town of Chapel Hill:

Following the weekend snowstorm, normal operations for Town of Chapel Hill services are anticipated tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 1) with the exception of Monday trash collection, which has been rescheduled to Wednesday.

Public works crews will remain busy with snow plowing and de-icing work, necessitating the delay in trash collection. Monday recycling services, provided by Orange County, are cancelled. For more information, contact Orange Community Recycling Programs at
919-968-2788.

Although residents finally got to see pavement on many Chapel Hill streets on Sunday, they are cautioned that hazardous driving conditions persist with slick roads. Expect to encounter ice in the morning. As temperatures rise, melting ice and snow may cause runoff that could result in flooding of some streets and low lying areas. Crews over the weekend have focused on primary roads and bus routes. On Monday, they will address secondary streets.

Residential trash collection routes normally scheduled
for Monday will be postponed until Wednesday. This change is being made to
minimize having large trucks on slippery roads in residential areas.

This from the Town of Carrboro:

Carrboro Town Hall and the Carrboro Century Center will open at 10:00 am
on Monday, February 1st, 2010, with a limited staff. The delayed opening
will not affect Police, Fire and Public Works schedules.

This from Chapel Hill Transit this am:

CHT buses will follow their normal routes and schedules on Monday, February 1, 2010, as long as the streets are safe for travel. Bus routes that will be operating on detours are the A, F, N, T, V, HS, PX and 420. All routes will likely experience delays due to road conditions. CHT will not be operating on the following streets/areas until further notice:

A – Sevrin, Umstead and North Forest Hills
F – McDougle School
N – Village Drive, Longview and Pritchard Hill
T – Weaver Drive, Carol Woods, East Chapel Hill High School
V – Highgrove Drive, Brookgreen Drive and Greenview Drive
HS – Rogers Road and Seawell School
Pittsboro Express (PX) – Fearington Village
420 – Durham Tech

CHT encourages customers to be extra cautious when boarding and alighting vehicles as many area sidewalks and roadways remain slippery. EZ Rider and Shared Ride services are providing normal service today, however, customers may experience significant delays as road conditions dictate the ability of drivers to maneuver their vehicles on many area side streets and provide door-to-door service.