You guys have to check out Mood Cultivation Project while you are in NC - they are the best local act going right now! You can get their schedule at www.moodcultivation.com - Don't miss them!

Just a follow up - Mood Cultivation Project is playing at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem NC on Friday, March 31st. This is their hometown, so they allways have a great show here!

Hi There,
I have spent alot of time in North Carolina. The music and local bands are sweet. When in the Ashville area, don't miss the Mellow Mushroom. It's the be pizza joint and brewery around.

My best friend goes to school at Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I think you should really check out the area there. It's a very big music scene, mainly indie/underground. They also have a radio station there (the first one to go live online), and if you listen late at night to Ben or Katie, you'll get a good taste of the general interests of the area. If you need anymore information, feel free to contact me at leadnot_follow@yahoo.com. I'll be glad to help you out!

And you should come up to Western Massachussets sometime!

thanks for all these great posts. Can't wait to hit NC. I'll definitely check into the local radio stations.

Appreciate the restaurant rcommendations - certainly enjoying the food part of this!! Tim

Tim - big supporter - I have been introducing your service to all my middle-age friends.

Planning your trip to the Triangle should be fun. We have a very active scene here. Lots of good food too. Let me know if you want some specific eats recommendations or a place to crash.

Enjoyed reading about San Antonio - takes me back - it is hard to believe HogWild has been there 30 years since middle school!

Another suggestion:

Merlefest.

http://www.merlefest.org/

Here is a list of artists performing there:

http://www.merlefest.org/ArtistsSchedules.htm

I was going to cut and paste it, but it is something like 100 artists in 4 days.

I jsut recently found ur site and i love it!!! I live in Raleigh near cary. I think its cool as hell that ur traveling to nc. wish i could meet the people behind pandora. april is actually my bday. april 27. so i hope you have lots of fun here. good luck

Drew - where do the middle-aged folks for for music?!

Hogwild was great - I'm betting the inside hasn't changed a whit. T.

Skip Charlotte. Go straight from Asheville to the Triangle cutting through Winston-Salem.

There are definetely a lot of great bands around the Asheville area that would love to get their music out there. But wherever you go you really need to advertise like crazy in the area. places like the orange peel or even high schools would host events for concerts. plus its a great way to get out there

Check out Firecracker Jazz Band in either Asheville (their hometown) or Chapel Hill in April. http://www.firecrackerjazz.com

Catch Mad Tea Party at home in Asheville before they head north. http://www.whosethatrecords.com

For a huge sampling check out the Shakori Hills Grassroots festival in Silk Hope, NC (nearish to Chapel Hill)
http://www.shakorihills.org

Forgot another important Charlotte stape called "The Milestone" a lot of bands had shows here before they gained a larger following like REM, Nirvana, Fugazi, Black Flag, Skinny Puppy,Nofx, They Might Be Giants, the list goes on. THis place is really a small house that was converted into a music venue back in 1969, It shut down for a stink of around 5-6years, and recently reopened with the same type of vision.

http://www.themilestoneclub.com/

Don't miss David Childers and the Modern Don Juans in Charlotte!

You really ought to check out the Durham/Chapel Hill area. Drop in for a show at the Cats Cradle in Chapel Hill if you have the time. A lot of good bands will play there. If you need help with planning your time in NC feel free to let me know. Good luck. (<3 Pandora and so do all my highschool friends)

I agree w/ Susan ~ skip Charlotte. Check the schedules for Local 506 in Chapel Hill (http://www.local506.com/) and King's Barcade in Raleigh (http://www.kingsbarcade.com/). The Cat's Cradle, of course, is the most reknowned in the state of NC with easily the most history (I'm biased ~ I worked there for 4 years :), but they cater more to national acts b/c its a bigger venue. That said, don't let that stop you from checking it out!

I have to disagree with the skip Charlotte thing, If your in NC it's worth checking out, Charlotte's music scene is defenitly not as well known as Chapel Hill and Ashville, but there are still some great localbands and some great venues, you just have to dig. Sure Charlotte misses some bands that normally go to the more college towns like Ashville and Chapel Hill, but those are usually national acts.

Bands: Snagglepuss, Pyramid, David Childers and the Modern Don Juans, Cockpit, plus more

Venues: Tremont,Double Door,Visulite,Goblin,Neighborhood Theater,Evening Muse,Milestone

While in Chapel Hill, def check out all those places (Local 506, Cat's Cradle).

A great local band, who came out of UNC, is Starting Tuesday (http://www.myspace.com/startingtuesday) And a great local artist is Rick Seibold (http://www.myspace.com/rickseibold)

Have fun!

Hi....
Someone just recently sent you a suggestion about coming up to the Western area of Mass. That would great if you could but even better if you can tour the Southern New Hampshire area....like near Hollis,Nashua...Manchester area.
Hope to see you guys soon during the summer.

Hi,
Being from North Carolina ther are some great sites and events to go too. But now that I live in the New England area....Hollis, New Hampshire really wish you can get up here to show these people what you are all about. Hoping too hear from you soon and even see you in concert sooner.
Thanks alot,
Adde

Hi....
Someone just recently sent you a suggestion about coming up to the Western area of Mass. That would great if you could but even better if you can tour the Southern New Hampshire area....like near Hollis,Nashua...Manchester area.
Hope to see you guys soon during the summer.

If you guys could please add Zeromancer to your lineup on pandora. It currently doesn't find them. They are an excellent band and very well known. Sounds like Stabbing Westward/HIM. I'd really appreciate it.

Hey man,

I hope it isn't too late, but if you're in Chapel Hill i recommend staying at the Carolina Inn (www.carolinainn.com 919-933-2001). It's classy, and not far from the cat's cradle. The frat houses right across the street from the inn get great local bands to play fairly regularly, from bluegrass to jazz.

There are TONS of local artists at the school. Many play at local bars (such as Shorty's Bar and Grill). There is some great music in this area. I hope your trip here is fruitful!

-chobbs

Definitely check out the Evening muse in Charlotte. It's a groovy little shack with a great line-up of local and touring bands.

r.

Some great local bands here in the Triangle area are Absent Element, Starting Tuesday, and SpencerAcuff, to name a few. Have a great time in NC!

You need to look up Jason Harrod who is located in Carrboro, North Carolina. He also has his own webpage www.jasonharrod.com.

Charlotte's definately worth a stop - 'specialy if you like bankers in Khaki pants and blue shirts :)

http://www.ampseleven.com/ is the local music rag.
Drop into the Comet Cafe - small, shotgun shack style - live bluegrass every night, no cover.
I think the Neighborhood Theater is the only non-smoking place in town.

The Ashville staion WNCW (http://www.wncw.org/) will cary you pretty much all the way to Charlotte. Once you're there, tune into WSGE (http://www.wsge.org/). Once you head towards the Triangle you can do worse than WUNC (http://www.wunc.org/)

I've heard good things about some guys called Miles Apart in the triangle. Laughing Gravy kicks out some good bluegrass in CLT

if your in the wilmington area check to see if
ASG will be around. they have made it big lately and have been doing alot of touring but if they are here its great punk. also Organix is unbelivable check them out to

OK, so you said eateries, too..of course you'll have to have some barbecue (and hushpuppies and slaw and stew and banana pudding)...of course you won't be getting down east, where the proper "Q" is served(IMHO), but you can find some good stuff in the higher elevations as well...
http://www.ibiblio.org/ch-scene/bbq/bbq.html
for a good representation when you are in the CH area try Allen and Sons...
http://www.ibiblio.org/ch-scene/bbq/allenandson.html
if you are living high-dollar, try out mama-dips for all the fixins...
http://www.mamadips.com/

While in Chapel Hill you must stop by WXYC(UNC College Radio). First radio station ever to simulcast on the internet and one of the most mind-blowing collections of underground and indie rawk on the east coast. If you called, (919 962 8989) I'm sure they'd do an interview while you're in town so you can explain your quest (and maybe do a little pandora proselytizing!).

Shameless plug - check out can joann (www.canjoann.com)

some cool music made in Asheville.

www.miriamallen.com

Ok, where to start!!

i love my pandora... THANK YOU THANK YOU!

-www.theleaf.com - Lake Eden Arts Festival, the best kept secret of Swannanoa!! May 12-14
-www.mountainsportsfestival.com - Mountain Sports Festival. May 5-7
-mayhem @ warren wilson college - music and Ultimate Frisbee festival!! May 6, also in swannanoa
(fyi swannanowhere is just east of asheville 14 minutes)

eats:
-Salsa's is a must for lunch or dinner
-Mela is a must for lunch
-Zambra is a fun tapas bar
-Honey Tupelo is BEST for late night munchies
-Jack of the Wood, barfood, great beer, pub

if time permits:
-hike most anywhere!!
-old farmers ball, contra dance, thursdays

venues:
-Orange Peel www.theorangepeel.net
-Grey Eagle www.thegreyeagle.com

probably the best i can provide would be to get in touch with me and I will show you around!! I would be honored.

peace,
brett

While in Charlotte, check out these cool neighborhoods:

Noda District (North Davidson)::
Old textile mill neighborhood that went through a small depression and became rundown in the 70's. Artist started to move into the neighborhood and created galleries, small shops, resturant.

Plaza/Midwood District ::
Alot of old Victorian style houses, that went through a depression as well, and later gentrified, now there is a large community of musicians & artist, and a large hispanic community that live in this area.With small shops, pawn shops, resturants, bars,etc..

Living in San Francisco for ten years, I would compare these neighborhoods most similar to Haight/Ashbury (Noda) and The Mission Plaza/Midwood)

Eat at:
-Dish::Good comfort food (Plaza/Midwood)
-Penguin::Diner food, great burgers (Plaza/Midwood)
-Cajun Queen::Cajun food (Elizabeth)
-Mama's Caribbean::Jamacian (Plaza/Midwood)

I'm not from North Carolina (another New Hampshire-ite), but I'd definitely recommend seeing Christine Kane play, as that's her homebase. I'm surprised no one's mentioned her yet. She's an incredible, quirky folk singer from Asheville.

http://www.christinekane.com

You should definitely check out North Carolina BBQ. There's several types, but it's all basically chopped, pulled, or shredded pork (usually shoulder/butt, but sometimes whole hog) with a vinegar-based sauce. You won't find anything like it anywhere else in the country. Western NC BBQ has a tomato/ketchup element to the sauce that Eastern doesn't have (the dividing line is probably around Greensboro). South Carolina has a similar BBQ tradition with a mustardy addition. But the accoutrements are a big part of the experience: hushpuppies, brunswick stew, greens (collard and otherwise).

For traditional country eats, check out Big Ed's in downtown Raleigh. I believe Ed finally retired and I've heard some comments about it going downhill in recent months, though. Still worth checking out. Not many places where you can still order calves brains. Cooper's BBQ, an historical and very good, if not best, BBQ joint, is not far away at all. You could make a breakfast and lunch of it. And the Lincoln Theater is pretty close, too.

You might want to check out Schoolkids Records across from NCSU campus (not that near anymore). The Brewery used to be a great venue for local music, but it's fallen on hard times in recent years. There's also a Schoolkids in Chapel Hill, where you might also want to check out CD Alley. And I'll namecheck the Cat's Cradle, too.

Okay, that's probably too much already.

Hey, I love pandora.

Lived all over NC, in Raleigh now.

Check out Manamid in Greensboro/Winston Salem. Loop in Asheville. Maple Stave, Octobers, Port Huron Statement in Raleigh. And (if they're still around) the Karloffs in Boone.

Don't give up on us because school is out. Asheville maintains a year round presence and I continue to be amazed how alive Chapel Hill is over the summer.

For the Triangle you can always get updated info from the Independent: http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/

As for where do the middle aged folks go? Arts Center in Carrboro - www.artscenterlive.org has a great line up from Mavis Staples to Lucy Kaplansky on down. And believe it or not we are out in force at Cat's Cradle - Neko Case show there last week was pretty middle aged!

For local music streaming consciousness calendars you can also check into www.guitartown.org (americana, country, alt.country, roots rock, bluegrass, oldtime, western swing, ETC., concerts in central & western North Carolina (including Charlotte) and eastern Tennessee.)

Let us know when you get close.

There's a pretty decent hardcore/metal scene in the NC/triad area. Ziggy's and Tremont Music Hall put on some good shows.

Some idea of NC bands are:
Glass Casket
End of All
Forever in Despair
Prayer for Cleansing (no longer around)

ncmusic.com is pretty okay about keeping up with where local music will be, check it out.

Hi Tim,
I absolutely love Pandora...thank you for giving us a great site to listen to all this MUSIC. For your trip to NC, you really need to look up a band called Honey Child. Their website is www.honey-child.com. They were part of the first Lalapalooza tour years ago and moved to NC about three years ago. I've lost touch with them, as I am in Phoenix, but tell them Corina sent you...they will give you the best show EVER! Both of their albums are awesome and you can listen to some samples on their website as well.

if you're around in the summer and want some folk music dose, hit Festival for the Eno (www.enoriver.com/festival)

Hey --
Big fan of the work you do.

Played in bands in Boston for almost twenty years. Tired of the grind, the weather, and the cost of living, and settled in Greensboro about a year ago.

As most have mentioned, the triad isn't quite the hotspot that Chapel Hill/Carboro and Ashville are, but as someone who spent lots of time in both areas before deciding on Greensboro, that is why I did settle here.

If you are looking for bleeding edge/college scene, then the Triangle is great. If you are looking for good jam bands, jazz and all the rest, then Asheville has a great Portland, ME in the summertime feel to it. (Full disclaimer - I loved the Asheville area. It was beautiful there, the people were nice and it was very cool just hanging out there... However, I felt silly moving somewhere almost as expensive as Boston and with weather similar to it - once you get into a little altitude.)

The Triad, on the other hand, is much more homey (many would say homely, I'm sure), but I have met lots of people who played in some amazing bluegrass and country groups and are retired/returning to this area. They are all accessible and they all still play - they just aren't doing it in Cat's Cradle or the like. Cat's Cradle is a great club and I have seen and will see many shows there. I just can't keep up with the college kids anymore.

If BBQ is your thing, then as someone previously mentioned, this is the line where things cross over from east to west and you can find tons of joints serving great food for almost nothing here.

Sometimes I miss being able to walk down the street and hit a dirty pub and listen to three or four local rock bands banging out songs...

However, at this point in my life, I'm as happy having someone stop by with a fiddle or mandolin and walking out on the deck overlooking the lake with a couple drinks and a fire going and just jamming out for a few hours on a Tuesday eve.

As someone who played in ten rock bands over almost twenty years and put out fifteen or so recordings in that time, I do not frown on, disrespect or otherwise think poorly of, or look down on all the kids coming out now and busting there asses making good music and trying to make a living doing what they love. I applaud them all.

I just don't have the constitution to keep up with them anymore :)

Anyway, if you find yourself heading through and will be hanging at a pub somewhere or are looking for something specific, just drop me a note and I'd be happy to help out or meet up.

Thanks again for all your work and have safe, interesting, and happy travels.

Hell-o,

Welcome to Charlotte North Carolina.

I would like to invite you to dinner at my house, and If at all possible to also maybe go on the road with you. The music on pandora is the bomb!! I wish that there was a station on the radio that you could listen to in the car.

Keep doing what you do.

Contact me via e-mail.

Thanks

ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE

MUST SEE:

DJ ATROPHY
http://www.myspace.com/djatrophy

SUGAR AND SPICE
http://www.myspace.com/sugarandspicemagic

CUSTARD PIE
http://www.myspace.com/custardpieasheville

***MUST EAT

EARLY GIRL EATERY (WALL ST.)
SUNNY POINT (WEST ASHEVILLE, BUT DON'T MISS IT)
JACK O THE WOOD (PATTON AVE.)
MELA (LEXINGTON AVE. THE BEST INDIAN FOOD EVER I SWEAR)

also check out HARVEST RECORDS IN WEST ASHEVILLE... they network with a lot of underground and interesting music and they are THE SWEETEST GUYS IN THE WORLD, Mark and Matt

Hope to see you!!

Tim -

Try Roman Candle out of Chapel Hill/ Carrboro. Superb.

Dennis

This message is to echo what "rootgrinder" posted about the triad...and also to direct him/her to check out "mood cultivation project" these guys are from the triad/surry county area & are a GREAT jam/rock band! They mix a little bit of everything and are like no one else - and their home venue is Ziggy's right in W-S!

My current favorite NC band is The Avett Brothers.
http://www.theavettbrothers.com/shows.php
There is also a lesser know venue in Durham that is worth checking out http://www.305southdurham.com/

Enjoy your travels. Pandora is a godsend!
Cisley

Be sure to check out any local festivals as many a bluegrass bands play these things constantly.
I'm sure you'll need a break from college rock.

Definitely hit up Chapel Hill. Lots of great music from there! You might be able to find out some more stuff by visiting My Space and looking up music events for the area too.

Oh, one more thing....you guys rock!

I agree, you MUST check out the Avett Brothers if you get the chance. I'm not even from NC, I'm from NYC, but I had to comment on this page to tell you that you need to check them out and see their amazing live show.

For those in the know, Carrboro (town adjacent to Chapel Hill) is where it's at for music. Cat's Cradle is in Carrboro, just to clarify. It's a lovely little spot to know about and as a life long North Carolinian, I know there's something about this place that's unlike anything else in the state. A lot of others feel the same pride (http://www.itscarrboro.com/). Pandora has enriched my life -- really truly, so I'd like to give the favor back. I live right in the center of Carrboro. If you'd like to rest your bones on the best front porch in town, have a few beers and talk to some locals about the music scene then let me know. Plus, I work for a website too

Charlotte is a difficult place to know, but if you look hard enough there are plenty of suprises. Here is a short list of can't miss joints only in Charlotte.
The Double Door Inn- Historic Blues joint
The Comet Grill- Tiny place- live music and get you a grilled pimento cheese sandwich
Puckett's Farm Equipment- $1.50 PBR and Bluegrass 'nuff said
Bill Spoon's- Best Q in town- eastern style
Bubba's Barbeque- Spoon's protoge w/ more accomidating hours
Phat Burrito- local and better than chain burrito joints
Cabo Fish Taco- Now a NoDa tradition
Taqueria La Unica and/or La Mexicana- The real deal if you are brave enough
Penguin- kick ass burgers and High Life in a bottle
Lupie's- Three Kinds of Chili
Price's Chicken Coop- Take it with you on your way out of town
And if you can catch The Avett Bros., do. Thier shows are incredible.
I hope you enjoy Charlotte 1/100th as much as I enjoy Pandora.

listening constantly, the best was using pandora during a party. as host, i never had to think about the music. and we had 40+ new listeners the next day.

good advice so far re: asheville.

other events:
flat rock music festival
smilefest
downtown after five (free outdoor show in downtown, 3rd friday, may-september, www.ashevilledowntown.org)
lake eden arts festival (b/c it deserves to be mentioned again, concentrates on world/roots music and has the best family approach of any festival out there, is also bi-annual)

other venues:
stella blue
french broad brewing co. (late afternoon)
the town pump tavern (in black mountain)

other bands:
menage
stephanie's id
the afromotive
woody wood of hollywood red and of custard pie and of the blue rags when they feel like playing(he'll pick anything from bill monroe to metallica. i've seen him with david vai and curtis burch while custard pie covers led zeppelin with a vengeance). just make sure you check out woody wood in whatever fashion.

you'll love what's being done to downtown with the pack square renaissance (www.packsquarepark.org). if people think asheville is the bomb-diggity now (i'm just trying to fit in this town), it's gonna be the bomb-diggity-dang (insert wannabe roving hippie comment here) when this is done.

and if you meet with someone who claims to own jukeboxalive.com, brace yourself. he's a complete j<ck<ss. you might want to ask him how me knowing whether his website exists answers my question of why he missed the greyboy all-stars?

be sure to let us know when and where you'll be... unless you're undercover.

thanks for the great work and enjoy being on tour while earning declarable income.

rob

Hey while traveling through Winston-Salem NC Stop and enjoy some great Lexington style BBQ head over to Little Richards on Country Club Road.Some of the best in the Piedmont Triad area.

When in NC check out Tift Meritt, she's gotten some attention on the national level lately. Other folks from the area that you might look in to include Ryan Adams, a bit of a "golden boy" who trys really hard to be a "star", but in spite of the business he creates some good music.

WKNC is NC State's radio station, 88.1 in the Raleigh area. They play a decent amount of local music. Definitely check it out... it tends to be more "listenable" than WXYC. ;) Contact me if you would like to be interviewed (I have friends who do a weekly show).

Speaking for the folks who go to the OUTER BANKS, there is a great scene on Ocracoke and Hatteras Island. Check out Molasses Creek, Noah Paley, Coyote and the Ocrafolk Opry. Go to www.molassescreek.com for information on these artist and more.

Wishing I was there instead on Indianapolis

Ashville is the place for good musical talent. Dave mathews got his break there. He originaly came from Johnson city TN. The bele chere fest there is awesome and one of the best music festivals around. Check out the orange peel also.You won't be dissapointed.

hey guys!
guess what?
i wrote a newspaper article on this website for my high school paper [the myers park hoofprint]!
the website is getting well known around here [charlotte] and you'd get a pretty enthusiastic crowd.
i'll give you a copy of the paper if you come! that's not much of a bribe, i mean, not $$ and the like, but you could get pumped about it if you wanted to.
MUSICISYUMMY! ~

A great band from western Ma. the Drunkstuntmen, will be playing these dates. To all you music lovers out there, if you can, check them out. Great music and raucus fun!

DATE: May 06, 2006
TIME: 9-12
PLACE: Puckett's Farm Equipment co. - Charlotte, NC

DATE: May 19, 2006
TIME: 10pm-1am
PLACE: Rodeo Bar and Grill - New York, NY

their website: drunkstuntmen@fyou.com

Chaz's Bull City Records, Durham NC.

Here's a Google Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=1916+Perry+St,+Durham,+NC

Go to whatever show he's having when you're in town, and eat at the Federal on Main st. Durham is great.

Thanks for building the crazy Pandora.

Enjoy--

http://www.dylangilbert.com/main.htm

dylan gilbert, is definately a good "up and comer"
to check out. is style is kind of indie/experimental

plus my so called band, theyve broken up but there records are available many places in Charlotte.
there style is punk.

There are alot of bands to check out in charlotte.

I love Okrafolk on the Outerbanks. I tried to put that one in, but it was not there.

My 32 YO son introduced Pandora to me a couple of weeks ago and I'm sooooo hooked. I'm listening to my fave music non stop, now.

Oh, could not find ANY Thomas Newman either. How can you have music without oen of my favorite composers. Please consider.

Let us know when you will be in NC!

Thanks.

Check out The Cat's Cradle, Local 506, the Cave... CD Alley and Schoolkids are the best in local music stores...

Also check out "The Imperial Pints" the Carolina Brewery's Brewmasters Band, their CD is available at CD Alley, CD Baby and at the Carolina Brewery, they sound like a combination between George Thorogood and the Destroyers and The Rolling Stones...

I typically don't write into these things, mainly because my boss keeps me so damn busy...but I had to write to tell you "thank you" so much for creating this wonderful site. I have been a member since only yesterday and I have told over 25 people about your fanstastic online offering of great music. Not one of those people have been disappointed. As North Carolina is one of the top 3 fasted growing states in the country, I am sure you will be able to find more than what you are looking for in our wonderful state; especially in Raleigh/Durham, for there are always new bars/clubs opening up with their own individual appeal. Good luck with your endeavor! Thanks again! Cheers -

Don't forget eastern North Carolina! There is a great music scene in Wilmington (the beach isn't bad either)!

Just discovered this site. I haven't been off ever since. Thanks!

Hey Tim & Lucia...:)

The thing you're doing is a mind blaster and a true gift to music lovers. I don't know the parameters you are using to create, but it appears that the "genomes" for emotional tonality could be crafted together in a wave or episodic continuum that reflects a live listener's desires for completion or coordination in a music set for performance formatting. I play and sing live and have noticed that at some point in all performances an artist will "loose" his/her audience and then have to quickly "pull up" some favorite to re-invigorate the scene. It might be that there is a pattern or evolution to open live listening that could be of benefit to players and/or singers? Perhaps there is an algorithym that reflects average attention span and the musical dynamics that "answer" that particular moment of mood or taste, and perhaps this moves with much more similar pattern than we realize. It sure would help us troubadors. Just a thought.
You are doing great things, and I am sure you are having a blast! I'm envious in a good way...:. Good speed to you. -B

YOU REALLY DO NEED TO CHECK OUT WILMINGTON! I'VE BEEN HERE 7 YEARS AND STILL LOVE TO CHECK OUT NEW BANDS DOWNTOWN. IF YOU'RE HERE WHEN A BAND CALLED EMARYL IS PLAYING, GO!THEY'RE SITE IS
www.emaryl.com

Speaking of food. Just north of Raleigh is a little town called Wake Forest(no, the college moved in the 50's...lol.). There is a little place there called La Foresta. Best Italian food in the area hands down. While you are there tell Steve that Allen says hello.

no comments.. all i can say is: Wow! i like this site! this is awesome, very cool..i have a lot of music that i cant remember the singer but i know the tittle.. but still you get it!keep it up...good luck ur trip guys! hope u have all the fun! just say hi to all dj's u all did a good job! Cheers!!! Carolinians!

Hey! Stop By Blowing Rock, NC

Can't miss NC live music venues
Asheville-The Orange Peel

Carrboro- Cat's Cradle

Chapel Hill- The Cave, Local 506
bands of Chapel Hill... look for The Old Ceremony, Two Dollar Pistols, Memphis (The Band), The Spinns, Jet Rink, hell any Chapel Hill band will do

Charlotte- The Double Door, The Visualite, The Milestone, The Room (i've heard)... bands? look for Abe Reid & The Spikedrivers

Raleigh- The Pour House (not related to Charleston, SC Pour House)

While in North Carolina you have to pop down to the coast and visit us here in Wilmington. We've got it all: great local bands, a strong dose of the arts and of course, the beach. As far as bands go, we've got something for everyone. Punk, country western, beach music, you name it you can find it here in Dubtown. The university means there's plenty of hole in the wall bars that feature little known artists with a lot of talent. You've gotta check it out!

Check out The Sex Police from Chapel Hill, NC. http://www.flickerla.com/sexpolice/

Wilmington, NC - Check out the band Bender on this site. http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=currents

At the end of the day chill with us,
"A Sign Of The Times"(A.S.O.T.T.) Big Band specializes in three genres of music:
- Swing Music (in the spirit of the Great Big Bands from the Swing Era, circa 1925 through 1945, like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Chick Webb, Sy Oliver, Woody Herman, Fletcher Henderson, and Benny Goodman
- The music of the great Rhythm and Blues artists of the ?60?s, 70?s and ?80?s ? like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Curtis Mayfield, and Ray Charles.
- World Music from the African Diaspora, the mambos of Tito Puente and the salsas of Ray Baretto.
http://www.diasporaconnections.com/

Christine Kane, lives in Asheville, tours all the time, she's a local fave and a regular at the Grey Eagle.

if u happen to stop in wilmington(well worth it)any place downtown is a good bet as far as eats and drinks and the scene music wise is as eclectic as it gets indie, regge, punk, hardcore, ska u name it we got it and they are all pretty talented, also winston-salem has a strong scene still pluse greensboro have fun visit often.........

You have to check out Urban Sophisticate out of Greensboro, though they seem to play in the Triangle all the time. The pour house (Raleigh) and Cats Cradle (Chapel Hill) are great venues for up and coming bands but Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary is an amazing out door venue, Guster and Ray Lamontagne were there last night and it was an incredible show. Enjoy your travels and if you need a someone to share the driving load give me a call.

Mason - Get to work!

Tim - check out a band called Possum Jenkins www.possumjenkinsband.com. Guys orginate from Winston-Salem but play in Boone and Asheville area mostly.

Charlotte NC is our largest city and maybe worth a stop, especially if you are a NASCAR fan.

When in Charlotte meet with a guy named Divakar
who works for the ClearChanel station 106.5. He has his fingers on the pulse of the music scene over the entire region of the Carolina's. For about a decade he has been doing a regional music feature on the station that has expanded from rock to now also address new music and Indie label stuff.

BTW if you like Mediterranean food, a good bet is Kabob Grill on East Blvd. The best hummus and kabobs ever.

winston-salem has some vast offerings of fab indie rock music. check out tommygun (http://www.myspace.com/tommygun) for sure... others of note:
autopassion
jew(s) and catholic(s)
and the most fun rock-a-billy ever, the bo-stevens.

North Carolina has some great music, but so does SOUTH CAROLINA!! I live in Charleston, South Carolina. You should check out the solo pianist, Michael Murray, who plays in the Thoroughbred Club inside the Charleston Place Hotel (an Orient Express property) in downtown Charleston, SC. That guy is GREAT!!!

and if you come to winston - oh no, not mellow mushroom. It's the Starbuck's of the pizza world. Too many great indie pizza places in the triad. Botta Bing top of the list for pizza, beer and a fab wine list and then ther's the salty caper in salisbury...stay away from the evil chains

and of course listen to Clare Fader, Allison King, Andy freakin Mabe, Suitcase, Life in General and so and so and so on

Hey, I love Pandora. Keep it simple and easy to use!

Chapel Hill has the Cat's Cradle, Local 506, GO! Room, Carborro Arts Center, and The Cave all within walking distance of one another. They have bands every night. The Cat's Cradle gets pretty big name bands and hosts a hugely eccentric variety of bands. The others will have up and comer/indie type and there are several countryfried and bluegrass bands playing nightly too.

You must go to Chapel Hill if you want to have choices and choices of places to go on any given night. It's way better than Raleigh. Check out indyweek.com for the music calendar of the triangle area.

Good luck!

BWJ

I think that when you guys come to the North Carolina / South Carolina area you gotta check out a local band called Juggernaut. I really like their stuff. It's a very good mix of power metal with older style rock featuring both aggressive and powerful vocals.

You guy's have got to hit the Cat's Cradle if you come through Chapel Hill, NC. That is THE place to see and hear great bands. Even large bands play there and its really just a tiny little pub. That place has some of the richest music history i've ever heard of. Alot of really, really big bands played there before they hit it big.

glorydive (formerly Taylor Roberts Music) is another excellent band in NC - rootsy, folksy, and upbeat.

Nathan Asher and the Infantry, Nathan Davis, Early Morning Swim (if they're at a venue with decent sound)...Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers...

All can sometimes be found in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, and other parts of the state/country as well.

Safe travels!

If you can make it to one of the Raleigh Downtown Live events, you'll definitely hear some great music. Free!
http://www.raleighdowntownlive.com/

Thanks for this continuing flow of great suggestions everyone - looking more and more like mid-September for the North Carolina swing. Tentatively aiming for the week of September 18th. Stay tuned... and keep the ideas flowin'... LOVE IT!

Tim (Founder)

Where are all the Charlotte posters? My favorite is Tremont Music Hall where you can find some local and national acts with all the different genres of death, rock, and punk. The only problem with Charlotte is it does not attract enough national acts (except for Kelly Clarkson!) Anyway, check it out and you got the Cat's Cradle to East and Orange Peel to the West and Tremont smack dab in the middle.

When I discovered Pandora I haven't stopped listening and I am spreading the word!!! Love the clear quality of music and the seemingly endless choices. Will definitely be getting the Squeezebox! Thanks

Whilst in NC:

Okay the Triad area isn't as hopping as the Triangle maybe, but you have to check out Ziggy's in Winston-Salem. It's the Cat's Cradle of the Triad.

You might also check out College Hill Sundries in Greensboro. It's small but it got a Top 10 Bars in the country from Playboy a few year's back.

As far as music is concerned, Beaconwood (http://www.beaconwood.com) is a great Bluegrass band.

Also: Come Hell or High Water (http://www.myspace.com/suzaandsheets)

I have already contacted one Full Care Retirement Center (Galloway Ridge in Fearrington Village - South down the road from Chapel Hill)
recommending the Director of the Center bring Pandora to the attention of his residents (over 200). Many many seniors in Assisted Living and
Full Care Centers are avid users of computers - Pandora would be lovely for them to be able to
access. Suggestion: If not visits to the facilities - recommend visits to Senior Citizen
Centers. Betty Sher, Fearrington Village

Would you be willing to pay a visit to the Duke University Fuqua School of Business when you are passing through Durham? I'm currently in the MBA program and am sure that many of my classmates would be interested in hearing tales from such an innovative start-up.

-Edmund

Edmund - thanks for the very nice invitation. Would love to drop in on Duke. Why don't you send an email to tour@pandora.com and we can connect. Thanks for the interest.

Cheers. Tim (Founder)

Another "at a boy" for Pandora. Truly a great service, although highly addictive! Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!
Hard to believe that among all the great places mentioned around the triangle, I did not see anything about the Blue Bayou Club in Hillsborough (bluebayouclub.com). Great local, regional, and national blues acts. If you're there on a weekend night, you're gonna have a good time.
Here's to safe travels, cool nights and hot music!

Please come to Raleigh! There are some great clubs here, not to mention the coolest radio station, WKNC at NC State Univ. Not enough interesting people come to Raleigh, and it would be great if you guys came!

Hey there!
If you're going to be in NC around the 23 of sept, check out the blues, brews, and BBQ Event... Don't miss this newly expanded festival to feature more great blues music, and an array of beer and wine samples from some of North Carolina's finest producers...
Also, there will be a BBQ cooking demo... click my name for the link...

I MUST endorse addressing the Fuqua business school @DUKE as a lifelong Durham resident. I'm not a Duke alum but have the definate impression that FSB draws the best in the business field just as Duke does in other fields, esp. medicine and theology. Your business is definately worth exposure to some of the best business students in the country because you have identified a consumer need and filled it so superbly. There is simply no compare. I work in IT support at a rather large RTP company and recommend Pandora to anyone that seems to have any online musical interests, and have had only kudos reported.

North Carolina has it all. Drive I-40 from Ashville to the Research Triangle, then continue on down to Wilmington. It will be a mountains to the beach tour. Diverse food, music, people, cultures, and surroundings. Just remember drive I-40 and enjoy.

This is my first time every hearing about Pandora and it is much better than Yahoo music radio, and Netscape combine. I enjoy the selection and if I don't like the music I have chosen Pandora will cut that music short in an instant. I am music phantic, I play piano and organ so I am always looking for different music to play as well as entertain others. I am from NC in the eastern part of NC near Raleigh. Be sure to look me up if you're in my neck of the woods.

Go see www.chickenhotrod.com ! Their album is from the label "Old Oblivion". It's available through CD Baby. Chicken Hot Rod is standing by.
These guys were the first bluegrass band on the university/coffeehouse circuit in the early '70's and they were a huge fun hit wherever they went, which was all over the country. They all still play, and occasionally CHR is reunited -- look out !

so, Asheville has Yo' Mama's Big Fat Booty Band AND DUB FACTION, Emerald Lounge hosts many dubby and reggae beats. Lots of bluegrass to choose from Jack of the Wood is a great place to hear Bluegrass music, the LazyBirds out of Boone are great. Check out the sushi bar on Lexington (below Civic Center) great luscious eats.
Peace and Music.
These are real bands I've listed, not just people with instruments. These guys have spirit, musical talent and can WRITE GOOD MUSIC, they don't whine and put you to sleep, what's with some of that boring stuff being allowed on pandora, you know what GOOD MUSIC IS, don't you?!?!

About a year ago I had the privelidge of seeing a Bonepony show in Raleigh at my favorite hole in the wall. It's little place called the Pour House that has live music every weekend. I think you guys should give them a listen if you have the opportunity to see them live. Barring that check then out at http://www.bonepony.com/. I definitely think they would be a great addition to the genome project. Pandora is fantastic. Keep up the good work.

Discovered your site this afternoon and can't beleive it's for real.....wow, the net never ceases to amaze me but this is the most amazing yet! Keep it coming!

The Karloffs are still alive and kicking and playing in the Boone area. Possum Jenkins is quickly becoming a main stay of the Boone Music scene. (David Brewer guitars/vocals is a co-worker of mine - they do have a CD - check out http://xrl.us/rkok )
Other bands that have been through Boone that are worth looking into in
Raliegh(?I think?)- Soloz Unit
Asheville: The Makeout Room
Knoxville: The Royal Bangs (their new CD "We Breed Champions" is AMAZING.
Atlanta: A Fir-Ju Well

Hye, ya'll should head over to Greensboro, NC!! And visit UNCG :-D

Hi Tim, just got the e-mail about your Wed 20 Sept town hall at The Carolina Theatre in Durham - awesome! Really looking forward to meeting you, congratulating you, and doing a story on you and Pandora and MGP for the blog.

While I am extremely excited that you've chosen Durham, you may be missing a much larger audience just 12 miles away at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While Durham has Duke University and a great music community (but only a very small club scene), Duke only has a total of about 6,000 undergrads and 5,000 graduate students. In contrast, UNC-Chapel Hill has in excess of 26,000 students, many of whom are residential without cars and may not make it to Durham, especially mid-week. Chapel Hill also has an even better music scene (best of the many college towns in which I've lived) and is adjacent to Carrboro (Boulder of the Piedmont), site of the most revered rock club in the area, Cat's Cradle (as noted by others on this thread.).

So, if you are around for an extra day, I'd schedule another appearance in Chapel Hill to speak with this larger and more vibrant music community. It just reminds me how lucky we are to have such a great density of music and education here in the Triangle.

Come to Durham because DURHAM ROCKS!

Check out Chaz's Bull City Records. Old fashioned, independent, "Record" store. Vinal, CDs and you get to talk to a real live person.
He puts on awesome shows as well. No cover, just pass the hat.

305 South is another cool venue that needs some love.

I second tommygun. You must check them out.
http://www.tommygunrock.com
http://www.myspace.com/tommygun

They will be playing Sept 13th in Greensboro at the Flying Anvil and Oct 21st in Durham at the Troika Music festival

I see everyone is taking about Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, but I really think that you should come to Greenville and check out the local music scene here! There is a great variety of bands and sounds that are perfect for this college town!

Good NC bands that should be included are:
Glass Casket
He Is Legend
Classic Case
Cartwright
Farewell
House of Fools.

If you are coming through Raleigh/Durham, a lot of good bands play in real dives, but you get a real sense of the music scene there. The Brewery in Raleigh is a great one (run by music enthusiasts, for music enthusiasts). The MarVell Event Center runs a Thursday night arrangement for bands, and they pull a lot of neat ones. Dog Fashion Disco played there a few weeks ago (too bad I missed it).

I'm not sure what direction you are travelling through NC, but a great local Charlotte band is the Near Misses (http://www.thenearmisses.com/), I see that you are in Raleigh/Durham tomorrow, if you happen to still be there on Friday it looks like they are playing a club called RubberSoul Bar (I'm not familiar with the venue just the band) in Winston-Salem, a little ways north and west. Whether or not you catch them live, they are definitely worth a listen! Enjoy & thanks for all your awesome work!

just found about pandora yesterday...very, very cool! i've been listening for two days straight and counting. great to see you coming to NC...i'm in greensboro, basically midway between charlotte and raleigh. there are a ton of talented bands in this area. check out:

--defiant
(shameless plug...my band!)
myspace.com/defiantthereal

--chemical youth
chemicalyouth.com

--haiz rail
haizrail.com

--niro
niroband.com

Update: I'll be at the Carolina Theater (309 West Morgan St) in Durham on Wednesday, September 20th, at 7pm for a meetup! If you plan to attend, please RSVP by sending an email to tour@pandora.com with 'Durham' in the subject line.
I do not agree.For more info go to System.String[]

Just got into pandora the other day though I'd heard of it in passing over the past few months.

One of the key sources of new and indie music in the middle of the state is WKNC 88.1 FM, North Carolina State University's student-run radio station. I was the heavy metal director and dj there my senior year and am still a regular listener. Weekday music is primarily indie rock, but the evenings are saved for electronica, and weekends are used for specialty shows (metal from 8pm friday through 6am saturday). And you can listen online at http://wknc.org.

Aside from that, the whole Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) has a very vibrant musical nightlife with bands and fans from all three cities and the surrounding areas going back and forth for shows. Though it may not seem that way from some of the comments I've read -- there is a lot of competition between the cities due to their respective collegiate institutions.

The musical history of the state as a whole is just fantastic -- bluegrass, beach music, rock, metal, electronica, rap, the state has been a great source for quality music for nearly 100 years now.

North Carolina has it all. Drive I-40 from Ashville to the Research Triangle, then continue on down to Wilmington. It will be a mountains to the beach tour. Diverse food, music, people, cultures, and surroundings. Just remember drive I-40 and enjoy.
Greetings

hey Tim I don't have any suggestions for you here, but I wanted to tell you that I love padora and I'm spreading it's great news like wild fire while I listen to it every day! I also wanted to ask if you'd ever considered a parental advisory option for music with explicite content?
Thanks Tim, Lucia, and Jem!!!!

Patrick

really like the jam ,you guyg are really going places and reaching out.love it and beleive me i love jamming.just all the right songs.perfecti will pass this page around.
THANKS,cravensway

Hi Tim,

I don't have any suggestions, my club days ended a few years back. I discovered Pandora a few weeks ago and I'm hooked! I'm blown away by the catalog of stuff that I only have on vinyl, especially old punk and avant garde/arty stuff, that I've been blowing my kid's inheritance to replace in other formats. I do wish there was some chat/forum thing going, though--I'd love to connect with some people with similar tastes.

come east to the coast...NORTHEASTERN NC IS WHERE ITS AT!!!!!
ECSU, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, the OBX

Pandora is great - really.
Fantastic article covering some points I really needed some good usability info for.
Best regards from Poland

We LOVE PANDORA!

Hey again Tim! Again I thank you 4 a great station it has the music that I would not think would be availble! I actually have 2 questions?? 1st- Do you REALLY Read our replys? I know that you are a busy man I really do not see how you do it?!!!
2nd- If there is a song that is our absolute favorite why is there not a button on here if we want to send just that song to our friends, and tell about the site?
If that is not too much to ask I would like a reply back!
Thanks! Jessica

Pandora is Fantastic!

Fantastic article covering some points I really needed some good usability info for. Great Pandora

i love pandora !

Hi Pandora,

I'm really liking the site since I was introduced lately, and I'm a big fan of finding new music. I'm actually writing to inform you about two bands who I think would benefit this site with their music being avaible on here. Both roots reggae. Roots of Creation from New Hampshire, and Spiritual Rez from Boston. Both have excellent cds and live shows and I would highly recommend uploading onto the site for all to hear. Thanks and keep up the good work.

A great band from western Ma. the Drunkstuntmen, will be playing these dates. To all you music lovers out there, if you can, check them out. Great music and raucus fun!

Charlotte NC musicians are amazing. We have at least half a dozen now being featured in major television shows AND major motion pictures. Best places to see original bands - The Evening Muse (best listening room in the state), Snug Harbor, The Milestone Club, The Visulite Theatre, the Neighborhood Theatre.

Honestly, the Carolinas are filled with a whole lot of talent. The rest of the country will discover this soon enough.

(I'd list bands to see and hear, but there are so many. Check out http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4811551&blogID=311707783 for a list of some of the best shows going on this week.

Hey Tim,
I just got finished reading about you in INC.I love this service& would like to kn ow what can be done to keep ya'll up and runnin'!!I dont think I could afford a subscription,but I have started clicking ads.I have also been telling ALL my friends and family,my son is getting ready to start his own rap station-lol
Thanks for thegreat southern rock&blues.
BikerBelle

I teach at a community college. I would love to be able to play some classical music while I am teaching and giving exams (some music with no words for students to sing along with). Research has shown that music with 60-80 beats per minute in the background can increase learning and retention of learned data.

We have media stations in the classrooms with internet access. It would be great if I could set up a station just for my students!

60-80 beats per minute in the background can increase learning ,maybe it can help in other fields as well

Pandora is AWESOME!

really like the jam ,you guyg are really going places and reaching out.love it and beleive me i love jamming.just all the right songs.perfecti will pass this page around.

So, if you are around for an extra day, I'd schedule another appearance in Chapel Hill to speak with this larger and more vibrant music community. It just reminds me how lucky we are to have such a great density of music and education here in the Triangle.

All that I want to know is how in the world do you get back to the star page after you have went to another page? ex..when you go to the page to mark a song as a book mark. Hell I've been trying all night, the only way that I can is if I signout and then sign back in. If you do this then it will not start you back at the point where you left off. Somebody, anybody pls help me!!!