This summer's hottest concerts

Sarah Kebea
Editor-in-Chief 

The school year is coming to a close, which means summer concerts are right around the corner.  Prepare yourselves, good music is coming your way. 

Cold War Kids to play free concert at Red Hat Amphitheater

Michael Lyday
Features Editor

Ready for a superb concert experience that won’t break your budget? Look no further than this year’s edition of Red Hat Amphitheater’s annual free concert series featuring Cold War Kids, the band behind the hit song “Hang Me Out to Dry”. Tickets which normally cost up to $50 each are not required for this show. Opening for Cold War Kids are local bands Wild Fur and Jack the Radio. The venue opens its doors at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Be sure to show up early to get a good spot as the line fills up quickly. 

Great albums to jam out to this summer

Nicholas Chupka & Michael Lyday
News Editor & Features Editor

Warmer weather is finally upon us with spring in full force and summer getting closer. Here are some essential tunes for fun in the sun this summer.

If you’re going for a road trip this summer or just riding around town, roll the windows down and turn up these albums perfect for singing/shouting along to:

 

To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar: this funky hip hop album filled with many memorable songs such as “King Kunta” and “i” will be the highlight of your ride.

Celebration Rock – Japandroids: this high-volume powerhouse features summer anthems such as “The Nights of Wine and Roses” and “The House that Heaven Built” complete with catchy, shout-along choruses, overdriven guitars, and powerful drumming.

Joyce Manor – Joyce Manor: though it clocks in at under 20 minutes, this outburst of punk rock force is not short of thrills, fitting catchy hooks and unbridled energy into a small package. Like a can of pressurized air thrown into a fire, this album explodes through your speakers in a short but impressive display.

Run the Jewels 2 – Run the Jewels: features a riptide of verses with unbelievable flow and chemistry by collaborators Killer Mike and El-P. Never worry about overplaying this one; with sparse choruses or repetition, there will always be an aspect that is fresh or that had unnoticed every time you put it on.

Upcoming concerts: Earl Sweatshirt, Curren$y amongst artists

Alex Sands and Sarah Kebea
Arts and Entertainment Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Before summer concerts start flowing in, get started with some concerts happening before the end of the school year. 

Friday, March 27- Rapper Curren$y at the Ritz with Corner Boy P. 

Sunday, April 26- Rappers Earl Sweatshirt, Vince Staples, and Remy Banks at the Ritz.

Saturday, May 2- Rappers Tyler, the Creator and Taco at the Ritz.  Old Crow Medicine Show and Sturgill Simpson will be performing the same night at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre. 

Sam Smith dominates music's biggest night

Sarah Kebea
Editor-in-Chief

Sunday night was full of creative performances and surprising moments at the 57^th Annual Grammys.  AC/DC started off the show with a hell-themed performance of “Rock or Bust” and “Highway to Hell”.  Kanye West took the stage three times Sunday night, performing “Only One” solo and later performing “FourFiveSeconds” alongside Rihanna and Paul McCartney.  In a surprising moment, West went on stage when Prince announced Morning Phase as Album of the Year, leaving Beck confused, and Jay-Z and Beyonce amused in the audience.  Beyonce also took the stage, ending the show with her rendition of gospel song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.”  Throughout all the surprises and performances, Sam Smith seemed to continuously rack up his Grammys, leaving him with four awards by the end of the night.

Upcoming albums for 2015

Nicholas Chupka & Michael Lyday
News Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Nicki Minaj - The Pinkprint

On December 12 New York based rapper Nicki Minaj released her third studio LP The Pinkprint. The album features a variety of musicians including Ariana Grande, Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown and many more. Debuting at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, Minaj’s third studio LP was greeted with generally positive critical reception, receiving a 7.5/10 on Pitchfork and a 7/10 from Spin Magazine.

Top ten Christmas songs

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

Only one day remains until the beginning of Christmas break and the full swing of the holiday season, so get hyped for the holidays with our top 10 Christmas songs.

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Taylor Swift, La Dispute among many to perform in N.C. in 2015

Michael Lyday & Nicholas Chupka
Editor-in-Chief & News Editor

There are concerts aplenty in store for North Carolina in 2015. The following list contains some of the most popular artists expected to hit the scene in the upcoming year.

 

97.5 Winter Jam

December 20 - Dorton Arena

Hang out at the Triangle’s iciest winter music festival featuring hip hop and R&B artists such as Cash Out, Rae Sremmurd, Teyana Taylor, Dej Loaf, Snootie Wild.

Sing loud for all to hear

Rebekah Gould
Staff Writer

Break out the wrapping paper and the holiday records. Here are some of this year’s new holiday albums with old classics and original songs to enjoy.

• Motown Records and Motown Gospel have collaborated to release their first Christmas album in over 40 years, Motown Christmas. Kevin Ross, Ne-Yo, Gene Moore, Tasha Cobbs, The Temptations and many more artists all add their twist on traditional songs and new songs that are sure to become classics. Various.

• A cappella group, Pentatonix, has released their second holiday album That’s Christmas to Me. It features classic carols such as “Mary Did You Know?”, and remixes of “Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy” and renditions of “White Winter Hymnal” and “Let it Go”. Their title and original song, “That’s Christmas to Me”, ties in personal meanings of Christmas to each member of Pentatonix. A Cappella.

Breaking News: 14 Grammy categories and nominees announced

Sarah Kebea
Arts and Entertainment Editor

So far only 14 categories and their nominees have been released to the public.  History was made earlier today when Beyoncé became the most nominated Grammy female of all time, with 47 nominations.  Nominees for the biggest category of the Grammys, album of the year, will be announced tonight on A Very Grammy Christmas, which will air at 9 p.m. on CBS.  Maroon 5, Tim McGraw, and more will perform their current hit songs and holiday songs on the television special.  Nominations for all other categories will be revealed throughout the day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Twitter via video posts. 

Best Country album:

Riser- Dierks Bentley

The Outsiders- Eric Church

12 Stories- Brandy Clark

Platinum- Miranda Lambert

The Way I’m Livin’- Lee Ann Womack

Best Pop vocal album:

Ghost Stories- Coldplay

Bangerz- Miley Cyrus

My Everything- Ariana Grande

Prism- Katy Perry

X- Ed Sheeran

In the Lonely Hour- Sam Smith

Best Urban Contemporary album:

Sail Out- Jhene Aiko

Beyoncé- Beyoncé

X- Chris Brown

Mali Is- Mali Music

G I R L- Pharrell Williams