Merge Celebrates 20 Years With The Merge XX Fest
In 1989, Superchunk incorporated Merge Records as a way to do it themselves. Over two decades of great signings, the label's carved an integral mark in the indie rock landscape. This is its 20th year, and that is just cause for a party. Block off your calendars from 7/22-7/26: "We are calling these 5 days of live music and mayhem XX Merge." Just some mirth away from The Best Show (fitting), with a line-up shaping up to be a Best Show on its own. 25 bands are promised to descend upon North Carolina, with four nights at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro and one at UNC Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall, and the initial slate is already worth the trip: Superchunk (obvs), Spoon, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Destroyer, Polvo, Spent, the Rosebuds, Guv'ner, Pipe, and the Broken West. More are promised soon. Use your imagination. Hotel rooms have been set aside at $85/night, five-day passes are priced at $150, tix go onsale 4/8. More info at mergerecords.com/xxmerge.
Posted at 12:57 PM by amrit
Tags: Superchunk
For those of us who live in Carrboro, several of these bands play around here every few months anyway. For that price, that lineup better end up with Arcade Fire, the National, Camera Obscura, and a NMH reunion show.
Score = -1
The National? Awful band who isn't on Merge Records. Hopefully, they won't be within 100 miles of this.
Score = -6
Teenage Fanclub please!!!
Score = 4
Yeah this is tough because I live in Greensboro. We won't get the National because they are already playing in May in Raleigh, Camera Obscura already has a date at the Cradle but they may be likely. I'm hoping for Pollard and Crooked Fingers. But it's impossible to know which night to go and no way I can go all 5 nights. Then again if we DO see Neutral Milk play again, or even Mangum and i miss it...
Score = 1
I doubt Camera Obscura would come from Europe to play this after already being here in June. National I think is pretty likely, as is Arcade Fire.
Score = -1
im going to go ahead and say camera obscura coming over from europe and playing is much more likely playing than the national playing because camera obscura have released records on merge and the national have not.
Score = 4
$150 is a bit steep for the announced lineup so hopefully they have some sick surprises on the way. Arcade Fire at Memorial Hall would be nasty. Definitely the best venue in the Triangle Area.
Score = -1
Neutral Milk and Archers of Loaf reunion! Them, Polvo and Superchunk will be worth the price. screw that other bland stuff.
Score = 2
this review pwns:
http://www.themusicologists.com/lead-story/score-20-years-of-merge-records-the-covers
Score = -1