I wanted to mention that there are now well over 100 songs available on this blog. That's a heck of a lot of bands from NC, and I feel like we've barely scratched the surface.

There have been a lot of folks lately sending me anonymous thank you notes for creating this site. Well, thank you!!! It means a lot to me every time I get an email. I save ALL of them. Also, the stories that folks have written about these bands and the fact that so many musicians from these bands have written comments as well. Most of the bands have offered to send me even more songs that were never released or just lost to time, so that I can post them for you to hear. That is exactly why I started the site. So please send me ideas or postings, I can't do this by myself.

Today, I am posting three songs from the Didofare concert August 29,1998. This was a benefit honoring Sam Moss' late wife Diane (Dido) Foster Moss. A lot of great bands played that night and actually the benefit continued on for several more years, raising money and awareness for breast cancer research. Sam Moss is currently playing in the band The Sams with K.D. Rouse (see previous post 3/08/2006).

Peter Holsapple - Love Is For Lovers

Don Dixon - Heart In A Box

Mount Rushmore (featuring Don Dixon, Mitch Easter, Jon Heames, Peter Holsapple, and Sam Moss) - Time Has Come Today

4 Who Dared - Urine Trouble
from the lp "Kids With Dynamite"

After my post on the X-Teens, I was contacted by Todd Jones. He was nice enough to send a link to his current web site which has several mp3's available for download. Among those was this lost classic from the short-lived 4 Who Dared. You be the judge, but I think this is about as catchy as they come. Enjoy.

Other Bright Colors - Incredible Shrinking Man & One of Us - 1987
from the previously unreleased lp "Drive In"

A few months back I posted a track from the one and only Other Bright Colors lp "Endlessly Rocks the Cradle". Through the greatness of the internet I was contacted by Joe Jaworski, drummer for OBC. Now living in Texas he filled me in on the fact that an entire record was recorded in the summer of 1987 with Mitch Easter at his Drive-In Studio. Joe was kind enough to send me a copy of this long lost record. I am extremely happy to post two songs from this record to share with you. As I hope you have realized, this is exactly why I started this blog. Thanks so much to Joe for allowing me to post this. We need more this folks.

Snapdragon - Superhero's Club - 1994
from the Clutch Artery Records cassette "Drinking Watermelon Sugar"

While lead Snapdragon Tara VanDevender is technically from Mississippi, the rest of the band and the recording is all NC. Produced by Jolene's John Crooke and Dave Burris this collection of songs is fantastic. Hear for yourself.

Band Members:
Tara VanDevender - Vocals, Guitar
John Crooke - Vocals, Guitar, Banjo
Dave Burris - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
Mike Kenerley - Drums
Didier Rubio - Bass
Brenda Gambill - Violin

Gild the Lily - Ryan Ran Away - 1995
from a 2-song cassette on Reverie Records

A side project for Eight or Nine Feet member Chris Eselgroth. I am told that Gild the Lily and Eight or Nine Feet were both around at the same time. These two songs were recorded by Jerry Kee at his Duck-Kee Studios in Durham, NC.

Band Members:
Chris Eselgroth - Guitars, Vocals
John Gillespie - Bass, Vocals
Ian Schreirer - Drums

Jolt Wagon - Ready Side - 1996

Another band from Charlotte, NC. I really don't know anything about these guys except that this cassette if fanstastic. Chock full of killer riffs and excellent vocals. I can't help but wonder what happened to them. Produced by Jamie Hoover.

Band Members:
Eric Detoro: Drums
Patrick Wilhelm: Vocals, Bass
Gary Wireman: Guitar, Vocals

Discord - Child Warriors - 1988
from the Droscid cassette - Crime

A 3-piece band from Charlotte, NC that I honestly don't know much about Dischord except that everyone says that their bass player was French. What that means or says I have no clue. Listening to this cassette this morning I can't help but think how popular they would be if they were doing the same thing today, and whatever happened to that slap bass style that was oh so popular back then as well. I wonder how many bass players were out of a job when that felt out of fashion.

Band Members:
Andrew Verville - Vocals, Guitar
Jim Rumley - Drums
Benjamin Marcellin - Bass, Vocals

Let's Get Mikey - I Went West - 1990
from the Hey Boy Records cassette (& CD) - Crazy Days

Let's Get Mikey were a 3-piece jangle pop outfit from Albemarle, NC. That had a huge following in Charlotte and played quite a bit in the triangle area as well. Crazy Days was recorded by Jamie Hoover (Spongetones) and Jack Cornell (The Woods). After the demise of the band lead "mikey" Bryan Shumate recorded a solo record called "Alamo" with Hoover. This led to Shumate and Hoover forming The Van Delecki's, who released two records on the Permanent Press label in the late '90's. (that's a post for another day) A reunion Let's Get Mikey gig was held a few years ago in Albemarle with all original members plus Hoover lending a helping hand.

Band Members:
Nat Hammer: Drummer
Bryan Shumate: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Eddie Snuggs: Bass, Backing Vocals