On October 5th, Karmic Fury Records artist Folkstar will celebrate the release of their newest album Loud and Clear at Gravity Records in Wilmington, NC. Folkstar will perform with a full band featuring local musicians Graham Wilson, Nick Simon, Dylan Linehan, and Leslie Wiegle. The event will also feature a special performance by local musician and CMA winner Crissie McCree.
Gravity Records is a local landmark and the hub of local musicians and music lovers. The Folkstar CD Release Celebration will double as a celebration of local music and local businesses.
Our favorite local libations shop Wilmington Wine will be on site with wine and beer, including a selection of local brews. Jacksonville pitbull charity Sugarheart Foundation will also be participating.
Sound will be provided by local audio engineers Karen Kane and Nyla Cione.
Karmic Fury Records artist Folkstar has just released their second album Loud and Clear! You can purchase it on their website or on iTunes, as well as local Wilmington retailers Gravity Records and Alman Gifts. For a sneak peek listen before you buy, visit http://folkstar.bandcamp.com.
Loud and Clear by Folkstar
Here’s a little bit about the album:
Folkstar’s new album Loud and Clear is an intensely ambitious 16-track work of art. Folkstar’s Kim Dicso and Sue Cag speak their minds on this album, with songs covering life and death, suicide and dreams, the flaws of our society and the beauty of our world.
Folkstar tackles teen bullying in the song “It Gets Better” (inspired by the It Gets Better Project). They scrutinize our manufactured lives in “Fabrication” and “Everybody Knows” and expose animal exploitation in “Human” and the jazzy number “Abolitionists.” Crowd favorite “Could You Be” is an anthem about love and dreams, as is “Dream Thieves.” Songs exploring death include “Final Curtain” and “New Eyes,” which delve into the emotional complexities of losing someone. Of course there are songs about love as well, such as “Trampoline” and “Ice Queen,” reminiscent of Folkstar’s debut album Emotional Bootcamp. Finally, the title track “Loud and Clear” tells the story of Cag’s hearing loss and talks about a “wake up call,” a common theme throughout the album.
Folkstar fearlessly creates music of substance. Although formed in North Carolina and labeled folk-rock, their music features a variety of influences including west coast rock, indie, blues, jazz, and of course, acoustic singer-songwriter folk and intense guitar laden rock ‘n’ roll.
Currently there’s a regular event called “The Longstreet’s Underground Songwriter Showcase” every Thursday night. Longstreet’s pub is located underground, down the same steps as Orton’s on Front Street (stop by on your way to Cape Fear Wine and Beer which is right next door). It’s a small historic pub with a nice vibe perfect for small solo or duo acts with an acoustic lean. We stop in here frequently to enjoy various musicians, and on July 11th, we captured a clip of Sean Thomas Gerard playing a brooding Jeff Buckley-esque original tune. Gerard is a stellar songwriter as well as a prominent member of the Wilmington music scene known for both his solo performances as well as for his work with the nationally acclaimed band Onward, Soldiers.
REHAB at Ziggy’s by the Sea
For something completely different (we know no boundaries), on the same night we headed over to the new venue Ziggy’s by the Sea for a hip-hop/rap show. Although this location has had high turnover, we’re hopeful that the Ziggy’s name will make it work. It already looks nicer inside and they’re busy booking a ton of acts. We came to see national rap/rock band REHAB. Ever since hearing the song “It Don’t Matter” on the radio over a dozen years ago, we’ve had a soft spot for this band. They didn’t disappoint. The show had great energy (despite the strangely tame crowd), singer Danny Boone wailed, and the band played new songs along with their hits, even that really annoyingly catchy one that we won’t mention here.
Opening up for REHAB was a rap band called BNMC (both bands are originally from Georgia). Watching BNMC was like watching an aerobic workout video. They’re all over the stage, jumping around, full of non-stop energy. They’re really nice guys too. We chatted with them after the show.
