David Menconi

And the nominees are...

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:39:53 -0400

If North Carolina had an official rock song, what would it be?

Dome and our brother-in-blogging David Menconi opened up the lines for your suggestions earlier this week.

The top five suggestions, as judged by no particular standard, are:

* "Carolina in My Mind," by James Taylor: The hands-down frontrunner, a classic song with inoffensive lyrics and a secret darker edge.

* "Carolina Girls," by General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board: The beach music classic that spawned a thousand "Best in the World" T-shirts.

* "Oh My Sweet Carolina," by Ryan Adams with Emmylou Harris: A touching duet about leaving the South from a guy who never visits.

* "Raleigh," by Rey Norteno: Perhaps a controversial pick with some, but few bands have sung so movingly about why they love Raleigh.

* "Wagon Wheel," by Old Crow Medicine Show: OK, so it's not rock either, but it's got to be in the running for neo-traditional bluegrass song.

Other suggestions after the jump.

Quick Hits: Virginia Foxx

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:16:01 -0400

* Greensboro News-Record columnist Doug Clark (sort of) defends Rep. Virginia Foxx, citing 2004 report from ABC News.

* N&O music critic David Menconi notes that a New York singer has already written a song about Foxx, available for $1 donation.

* A spokesman for Foxx tells a local TV news station that she's received hate mail and death threats over the remarks in the last 24 hours.

* In statement, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr says he is "disappointed" by Foxx's remarks, found them "to be inaccurate and insensitive."

Perdue's line up for inaugural ball

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:44:38 -0500

David Menconi has the roundup on inaugural music.

At his always entertaining On the Beat blog, the N&O music critic says Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has "a most impressive lineup" at her inaugural ball in January.

The festivities kick off Jan. 8 at the Lincoln Theatre with pop bands old and new, Dillon Fence and Pico vs. Island Trees. Then on Jan. 9, the formal ball at the Raleigh Convention Center will have musicians including Durham jazzman Branford Marsalis, Granite Falls-born country singer Eric Church and two of the Triangle's best alternative-country acts, Tres Chicas and Chatham County Line.

A complete lineup and ticket information is here.