"My sister went, 'Steve, I think Triangle music is your girlfriend,'"
My brother, Steve Salevan, is featured in North Carolina's Independent Weekly magazine!
Read it here!
Steve's been a DJ at NC State down in Raleigh since 2004, when he was a little freshman. Now, as a just-graduated senior, he's kind of a force in their local music scene, which he describes as "the best in the world". I believe him- every single album he's ever sent my way has been fantastic.
For example! Here is a miniature tour of the scene.
Nathan Asher and The Infantry - Skipping Stones: This band's biggest influence has got to be Bruce Springsteen. There's that rock band with piano thing happening, with a vaguely epic, yearning quality in Nathan's voice and the song as a whole. This was the first band that Steve ever got me into, I think.
The Old Ceremony - Our One Mistake: This is the only North Carolina band that I've actually seen live! As for the song, it's slow, at an almost lazy pace, counterpointed by the regretful lyric about not living life to the fullest. Also, it makes really lovely use of violin throughout.
Roman Candle - Another Summer: This song! Gets stuck in my head a lot. It's rock, almost pop rock, with a bit of a twang, lamenting his lost girl. It's half spiteful, half loving, I'd say, in a sort of "ah well, love is a game" mentality. I hardly noticed it, however, until a bunch of other NC artists did an album of covers for a birthday present! So here's a bonus, of Courtney Jaye's rendition.
Dan Bryk - Discount Store: In an entirely different vein, Dan Bryk is all candy-coated pop with kind of depressing lyrics! It's like you get to the center of the tootsie pop, and it's a rock. It's seriously fun and addictive music, though!
The Kingsbury Manx - Harness and Wheel: They are one of those bands who manage to create this lovely, full, lush soundscape with fairly minimal instrumentation. It reminds me a bit of Sufjan Stevens, a bit of Genesis. Great harmony, great organ and banjo! And it manages to be gentle rather than overpowering. I can't get enough of their music.