This list may well prove incomplete, but I'll do my best. At the bottom is more information about the most popular clubs for indie shows. Unless otherwise posted, it's usually safe to assume that shows will start after 10 PM Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and a little earlier the rest of the week, but it's not a bad idea to call if you want to be safe. The Cradle sells out regularly for larger shows – buy tickets in advance if they're available.
THU APRIL
10
THE D4, ELECTRIC SIX – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors 8:00/Show 9:00)
SIRENS, TAKING PICTURES, SERKA – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
CHUCK JOHNSON, GLOCKENSPIEL, CROWMEAT BOB, IST/DAD, SPACELAB – NIGHTLIGHT
@ THE SKYLIGHT EXCHANGE, 405 W. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill
FRI APRIL
11
UGGLIANS, ENDWELL, BLACK STRAP, SECTION 8 – DUKE COFFEEHOUSE
NORTH ELEMENTARY, RYAN POUND, THE RACHEL NEVADAS – GO! REHEARSAL
STUDIOS ROOM 4
SAT APRIL
12
SPOON, CROOKED FINGERS, THE FIERY FURNACES – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors
9:00/Show 10:00)
FESTIVAL OF NOISE W/I SHALL KILL THEM ALONE, GAFTRA, ATTU29A –
KINGS
THE DYNAMITE BROTHERS – LOCAL 506
SUN APRIL
13
KINSKI, CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE, THE SAMES – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS
ROOM 4
MON APRIL
14
THE POSTAL SERVICE, CEX, SHALLOW BE THY NAME – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS
ROOM 4
THU APRIL
17
THE SHAMES, THE SLEEPIES, HALIFAX – KINGS
FRI APRIL
18
THE WEATHER, DYNAMITE BROTHERS, TAIJA RAE – KINGS
SAT APRIL
19
TRANSPORTATION – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
DES ARK, JETT RINK, BLACK STRAP – DUKE COFFEEHOUSE
TUE APRIL
22
THE DELGADOS, AEROGRAMME, MARK GARDNER – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors 8:00/Show
9:00)
DRUMS AND TUBA, THAT ONE GUY – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
THU APRIL
24
CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN – THE
BREWERY
SUGARMAN 3, DJ MARCO – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
BIG INDIE ROCK SHOW – 4-11 PM, THE
STARLITE DRIVE-IN, 2523 E. Club Boulevard, Durham: Not a lot of info
yet, but here's what I know so far... Jason Jordan and John Koelle – respectively,
the booker and soundman at the Basement – have decided to step out on their
own. Their major goal is to open a new music space in downtown Durham soon.
In the meantime, they're keeping the good feelings going with events like this.
The Sames, The Rosebuds, Jett Rink and a bunch of other bands are scheduled
to play; I'll try to find out more as soon as I can.
FRI APRIL
25
REVEREND HORTON HEAT, UNKNOWN HINSON, DEXTER ROMWEBER – CAT'S CRADLE
(Doors 8:30/Show 9:15)
PATHERS, KERBLOKI, COMMON COLD, READ PALMS – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS
ROOM 4
UTAH!, CAN UTILITY, CRASH SMASH EXPLODE – KINGS
SAT APRIL
26
BRIGHT EYES, ARAB STRAP, SORRY ABOUT DRESDEN – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors
8:30/Show 9:30)
SUN APRIL
27
MY MORNING JACKET, BURNING BRIDES, DETACHMENT KIT – CAT'S CRADLE
(Doors 8:00/Show 8:30)
SLAVE MAGAZINE PRESENTS: DEAD THINGS, CRIMSON SPECTRE, more –
DUKE COFFEEHOUSE
THE ORANGES BAND, THE ROSEBUDS, THE BALANCE – KINGS
MON APRIL
28
MIKE WATT AND THE SECONDMEN – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors 8:30/Show 9:15)
ESSEX GREEN, KINFE IN THE WATER – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
TUE APRIL
29
ADULT., MAGAS – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
WED APRIL
30
ZYKOS, WESTERN KEYS, HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM
4
FRI MAY 2
THE SAMES, LOOKWELL, GERTY! – THE BASEMENT
SAT MAY 3
THE BUTCHIES, KIMYA DAWSON – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors 8:30/Show 9:30)
TUE MAY 6
THE MERCURY PROGRAM, MONO, CHINUP CHINUP – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS
ROOM 4
WED MAY 7
THE FAINT, LEX SAVY FAV, SCHNEIDER TM – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors 8:30/Show
9:30)
CRUSH KILL DESTROY, ROSARIO – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
THU MAY 8
RYAN POUND, NORTH ELEMENTARY, PLEASANT – KINGS
FRI MAY 9
SORRY ABOUT DRESDEN, JETT RINK, THE NEIN – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS
ROOM 4
SAT MAY 10
STEVE MALKMUS AND THE JICKS – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors 8:30/Show 9:30)
ALLI WITH AN I, THE SCARIES, WITCHCRAFT BY A PICTURE, FLAMING CASKETS
– GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
SUN MAY 11
THE CRAMPS, THE VON BONDIES – CAT'S CRADLE (Doors 8:00/Show 9:00)
RELAPSE CONTAMINATED TOUR 2003 W/MASTODON, CEPAHLIC CARNAGE, UPHILL
BATTLE, DISRHYTHMIA – GO! REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOM 4
The following area spaces host indie rock shows on a more or less regular basis:
THE
BASEMENT (1102 Broad St., Durham, 286.7272): Medium-sized space that
seems to be on the way out as far as regularly booking shows. Keep your fingers
crossed, I guess...
CAT'S
CRADLE (300 E. Main St., Carrboro, 967.9053):
Larger venue; mainly hosts national touring bands, with occasional all-local
shows.
Not my favorites place to see bands – their high overhead translates into
high door prices – but the sound is really good, and it's one of those
kind of legendary venues (although many of those legends took place at its old,
smaller location on Franklin St.).
DUKE COFFEEHOUSE
(Crowell Building, East Campus, 684.4069): Smallish student-organized space;
shows are less frequent than in days of yore, but there are still some worthwhile
events – and as Duke students, you really must support it.
GO! REHEARSAL
STUDIOS ROOM 4 (100-F Brewer Lane, Carrboro, 969.1400): Small space;
more emphasis on local bands, but plenty of lesser-known national bands play
here too. Excellent sound, a laidback vibe and cool design (though it might
benefit from adding on a "chillout" space). As you might have guessed,
they also have rehearsal spaces (in rooms 1-3)
KINGS BARCADE
(424 S. McDowell St., Raleigh, 831-1005): Small-to-medium venue; it's a bit
of a drive for Durhamites, but well worth it. Musician-owned and managed, this
is a great place to play, see bands, and just hang out – if you get sick
of watching the bands, you can blow some money on Tempest, Sinistar, or one
the other vintage 80s arcade games.
LOCAL 506 (506
W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 942.5506): Small bar with one of the best PAs
in the area. Has a reputation for booking mostly garage/punk, but there's plenty
of music of all types on their calendar. Caveat: most shows are 21+ but occasionally
they make exceptions – call ahead if you need to know.
There are other bars and clubs that also book indie shows irregularly, and new spaces pop up all the time. Indie shows happen in lots of other places, too – universities, galleries, basements, backyards – so keep your ears open, and let me know if you hear of anything I should add here.