Kick it with the Can Kickers
The Nightlite hosts the Can Kickers, Teh Vodak, the Rip it Ups and Counter Clockwise
Katei Cranford
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
If you think fiddle music belongs to ol' timers in the mountains-think again. The string-band spirit was alive and well during a "can-kicking" good time Thursday night at the Nightlite in Chapel Hill when the Can Kickers hopped through N.C. for a show with Counter Clockwise, Teh Vodak, and The Rip It Ups.
Starting in their home state of Connecticut, the Can Kickers hit the road and headed south. The tour began with a touch of misfortune when burglary befell the New London trio. Luckily, the individuals who busted into their van didn't steal the Kicker's drive to spread tunes. The boys persevered with a window fashioned from record sleeves, pressed on with the tour, and gave southern folks a taste of rock-n-roll from the mountains.
The Nightlite is a hidey-hole of a club, a quaintly decorated basement-venue strewn with random floral-print sofas and sparsely hung Christmas lights. While it doesn't look like much from the exterior, the bar has a good selection and, most importantly, the floor is big enough for dancing.
The first group to perform was, Counter Clockwise, a duo from Alabama. who started things off on a comparatively softer note, especially when followed by Teh Vodak, a four-piece outfit from Durham. As Teh Vodak puts it, they sound "like the B-52s and Sleater-Kinney beating the crap out of Henry Rollins."
Armed with a guitar emblazoned with "slut" on the body, guitarist and vocalist Betsy Shane does a riot girl proud. With Can Kicker's Doug Schaefer on drums, Ben Donnelly backing up the guitar and vocals, and Kevin Slater on bass, Teh Vodak is super high-energy and has a sound resonate of the Pixies on speed.
Following Teh Vodak was the Rip it Ups who took the show to the floor-literally, turning the place into something of a hootenanny. Amplifiers weren't required when the Durham-based combo set itself in the middle of the crowd, completely unplugged, and incited a knee-slapping riot. Fiddling man Sam Duffy, guitarist Kevin Samuels, and a guy named "Corn" Lewis on the upright bass, set the string-band tone. They bowed, strummed, and plucked their way into the hearts of the crowd, filling everyone with a hefty dose of dancing fever.
Starting in their home state of Connecticut, the Can Kickers hit the road and headed south. The tour began with a touch of misfortune when burglary befell the New London trio. Luckily, the individuals who busted into their van didn't steal the Kicker's drive to spread tunes. The boys persevered with a window fashioned from record sleeves, pressed on with the tour, and gave southern folks a taste of rock-n-roll from the mountains.
The Nightlite is a hidey-hole of a club, a quaintly decorated basement-venue strewn with random floral-print sofas and sparsely hung Christmas lights. While it doesn't look like much from the exterior, the bar has a good selection and, most importantly, the floor is big enough for dancing.
The first group to perform was, Counter Clockwise, a duo from Alabama. who started things off on a comparatively softer note, especially when followed by Teh Vodak, a four-piece outfit from Durham. As Teh Vodak puts it, they sound "like the B-52s and Sleater-Kinney beating the crap out of Henry Rollins."
Armed with a guitar emblazoned with "slut" on the body, guitarist and vocalist Betsy Shane does a riot girl proud. With Can Kicker's Doug Schaefer on drums, Ben Donnelly backing up the guitar and vocals, and Kevin Slater on bass, Teh Vodak is super high-energy and has a sound resonate of the Pixies on speed.
Following Teh Vodak was the Rip it Ups who took the show to the floor-literally, turning the place into something of a hootenanny. Amplifiers weren't required when the Durham-based combo set itself in the middle of the crowd, completely unplugged, and incited a knee-slapping riot. Fiddling man Sam Duffy, guitarist Kevin Samuels, and a guy named "Corn" Lewis on the upright bass, set the string-band tone. They bowed, strummed, and plucked their way into the hearts of the crowd, filling everyone with a hefty dose of dancing fever.
Be the first to comment on this story