Independent Record Label | Est. 2009
Wilmington, North Carolina

 
 

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Sunday, May 4, 2025

REVEIW: JPW + Dad Weed 'Amassed Like a Rat King'


On the indie rock powerhouse label of Fort Lowell, comes “Amassed Like a Rat King,” via the collaboration between JPW and Dad Weed.  Firstly, 1000 points for using “amassed” as part of the title. I’m a word nerd.

Going into this, as I do with a lot of the newest rock material, I don’t really know much about the groups or projects. That actually kinda works out, as I can bounce into the album with zero assumptions outside of what the press kit says. It’s always a nice surprise, trust me. And, yes, this one was a nice surprise.

So, how does this LP sound? Fucking fantastic! Psychedelic indie rock with elements of jangle, pop and it’s certainly got its roots deep in alternative.  Like, there’s a solid shot of 90s goodness resting on a foundation of modern alternative rock building blocks. This is the kinda stuff I’d surely hear on my local indie station (especially if I worked there…) or one of my local college stations. Solid. Jam on.

Lyrically, this is some good stuff. A nice mix of catchy zing and graceful pop poetry; it’s the kinda stuff you can easily sing along with, especially in the car with the windows down. Hell yeah. Makes me hungry for a follow-up LP or EP.

If I really had to compare the sound to bands I know, I’d say it’s a mix of Breeders, Primal Scream, Dinosaur Jr, Love Battery, Flaming Lips, and a dash of Arcade Fire. I mean, it’s much, much more than these comparisons, but it’s the best I can say, yeah? Just spin it yourself, and you’ll see it stand out rather nicely on its own.

This gem is pressed on green vinyl. Limited edition of 100. Get it before it’s gone.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

REVIEW: JPW + Dad Weed 'Amassed Like a Rat King'

[Repost from Anna Bartkowski; April 24, 2025]

I grew up with the sounds of the Beatles,the Beach Boys, CCR—some of the greatest music ever recorded. So when I come across new music that instantly resonates with me, I feel compelled to share it.

Full disclosure: I’ve known Jason and Zach for years—Jason is my son-in-law. But that connection alone isn't why I'm raving about their music. It’s because the songs truly deserve it. Give them a listen, and I think you’ll agree: the praise is well-earned.

Amassed Like a Rat King is such a brilliant album—I danced through most of the tracks. Yes, danced! And let’s be honest, we could all use the aerobic boost and endorphin rush that comes with moving to great music. Even my dogs were into it.

Check it out on your favorite streaming service—and keep an eye out, because the green vinyl edition is dropping soon.

Friday, May 2, 2025

REVIEW: JPW & Dad Weed 'Amassed Like a Rat King'

[Repost from Add to Wantlist; by Dennis, April 23, 2025]

New album: JPW & Dad Weed || Amassed Like a Rat King
Desert dreams and cosmic connections

Here we find folky psych pop that meets melancholic alt-rock, in a timeless kaleidoscope of sound and sentiment—solid but surprising.

The Two Against Nurture EP was a promising taster of the collaboration between JPW aka Jason P. Woodbury and Dad Weed aka Zachary Toporek, their first joint full-length Amassed Like a Rat King—the title track is an ode to Woodbury’s rural Arizona upbringing—lives up to expectations. The eleven songs emerged from friendship and mutual admiration, a shared ‘third mind’ situation and studio alchemy led to a captivating audio document of memory and motion. “You could call it God // I think I’d rather not (it’s happening)” we hear in the telling single It’s Happening, set to animations from IBM’s 1958 The Information Machine film. Probably it is the synergy of shared inspiration, creative minds and a cosmic connection?

“What you’re calling out // Makes me feel something” are the final lines of the elastic closing track What If I Were Dying, and that’s just the way it is.

Amassed Like a Rat King is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Fort Lowell Records.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

LET'S DANCE on Saturday, May 3rd at The Underfront Co.



LET'S DANCE on Saturday, May 3rd at The Underfront Co. in Downtown Wilmington NC on Front Street.

LET'S DANCE is a Vinyl DJ Night, hosted by Fort Lowell Records, featuring a variety of music — Pop, Disco, Boogie, Indie, Hip-Hop, R&B, Electronic, etc. — including the latest hits and spanning the past five decades. Dancing starts at 8:00pm and goes all night. A $5.00 cover charge will be collected at the door upon entry paid via Cash, Credit Card, or Venmo.

LET'S DANCE is held monthly at The Underfront Co. on the Saturday following every First Friday (RizzyBeats' Hip-Hop Fridays)

Monday, April 28, 2025

SAVE THE DATES — Fri June 6 + Sat June 7 — to celebrate James Tritten's 50th Birthday!

James Tritten + RizzyBeats; photos by Ken Blevins, StarNews

JAMES IS TURNING 50!!!🎉🥳🎁🎂

Fort Lowell Records owner and LET'S DANCE resident DJ James Tritten is turning 50 years old this year on June 6th, and we are all going to celebrate with two very, very special LET'S DANCE Vinyl DJ Night dance parties we have lined up for you:
  • Friday, June 6th will be an all 80s Night
  • Saturday, June 7th will be an all 90s Night
That's right, turning 50 deserves to have (2) LET'S DANCE events! ️‍🔥️‍🔥

Both events will be held at The Underfront Co. in Downtown Wilmington NC on Front Street, and each night will also feature two DJs — RizzyBeats and James Tritten (AKA: The Birthday Boy) — both DJing at the same time, song-for-song, back-to-back, track-for-track — all night long playing their favorite 80s records on Friday, June 6th — and then again on Saturday, June 7th with a choice selection of 90s music.


SAVE THE DATES NOW! No, seriously... go write them down in your calendar. 📅
  • June 6 = 80s
  • June 7 = 90s
No birthday presents are required, or even desired for that matter; this isn't about that.  Simply bring your beautiful selves, family, friends, ...and your dancing shoes of course — and be ready to shake your ass all weekend!  Music will start at 8:00pm on both nights, and will go all night long.

James is only going to turn 50 once in his life 🤣, so don't miss it!  We'll see y'all on the dance floor June 6 + 7!  💃🕺

LET'S DANCE 

Sunday, April 27, 2025

REVIEW: JPW & Dad Weed 'Amassed Like a Rat King'



[Repost from Here Comes the Flood; by Hans Werksman, April 22, 2025]

Phoenix, AZ based musicians Jason P. Woodbury and Zachary Toporek hade been eyeing each other's handiwork for more than a decade, before connecting for a joint project, named JPW & Dad Weed. After releasing the Two Against Nurture EP and the It's Happening, their debut full-length Amassed Like a Rat King lives up to its promise, with a wealth of meandering, scuzzy and fuzzy sounding explorations of left-field indie rock.

The funky Frightening sums up their style in nutshell: starting out as borderline radio-friendly tune for parents to pop in the player as they drive the kids to their soccer practice in suburbia, the song makes a sharp left to and comes close to falling apart amidst shattering drums and distorted guitar. JPW & Dad Weed are a duo that will be championed by the knowledgeable staff in independent record stores, who will be more than happy to point all the references and extrapolations. Cool kids of all ages will love it.

Amassed Like a Rat King is released via Fort Lowell Records (green vinyl, digital).

Tracks:
  1. Amassed Like a Rat King
  2. It's Happening
  3. Everybody's Talking (Again)
  4. Far Off Road
  5. Frightening
  6. Chain of Gravity
  7. Not Sure What I'm Looking At
  8. Figure of Speech
  9. Straight Lines
  10. So Brightly There
  11. What If I Were Dying

Saturday, April 26, 2025

REVIEW: Kicking Bird - 11 Short Fictions



[Repost from Faster and Louder; by Lord Rutledge, April 21, 2025]

Two years ago, Wilmington, North Carolina's Kicking Bird released Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, a remarkable debut album which quickly became one of my favorite indie rock releases of recent memory. 11 Short Fictions, the band's highly anticipated second album on Fort Lowell Records, finds Kicking Bird in no way succumbing to the sophomore jinx. Matching or even surpassing a great debut is a tall order for any band, but 11 Short Fictions is an absolute triumph. One of my favorite things about being into music is discovering new bands and following them as they grow. I was a fan of Kicking Bird's first album, but now I can officially call myself a fan of the band.

Kicking Bird, while very hard to pigeonhole stylistically, is a band with tremendous musical and songwriting talent. 11 Short Fictions is more ambitious than Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, but it never loses sight of what makes this band so appealing: the contrasting and complementary charms of husband-and-wife vocalists Shaun and Shaylah Paul and a melody-driven approach to songwriting which takes inspiration from everything from '70s arena rock and glam to '80s/'90s alternative rock to contemporary indie rock. As the album title suggests, each track is essentially a short story — with literary genres running the gamut from science fiction to horror to fantasy to erotica to historical romance to comics. I love that the band went in that direction yet still embraced its flair for quirky indie rock with pop sensibilities and classic rock roots. Of course the provocative dreamy pop of "What Did You Expect (with Such A Beautiful Wife)" bowled me over from the start, but there are several standout tracks on what proves to be deep and satisfying collection of songs. "Verdun," the "love story of two privileged social elites torn apart by the mis-perceived glory of war and the social constraints of Victorian England," has all the charm of later '90s indie rock and all the grandeur of classic rock. "Pardon Me (What Did He Say)" resurrects Marc Bolan to splendid effect. "Good Lighting" and the hard-rocking "Cinnamon" recall the '90s heyday of guitar heavy alternative rock. "Too Much Talking" is the sort of simple yet instantly memorable ballad that every great album ought to have.

In a world where tens if not hundreds of thousands of albums are released every year, it can be hard to get people to pay attention even if you've made something pretty special. So much great music gets lost in the shuffle. Kicking Bird, now with two exceptional albums to its name, deserves to be heard and to be recognized as one of the finest up-and-coming bands in underground music. 11 Short Fictions, which marries music to literature in a way that celebrates both, is more than worth your time and hard-earned cash.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

OUT NOW: JPW + Dad Weed 'Amassed Like a Rat King' [Duet LP]





After 15 years of collaborative experiences and cheering each other on from various distances, Zachary Toporek and Jason P. Woodbury have finally teamed up on Amassed Like a Rat King. Toporek is best known as the leader of 1970s pop-style collective Dad Weed, while Woodbury fronts spooky desert-jangle combo JPW (alongside his work with the eclectic online music magazine Aquarium Drunkard).

JPW + Dad Weed Amassed Like a Rat King is out now and available everywhere today!

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

REVIEW: Kicking Bird '11 Short Fictions'



[Repost from I Don't Hear a Single; by Anything Should Happen, April 4, 2025]

We loved Kicking Birds debut album, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. It was well placed in our Best 100 Albums of 2023 (Review here). So, it is great to hear the follow up, released today. The Wilmington, North Carolina five piece, don't disappoint, not that we ever expected they would.

This is still Indie Rock, but the band's take on the genre is much wider than most others. The male / female vocal on different tracks still works, but there is something a little different this time round. 11 Short Fictions sounds a little more in your face. More Fuzz, more Guitar extravaganzas.

The intelligent quirky arrangements prevail, but there seems more urgency making them a little more Garage Rock at times and more than a little Psych. They haven't forgotten how key the chorus is, but there is a rip roaring urgency at times that completely grips you.

Amidst all the riffs and heavier Guitar, there is still beauty. The vocal performance of Shaylah Paul on Too Much Talking sounds very 60s chanteuse and the arrangement is wonderful. The Guitar almost talks to you at times. Good Company is also more straight ahead, almost Noo Yawk Classic Rock.

What Did You Expect (From Such A Beautiful Wife) is almost Power Pop.But is the noisier material that grabs you post.Good Lighting is wonderful Psych, a sweet vocal that battles with a wonderful Psychedelic blast off.

Cinnamon is pure street Garage Rock. Album 2 is more intense than the debut, but has lost none of its charm, it just wants you to rock a bit more. Intelligent Guitar Noise may describe the album most, but that is just the thing to liven up your proceedings.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can buy yhe Vinyl Edition on Fort Lowell Records here.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

REVIEW: Kicking Bird '11 Short Fictions'



[Repost from Rosy Overdrive; April 3, 2025]

Release date: April 4th
Record label: Fort Lowell
Genre: Power pop, fuzz pop, indie pop
Formats: Vinyl, digital
Pull Track: What Did You Expect (With Such a Beautiful Wife)

I first heard of Kicking Bird, Wilmington, North Carolina’s premiere surf-pop quintet, thanks to their debut album, 2023’s Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. That’s a really fun album, a nice collection of Pixies-inspired fuzz-power pop (and it also put their label, Fort Lowell, on my radar–and I’ve written about a bunch of good records that they’ve put out since then). Almost exactly two years later, Kicking Bird are back with a sophomore LP, and 11 Short Fictions largely picks up where the band (vocalist/guitarist Shaun Paul, vocalist/keyboardist Shaylah Paul, guitarist Robin Cooksley, drummer Greg Blair, and bassist Tom Michels) left off. The pop music of 11 Short Fictions feels perhaps more ambitious than its predecessor–at this point, Kicking Bird are starting to remind me of power pop bands who give off a bit of “collective” energy like The New Pornographers or even the poppier side of The Apples in Stereo. The occasional Black Francis bite to Shaun Paul’s vocals and moments of kicked up fuzz rock are still here, part of a vivid tapestry also including a bit of twee, glam rock, and southern college rock, among other detours.

“We drove down to the boathouse / In a car she took from her uncle / She swore she’d never been there before / But she found that key like she had been there before,” Shaun sings in single “Cinnamon”, a wild garage rock and roll song that Kicking Bird pull off without invalidating their friendlier moments. I have no idea how these songs relate to themselves (“Facts and false memories. Hypocrisies, admissions and denials. Stories,” the band says about the record; “She kinda tasted like cinnamon / I probably tasted like Indica,” goes another memorable line in “Cinnamon”). The pop songs are huge and just as desperate-sounding as the loudest rockers–“Where’d You Get Those Pants” rips, “Verdun” struts–and while Shaylah Paul’s vocals are a lot less “unhinged” than Shaun’s, songs like “What Did You Expect (With Such a Beautiful Wife)” and “Good Lighting” certainly don’t bring the party to a halt merely by being just a bit more even-keeled (the explosive guitar work in the latter song doesn’t hurt, either). Shaylah’s “Too Much Talking” is the one true “ballad” on the album–it’s a waltz, and even here Kicking Bird can’t help but slipping a little feedback into the song before they return to sum up 11 Short Fictions with three more guitar-showcase rockers. Here’s hoping Kicking Bird can keep this high level of energy up for just a little bit longer–impressively, 11 Short Fictions shows no signs of slowing down. (Bandcamp link)

Monday, April 7, 2025

REVIEW: Kicking Bird '11 Short Fictions'



[Repost from The Shrieking Fox Punk; April 2, 2025]

Pressed on particularly polished purple vinyl, the sophomore album from Kicking Bird has dropped. Should you be excited? Hell yeah! This record comes via Fort Lowell Records.

Buzzing indie rock, crisp interwoven vocals, and catchy lyrics  are all what grabbed me immediately. I’ll be honest, it takes a lot to wow me these days, but if I hear something that reminds me of those early morning commutes to college with my favorite indie rock station playing, I’m glued in. THIS album very well could have been in that mix of jams fifteen years ago. It could be in that mix nowadays for my workday drives. In fact, I should recommend this to my DJ friends at the station…

The guitar work here is fun. The distortion and effects are a nice blend of indie and psyche, with tiny hints of garage. Vocally, like I said before, we are treated to different mixes of woven layers, and it’s quite good. It’s a blast to rock out to.

If you’re a fan of the Breeders, Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire, and early Black Mountain, this is for you. Like, shit, this is really good. Again, it grabbed me pretty quickly. You’ll see what I mean when you give this a spin.

Fucking jam on!

Sunday, April 6, 2025

REVIEW: Kicking Bird '11 Short Fictions'



[Repost from Here Comes the Flood; by Hans Werksman, April 2, 2025]

Wilmington, NC based rock quintet Kicking Bird are not afraid to have the needles hovering in the red on their new album 11 Short Fictions. Why go for a clean guitar tone when you the opportunity - and ability - to make it loud and nasty. Tracks like Good Lighting and Where'd You Get Those Pants bring back the heyday of both psychedelic and glam rock in one big swoop.

Bluesy stompers Pardon Me (What Did He Say) and Mister Morning might get people in some trouble on the dance floor for being a little too much lost in the groove, but they can do some damage control with the melancholic Too Much Talking. Their previous album Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was filled with a treasure trove of A-sides. Bad news for the competition: they are not done yet. It is another slam dunk release.

Friday, April 4, 2025

OUT NOW: Kicking Bird '11 Short Fictions' [Sophomore LP]





11 Short Fictions is the sophomore album from Wilmington, North Carolina band, Kicking Bird. Filled with the same jangly hooks and interwoven vocals that the band is known for, the record also dives into a soundscape and lyrical content that is much darker and heavier. “I’ll talk when I’m ready,” sings Shaylah Paul on the blistering waltz "Too Much Talking," and it seems like the band is ready to talk. Subject matter like blood spots, black magick and boathouse rendezvous are layered with far out guitar licks and carnally violent drums. Self produced by the band and mixed by Wolfgang Zimmerman (Band of Horses, Susto, Brave Baby), the album is a lush exploration into the balance between storytelling’s need for truth and lies. “Verdun,” a bouncy jaunt with nods to Belle & Sebastian and Thin Lizzy, is the love story of two privileged social elites torn apart by the mis-perceived glory of war and the social constraints of Victorian England. Later in the album is “Marada,” summoning an unadorned she-wolf running through moonlit fields with fuzzed out guitar and warbling falsetto that brings to mind early T. Rex. The record drips with sexual tensions and starved affections. On 11 Short Fictions the band focuses their songwriting on quick power pop songs like “Cinnamon” and “What Did You Expect With Such A Beautiful Wife,” but also find comfortable landing in genres like country on “Good Company” or in the heavy 90s wash that fills “Good Lighting”. Facts and false memories. Hypocrisies, admissions and denials. Stories. All of these elements wind together on 11 Short Fictions as Kicking Bird presents them with both an honest smile and a devilish grin.

Kicking Bird 11 Short Fictions is out now and available everywhere!

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

INTERVIEW: Catch Up with North Carolina Indie Rock Band Kicking Bird



[Repost from Blood Makes Noise; March 24, 2025]

11 Short Fictions is the sophomore album from Wilmington, North Carolina band, Kicking Bird. Filled with the same jangly hooks and interwoven vocals that the band is known for, the record also dives into a soundscape and lyrical content  that is much darker and heavier. “I’ll talk when I’m ready,” sings Shaylah Paul on the blistering waltz "Too Much Talking," and it seems like the band is ready to talk. Subject matter like blood spots, black magick and boathouse rendezvous are layered with far out guitar licks and carnally violent drums.

INTERVIEW (with Shaylah Paul + Shaun Paul)

Q: In your opinion, what are the essential qualities that make a “good songwriter”?

Shaylah: They write good songs. No, just kidding. To me a good songwriter possesses the ability to organize language that evokes a feeling and creates a collective experience into a melodic and rhythmic structure that people will remember.

Shaun: I feel like the best songwriters are voracious consumers of media. Everything, books, records, movies, TV, horoscopes, all of it is great for generating ideas as well as having more vocabulary and point of reference. The more stories and imagery you have bouncing around your head the larger palate you have. That's why I love how much inclusivity there is in the Wilmington music scene. So many people are creating right now in this town.

Q: What is the basis for writing attention-grabbing music in this day and age?

Shaylah: In this day and age, music grabs peoples attention by making them want to dance, fuck, cry or they think they can make money off it. But isn't that how it's always been?

Shaun: I don't think it differs from age to age. It's always going to be music that relates to shared experience. Sometimes that is something topical and very on the dot for the moment, or sometimes it's a feeling or message that could have come from anywhere or anytime. The trick is when you can be that broad but still not be vague.

Q: Can you pinpoint some specific songs and songwriters that changed the way you write music?

Shaylah: It's hard to pinpoint any specific example that changed the way I write music, but over the last year or two I've started listening to more of a diverse array of genres, including a lot more pop music. There's a stigma a lot of musicians hold over pop - that it is inherently lacking in substance, but it's way harder to write a decent, memorable hook than you might think, so it always impresses me.

Shaun: I'm very inspired by sci-fi novels. I love Ray Bradbury, Frank Herbert, and Alan Moore. Comic books are a regular part of my songwriting diet. As far as songwriters, I really love the classics. Dylan, Springsteen, Waits, Cohen, they are the greatest lyricists in American history. Nebraska, Blood On The Tracks and Death Of A Ladies Man should be required listening for anyone who wants to write lyrics. 

Q: Do you find it hard to be inspired by your peers? Can you name any new artists you find inspiring?

Shaylah: Not at all. I'm inspired by them and when I hear them write and perform a great song I'm happy for them, but then I go home and try to write something better, which I think is a healthy thing a lot of people do. Locally, I'm obsessed with Chloe Torres from Pearl, an incredible voice and stage presence. And I've always been humbled and driven by Shaun's songwriting. I can't write lyrics like he does. As far as on a grander scale, new artists I find inspiring are everyone, unless I don't like it.

Shaun: I'm pushed by my peers. It's always inspiring to see anyone who feels compelled to write and share what they have created. Wilmington has a wonderful musical community. The scene has quickly grown to include some really amazing artists. I saw Taylor from The Unbearable Lightness perform a song he wrote based off of a dream with just a harmonium for accompaniment and it brought me to tears. It was shattering.

Q: For your new album, what inspired the lyrical content, album title, and overall vibe?

Shaylah: For my three songs on this record, the throughline is that they were all written with a very specific memory, or experience, in mind and I tried to transport myself into that moment and pull things out of it: the colors, the details, the encounters, what I remember versus what other people tell me they remember, and amalgamate them into the song. There's a lot of sensuality, jealousy, vulnerability, and secret confessions in this record, thematically.

Shaun: This album is very much a collection of stories. We have sci-fi, horror, fantasy, erotica, and even comics. We wanted to put together an anthology of individual tales. 11 Short Fictions is exactly that, short snippets of time. 

Q: Do you find that you ruminate over writing songs and hold on to them for a long time before including them on a record? Or do you prefer to write them, release them, and be done with them? Do you ever re-visit old material to do a re-write or once it’s done it’s done?

Shaylah: For me, the best songs - or the songs that get shared with the band and make it onto the record - are written pretty quickly because something is an instant inspiration and then all the components fall together. If it takes longer, it usually starts to feel forced and contrived. From time to time, parts of an older song that never went anywhere get repurposed.

Shaun: I feel like we can tell almost instantly if a song is going to work for the band. Sometimes a phrase or concept will come back into a song in the future, but if they don't work we normally just toss them into the fire. We prefer to have the record be current music, once we write a song, we get stoked and want to share it as soon as we can.

Q: Were there any lessons you learned in the writing and recording process for your current release that you will take with you into your next project?

Shaylah: There's more of a sense of urgency in writing new material, as much as possible, and starting the recording process right away. Because the post-recording process takes a while. And, for this record, we partnered with local artists for the album and single art and I'd like to continue that for future records. It takes a lot of pressure off us as band members who aren't experts in those fields, and we love the collaborative spirit of partnering with artists in the community.

Shaun: The shorthand that we have with each other makes the process really rewarding. It's such an amazing experience to get to break these songs down to tiny parts and fill in cracks and add decorations. We have plans for a few different instruments and recording techniques that we are excited to try on the next one, but really we are just excited for 11 Short Fictions. It's something that we've worked really hard on and very much want to share.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

LET'S DANCE on Saturday, April 5th at The Underfront Co.





LET'S DANCE on Saturday, April 5th at The Underfront Co. in Downtown Wilmington NC on Front Street.

LET'S DANCE is a Vinyl DJ Night, hosted by Fort Lowell Records, featuring a variety of music — Pop, Disco, Boogie, Indie, Hip-Hop, R&B, Electronic, etc. — including the latest hits and spanning the past five decades. Dancing starts at 8:00pm and goes all night. A $5.00 cover charge will be collected at the door upon entry paid via Cash, Credit Card, or Venmo.

LET'S DANCE is held monthly at The Underfront Co. on the Saturday following every First Friday (RizzyBeats' Hip-Hop Fridays)

Saturday, March 29, 2025

We've got two new records for your vinyl collection...

Kicking Bird 11 Short Fictions 


JPW + Dad Weed Amassed Like a Rat King


KICKING BIRD is for fans of: Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Broken Social Scene, Blur, The Cardigans, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, The Dears, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, KISS, The Love Language, The New Pornographers, The Pixies, The Presidents of the United States of America, The Rolling Stones, Silversun Pickups, Surfer Blood, T. Rex, Two Door Cinema Club, Weezer

JPW + DAD WEED is for fans of: Amen Dunes, Barenaked Ladies, Calexico, Cornershop, Elephant 6, Flaming Lips, Gin Blossoms, LEN, My Morning Jacket, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, R.E.M., Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, U2, Wilco, Link Wray

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Will an Amazon Prime Video show provide a needed spotlight for Wilmington music?

The Runarounds


[Repost from StarNews Online; by John Station, March 24, 2025]

For decades, Wilmington's music scene, while vibrant, has rocked out in relative obscurity.

Even as venues like Live Oak Bank Pavilion and Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre have brought more big-name touring acts to town in recent years than ever before, for the most part Wilmington bands have struggled to gain much notice outside the Port City.

It's not for lack of talent or productivity, as one could easily create an hours-long Spotify playlist using only the best songs of Wilmington artists.

But with a Wilmington-shot TV series, "The Runarounds" — about a young band with an infectiously jangly sound trying to make it big — set to hit the Amazon Prime Video streaming service later this year, many have high hopes that the Wilmington scene could soon have something it's long lacked: lots and lots of attention.

Wilmington has had hit TV shows before, from "Dawson's Creek" to "The Summer I Turned Pretty," and fans still come to town to visit the place "One Tree Hill" was made. And while no one knows for sure whether "The Runarounds," will be a hit with viewers — it hasn't yet been given a release date more specific than "2025" — the signs are encouraging.

For one, show creator Jonas Pate, who lives in Wilmington and whose daughter, Lilah Pate, is one of the stars of "The Runarounds," has a proven track record with his Netflix mega-smash "Outer Banks," which will air its fifth and final season in 2026.

Pate said "The Runarounds" will feature music by Wilmington bands in the show and on its all-important soundtrack and playlists.

Veteran Wilmington indie rock band Summer Set, along with the poppy rock act Kicking Bird, both of whom have albums out on Wilmington's Fort Lowell Records, will have multiple songs on the show, Pate said.

Other Wilmington acts with music in "The Runarounds" include Tres Altman and indie-folk band The Paper Stars, and Max Agee of Wilmington band Lawn Enforcement and Wilmington's Suck Rock Records, something Agee called "a nice bit of validation."

Also with a song in the show is former Wilmington musician Kim Ware, who records for Fort Lowell.

The Runarounds have gigged at several Wilmington venues in the past couple of years — the band consists of William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Zende Murdock, Jesse Golliher, and Jeremy Yun — and they played an event for Amazon Prime Video on March 7 at the taste-making South by Southwest festival in Austin. Lilah Pate was there cheering them on.

They have a slot at Charlotte's massive Lovin' Life Music Fest May 3, and their next Wilmington gig is May 17 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater with another young rock band, The Stews.

Perhaps most important for Wilmington's music scene, however, not only will "The Runarounds" feature lots of Wilmington locations and some Wilmington-born songs, but its setting isn't some fictional place like Tree Hill, Capeside or Cousins Beach but Wilmington itself.

That's key, said Robin Wood of beloved Wilmington punk rock act Tercel, because "not only does it represent the Wilmington scene visually, but it puts the whole idea that there's a music scene in Wilmington out there on the screen."

With multiple talented bands packing out Wilmington rooms on a regular basis, from midtown rock club Reggie's to Fifth Avenue juke joint The Rusty Nail, "There's something to shine a light on," said Tercel singer Savannah Wood. "We have fans. There's an audience that wants music and is willing to go out and pay money to see it."

Robin Wood did some work on "The Runarounds" via Wilmington production company Lighthouse Films, whose founder, Brad Walker, is the show's director of photography. Tercel pedal steel player Chris Vinopal also works for Lighthouse (a pedal steel player in a punk band? Only in Wilmington), and Savannah Wood had worked with some of "The Runarounds" costumers on another locally shot show, "The Summer I Turned Pretty."

All those connections helped the band land one of their distinctive T-shirts — with an alligator screaming "Tercel!" — on Runarounds band member Jeremy Yun during a scene on the show's upcoming first season, Robin Wood said.

It might seem like a small thing for a band to have a T-shirt, or even a song, featured on a TV show. Then again, every little bit of attention can add up, especially if "The Runarounds" attracts an audience similar to the millions worldwide who watched Pate's show "Outer Banks."

"We're on the cusp," said Altman, of Wilmington band The Paper Stars. "Once the show hits, those playlists get a lot of views, and people are going to want to learn more about those bands."

Wilmington DJ and producer RizzyBeats is a regular presence at shows and behind the counter at Castle Street's Gravity Records, and has released music with Fort Lowell.

"Anything on a national scale that will keep Wilmington’s name in people’s minds will be helpful," he said. "The scene here is very vibrant with a ton of incredibly talented individuals that could rival any big city, in my opinion. There are a lot of creators here that are producing quality music."

Sean Thomas Gerard is a 15-year veteran of the Wilmington scene both as solo artist (he has a gorgeous 2021 album, "Finally Found a Paradise," on Fort Lowell Records) and with his previous band, Onward, Soldiers.

"It's crazy to me the scene here doesn't get more attention," Gerard said. "It's as good as anywhere. Maybe not as many bands as the bigger markets, but there's something for everybody. You just gotta look for it."

In 2012, Gerard was featured playing one of his songs on "One Tree Hill," and his band Onward, Soldiers' song "Stick to Your Guns" was used to score a key scene on the show.

"It still gets tons of streams. It's kind of been the gift that keeps on giving," he said. "It just shows the potential of what a TV show can do for a town, or for a scene."

Notes on a scene

"Potential" is probably a good word for what Wilmington's music scene possesses.

More attention could only help a young Wilmington band like the poppy rock act Fudge, which packs out Reggie's on a regular basis and scored a slot at Charlotte's Lovin' Life Music Fest in May, joining The Runarounds as the only other Wilmington act on the bill alongside such acts as The Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, Gwen Stefani and Ludacris.

"It's pretty exciting" that the show could give a boost to the Wilmington music scene, said Fudge's singer, Patrick Riesmeyer. "There are so many bands right now. The original music scene is really growing."

Fudge is an independent band, and while they've made certain inroads, Riesmeyer said, like scoring steady gigs playing college fraternity parties around the state, they spend a lot of time marketing themselves on social media and elsewhere. A hit show about a band from Wilmington could potentially make that easier for a group like Fudge, even if they're not directly involved with "The Runarounds."

It's not like no bands have ever broken out of Wilmington. Hard rock acts like ASG, He Is Legend and Weedeater have fans all over the world, while indie rock acts like The Rosebuds and The Love Language started in Wilmington before going on to sign with Merge Records. Tercel and Wilmington post-punk trio Exercise played the esteemed Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh this year.

Some say the Wilmington scene is already better than it gets credit for.

"We're spoiled. A lot of people take it for granted," said Delia Stanley, a Wilmington singer who can be found playing covers and originals at venues around town. "I'm an old punk rocker, so, the way I look at it, once everybody knows about something," the scene will inevitably change, and not necessarily for the better.

Others aren't certain that the Wilmington scene, vibrant as it is, is ready for prime time.

"There's definitely talent," said Altman, of The Paper Stars. "But something's missing."

One thing that's missing, Altman said, is a midsize indoor venue that could host both local and touring acts year-round. Right now, most Wilmington venues that host concerts are either big and/or outdoors, like Greenfield Lake (1,200) and Live Oak (7,200), or much more intimate, like Reggie's, Bourgie Nights downtown or The Palm Room at Wrightsville Beach, all of which hold 200 or less.

Notable exceptions might be the Brooklyn Arts Center, which hosts more events and weddings than it does concerts, and Bowstring Burgers & Brewyard on Princess Street, which has made inroads booking touring jam and tribute bands.

"We're lacking a serious indoor venue," said Altman, who cut his musical teeth on the scenes in Denver and Boulder, Colorado, before moving here about 15 years. "We need a Fox Theatre," like the one in Boulder, which has a capacity of about 625 and regularly hosts both local and touring acts.

Altman said he'd also like to see better promotion of Wilmington music locally; some kind of big annual music festival with a mix of local bands and touring acts; and more Wilmington bands as openers at Live Nation-run venues Greenfield Lake and Live Oak.

Local acts only rarely get to open for touring bands in Wilmington, but when they do it provides a boost. When The Paper Stars opened for St. Paul and The Broken Bones at Greenfield Lake, "We sold some records, got some social media hits," Altman said. "It lasted like two weeks, then it's over.

"There is a recognizable music thing happening in this town, but it needs some cohesion," he added. "Maybe 'The Runarounds' would be a unifying force, but if there's not a tangible brick and mortar place, that momentum will also be lost."

Wilmington DJ and producer Rizzy Beats echoed Altman's call for "more music-centric and music-focused venues for the artists to build their brand and following."

"Wilmington’s best strength has always been its tenacity, making lemonade out of lemons," he added, noting how the Wilmington scene has faced adversity in losing multiple venues over the past 10 to 15 years, including the legendary Soapbox in 2013. "But there are still so many musicians, artists and DJs here. We’ve got artists representing jazz, hip-hop, folk, rock, metal, punk and so much more. And they’re producing original material at a high level."

This time next year, if "The Runarounds" ends up being a spotlight for Wilmington music, it could be that a lot more people will be listening.