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Arts & Music

Welcome to Mergeboro

OK, maybe calling our little town Mergeboro is a little over the top. But come the last couple of weeks of July, you may start believing the moniker is appropriate.

And if you were around five years ago for Merge Records’ 15th anniversary celebration, you might remember the packed shows and the odd sight of various stars of the indie rock universe wandering around town looking for coffee or thumbing through the offerings at local record stores and book shops.

Now, with an even bigger milestone approaching, chances are good that if you’re out and about on or around the last weekend of the month, you’ll run into a pacel or two of musicians and music fans roaming the streets of this old mill town.

That is entirely appropriate, because in the early days Carrboro was the label’s home base. In the early ‘90s, if you popped into Merge headquarters above where Roulette is now, it was a somewhat sleepy and under air-conditioned spot with occasional bursts of frenzy whenever a new record was ready to be shipped.

Then, Merge was down the hall from the Mammoth Records’ art department and across the street from Mammoth’s headquarters. At the time, between the two labels, a couple of booking agents, the Cradle and a few other music-related businesses, Carrboro was a legitimate dot on the map of music towns.

Then Merge moved to comfier and roomier offices in a house off Fordham Boulevard in Chapel Hill, and then, as it grew more successful, on to downtown Durham, where the label was able to buy a building to call its own. Mammoth grew larger and was eventually swallowed by a major label and shut down. The support businesses faded away, and now only the Cradle and other clubs remain as thriving reminders that this place loves it some indie rock. That is especially evident every time a Merge band comes to town and the locals come out to represent.

So it’s a bit of a homecoming that we’ll experience this month, when more than 30 bands and a few hundred music lovers from elsewhere make their way to town.

Who’s Playing

Cat’s Cradle shows

Lou Barlow
The Broken West
Richard Buckner
The Clientele
Destroyer
Erectus Monotone
The Essex Green
Guv’ner
Imperial Teen
The Ladybug Transistor
Lambchop
The Magnetic Fields
The Music Tapes
Oakley Hall
Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band
Pipe
Polvo
Portastatic
Radar Bros.
The Rosebuds
Spent
Spoon
Matt Suggs
Superchunk
Tenement Halls
Telekinesis
Versus
M. Ward

Memorial Hall show
She & Him
American Music Club
Wye Oak

FAQs
What:
XX Merge celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Merge Records.

When:
July 18 (Merge with Motion), July 24-27 (Cat’s Cradle, OCSC) and July 25 (Memorial Hall)

Some details:

• If you bought a 5-day pass you must pick it up yourself at Cat’s Cradle (starting Wednesday, July 24). The 5-day passes are nontransferable. The purchaser must have his or her printed eTix and ID when picking up passes.

• Shows are all ages

• The lineups for each night at Cat’s Cradle are a mystery. See the list of bands attending (so far) on page 6 or at the Merge website at mergerecords.com

• Yes, we have it on good authority that more bands
and more events will be announced as the festival draws closer. Stay tuned.

• There will be merch, including plenty of 20th anniversary goodies, available at the shows. Merch sales are cash only and, yes, there is an ATM at the Cradle.

Special Shows

In addition to the four sold-out nights at Cat’s Cradle, XX Merge offers three special shows (and probably a few other treats, as well). Here’s the rundown:

Merge with Motion
Saturday, July 18, 7:30pm
The Carolina Theatre, Durham
A unique performance of original choreography to live music by The Rosebuds and recordings by Arcade Fire, Caribou, Destroyer, the Magnetic Fields, Polvo, Richard Buckner, Spaceheads and Spoon.

The evening features original contemporary ballet, rhythm tap and modern dance performed by Amanda Miller, North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble, Pamela Pietro, Sidelong Dance Company and others. Tickets are $15/$17 in advance and $21 day of the show.
Tickets are available online and at the Carolina Theatre box office.

XX Merge Finale
Sunday, July 26, 7 p.m.
Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill
She and Him, American Music Club and Wye Oak are on the bill for the last evening of XX Merge. Tickets are $32 and are available (as of this writing) through eTix, Cat’s Cradle, CD Alley, Schoolkids Records in Raleigh, Bull City Records in Durham and the Memorial Hall box office.

OCSC Free Outdoor Show
Saturday, July 25, 1 p.m.
The show takes place in the parking lot behind the Orange County Social Club (108 East Main Street) and features Tenement Halls, Portastatic, The Music Tapes, Matt Suggs and Radar Bros. Also, frosty beverages and delicious food from Neal’s deli will be for sale.

Please note that the OCSC is a private member club. Membership is not required to attend this show, but will be required if you intend to drink. Applications must be received three days before the event. For more information and to fill out an application, visit orangecountysocialclub.com