Lafcadio

What’s up, buttercups!

As it sometimes tends to be, it’s been a while. Exams flew by in a flurry of fury, and now we have one soon-to-be college graduate and three other suckers who’ve got one more year.

A recap: Shakori was amazing. Thanks to all the folks who came out–the stage was bouncing so hard, I could barely sing into the microphone. We are looking forward to playing again at the next festival!

We also had a fun gig at Thursdays on the Terrace and one strange but wonderful Halfcadio performance for AGRADU. Again, thanks to all who came out, and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Looking to the future: tonight we play our last show before the summer! In the words of Ryan Dowdy,

“Gee whiz, I’m glad exams are over! Hey Scooter, what are you doing Saturday night?”
“Hey Biff, I’m going to The Cave to see LAFCADIO and THE WHISKEY SMUGGLERS release all their remaining musical energy in a MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA before summer starts!”

One final show before summer and Lafcadio takes summer hiatus! You won’t believe your eyes, or your ears, or your stomach capacity for PBR.”

ALSO, and perhaps with more decorum, in the words of the Independent:

INTRODUCING…

05.09 LAFCADIO @ THE CAVE

Formed just a week before UNC’s student-run Vinyl Records closed a competition to find its first three acts last September, Lafcadio scored a record deal with its first live performance and its three songs. They even rushed to pick out a name, which comes from the titular character of the Shel Silverstein fable Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back.

Initially a trio, guitarists/songwriters Liz Ross and Ryan Dowdy and drummer Steven Howell soon added bassist Eric Notarnicola. They’ve since played to a packed Local 506 for the release of its strong five-track EP, landed a slot at Shakori Hills and nearly won another competition—the Duke vs. UNC Battle of the Bands—in the subsequent seven months. Working on its full-length follow-up, the four students will take a well-deserved summer break following this show.

Don’t expect that to stop them, though: Lafcadio has been winning over audiences with its lively blend of rock and Americana, voiced by Ross’ soulful pipes and earworm melodies, which Dowdy follows in lockstep harmony. And it’s good enough to keep just doing that. With The Whiskey Smugglers. 10 p.m. —Spencer Griffith

Hope to see you there! If not, don’t despair–this isn’t the end for us. We have big plans for August, and have actually already been working on some recordings that just might leak out over the summer…

Hi Folks! Had a grand time last week, and now we’re getting back in da saddle for Jack Sprat tonight.

We’ll be playing from 9:30 to 10:00, rounding out a set of acoustic music and poetry readings. The show is free, and we’re playing with the very talented Austin McCall on drums of all kinds.

Hope to see you there!

Oh, yeah! Lafcadio will be playing at Shakori (much to our delight) this year. We will play on Thursday, April 16th at 10 p.m. Word is we’ll play in the Cabaret tent. Wonderful things have been known to happen in the Cabaret tent… who knows, you better come and see for yourself.

For the poor, unfortunate souls who have missed this festival in the past–SEIZE THE MOMENT! You only live once. You live better at Shakori.

go to: http://www.shakorihills.org/

day pass prices vary by day, and are cheaper if bought ahead of time. For people like us, it’s possible to volunteer rather than pay for your tickets! Volunteering is a ball. You spend a day in the country, moving your body, and you’re likely to learn something and meet some new friends. Last year I learned how to use power tools … poorly .

There’s also a shuttle available for those who lack four wheels of their own. Again, check it all out at http://www.shakorihills.org/

We’ve got a busy few weeks ahead of ourselves:

Ryan and Liz are playing a short acoustic set at the UNC Arts Crawl on the quad from 1 to 1:30 On Friday, March 27.

Lafcadio will be playing at 9:00 on Thursday, April 2nd, at the Mansion in Chapel Hill. Lafcadio’s headlining, and this one is gonna rock! Phillip Pledger will open up the show at 8:00.

Lafcadio will be playing at Jack Sprat in Chapel Hill on Saturday, April 4th–we are excited to headline this one, too! Come give us some love. Show starts at 9 pm and we plan to melt your faces AND hearts. hot damn.

Halfcadio (bad joke. ok. actually, this is Ryan, Liz, and Austin McCall on percussion) will be playing for roughly 1/2 hour at Jack Sprat on Wednesday, April 8th. The show starts at 8:30 and will include the poetry of Brian Howe and Tessa Joseph Nicholas. Come get yo’self cultured. It’s FREE!!

Hi folks! Much has happened since our last stale post.

for one: the UNC-Duke Battle of the Bands. Lafcadio didn’t win, but we made it to the finals (and through six hours of waiting…) UNC’s Daily TarHeel had some nice things to say about our show:

“Another standout performance came from semi-finalist Lafcadio, a UNC band represented by Vinyl Records.

The band’s sultry, twangy and soulful sound was reminiscent of rocking alt-country singer Neko Case, with lead singer Liz Ross wooing the tired audience.

“I liked Lafcadio best,” said Caroline Fisher, a UNC junior.  “I feel like they masterfully blend of a lot of music.  They switch genres effortlessly.”

from

http://www.dailytarheel.com/2.6423/online_exclusives/huguenots_win_duke_vs._unc_battle_of_the_bands-1.1623346

Have a hard copy sent to your door for only $5! Thanks for your support

Lafcadio EP $5

Hey Yall! So it’s been a long time since we’ve been around, thanks to the double whammy of Thanksgiving and exams. After our brief hiatus, we put close-to-final touches on recordings last night, and are sitting on mixes to be sent out and mastered later this week. For anyone who likes to plan, the CD release party will be January 30th at the Local 506, played in the company of our fellow vinyl-ites Lake Inferior and Apollo.

Sarah Smolen of Vinyl Records came out to take some photos with us last week. Here are a couple picks from what she sent us! Something about band photos with us felt absolutely goofy, awkward, and… well… who the hell hangs out in a field? But at least we’re not in a desert, looking at the blindingly bright horizon of our future with expressions of determination. No, we are playing rock, paper, scissors. And making terrible jokes.

Though I can only really speak for myself, I think the semester ended well for all of us. Ryan, Stevie and I were caught up in a whirlwind of catch-up, while Eric took his one exam. just sayin.

I’m looking forward to some time off, but certainly not time away–I want to be in Chapel Hill, playing with Lafcadio! More than anything, this semester has been colored by the breakneck pace that characterized our coming together. In the last four months, we wrote our first songs, unplugged the fridge to record them in Ryan and Stevie’s living room, played our first show (broke string at said show/s), went on the radio (broke string at said station), and taught Ryan how to not break strings (not one since October! Knock on wood). Now we’ve got five songs planned for release in January, and talk of a tour this spring.

Some observations: Ryan has had three haircuts in this time. I have worn boots to every show. Eric is the king of the double-pocket shirt. And Stevie only ever plays the drums with one expression: business.

love, and thanks for listening,

Liz

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come! Lafcadio rocked the Cabaret last night, and now we need some VOTES to get us a record deal!  Go to

http://www.unc.edu/~youngc/vinylrecords/

to help us get it. ready for the caps? VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE FROM FRIDAY(26th) at 7PM until MONDAY(29th) at 11:59:59
anyone with  PID can vote.

We need your help. Please tell everyone you know! We know some listservs that are craving this info. Call your friends and whatnot.

and don’t worry, your integrity is not jeopardized–you will be able to watch videos of the whooooole showcase and compare the bands to see which ones you like.
Or you could just vote for us.

many thanks, and much, much love,
Lafcadio