Old Avenue will be at North Hills on Friday for the Emerging Artists music series. They’re a young, talented band from Raleigh and you can hear some of their music on their MySpace page. North Hills Buzz interviewed the band so you can learn more about the group before you see them.
North Hills Buzz: Your MySpace page says you first came together in December 2007. How did everyone in the band meet and start playing together?
Old Avenue: Originally, Sean and Jason were in a band, Thaxton’s Place, with a few other guys freshman year of high school. At the same time Mark was in a band, Wake Up David, with a few other guys from another school. The two bands came together mid freshman year. They played on and off for about a year or so and went through a few other members and singers. In December 2007 Kendall, who was also going to Cardinal Gibbons High School, was added to the band. A few weeks ago we acquired a new singer, Greg Sullivan, to make the band what we are today.
NHB: How did you get hooked up with your new lead singer, Greg Sullivan?
OA: We were in need of a singer and we had a few try-outs for some but they weren’t what we were looking for. Kendall’s brother, Andrew, suggested Greg Sullivan who he knew through his high school years at Cardinal Gibbons. We invited him to a practice and he was a perfect fit.
NHB: Who were some of your favorite artists growing up?
OA: Dave Matthews Band, OAR, Hootie & the Blowfish, Matchbox 20, Dr. Dre, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who, Moe., John Mayer, Jack Johnson, The Beatles, Bob Marley
NHB: What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
OA: Back in the day when Space Jam was in the theatres
NHB: Who are some of your favorite bands now? How have these bands influenced Old Avenue’s sound?
OA: Dave Matthews Band, OAR, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Dispatch, State Radio, Ingrid Michaelson.
NHB: I really like how the saxophone is blended into your songs. Talk about how you’ve made it fit so well into some of your songs, such as “Miss Summertime.”
OA: Different songs have different feels so it’s important to change playing styles to fit the song. Greg says, “I’m just glad he isn’t terrible.”
NHB: What do you think of the local music scene in Raleigh? How do small music series such as this one and larger events like Raleigh Wide Open affect the music scene here?
OA: Raleigh is a great place to play for a band like us. You have to start playing small venues and work your way up. Events like Raleigh Wide Open and shows at North Hills really help with exposure because every time you play those, you get a new audience to win over. We hope to continue playing many shows around Raleigh and also start traveling to other states for various shows and events.
NHB: What is your favorite place to relax in Raleigh? In North Carolina?
OA: We are big fans of hangin’ out by water and so Lake Gaston is always a fun place to go to and just relax. In Raleigh though, we like hangin’ out at Cloos’ Coney Island in Mission Valley, which is Mark’s dad’s restaurant.
NHB: If you could only listen to one CD for the rest of your life, what would it be?
OA: Of course “The Cobblestone EP” by Old Avenue but a close number 2 is “Crash” by Dave Matthews Band
After a break last week (due to the artist’s illness), we’ll be back this Friday with the Emerging Artists music series. Spencer Davis will perform at the Commons (the grassy area across from the movie theater at North Hills Raleigh) from 6:30-8:30pm. Spencer Davis has a nice soft pop/rock sound and I think you’ll enjoy his music.
You’ll also be able to participate in the Buzz a Lotos Photo Contest tomorrow night for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Look for the red Lotus Elise with our logo on it (should be parked in the area) and take a picture of yourself with the car and logo (or we’ll take one for you). Send your picture to pictures@northhillsbuzz.com or tag it as “buzzalotus” on Flickr and you’ll automatically be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to North Hills. You can check out some of the pictures that have been sent in so far right here.
**Update** - Due to illness, tonight’s artist-Erik Smallwood- had to cancel his performance. We plan on scheduling another date with him in the near future.
The Emerging Artists music series at North Hills/Midtown continues tonight with a performance by Erik Smallwood. He’ll be performing on the Commons in front of the movie theater from 6:30-8:30pm. Erik Smallwood combines a bluesy/soul sound with pop/rock. According to Virb.com, his roots are in gospel music and his inspirations include U2, Sting and Jeff Buckley.
You’ll also be able to participate in the Buzz a Lotos Photo Contest tonight for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Just find the red Lotus Elise with our logo on it (should be parked by the grassy area) and take a picture of yourself with the car and logo (or we’ll take one for you). Send your picture in to pictures@northhillsbuzz.com or tag it as “buzzalotus” on Flickr and you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to North Hills.
North Hills Buzz will be the presenting sponsor of the new Emerging Artists music series here at North Hills! The series began last week and will run every Friday in August from 6:30-8:30pm. Assuming the series is successful, it will continue through September and maybe longer.
As I mentioned a few days ago, this free music series will feature up-and-coming local bands and artists from this area. Music styles will range from rock and pop to alt and reggae. TimSmith Band, which has its roots in reggae, ska and soul, will play here tomorrow night (over at the Commons, by the movie theater).
Stay tuned for more information about this music series. We’d really like to involve YOU in the development of it so contact us with any thoughts/feedback/ideas you may have.
We’ve teamed up with Sponsor an Exotic to put our logo on their Lotus Elise, in order to increase awareness for our website and brand. Sponsor an Exotic offers an elite mobile branding solution for businesses based in the Raleigh area. Their specialty is drawing attention to businesses and brands through the use of flashy sports cars. This is something unique that offers opportunities to tie in with the website such as….
Buzz a Lotus Photo Contest
The Lotus Elise (with our logo on it) will be out and about at North Hills in the coming weeks, starting today (Friday) for the Emerging Artists music series. Take a picture of you and the Lotus with the North Hills Buzz logo showing, send it in to pictures@northhillsbuzz.com,and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a $100 North Hills gift certificate. We’ll feature the pictures that are sent in on a page here, so you can show your friends. If you’d rather upload the picture to Flickr and tag it as “buzzalotus” (minus the quotes) you can enter the drawing that way. Take as many pictures as you’d like, but only entry per person please. The contest will run through the end of August.
Come check out the music from TimSmith Band and the Lotus from Sponsor an Exotic and have a good time on Friday night. Take some pictures (such as the one below), and you might even win something.
For everyone that came out to see Liquid Pleasure at North Hills last night, I hope you enjoyed the show. Here are a few pictures we snapped at the event:
We have some exciting news for those of you who have enjoyed the music at North Hills this summer. A mini-concert series called Emerging Artists on the Commons will kick off this Friday on the lawn across from the movie theater. This mini-series will feature local bands (mostly acoustic pop/rock alt) from 6:30 - 8:30pm every Friday in August. They’ll be using a smaller stage than the one that is set up for the Thursday night music, so the traffic flow won’t be interrupted.
As usual, the shows will be free. Here’s the schedule so far:
Who’s ready to get lei’d? At 9:00 pm on Thursday after the music at North Hills there will be a luau at Mura outside on the patio. The cost is $10 and proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Assoication. It should be a fun time, with music, good food (I’ve heard there will be BBQ pork and pineapple fried rice, as well as sushi), and a raffle.
Sponsors include Budweiser, Absolut and Red Bull. NBC-17 will be covering the event and doing some live video streaming, and I’ll be there taking pictures and video as well. Come out to the event and help support the MDA in their mission to fight neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans.
***** TONIGHT’S SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE SMOKE/AIR CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE WILDFIRES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA ****
It’s Thursday and you know what that means. The Midtown Music Shag Series continues tonight with a performance by Part Time Party Time Band over at the Commons from 6:00-8:30pm.
It’s Thursday, and you know what that mean- music at North Hills Raleigh. The Midtown Music Shag Series will feature a performance by The Entertainers from 6:00pm - 8:30pm tonight on the Commons, which is over by the movie theater, Cinelli’s and Fox and Hound.
The Entertainers hail from Charlotte, NC, and you can check out some of their music by visiting their MySpace page. One of their more well-known songs is called “Living for the Summer,” which helped the group gain recognition and following when it was released in 1980.
Come check out the music tonight and have a good time.
WE GOT IT WRONG. Apparently another band, Black and Blue, is playing tonight at North Hills. Sorry for the confusion. We were just going by what was on the printed schedule.
The Beach Music Series at North Hills Raleigh continues tonight. Beach music legend Billy Scott and the Party Prophets will play a free concert over at the Commons (across from the movie theater) from 6:00 - 8:00pm.
The band has been playing beach music at parties and functions for over 30 years. They’re probably best known for their hit “My Kind of Girl,” which was the #1 song n the Rhythm N’ Beach Top 40 charts for 20 weeks at one point. The band is in the Beach Music Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
Check the band out tonight and bring some friends for some fun.
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Old Avenue will be at North Hills on Friday for the Emerging Artists music series. They’re a young, talented band from Raleigh and you can hear some of their music on their MySpace page. North Hills Buzz interviewed the band so you can learn more about the group before you see them.
After a break last week (due to the artist’s illness), we’ll be back this Friday with the Emerging Artists music series. 
