Indycent Concert

Contrary to what you might have heard, independent rock music is nowhere near dead in the Triangle. Sure, Superchunk aren't quite what they used to be, and Polvo and Archers of Loaf have split, but those big names never represented more than a fraction of the vibrant and diverse music of the area. Music scenes are built on the backs of small, fiercely independent bands-not big-name acts-that do what they do because they love it, in spite of the latest swing or electro fad.

Whether they're featured in Rolling Stone this month or not, a slew of great artists and great venues remain. On any given weekend you can check out raw local talent at The Brewery in Raleigh, Local 506, The Cave or brand-new Go! Studios in Chapel Hill, or your very own Duke Coffeehouse. At the epicenter of it all, though, has been the Cat's Cradle, the Carrboro mainstay that has maintained uncompromising integrity and quality in its choice of acts over the years.

Playing the Cradle these days can be a big deal. As more national acts filter into the venue, smaller artists have a tougher time getting even opening slots. Though local musician Finn Cohen (from the band Fura) says the Cradle is "very supportive of local music," it still remains an elusive holy grail for smaller artists. Indycent Exposure, a charity benefit organized and sponsored by The Independent, is a wonderful opportunity for smaller bands to get their big breaks. Hearkening back to local festivals (like WXDU's legendary Madonnathon), IE's organizers have scoured the cutting edge to hand-pick bands just outside of the mainstream's earshot. The festival, which started in 1996, already has a pretty diverse past-veterans include country rockers Two Dollar Pistols, mellow chamber-rock outfit Sharkquest, indie stalwarts Cole and even the mighty Superchunk themselves.

Concertgoers can expect a similar variety this Friday. The bill leads off with Fura, a Durham rock outfit that guitarist Derek Scott describes as "dynamic, melodic and in your face." Others have given the band the "emo" tag, and even comparisons to Fugazi have been broached. Whatever you call them, a Fura show promises intensity, spirit and a diehard, unpretentious musical ethic. Next on the bill is Nine Minute Snooze, a Raleigh pop band that show organizer Karen Mann says has "absolutely some of the best vocal harmonies I've heard in a long time."

Fura and Nine Minute Snooze are followed by two wild and crazy country acts. Betsy in the Gene Pool plays engaging country-swing, while Big Joe promises nothing short of "hell raising country rock" that Mann calls "a cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Sex Pistols." For those thinking "damn, that's one ugly baby"-go find out for yourselves.

For the show's grand finale, expect Raleigh's Jam Pain Society to shock, confuse and amuse. Touted as "like Kiss with a female singer," the glammed-out band brings a freaky mix of cheez-metal, disco, funk and industrial to the table. Break out the platform shoes and get ready for the mirrorball-Jam Pain Society will hit you with a fireball of retro-influenced madness that could knock a bevy of today's snooze-rock folkies sideways. What's scary is that they're as comfortable with an industrial screed as a Bee Gees-style jam, so be ready. For the timid, don't worry-they don't use the face paint.

One sentiment echoed by both Karen Mann and the members of Fura is that students-specifically those from Chapel Hill and Duke-need to come out to more shows for local music to thrive. Local concerts may not have the predictability of a night at the corporate shed with the DMB or NSync, but they also don't have the price tag, stale, costly beer and the noxious atmosphere. Indycent Exposure is a perfect event for students. It's a good value for your money (under $10 for 5 bands), it supports a charity (Musicians' Health Care Initiative) and it promises a whole blitzkrieg load of fun.

I'll bet my pants on it.