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The Cinnamon Band - http://www.myspace.com/cinnamonband

First impressions are critical. It has been scientifically proven (by the MACRoCk committee) that you can get a good feel for a band after hearing just three of their songs. The Cinnamon Band successfully charmed me after just one.

You too, will be quickly hooked on the cozy vocals, spice, and everything nice of this minimal drum and guitar duo. Despite having recently relocated to Philly, these Staunton, VA natives remain a favorite among locals and are returning for their 3rd MACRoCk performance, this time as a headlining act.

So sprinkle a little of The Cinnamon Band on your day with this lovely track entitled “You Heard What You Wanted” and see them at MACRoCk 2010!

The Little Grill is a bit of a rarity.  It’s tough to find vegan spare ribs so delicious you never want the real thing again.  It’s near impossible to stumble upon a restaurant with only farm fresh eggs and locally grown chicken.  And an actual worker-owned collective?  I had never even heard of another in these parts!

This restaurant is an important part of Harrisonburg, representing progressive community.  It is dedicated to more than just fabulous food (though you’ll find this in ample supply); Little Grill helps run a soup kitchen and is vigorously involved with Our Community Place (same owners!)  And, what’s more, they LOVE MACRoCk!  They’ve been a venue since the first downtown MACRoCk and just plain love music.  Their small stage has played host to just oodles of great bands, local and out’o’towners.  

But back to the the SNACKRoCk portion of my love affair with the L. G. C. Lounge.  There’s a different special every night and I’m pretty sure that Friday is Down Home Cookin’ night!  Best Plate Breakfast in town, too, by the way.  I love their amazing collection of sides, thick bacon, sausage, whole wheat biscuits, flax pancakes and the perfect over-medium fried egg.  If you’re looking for a heartier b-fast, I recommend the french toast or all the many delicious pancakes!  

The Soil & The Sun

Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, this group is one of the many bands traveling from around the nation to play this year’s MACRoCk. They are playing Court Square Theater on Saturday Afternoon and are bringing a full band this time around in Harrisonburg.

These guys happen to be one of my favorite band’s in the right now. There is such a familiarity and comfort in all of their songs. Alex & Ben delicately knit and weave these melodies into each carefully crafted song. Their tunes seem to lucidly resonate through your mind. The Soil & The Sun give you every ounce of their energy as they deliver each note and melody. They share similarities with a blend of bands such as Fleet Foxes, Mewithoutyou, Anathallo and even a hint of Simon & Garfunkel.

They incorporate so much into their live show: drums, guitars, bells, melodica, bass, keys, tambourines, percussion and accordions are amongst what I have seen them play, so count nothing out with these guys. With only 2 members, these guys delivered one of my favorite shows ever. Finally they are coming back after writing new material and playing with a full band.  I am eager to see what they have to offer all of us. Don’t miss them.

- Ben / MACRoCk Committee

awesome video featuring Best Coast. I may or may not try to convince the committee to do a reenactment on Saturday afternoon…

Prince Rama - http://www.myspace.com/princeramaofayodhya

Whenever I’m feeling down, I retreat to my favorite past time: Looking up last.fm profiles that use the word “transcendental” or “transcendent” to describe music and laugh. It’s unkind, but so rewarding. And then I met Prince Rama. I’m not saying I’ve found my spirit animal, but then, I haven’t had an opportunity to catch them live yet. They are, without a doubt, the most … transcendental of all bands. An interesting spectacle of epic proportions (Ramayana proportioned?) nestled in the Court Square Showcase, these dudes are certain to entertain.

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I first heard these dudes driving home from Speakertree in Lynchburg on a bright summer day in the most perfectest Jeep with the windows down. It was one of those days where no mix seemed worthy of the glorious weather and no radio station decent enough to serve as balm for my disappointed spirit. And then my friend popped in a new CD. It was Borrowed Beams of Light, a find he’d made a some show or another and a find for which I was eternally thankful. In an almost (young) Darwinian fight for survival for the best tunes to play on such a lovely day, Adam Brock and Nathan Walsh’s well mastered light summery jams were a perfect match. Borrowed Beams of Light is for a summer of driving through our Appalachia and sipping lemonade from a special sippy cup. Make your own first experience story at MACRoCk on Friday at Court Square!

Auld Lang Syne seem to be the kind of guys that would own pygmy goats. Go ahead and google ‘em and the pygmy goats too. They’re a perfect blend of new americana and older folk masterfully blending desperation and woe with cheer and heart. They are more than melodies pasted together haphazardly. More than anything, they are happy marriages of all types of fun music. Coming off a tour with The Avett Brothers, these dudes know what they’re doing and how to do it well. Enjoy the vid!

What would you do with an eternal summer? Eternal Summers is lazy, minimalistic psych-pop from Roanoke, VA, but they sound like they’re stuck in Southern Cali circa 1982. This band is breezy, like the end of a long warm day, and reminiscent of sitting on the back of a car watching the stars. Check them out on Friday night of MACRoCk @ Clementine cafe!

Valkyrie - http://www.myspace.com/valkyrie  

A band that needs no introduction.  Hometown heros, Valkyrie, will once again be heralding their epic heavy, hard-hitting craft atop Mt. MACRoCk as they close out the Blue Nile showcase on Saturday night.  Show up early in order to guarantee your place among the witnesses to testify to the mind melting rifts that will be overflowing from the summit by the clash of guitars at battle.

U.S. Christmas - http://www.myspace.com/uschristmas

Beautifully dark, droney, psychedelic southern slude from the woods of Marion, North Carolina.   Prepare your mind and body for sonic assault as this band on Neurot Recordings returns to the burg.  Just in case, MACRoCk has issued the following warning:

These are the first signs of Sonic Attack:
You will notice small objects, such as ornaments, oscillating.
You will notice a vibration in your diaphragm.
You will hear a distant hissing in your ears.
You will feel dizzy.
You will feel the need to be sick.
There may be bleeding.
There may be aches in the body.
You may be subject to fits of hysterical shouting, or even laughter.
These are all signs of imminent Sonic Destruction. 

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