Merge Records Artists Hammer No More the Fingers rocks Duke Gardens. Photo by Leah Montgomery.
The sun radiated a scorching 99 degrees as people wiggled their toes in the grass and gobbled down cups of free espresso n’ cookies and bourbon caramel ice cream. A peppery, sweet smell drifted through the air from The Palace International’s catering station where they dosed out heaping plates of African cuisine along with cases of beer and bottles of wine.
This is summer living at its finest—this is Music in the Gardens.
Duke Performances has teamed up with Merge Records this year to celebrate the Durham-based record label’s 25th anniversary. The performances feature seven concerts by local talent including the Rosebuds, King Khan and the Shrines and Spider Bags.
Last Wednesday, a crowd of people on lawn chairs and blankets laden with beer, wine and picnic goodies waited patiently on the yard behind the Doris Duke Center for the arrival of Hammer No More the Fingers.
The three-piece rock band from Durham, NC has come a long way since its members first began playing music in middle school. After changing the name nearly 15 times, Joe Hall (guitar, vocals), Duncan Webster (bass, vocals) and Jeff Stickley (drums, vocals) finally declared their name and their sound in 2007.
“[Our sound] is kind of like a cross between The Police and Weezer – it’s definitely got some hooks,” said Hall.
Hammer No More the Fingers played at 2011’s Music in the Gardens and was popular enough to be asked to return this year.
“I think our overall vibe is very friendly,” said Webster. “We’re rockin’ and we’re fun; we just like to have a good time and we like others to have a good time—you can definitely dance to it.”
Music in the Gardens will host two more performances by Richard Buckner and Portastatic at the Duke Gardens this Wednesday and next.
The Merge25 celebration will continue at the Baldwin Auditorium on July 23 and July 30 with performances by Lambchop, William Tyler, Mount Moriah, Steven Merritt and Mark Eitzel.
Duke Performances’ 2014 Music in the Gardens is sponsored by Duke Continuing Studies, Duke Summer Session, The Sarah P. Duke Gardens and Merge Records. For ticket information please visit www.dukeperformances.org or call (919) 684-4444.