Music Near The Gardens (The Pinhook)

Downtown Boys
BY DREW DRAIN

The final show in the Music Near the Garden series, a collaborative project between Duke Arts and The Pinhook, closed out with an unforgettable, high-voltage night that defied both expectation and weather. Originally planned for Duke's east campus (near the lush outdoor setting of the Duke Gardens), the performance had to be relocated indoors to The Pinhook due to the extreme heat wave blanketing the area and the potential for stormy skies. But if the crowd was disappointed, it didn’t show. The lineup had been kept under wraps until the very end, feeding a growing buzz across Durham’s tight-knit music community.

Stormie Daie

Once the doors opened, it became clear why the secrecy had been so carefully maintained. The show brought together a stunning mix of experimental, political, and deeply emotional music. Hosted by local artist Stormie Daie and curated by Pinhook owner Kym Register, the event drew a passionate, tight-knit crowd of longtime supporters, fellow musicians, artists, activists, and fans. Duke Arts amplified the evening’s impact by broadcasting the celebration live on WXDU, ensuring the message of connectivity reached beyond the tightly packed Pinhook.

Helado Negro

Indie icon Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn; known for her unique blend of lo-fi indie rock, acoustic folk, and experimental pop; joined by Aviva Jaye; a young artist based in Toronto who writes and performs emotional DIY pop with nostalgic, introspective tones; delivered a set that was as intimate as it was commanding, weaving old favorites with newer material that resonated powerfully in the packed room. Helado Negro followed with a dreamlike performance, his lush electronic textures and bilingual lyrics casting a reflective mood that danced somewhere between celebration and meditation.

Dunums

Dunums brought a powerful sense of rootedness, combining soulful instrumentation with intricate rhythms and melodies that pulled the audience into a different kind of trance. But it was Downtown Boys who lit the fuse on the night’s final explosion of an urgent, punk-fueled performance that shook the floor and reminded everyone why music and resistance have always been inseparable.

[message]

DREW DRAIN

Andrew (Drew) Drain is originally from Point Pleasant, WV, and he now resides in Chapel Hill, NC with his daughter. Drew works as a financial risk management professional to pay the bills, but his real passion is photography. He started taking photos of his daughter playing soccer as a way to resist the urge to coach her from the sidelines. Time behind the camera developed into a love for photography that he has paired with his love for sports and live music. Follow Drew’s Instagram, @Drew.Drain.Photo or his MaxPreps galleries, to check out more of his work or contact him if you need photos of your favorite athlete or performer.

Read Drew's posts here.