Durham-based Merge Records recording artists Spoon's seventh album "Transference" has reached No. 4 on this week's Billboard list of top albums. The album has sold 53,696 units in its first week of release. The debut week represents the highest sales week of the band's long-running career, its previous high being the release week of "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga," which debuted at No. 10 in July of 2007.
The band performed earlier this month on "The Tonight Show." Spoon's North American tour will begin March 17 with a headlining appearance at Stubbs in Austin kicking off the annual South by Southwest conference. Spoon's March 22 and 23 shows at Washington DC's 9:30 Club completely sell out.
To date, there are no North Carolina dates for the tour.
Panel to discuss Dorfman's work
DURHAM -- The Duke University Center for International Studies will present a discussion of the work of writer and Duke professor Ariel Dorfman, titled "I Am a Liar Who Always Tells the Truth: A Roundtable on the Work of Ariel Dorfman," today from 4 to 6 p.m. in Perkins Library, room 217, West Campus, Duke University.
Five scholars who have studied the work of playwright, poet, novelist, essayist and activist Dorfman will discuss the many aspects of his work, from literature to human rights. Scholars participating will be Ricardo Guti
