30 Days Out: a look at upcoming concerts

Twice monthly, my blog 30 Days Out spotlights upcoming music shows and events of note, shining a light into some less well-lit corners where some fascinating artists schedule performances. I do my best to give ample advance notice so that you can adjust your budget and calendar in a way that lets you get to the show.

This time around, intrepid music lovers in WNC can discover some homegrown talent; fresh and modern echoes of rock’s past; and a peek at one of its many possible futures.

Artist: The Allah-Las
Venue: Mothlight
Date: Thursday, Nov. 20, 10:00 p.m.
Door: $12 advance, $15 day of show
The swirling psychedelic sounds of the 1960s endure: the style has made resurgences in the “Paisley Underground” scene of the 80s, the garage revival of the 90s and beyond. And there’s room within the psych idiom for artists to assert their musical identity, too. One of the finest examples of modern-day psych is Los Angeles’ Allah-Las. On their two albums — 2012’s self-titled debut and the brand-new Worship the Sun — they combine the Southern California vibe with the chiming, acid-tinged pop of the Summer of Love. They’ve played Asheville a few times in recent years; when they opened for psych giants The Black Angels, The Allah-Las gave the headliners a run for their money. Tashaki Miyaki opens.

 

forte
Artist: Forte
Venue: The Altamont
Date: Friday, Nov. 21, 8:00 p.m.
Door: $15 advance, $18 day of show
For such a relatively small city, Asheville is bursting with musical talent. And if one explores beyond the many admittedly high-quality musicians trading in jam-band, avant garde and Americana styles, artists of true merit in other genres can be found. Four of these locally based (but nationally performing) artists have combined their diverse skills to debut a night of entertainment called Forte. Liz Aiello’s background is in Broadway and off-Broadway; Carol Duermit is a well-known blues and rock vocalist; classically-trained Katharine Sandoval Taylor is an accomplished oratorio and opera singer; actress/vocalist Beverly Todd has a deep résumé including many dramatic acting roles and a wide variety of vocal styles. Forte will be an evening of music, cabaret and comedy. (There will be a second performance on Saturday.)

 

williams
Artist: Jason D. Williams
Venue: Lipscomb Performing Arts Center
Date: Friday, Nov. 28, 8:00 p.m.
Door: $30 and up
Jerry Lee Lewis’ reputation as one of rock ‘n’ roll’s original wild men is beyond question, so it’s little surprise that he might have fathered the occasional out-of-wedlock baby along the way. At least one of those babies seems to have gotten the old man’s talent for pounding the ivories. Like The Killer, Jason D. Williams’ musical approach spans several genres: rock, blues, gospel, country and western. And he does it all with a style that combines the fury of punk and the precision of classical. Williams brings his show to WNC for a date at Highlands’ Performing Arts Center. That’s a little bit of a drive for Asheville people, but it’ll be worth the trip. And what better way to cap off Black Friday?

 

belew
Artist: Adrian Belew Power Trio
Venue: New Mountain
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 8:00 p.m.
Door: $24 advance / $28 day of show
Innovative guitarist Adrian Belew has made a name for himself early in his career as axeman to the stars: David Bowie, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, Nine Inch Nails. And he was a key member of King Crimson in two of its most fertile periods. But before, during and after all that, he’s maintained a creatively fertile solo career. His current power trio features two stellar young musicians (bassist Julie Slick and drummer Tobias Ralph), both of whom have also played with him in The Crimson ProjeKct. The trio’s style combines pop sensibility with heavy rock, melodicism with shredding. Look for my feature/interview with Belew in the Nov. 26 issue of Mountain Xpress. Asian Teacher Factory opens.

You may also enjoy: With over 1400 entries, my Musoscribe blog features new content — interviews, reviews and more — every business day. A proud tradition since 2009.

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About Bill Kopp
Author, music journalist, historian, collector, and musician. His first book, "Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon," published by Rowman & Littlefield, is available now. Follow me @the_musoscribe

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