30 Days Out: a look at upcoming concerts

YOU ARE WHAT YOU IS: And Dweezil is Frank Zappa's son. He's also a gifted guitarist and interpreter of his late father's material. January 18 brings both a Dweezil Zappa concert and "masterclass" to The Orange Peel.

Twice monthly, my blog 30 Days Out spotlights upcoming music shows and events of note, often 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.

For this, the two-year anniversary edition of 30 Days Out, I take a quick look at three nationally touring acts and a locally sourced talent of wide repute.

Artist: Dweezil Zappa
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m.
Door: $28 advance / $30 day of show
Over the last several months, the guitar-wielding son of the late Frank Zappa has been in the news a lot. Not, sadly for his music, but rather concerning his run-ins with two siblings, non-performing controllers of Frank’s estate. Meanwhile, Dweezil does what he can to keep the focus on the music. Though last year’s Via Zammata’ showed him once again to be an excellent songwriter in his own right, this tour will focus primarily on Dweezil’s ongoing mission: bringing his father’s music to as many current-day listeners as possible. A separately ticketed “masterclass” earlier in the day gives attendees the chance to learn a few things from a guy who learned from one of the very best.

 

wendyjones
Artist: Wendy Jones
Venue: Isis Restaurant & Music Hall
Date: Sunday, Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Door: $15
For this show, the Brevard-based singer-instructor-performer will pay tribute to one of the most important composers of the 20th century, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. Backed by a four-piece band, Jones will sing selections from Ellington’s vast catalog (he composed more than 3,000 pieces of music). Jones is — among other credits — a featured vocalist with the Asheville Jazz Orchestra. But this performance, billed as the Wendy Jones Quintet, is an opportunity to see and hear her perform in a more musically streamlined setting that puts the focus on her impressive, expressive voice.

 

airpark
Artist: Airpark
Venue: The Altamont Theatre
Date: Friday, Jan. 27, 8 p.m.
Door: $7 advance / $10 day of show
In one of the earliest entries of 30 Days Out, I wrote about a band called Apache Relay. Here’s part of what I said: “The group is based in Nashville, and they’re nominally an Americana band. But Apache Relay has much more going on than the tag would suggest. The band’s new self-titled album features a track called ‘Katie Queen of Tennessee’ that owes as much to Phil Spector and Brian Wilson as it does to Fleet Foxes. The musicians’ arrangements convey a depth of emotionalism uncommon in popular music, and they pull it off without getting maudlin.” Well, that group is no more, but its founders — brothers Michael Ford, Jr. and Ben Ford — now bill themselves as Airpark. No released music yet, but it seems as if they’re scaling back the Americana influences and heading in the direction “Katie” hinted at.

 

legendary_shack_shakers
Artist: The Legendary Shack Shakers
Venue: Asheville Music Hall
Date: Friday, Jan. 27, 10 p.m.
Door: $15 advance / $18 day of show
Okay, maybe “legendary” lays it on a bit thick, but these guys have some claim to the title. For nearly 20 years now, the group — founding member J.D. Wilkes on harmonica, banjo and vocals, plus a succession of other musicians — has fashioned a kind of Southern Gothic take on rockabilly, one informed as much as anything by the power and spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. Robert Plant — no slouch of a rocker himself, once upon a time — thought enough of LSS to invite them to tour as his opening act in 2005. The group’s material is shot through with just the right amount of humor and irreverence. The Brains and The Delta Bombers are also on the night’s “Rockabilly Rumble” bill.

You may also enjoy: With well over 2000 entries and waaaay more than 300 interviews, my Musoscribe blog features new content — features, reviews and more — every business day. A proud tradition since 2009, now in its eighth year.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

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

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “30 Days Out: a look at upcoming concerts

  1. boatrocker

    Oh my- seeing Dweezil Zappa in a pic as a middle aged man suddenly has me feeling so very old.
    Funny how time slips away, as Willie sang.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.