Image 1. Left unsaid: Hello Hugo’s meandering instrumentals are melodic and dynamic, a broad sampling of indie-rock influences that emphasize the rhythmic interplay between its various elements. The Asheville four-piece plays Apothecary on Friday, Nov. 30.
Image 2. Behind the mic: Asheville FM hosts dozens of weekly shows that run the gamut of musical styles and tastes (you name it, they've got it). But don't take our word for it; take theirs. Xpress brings you this weekly feature — direct from the DJs — highlighting a few of the station's stellar offerings. www.ashevillefm.org. Melody in Mayhem's host, “Dogeye,” has been in bands, studied music, worked with labels and dropped out of radio school. He’s been hosting the show for two years, but he's been fighting with his brain for some … well, a long time. One moment, he's absorbed in '50s electronic music; the next, he's obsessed with original ethnic music or rock on the outskirts. Catch some frivolous music and sound, with all things serious around, as Melody in Mayhem brings you noise, rock and sexy easy listening on Fridays from midnight-2 a.m. Max Cooper
Image 3. Holiday homecoming: River Whyless makes folk rock with a decidedly Appalachian flavor, rich with lonesome fiddle and soaring male/female vocal harmonies. Catch the band at Emerald Lounge on Friday, Dec. 1, its first hometown show since appearing at LAAFF in September.
Image 4. Jacob Tomsky: Jacob Tomsky's Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality is what it says it is: a behind-the-scenes tell-all of the hotel industry. Tomsky graduated from high school in Asheville and started his hospitality career as a valet parking attendant when he was just out of college. From there, the industry took Tomsky on a rocky ride, across state lines and out of the country, calling him back to its steady (if tiny) paycheck even as he tried to get free and pursue his true passion, writing. Seems the end justified the means: Tomsky turned all those years parking cars, changing sheets, adjusting bills and pilfering snacks from mini bars into a quick-witted work of mostly nonfiction. Heads in Beds is at turns hilarious, sad, too revealing, naughty, frightening and wildly fun. Tomsky reads at Malaprop's on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. http://malaprops.com. Read a full interview with Tomsky at mountainx.com. Photo by James Slater.
Image 5. Mountain Goats and Matthew E. White: Mountain Goats started in California in the early '90s and while the band has changed style and locations and personnel over the years (except for frontman/founder John Darnielle), the band has continued to make the sort of smart and emotionally charged music that keeps fans coming back. Darnielle is now based in Durham and, at an event at Duke, he met singer-songwriter Matthew E. White (who was there playing with Megafaun, who he'd met in Asheville). Darnielle brought White in to add horns arrangements to Mountain Goats' most recent release, Transcendental Youth. White's own debut is the not-to-be-missed Big Inner (read an interview with him about the record at mountainx.com). The Mountain Goats and Matthew E. White perform at The Grey Eagle on Friday, Nov. 30. 9pm. $18 advance or $20 day of show. http://www.thegreyeagle.com. Photo by DL Anderson.
No image. All in the Timing: Timing is the theme in this collection of one-act plays, all penned by David Ives between '87 and '93. In one, a man and woman meet in a café and their date is continually reset to the beginning each time they say the wrong thing, until they finally get it right. In another, Leon Trotsky dies over and over until he's able to make his final philosophical statement on human life. A-B Tech Community College's Drama Club stages All in the Timing (directed by Tab Merkel and featuring an all-student cast and crew) Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1. 7:30 p.m. nightly in the Carriage House Theatre behind Fernihurst on the College’s Asheville campus. $3 for A-B Tech students and staff, $5 for area students, $10 for adults. http://www.abtech.edu.
Image 6. Kristin “Luna” Ray: "Kristin 'Luna' Ray is part of a rapidly growing genre that brings mantra music into the mainstream," says press for the Asheville-based singer-songwriter and chant artist. This year, Ray released her new album, One Shared Heart (featuring Wah, Girish and Alvin Young) and embarked upon a nationwide tour. She now returns to WNC for a special concert that will include material from her previous album, Where Heaven Meets the Earth as well as songs for an upcoming project. Ray plays White Horse Black Mountain with her band, Luna Rasa, on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Special guests are River Guerguerian and Chris Rosser. $10.
Image 7. Habitat for Humanity benefit concert: Do good, have fun, listen to local music and save the world. Or at least make the world a little bit better. After all, besides frosted cookies, carols and garishly wrapped gifts, the holidays contain a "make the world a little bit better" theme. On Sunday, Dec. 2, West Asheville Presbyterian Church (690 Haywood Road) hosts a concert to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Performers include Chuck Brodsky, Kellin Watson (pictured), Red June, Jamie Laval, Paul Babelay, Amy and Ken Laderoute, Aaron Price and Heartland (an a capella group of Erwin High School students). 6:30 p.m. Free; donations accepted. http://www.westashepres.org/newsandevents.html
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