30 Days Out

In my twice-monthly blog 30 Days Out, I spotlight upcoming music shows and events of note. While the most well-known venues in town (Orange Peel, Grey Eagle, and whatever they’re calling the Civic Center) consistently book popular and worthwhile acts, I’ll shine a light into some less well-lit corners, where some equally 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 you to the show.

This time out, I’ll tell you about two shows that won’t cost you a thing to gain entry, one celebrated world music performance, and one duo that includes a quietly influential music veteran.

Artist: Local Color Live Taping
Venue: The Millroom
Date: Wednesday, April 30, 7 p.m.
Door: Free
WNCW Radio’s Laura Blackley will host a live taping of her popular program Local Color at this, one of Asheville’s newest music/event venues. Always-dynamic Empire Strikes Brass are headlining, and David Earl will perform as well. Asheville’s own Laura Hope-Gill (“Poet Laureate of the Blue Ridge Parkway”) will deliver a spoken word set. Since it’s a live performance, plan to be seated well before airtime (doors open at 6 p.m.).

Artist: Dex Romweber Duo
Venue: Grey Eagle
Date: Friday, May 9, 9 p.m.
Door: $10 advance / $12 day of show
You say you liked The White Stripes because they were so original, so unique? Tell that to Dex Romweber. When little Jack White was a mere 10 years old, Dex and drummer Crow released their first album as The Flat Duo Jets. Highly charged punky rockabilly was the name of the game. And while even they weren’t the first guitar/drum duo on the music scene, Dex’s style influenced a lot of people. White calls him “one of the best kept secrets of the rock’n’roll underground.” Why he’s still a secret, I’ll never understand. These days, wildman Dex tours with his sibling Sara Romweber whom ’80s college rock fans may recall as the drummer for Let’s Active on their first EP and album. Asheville band The Zealots open.

Artist: Amigo
Venue: Oskar Blues Brewery (Brevard)
Date: Saturday, May 10, 6 p.m.
Door: Free
This Charlotte trio is bubbling under with its brand of rootsy rock/Americana/what-have-you. Other critics have compared them to Neil Young and Crazy Horse, always a good indication that a group won’t be serving up the seated-and-laid-back kind of performance that can give some roots music a bad name. These guys lean more toward The Flying Burrito Brothers than, say, any relatives of Mr. Mumford. Brevard is a bit of a drive, but you’ll be able to say you saw Amigo before they made it big.

Artist: Indranil Mallick
Venue: White Horse Black Mountain
Date: Sunday, May 11, 7:30 p.m.
Door: $15
Most Western audiences began their exposure to Indian music through the work of Ravi Shankar‘s sitar playing. Shankar’s music nearly always included other traditional Indian instruments as well, most notably the sarod and tabla. Mallick is a young yet widely renowned tabla player, and he’s toured internationally since 2002. For this performance he’ll be joined by Indian flautist Pandit Ronu Mamjar. This is a rare opportunity for WNC audiences to experience this unique — and still exotic to western ears — world music.

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