30 Days Out: a look at upcoming concerts

FUNK FOR THE FUTURE: The Charles Walker Band makes no bones about being a musical throwback. But they deliver the goods in style for modern listeners. The band plays 185 King St. in Brevard on February 17.

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.

All four of the acts spotlighted in this edition are American; none is from Asheville, but all are musically adventurous and intriguing enough to justify a trip out on a potentially wintry February (or early March) Asheville evening.

Artist: Charles Walker Band
Venue: 185 King St.
Date: Friday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m.
Door: $12.18
You might not know it hearing its music, but the Charles Walker Band started out as a blues outfit. But the group — which has been at it for more than 14 years now — evolved into something much funkier and soulful. Why exactly retro-soul of the 1970s variety has enjoyed a resurgence is open to discussion, but it’s a welcome step backward. CWB delivers new funk tunes that would fit nicely in a playlist that featured Rufus & Chaka Khan and Isaac Hayes.

hatt_glass
Artist: Max Hatt & Edda Glass
Venue: Isis Music Hall
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.
Door: $12 advance / $15 day of show
The music of duo Max Hatt (guitar) and Edda Glass (voice) is inspired by the wide-open grandeur of the American west. Their music incorporates elements of bossa nova (Brazilian jazz) but moves beyond it as well. Max Hatt / Edda Glass won a NewSong contest that allowed them to record their debut album Ocean of Birds at Echo Mountain Studios. Though they’re still based out west (New Mexico, these days), they’ve quickly become popular in Asheville. Seating for this intimate upstairs show is limited to 50 people. Michelle Willis opens.

ben_folds
Artist: Ben Folds
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m.
Door: $35
Ben Folds came to fame in the 1990s with his waggishly named Ben Folds Five (the group was a trio). His virtuosic-yet-accessible piano-based songs deftly combine the best of ’70s influences (Elton John, Burt Bacharach) with harder-edged styles; BFF called its music “punk rock for sissies.” Folds suspended the group and embarked on a solo career. His first solo album was Rockin’ the Suburbs, a record that had the misfortune of being released on Sept. 11, 2001. These days he’s approaching elder statesman status, but his intelligent-yet-rocking music always feels fresh and new.

khruangbin
Artist: Khruangbin
Venue: The Mothlight
Date: Wednesday, March 1, 9 p.m.
Door: $12 advance / $14 day of show
Sometimes band bios and press kits end up serving as little more than misdirection, leaving one to decide for him/herself exactly what an act is about musically. That’s been my experience with Khurangbin, a trio from Texas. The band’s bio suggests Thai funk (what?) as an influence. What I hear, instead, is a love of downtempo and psychedelic styles, all built upon a solid foundation of strong melodies. It’s danceable rock, to be sure, but there’s sturdy song craft at the root of it all. The Shacks open.

You may also enjoy: With well over 2000 entries and 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.

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.