Thursday, March 3
• Loyal readers may recall that The Carolina Asheville (1640 Hendersonville Road, 274-9500) hosts a free screening of vintage horror films every Thursday. This week, they dust off James Whale’s 1932 cult classic The Old Dark House, widely considered a precursor to modern gothic horror. The film stars Boris Karloff and features a young Gloria Stuart, who viewers might recognize in later life as Rose from James Cameron’s 1997 Titanic. 8 p.m.
• Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville (152 S. Main St., 456-6000) invites the community to perform “songs, poetry, stories” and “anything you’d like to share” at an open mic night night hosted in the shop. Performers should arrive 15 minutes early. 6:30 p.m. Free.
• “The Sonic Scientist was poking about his lab one day when, in a cloud of purple smoke appeared the Magical Mr. McCrackles,” begins a bio for JiffyPop, PepperJack and the Magical Mr. McCrackles. “‘Stand aside good sir!’ he shouted as he waved his glitter coated wand over his head. As he continued to shake his wand in a circular motion over medium-high heat, a loud boom was heard and the undulating rhythms of JiffyPop began to spill over into the room. ‘And now for the Spice!’ he continued and the temperature in the room began to get a little bit hotter. PepperJack appeared and everything began to get a little more spicy. The Sonic Scientist, now thoroughly amused, grabbed his guitar and began to sing…”
Weird, yes. Intriguing, definitely. Catch the experimental quartet, featuring current and former members of Donna the Buffalo, Acoustic Syndicate’s Jay Sanders and chief Moog engineer Cyril Lance, at Mo-Daddy’s. 9 p.m. $5.
Friday, March 4
• The Electric Owls’ Andy Herod tones down his often sprawling indie pop for a solo show at Craggie Brewing Company (197 Hilliard Ave., 454-0360). Herod also hosts an opening of his visual art at Over Easy Cafe on Thursday (32 Broadways St., 236-3533). Both events are free and begin at 8 p.m.
• The night of experimental indie pop continues Friday at The Get Down (1045 Haywood Road, 505-8388) with If You Wannas, who are currently gearing up to release the followup to 2009’s Island Diplomacy. Wooden Toothe opens. 9:30 p.m.
• Malaprop’s Book Store (55 Haywood St., 2546734) describes author Jennifer Pharr Davis as “a local mountain woman extraordinaire and owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company.” According to a release for her appearance at the shop, Davis “holds the women’s record (with a support team) for fastest thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. Before she set the record, she made her first AT hike and wrote a book about the experience, Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail, which she’ll be reading from and discussing here.” 7 p.m. Free.
Saturday, March 5
• Learn about some of the beautiful places to enjoy the warmth of spring as Neil Regan, author of Great Waterfalls of North Carolina: A Guide for Hikers, Photographers and Waterfall Enthusiasts, visits Montford Books and More (31 Montford Ave., 285-8805) to discuss his hunt for local treasures. 3 p.m. Free.
• “Emitting a sound that blends seamlessly the best elements of rock’s last four decades with overtones of punk rock spite and the occasional display of chaos theory through a fuzz box, the group emerges from the new underground by way of D.I.Y. with know-how and remarkable musicianship,” reads The Gin Fits’ bio. See them at Fred’s Speakeasy (122 College St., 281-0920). 9:30 p.m.
• Put on your dancing shoes for this one. The Cheeksters bring their infectious, soulful, retro rock to The LAB, with the shoegazy indie rock of Warm the Bell.
Monday, March 6
• We’ve decided to make it a four-day weekend for this one. The Magnetic Field Theatre (372 Depot St., 257-4003) presents its bi-monthly Synergy Story Slam, “an opportunity to share stories, to laugh, to learn, and to help out local organizations, all in an effort to build a stronger Asheville community,” according to the theater’s website. “It’s good for you to tell your stories, and it’s good for us to hear them. And, of course, it’s good for community organizations because part of the proceeds from door donations collected at the slam will be donated to a different local organization each week. Another big fat chunk of the door cash goes to the story slam winner—that’s right friend, tell a story and it might be money in your pocket!” 7:30 p.m. Storytellers arrive at 7 p.m. to sign up. $5-$10.
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