Culture watch

Word Up

Local blogger and creative deviant Devin Walsh is slowly making his way into the legit lit world. His elegantly disturbing short story, “Here’s to the Losers,” was recently published in the University of San Francisco’s online lit rag Switchback. Although he’s a relatively new name on the scribe scene, Walsh is anything but a publishing newbie. He’s the creator and Editor-in-Chief of the UNCA-based creative-arts journal Metabolism, and is a frequent contributor to the local literary blog Flashville.com. Check out his skills at swback.com/issues/004.

It’s Raining Predictability!

Further up the literary ladder, a number of local and regional poets you’ve already heard of got themselves published again, this time in Kakalak 2006, yet another Carolinas-only poetry anthology. While no one is claiming that the usual gang of academically recognized poets — David Brendan Hopes, Glenis Redmond, former N.C. Poet Laureate Fred Chappell and current N.C. Poet Laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer among them — isn’t worthy of the recognition, you’d think the same Charlotte-based press who publishes the Main Street Rag would have taken care to see that a few edgier names made it in. Still, if you’re into reading regional poets and you’ve got $12 to spare, it’s probably worth your time. Learn more at kakalak.net.

Making The Myth: By Morning

Even if semi-mainstream, vaguely emo pop-metal ain’t your thing, you’ve still got to respect the marketing smarts of a band like By Morning. The Asheville-based quintet could have tried the increasingly ineffective gimmick of calling themselves a “local supergroup,” since the band includes members of noted hometown acts Elara Luna, Einstein’s Dream, Off Centre and MiniVoid. But, to their credit, they didn’t. Instead, the quintet got smart, padding their debut with a good producer and a cred-creating West Coast label, the better to ratchet up their booking. Released to little fanfare in June, By Morning’s five-song EP, Illustrations, was recorded by Jamie King, the producer-savant to the regional hardcore and metal set. A more striking development is the group’s signing to Los Angeles-based label A-Rock. Having representation in La La Land has already opened doors for the group, but the truth behind the contract is a little less than glitzy. A-Rock is the brainchild of Sean Stevens, former drummer of the defunct local emo outfit A Kiss Before Dying, and one-time Webmaster for AshevilleRock.com (hence the “A-Rock”), who’s been buds with the By Morning guys for years. The label itself appears to be little more than Stevens’ backing, a few MySpace pages, and merchandise for his only band — By Morning. Still, the clever Pacific ploy appears to be paying off — the band is currently playing a series of short-distance “yo-yo” tours, and is already booked through October. The tour is scant on local dates, but would-be fans can check out the group during their all-ages show on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Fairview Community Center. Learn more and hear tunes at myspace.com/bymorning.