This weekend on a shoestring

Thursday, Nov. 29

• From a Malaprop’s event page, “Jacob Tomsky’s Heads in Beds is a rollicking, eye-opening, fantastically indiscreet memoir of a life spent (and misspent) in the hotel industry. Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) writes of it, ‘Heads in Beds is hilarious, literate, canny, indignant and kind — revealing an author who manages somehow to be both a total hustler and a complete humanitarian … I’m telling you, he’s a star.’ In the tradition of Kitchen Confidential and Waiter Rant, we’re predicting an evening of outrageous stories and belly laughs.” Tomsky visits Malaprop’s to discuss his memoir and answer questions from readers. 55 Haywood St. 7 p.m. Free.

• From a feature in this week’s Xpress, “If one were looking for two Asheville acts that lined up stylistically for collaboration, The Critters and John Wilkes Boothe and the Black Toothe would be an unlikely selection. The former is an aggressively psychedelic garage outfit with Sloan-approximate hooks and a roughshod sense of rock ‘n’ roll energy. They’re less about precision than joyous momentum, often seeming close to careening out of control, though they always manage to hold on. The Toothe is a trio that brings order to normally chaotic music, tightening elements of macabre freak folk into polished musings that peel back the prestige of Southern heritage to uncover murder and menace. Despite these differences, the two outfits are well-matched on their new split EP, a six-song offering that collects two originals and one cover from each. The covers find each group re-working one of the other’s songs, gleaning additional excitement from the bands’ compelling contrasts. “I think it’s almost more interesting how dissimilar our bands are. That makes this kind of an interesting collaboration,” says Critters guitarist Tom Peters. “The most obvious differences are no electric guitars, no live rock drum kit with the Toothe. So that’s what made covering each other’s songs so interesting to me.” The two local outfits celebrate the release of their collaborative EP with a performance at The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. Doc Aquatic opens. 9 p.m. $5.
Story by Jordan Lawrence

The Critters for My Side of the Mountain from Jesse Hamm on Vimeo.

John Wilkes Boothe & the Black Toothe for My Side of the Mountain from Jesse Hamm on Vimeo.

Friday, Nov. 30

• It’s about time to start thinking about holiday gifts, and UNCA has some affordable, hand-crafted items up for grabs. From a press release, “UNC Asheville’s art department will hold its annual holiday sale of ceramics, glass and other art objects from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, located on the ground floor of Owen Hall. The sale is open to the public. A wide variety of functional and decorative items crafted by UNC Asheville students will be on sale with prices beginning at $5. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the university’s art department. For more information, call 251-6559.”

• We mistakenly listed this as a Thursday show in this week’s print edition, so let it be known, local indie instrumentalists Hello Hugo bring their melodic meaderings and uber-rhythmic jams to Apothecary, 39 S. Market St., on Friday. The performance kicks off a short, three-day tour for the local quartet, who will be joined by Albert Adams and Athens-based Tumbleweed Stampede. 9 p.m. $3. More info here.

My Side of the Mountain: Albert Adams from Dane Smith on Vimeo.

• River Whyless has been keeping a low profile locally, but the four-piece indie-folk quartet has been plenty busy performing its Appalachian folk rock at festivals and clubs across the Southeast since it returned from a nationwide tour in the spring. This weekend, the band revisits the Emerald Lounge, 112 N. Lexington Ave., for its first local appearance since LAAFF in early September. Milktooth opens. 9 p.m. $5.

River Whyless “Unfound Door” from Dane Smith on Vimeo.

Saturday, Dec.1

• Learn more about the changing nature of commercially produced foods as the Waynesville Public Library, 678 S. Haywood St., hosts a screening of Genetic Roulette, a documentary which provides “never-before-seen-evidence that points to genetically engineered foods as a major contributor to rising disease rates in the U.S. population, especially among children.” 2:30 p.m. Free.

• Check out the latest styles while you pick up some nutritional treats as Greenlife Grocery, 70 Merrimon Ave., hosts a holiday fashion show including “staff in natural clothing for a warm and wholesome winter” and an hors d’oeurves and wine reception at 4:45 p.m. Fashion show begins at 5 p.m. Attendees receive 15 percent off all items featured. Info: 254-5440.

• One Stop Deli and Bar, 55 College St., celebrates Unification Tattoo Parlour‘s one-year anniversary with an evening of ambient electronics and local hip-hop, featuring Asian Teacher Factory, Samuel Paradise, Ho-Tron Beatz, Topr and more. 10 p.m. Free until 11 p.m./$5 after. 

Flow to Move the Massive from Jonathan Samuels on Vimeo.

• From an Emerald Lounge event page, “Arpetrio is touring harder than ever before. The mix of complex production tools and sophisticated compositions result in the finest elements of jam, electronica, jazz-fusion, trip-hop and psychedelic music. As one of the Southeast’s fasting growing electronic groups, Arpetrio has demonstrated their drive through constant touring, playing shows spanning from northern Michigan down to South Florida and everywhere in between. Arpetrio combines the precision of a DJ with the vivid expression and versatility of a live band, creating a unique fusion experience at each show. … Audiences can feel the energy from each successive beat and swirling electronic sound. With each show, Arpetrio continues to experiment with new combinations of sounds and textures resulting in a one of a kind experience each time.” The Atlanta-based act performs Saturday with local “progressive space-rock band” A Ghost Like Me. 9 p.m. $8.

Sunday, Dec. 2

• The winter edition of Asheville’s favorite bi-annual arts and crafts fair, The Big Crafty, returns on Sunday with more than 75 independent vendors offering jewelry, paintings, clothing, prints, sculpture and more. Held at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 N. Pack Square. Noon-6 p.m. Free to attend.