Concert review: Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons

If you’re going to stamp your name on a band, you might as well look the part. Angela Perley, namesake of Columbus, Ohio-based Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons, wears a vintage dress, a trilby with a feather, and plays a sparkly orange guitar. Her handsome group has a strong hat game and an even stronger stage presence, backed up by a near-swaggering delivery of Americana that leans more toward Tom Petty bite than Jeff Tweedy moan.

Though Perley’s recent Jack of the Wood show was a long way from home, there was more than one person in the crowd who knew all the words to her songs. Plenty more were dancing in the open space between stage and bar. And even in the venue’s small space, the band managed a big and balanced sound, with good levels and the kind of tasteful playing that comes from long tours and lots of practice. The polish of the Howlin’ Moons allowed for flourish, too. Billy Zehnal’s bass is supple and sturdy — an additional voice as much as a backbone to each song. Maxwell Button’s drumming, dynamic and nimble, kept the energy strong throughout the set.

The band was touring its new album, Homemade Vision, mixing old favorites with new songs like “White Doves,” the album’s lead track. There are nods to both Lucinda Williams and Victoria Williams in Perley’s songwriting, and if her sound leans toward roots music, there are hints of swing, rockabilly and country threaded throughout. But it’s the front women’s attitude that telegraphs in lyrics like, “I don’t believe in nothing real / It’s all a kind of perception, yeah / I want to live just how I feel, I want a heart of a Cadillac.”

That assertion is backed up by Chris Connor’s guitar parts. The band’s bio describes Connor’s playing as “fuzz, crunch, twang and bang.” It’s like the spirit twin to Perley’s words and voice — the two meet in some electric middle and nudge each other on to crushing, aching, screaming, sweating new places. At Jack of the Wood that swirl and bombast culminated in a cover of AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top,” which — perhaps surprisingly — works well as a country-rock song. The bartender was singing along. The dancers were heating up the small room. And just when it couldn’t get any better, Perley played a solo on a bowed saw. Apparently, when you’re a total badass, that’s how you play AC/DC.

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 Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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.

2 thoughts on “Concert review: Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons

  1. Thanks for a fantastic–and accurate–review, Alli. It was an astonishingly fine show, so worth the trip from Southeast Ohio. Until next time!

Leave a Reply to Bessie Warren ×

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.