It’s easy to forget that Daniel Bachman hasn’t been playing guitar all that long. On Jesus I’m a Sinner, his latest collection of acoustic picking, the quick tunes bustle with tidy determination, and the pensive ones bask in full and sumptuous tones. He grounds himself in the blues and folk basics relied on by his […]
On its website, Trumansburg, N.Y.-based roots outfit Donna the Buffalo (pictured) describes its recipe for a 25-year career. The band is "infused with more spices than you’ll find at a Cajun cookout by way of a southern-fried, country bluegrass jamboree." That, and the group has a knack for picking prime recording locations. New album Tonight, […]
“I think there’s going to be more and more space in experiencing film in the future,” says New York-based musician Brendan Cooney in regard to the constantly changing landscape of the movie industry. But Cooney is looking to that future by way of the past. He’s tapping the very origins of film — the silent […]
“Sheila Kay tells stories about her home here in the mountains," says Madison County Arts Council executive director Laura Boosinger. “Her performances are full of humor and passion for this region.” But Adams (also an author, musician and seventh-generation ballad singer) has a reach that extends far beyond Western North Carolina. She's a National Endowment […]
Photo by Hannah Hawkins Flora Wolpert Checknoff fronts and writes the music for experimental outfit Holy Holy Vine, a band with a sound she describes as “unusual, though sturdily woven, repeating textures paired with accessible, relatable melodies [and] unpredictable, perhaps disjointed polyrhythmic drumming.” Sometimes she simplifies her description to “world music,” but that single genre […]
Isolation Studies #2: The Hypermodern is the latest in a series of conceptual releases by local musician Jason Smith, who records as Night's Bright Colors. Unlike past collections, the eight tracks on Hypermodern are all instrumental and all short (the longest is just over three minutes, the shortest is 37 seconds). Smith has proved a […]
The latest in a series of conceptual releases by Jason Smith, aka Night’s Bright Colors,
Sanctum Sully performs a new song from the group’s forthcoming record as part of the Acoustic Asheville series.
Donna the Buffalo performs at The Orange Peel on Saturday, Jan. 18. Before the eclectic Americana band takes the stage, fiddle and accordion player Tara Nevins talks with Xpress about good vibes, striving for perfection and her love for The Herd.
This new twice-monthly blog spotlight upcoming music shows and events of note with plenty of lead time to make plans.
The bluegrass band from Washington D.C. performs at The Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Saturday, Jan. 18. In advance, Solivan spoke to Xpress about spending time in Alaska, his love of cooking and the four Ts of music.
Xpress is partnering with Moog Music to curate AHA AVL shows. Local indie-rockers Total War launched the 2013/2014 season in October. Photo courtesy of Moog Music.
Mountain Xpress and Sherwood’s Music are partnering to showcase local musicians through a series of stripped-down performances for the web. This week Steven Brett and Rebecca Finley-Smith of Camp David perform “Old Strings.”
With the new year, Emerald Lounge quietly rolled out the first of its many changes. A new bookings and promotions partnership is one part of the evolution. The music room plans to deepen its support of local artists of all genres, among other initiatives.
The local indie-rock outfit promises a “a high-energy, intimate party not to miss” at The LAB on Friday, Jan. 10, at 9:30 p.m. Cover is $7.
In honor of Decent Lovers final Asheville show at the Moog Factory on Wednesday night, we’re rolling out this bonus video from our local music web series produced with Sherwood’s Music.
Foothills (Chase Hudson of 2PPM) performs an evening of experimental music at The Mothlight on Saturday, Jan. 11. Kane Pour, Difference Clouds and Paciens Trine share the bill.
The Steep Canyon Rangers threaten to break some bluegrass rules with their eighth LP, Tell the Ones I Love. Following a succession of increasingly sparkling productions, the new album is the group’s most freewheeling affair yet — it may also be itsbest. The performances were captured live as the Rangers played together in a circle, […]
Florida native Mary James didn't earn her stage name, Mean Mary, from kicking puppies or pantsing bandmates. It's all about her musical skills, namely her "lighting-fast fingers and raw, unmistakable vocal sound." James could read music before she could read words and co-wrote songs at age 5, according to her bio. She recorded her debut […]
“I was born and raised in a small town and grew up in church,” says vocalist Paul Janeway. “I feel bad, because it’s kind of a cliché now.” Then again, he’s in good company: Fellow Alabama natives Wilson Pickett, Martha Reeves and Percy Sledge also got their start in choirs. And taking a cue from […]
Trucker-turned-comedian Julie Scoggins describes her comedy as observational — a day-to-day take on things. And, while she admits her husband is often the brunt of her jokes (“I can tell by how much he rolls his eyes whether it’s a keeper or not”), on a five-hour drive from her hometown of Charlotte to a performance […]
