Pedal power: Electro-rockers Sonmi Suite blend traditional instrumentation with electronic elements such as synthesizers, vocoders, samplers and computers. Photo by Jonathan Welch. At first glance it might seem that Asheville is stacked in favor of roots music, what with a guitarist on every corner and an Americana band in every bar. But there's also much […]
DJ heroics
A decade or so ago, electronic music in Asheville was mostly DJs who played weddings and an underground scene with some experimental artists like ambient artist John "Jon 7" Myers (who according to his Last.fm bio, "found the Asheville DJ scene too limiting and far too cliquish for a town of so small a size"). […]
Predicting the weather
Asheville's venues, promoters and festivals deserve much of the credit for fueling the local electronic music explosion. What started out as the soundtrack of private house parties and informal gatherings can now be heard almost any night of the week at downtown clubs such as Emerald Lounge, Club 828 (formerly Nashwa), Hookah Joe's, BoBo Gallery, […]
Making a movie to go with the soundtrack
According to Celeste Melody, VJing is addictive because "a sort of magic happens. You don't know what the band's going to play, but there's a moment when it all comes together like it was planned." Watching the music go by: Ross Gentry of Villages performs in front of projects by VJ Megan McKissack at last […]
Electric youth
Where can the under-18 crowd take their music? Asheville High School junior Nate Wilcox-Pettit smiles wide, when asked. "We can make it anything we want it to be," he says. "It can go anywhere." DIY: High schoolers DJ Salinger (seated) and Nate Wilcox-Pettit create their own music and their own venues. Photo by Gabe Chess. […]
To infinity and beyond
"To play music in Asheville, you have to be into different types of music," says Brien Worsham of RBTS WIN, a band that mixes electronica with traditional instruments. It's a hybrid, and a burgeoning genre in the local music scene. The future is now: Oxford, Miss.-based Zoogma plays Asheville's Emerald Lounge. Photo by Jonathan Welch. […]
New York’s most famous unknown artist
"His stuff looks like something I could make," remarked a young man in a sarcastic tone to his friends as they were exiting the Ray Johnson exhibit currently on display at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. James Dean/Rimbaud, ca. 1956-58, collage on cardboard, private collection. Now, in my opinion, dismissing a Ray Johnson […]
Henry Rollins takes your time seriously
Henry Rollins has always been involved in a wide array of projects. From music (Black Flag, Rollins Band) to writing books, from acting (Sons of Anarchy) to his radio show, "I like the work," he says. "And I have no illusions about where I come from; I'm from the minimum-wage working world. So when someone […]
Chuck Norris and ActionFest — the film festival with a body count — are coming
The first-ever film festival devoted to action cinema coming to town. And so. is. Chuck. Norris.
Into the Forums
Are the Orange Peel’s security measures too much? Is Asheville friendly and progressive, or hostile to newcomers? This week’s forum threads address these questions and much more, including how best to cook popcorn and other such matters.
Edgy Mama: The ‘mommy makeover’ addresses body issues I never knew I had
The appearance of my private parts has never limited me in any way. But, damn, should I be concerned?
Video a-go-go
This week’s gamut includes: hyperniche Matthew Dillner visits the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, several noteworthy approaches to promotional videos, how folks vied for a spot in the 2011 Freaks of Asheville Calendar and techno contra dancing.
This spud’s for you
S.P.U.D. Patrol returns to Pritchard Park this weekend, giving away baked potatoes to the hungry.
A podcast with a conscious vibe
To Chris Weller’s way of thinking, everyone has a song to sing and anyone can be an instrument of change. With that in mind, Weller has launched an Asheville-based podcast — Fret Knot Radio Hour — that he hopes will give voice to those folks, no matter the medium.
Review of Eat Your Heart Out
The most-recent show from Bombs Away Cabaret? Without ever taking itself seriously, it put the moon’s light of love back in the sorely abused word “amateur,” the burla (“joke”) back in burlesque, and the broad back in…well…broad.
Walk A Mile in Her Shoes
Our Voice drums up support for a worthy cause with a hilarious video. Dudes in heels strut to Frankie Valli’s “Walk Like A Man.”
Book Report: Requiem by Fire
In his new novel, local author Wayne Caldwell returns to Cataloochee as the area’s residents are forced out by the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The LA-based mega lineup: Daedelus, Nosaj Thing and Jogger at Club 828
Three critically-acclaimed LA producers/electronic musicians play Asheville this Friday. (Read on for ticket giveaway info!)
This weekend on a shoestring
It’s that time again: Time to make weekend plans, get out and see live music, take in some art, check out a lecture. Lots of budget-friendly choices.
Piece by piece
"We recorded the basic tracks in a just a few days," says Wayne Robbins, referring to his latest offering with the Hellsayers, All You Need to Sleep. "It was right before we went to Europe. Then I moved. That was when everything started getting complicated." Photo by Sandlin Gaither That was two-and-a-half years ago. To […]
What does it mean to Go Waggaloo?
The Guthrie Family Rides Again Tour is coming to Asheville. And it's not just the Guthrie grownups that will be taking the stage. Legendary folk-music icon Arlo Guthrie will be joined by his seven grandchildren, ages 2 through 18. While Arlo acknowledges that the littlest ones aren't on stage for the entire show "because they […]