These are not pretty pictures. kore loy wildrekinde-mcwhirter's etchings are drawn with great care, but they are far from pleasing. In 1898, in his What is Art, Leo Tolstoy wrote, "To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced … then, by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds, or forms expressed in words, so […]
Getting Sirius
"When you're doing pop and jazz, ugly sounds are encouraged," says cellist Franklin Keel. Not the case in classical group Opal String Quartet or as first cello in the Asheville Symphony — two of Keel's musical engagements. But, as the newest member of self-described "absurdist gypsy folk funk punk" sextet Sirius.B, Keel is making nice […]
Flutter like a goldfinch, scream like a hawk
If ever there were a Northwestern style of ballad singing, Brandi Carlile's voice would be the model. Not a traditional ballad singer in the Southern folk sense, she's an honest rock singer whose voice can flutter like a gold finch and scream like a hawk. Her sound echoes the romantic, electric shores of Bruce Springsteen […]
When ‘Pops’ Was Tops
About a year ago, Asheville swing-jazz conductor Russ Wilson was touring when he received an e-mail from Raleigh trombone player Bob Gregory. "He'd been noodling on the internet, looking at old sheet music, anything vintage, and he came across a Web site with transcripts of old dance band recordings," says Wilson. "The note said 'It's […]
Junker’s Blues
Winter sure is hard on creatures that try to live off of the land, and junkers are no exception. This is the time of year when all right thinking foragers spend their time in hibernation, living off the stores of scores they've made throughout the more productive months. Better to be warm, safe and secure […]
Soundtrack
Crowded into the stage area of BoBo Gallery, five-piece indie-pop group Do It To Julia (newcomers to Asheville as of last September) seem to have already outgrown the venue. But more than the sold-out room, the band's head count and the sprawling keyboard, it's the presence of DITJ's members that suggests amplitude. From the opening […]
Wall Street
Weaverville’s Wallace Shealy declared champion Bold-Faced Liar
Weaverville’s reputation was tarnished a bit last month when one of its otherwise upstanding citizens, Wallace Shealy, was called on the carpet (a rollled-out red one, likely) for being the year’s boldest-faced liar.
Photos from Justin Townes Earle at the Grey Eagle
Justin Townes Earle and Dawn Landes, despite the snowstorm. By Rich Orris.
Donna the Buffalo at the Orange Peel
Videographer Jesse Hamm showcases Americana group Donna the Buffalo at the Orange Peel for Xpress.
Rulin’ footage of snow canoeing
“Water does not need to be fluid to be floatable,” writes Nathan Zumwalt.
Video a-go-go
In this week’s round up: the peace and quiet of Asheville after a heavy snowfall, teens make a silly Breakfast Club-style dance montage, an iron pour at Phil Mechanic, graffiti’s many faces, plus a jam-band rendition of Bizet’s “Habanera”
Edgy Mama: Barley’s pizza and other baby-birthing inducement tricks
I was reminded of my attempts to induce my babies to check out of the uterine hotel when I realized that it’s Barley’s Pizzeria and Taproom’s 15th anniversary this year. What does Barley’s have to do with inducing labor? A lot, if you believe some local moms who swear that a big slice of Barley’s pie sent them running for labor and delivery.
Snow Day in West Asheville: Photos
In West Asheville the world is white with snow! See photos of the storm here.
Entertainment cancellations for this weekend
Updated for Saturday, Jan. 30: Due to snow forecasted locally (as well as storms in other parts of the country) a number of shows and events may be cancelled this weekend. Xpress will keep you up to date with the latest on closings as well as who’s still performing, serving, rocking and staying open.
Review of Fringe on Wheels
Put your brain on hold. It’s going to be a bumpy night.
Review of Fringe Audio at the 2010 Fringe Festival
Well Dada my Dada: what does it mean these days for art to be “avant-garde”?
Review of Asheville Fringe Festival: Fringe in a (Black)box
Is the festival pushing boundaries as one might expect?
This weekend on a shoestring
It’s that time again. Budget-friendly bands, benefits, openings, art, CD releases, soul food and a film screening… better make it a three day weekend.
One man’s trash is another man’s film trailer
"I remember my dad buying a beard trimmer in 1990 and it came with a VHS tape on how to use it," says Found Footage Festival's co-creator Nick Prueher. There was a time when "everything came with a VHS tape. The format was so cheap to produce that you got all these weird, esoteric things […]
Broadcasting a feeling of musical unity
Everyone has heard the expression "busy as a bee." But how about "busy as a buffalo?" Donna the Buffalo, that is. For more than 20 years, Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins have been among the hardest working musicians in the industry, touring relentlessly with their jammy blend of rock, bluegrass, Cajun, old-time, reggae and roots, […]