Man of La Mancha at Flat Rock Playhouse: A musical antidote to pervasive cynicism.
Headroom
She likes to overshare: Review of I Wrote This Play…
An unmoored life and empty sexual flings: Review of I Wrote This Play to Make You Love Me at N.C. Stage.
Red, gold & green
The lost Phish review, with a Bonnaroo dispatch
Our fine music writer Jake Frankel reviews last week’s Phish show, which includes minty-fresh updates from last night’s Bonnaroo show.
Aloha
Now they rock a house party at the drop of a hat
How historic was last night’s Beastie Boys show at the Orange Peel? It was historic enough for Mike D to note its significance, and pepper the audience with lots of Asheville love and some hammy remarks: “I wanna know if Ashe-land is ready to dance!” Read on for the review and photo galleries.
Day in the Life of Asheville “digital opening” Friday at Lark Books
See the best 100 images from almost 1,000 that were shot for the community photo project, and much more.
Maxi dresses
Check out the latest street style images
Fashion from the pre-Phish show fans, summery style and lots of distinct Asheville flavor. Check it.
Waiting for the Phish concert
Band of Horses interview
Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell, Creighton Barrett, Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds took time out from a recent Echo Mountain recording session to speak with Xpress about future projects, punking Wal-Mart, supporting the local economy (they like Tod’s Tasties and The Thirsty Monk) and playing to the hometown crowd.
This weekend on a shoestring
By the time the weekend rolls around, you’ll probably have spent your cash on Phish or the Beastie Boys. Or maybe you’re saving up for a long weekend at the beach. Whatever. Here’s the Shoestring lowdown of nearly everything you can do (legally) for five bucks or less.
Enter the Phil Mechanic
The work in progress at Phil Mechanic Studios goes beyond the myriad projects in process at any given moment. Clay is thrown, paints mixed, glass blown, metal pounded, fabric stitched. Drawings by Nathanael Roney Photos by Jonathan Welch The building itself has progressed from a warehouse to a construction company to its current incarnation: an […]
High on handstands and linseed oil and possibility
Flying down Clingman Hill on my bike, I feel the unlimited possibilities of the day as I circle the kudzu corner and jaunt up to the Phil Mechanic building. Then, hunting for the right key to get in, I have the dreadful feeling that I have no idea what I want to work on today. […]
Much to do at the Phil Mechanic
Don’t be daunted by the size and labyrinthian layout of Phil Mechanic Studios. Most days, the doors are open and many artists eager for visitors. And along with the regular 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday hours, there are aplenty of other programs happening at the building. Flood gallery (a contemporary art gallery […]
On the high horse
Asheville hasn’t sent any stadium-packing bands out into the world (yet), but there have been some close calls: Malcolm Holcombe was glowingly reviewed by Rolling Stone. Members of the loveable, danceable Scrappy Hamilton moved to L.A., became Truth & Salvage Co., were discovered by Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and were recently signed to […]
Striking as ever, Bill Callahan returns to the Grey Eagle
Lo-fi pioneer Bill Callahan comes to the Grey Eagle tomorrow, on the wings of his latest record, the lovely Sometimes I Wish I Were an Eagle. Before we knew that local group (the also lo-fi and lovely) Pilgrim would be opening for Callahan, we asked frontman Jaye Bartell to e-interview Callahan. They’ll likely speak in person soon.
Mixed prints
Leopard print pocketbook
Edgy Mama: Grocery store blues
I often refer to laundry as the Sisyphean stone of parenthood. It’s the number one never-ending chore of parenting. Number two, after laundry, comes grocery shopping.