Pig blood, redux: Why The Mothlight booked Young and in the Way

Young and in the Way, photo by Tanner Douglass

“We’re looking for some of that sweet, nutso-driven publicity fueled by a bored [populace] that Orbit DVD’s always landing,” said The Mothlight in a newsletter. “So we booked Young and in the Way! Remember that band that shut down The Lab’s listening room after they covered it and everyone in it in pig’s blood? Them.”

The notorious local act shares a bill with psych-rockers U.S. Christmas and thrash-core outfit Busted Chops on Saturday, Jan. 17, 9:30 p.m. ($8 advance/$10 day of show, info here.)

If The Mothlight’s newsletter blurb makes the booking seem brash, venue owner Jon Hency points out, “I saw some great shows at The Lab. I’m sorry they closed the venue doors after the YAITW show.” But there’s a good reason for his decision to add YAITW to The Mothlight’s schedule: “Asheville doesn’t have a home for mid-size metal acts, only those at house-show level or Orange Peel, not much in-between. We’ve had a few, including Deafheaven last year who are of similar nature, we’d like to provide a home for more like them!”

While Xpress writer Hunter Pope found that “the local metal scene is large for such a small city,” in his story, “Headbangers, y’all,” he also noted that a “possible difficulty for the burgeoning metal scene is a dearth of supportive venues.”

Hency seeks to change that. “Some things are important to a scene — touring free-jazzers now know to contact us. We are becoming more and more ‘on the map’ as a venue in the Southeast for top level indie/garage/psych/pop acts … metal is just as crucial,” he says. “The metal shows we’ve been able to host have been great all around. Turnout is strong and the fans are the best.”

And, while there are better-known local metal bands (Kings of Prussia won the best local metal band in Xpress‘ annual Best of WNC poll for years), YAITW managed to make household name status for a few weeks last summer. But how will The Mothlight avoid a HAZMAT situation? “The incident with the LAB — there’s two sides to the story [and] the media definitely ran with one side,” says Hency. “I’ve been in conversation direct with the band for a while now. They’ve expressed that they are transparent, anything we do not want them to do, they will not do — as is the case with each venue they play at. I know what the band plans to do with their performance this Saturday. If anything more (or less) happens, we are fully prepared to deal with it.”

As far as future “controversial” shows, Hency says, “If ever possible, maybe I would book Gerogerigegege from Japan.” The trademark of that experimental noise act is “senzuri,” or onstage masturbation. Take that, pig blood.

“Now get on WAX and call us crazy,” says The Mothlight newsletter. “Also, feel free to make anything at all up about us as long as you mention where we’re located and our hours.’Preesh.”

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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

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17 thoughts on “Pig blood, redux: Why The Mothlight booked Young and in the Way

  1. Jesus's D-Fender

    I herd thay dont even beleve in Jesus, these bands shouldnt be alowed in our city, AShevile is a holy city and god is good DONT LET SATANS MUSIC IN AHSVILLE #amen #jebbush2016

    • Alisha

      Amen, I bet these abominations also believe in gay marriage. Atrocious! I for one can’t believe Ashevilles mayor would allow something like this filth in the city. That’s why we need to vote Republican. God bless

    • J. Gweglewitz

      Amen brother. May the Holy Spirit help them find their way through this trial by fire. The close day of promise is upon us. The fires and floods of heaven will rain upon those who don’t repent.

  2. Grids Super Fan

    Grids was better #bringbackgrids #noiserock #rememberthatbandtheJesusLizard

  3. John Penley

    Would you guys think about booking Leftover Crack or Choking Victim or whatever Scott Sturgeon is calling his East Village C Squat based band now ? You guys got huevos and I like that in West Assville after returnng from 40 years in NYC.

    • RavenRavinoff

      I would love to see a Leftover Crack show in AVL! Saw his latest band Star Fucking Hipsters in Portland last year. Good times.

  4. John Penley

    Almost forgot I saw GG Allen’s last show before he ODd in NYC at the Gas Station and when it comes to abusing everyone including his band and himself no band will ever come close to GG.

  5. black yeti

    Last good metal show I saw in Asheville was strongholdcrvsader in a barber shop and they got in a fight (with each other)after playing 5 min.

    • some guy in a mask

      probably because their bass player couldnt stop breaking his bass

  6. boatrocker

    5:22pm, Jan 12, 2015 AD. Adhering to mtn X’s posting policy. Dare ya to post this on the same day it’s submitted.

    Funny how all the new ‘Hell yeah play here’ comments don’t match the
    “wahhhh, why did you play my favorite hipster bar and make my hipster friends feel stoopid for ignoring the legally binding contract rider about the blood” from playing at the LAB.

    At least the Mothlight won’t be full of emotionally fragile hipsters.

    Consider the name of the band- it’s a flicking of the wrist under the chin ala Scorcese for that awful early 1970’s newgrass band.

    This same message has been posted to 3 other local websites that involve live music.

  7. An Elderly Puff of Flatulence

    In my day, we didn’t have a bunch of weirdo noise makers showering the public with pig’s blood and calling it music! In them days, blood was only for wars and lady private time and noise was, well.. also for war and pre-lady-private time, but music, by God, music was something we didn’t have to call attention to with viscera and volume! Maybe a straw hat and ukulele, but well, every generation has their extremes.

  8. VacationBibleSchoolDad

    This is a tragedy to the Christian community of Asheville. This is on the same night as my Vacation Bible School Lock-In which is where we declare the winner of the For God So Loved The Whirled contest where we see who can spin in a circle while listening to the newest Elevation Worship soundtrack before we upchuck a lasagna platter cooked by our church elders. Is there anyway you could cancel this? Also, the pigs blood thing doesn’t bother me. When I was in high school, I was in a band that threw mayonnaise on all over the gym during the school talent show to protest school lunch.

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