Featuring artists from R.E.M. to Underhill Rose to the Dirty French Broads, the 279-track compilation Caverns of Gold, organized by Asheville musicians Chad Nance, Alex Deutsch, Jason Bugg, Kelly Minnis and Joe Hooten, is — true to its name — a goldmine of work by performers with connections to Western North Carolina. The fact that it was created to raise money for and awareness about WNC’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene makes it even more of a treasure. Among the collection’s many gems, its R.E.M. song, “Feeling Gravity’s Pull,” is a previously unreleased live performance from the band’s 1989 Green World tour secured through Hooten’s collaboration with R.E.M.’s longtime manager Bertis Downs. The Leftover Salmon track, “Fire and Brimstone,” is a cover of a Link Wray tune recorded live at Asheville’s Salvage Station, now destroyed by flooding. Paired with money raised from the album’s Nov. 2 release concert at Sly Grog Lounge, the initiative has so far raised close to $15,000 for local nonprofit BeLoved Asheville, which has been on the front lines of storm relief efforts. Caverns of Gold is available for unlimited streaming and download with donations starting at $10. avl.mx/ea3. Photos of Nance, Deutsch, Bugg, Minnis and Hooten courtesy of the musicians
Smart Bets: Caverns of Gold
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.