Bravo, Altamont Theatre

I remember seeing the great Josh White perform in a showcase room called The Gaslight in Miami in the late '60s. Not only was the sound superb, the lighting was so skillfully done that it added another magical dimension to the experience — the pin spot on Josh's face would die away into darkness with the last note of his guitar.

I would define "showcase room" as a small club venue where you can hear a pin drop when the musician is performing; a club where live music is treated with respect and not background fill (or, worse, cover for inane conversation). The musicians, accorded such attention and respect, give their all in return.

Even in San Francisco in the early '70s, a showcase room was rare. A few months ago I happily discovered a bonafide showcase room here in Asheville called The Altamont Theatre. Every show I've attended has had one thing in common: true respect for the performers. The rarity of this is reflected in the delight the entertainers clearly feel for the venue. The room is comfortable, the sound is excellent, and there is no bar noise (beer and wine are available on the lower level).

Just thought I'd share this in case your readers are not aware of a great room to listen to music here in Asheville.

— Arthur Hancock
Asheville

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

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.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.