Secret Agent 23 Skidoo returns with his latest album, “The Beat Bach Symphonies,” a collaboration with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra and several international musicians.
Author: Bill Kopp
Showing 1-21 of 451 results
Local artists respond to pandemic challenges in creative ways
Xpress caught up with three local artists to discuss how COVID-19 has altered their creative approach.
Dave Desmelik ruminates upon the months with “The Calendar Album”
With time on his hands, songwriter Dave Desmelik decided to complete a long-shelved project that focuses on the 12 months of the year — but not necessarily 2020.
Allan Day realizes new wave musical dreams after 40-year journey
In 1979, teenage guitarist Allan Day was inspired to write his own songs in the style of the Buzzcocks, the Ramones and other punk heroes. Now, in 2020, he’s finally recorded and released that album.
Laura Boswell taps into natural world on chamber-folk EP
Classical music informs the songwriting and arrangements of this Asheville chamber-folk artist.
Samara Jade, Awen Family Band release new albums
The itinerant singer/songwriter and the Asheville-based musical collective took decidedly different paths in crafting their latest works.
Fwuit, The Moon and You release new digital-only albums
The HGTR/Moves side project and their husband-wife tour mates discuss their latest projects.
Virginia and the Slims, Young Mister release new albums
The jump blues/swing band plays the Asheville Guitar Bar patio on Oct. 23 while Steven Fiore’s solo project hunkers down in Tryon.
Modern Strangers celebrates debut album with a livestreamed show
The Asheville jangle-pop quartet leverages its success as poll-winners and high-profile opening acts on its up-tempo, irrepressibly catchy debut album, “Dangerous Fiction.”
Orgatroid and Adi the Monk release new albums
Synth duo Orgatroid crafts ethereal, deep-groove synthesizer music, while Adi the Monk makes instrumental guitar-based soulful jazz/blues/funk. Even with pandemic-related shutdowns, both Asheville-based acts have new releases.
Eleanor Underhill returns with new solo album
Eleanor Underhill’s 2018 solo debut, “Navigate the Madness,” made plain her desire to expand her musical vision to encompass a wider view. But even that eclectic collection of songs might not prepare listeners for the great creative leap forward that is her newest record, “Land of the Living.”
The Broadcast releases its long-delayed third album
After an extended period of focusing on touring and business matters, Asheville-based soulful rock band The Broadcast overcame a series of delays and released its third studio album, “Lost My Sight,” on July 10.
Nest Egg releases its seventh album
The Asheville-based trio applies ’70s krautrock inspiration to its post-rock music.
Feminazgûl and Sarah Louise release new albums
The Asheville-based artists discuss their recent releases.
Local companies serving the music community tackle COVID-19 in their own ways
Management at Echo Mountain, Moog and d&b discuss various pivots to sustain their businesses during COVID-19.
Brushfire Stankgrass returns with a third album and then some
The eclectic Asheville-based band celebrates the releases of a new album with a May 24 livestream show from The Grey Eagle.
Videographer Ben Phantom combines music with modern dance
“Right now, I’m focused on putting out singles with music videos that tell stories,” says Asheville guitarist/singer/songwriter Ben Phantom, formerly known as Ben Phan.
Pimps of Pompe and Up Jumped Three release new self-titled albums
Though both ensembles are working within the jazz idiom, the styles of music they create as worlds apart.
Album review: ‘Ghost of Cassiopeia’ by Death Nebula
Dramatic delivery, tight ensemble playing and the amount of angst and fire one would expect from a doom metal band are all in ample supply on Ghost of Cassiopeia.
Album review: ‘Apples in the Fall’ by Anna Lynch
Much of the Appalachian-style textures that characterized Lynch’s debut are dialed back on her latest EP in favor of a more sophisticated aesthetic.
Three Asheville-based groups release new albums
The Christy Lynn Band, Firecracker Jazz Band and Fireside Collective all launch new recordings with local shows.