Headtronic­s (FreekBass­)

What's your favorite candy (and why)? Addicted to the new pretzel M&M's. Chocolate and salt … very good combo. What's your favorite Halloween-related song? Does "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" count? Who would win in a fight: analog or digital? Analog will always last all 15 rounds … digital would be either a knockout […]

Mute Math (Paul Meany)

Describe (in detail) your best Halloween costume. This year I'm thinking of getting the darkest spray tan I can get, gel my hair back, wear cut off Jnco shorts and go as the Situation on heroin. What's your favorite candy (and why)? Hot tamales, because they go brilliantly with coffee. Who's your favorite monster (and […]

RJD2

If you could ask Bob Moog one question, what would it be? As I understand it, in the early 60’s when he, Don Buchla, and others were developing electronic instruments, his decision to make them intended for a 12 tone musical interface seems pretty important in hindsight. I’d ask him to talk about the climate […]

Wellness: Fly through the flu season

Fall has arrived, with its (mostly) cooler temperatures, and that means the start of a new season. No, not leaf-peeping season. Cold-and-flu season. Local health practitioners are beginning to see residents suffering from more cold and flu symptoms, and the Buncombe County Health Department — along with other area health services — has started administering […]

Stand by your policies, Xpress, not politician­s

Shame on the Mountain Xpress for publishing the Oct.13 commentary in support of Heath Shuler! [“Why We Support Heath Shuler”]. Adhering to policy not to publish commentary endorsing an individual candidate has previously been a hallmark of distinction for the Mountain Xpress. That the editor would change his sound thinking merely because the authors are […]

We Come in Beats

When Bob Moog presented his paper Voltage-Controlled Electronic Music Modules at the Audio Engineering Society conference in October 1964, it was the Big Bang of modern music. His ideas literally electrified synthesized analog sounds, exploding the sonic limitations of earlier formats like magnetic tape. The nascent planet of electronic music that formed from Moog’s discoveries […]

Moogfest inside info

• If you’re seeing a show at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, there’s not a bad seat in the house. However, seats on either side of the balcony can lead to a stiff neck from prolonged turning in one direction. Use intermission and any between-song banter to practice some neck stretches. • If you’re at the Orange Peel, […]

Moogfest logistics

Info from the official site: Is Moogfest 2010 an all-ages festival? Yes, patrons of all ages are welcome. Stella Blue is our only venue that is 18+ but all of our other venues are all ages.  Tickets will be required for patrons of age 2 or older. If you do bring the little ones, we […]

Beyond an art-school joke

Lots of people remember Devo for their hit song “Whip It.” The song’s video was one of the first played on MTV, and helped catapult the band to stardom. What many people don’t know is the band was founded on some radical principles. The name "Devo" comes from the band’s concept of “de-evolution — the […]

Sit out election day at your peril

Recently the Unitarian Universalist Church’s Film Committee showed 30 people the film Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space, offering pros and cons regarding NASA’s plan to establish U.S. space mastery for military and commercial purposes, excluding other nations. Proponents cited the strategy of “high ground,” which would offer speedy defense against threats. Opponents foresaw […]

Cash cow at 60 mph

The city of Asheville could use funds. In my neighborhood, we have a speeding issue. I live on Brevard Road between Haywood Road and the [Interstate] 240/26 interchange. The speed limit between those two points is 30 mph. Regularly, drivers will have at times speeds exceeding 60 mph. Maybe the name should be changed to […]

Sign Asheville up

I have an idea for a solution to the problem of the peeling street signs. The city should hand the peeled signs over to local artists (one per artist) and allow them to create artistic (but easy-to-read) versions using their own styles and methods on top of the metal signs. This would put the street […]

Chairman of the beard

The last few months were quite a whirlwind for bearded indie champs Band of Horses. Since hitting the road in March, the band's been in rock 'n' roll overdrive: selling out shows across the U.S. and Europe, sharing the stage with veterans like Pearl Jam and Widespread Panic, and watching their latest release — the […]