My Side of the Mountain: Tristen

I met Tristen at The Grey Eagle on a Wednesday afternoon. As Justin Townes Earl and his band soundchecked in the next room, we chatted about common friends in Nashville, the pitfalls of long tours (Tristen has been on and off the road for almost two years) and the increasingly unpredictable weather. After nearly an hour of waiting, we capitalized on a short window of quiet and set up in the foyer.

Floating Action joins Benji Hughes at The Grey Eagle

A little background for those unfamiliar with Benji Hughes: The Charlotte-based singer resembles a husky Duane Allman, sporting huge sunglasses, wavy hair that hangs halfway down his back and a beard that’s nearly as long. He sings in a deep baritone, reminiscent of The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt, writes pop-friendly rock songs with an emphasis on partying and has a habit of shedding his clothes during live shows.

Asheville Sound Swap, Volume 5, at the Grey Eagle

Traffic was steady throughout the day at the fifth-annual record sale, with most of the serious buyers pursuing a niche interest. One woman was looking for 12” disco singles. Another man was only looking for jazz from the ‘50s. Neal Richardson, who lives in downtown Asheville, sported a beanie propeller cap with the slogan “I don’t wanna grow up.”

For some, going back to the time when records were the way music was delivered, it is an apt slogan.