Triangle psych-folk band Megafaun returned to Asheville last weekend for a Moog factory visit, a Day Trotter session at Echo Mountain and a rocking show at Grey Eagle.
Tag: review
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Looking at UNCA’s second annual Invitational Art Exhibition
Former Asheville resident Debra McClinton’s work steals the show, and the element of her death haunts the exhibit.
G. Love and The Apache Relay at the Orange Peel
Nashville’s Americana rockers the Apache Relay proved that they’re the band to watch when they opened for G. Love earlier this week. Photos by David Simchock.
SoundTrack web extra: Vieux Farka Touré at The Orange Peel *UPDATED WITH VIDEO*
Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré‘s power trio put on a stunning show that included both African rhythms and some seriously psychedelic guitar riffs.
Review: 5 under 35
If you saw a sign in a neighborhood storefront window announcing “5 under 35,” you might think you could go in for some little gems at a great price. If the storefront is SemiPublic, a tiny art gallery tucked away on Hillside Street in North Asheville, that’s exactly what you get: five artists under 35 years old showing 30 small-scale pieces ranging from metal sculptures to drawings, mixed-media prints and photographs.
Neko Case at the Orange Peel: Photos and review
Last Thursday, Neko Case performed at The Orange Peel to a sold-out crowd — a crowd that pushed the definition of “standing room only.” Case, however, was perfectly cool, kicking off her set with “Teenage Feeling” from her 2006 album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.
Sonmi Suite and Doc Aquatic at Bele Chere
Two local bands (including Sonmi Suite here, photographed by Rich Orris) perform summer-perfect music as the clouds roll in.
The Glitch Mob at The Orange Peel
Let’s say you have to pick between an awesome-looking guitar that can only play at one volume and a similar guitar, less flashy, but capable of dynamics. Which would you choose? The Glitch Mob fails to impress at the Orange Peel.
Slideshow by Rich Orris.
Bootsy Collins at the Orange Peel
Bootsy Collins’ Wednesday night Orange Peel show was more of a funk showcase than a “we’ve got another album” tour: Collins played everything from the absolute classics, like the star’s own anthem, “Ahh… The Name Is Bootsy, Baby,” to several covers, including Sly & the Family Stone’s defining “I Want to Take you Higher.”
The Dixie Swim Club at ACT
This 2008 Outer Banks-set play by Asheville-based writing team Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten is a light and funny comedy with plenty of Southern-fried punch lines. It’s also (surprise!) a serious meditation on aging, friendships and what’s really important in life.
Ryan Bingham junkies get their fix …twice
Award winning singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham brought two outstanding performances to Asheville on Monday. The first, a free in-store performance at Harvest Records, followed by a full-band electric show at The Orange Peel.
Why I drove 3 hours to see The Bronzed Chorus
It wasn’t the typical show that you’d drive 3 hours from Asheville to see – a lot smaller turnout than say, The Flaming Lips’ two nights in Atlanta a few weeks ago, or maybe Phish’s upcoming stop in Charlotte – but it’s summer. Driving all over the place for music is inevitable. I wasn’t making the five-hour pilgrimage to Bonnaroo this year, so when I saw the Facebook invitation for three of my favorite North Carolina bands in Greensboro last Thursday, I said, “why not?”
Arsenic and Old Lace at ACT
A 14-member cast, a fantastic set and a 70-year-old play are just part of what make ACT’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace both delightful and (at times) chaotic.
SoundTrack web extra: Beautiful Charmer
From ethereal waltzes to anthemic stomps, Nikki Talley’s third album, Beautiful Charmer, aptly covers the spectrum of country sounds. Add polished production, some of the areas best backing musicians and stellar writing, and you’ve got eight well-rounded tracks.
Review of Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s
I expected to see a band caught up in the exultation of finding themselves, feeding off the kinetic energy of performing music that sounded so obviously rewarding to create. Instead, they portrayed distinct disaffection that betrayed not even a simulacrum of getting carried away by performing, or even enjoying the music.
SoundTrack Web Extra: Young Couples
Music major backgrounds, serious pop acumen and style to waste make up-and-coming quartet Young Couples one to watch.
SoundTrack Web Extra: The Taking or the Leaving
For his sophomore effort, local punk-turned-country musician Brian McGee dropped the Hollow Speed, traded fiddles and banjos for organs and pedal steel and settled in at Echo Mountain Recording, emerging with 12 songs that exist — musically, lyrically and sonically — in a whole other realm than his self-titled debut.
Review of Tradin’ Paint at Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre
“Dale Earnhardt is dead,” the play begins, and that’s about as deep as the NASCAR references get. Tradin’ Paint was written by Catherine Bush, the playwright-in-residence at The Barter Theatre, where a reading of Tradin’ Paint won the 2006 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights.
SoundTrack Web Extra: Lissie
California-based one-name singer Lissie has Asheville connections (Bill Reynolds, Scott Kinebrew and Bill “Smitty” Smith) and a new CD: The Fat Possom-released Catching A Tiger. It’s set to drop Tuesday, Aug. 17.
SoundTrack: The Blue Dragons
Folk rockers The Blue Dragons release a four track (psst! there’s a bonus hidden track!) EP.
SoundTrack Web Extra: Eleven & the Falcons show review
“We’re like dubstep meets bluegrass”: Weird-yet-surprisingly-listenable surrealist pop trio Eleven & the Falcons recently played Firestorm Cafe. Singer/songwriter Amy White opened.
