"For me, Dax is redefining blues music," wrote Henry Rollins (he of Black Flag, spoken word and massive biceps). "Even though he plays his songs through the guitar-bass-drums model for the most part, he is the self-contained unit. He is, as they say, the whole package and the real deal. Musicians like Dax come along […]

In business years (as opposed to dog years or lightyears) that first trip around the sun is not for the faint of heart. It takes a sharp plan of action and/or an unwavering trust that the universe and a dedicated clientele will come through. For West Asheville's The Double Crown, launching a new spot with […]

Celebrating the music, life and Dec. 21 birthday of composer/engineer/visionary Frank Zappa, Project/Object puts on a rare show. The lineup includes founder Andre Cholmondeley (a recent transplant to Asheville) with a stellar lineup of national and local musicians. Eric Slick (Dr. Dog), Derrick Lee Johnson (Booty Band), Jamar Woofs (The Fritz) and Keith Harry (Deja […]

How about a little holiday jeer? Everything Is Terrible, a psychedelic found-footage comedy tour, promises, "A millennium's worth of VHS memories of misplaced sentimentalities, fistfights over Toys for Tots, erotic Santas, Nazi elves and an endless parade of singing kids [who] will surely destroy everything." Plus, puppets, Jerry Maguire, cloaks and new VHS finds. Check […]

Asheville is in a long-term relationship with poetry, from the verses of Thomas Wolfe and the raucous ’90s-era poetry slam days, to the work of LEAF in Schools & Streets and the Juniper Bends reading series. The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center carries on the tradition (as well as the legacy of Black […]

In a recent Q&A with Xpress, Ronny Mac of local hip-hop collective Fist Fam talked about the group's move from San Francisco back to Asheville. "We have more time on our hands to focus on music: That would be the biggest difference. We have been a large crew over the years and have gone through […]

Although Sings, the new album by local producer Marley Carroll, was released earlier this week, it's already had some prominent exposure. Stereogum streamed the record, while Rolling Stone shared the itchy, dancey indie-pop track, "Speed Reader." While we in Asheville are not strangers to Carroll's genius, his prowess as a band leader and his stellar […]

A literal sister act, classically-trained sibs Kathryn, Annika, Fiona and Petra von Grey banded together. The Atlanta-based quartet is known for "four-part harmonies, poetic lyrics and indelible melodies." They've already landed residency shows and opening slots for the likes of Sarah McLachlan, Company of Thieves and Lindsey Stirling. Earlier this year, they performed their haunting […]

Forget the whole "I got no respect" spiel. Rodney Laney (unlike the other Rodney) is considered "one of the most respected comedians in the business." In addition to performing on "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," Comedy Central and the BBC, Laney has been seen on P.Diddy's "Bad Boys of Comedy" and as part of […]

A 15-year veteran of the graffiti underground, Adam Void, is an artist but also "a political activist, a dedicated traveler, and a steadfast train hopper," according to his bio. A member of the Brooklyn Street Art movement, Void recently relocated to Asheville. His exhibit, The Crossroads, will be the last show of 2013 at PUSH […]

"In this novel of second chances, the conflicts begin because Emmett remarries quickly and brings his new wife, Helen, into the world he had occupied with Rosalyn before her puzzling death. At Helen’s insistence, the couple retreats for the summer to the grand and eerie mansion in the mountains of Highlands, N.C., known as Moonrise, […]

It's the time of year for annual happenings: turkey dinners, top-10 roundups and homecoming shows. The latter is the case of singer-songwriter David Wilcox's annual Thanksgiving show at The Grey Eagle. "It happens every year and it's kind of a Thanksgiving table of musicians," says Wilcox in a preview video he posted on YouTube. "I'll […]

If the name The Melodic seems a bit too pointed (albeit sweetly so), the English folk ensemble has been living up to it. A collaboration between songwriters Huw Williams and Rudi Schmidt, the Melodic taps ’60s and ’70s British and American folk along with inspirations gleaned from international travel. “Our approach to recording our songs […]

"This album really was created by the grace of the good Lord and a lot of friends and family that have helped this old boy and his family," singer-songwriter and WNC native Malcolm Holcombe said in a recent interview. He was talking about his newest album, Down the River — his ninth studio effort. Holcombe […]

Songwriters and buddies Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott both have successful solo careers and pretty different musical styles. Yes, they're both rooted in folk and roots traditions, but O'Brien's songs tend to be upbeat, even humorous, while Scott's are stoic. Still, the two find plenty of common ground on their collaborations, which now aptly number […]

The family that creates art together, stays together. Or something like that. It's worked for the Voorhees family, starting with patriarch Edwin Voorhees, a coastal seascapes painter, and his wife Mildred, a painter of still lifes and landscapes. Their children and grandchildren inherited the artistic inclination. This year marks the 16th annual Voorhees Family Art […]

Local prog-pop outfit East Coast Dirt has a way with words. A self-described "sonic monster," the band coined the term "sneaker boogaloo" for its danceable fusion that's as much about improv as it is about instrumental prowess. Hints of reggae, funk, jam and humor weave through East Coast Dirt's songs. And, to further blur the […]

Singer-songwriter Angi West is plenty busy with her day job, which makes it hard enough to schedule a show. But she's also blessed/cursed with a stellar backing group whose many talents keep them on the road with other projects. There's producer/multi-instrumentalist Seth Kauffman (Floating Action, Shannon Whitworth), multi-instrumentalist Michael Libramento (Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) […]

Nomad is not just the name of Omara “Bombino” Moctar’s new album, produced by Dan Auberbach of The Black Keys; it’s also a description of the guitarist himself. Moctar is a member of the Tuareg people, a traditionally nomadic ethnic group who have herded cattle in the Sahara desert for centuries. Moctar has lived through […]

We're all about milestones because, unlike birthdays, no one minds racking up accident-free days, perfect attendance awards and decades of happy marriage. Bands are kind of like marriages, and local roots-music outfit Red June is about to commemorate five years together. That anniversary coincides with another piece of good news: The trio recently signed to […]