You can find plenty of alt-country around Asheville. You can find some country rock and the occasional mainstream country show at the Civic Center. But good, solid, old-school country in the vein of Patsy Cline? Not so much. That is, unless you've discovered Deep River. The local band made its Asheville debut in 2007, but […]

With an old-looking Guild guitar and a smattering of people sitting down drinking local microbrews, Dave Desmelik took the stage at the French Broad Brewery on a warm Thursday evening. He started off the show with a recognizable tune, “Tear It Down,” from his 2003 release, Afterthoughts. Allegorical in nature, the lyrics draw you into […]

With Hotel Indigo as the venue, and “sound scientist” as the description, I had no idea what to expect from Ben Hovey’s Friday night performance. (The last time I saw any live music in a hotel, it was Kenny G- style saxophone karaoke, and it was terrible.) Walking into the Hotel Indigo lobby, the music […]

As the first musical bars sing out across the hall, the crowd stops in their tracks, ears prick up and the 1-2-3 syncopated rhythms fall into place — Asheville’s Vertigo Jazz Project jumps right into the beat. The drums kick in, tight, loud and steady, with rolls on the snare and taps on the hi-hats. […]

There’s something so buoyant and blithe about local indie/psychedelic band Doc Aquatic that it’s pretty near impossible to watch them on stage and not smile. The band started off its Grey Eagle set, opening for The Baker Family Band, with lots of bounce and energy. In fact, the crowd for the opener was sizable — […]

On a Thursday night at the end of February, Leigh Glass and The Hazards took the stage at MoDaddy’s. Attendance was sparse, which is a shame since the band put on a really solid show. It was comforting to watch a band put such genuine energy into their performance to a smaller crowd, a true […]

Some acts are hard to follow. Especially acts that end the set with a four-part a cappella rendition of the snap-inducing Billy Joel classic “For the Longest Time.” Throw in a successful marriage proposal before the cheering crowd — as was the case during Don Duke Meets the Queen's debut performance at The Get Down […]

Caitlin Krisko has one of those voices that make folks sit up and listen: it’s smoky, compelling and remarkably nuanced for one so young (she turns 26 this month). As lead vocalist of self-described “soul-infused rock band” The Broadcast, Krisko’s voice soars on the group’s recently released EP, Days Like Dreams. The five guys who […]

Despite the severe winter-weather forecast, the traditional bluegrass-loving crowd was out at the Grey Eagle on a recent Saturday night for the Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice show. This crowd means higher-than-average PBR sales, enthusiastic clapping after nimble-fingered instrumental solos, an age-range from 21-85, pearl-snapped plaid shirts and the random yelling of “Son!” or “Pick […]

Nikki Talley is many things — a descendent of Carolina mountain musicians, according to her website, a "country, folk, sultry, goth and that hippie-chick from the South," a multi-instrumentalist and a wearer (lately) of face paint. One thing she isn't: afraid of the microphone. Talley has undeniable stage presence, which she showcased at a recent […]

When the weather turns cold and the leaves fall off the trees, it takes a little something extra to warm you up inside. Few things do the trick better than a well-hit Dobro lick. It will sort of explode in your chest and creep out to the ends of your phalanges, making them tingle with […]