by James Cassara Letting the Instruments Speak for Themselves In a casual comment made several months back, Dave Desmelik, one of our area’s most highly respected singer/songwriters, mentioned he was working on an all-instrumental album of new material. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” he toldContinue Reading
by James Cassara With their traditional flannel shirts, denim overalls and plow boy hats The Howlin’ Brothers, who are not related by birth, may look like a bluegrass band but the music they create, while integrating specific bluegrass trappings and rhythms, clearly defines them as a modern day Americana stringContinue Reading
The Secret B-Sides, Asheville’s most popular (voted Best of WNC two years in a row) soul band, is marking the release of their latest album, Easy Magic, with a special performance at the Highland Brewing Company. The CD release party, slated for April 20th, will give the band an opportunityContinue Reading
by James Cassara The eclectic Denver based collective known as Paper Bird is certainly soaring high these days. Fresh off of a highly successful fall tour, including several dates with recent multiple Grammy winners The Lumineers, the band sees 2013 as their own breakout year. With a fourth album (tentativelyContinue Reading
by James Cassara By most accounts the success of 2012’s edition of MoogFest was a mixed bag. While I enjoyed those acts I saw, my perspective — as one who doesn’t have to purchase a ticket and is awarded full access to all events — is admittedly different from thatContinue Reading
by James Cassara In very broad terms, bands either perform live to help finance their recordings or record albums so to have songs to sing on stage. Few bands seem to juggle both with equilibrium; as to the good time ensemble known as The Carolina Chocolate drops their best momentsContinue Reading
by James Cassara Although largely forgotten by today’s audiences there was a time when no one better epitomized the synthesizer driven production sounds of the 1980’s better than did Thomas Dolby. While he had only a few hits Dolby became one of the most recognizable figures of the synth popContinue Reading
by James Cassara Singer/songwriter Garrison Starr proudly proclaims that she’s “an individualist with a streak of passion.” It’s an assessment few would argue with. Having spent her life growing up in the South, her music mixes up Nashville country twang with a solid dose of Tom Petty-like rock appeal. BeforeContinue Reading
by James Cassara Although her country-flavored and blues-infused version of contemporary folk – combined with a smattering of rockabilly and even surf music – has drawn comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch, Eilen Jewell’s strongest influences are Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. Holiday in particular has served as inspirationContinue Reading
