Sarah Pirkle's Anticipated Debut Runs From Bluegrass to Southern Rock
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
It’s hard to believe that Walking Tall Through High Grass is Sarah Pirkle’s first solo album, and not just because she’s been such a familiar figure on the local scene for so long that you just assumed she’d recorded on her own by now. Full story »
New Books From R.B. Morris and Michael Knight
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
R.B. Morris is following his long-awaited (and very good) third album Spies Lies and Burning Eyes, released in January, with a new book of poems, his first collection of all-new material in several years. Full story »
New Albums on the Way From DownSlave, Standing Small, and the Black Lillies
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Several local bands have CD releases scheduled soon, starting with the long-running local thrash metal band DownSlave. Their album Cost of Freedom will be out in time for the band’s show at the Valarium on Friday, Aug. 6. Full story »
MoogFest Adds Big Boi, Jónsi, and Caribou
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The lineup for MoogFest, the AC Entertainment-organized festival honoring synth pioneer Robert Moog scheduled for Asheville, N.C., in October, has added three more big-name acts. Full story »
Gene Priest Steps Away From the Drumkit on Folky Solo EP
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Local go-to drummer Gene Priest (Cold Hands, the HiLites, Hot Blood) steps out from behind the kit for his first solo project, and it’s a distinct departure. Full story »
Maryville Glam Rockers Gun*Slinger Are Back in Action
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Glam metal is a potent force. Cock-rockers Gun*Slinger called it quits back in January, but the break-up only lasted a few months—the band members’ love of spandex, hairspray, and sleazy power ballads was just too strong. Full story »
Relix and Hudson K's Christina Horn Offer New Music Series for Aspiring Artists
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
You’ve heard of open-mic nights. Christina Horn, of Hudson K, and the new Relix Variety Theatre in the Downtown North neighborhood have started a series of what Horn is calling closed-mic nights to pair local singer/songwriters with the audiences brought in by local and regional touring bands—and to give them a chance to win a promotional and recording prize package that includes a slot opening for Hudson K next year. Full story »
Sanda Allyson Shows Talent and Taste on Solo Album
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
From the opening moments of “Nearness of You,” it’s clear that Allyson is a singer and performer blessed with rare gifts. Full story »
AC Entertainment Announces MoogFest in Asheville
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
As the name indicates, MoogFest is intended as a celebration of synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog and his technological achievements in electronic music. Which brings us to the headliners for this little shindig: Thievery Corporation, Massive Attack, and MGMT. Full story »
A New Direction for Jake Winstrom?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Winstrom recently finished recording for an upcoming six-song EP that may signal a new direction for his solo career. Full story »
Hudson K Shines on Debut Album
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
On its first full album, the group finally manages to clearly showcase the entire band. Full story »
Thrill Jockey to Release Live Album From Big Ears '09
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
At least a few people who were at the Christian Fennesz/David Daniell/Tony Buck collaboration at the Square Room during the Big Ears festival in 2009 consider it one of that weekend’s finest performances. If you missed the show, or saw it and want to hear it again, the independent Chicago label Thrill Jockey is releasing a live recording of the performance later this summer. Full story »
Tennessee Shines Will Take a Summer Vacation
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The concert/live radio broadcast series Tennessee Shines, held monthly at the Bijou Theatre since 2008, has hit a sponsorship snag that will put the series on a late summer vacation after July’s show. Full story »
Last Call for Manhattan's
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Manhattan’s, one of the few Old City establishments left over from the neighborhood’s late-’80s rebirth, had its final last call last weekend. The bar closed its doors for good on Saturday, June 26, and a packed house of old-timers and regulars turned out for a sweaty set by local indie-rock singer/songwriter Stewart Pack and his band the Silent Kays. Full story »
Whitechapel Delivers Fully Formed New Millennium Death Metal on New Album
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The band’s songwriting is fully formed, fitting classic metal melody (check out the solos on “A Future Corrupt” and “Prayer of Mockery”) and new-millennium technical flash on top of dense, elaborately constructed riffs Full story »