30 Days Out, March 2021 #2: Pleasure Chest, Brother Smith, Empire Strikes Brass, 49 Winchester

The globe observed (certainly it didn’t celebrate) the one-year anniversary of the pandemic last week. While people continue to get sick and die from the infernal virus, the news does in fact get better with each passing day. And live music continues its slow, tentative return. If you’ve had your shot and are willing to abide by the completely reasonable rules, you can start attending live music events. And I’m here to tell you about four of them happening in the Asheville area within the next 30 days. Two of these acts are locally-based; two are (believe it or not) touring.

I’d append this with the phrase “See you at the show,” but I’m waiting until I – and a bigger bunch of you – are fully vaccinated. Until then…

Artist: Pleasure Chest
Venue: Salvage Station
Date: Saturday, March 20, 6 p.m.
Door: $7
If one goes back to its roots, rock’n’roll – the mongrel child of other musical forms – is wild and wooly. That’s too often forgotten. But Pleasure Chest is here to –among other goals – remind us of that. Theirs is the real stuff. Guitarist Erich Hubner has a rich pedigree: he was once known as Trace Reading, one of the anonymous members of Man … Or Astro Man?

Artist: Brother Smith
Venue: The Grey Eagle (patio)
Date: Friday, April 2, 7 p.m.
Door: $12
Those who’ve traveled across the US via plane will likely know that Cincinnati is effectively part of the South. Heck, its airport is in Kentucky. So it’s not altogether surprising to discover a band with Americana flavors coming out of the region. Brother Smith is difficult to pin down stylistically; their music has hints of gospel, bluegrass and soul; in that odd mix they remind me a bit of Little Feat. Tasty, melodic tune are their stock in trade.

Artist: Empire Strikes Brass
Venue: Salvage Station
Date: Sunday, April 11, 6 p.m.
Door: $20 advance / $25 day of show
This big ban brings the spirit and energy of second line jazz to the stage, along with a healthy helping of funk. ESB is a collective comprised of some of the region’s best players. They have fun doing what they do; and that vibe is high contagious (hey, in a good way!)

Artist: 49 Winchester
Venue: 185 King St.
Date: Thursday, April 15, 8 p.m.
Door: $12
Not wholly disconnected stylewise with fellow Appalachian musicians Brother Smith (see above), Virginia-based 49 Winchester sports a lived-in country vibe that evokes memories of some of the Allman Brothers’ music (the less adventurous stuff, to be sure). It’s not difficult to imagine the group transported via time machine to the early ‘70s where the could share a bill opening for The Band. Twangy to be sure, but soulful as well.

See you out there soon(ish).