30 Days Out, May 2023 #1: Vieux Farka Touré, Voivod, Gov’t Mule, Floating Action
Two acts from beyond our borders, two artists we Western North Carolinians claim as our own. Local performances featuring those are some of the musical highlights coming in the next 30 days.
Artist: Vieux Farka Touré
Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Saturday, May 6, 9 p.m.
Door: $22
Ali Farka Touré was one of the most important modern-day musical artists to come out of the African continent. His approach found the connections between indigenous/traditional styles and American blues. His son Vieux does something stylistically different but aesthetically similar. I spoke with him way back in 2017. Asheville’s own Life Like Water opens. I interviewed them in 2020.
Artist: Voivod
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Tuesday, May 9, 8 p.m.
Door: $28
French Canadian technical metal: it’s a thing. Voivod has been releasing albums since 1984, and their inimitable brand of metal finds favor with critics who appreciate the form. In recent years the band has incorporated elements of doom/stoner rock into their thrashy approach. The band’s latest, 2022’s Synchro Anarchy continues the band’s strong succession of albums.
Artist: Gov’t Mule
Venue: Salvage Station
Date: Friday, May 19, 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 20, 6:30 p.m.
Door: $40 ($75 for both nights)
These guys are an institution, and Asheville is mighty proud of favorite son Warren Haynes. The band is a regular fixture locally, appearing at the Christmas Jam. But this pair of standalone shows promises to be a more up-close-and-personal affair. Their latest, Peace… Like a River is excellent, building on what has come before but stretching the band in some important ways. I’ve interviewed Haynes many times.
Artist: Floating Action
Venue: Pisgah Brewing
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 7 p.m.
Door: $free
Asheville is home to all manner of endlessly creative artists. Sometimes we locals are unaware that we’re rubbing elbows with them. Case in point is Seth Kauffman; he’s quite low-profile around town, but he has led Floating Action for more than 15 years. His style is unclassifiable, but you’ll hear hints of garage rock, blues and more. 2022’s Jinx Protection is the band’s latest.
See you at the show!
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.