30 Days Out, September 2023 #2: Damien Jurado, Durand Jones, Henry Rollins, Margaret Glaspy
Asheville has a stellar array of musical artists based here. And I would encourage you to support them as enthusiastically and often as possible; they’re worth it, and their music is central to what makes the city special. That said, this time ‘round I’m focusing on four nationally-touring acts coming through town.
Artist: Damien Jurado
Venue: Masonic Temple
Date: Tuesday, Sep. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Door: $27
It’s a rare artist who develops a cult following and expands into the mainstream (or some form thereof). But guitarist/singer/songwriter Jurado has done just that. Combining acoustic textures with avant-garde elements, and has won critical praise for doing so. This venue (the Asheville Masonic Temple) is a lovely (and only occasionally-used) place to take in a concert, by the way.
Artist: Durand Jones
Venue: Asheville Music Hall
Date: Friday, Oct. 6, 8:30 p.m.
Door: $27
It’s tempting to think of classic-style r&b and/or soul as music of the past. But as Durand Jones makes plain, that need not be the case. This acclaimed singer and songwriter manages to be classic and very contemporary all at once. Go see him.
Artist: Henry Rollins
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Monday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m.
Door: $35
“You gotta hold ’em. You gotta drill them into their seats. You must be compelling. You must be concise.” That’s part of what Henry Rollins told me back in 2010 as he was gearing up for one of his spoken-word tours. The man is compelling beyond compare; he’s one of the most incisive and acute observers of today’s world, and you should hear what he has to say.
Artist: Margaret Glaspy
Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Friday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m.
Door: $20
Wow: it’s been seven years since I last interviewed Margaret Glaspy. At that time, her career as a solo artist was just getting underway. Today she has four albums (plus a par of EPs) to her credit. Echo the Diamond is her newest album, and has earned her widespread acclaim; she’s embarking upon a major tour in support of the record, and Asheville is fortunate to be on the calendar.
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 since 2018). The 4500-plus 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 -- more than 30 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: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.