30 Days Out, November 2023 #1: Della Mae, The Trouble Notes, Kingston Trio, Postmodern Jukebox
Lots of American musical forms this go-round: Americana, folk and jazz-pop. Add to that mix some internationally-flavored world-folk, and you’ve got a recipe for a great month of music.
Artist: Della Mae
Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Thursday, Nov. 2, 8 p.m.
Door: $17
Bluegrass heroines Della Mae have taken some of Americana’s tropes and cleverly stood them on their heads. Six albums in, the group founded by Kimber Ludiker is still going strong. I spoke to Ludiker a few months back.
Artist: Kingston Trio
Venue: Wortham Center
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.
Door: $50+
They started in San Francisco in the late 1950s, and as you might expect, the current lineup of The Kingston Trio features exactly zero original members. But for those who value the folk tradition in its somewhat mainstream, apolitical guise, a Kingston Trio with anyone at all in it is worthwhile. The influential group (franchise might be a better word) certainly deserves credit for helping to bring folk into the commercial world.
Artist: Postmodern Jukebox
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 28, 8 p.m.
Door: $40
Launching a subgenre so clever it’s a wonder no one else did it before, Scott Bradlee’s PMJ breathes old life into new songs… you know what I mean. His breathtakingly musically agile group takes today’s pop tunes and recasts them as classics from another era. Brilliant stuff. Read my 2017 interview with Bradlee here.
Artist: The Trouble Notes
Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Sunday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m.
Door: $17
Described as a “world folk trio,” this Europe-based group features an American violinist, a German guitarist and an Australian percussionist. Critics from equally diverse locales rave about ’em, citing their energy and musical virtuosity. In addition to making music, the trio recently launched a campaign to raise fund in support of children affected by the war in Ukraine. Asheville’s own Life Like Water opens.
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.