30 Days Out, July 2025 #2: Abacab, U.S. Christmas, Budos Band, Psycodelics, Amanda Anne Platt
The highlights of live music in the coming 30 days Asheville-wise lean in a decidedly progtastic, indiefied and psychedelicized direction, with a bit of country for flavor. Three of the bands are North Carolina-based, two are, well, not. All are worth witnessing. Dig.
Artist: Abacab
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Friday, July 18, 8 p.m.
Door: $27.65
Those in the know view Genesis as having multiple eras. There’s the progressive period with Peter Gabriel, the post-Gabriel “incredible shrinking band” period. And there’s the pop era. Some people dig ‘em all; I love the first two but have little interest in the latter, good as it sometimes is. But this superb Charlotte-based band tackles it all, and does it with style. They eschew the theatrics, but get the music right. And that’s what’s important.
Artist: U.S. Christmas
Venue: Static Age
Date: Friday, July 18, 8:30 p.m.
Door: $12 advance / $15 day of show
This Marion-based group is something of a mystery. The band’s online presence is murky at best, but the music they make – informed by psychedelia but with many other elements – is fascinating stuff. They rarely emerge from the mists, so this is an opportunity to see and hear them. The band’s latest album, Cannibals of Unaka, is as hazy, sludgy, mysterious and dark as anything they’ve done. Planning for Burial and Nightosphere are also on the bill.
Artist: Budos Band
Venue: Hatch Amphitheatre
Date: Saturday, July 19, 7 p.m.
Door: $41.05
Not – as I have done – to be confused with The Beta Band, Staten Island-based Budos Band is a large ensemble of top-flight musicians who trade in a soulful style. Their instrumental music encompasses funk, r&b and psychedelia, and their history is intertwined with that of Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley, two great and sadly departed artists. When you turn out music like this, words are superfluous.
Artist: The Psycodelics
Venue: The Third Room
Date: Friday, July 25, 11 p.m.
Door: $19.28
Forthrightly defining their mission as a celebration of Black American music, this Charleston-based outfit is bubbling under. They were on the bill for the canceled-due-to-weather Bonnaroo Festival this year. But now there’s an opportunity to see and here them in the new Third Room venue here in town. Kanika Moore opens.
Artist: Amanda Anne Platt
Venue: Grey Eagle
Date: Friday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m.
Door: $16.06
Not long before Helene destroyed our beloved Asheville Guitar Bar, Amanda joined me for a fun evening of discussion as part of my “Music to Your Ears” series. I hope that series returns one day, but in the meantime, Amanda is out there with great original music. Even before the AGB event, I’ve interviewed her many times: 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2024.
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.