avant-garde Archive
12 Feb 2024
Album Review: The Happy Dragon Band
Deep in the cracks between the above-ground music business, creative artists who couldn’t (or perhaps simply didn’t want to) land a label deal created some fascinating work. To be sure, […]
15 Dec 2023
30 Days Out, December 2023 #2: Russ Wilson, Somewhat Petty, Asheville Symphony, Moon Hooch
Holiday shows (mostly), local artists, mostly. ‘Tis the season! Artist: Russ Wilson Venue: Highland Brewing Date: Sunday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m. Door: $25 A longtime fixture on the WNC music […]
21 Aug 2023
Album Review: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy – Evenings at the Village Gate
Across three days in October 1960, John Coltrane and three associates recorded session that yielded My Favorite Things, one of his most celebrated releases. Hitting shelves in March ‘61, the […]
06 Aug 2023
Min Xiao-Fen: Music, Movies and More
When Min Xiao-Fen and her husband left New York City and resettled in Western North Carolina in 2020, they may have been expecting a slower pace of life. But that’s […]
15 May 2023
30 Days Out, May 2023 #2: Jonny Couch, Acid Mothers Temple, Sierra Ferrell, Randall Bramblett
Four nationally-touring acts are among the live music highlights in Asheville in the coming 30 days. Go see ‘em, and support local artists as well. Artist: Jonny Couch Venue: Fleetwood’s […]
30 Mar 2023
Avant Garde in WNC: Okapi
Okapi is the duo of Lindsey Miller (cello) and Scott Gorski (upright bass). Originally based in Chicago, they launched Okapi in 2012. While the couple describes their project as a […]
29 Mar 2023
Avant Garde in WNC: Tashi Dorji
Experimental guitarist-composer Tashi Dorji is initially nonplussed when asked how receptive Asheville audiences have been to his brand of avant garde music. “I don’t consider what I do ‘entertainment’ music,” […]
28 Mar 2023
Avant Garde in WNC: Min Xiao-Fen
Min Xiao-Fen relocated to Asheville from New York City in 2020. By that point she was already an in-demand, world-class musician. Min’s primary instrument is the pipa, an ancient lute-like […]
27 Mar 2023
Avant Garde in WNC: It Might Get Weird
Asheville and all of Western North Carolina is home to a wide array of musical styles. Though Asheville is rightly seen as a hotbed of bluegrass and a magnet for […]
21 Feb 2023
Hundred Word Reviews, February 2023 Part Two
More capsule reviews. All new releases. Get ‘em while they’re hot. Ward White – Ice Cream Chords When I reviewed Ward White’s 2021 album The Tender Age, I was struck […]