indie Archive
30 Sep 2020
Album Review: The Black Watch – Fromthing Somethat
It’s difficult to keep up with the steady stream of output from The Black Watch. Just last year the group led by John Andrew Fredrick released a pair of albums – the 31 Years of Obscurity compilation and the all new Magic Johnson. Those were followed in short order by Brilliant Failures, reviewed in April.
17 Sep 2020
Album Review: Venus Furs — s/t
If you’re going to launch a musical project that evokes memories of a Velvet Underground song (“Venus in Furs” from 1967’s The Velvet Underground & Nico) you had better deliver the goods, or at least be prepared to get called out for not doing so. The plain fact is, while Venus Furs is quite appealing,
14 Sep 2020
For Orgatroid, The ‘Future’ is Now
Electronic music is sometimes unfairly characterized as cold, sterile and lacking in emotion. But the music of Orgatroid – an Asheville duo of Jason Daniello and Jeffrey Richards – is none of those things. Created almost completely from electronic elements, the music benefits from the very non-electronic backgrounds of the pair of musicians who make
06 Sep 2020
Brother Bluebird: Summer All Year ‘Round
Asheville-based brothers Adam and Tim Reaves are Brother Bluebird, an Americana/folk/indie duo. They’ve been making music together most of their lives, but got serious about it in 2015. Their 2019 EP, Summer is equal parts tuneful melodies, creamy harmonies and thoughtful lyrics. There’s something special about vocal harmonies by siblings; they seem to fit together
15 Aug 2020
30 Days Out, August 2020 #2: Jazz Night, Lovely World, Consider the Source, Steep Canyon Rangers
This edition of “30 Days Out” features four shows in or near Asheville. The roundup is a mix of live-in-person and livestream events. For the non-virtual ones, the standard caveat continues to apply: check your local listings before heading to the venue. You never know what’s going to happen these days. Artist: Jazz Night at
15 Jul 2020
30 Days Out, July 2020 #2: Travers Brothership, Free Planet Radio, Up Jumped Three, Jeff Santiago & Los Gatos
Because of the manner in which the pandemic response has been criminally mismanaged by our federal “government,” and because of the contingent that digs in its heels and refuses to do what’s needed to help beat this thing back (hint: social distancing, masks, contact tracing … in other words, what civilized countries around the globe
15 Jun 2020
30 Days Out, June 2020 #2: Hearts Gone South, Angel Olsen, Natural Born Leaders, The Get Right Band
If you’re at all like me, you may have noticed this phenomenon: when you take on a new task, you stumble as you learn your way through it. And by the time you finally figure out the most efficient and effective way to do it, you’re nearly done. Perhaps that’s the case with musicians and
23 May 2020
Album Review: Gordon Anderson — Moon Man
It’s sometimes said – and unfairly so – that people who are in the business side of the music business are essentially failed, frustrated musicians themselves. My own experience is different: some of my favorite musicians have a foot in both sides of the biz. It’s safe to assume that most if not all of
17 May 2020
Album Review: Purusa — Amnesia
Impassioned, minor-key rockers are the chosen approach for this Portland-based indie rock band. Their thoughtful lyrics on cuts like “Julien” mean that the songs hold up to close scrutiny, but for those who’d just as soon rock out, Purusa delivers for them as well. Some of Zach Hinkelman and Kris Kirkman’s guitar textures are vaguely
19 Apr 2020
Album Review: The Black Watch — Brilliant Failures
John Andrew Fredrick is one prolific artist. It seems that every few months a new album from his group, The Black Watch, appears on my desk. And he stands apart from other super-prolific musicians in a very important aspect: though much of their work is superb, R. Stevie Moore and Robert Pollard (to name two)