live shows Archive
13 Jun 2017
Ian Anderson: System Latency and the Opportunities of Multimedia
British Progressive legends Jethro Tull have been around in one form or another for nearly half a century. From 1967 until now, the group’s mainstay has always been Ian Anderson: as songwriter, singer and flautist, Anderson has long cut a distinctive figure. His trademark standing-on-one-leg flute solos accent the band’s reliably high-energy performances. Even today
23 May 2017
Teaming Up: Tommy Keene and Ivan Julian
Tommy Keene and Ivan Julian recently completed a dual solo tour; just ahead of that run, I spoke with Keene. It was the third time I had interviewed him since 2006. — bk Though he got his musical start in the Washington DC area, guitarist Tommy Keene has a real connection to the music scene
18 Apr 2017
A Few Moments with Hans-Joachim Roedelius
German composer Hans-Joachim Roedelius is a synthesizer pioneer, and a leading light of ambient music. Yet acoustic piano is his instrument of choice, and he has little use for the term “ambient.” Roedelius made a rare North American appearance at the Mothlight on March 18 before heading to Knoxville for this year’s Big Ears Festival.
14 Mar 2017
Sxip Shirey’s Avant Groove
Note: An edited version of this feature appeared previously in Brooklyn Paper. — bk Described as an “electro-acoustic” artist, Brooklyn-based Sxip Shirey is tough to pin down musically. Read about him most places and you’re likely to come away thinking his music is cerebral, experimental and more than a little avant-garde. Actually listen to the
08 Mar 2017
Floating Festivals
Rock ‘n’ Roll-themed Cruises While retirees and young professionals might not always share the same taste in music, one leisure activity with appeal that spans generations is the music festival experience. And in recent years, many ocean cruises have come up with a successful way to capture that excitement. Rock ‘n’ roll-themed cruises are among
24 Feb 2017
Andrew Scotchie’s Birthday Bash: Party and Tribute
Andrew Scotchie‘s Birthday Bash began three years ago, celebrating the Asheville singer-guitarist’s 21st birthday. The event has additional significance to Scotchie, but he’s kept that part of the story largely to himself, until now. The third annual Birthday Bash was held January 14 at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall, and featured Scotchie’s band, The River
16 Feb 2017
Steve Gunn: Soloist and Collaborator
Though they came to prominence in different eras, guitarists Steve Gunn and Lee Ranaldo have a shared musical sensibility. As co-founder of Sonic Youth, Ranaldo helped pioneer the mainstreaming of the 1970s New York-based “no wave” movement into popular musical culture. With one foot in the acoustic scene and another firmly planted in the electric
11 Jan 2017
Jamie Laval’s Celtic Christmas
For several years now, Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval has crafted a special December program for audiences. Bringing together music, dance and storytelling, Laval presents “Celtic Christmas,” a family-friendly performance that showcases not only Christmas traditions, but observances of older pagan rituals centered around winter solstice. Laval’s late December performance calendar included a show in Asheville
29 Dec 2016
Best Music of 2016: Concerts
There’s a bit of overlap where my best albums and best concerts of 2016 are concerned. And there are some old favorites, too. John Mayall Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte NC March 11, 2016 It was only around this time that I pivoted to writing as a full-time job (in other words, how I make my living).
07 Dec 2016
Captivate and Provoke: The modern black roots music of Fantastic Negrito
Note: this is the second of two features I’ve written recently about Fantastic Negrito (here’s the first one). Expect more; this guy is one to watch. — bk Fantastic Negrito is the musical persona of Xavier Dphrepaulezz. Raised in a strict Muslim family, he ran away from home at 12 and never returned. He would