30 Days Out, April 2026 #2: Toadies, Bob Dylan, Karla Bonoff, The Nude Party
This time around we spotlight four nationally-touring acts. It’s April, so Asheville’s coming out of its quiet season; and the concert calendar only get busier from here on out.
Artist: Toadies
Venue: Orange Peel
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 8 p.m.
Door: $50.49
If you know Fort Worth, Texas band Toadies, it’s probably because you’ve heard “Possum Kingdom,” the band’s 1994 hit single from their debut album Rubberneck. A nice blend of crunch and melody, it’s an exemplar of the group’s material, catchier than much of what came out of the grunge movement. Three decades on, only lead singer Vaden Todd Lewis and drummer Reznicek remain from the lineup that made that first LP. Their upcoming album The Charmer is being tipped as a “return to form,” and the fact that late engineer Steve Albini was at the console, that could well be the case. The advance single/title track is solid.
Artist: Bob Dylan
Venue: Thomas Wolfe
Date: Sunday, April 19, 8 p.m.
Door: $196.76 and up
Dylan has been on this particular Endless Tour for who knows how long. His “Never Ending Tour” began in 1988 and ran through 2019. His current “Rough and Rowdy ways” tour began in 202 and show no sign of ending. What will you get for your money? Unrecognizable readings of Dylan songs, mostly. But hey, it’s Bob Dylan. The show is technically sold out, but “certified resale” tickets are available starting at just under two big ones.
Artist: Karla Bonoff
Venue: Wortham Center
Date: Friday, April 24, 8 p.m.
Door: $24.78 and up
Karla Bonoff entered the singer-songwriter pantheon somewhat late in that genre’s timeline. But her 1977 self-titled debut displayed her talents as a songwriter, vocalist and instrumentalist of high quality. Bonoff’s impeccable taste – and her choice of musical associates – has long been a hallmark of her output. Never the most prolific of recording artists, she has released a mere seven solo albums of original material over the past 45 years. But her live performances are consistently engaging, and this rare Asheville date is sure to be a rare treat indeed. This show is a rescheduled performance originally set for late last year.
Artist: The Nude Party
Venue: Grey Eagle
Date: Saturday, May 2, 8 p.m.
Door: $30.75
These guys got together at App State in Boone when none of them could even play an instrument. But the Nude Party has come a long way; their latest continues to showcase their appreciation for Load-era Velvet Underground, with a heaping helping of Flying Burrito Brothers added to the mix to good effect. Watch for my feature/interview with the band.
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.