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 are doing), as of this writing, proper live concerts remain off the table.
But those shaky phone-cam streams from living rooms are (thankfully) beginning to be replaced by high production value performances, taking place in actual (if empty) venues. Hey, it’s a start. Here are four upcoming live stream concerts by Asheville-based artists. Support them if you can.
Artist: Travers Brothership
Virtual Venue: Downtown After 5
Date: Friday, July 16, 5:30 p.m.
Tip jars: Venmo | Paypal
This hard-working rock band has toured the world; these days they’re home just like the rest of us. A consistent favorite in local best-of polls, Travers Brothership released Let the World Decide at the end of 2018. I spoke with them about it last year, just ahead of that 40-date tour of Europe.
Artist: Free Planet Radio
Virtual Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Saturday, July 18, 7 p.m.
This accomplished trio is astoundingly skilled at mastering whatever challenge it takes on. In the past, that has meant daunting, polyrhythmic world music, ambient excursions and more. On their most recent release, Free Planet Radio took things in a more straight-ahead jazz direction. I’ve interviewed the group several times over the past decade; my most recent conversation focused on the modern jazz sounds of Pursuit, released late last year.
Artist: Up Jumped Three
Virtual Venue: Kenilworth Lake
Date: Sunday, July 19, 5 p.m.
This drummerless jazz trio makes tasty instrumental music. The band – which has been together for five years – released its self-titled debut in April. Around that time I spoke with bassist Bryan White about the implied rhythm that’s at the heart of the Up Jumped Three sound.
Artist: Jeff Santiago & Los Gatos
Virtual Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Saturday, July 25, 7 p.m.
Jeff Santiago stays busy with several musical projects, but his primary one is leading Los Gatos, a five-piece group built around his songwriting. The former Broomstars guitarist writes passionate, heartfelt music, and the band backs that up with a musical force to match it. I interviewed Santiago in 2017.
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 since 2018). The 4500-plus 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 -- more than 30 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: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.