30 Days Out, January 2021 #2: Travis Book Happy Hour, Sons of Ralph, Page Brothers, The Harrows
Happy New Year! Live music is back!
Hey, just kidding. No, wait: it is, kinda. It’s back the way Brain Wilson was back with the Beach Boys all those times in the ’70s and ’80s. Which is to say, again: kinda.
In this edition of 30 Days Out – the one-year anniversary of its appearance on Musoscribe, and the seven year anniversary of its creation (it used to run in Mountain Xpress), I spotlight four upcoming shows in and around Asheville taking place in the next 30 days. One is a streaming-only show, while the other three are (socially-distanced) live and in-person performances for those who choose to go that route.
Artist: Travis Book
Venue: The Grey Eagle (streaming show)
Date: Wednesday, Jan 20, 7 p.m.
Door: free
Book is a member of the Infamous Stringdusters. What he’s doing with his current series of dates is something of an innovation, something of a throwback to the days when variety shows were to pop culture coin of the real. Billed as the Travis Book Happy Hour, it’s a sort of showcase of performers. This streaming-only show is slated to feature North Carolina singer-songwriter Josh Daniel; his style combines rock ‘n’ roll with everything from Americana to reggae. Also on the bill is Mike Ashworth of Steep Canyon Rangers.
Artist: Sons of Ralph
Venue: Jack of the Wood
Date: Friday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m.
Door: free
A Western North Carolina institution since 2001, Sons of Ralph are such household names in the bluegrass community that it’s easy to take them for granted, to just sort of assume they’ll always be there. Founder Ralph Lewis passed away in 2017, but the band carries his legacy forward. Their set mixes originals and classics, and is informed not only by Appalachian music, but by Cajun, and — thanks to the influence of Ralph’s sons and their band mates — good old rock ‘n’ roll.
Artist: The Page Brothers
Venue: Isis Music Hall
Date: Saturday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m.
Door: $15
Andy and Zack Page (plus members of Ashevilel jazz outfits One Leg Up and Hot Club of Asheville) present a musical celebration of the birthday of jazz great Django Reinhardt. The lineup for this event will be modeled after the original Hot Club of France quintet. Reservations strongly encouraged on this one.
Artist: The Harrows
Venue: 185 King St.
Date: Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.
Door: $5
I haven’t had a great deal of success finding information on the Harrows, but I do know that they play gigs throughout the region, at least as far away as Charleston. Their press info for this gig cites influences including Tom Waits and Mavis Staples. At least I think it does. And while the press pic shows acoustic instruments, they seem to plug in. Questions, questions. If you’re in Brevard it only costs $5-a-head to find out. Note that if you want a table seat, you’ll need to book an entire table (available in 2-, 4- and 6-toppers).
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 4000-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 is co-teaching 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: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.