30 Days Out, Dec. 2022 #1: Blanke, Bill Kirchen, Neighbor, Toubab Krewe
There’s something for nearly all tastes in this roundup of live music in and around Asheville over the next 30 days. Get out there and support live music of both the local-based and touring varieties.
Artist: Blanke
Venue: Asheville Music Hall
Date: Saturday, Dec. 10, 9 p.m.
Door: $15 advance / $18 day of show
This deejay/producer from Australia worksi n the drum-n-bass and related subgenres. A regular fixture at like-minded festivals, he has released a half dozen EPs and a long list of singles and remixes.
Artist: Bill Kirchen
Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Monday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m.
Door: $17
Though it’s been applied to others, Bill Kirchen has certainly earned the sobriquet “master of the Telecaster.” He works primarily in the country/Americana idiom, but his style transcends genre. I reviewed a best-of colleciton in 2020.
Artist: Neighbor
Venue: Salvage Station
Date: Friday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m.
Door: $12 advance / $15 day of show
The group’s website steers clear of the “jamgrass” epithet, but combining improvisational skills with a rootsy approach is the stock in trade of this quartet. That they tour in support of Umphrey’s McGee should tell you a lot about what to expect. Sicard Hollow opens.
Artist: Toubab Krewe
Venue: The Orange Peel
Date: Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.
Door: $30
This beloved Asheville-based group has carved out its own musical niche, combining West African traditional instruments and rock ‘n’ roll. The band got going in 2004, toured widely and was even picked to play at a memorial event for favorite son Dr. Robert A. Moog. A hiatus ensued as members took time to focus on family, but they returned in 2018 and their musical journey continues. I interviewed the band a few years back.
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 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.