30 Days Out, March 2025 #1: Jimmy Vivino, Orions Belte, They Might Be Giants, Jackie Venson
Lively blues, trippy instro, sophisticated progressive pop, genre-spanning guitar fireworks… those are among the highlights of a very creatively fertile March 2025 in Asheville.
Artist: Jimmy Vivino
Venue: The Grey Eagle
Date: Sunday, Mar. 16, 8 p.m.
Door: $20.21
Canned Heat has gone through countless personnel changes over the course of its run, but the current (or at least recent) lineup features guitarist Jimmy Vivino. He deserves the spot, as he’s an excellent and expressive player. His most recent solo release, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, is quite good as well. I’ll be reviewing it soon.
Artist: Orions Belte
Venue: Eulogy
Date: Wednesday, Mar. 19, 6:30 p.m.
Door: $24.80
Hypnotic, mostly instrumental music is the stock in trade from this Norwegian guitar-bass-drums trio. My son turned me onto Orions Belte a few years back when they released 2018’s Mint. Their more recent material builds on their alluring sound. I’m not telling you to take a few bong hits before the show, but I’m not not telling you. (Get a ride, though.)
Artist: They Might Be Giants
Venue: The Orange Peel
Dates: Tuesday, Mar. 25 and Wednesday Mar. 26, 8 p.m.
Door: $35
If you think TMBG is a comedy act, you’re missing out big time. There so much more to this group fronted by the two Johns (Flansburgh and Linell). Their music is witty, yes, but it’s adventurous and mite progressive as well. I’ve interviewed them a few times, most recently for Spin last fall. They’re playing a two-night run here, with a portion of ticket proceeds going to MANNA Food Bank (Helene disaster-related). Great music, great guys.
Artist: Jackie Venson
Venue: Asheville Music Hall
Date: Thursday, Mar. 28, 8 p.m.
Door: $20
I could have sworn I’d written about this impressive young guitarist outta Austin TX before, but apparently I have not. Suffice ot say that Venson is a sterling musician who has wowed artists like Gary Clark Jr., Vernon Reid and Melissa Etheridge. Blues is only part of what she does; there’s plenty of funk and rock in there as well.
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.