30 Days Out, September 2026 #2: Mastodon, Son Volt, Talib Kweli, The Mother Hips
Big names all in this go-round. Support live music; it’s good for the economy and it’s good for your soul.
Artist: Mastodon
Venue: Asheville Yards
Date: Fri, Sep. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Door: $56
Modern metal masters from Atlanta, these guys released eight well-regarded studio albums with the same lineup. In 2024 founding member Brent Hinds was kicked outta the band, and perished in a motorcycle accident a few months later. But the group has roared back with a new album, Marrow Deep, released in late August with new guitarist Nick Johnston on board.
Artist: Son Volt
Venue: Pisgah Brewing
Date: Saturday, Sep. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Door: $36.30
If you know the bands, you know the story: Alt heroes Uncle Tupelo split in the early ‘90s, and amidst the rubble, two new bands arose. Jeff Tweedy led Wilco, and Jay Farrar launched Son Volt. Farrar’s band leans much more in a country direction. The band’s 2020 live album was recorded just down the block at Asheville’s Orange Peel; 2023’s Day of the Doug – a tribute to the legendary Doug Sahm – is Son Volt’s latest studio release.
Artist: Talib Kweli
Venue: Asheville Music Hall
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 p.m.
Door: $50.90
While I’ve interviewed a number of artists in the field, I don’t pretend to be any sort of authority on hip hop/rap. What I do know and can authoritatively share is that Talib Kweli is an important figure in the genre’s beginnings and development. He’s known for being outspoken, but that tracks with his material. Kweli – who I don’t think has played Asheville before (could be wrong) – released a collaborative effort with J. Rawls, The Confidence of Knowing in 2024.
Artist: The Mother Hips
Venue: Grey Eagle
Date: Fri, Oct. 9, 8 p.m.
Door: $27.66
Some artists have made a successful career out of establishing a signature sound and then sticking with it over the course of their entire catalog. Other artists take a potentially riskier approach, following their muse wherever it takes them. The latter description certainly fits Northern California group the Mother Hips: across ten studio albums, the group has recorded and released music that can be variously described as alternative rock, jam, folk rock, psychedelic, Americana and even power pop. And along the way the Mother Hips have built and cultivated a loyal fan base. Sounding Arrow opens. BTW I interviewed the Mother Hips in 2021; that’s here.
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.