Author Archive
18 Jun 2026
The Nude Party: Turning Limitations into Virtues
Taking their name from a series of house concerts in Boone, N.C., in which the band members performed sans clothing, The Nude Party draw inspiration from ‘60s garage rock to […]
17 Jun 2026
Lee Fields: Every Date is a Talent Show
NOTE: This feature references a live date that took place in April 2026. Lee Fields was in love with music from an early age. But by age 13, music wasn’t […]
16 Jun 2026
Wolfgang Van Halen: Solo Albums as a Means to ‘The End’
Being a guitarist bearing the surname Van Halen brings with it a good deal of baggage. “People expect certain things of you,” says Wolfgang Van Halen, only son of Valerie […]
15 Jun 2026
30 Days Out, June 2026 #2: Daydream Creatures, Spoon, Slow Runner, Radio Free Eagle
This roundup of notable live music events in Asheville in the coming 30 days leans in a local direction. So should you; go see some live music and support these […]
12 Jun 2026
Book Review: Listening to Prestige
One potential function of a book-length treatment of a subject is as a springboard to initiate a wider discussion. In the hands of a skilled writer, a book about a […]
11 Jun 2026
Album Review: Mike Mattison & Trash Magic – Turn a Midnight Corner
Singer and guitarist Mike Mattison is best known as a key member of Tedeschi Trucks Band; he’s been with Susan and Derek for more than two decades. And during that […]
10 Jun 2026
Book Review: Do What You Fear Most: The History of the Velvet Underground
I count myself as a serious fan of the writing and scholarship of Richie Unterberger. One of his earliest books, 1998’s Unknown Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll ranks among my […]
09 Jun 2026
Take Five: Timely Alt-rock Songs from Minneapolis
There’s a proud – and sometimes overlooked – tradition of social protest in the lyrics of rock and roll songs. Sometimes listeners merely gloss over what is a direct critique […]
08 Jun 2026
Take Five: Early Classics from The Fabulous Thunderbirds
In an era during which MTV reigned supreme in the pop music world, the Fabulous Thunderbirds helped bring the blues and r&b into the mainstream. Launched in Austin, Texas in […]
05 Jun 2026
DEVO’s Duty Now for the Future: Mutate, Don’t Stagnate (Part 4 of 4)
Continued from Part Three… DEVO has its Theory of Devolution. The Residents have their Theory of Obscurity. Very different groups, but both are examples of radically unique artists building their […]