Hot Buttered Rum

We were downright giddy about seeing Hot Buttered Rum back at the Grey Eagle in Asheville last Friday night, after a 5 or 6 year absence. They did not disappoint! Here they are covering a Dr Ralph Stanley tune, enjoy!

New Years Eve 2011

We rang in the New Year this weekend at The Grey Eagle in Asheville with two of our favorite bands, Town Mountain and Acoustic Syndicate. It made for a fun time spent with good friends and great live music. 

So we happily ended 2011 and started 2012 just how we prefer to live our lives by savoring the moments and smelling the flowers along the way. Here's hoping that the New Year brings health, happiness, and lots of good love and music to you and your families in 2012!

Black Betty and Hometown

Town Mountain and The Freight Hoppers @ The Grey Eagle

                                                                                                                                                                     Two of the finest String Bands in the mountains came together on Friday night at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.

The Freight Hoppers are from Bryson City, NC and play Old Time and Traditional tunes from the 1920's and 1930's. David Bass (fiddle) and Frank Lee (banjo, guitar, vocals) have been together since the Freight Hoppers started their Great Smokey Mountain Railroad gig in 1993. After a hiatus of seven or eight years, the band regrouped in 2007 with Issac Deal (guitar,vocals) and Bradley Adams (bass).  www.thefreighthoppers.com/
                                                                                                                                                                     
Town Mountain is, without a doubt, our favorite Asheville area bluegrass band. Black Betty and I try not to miss a local show with this smoking hot, bluegrass band. Their rawness and grit manages to get under your skin, and you become a convert after one Town Mountain show. Their rough around-the-edges sound fueled by Robert Greer's outstanding vocals and the band's skilled licks keep us coming back for more.

Town Mountain's strength and appeal lies in their ability to keep it real and gritty while refusing to allow their sound to become a polished out white-bread Nashville caricature of bluegrass music. This is working man's grass, it's the real deal!  They feature outstanding original tunes penned  by banjo player Jesse Langlais and mandolin player Phil Barker; they also do some great covers, including Bruce Springsteen and John Anderson. If you are extremely fortunate, you may even hear Robert Greer sing a heart-wrenching version of the Grateful Dead's Brokedown Palace. Their newest CD is Steady Operator. http://townmountain.net/blog/




                                                                                                                          

Emmitt-Nershi Band at The Grey Eagle

The jamgrass super-group, Emmitt-Nershi Band performed at The Grey Eagle in Asheville on Friday night. It was the first show of their current tour, and they couldn't have asked for a more appreciative and enthusiastic crowd to play for.

Black Betty and I, along with family and friends, staked out the Bill Nershi side of the stage and hung on for the duration. I managed to shoot a few decent videos and enjoyed the wildly exuberant crowd of young music aficionados who clearly inspired the band to give it their best.

The Bristol area band Folk Soul Revival opened and got the house rocking. Emmitt-Nershi played two sets of their original tunes and threw in several interesting covers including Don't It Make You Want To Dance? (Rusty Wier) and encored with Sweet Child Of Mine (Guns And Roses).

It was another over-the-top night of live music in southern Appalachia!

Emmitt Nershi Band Bio

Town Mountain at The Grey Eagle

Our 28th wedding anniversary, the "super moon", and Town Mountain's CD release party at The Grey Eagle all came together this weekend to create a spectacular time of fun and music. Talk about planets aligning? We couldn't have asked for a better anniversary present than a night at our favorite music venue listening to one of our favorite grass bands. The CD is great, check it out, it's called Steady Operator. It's released nationwide on May 12 if you weren't lucky enough to grab one at the Grey Eagle last night.

Here's a nice write up on Town Mountain and the new CD. The Laurel of Asheville

The Best of 2010: Ray Wylie Hubbard Live at The Grey Eagle

Your Hometown Hiker: Ray Wylie Hubbard Live at The Grey Eagle: "I've never found that the Texas troubadours have really ever had a big following in Asheville. Sure Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen may d..."

The Best of 2010 - Woody Wood at The Grey Eagle

Your Hometown Hiker: Woody Wood / I'm Gonna Miss You (Like The Devil): "Those who know us, will attest that Black Betty and I thoroughly love rockin' it at the Grey Eagle with Woody Wood! Friday night I had an..."

Jim Lauderdale and Town Mountain @ The Grey Eagle

We were lucky enough to get to see two of our favorite acts at the Grey Eagle last night in Asheville. Jim Lauderdale (Mr. Americana Music himself) opened the show with a solo set.  Next, Asheville's own Town Mountain followed with a blistering bluegrass set for the rowdy and appreciative hometown crowd.  And finally, Jim and Town Mountain then joined forces for a third set.  It was another magical night of live music at its finest in Asheville.  Who wouldn't want to live in western North Carolina?

Speaking of Town Mountain, I understand that they are currently wrapping up a new CD.  I can't help thinking of  CD cover art with a photo of the band loitering around a sidewalk in downtown Asheville, wearing cowboy hats, jeans, and boots.  The title I'm thinking of is "Workingman's Grass".  Does that not describe perfectly what Town Mountain is about?  Bluegrass for the working man, bluegrass for the masses! Their current album is Heroes and Heretics, one of the best bluegrass recordings out there. 

Check 'em out, it's bluegrass that everyone can love!  Town Mountain

Tell me what you think.  



Ray Wylie Hubbard Live at The Grey Eagle

I've never found that the Texas troubadours have really ever had a big following in Asheville. Sure Willie Nelson and Robert Earl Keen may draw a crowd, but knowing every word to a Jerry Jeff Walker or Guy Clark song may get you some strange looks around these mountains. Nevertheless, an enthusiastic and not-so-small crowd of Ray Wylie Hubbard fans were treated to a special show last night at The Grey Eagle when the poet/philosopher/country/blues song writer of "Redneck Mothers" fame took the stage.

Ray Wylie's song writing ability, musical prowess, and spiritual presence seems to continue to grow and evolve instead of stagnating like so many other artists of his generation. This man is a master lyricist, superb story teller, and poet. When he sings his songs to you, you believe he lived every word of it. Hell, you believe you lived every word of it! Check him out, you won't be disappointed.

Ray Wylie Hubbard's new CD is entitled A:Enlightenment B:Endarkenment (Hint: there is no C)
He currently is nominated by The Americana Music Association in three categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year ("Drunken Poet's Dream").


                       

Sam Quinn + Japan Ten / The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships

Sam Quinn is bringing it back to The Grey Eagle in Asheville on Saturday, May 15th.


We fell in love with Sam's beautiful song writing and quirky sense of humor and style  as one-half of the creative force of The Everybodyfields, (together with Jill Andrews).


Sam has an unforgettably unique natural voice which seems to transport his music directly to one's soul. His songs are highly personal, mostly painful tales of  self exploration and emotionalism. But they somehow don't end up being depressing. His music has a way of washing over you like soft warm waves. They gently massage your heart while reminding you of what it means to be human. As one reviewer put it, "misery never sounded so good."

 When the Everybodyfields parted ways, Sam teamed up with Josh Oliver, Megan Gregory, and Brandon Story to form Japan Ten. They have just released a new CD The Fake that Sunk A Thousand Ships, you can listen and download (for a mere 5 bucks) here: Sam Quinn / The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships




Here is video I shot at Bristol Rhythm and Roots of Sam Quinn and the Japan Ten performing Gun.
                           

Woody Wood / I'm Gonna Miss You (Like The Devil)

Those who know us, will attest that Black Betty and I thoroughly love rockin' it at the Grey Eagle with Woody Wood!

Friday night I had an Appalachian Trail reunion of sorts while at The Eagle with two of my fellow thru-hikers, Superchunk and Hopper. The three of us departed Springer Mountain on March 21st, 2008 and hiked our way to Maine, arriving at different times as our individual journeys dictated. My trail mates share a common bond with me that I will always appreciate and respect. It was great seeing you guys, let's do it again, soon!

Jason Krekel and Woody Wood

Man, I could watch these two guys play together every night and never get tired of it.
Jason Krekel (Mad Tea Party) and Woody Wood (Hollywood Red) are as good as they come, it was a thrill to watch them jam together during the Blue Rags reunion this weekend at the Grey Eagle. We want more!!!

The Blue Rags

The Blue Rags blew the roof off the Grey Eagle last night with their rowdy and raucous "Rag 'n' Roll". Black Betty and I became one with the boogie as the Blue Rags played their first show in three years.

Woody Wood, Abe Reid, Jake Hollifield, and the boys ripped it up and burned it down while giving us another memorable night of energetic and enthralling live music in Asheville!






Here is the Mountain Xpress article about the band and their current projects:

http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2007/blue_rags_revival/

The Overtakers!!!!

The Overtakers from Jamaica rocked Asheville last night at the Grey Eagle Music Hall.
We were fortunate enough to be there on a Wednesday night, and got to listen to Ruben, Ruth, and Leroy sway the crowd with their own brand of roots rock reggae.
Positively ASSKICKING!!!

Sam Quinn and the Japan 10

Sam Quinn + Japan Ten: "Hello" @ Ramseur Records HQ from Ramseur Records on Vimeo.

I just can't resist mentioning Sam Quinn + Japan 10 this morning. We've been big fans of the Everybodyfields since we first saw them a few years ago opening for the Avett Brothers. As a matter of fact, I even hitched a ride into the Grey Eagle from Hot Springs during my thru-hike to see them play.

The Everybodyfields, featuring the song writing and singing of Sam and Jill Andrews, are "on break" and Sam Quinn is touring with his own band. Sam's haunting voice and beautiful lyrics have a way of reaching deep into your soul and grabbing hold. I can't wait to see them again....

Put your dancin' shoes on!

Get ready to boogie! The Infamous Stringdusters are playing the Grey Eagle in Asheville on Friday night.

Where else but Asheville can you see an incredible bluegrass supergroup for an incredibly cheap 10$???

New Year's Eve 2008

David Via, Mad Tea Party, Big Daddy , Larry Keel and Natural Bridge burning it down at the Grey Eagle. What more do I need to say? It was a night of absolute magic and music, what a way to welcome 2009! I'm looking forward to many more good shows in the coming year......