The Record Company
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYTHE RECORD COMPANY At 2pm on December 19, 2022 — the dreaded final day of the year in the music business — The Record Company got a telephone call from the, um, record company. It was the head of the label, who’d been sitting on their new demos for months, while the band sat in limbo. It was a scene out of a movie about the bad luck bands sometimes have with big record labels: a pleasant “hello” led to a Charlie Brown’s teacher murmur that amounted to “you’re dropped from the label, Happy Christmas, fellas.” Apparently, the label was going “in a different direction” — Hollywood code for “The Record Company’s many radio hits and Grammy nomination are no guarantee that you’re going to push further into their idea of mainstream, or that you’re great at TikTok.” “It was tough to swallow,” says bassist Alex Stiff, “because we had already set out to write the most stripped-back and raw record we’d done in years, and they had demos of this new music, and ultimately dropped us. Combine that with some new economic realities, a canceled tour, and we really felt like everything was crashing down at once.” On The 4th Album, The Record Company see that rejection as a rite of renewal, a way to cleanse themselves, to start over. They head back to their roots: creating the raw, self-produced, blues-based music that in past years earned them multiple Billboard #1 AAA songs, a Grammy nomination, and brought them from playing small clubs to arena tours supporting John Mayer and Bob Seger. These “roots” would include half-working dumpster guitars, no-name drum sets from garage sales, no click tracks or studio tricks, all recorded in the bass player’s living room. “Almost every band you love at some point tends to drift away from that raw spark that made them unique in the first place,” says drummer Marc Cazorla. “They search for bigger sounds, bigger budgets, more expensive instruments, producers, mixers, etc. We’ve been subject to that as well, but now we’ve come back full circle to what matters most: making raw, honest music that moves peoples’ souls.” The band titled the new collection “The 4th Album” to signify the start of a new chapter. When the needle drops, we hear TRC lead singer Chris Vos spit out an offhanded quip: “I ain’t ever givin’ up,” an impromptu line that is an instant touchstone for anyone who’s ever seen their dreams fading, and then been able to regain hope. That line quickly became a call-to-arms for the band and a rock-solid theme for this album. The 4th Album finds the band at peace with themselves operating as outsiders in an ever- changing musical landscape. “You’re not going to find us posting goofy videos, salad recipes, or telling the internet what every song is about,” says Chris. “We’ve had some ups and downs, but we’ve managed to find a way through it, and put it all back into the music.” JESSE AHERN When Jesse Ahern walks onstage, he looks like a regular guy-albeit one with a six string strapped across his body and an anchor tattoo under his right eye. As he tears through his set, easily rousing brand new crowds to shout his choruses back in his face, it’s clear Jesse could be everybody’s friend.
OUTPOST: Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers and Shauna Dean Cokeland
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINEMel Bryant & the Mercy Makers write songs for screaming from the passenger seat. A nashville based, east coast born rock band inspired by modern punk, classic blues, and indie sad girls, the group embodies the spirit of a DIY band, recording all their own music in a barn-turned-studio in their backyard. Their gritty guitars, raucous grooves, raging feminine energy and frank, witty lyricism have gained them a dedicated following on social media and a Spotify stream count in the multi millions. Check out the links below to hear more and watch them live. Shauna Dean Cokeland is an acoustic folk pop artist with lyricism beyond her years and over 500,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, comprised of real, engaged fans who know all the words to her songs—even the unreleased ones. Hailing from a small beach town in Maryland with dreams of taking over the world as the “Last Best Pop Star”, her long anticipated latest single asserts, she is bold and confident and weaves tantalizing stories in her songs. Inspired by all things 2000s, Britney Spears, Eminem, Kesha, Tyler Childers, and low rise jeans, her infectious brand of Y2K nostalgia combined with a teenage passion for both emo and country music has fostered a sense of community among the Gen Z that’s hard to put to words. McKinney is a queer femme bass player and singer/songwriter living in Asheville, NC. She is a resident artist with LEAF Global Arts and has a been a regular performer at the LEAF festivals for the past 6 years. She grew up touring with an empowerment concert tour that educates youth about mental health resources. Her diverse and inclusive ensemble combines elements of rock, jazz, blues, funk, and soul to craft songs that resonate with authenticity and vulnerability. She released her debut single in 2021 entitled “Stay,” produced by Josh Blake at Echo Mountain. You can feel the desire she has to create new music that stays true to her unique sound. With new music, coming in 2024, produced by Ted Marks & Thommy Knowles, this young woman is ready to take her place as the next powerhouse coming out of Asheville.
OUTPOST: Everyman Jones and the Stick People
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE- FREE SHOW
Rock Academy – Hindsight Is 2023 Tour
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOORRock Academy students perform rock songs of various genres, including blues, classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk, and more.
OUTPOST: Captain Midnight Band
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Captain Midnight BandInternationally-ignored superstar, Captain Midnight is the world’s only known purveyor of “Waterbed Rock & Roll”. Crunchy Rock Guitar Riffs, Thick R&B Grooves, and Soaring Vocal Harmonies combine to create a unique, yet familiar soundscape for jammy anthems, sci-fi imagery, and humorous adult situations. The Captain Midnight Band’s diverse appeal has resulted in club, theater, and festival dates with such acts as Dark Star Orchestra, moe, String Cheese Incident, Cypress Hill, Twiddle, Spafford, Billy Strings, Karl Denson, TAUK, and other weirdos. Flattering comparisons to genre-defying acts such as P-Funk, Frank Zappa, and Ween are evident in the live show, where a genuine, energetic exchange occurs between band, fans, and whoever is lucky enough to be in the vicinity.
Rock Academy – Hindsight Is 2023 Tour
-ALL AGES-STANDING ROOM ONLY- TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOORRock Academy students perform rock songs of various genres, including blues, classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk, and more.
OUTPOST: Oweda
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINEOweda is a band out of Chattanooga, TN, with members representing many genres of rock and roll. This soulful mixture yields a sound steeped in southern blues, sustained by indie melodies, whilst echoing the honesty of folk.
CANCELED: An Evening With Skies of Avalon
– ALL AGES- PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW* This show has been canceled*SKIES OF AVALONForged by the union of bands 28 Pages and Palenium, Skies of Avalon is a semi-progressive rock band with classic rock elements from Hendersonville, North Carolina. Rock and metal DJ Nigel Metal of Nigel Metal Productions via Channel 98.9 FM in Corry, Pennsylvania says their music is reminiscent of Rush, Queensryche and Styx! The band has definitely been influenced by these iconic groups, along with other greats such as Asia, Yes, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Dream Theater and Black Sabbath. Their material can take the listener on epic journeys, encompassing unique storylines across multiple installments. Although sometimes fantasy-based in nature, their music often relates back to real life topics such as conflict, despair, integrity, life, love, and the constant demands we face daily as individuals and how the human heart deals with them. The band released their single “Tides” in October 2021 and their follow up full album “Per Tempus” in December 2022.
Bob Log III
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYBOB LOG III Bob Log III is a one man band slide guitar party. A perverse product of the Arizona desert, Bob Log III has been diligently travelling the globe since 1996, showcasing his incomparable talents and developing a devoted following along the way. A whirlwind of dexterous limbs and digits, this super star sonic showman has to be seen to be believed. Clad in his cannonball man, extra tight jumpsuit and signature motorcycle helmet with telephone/microphone attached, Bob Log III unfailingly sweats up a river while kicking on a kick drum, stomping his homemade foot cymbal and playing slide on an old archtop guitar. His endless pursuit for musical mayhem and a downright party has seen his unique talents utilized for children’s birthday parties, obscure beer barns, mammoth music festivals and everything in between. Yet, beyond these mesmerizing visuals, lies the true reason for Bob Log’s international cult status and superhero adoration. It is quite simply the guitar playing – finger picked lightning, sliding up and down, stopping when it wants to, then starting again when it feels like it, all in a way that makes people move uncontrollably, smile and reel. YAWNiA hospice nurse and a Waffle House waitress start a band…femme-grunge-punk with yallternative country sensibilities
LATE SHOW: Dinosaur Jr
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- LATE SHOW (9:30PM DOORS / 10:00PM SHOW)DINOSAUR JR Here is Sweep It Into Space, the fifth new studio album cut by Dinosaur Jr.. during the 13th year of their rebirth. Originally scheduled for issue in mid 2020, this record’s temporal trajectory was thwarted by the coming of the Plague. But it would take more than a mere Plague to tamp down the exquisite fury of this trio when they are fully dialed-in. And Sweep It Into Space is a masterpiece of zoned dialing. In the decades since the release of Dinosaur Jr.’s original triptych of foundational albums, it has become clear that their sound — once hailed as a sort of almost-tamed noise — is/was/always-has-been fully functioning pop music of a sort. The subsequent generations of bands who grew up breathing Dino’s fumes managed to tinker around with the edges of their original post-hardcore song-forms enough for listeners to realize there had always been melodies at the center of everything they did. What Dinosaur Jr.. produces is nothing but a beautiful new version of the rock continuum — riff, power, beat and longing, created with an eye on the infinite future. Recorded, as usual, at Amherst’s Biquiteen, the sessions for Sweep It Into Space began in the late Autumn of 2019, following a West Coast/South East tour. The only extra musician used this time with Kurt Vile. J Mascis says, “Kurt played little lead things, like 12 string one at the beginning of ‘I Ran Away.’ Then I ended up just mimicking a few things he’d done. I was listening to a lot of Thin Lizzy, so I was trying to get some of that dueling twin lead sound. (laughs)” “But the recording session was pretty well finished by the time things really hit the fan. So I just ended up doing more things by myself. Like the mini digital mellotron on ‘Take It Back.’ Originally I’d thought I’d have Ken Mauri (who has done keyboard work for Dino in the past) come in and play piano. But when the Lock Down happened in March, that meant I was on my own. But it was cool.” Indeed, Sweep It Into Space is a very cool album. As is typical, Lou Barlow writes and sings two of the album’s dozen tunes and Murph’s pure-Flinstonian drumming drives the record like a go cart from Hell. Lou’s songs here are as elegant as always. “Garden” is a mid-paced ballad with genteel guitar filigree giving it a ’60 Brit feel in spots. And the album’s closer, “You Wonder,” is a strangely excellent answer to the question — “How would Blue Oyster Cult handle a country tune?” J’s tracks flow and flower in the different directions he often follows. Some are guitar howlers, like “I Met the Stones,” with a string sound midway between Hendrix and Asheton. Some are power ballads, like “And Me,” its lyrics atomized in a manner invented by Mascis, then famously borrowed by Kurt Cobain. And there are anomalies, like “Take It Back,” which starts with a blue-beat rhythm putting one in mind of Keith Richards’ Jamaican explorations (at least for a little bit.) But there are very few moments where you wouldn’t know you were hearing Dinosaur Jr.. in blindfolded needle drop. They have a signature sound as sure as the Stooges or Sonic Youth or Discharge ever did. They continue to expand their personal universe with Sweep It Into Space, without ever losing their central core. So if you ever do find yourself swept into space (hey, who knows?), I just hope these tunes are on your playlist. — Byron Coley
