Album Review: Ryan Adams – 1989

There are two possible outcomes when an artist covers another artist: it’s either going to be a huge success, or it’s going to be ultra-forgettable. I can’t tell you if Ryan Adams’ 1989 will truly break into pop culture, but I can tell you that it’s not going to be forgotten quickly. Adams pulled apart […]

Show review: The Mowgli’s @ WCU

I have to be honest. I was expecting a crowd of about 20 people to be half-heartedly applauding The Mowgli’s on Friday night. It’s not because I don’t think they’re a great band, or because I don’t think Last Minute Productions promoted the show well. It’s because –I hate myself for thinking this– I assumed […]

Show Review: Matt & Kim @ The Orange Peel

Monday, April 20, 2015: the sun was darting between the darkest rain clouds, my best friend drove two hours to spend the day with me in Asheville, and I had two tickets for the Matt and Kim show at the Orange Peel. If you have heard Matt and Kim’s music even only once, you know […]

New Music Monday: Hiss Golden Messenger

  Hearing a song by Hiss Golden Messenger for the first time, you might think you’re listening to someone from the Greenwich Village Gaslight Cafe Bob Dylan-y scene of the early 60s. The country/jazz/rock/folk sound of the band comes from a collaboration of singer/songwriter M.C. Taylor and recording engineer Scott Hirsch. Like one of the […]

Show Review: An Evening with Avidity

I can’t think of a better way to kick off my time as a staff writer for The Western Carolina Journalist than to review a show put on right in our neighborhood. Those of us addicted to concerts know that that’s a big deal because we are used to driving to Asheville to get our […]