Like most artists, Steve McMurry is more eager to discuss his current project than his last one. Acoustic Syndicate’s second CD, soon to be released, will be decidedly peppier than their self-titled debut (Little King Records, 1996), McMurry revealed in a recent interview. “The [first album] moved slowly,” notes the band’s guitarist, vocalist and mandolin … Read more
By more than one account, Come On In (Fat Possum/Epitaph Records, 1998) has already enraged (or at least confused) a host of blues purists. R.L. Burnside’s latest release is nothing less than a series of dance remixes, featuring the 71-year-old Mississippi native’s boiling, elemental blues chopped up and wantonly married to hip-hop beats and a … Read more
How does Asheville’s first female mayor see things, after nearly a year in office? “Call me anytime,” Mayor Leni Sitnick told Mountain Xpress when she first took the reins in 1997. And, 12 months and 3,000 phone calls later, she’s still pretty likely to return your call or take a few minutes to chat, if … Read more
So you wanna be a lawmaker? It’s no secret that politics is a complicated, often messy business — which probably discourages many capable community residents from seeking public office. But for anyone who’s interested in getting more politically involved, the Asheville Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Political Institute, which will focus on local government … Read more
