Raised a fire-and-brimstone Pentecostalist, edgy singer/songwriter Iris DeMent traces her fall from organized grace to a dispute over pantyhose. “The minister said the rules were that I had to wear nylons or leave the church choir,” she remembers of the incident — which happened going-on two decades ago, when DeMent was only 16. “I knew … Read more
Salif Keita’s buoyant success stems from a voice nearly silenced in youth. The Malian singer, now hailed as “The Golden Voice of Africa,” is descended from royalty, yet he was born in disgrace: An albino in a country where light skin is considered sinful (the stone slabs upon which albinos and other outcasts were once … Read more
It’s not hard to see why Son Volt is considered one of the most enigmatic bands around. Leader Jay Farrar usually speaks in monosyllables (even when not being interviewed by drooling rock critics), and the rest of Son Volt — drummer Mike Heidorn, bassist Jim Boquist and his multi-instrumentalist brother Dave — have never been … Read more
The magic number is 100 feet. That’s the new cap Asheville City Council set for the height of telecommunications towers — half of what the old ordinance allowed. Council members voted unanimously to revise the city’s tower ordinance on Jan. 12, despite pleas from industry representatives that they compromise on several issues — particularly the … Read more
Just below the surface of west Asheville’s worn exterior lies a rich vein of history that a group of determined community leaders wants to revive. Stroll down Haywood Road and you’ll see turn-of-the-century architecture, like the whimsical white arches and big white circles set in red brick at the old west Asheville fire station (which … Read more
Hallelujah It’s official: The historic Hopkins Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church on the edge of downtown Asheville won’t be torn down. Thanks to a major grant from the Janirve Foundation, the old church will soon be looking, if not as good as new, then at least pretty nice. After 80 years of serving as the primary … Read more
