John Gernandt has been collecting old songs for 23 years. Not records, but songs. Now he’s found another way to keep that oral tradition alive: with his “floating” vocal group, Chanters All. “To me, traditional means ‘does not have an author.’ We do a lot of traditional ballads and folk singing, and different voice harmonies,” … Read more
“We’re kind of a slow, hard-working, nonglorious beast of some sort,” offers Asheville’s favorite hometown-boy-made-good, Warren Haynes, talking about the appropriateness of his band’s name, Gov’t Mule. Others beg to differ with the modest, supernaturally talented musician (he’s considered one of the world’s premier guitarists). “This is bone-crushing power rock!” exclaimed the usually staid Wall … Read more
“We got a lot of flack from people in Scotland, Ireland and the States for wearing kilts and playing traditional music,” reveals Kirk McLeod, lead singer of Seven Nations. “They’re thinking Americans can’t do it as well as the Scots or Irish,” he explains. “We started thinking, ‘Well, we’ve got our own heritage, here in … Read more
Real help for victims of the Catholic Church I was deeply moved when I read Brad Lena’s ad in your Nov. 24 issue [Holiday Season Guide, p. 16] appealing to all victimized Catholics to join him at the St. Justin Center (across from the Basilica of Saint Lawrence in downtown Asheville) for a “Christmas Homecoming.” … Read more
