Sometimes a new idea is so important it changes history: Imagine what direction painting might have taken without Picasso, or what contemporary music might sound like, were it not for the influence of funk? In the beginning (sometime during 1959), an epic musical extravaganza was created. The Parliaments were a doo-wop/soul band that showcased the … Read more
Alex Chilton, a man who knows a little something about writing pop music, once observed that it takes good pop hooks to make good pop songs. That formula sounds simple enough — but as good as his songs were, Chilton and his bandmates in Big Star never really made a pop dollar. In a similar … Read more
The King Bees’ 1996 album, Pollenatin’ (Tramp), reveals one blues band heavily immersed in, well … pleasure. The title track exposes guitarist Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville’s slick guitar pickin’ coupling with classic harmonica work by Jerry “Boogie” McCain; on the kinda-nasty “Plenty Big Love,” singer/songwriter/bassist Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni proclaims that size does, indeed, matter. … Read more
A glam-rocker death hunt and other spiritual journeys form the nexus of this year’s RiverRun International Film Festival, which celebrates its third year of bringing feature films and documentaries to Western North Carolina. In a recent interview, RiverRun’s founder/director, Gene D’Onofrio, outlined his ambitions for the festival: “My aim is to make this a three-level … Read more
Keep the decibels down. In fact, keep them out of the county’s noise ordinance altogether. “Decibel-based ordinances are not effectively enforceable,” announced Reorganizing Commission member Charlie Mann at the Aug. 15 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting. The commission was charged with reviewing the county’s noise ordinance, which requires sheriff’s deputies to measure decibel levels … Read more
The Parks and Recreation Department is ready to put that one-cent dedicated tax hike, approved by Asheville City Council on July 1, to work. But instead of using the $400,000 to leverage a long-term bond, Parks and Rec Director Irby Brinson says the city will concentrate on six projects designed to have an immediate impact … Read more
Gun-control laws belie common sense A 5-year-old child was killed on May 25, 1998, in Hendersonville, N.C. The accident occurred while his twin brother was playing with a handgun that had slid from the front seat of the car to the rear floor. Sounds like a great case for more gun control, doesn’t it? On … Read more
At the public hearing on the proposed nitrogen oxide (NOx) rules for utilities held on July 27, a carnival atmosphere pervaded. Most of this was due to the very effective organizing of the supporters of a proposed regulation to require utilities to remove 80 percent of the NOx from their emissions. A band was on … Read more
The North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) recently held its 26th annual Vegetarian Summerfest on the campus of UNCA. Billed as a life-changing experience, Summerfest more than lived up to the expectations of the 600-plus attendees who gathered from around the country and points overseas. Before the event, Mountain Xpress ran a piece about Summerfest by … Read more
