Despite numerous alleged incidents of serious police misconduct over the past couple of years, Asheville City Council members voted Jan. 15 against creating an official citizen-oversight board. Conceding that it is a “bit of a complex topic,” police Chief William Hogan nonetheless lobbied against the idea, citing several existing layers of police oversight and reiterating … Read more
“I think it vibrates in your soul for a long time,” says Justin Myles, a performer with the American touring cast of Stomp, which plays a two-night stand at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium next week. He’s been on board with the soul-stirring production for the past two years, but the show itself is in its … Read more
“Yesterday,” says Richard Shindell, “I had to speak to a blacksmith.” This commonplace experience, the singer/songwriter explains, illustrates a fundamental cultural difference between the United States and Argentina, his adopted home of the past seven years. Craft-master: Richard Shindell’s narrative-driven songs have helped him carve out his niche in the already crowded-with-talent folk circuit. Photo … Read more
Eric Scheider was 17 when he first heard a live performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.” Williams’ homage in strings to his 16th century musical predecessor lasts a little longer than 15 minutes, but it was time enough to send Scheider to a rapturous place. “That was the first … Read more
Anyone who’s drunk a fair amount of wine knows the experience of spending $25 or more on a bottle of a promising vintage, only to be rewarded with the taste of moldy cork and gravelly tannins. Move over, Dr. Seuss: Vino Vino’s Enomatic wine machine puts high technology in service of an ancient beverage. Photo … Read more
Abstract and experimental art takes center stage in the fifth annual Asheville Fringe Arts Festival. From body-painted performers to shadow puppets, installation art to dance, the festival continues to chart the artistic terrain of the strange, the new and the original. The many artists involved in this four-day marathon of performances are asked to push … Read more
Twenty years after releasing his first solo recording and nearly eight decades into his legendary career, 94-year-old blues pianist Pinetop Perkins is still going strong. Certified blues legend: Grammy-winning bluesman Pinetop Perkins performs with Bob Margolin. Last month, the highly influential Delta bluesman—best known for his stint backing Muddy Waters in the 1970s—received Grammy nominations … Read more
“It’s not a beginner’s book, per se, but a beginner would get a lot out of it,” explains local woodworker Andy Rae, author of Building Doors & Drawers: A Complete Guide to Design and Construction (Taunton Press, 2007). “Probably the primary reader in terms of skill level would be an intermediate woodworker,” he continues. “There … Read more
Even if you’re not really into the God thing, Howard Hanger has a way with biblical passages and spiritual philosophy. The founder of interfaith church Jubilee! Community (along with music business Jazz Fantasy and the Hanger Hall School for Girls) talks about faith the way a cool uncle would offer advice about baseball games and … Read more
Fiber artist Lisa Klakulak explains much about her work in the name of her business: Strong Felt Works. The felted wool in her designs is strong, as is her passion for the artistry, history, and future of felt work. Recently, Klakulak spent time in Morocco doing personal research into that country’s wool art, as well … Read more
