First, there's the story about the women who have been working for months — nearly half a year — to prepare themselves for a beauty pageant. Daniela Vega, Ivanna Brunnely, Yeraldine Kennedy, Carolina Olivares, Jaqueline del Castillo and Isabella Franco is how they’re known on stage. They practice their walking, makeup, dance routines and talents. … Read more
“It’s always been in our nature to be somewhat contrary,” chuckles Joshua Wells, drummer for Vancouver-based Black Mountain. The band has always had an interest in “taking things in a different direction. I don’t think there’s any point in making the same record twice, right?” The quintet’s self-titled debut came out in 2005, followed by … Read more
Breakdancer Michael “Frantic” Pelletier of Columbia, S.C., and Joseph Adams, of Asheville’s own Hunab Kru (a b-boy/b-girl collective), have a vision to establish a high-energy, all-inclusive break-dancing scene in Asheville. That vision takes flight at the upcoming Southeast B-Boy Championships, slated for Saturday, Nov. 6 at the YMI Cultural Center in downtown Asheville. Pelletier, who … Read more
It took J.K. Rowling six years to do it. Stephen King can do it in four months. Stephanie Meyers did it for her first time in just three months. Sure. But try writing a novel in 30 days. That's the gauntlet thrown down for writers in November, aka National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). … Read more
Jar-e is known for writing infectious, soulful pop songs that bring crowds to their feet and inspire unadulterated dance parties. But the Asheville-based singer and multi-instrumentalist is leaving behind the Latin influence and carefree lyricism of his previous effort, Chicas Malas, to explore the darker side of his art. Blood of the Summer is still … Read more
The Suspect: Ra Ra Riot This group includes a violinist and a cellist; the resulting sound is part indie pop, part chamber orchestra. Founding members of this young band met while attending college in Syracuse, N.Y. Their recently released second CD, The Orchard, contains tracks mixed by Death Cab for Cutie and Vampire Weekend members; … Read more
Dehlia Low Live CD release Local bluegrass act Dehlia Low, in its brief three-year tenure, has already become one of those bands that is so in demand elsewhere it's hard to catch them at home. This past year they played Merlefest and Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival — and also found time to put out a new … Read more
Popular Pani Tiny Chai Pani is bursting with big news. First, the Indian street-food restaurant was mentioned in an October New York Times travel article, "36 Hours in Asheville, N.C.," that also mentioned The Admiral and Farm and Sparrow Bakery, among other local haunts. Asheville residents, the reporter wrote, "are particularly taken with a bright, … Read more
• You love to go downtown and marvel at how the city has preserved its rich architectural history. • The name Stewart Coleman sounds familiar. • All cars appear to be sold with a kayak or bike rack (or both) on top. • Someone says "green" and you don’t assume they’re referring to a color. … Read more
Jim Reaves’ saga is a classic American success story. The eldest of eight children born to a sharecropper in rural Horry County, S.C., he’s gone from being the first person in his family to attend college to leading the world’s largest forest-research organization in a field dominated by white men. Leaving his job as director … Read more
