It’s hard not to talk about Electric Toaster & The Battle Axe, the upcoming third release by Asheville’s If You Wannas, without mentioning the work and homemade gear that went into it. “I worked at Moog Music here in town for a few years,” lead vocalist and guitarist Ryan Cox tells Xpress. “I wound up … Read more
It’s hot! But plenty of local chefs are making it easier to bear the heat this summer. Not content with simply making homemade ice cream, local frozen-treat artisans are turning out rather unique flavors this year. Here are just a few: Hop to it! Say what? Zambra now makes some pretty interesting ice cream. “We … Read more
I was a producer at URTV for a year, for the show A Question of Meaning. I greatly valued the opportunity to broadcast ideas to the Asheville area. It fast became clear that URTV was in trouble, and that a lot of the trouble had to do with the director. I haven’t said anything publicly … Read more
DJ Chuck T, who calls himself the “Carolina King” and “The Lord and Savior of Southern Mixtapes,” cannot be accused of lacking confidence. And while his bravado and outspoken nature may ruffle feathers at times, his commitment to his craft as a DJ has led him to be one of the top (some would say … Read more
They say that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. In our thriving local food community, that’s because it’s the time summer squash and other early-season veggies begin joining spring items at tailgate markets. And that’s a big deal for area chefs, including Jeff Miller, proprietor and pit boss of Luella’s Bar-B-Que. “We’re going … Read more
When Randy Shull and Hedy Fischer bought the future home of Pink Dog Creative in March of 2009, Depot Street was a very different place. The flood of industrial buildings turned artists’ studios that had already transformed much of the River Arts District hadn’t yet reached this area, and 372 Depot, part of the massive … Read more
In response to Robert Thatcher's letter in the May 4 Xpress, “Wholly Satisfied with Whole Foods”: In an economy in which there are far fewer jobs than there are people looking for them, it makes little sense to simply tell such people to "get a living-wage job." You might as well tell them to move … Read more
Having a GPS and the luxury of a computer directing you from point A to point B is nice, but sometimes, Bootsy Collins likes to get lost. “We lose our way. We lose the things that made us human in the first place. The things that created the experience in life — we’ve thrown those … Read more
While the heat of summertime sends many folks to the cool tides of the closest ocean, the Brevard Music Center is set to make some (sound)waves of its own during its annual music festival, running Friday, June 24 through Sunday, August 7. This year, renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns to Brevard, in an August 7 … Read more
It appears that our county commissioners could not care less that taxpayers don’t want to go deeper in debt in the worst economy in years. They want seven new offices, plus a larger meeting room and a few other spaces at a total cost of $464,400, not including more furnishings and electronics. The meeting room … Read more
