Insert Gangsta-Rap Reference Here
Tired of hearing about new albums by local bands that feature an all-star group of Asheville musicians? Tough, ‘cause I’ve got one more for ya. Folky, jazzy “hipster swing” group Jen and the Juice appear to be nearly ready to release their latest recording, the five-song EP Fruits. The album is a follow-up to their 2006 release Meet the Hooligans of Bohemia (which placed at a rather respectable seventh place in last year’s WNCW’s Regional Top 20 list), and should be out by early summer. Fruits also sees Jen Greer and company joined by noted local performers such as Stephanie Morgan and Chuck Lichtenberger (Stephanie’s Id), Woody Wood (Hollywood Red and Custard Pie), Billy Constable, “Fiddle Dave,” Bill Cardine, Valorie Miller and Ryan Cox. Fruits was recorded at the increasingly notable local music studio Echo Mountain, which means the actual quality of the album has no reason not to be top-notch. Learn more at jenandthejuice.com
Welcome To The No-Sympathy House
Back in 1994, the absurdly influential author Kurt Vonnegut visited Asheville, giving a lecture at Jubilee! to benefit the local Writers’ Workshop. Strangely enough, I was there, working as a volunteer and providing what can only be laughingly referred to as “security.” (I was hardly an intimidating 16-year-old.) I can say with full conviction that Vonnegut’s speech was a hit, and that everyone seemed utterly charmed by the man. I can also wholeheartedly recount that Vonnegut was an utter bastard to me. Genius, yes, but he was also a raging, egotistical jerk. So I can’t say I was particularly saddened when I heard about his death. And thus it is with very mixed feelings that I report some interesting news from the Writers’ Workshop: Video recordings of Vonnegut’s Asheville appearance and Q&A are now available for purchase, as are a limited number of “commemorative T-shirts,” with funds benefiting the Workshop. Each is available for $19.25, plus $5.25 shipping. For more information, visit twwoa.org
