MARCH 4, 2010 ISSUE
Brewer’s Briefs
A few weeks ago my band played a show at a venerable Charlotte venue called The Evening Muse, located in the city’s miniscule arts district called NoDa. On most nights, the Muse features an early and late show, both of which have two acts on the bill. Needless to say, there’s a ton of music at this place almost every night, which is awesome.
On the way to town, I got a call from a friend saying that in addition to checking out our set, he was thinking about catching the early show headliner—a California-based singer-songwriter named Joe Firstman. Don’t be surprised if Firstman’s name rings a bell. The Charlotte native released his debut album on Atlantic Records a few years back, and until recently, was the leader of the house band on Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC.
Firstman (actually spelled Fuerstman) also used to live three floors down from me during our freshman year at Western Carolina University in 1998-99. I spent most of my waking hours walking the halls playing guitar instead of studying and eventually bumped into the budding musician that winter. Firstman and I ended up hanging out quite a bit that spring semester, drinking beer, picking on his cheap Texarkana acoustic and trying to avoid the incredible boredom that comes with life in Cullowhee.
At the time, Joe had a band called Firstman that played some around North Carolina. I was insanely jealous. Even though the band’s sunny, piano-based pop wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea, I wanted so badly to join the band. I did end up sitting in a few times at shows and parties, playing guitar, singing harmony and becoming convinced that there couldn’t be anything better than being in a band.
Firstman and I both left Cullowhee for good that spring. I took a year off from school and, after a few more months in his band, Joe split for Los Angeles on a Greyhound bus, where against all odds, he made it as a musician.
I bumped into Firstman outside The Evening Muse before the show for the first time since fall 1999. After a few sideways glances, he recognized me and shook my hand. Joe told me that my guitar playing during those days in Cullowhee was a real inspiration to him. I bumbled out some ‘aw shucks’ kind of reply, but I should have told Joe that watching him and his bandmates on stage during that impressionable period was a big inspiration to me. Thanks Joe, and good luck.
This Week…
-Up-and-coming New York City-based outfit Turbine will make their High Country debut this Friday, March 5, at Murphy’s. After being hailed as Artist On The Verge by Relix Magazine, 2009 saw the jam-friendly band perform at Bonnaroo and the 10,000 Lakes Festival. These guys are nasty. Don’t miss this show.
-You’ve just got to love it when you get a band to fill in at the last minute and it’s The Harris Brothers! My good buddy and talented picker and singer Klee Liles was sweating about getting someone to play this Friday, March 5, at Twigs and lo and behold, the amazingly talented Harris Brothers have stepped in to save the day. You should go.
Next Week…
-Thank heavens for 641rpm for bringing live music to town on an off night. Next Monday, March 8, the record store will host Indiana-based quartet Dust From 1000 Years. Churning out slow and raggedly dreamy experimental folk rock, the band is touring all over the country and has already cranked out a handful of independent releases. Turn off your TV and go check them out.
-If you’ve been paying attention during the last couple of years, you’ll notice that Boone blues, folk and ragtime pickers The Lazybirds almost always book their shows at Boone Saloon during breaks from school. I’m fairly certain that this is not an accident. The Lazybirds will return to the Saloon for a little ASU spring break action on Saturday, March 13.
On The Horizon…
-Reggae legends The Wailers will make up their date from last month at Legends on Saturday, April 10, followed by a make-up show by Perpetual Groove on Tuesday, April 20. See, snow doesn’t ruin everything.
-Indie psychedelic rockers Gringo Star will make their long-awaited return to the High Country for a semi-hometown show on Saturday, April 10, at Boone Saloon. Formerly known as A Fir-Ju Well, the critically acclaimed rockers combine elements of ‘60s psychedelic pop with garage and indie rock to great effect.
-Provided that it does, in fact, stop snowing at some point, the High Country Fairgrounds will play host to Thawout Boone, a new music festival featuring several local and regional bands including Zoso, Major Magick, Melissa Reaves, Bafoodus and many more. The festival will take place on Saturday, April 24.
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