Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 28, 2008 issue
The Undisputed Kings of Dirty-Tonk
Asheville’s The Trainwreks Play Murphy’s March 7
Story by David Brewer
For bands, the concept of inventing a new genre certainly has it advantages. If you’re the only band that plays your particular style of music, people have no choice but to hail you as the best band in that category. And everyone wants to be the best at what they do.
Unfortunately, the routine subdivision of American roots music into a seemingly endless series of nondescript subgenres does little to put a fine point on the bands that populate them.
But don’t tell that to eclectic Asheville sextet The Trainwreks, the self-proclaimed masters of a genre they lovingly refer to as “dirty-tonk.” Combining equal parts Bob wills, Buck Owens, Hank Williams and Django Reinhardt with a helping of rock and roll, The Trainwreks’ pedigree may look strange on paper, but it sounds just right through the speakers.
On Friday, March 7, the band will perform at Murphy’s. The show will start at 10:30 p.m.
According to acoustic guitarist and vocalist Micah Fishman, the band initially formed three years ago as a trio with what he describes as a “total punk rock, train-riding hobo kind of guy” and a bassist, playing mostly covers in the outlaw country style. Before long, however, the pair split for Portland, leaving Fishman to start fresh.
Living with members of North Carolina bluegrass standouts the Steep Canyon Rangers, Fishman began to pick around with guitarist Ram Mandelkorn. The pair soon picked up a gig at Asheville pub Hannah Flannigan’s, opening the next chapter on The Trainwreks, although not without incident. According to Fishman, Mandelkorn accidentally busted the back window out of his car and the music they played that evening was less than refined.
“It was a train wreck, that’s for sure,” said Fishman.
Nevertheless, the new and musically adventurous incarnation of The Trainwreks was up and running. The band soon added more members and now consists of Matt Smith on peddle steel guitar and vocals, Lindsey Liden on bass, Jacob Bauman on drums and Ben Riva on fiddle and mandolin. Before long, the stripped-down sound had given way to jazzier workouts courtesy of the band’s instrumental prowess and flexibility.
“I’d say that we were more like an outlaw country band back then and then we evolved into a more technically proficient outfit,” said Fishman.
Songs such as the band’s greasy, guitar groove-laden “Swamp Junkie” find are right at home alongside the swing-heavy “Slippery Pete” and Django-influenced “Dinah.” The band still gets plenty of kicks with countrified romps such as the rollicking “Good Man.” All of the songs give members plenty of room to stretch out and show off some hot licks in the process.
To the band’s total surprise but immense delight, Asheville’s Mountain Express named The Trainwreks the #1 alt. country band of 2007. Fishman, who received the call while on a rooftop helping a friend, said the honor has certainly aided in making a name for the band in their hometown.
In April, The Trainwreks will release Ready To Die: The Kings of Dirty-Tonk. Recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studios, the disc is the band’s first with the current lineup and, according to Fishman, easily their best to date.
With shows booked all over North Carolina and plans to tour nationally in the works and a new van serving as their locomotive, The Trainwreks are plowing all their energies into making great music that will likely appeal to plenty of people beyond the Buncombe Country lines.
“If our dreams came true, we’d all be on the road doing it for a living,” said Fishman. “I think we’re on our way.”
For more info on the band, click to www.myspace.com/thetrainwreks.
Want To Go?
Date: Friday, March 7
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Location: Murphy’s
Cost: $5