2019: The Year of Music

Man, for someone who (likes to) fancy himself a chronicler and promoter of all things North Carolina, somehow it slipped past me that 2019 will be the Year of Music in the Old North State.

*Looks at calendar. Realizes that 2019 is almost halfway over.*

D'OH!

It wasn't until I saw some of my favorites -- like BJ Barham of American Aquarium and the Chatham County Line guys -- tweeting about it last night that I realized this was a thing. Apparently Mandolin Orange had a special gig at the Executive Mansion in celebration of the Year of Music.

“From bluegrass to the blues, from gospel to funk, from beach music to indie and hip hop, North Carolina is the birthplace of many musical styles and iconic performers,” Gov. Cooper said in a press release, ahem, last year. “The Year of Music celebration not only recognizes North Carolina musicians that are now cultural icons but the nearly 25,000 North Carolinians who work in music occupations.”

Even taking away the business of music, songwriting and performing here in N.C. is a BIG deal and should be celebrated, even just for the art of it. Lord knows we have a lot of which to be proud.

Here are a just a few of the music-related posts from this site from over the years:

• Dunn, N.C. and the Hall of Fame connection
• (Also, Let's Get Link Wray into the Rock HOF) 
• Nothin' could be finer
• Epperson preserved the music of the Appalachians
• Doc Watson, the face of N.C.
• A tribute to N.C.'s musical heritage
• Are we losing beach music?

“Music is universal in North Carolina, regardless of where you live in the state,” said Susi H. Hamilton, secretary for the North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. “North Carolinians are the heroes of many musical genres in America, reflecting our rich cultural heritage, our innovative spirit and the collaborative nature of our musical communities.”

American Aquarium works the state toast into one of their songs

Raleigh alt-country band American Aquarium has never shied away from promoting its hometown or home state. (Heck, they give the Avett Brothers a run for their money!) Here are just a few song titles from their catalog ...

• "Reidsville"
• "Cape Fear River"
• "Jacksonville"
• "Clark Avenue"

... just to name a few. They even name-drop Slim's bar in downtown Raleigh.

The band recently wowed audiences at SXSW with tunes from their new album, "Wolves." (The title track even has a chorus inspired by former N.C. State basketball player Julius Hodge.)  The new album even has a song called "The Old North State." (Not to be confused with the official state song, "The Old North State Forever.") The new tune from AA includes the state toast as part of the chorus.

Enjoy this tribute to North Carolina!

Daughtry tops the charts, knocks off the late King of Pop

It's often been remarked how Kurt Cobain and Nirvana knocked Michael Jackson from the top of the Billboard charts with "Nevermind." Well, North Carolina's Daughtry (led by former American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry) can now make that claim as well.

"For the past three weeks in a row," says Entertainment Weekly, "Michael Jackson's 'Number Ones' has been the biggest-selling album in the country.

"Each time, it's been disqualified from Billboard's flagship Billboard 200 chart, along with all Jackson's other releases, due to its age.

"That unusual run of asterisked Billboard 200 chart-toppers is now over. Which artist put an end to Jackson's posthumous flummoxing of the Billboard rules, you ask? The answer is Chris Daughtry, whose 'Leave This Town' bows atop the chart with a very nice 269,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"That's actually a bit of a drop-off from the 304,000 that the first album from American Idol alum Chris Daughtry's band sold when it hit shelves in 2006, but it's more than anyone else could muster in this sales frame -- yes, even Michael.

"And so for the first time in a month, the No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 is actually the No. 1 selling album in the U.S., no tricks, no fooling. ..."

Nothin' could be finer ...

If you grew up in North Carolina (and probably in South Carolina too, I would suspect), then your elementary school's music class probably sung the ditty "Carolina in the Morning" at least once or twice.

The song is one of those tunes like "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" (or even "America The Beautiful" or "This Land is Your Land," for that matter) that we seemed to sing at least once a week in 4th or 5th grade but that I've rarely heard a note of since.

The chorus is one that most people, even non-Carolinians, seem to know: "Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning/No one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her in the morning." But how many people actually know the melody and the words to the rest of it?

Well, here they are, the words at least. (For the melody, here's Al Jolson doing it way back when.) This way, if someone asks you to belt out "Carolina in the Morning," you have no excuse.

(from Wikipedia)

First verse
Wishing is good time wasted,
Still it's a habit they say;
Wishing for sweets I've tasted,
That's all I do all day.
Maybe there's nothing in wishing,
But speaking of wishing I'll say:

Chorus
Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning,
No one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her in the morning.
Where the morning glories
Twine around the door,
Whispering pretty stories
I long to hear once more.
Strolling with my girlie where the dew is pearly early in the morning,
Butterflies all flutter up and kiss each little buttercup at dawning,
If I had Aladdin's lamp for only a day,
I'd make a wish and here's what I'd say:
Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning.

Second verse
Dreaming was meant for nighttime,
I live in dreams all the day;
I know it's not the right time,
But still I dream away.
What could be sweeter than dreaming,
Just dreaming and drifting away.
(Repeat Chorus)

Quick hits: Christmas Jam's charity aspect more important than ever, and country ham making a comeback

Christmas Jam expands to double duty
"The annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam has long been a major force in Asheville, drawing 7,000 or more fans to the Civic Center each year, many who fill local hotels, restaurants and clubs during their stay here," says the Citizen-Times. "It's the signature concert event at the Civic Center, with an international reputation for its strong musical lineup. And it's so far pumped $665,000 into the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, letting the organization build about 12 homes.

"But this year, with the economy in recession, the jam's financial punch could be more important than ever. Grammy-winning guitarist Haynes, an Asheville native, is expanding the all-star jam to two nights, Friday-Saturday at the Civic Center arena. ..."


Disappearing art of the country ham
"Salty. Leathery. The skin dried so hard, it can take a band saw to cut through it. Before cooking, you have to heft it into a sink and scrub off the mold. This is not most people's definition of food. But in the Carolinas, it's a good description of one of our most important contributions to the American food story: Slow-cured country ham," says the Charlotte Observer.

"It once kept people in this part of the world alive through tough winters. It added flavor and protein to meager plates of grits and greens. It was so prized, colonists made scarce cash by shipping it to Europe for the gentry.

"Today, slow-cured country ham is not much more than a lingering taste of Carolinas history. In supermarkets, you usually find mass-produced versions that use climate controls to hurry the process. ..."

Revisit the golden days of N.C. rock with Comboland Radio

Been humming an old dBs song but can't think of where to hear it? Or perhaps you've been discussing how great the Pressure Boys were and waxing nostalgiac? Or maybe you just really are in the mood for some Arrogance.

Comboland Radio is the place for you.

"Comboland" was a phrase used to describe the music "coming out of the Carolinas in the middle ‘80’s,"writes Comboland creator Michael Smith on his website. "There were so many great bands that should have got the big record deal and lots of radio airplay. I can’t do much about those big record deals but with Comboland Radio I can give those artists and the ones that followed an entire radio station! Here it is…. Comboland Radio! All day every day you can listen to this great music, much of it out of print and unavailable anywhere else!!"

Comboland offers R.E.M., The Connells, Dillon Fence, Corrosion of Conformity, Cry of Love, Mitch Easter, Johnny Quest and so many more.

"The idea to create Comboland is an example of something good coming from something bad," wrote Metro Magazine.

“The genesis of the idea is the death of David Enloe,” Smith explained during our phone chat. “He was the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of The Fabulous Knobs, along with Terry Anderson, Debra DeMilo and Jack Cornell. David and Terry met, I think, in junior high school. Terry may correct me on this, but I do know they’d been together for a long, long time. I didn’t know them well back in the day. I knew them a little. I did a lot of road case pushing for local bands so I could go see them without paying a cover.

Enloe passed away in November 2007. David Menconi wrote a fine obituary for Enloe, which is available online: www.newsobserver.com/105/story/796627.html. There’s also a great tribute to Enloe on MySpace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index .cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid
=288585688.

Smith was not aware of Enloe’s illness, however, so when the news of his death reached him, it set him to thinking.

“When I heard about David’s passing, I moped around for a while thinking how horrible it was, and then I went to the storage facility where I keep all my vinyl records and packed up all my Triangle-area bands and brought it home,” he recalled. “I started listening to it, just sort of reminiscing, and it hit me that this stuff was still really good. It was a shame that these bands didn’t make it big-time.

“I decided it was time to start digitizing all this music,” he said. “Once I’d digitized it, then I had to play it around the house a little bit, so I made the play list and stuck it in Winamp and played it through the stereo system. I have a little program that will actually seg the songs, similar to what you have on a radio station. “Well, the songs sounded great, so I thought I’d stick in some newer stuff by Don Dixon. Then I downloaded some newer stuff and started experimenting. All this music sounded really good together, so I decided to make a radio station out of it.”

(CD images from Comboland's website)

Lineups announced for Christmas Jam

You have to hand it to Western North Carolina: it has two of the better and longer-running concert events in America. A lot of people know of Wilkesboro's MerleFest, but perhaps equally impressive is Warren Haynes' annual Christmas Jam in Asheville.

Haynes has mentioned of late that he really wanted to step up the talent for this year's Jam, which will take place Dec. 12-13 at the Asheville Civic Center.

Um, I think he did.

"The Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt and Steve Earle are among the acts playing at this year's Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, event organizers announced," says the Citizen-Times.

But that's not all.

"Also booked are Joan Osborne, Johnny Winter, J.J. Grey, the Del McCoury Band, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Ruthie Foster, a Michael Franti acoustic show featuring Jay Bowman, Col. Bruce Hampton, Robert Kearns, Kevn Kinney, Eric Krasno and Mickey Raphael. More performers will be announced."

The Jam is a two-night affair this year, with an "invitation-only pre-jam on Dec. 11 at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue."

It is Asheville's single-biggest entertainment event of the year and has raised more than $650,000 for Habitat for Humanity, which works to build affordable housing.

“Warren promised that this year's jam would be the biggest yet, and it looks pretty good to me,” said Rick Rice, announcer at Asheville's Rock 104 radio station. “I think there are three or four acts there that could be headliners.”

Quick hits: Musical bonanza

Pickler's latest will separate her from the country-music pack
"It's hard not to like Albemarle's Kellie Pickler, especially if you're from the Carolinas," says the Charlotte Observer.

"Pickler's down-home charm, unapologetic honesty and humor has helped the former 'American Idol' finalist establish herself as one of country music's rising young female stars. She picked up three CMT Music Awards earlier this year; she'll compete for New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 12; and her self-titled sophomore album hit stores Tuesday.

"Having recorded her gold-selling debut 'Small Town Girl' while touring with “American Idol,” Pickler took a larger role in crafting her follow-up: She co-wrote half the disc's tracks. ..."

North Carolina Music Hall of Fame ... in Kannapolis?
"What do Earl Scruggs, Thelonious Monk, and Shirley Caesar have in common? They are all Grammy Award Winning Musicians from the state of North Carolina. Earl Scruggs (Shelby), Thelonious Monk (Rocky Mount), along with fellow North Carolinians, John Coltrane (Hamlet) and Doc Watson (Deep Gap) have been honored with the Grammy lifetime achievement award. Shirley Caesar (Durham) has received 11 Grammy awards and 7 Dove Awards throughout her career as a gospel singer. In fact North Carolina has produced some of the finest musicians in the modern world, but surprisingly, very few people are aware of North Carolina’s rich musical heritage.

"North Carolinians have helped shape every category of the music world, from country to rap, indie to pop, and from big band to jug band," writes New Raleigh. "Nina Simone (Tryon), Tori Amos (Newton), Charlie Daniels (Wilmington), George Clinton (Kannapolis), and of course Andy Griffith (Mount Airy), all have received numerous awards for their various contributions to the field, yet where would a person go to be explore this history?

"Many people might believe that the young James Taylor was baptized in the ol’ well at UNC on the day of his birth, although he was actually born in Boston. Both he and Tift Merrit were born outside the state, but graduated from the University of North Carolina.

"But nowhere in the entire state are all of these musicians and their achievements showcased. Why doesn’t North Carolina have a Music History Museum? Also, why is North Carolina creating the NC Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis? ..."

Dunn-born DMB member Moore dies unexpectedly

In sad news, Dave Matthews Band saxophonist LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the band, died unexpectedly on Tuesday from complications stemming from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident, the band's publicist told the media.

"Moore was taken to Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and had been rehabilitating at his L.A. home after the June 30 accident at his farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia."

I remember hearing/reading years ago that Moore was originally from North Carolina. I had no idea that he was actually born in my hometown of Dunn, N.C. Which means he can be added to the wonderfully eclectic mix of "I had no idea _____ was from Dunn!" list which includes "Father of the Airborne" William C. Lee and guitar great Link Wray, the Father of the Power Chord. (Also of note, I'll add, is that Jack Kerouak wrote about his brief hot dog-filled visit to Dunn in On The Road.)

Folk musician Darling passes away in Chapel Hill

"Erik Darling, the reedy-voiced guitarist and banjo player who deftly stepped in when Pete Seeger left the pioneering folk music group The Weavers, has died after battling lymphoma," said the Associated Press. "He was 74."

Darling passed away in Chapel Hill on August 3.

The AP states that Darling was known for his hit "Walk Right In," as well as for his arrangement of the Southern crime ballad "Tom Dooley" -- which was based on the real-life story of Tom Dula. (Dula was a former Civil War soldier who was tried, convicted, and hanged in Statesville for the murder of his fiancée, Laura Foster. The trial and hanging received national publicity, and Dula became a folk legend. According to Wikipedia, there "was considerable controversy around his conviction and execution. In subsequent years, a folk song was written (entitled 'Tom Dooley,' based on the pronunciation in the local dialect), and many oral traditions were passed down, regarding the sensational occurrences surrounding the murder of Foster, and Dula's subsequent execution." Darling's arrangement would go on to be a hit for The Kingston Trio. That song topped the charts in 1958.)

Darling was also a member of the Tarriers, "known for its version of 'The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)' — the signature tune of Harry Belafonte."

He replaced venerable folks icon Seeger in the Weavers in the late 1950s, a few years after the band was blacklisted for its political views.

Weavers member Fred Hellerman told the AP that Darling moved to Chapel Hill a couple of years ago to be near Willard Svanoe, a fellow member of The Rooftop Singers, the band with which he recorded 'Walk Right In,' a No. 1 hit for Vanguard Records in 1963.

"He was an absolutely logical person to be brought in" after Seeger's departure, Hellerman said. "Of the next generation of Weavers, I mean he was so outstanding that it was hard then or even now to imagine who else we could have brought in other than Erik."

Quick hits: Catawba River is the most endangered and jazz legend loved Charlotte

(Sorry for all the 'Quick hits' of late. Just too much going on.)

Catawba River called 'most endangered'
"The Catawba River, beset by growing water demand, drought and what critics say are failed policies to protect it, is the nation's most endangered river, an environmental group says.

"American Rivers, a Washington-based advocacy group that has turned out most-endangered lists since 1986, put the Catawba at the top of its 2008 list to be released today," according to the News & Observer.

"The group accused Carolinas decision-makers of 'sucking their rivers dry' to continue development as a historic drought lingers over the Catawba basin. Neither state, it said, has a long-term water plan to ensure the river survives future growth.

"But public officials say the Catawba, the subject of detailed studies and the beneficiary of new conservation efforts, has been far from ignored.

"The amount of water pulled from the Catawba is projected to more than double over the next 50 years, one of those studies shows. Charlotte's chief water supply, Mountain Island Lake, could struggle to meet demand during a severe drought by 2048. ..."

Music legend held Charlotte close to his heart
"When George Butler was a boy, sports often stood in the way of his piano lessons. It got him into trouble only once: During a piano recital, he forgot the notes to a Scarlatti sonata, and launched into some boogie-woogie.

"What a scolding he got from his parents and teacher," writes the Charlotte Observer.

"As it turns out, the Charlotte native was playing the right music.

"He became a legendary record producer, the brains behind the careers of such jazz greats as Harry Connick Jr., Earl Klugh, Terence Blanchard and the Marsalis brothers, Wynton and Branford.

"On April 9, George Butler Jr., who grew up on Charlotte's Beatties Ford Road, died in a California hospital after a long illness with Alzheimer's disease. He was 76. ..."

Marsalis, N.C. Symphony to record together

It was announced on Tuesday that the N.C. Symphony and saxophonist (and Durham resident) Branford Marsalis will go "into the studio" together, so to speak.

Marsalis will be featured on the first of two CDs the orchestra will release, said the News & Observer.

"The second disc, as previously announced, will be recorded with young acclaimed pianist Yevgeny Sudbin, who is in town for concerts with the orchestra this weekend. The recordings will begin next week in closed sessions with the artists at Meymandi Concert Hall," said the paper.

The Marsalis disc, which is expected to be released in about a year, will feature American composers, including world-premiere recordings of three works. Among them will be “Escapades” by John Williams, who re-crafted the piece for Marsalis from music he wrote for the Steven Spielberg film “Catch Me If You Can.”

Marsalis performed “Escapades” in his first appearance with the orchestra in February 2006. At the time, Marsalis told The News & Observer that he was increasingly branching out from his jazz career into symphonic music as a challenge to his skills.

The saxophonist, who has lived in Durham for several years, performed again with the orchestra last year, and in June he joined the symphony’s board of trustees. He recorded classical albums in 1986 and 2001.

The Sudbin CD is expected to be released in two years. Russian-born Sudbin, 28, will record piano concertos by Russian composers. The Daily Telegraph of London has called Sudbin “potentially one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century.” He has an exclusive recording contract with BIS Records, which will produce these two discs. ...

Dunn, N.C., and the Rock Hall of Fame connection

I knew my hometown of Dunn, N.C., was famous for a couple of reasons. One was native son General William C. Lee, the "Father of the Airborne." (We even have a yearly celebration to honor this "other" General Lee.)

I was somewhat surprised years later to realize that Jack Kerouac name-dropped Dunn in "On The Road."

But I was floored when I found out -- years after I had left the city -- that one of the founding fathers of rock and roll was a Dunn native. Link Wray, the man responsible for the power chord, is from my hometown. Wow.

The power chord, for better or worse, revolutionized rock music. And while Wray is not in the Rock Hall of Fame, his surf music contemporaries The Ventures were just announced as new inductees. The Ventures even covered some Wray songs back in the day.

It should also be noted that the Rock Hall of Fame website has a list of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.

Making the list? "Rumble," by Dunn's own Link Wray.

Here's to you, Mr. Wray.

Quick hits: Grammy nominations for memorable N.C. music and grants for memorable N.C. vistas

Grammy nominees include some N.C. faces
" ...North Carolina 'American Idol' alumnus Chris Daughtry heads up a large group of nominees with four each, a pack that includes Akon, Bruce Springsteen and Feist," writes the News & Observer's David Menconi. "Daughtry's nominations include a nod for best rock album, but he was snubbed in the best-new-artist category.

"Also on the North Carolina 'American Idol' tip, High Point's Fantasia picked up a nod for best contemporary R&B album.

"Durham-based Merge Records earned its second-ever nomination, for Arcade Fire for best alternative album. Former Chapel Hill resident James Taylor's 'At Christmas' picked up a nod for best traditional pop vocal album. ..."

Grant will help protect scenic vistas
"There's good news on the horizon for motorists who like to take the long way occasionally, just to enjoy the gorgeous Tar Heel landscape," writes the Greensboro News & Record.

"The Conservation Trust of North Carolina recently was awarded a grant of $252,000 from federal highway officials for coordinating efforts to preserve scenic vistas along such routes as the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway and Grassy Island Crossing.

"The statewide conservation group and nine local land trusts will use the money from the Federal Highway Administration to 'identify, map and prioritize key parcels' along 560 miles of scenic byways. ..."

A big night for Daughtry

Chris Daughtry had quite the night on Sunday at the American Music Awards. The McLeansville native earned pop/rock album of year (for "Daughtry"), breakthrough artist of the year and adult contemporary artist of the year honors.

"Wow," Daughtry he said. "I can't believe we're in the category with Justin Timberlake and Linkin Park. It's pretty awesome."

Now in its 35th year, the American Music Awards honor nominees based on national sales and radio play.

For the first time in show history, winners were chosen by public votes cast online.

Quick hits: Bluegrass pioneer honored, as is Biltmore's Inn

Bluegrass great low-key about N.C. Heritage Award
"George Shuffler is the first to admit he doesn't move as fast as he used to. But he still gets around his farm pretty well, even though he has to lean on a cane," writes our good friend David Menconi of the News & Observer.

" 'My hips are just about wore out,' Shuffler says, showing a visitor around the farm. He has lived on this Burke County spread 180 miles west of Raleigh for all of his 82 years -- except for the decades he spent on the road playing guitar behind the Stanley Brothers, Don Reno and other legends of bluegrass. ...

"Standing in the bright autumn sunshine, lamenting a farmer's hardships, Shuffler could be any other old-timer. For long stretches of his life, that's who he has been. A visitor would likely never guess that Shuffler is one of the most influential bluegrass guitarists to ever hoist a pick.

"That will be discussed at some length today in Raleigh, where Shuffler will be feted with an N.C. Heritage Award.

"He'll attend the ceremony, and he'll probably enjoy it. But like another famous Tar Heel guitarist, Doc Watson, Shuffler isn't entirely comfortable with people making a fuss. ..."

The Inn on Biltmore Estate one of the Top 10 resorts for parents & kids
The readers of Travel + Leisure have voted for the Top Resorts for Parents & Kids. Making the list - which includes properties from the U.S., excluding the states Hawaii and Florida -- is Asheville's Inn on Biltmore Estate.

Writes the publication: "Some grounds! 8,000 acres of field and stream surround George Vanderbilt's 1895 Biltmore mansion. Kid magnet: the on-site River Bend Farm, which re-creates rural life in the 1890's."

Daughtry big at the AMAs

McLeansville native Chris Daughtry's eponymous band is up for three awards at the upcoming American Music Awards.

"That puts Daughtry in a four-way tie with Beyonce Knowles, Justin Timberlake and Linkin Park," writes the Associated Press.

Daughtry is slated to perform at the show.

Nominees were initially chosen based on record sales. Ballots were then sent to a national sampling of 15,000 people, and the top three vote-getters in each category became nominees. For the first time, members of the public will be able to vote for nominated artists online. Daughtry was nominated in three categories:

ALBUM: The self-named album "Daughtry" will compete with "Minutes To Midnight" by Linkin Park and "FutureSex/LoveSounds" by Justin Timberlake.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY: Daughtry faces Norah Jones and John Mayer.

NEW ARTIST: Daughtry is up against Plain White T's and Robin Thicke.

One more N.C. Emmy

Jaime Pressly ain't the only Tar Heel to win an Emmy recently.

Enfield's Katreese Barnes, co-composer of last year's "Saturday Night Live" Justin Timberlake sensation, "D--- in a Box," recently won a Creative Arts award.

"Thanks to her high-profile success, Barnes has recently been profiled in the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and People magazine, in which she talked about her breast cancer surgery in 2000. She has been cancer-free since 2002 -- thanks, she says, to alternative therapies," writes the News & Observer's Danny Hooley.

"Barnes -- who writes music for all of the show's song spoofs, including the 'Deep House Dish' songs -- says Timberlake was presented with a few other song concepts during a week of rehearsals, but didn't like any of them until he heard the slow pop-funk that would become 'Box' on Thursday. ...

"Barnes, now in her 30s, grew up all over the United States as the daughter of an Army man before her family settled in Enfield, just north of Rocky Mount, when she was a teenager.
Katreese was awarded a music scholarship, and she finished her high school education at the N.C. School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. ..."

Her parents still reside in Halifax County.

Bad boy (and Jax native) Adams tries to restore his good name

Singer/songwriter Ryan Adams -- a native of Jacksonville and a guy who honed his musical skills in Raleigh -- has no trouble making music. Since 2000, he has released nine albums, though this Associated Press article says it's more like 15. Adams' problem is that he doesn't appear to know how to "trim down" his work.


".. I really did believe in what I was doing," Adams told the AP. "I'm glad that the work is there and it will speak for itself later."

Adams, 32, is clear-eyed and determined these days. The North Carolina native, who played in the band Whiskeytown during the 1990s before turning solo, lives with his girlfriend in New York. He has been sober for more than a year after kicking a prodigious drug and alcohol problem, although he resists the easy assumption that sobriety has improved his art.

As a singer and songwriter, he's capable of work that is extraordinarily beautiful when you least expect it. Listen, for example, to "This House is Not for Sale," where he vividly captures the desperation of a man trying to stop his estranged lover from taking a final step away by reminding her of the good memories in the floorboards.

The gorgeous "When the Stars Go Blue" caught the attention of Tim McGraw, who recorded it and turned it into a hit single.

Stephen King even wrote the press release accompanying "Easy Tiger." "I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young," he wrote. "But I won't say he isn't, either."

Yet the sheer volume of his output means listeners need to sift through a lot of less remarkable songs to find the special moments, and many simply don't have the patience. He released three albums in 2005 alone, and one of them had two discs.

The industry shorthand: Adams lacks an internal editor and anyone strong enough to do it for him. ...

Adams goes on to say that he believes he's punished for refusing to adhere to an industry standard where artists spend a longer time polishing fewer songs, and new releases generally come every two or three years. Business usually dictates this schedule, to give record companies time to market the music.

"I felt I had, if not a gift, some kind of a drive that I couldn't explain that led me to make music at a good rate and I could focus on it for eight or 10 hours a day," he told AP.

Orange Peel the center of rock world for 9 nights

It's being described as the biggest rock event to hit Asheville since Elvis played there in 1975, but in all honesty, it's even bigger than that.

The reunited Smashing Pumpkins' decision to do nine shows at the Orange Peel will make the "Paris of the South" the center of the rock world beginning Saturday.

"All 8,478 tickets sold in just minutes, in a burst of pure Pumpkins power that crashed an online ticketing service and frustrated many fans who were left empty-handed. But 20 percent of the tickets went to buyers in Asheville, and half were sold in North Carolina. Other buyers are traveling from as far as Canada, the Northeast and Midwest to see the band here.

"The Pumpkins are doing only a handful of U.S. shows, including a similar run at the legendary Fillmore auditorium in San Francisco and a few major American festivals," writes the Asheville Citizen-Times. 'This is huge for us,' said Karen Ramshaw of Public Interest Projects, which owns and operates The Orange Peel."

“It’s an automatic home run for Asheville,” said Mike Rangel, co-owner of the Asheville Brewing Co. brewpub and restaurant, just a few blocks from The Orange Peel. “It puts us up there with the big boys.”’ ...

Simply put, the band requested The Orange Peel, said music promoter Ashley Capps, of Knoxville, Tenn. ...

“We started the discussions two or three months ago,” he said. “They were already interested in The Orange Peel at that point. It’s testimony to The Orange Peel, and to the Asheville community. The region has been so supportive of live music. Asheville is such a cool town.”

While the band is not doing interviews, Capps believes that the Pumpkins were tuned in to Asheville. “From what I understand, they are excited about spending a couple of weeks” here, he said.

Read the rest of the article here.