Still Drivin' N' Crushin' It

Opened up a set last night for the legendary rockers Drivin' N' Cryin' in Asheville, N.C. Packed house up at the Grey Eagle. Fantastic venue with great food and better people. The owner's a Greenville native that's done well for himself just up the mountain. And, of course, Asheville fans are as good as they come.

God, Drivin' N' Cryin' is still crushing it. And hard. Rolling Stone Magazine put it best. Better than I can: "Crunching hard rock is the drivin' part, brittle countryish balladry the cryin', with the two linked by a heavy dose of Led Zeppelinphilia. If Paul Westerberg had grown up worshiping Angus Young instead of Alex Chilton, the Replacements might sound something like this Atlanta band."

I knew all about the "Cryin,'" but the "Drivin'" caught me by surprise. (Here's a taste of the "Cryin,'" "Just Outside of Heaven, About a Good Country Mile" recorded at Jack of the Wood during Warren Haynes' 2009 Christmas Jam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHw-Zw3AIBU)

You genuinely don't know the true sound of a band until you see them live. How I haven't heard 'em until now's beyond me. But when you play as many dates as I do, guess it's kinda hard to see shows. You can watch Youtube videos and listen to DnC recordings all day long, but man, you swagger through the doors of a mid-sized venue like The Grey Eagle, and let Kevn (and yep, it is spelled "Kevn") Kinney crank his three booming amps past the breakers, makes it feel like your teeth are bleeding through. The Eagle's slinging $1 pairs of earplugs at the door, but I don't think many are buying. Gotta soak it in. After DnC's soundcheck, I had to crank my tube-driven Fender Deluxe up to 7 just to keep up. I hardly ever get to push her a past 4 or 5.

Man, that live experience. That's what Greenville's lacking. The local Music Scene could take some pointers from Asheville. Everytime I play that town, I'm slinging CDs and grappling with serious music lovers eager for the next big show. They generally appreciate the tuneage out that way, and they understand the importance of that live experience.

The notion of headquartering The Music in Asheville has crossed my mind countless times. It’s a Music Town. An Artist’s Den. I’m completely comfortable with the once-peculiar lifestyles that have become the norm around town, and I’ve never been bothered much by the stench of patchouli oil. I don’t think there are two territories in closer proximity than Greenville and Asheville that have such enduring and differing viewpoints. Maybe Israel and Palestine. Then that makes Spartanburg, what, Jerusalem? But due to vicious, inclement weather this past winter, I had three shows that were canceled in Asheville. If I can’t make it in, Lord knows I’ll never be able to make it out. So alas, I must ride it out here in the pulsating heart of the Bible Belt.

But fortunately, it was all documented for a series of free DVDs by a cat named "The King." Should be out in a month, so I'll make sure to show you what you missed. It won't be the same, but, hey, maybe it'll get you out to a show sometime. Drivin' N' Cryin,' or someone else...