Mar/100
Event : The Melanaster Band with Mobley and If You Wannas! 03.13.10 Asheville NC
Saturday, March 13th, join The Melanaster Band, If You Wannas, and Austin-based rockers Mobley for what promises to be an unforgettable night of killer music. I’ll let these bands speak for themselves (press below), but suffice to say we’re very excited to be sharing the stage with these two crews.
Essential info : Club 828 at 64 N Carter St, 9PM | $8. Facebook Event.
Special note : Mobley features a remarkably creative interactive music video on their website. Check it out!
MOBLEY
Originally founded in North Carolina by lead singer and songwriter Anthony Watkins II and later joined by bassist Tim Shelburne Jr., Mobley took its current shape during the summer of 2008. A cross-country move and 7 months of practice and preparation later, they’re hard at work trying to prove themselves as one of Austin’s most promising young bands.The songs draw from a wealth of influences, often tied together with only as much thread as is necessary for coherence. What results is a repetoire that, by virtue of its diversity, truly transports the listener. Nowhere is this fact more clear than when you see the band live. It’s a set comprised of contrasting moods and moments: an anthemic blitz of guitars and wired synths; a falsetto croon slinking out over drum-bass groove straight out of ‘73; a music box lullaby bursting into chamber pop or keening alt-country or glitzy dance rock. All of these sounds are complimented by a stunning video/light component and performed by musicians that command the stage with a presence that belies their youth and a vigor that proves it.
Infectiously energetic, meticulous in their passion, and unmistakably honest, Mobley has crafted a distinctive brand of indie rock that is smart, catchy, and melodic. Give them a listen… you’re likely to agree.
IF YOU WANNAS
When listening to the If You Wannas, the most immediately noticeable thing isn’t what they do well, but how they manage to click all cylinders at once. This band is a tight rock ‘n’ roll machine which takes its nods from both Fugazi and My Morning Jacket, the rhythm section of Trevor Stoia and Jacob Baumann create a level of tension and terseness that simultaneously grates against and gels with guitarists Ryan Cox and Gavin Conner’s laconic country infused strum and whine. It’s a cacophony that you can sing and dance along with, and it’s all by design.“We go for hooks,” says Cox. “I try to write what I would want to listen to, and that’s a three-minute-long song. We want people to go home and remember something on the way home.”
Feb/100
Review : Melanaster Band @ the Emerald Lounge
A lovely review of the Melanaster Band’s September show at the Emerald Lounge appears in Lydia See’s blog. Check out the review, sure, but stick around for her excellent photography and musings on the Asheville music scene. PS she also has a brand-new photojournal here.
Dec/090
Melanaster Records’ YouTube Channel Is Now Live
Subscribe to the new Melanaster Records YouTube channel! Two videos, more on the way.
Sep/090
Thank You!
The Prefuse 73 show and the Melanaster Band’s debut were rolling successes, thanks to gracious fans, great musicians, and the Asheville music scene. As the dust settles, there will be recordings, photos, and video from both shows posted to the blog. See you soon!
Sep/090
Last Chance To Download Melanaster For Free
As part of the transition into the new phase of the Melanaster project, I am retracting the free download of the album more than year after it was made available online.
Here’s your last chance to download the album for free (well, at least officially):
Sep/091
Melanaster Band Debut in Asheville
It’s official : the Melanaster Band’s first show will be Thursday, September 24th at the Emerald Lounge in Asheville.
The lineup includes Marley Carroll (vocals, keyboards), Billy Cardine (dobro, samples), Ryan Lassiter (drums), Barrett Smith (guitar), Jake Wolf (bass).
Expect to hear songs from Melanaster as well as brand-new material developed in collaboration with these incredible musicians. Check out the blog’s downloads section to preview / buy the album.
The band will be supported by Asheville electroacoustic luminaries Sonmi Suite; show starts at 10PM, $7 [map].
Sep/090
Next Two Wednesdays : DJ Set at the Rankin Vault
Beginning tomorrow, Marley will be holding down a two-week residency on Wednesdays at The Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge in Asheville. 9PM on, no cover, drink specials.
Aug/091
Event : Prefuse 73 + Marley Carroll in Asheville
Friday, September 18 2009 at 8PM! Physical tickets available at Hunk Clothing and Honeypot, online tickets available at Harvest Records and Brown Paper Tickets.
For the uninitiated, Prefuse 73 (Scott Herron) is the pioneer of a chopped-up style of instrumental hip-hop commonly referred to as “glitch-hop,” although I prefer “glitchop” (rhymes with ketchup). I bought his debut album Vocal Studies and Uprock Narratives on vinyl in 2001, only a few months after I started DJing. It was a revelation. His work has had an immeasurable effect on my own compositions and informs my current style of live loop and glitch remixing. I am happy to be sharing the stage with him.









