Studio B

The California-based quartet DAWES has quickly made a name for themselves with their great harmonies and songwriting.  With roots in the great Laurel Canyon sound of Gram Parsons, David Crosby, and others, bandmates Taylor Goldsmith, Griffin Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber and Tay Strathairn join us in Studio B for performance and talk about Middle Brother, Robbie Robertson, and of course their own great releases. 

A truly independent-minded artist when it comes to his songwriting, grass-roots promotion, and life path, Joe Pug really caught our attention a few years ago among the numerous other talented "unknowns" out there.  “Unless your surname is Dylan, Waits, Ritter or Prine, you could face-palm yourself to death trying to pen songs half as inspired as the 10 tracks on Joe Pug’s debut full-length.” (Paste Magazine) 

Made up of members from Morganton, Moravian Falls, Todd, & Wilkesboro, The ToneBlazers truly represent the Foothills region of NC, with their unique blend of bluegrass and Americana styles.  With a collective work history that also includes playing with The Country Gentlemen, The Kruger Brothers, running a recording studio, & teaching high school music classes, some interesting stories are sure to be shared during their first live session.

We've really enjoyed following Asheville's Jonathan Scales since he formed his Fourchestra in '07.  This ain't your cruise ship's steel pan sound: picture Bela Fleck, Thelonious Monk, or maybe even Mozart on the Caribbean instruments, with a great 3-piece band following his lead.  They play Bristol, Asheville, Charlotte, & Brevard this month.  

Whether jamming with Zero, Bruce Hornsby, The Other Ones, Rhythm Devils, Ratdog, Phil & Friends, or with his own band, guitarist Steve Kimock dials it in whenever he's on stage.  His latest tour includes giants Bernie Worrell, Andy Hess, and Wally Ingram among others backing him up.  They play Asheville's Grey Eagle Wednesday night, and Kimock joins us in Studio B that afternoon with, at the very least, his guitar.