22 minute read
Railroad Earth to play Orange Peel
RUNNIN’ WILD
A conversation with Railroad Earth
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
In the realm of string and jam music, few acts are as intricately varied as Railroad Earth. Recently crossing over the 20-year mark together, the ensemble is a rich, vibrant blend of bluegrass, roots and folk music, all swirling around a multifaceted penchant for deep improvisation within a live performance.
The group is a meandering, unrelenting entity, this sort of band of melodic pirates rolling along the high seas of the music industry, never once pulling into a safe harbor amid the unknown waters of its own ever-evolving intent.
The true fire and grit of Railroad Earth resides in its whirlwind concerts, this communal setting of gratitude and possibility amid the ancient act of songbird voices and acoustic instruments radiating out hope, love and magic into the endless universe.
And just before the pandemic and eventual shutdown in March 2020, The Smoky Mountain News sat down with violinist Tim Carbone and mandolinist John Skehan backstage at The Orange Peel in Asheville. The interview hasn’t seen the light of day, until now.
Tim Carbone: Well, musically, Andy was most exquisite Swiss army knife that you could ever hope to have. A diamond-studded Swiss army knife. Whatever blade you took out, it was a really sharp blade and it worked great.
So, if he’s playing dobro, he played the right part. Banjo, he played the right part. Guitar. Saxophone. Flute. Penny whistle. Pretty much, you name it, he took it out and he had a signature sound on that instrument that was immediately identifiable as him — and we’ve lost that.
It’s kind of like the musical glue that you weren’t sure you even needed. But then, if you took it away, the house of cards would be in danger of falling.
SMN: With the band approaching 20 years together, what are some of the things that stick out from those early days?
TC: Well, I do remember something about having eight people in a hotel room, in a van all around the country, memorizing every square inch of Interstate 80 from New York to California. [Laughs].
John Skehan: Four people, two on the floor, two in beds. Two hotel rooms night after night, sneaking in those airbeds and pillows by the front desk. There was certainly a feeling then of not having any idea that we would get to where we are now, or even where we got to a few years ago. It really felt like kind of a lark, because we hadn’t really planned it. Just hop in the van, go on a tour and see what happens.
And we have a lot of adventures and a lot of fun. It was a very much more exhausting and kind of crazy traveling experience [back then], but with all these weird, fun connections and people that we’ve met, that are still tight friends to this day.
SMN: Even in the beginning, it was always about adventure.
JS: Well, it had to be an adventure because we had no money. We had no place to stay or if we did get rooms, we’d cram into something or sneak into some odd thing. You know, the song “Elko” is a true story that came from the fact that Elko, Nevada, was just about the first eight-hour stop outside of California. And we finished our first eight-week tour in California with no plan other than to drive back to New Jersey.
And the hotels rooms are really cheap [in Elko]. We were all exhausted and we were just going to get a good night’s sleep, so we could keep driving across the country. But, we walked in and it’s a casino, and there’s free booze if you’re gambling. Our soundman put $20 in a video poker machine, pressed it once, and all of a sudden won $500 — and the night went from there.
Railroad Earth.
(photo: Shredded Elements Photography)
Want to go?
Acclaimed jam-grass/roots act Railroad Earth will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at The Orange Peel in Asheville.
Tickets start at $29.50. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to theorangepeel.net and click on the “Shows” tab. To learn more about Railroad Earth, go to https://railroad.earth, call 828.398.1837 or visit info@theorangepeel.net.
SMN: And even before all of that, some of you had been in other bands for years, touring around and trying to make it work.
TC: I had a band called Kings in Disguise [with Andy Goessling] before Railroad Earth. And in the six months prior to Railroad Earth, it became painfully obvious to me that there we’re a couple of members of [Kings in Disguise] that just were not able to either able to, or willing to, tour. And if you can’t tour, you cannot be a successful band. So, I came to grips with that.
And then, Railroad Earth started to happen over the course of that summer of 2000. The idea for it was something that kind of evolved
— John Skehan
quickly into John and a bunch of other people jamming to see if maybe something could happen. Andy put together all of these jam sessions at his house. I remember them being very loose and congenial.
And when [lead singer/guitarist] Todd [Sheaffer] came around, we started forming stuff around his songs. When you add a really great songwriter and a great singer into the mix, suddenly things quickly coalesced.
By the end of the summer, essentially the people that were left standing [from those jam sessions] were the core members of the band, Unbeknownst to us, it just sort of happened — we were off and running.
JS: There’s something, too, I think in the direction that Todd’s songwriting was taking at that time. And I don’t know if it was being around the palette of acoustic instruments and these jam sessions that we were having. But, I’ll say the tone of his writing, both in the music and the tone of the lyrics, seemed to fit with acoustic instruments. [And now 20 years later], I think it’s the ebb and flow. I don’t know if we ever could have envisioned this, or certainly ever could have envisioned losing Andy and being in a different place now. But, things are continuing to work and evolve — we’re feeling very good right now.
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
Someday soon, you’re gonna have families of your own and, if you’re lucky, you’ll remember the little moments like this, that we’re good
Stepping into the Cresskill Tavern in Cresskill, New Jersey, last Wednesday evening, the place looked the exact same. It had been just about a decade since I last wandered in there. Electric blue painted walls. Pool table. Jukebox. L-shaped bar. Just enough room for you and your friends, but that’s about it.
My ole college buddy Brett (aka: a real deal cosmic soul brother) walked in with me. We’d just been dropped off by his mom, seeing as it was a pretty cold walk from his childhood home a few blocks away. The temperature has dropped considerably since I pulled up to the driveway an hour or so earlier.
I hadn’t see Brett in over five years. The last time was New Year’s Eve at his long-gone apartment in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. He was a few months into being a newly married man with his dear wife, Rachel.
Brett was one of my best friends all through those hazy collegiate years in Connecticut, and it was a tradition (post-college) for many years in a row to end up in New York City for New Year’s Eve (NYE in NYC), which he called home during that time period where we all were just “trying to figure it all out, whatever that may be.”
Rachel was born and raised in Australia. She met Brett at a bar/hostel in Spain. She was on holiday with a girlfriend, and just so happened to be passing through Spain right as Brett was flying solo ‘round Europe.
I remember when he left for that Europe trip, and I remember all of those hopelessly romantic expectations (of love, of purpose and of passion) he had for something, anything to happen — the fire of an eager young life ready to be sparked by something, someone.
Not long after Brett returned to America, we were sitting at a New Jersey diner. He kept telling me about “this girl from Australia,” and how “she was so amazing, but I’ll probably never see her again.” He last saw her on a train platform in Madrid. They said goodbye and parted ways, with Brett watching her walk out of his life.
Well, it wasn’t long after that conversation where Rachel ended up getting a job in Manhattan, only to reconnect with Brett, seeing as he was really the only American she knew in this new city and unknown adventure unfolding before her. The friendship blossomed into romance, into an engagement, and into an unforgettable wedding in Upstate New York one late summer afternoon.
Skip ahead to about five years ago, our last New Year’s Eve in that apartment. Brett and Rachel were married and had decided to move to Australia in the coming year. Our celebration that night was to mark the end of another year, of another chapter of our lives. But, it more about the impending changes that would affect us all, and hopefully all for the better.
Skip ahead to last Wednesday. While Brett and I were catching up at the Cresskill Tavern, Rachel and their two young daughters were fast asleep back at Brett’s mom’s humble abode. It was surreal to pull into that driveway of that house I used to know so well, all those many moons ago. It was surreal to hug Brett, Rachel, Brett’s mom, and to finally meet the girls, each equipped with the sweetest, most innocent Australian accents.
The last time he and I were there together at the Cresskill Tavern was probably to cure our New Year’s Eve hangover with pool and mixed drinks way back in 2011. This was before the girls. Before Australia. Before Rachel. Before everything took shape. And this was before I left Upstate New York for Western North Carolina, all of these trials and tribulations that ultimately led me back to this moment with a lifelong brother-in-arms.
The bar looked and felt the exact same, and yet we’ve grown so much in our respective lives. Sitting there, we traded tall tales and did a lot of reminiscing of the good ole days. But, what’s so amazing was to also ponder those good ole days yet to happen. Heck, where to from here, eh? For it is (truly) all wild and wondrous. For it’s all a dream we dream, don’tcha know?
Each rehashed mutual experience from college and beyond was another story from our separate paths amid the grand scheme of
HOT PICKS
1Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Shane Meade (soul/roots) at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21.
2Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Lilah Price (singer-songwriter) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20.
3Singer-songwriter Troy Underwood will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin.
4Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Carolina Freightshakers at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22.
5Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host Craig (singer-songwriter) at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. things. Blurry memories reconstructed about parties we held in our shitty threestory house senior year at college. Trying to remember names of faces and places forgotten for years. Late-night shenanigans, the utter glory and galore.
Each story felt like a million years ago, a life we both agreed we didn’t recognize or really identify with anymore these days. “Who was that guy?” we’d ponder about ourselves, shaking our heads, all while ordering around round of beers. We didn’t want the friendly banter to end. Hell, who knows the next time we’d be able to do this? Hopefully sooner than later — god willin’ and the creek don’t rise. All bundled up in winter coats and about three sheets to the wind, we slowly walked back to his mom’s house. Laughter ensued over a few more stories told in a gregarious nature along the snowy sidewalks. Laughter about nothing and everything, and how beautiful it was to reconnect, to be together again, and to still be on the same page, even after all of this distance, whether by time or geographically.
To have a friend like Brett is to have someone who you haven’t seen in five years, but while in their presence, you sincerely feel like you saw and talked them just yesterday. And for that? I’m eternally grateful.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
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arts & entertainment WCU to present Black Violin
Kev Marcus and Wil Baptise of Black Violin.
Troy Underwood.
Lazy Hiker welcomes Underwood
Local singer-songwriter Troy Underwood will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin.
Underwood specializes in soul, rock and Americana music. You’ll hear an array of original material and some of your favorite cover melodies. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
January 19-25, 2022 Shane Meade.
Folk, soul rolls into WNC
Popular Tampa, Florida, singer-songwriter Shane Meade will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at Nantahala Brewing in Sylva. Meade will also hit the stage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan 22, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City. Both shows are free and open to the public. nantahalabrewing.com or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
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With genre-bending original compositions, Black Violin will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall at Western Carolina University.
Black Violin is composed of classically trained violist and violinist Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus who combine their classical training and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as “classical boom.”
For 17 years, Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals and building bridges in communities along the way. Members Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste first met in orchestra class at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, becoming classically trained on the violin and viola through their high school and college careers.
Post-college, they reconvened to produce beats for South Florida rappers, and began building an audience in local clubs. They later went on to win Showtime at the Apollo in 2005, and eventually sold-out headline performances at venues across the country, including a sold-out two-night headline run at The Kennedy Center in 2018. NPR took note and declared “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.” Black Violin’s latest release, “Take the Stairs,” earned a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.” Find further information and purchase tickets at. The BAC Box Office can be reached at 828.227.2479.
Masks are mandatory at all Western Carolina University in-person events, which include Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall.
Advertise your job openings!
Our February 16 issue will highlight the many career and job opportunities in our region.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday.
Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main
Street NoTones from 7 to 9 p.m. on
Thursdays. Free and open to the public. blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.
• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Limited seating. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.
ALSO:
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.369.4080 or coweeschool.org.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.
• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host an Open Mic Night 7 to 9 p.m. on
Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or elevatedmountain.com.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Lilah
Price (singer-songwriter) Jan. 20, WNC Artist
Spotlight Open Mic Jan. 26 and
Rossdafareye (roots/soul) Jan. 28. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host
“Divas On Tap Disco Night” at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 22, “Let’s Build A Snowman” noon Jan. 29 and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events are free and begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Innovation-brewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Troy Underwood (singer-songwriter) Jan. 22. All • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host
Prophets of Time Jan. 28. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Aly Jordan (singer-songwriter) Jan. 21,
Shane Meade (roots/soul) Jan. 22 and Alma
Russ (Americana/roots) Jan. 29. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Shane
Meade (soul/roots) Jan. 21. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. 828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. rathskellerfranklin.com.
• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or satulahmountainbrewing.com.
• Southern Porch (Canton) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.492.8009 or southern-porch.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 or theuglydogpub.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 or theuglydogpub.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Live
Karaoke in the Smokies Jan. 20, The
Caribbean Cowboys Jan. 21 and Carolina
Freightshakers Jan. 22. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.
• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host Craig (singer-songwriter) at 6 p.m. Jan. 27. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.
• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends and an “Emo Night Dance Party” at 9 p.m. Feb. 12. 828.456.4750 or facebook.com/waternhole.bar.
• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.743.6000 or whitesidebrewing.com.
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Want to paint, sip craft beer?
Robin Arramae of WNC Paint Events will be continuing her fun paint nights to bring you not only a “night out” but an experience that lifts your spirits.
Join others as Arramae shows you step-by-step how to paint a beginner level painting of the evening as you sip on your favorite local craft beer. This two-hour event should have you feeling better than you felt before you came. And you leave with a painting you created.
Events will be held at the following locations: 828 Market on Main (Waynesville), Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva), BearWaters Brewing (Canton) and Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City).
Visit WNC Paint Events (@paintwnc) Facebook page, under “Events” for date and time of upcoming events. For pictures of previous events visit Arramae’s Instagram: @wnc_paint_events.
For pricing and to sign up, text Arramae at 828.400.9560. Space is limited. Drinks sold separately.
Smoky Mountain News Real Experience. Real Service. Real Results. 828.452.3727
www.TheRealTeamNC.com
Open call for grassroots grant
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in Waynesville is now accepting applications for grants funded by the Grassroots Arts Program.
Since 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. Using a per capita based formula, the program provides funding for the arts in all 100 counties of the state through partnerships with local arts councils.
“The Grassroots Arts Program funding is a particularly good source of funding because it helps pay for operational costs, which is often not the case with grant funds,” said HCAC Executive Director Morgan Beryl. “We encourage organizations to apply for activities that they are already conducting so the funds can help to subsidize planned activities rather than create more work by creating a whole new program.”
Applications are available for nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to promote and develop diverse cultural arts programming in Haywood County.
Funding priority is given to qualified arts organizations such as theaters, galleries, choral societies, festivals, arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists, and other community organizations that provide arts programs in the county.
Grassroots funds are not generally awarded to arts organizations that already receive funding from the North Carolina Arts Council. Projects must occur between July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022.
Grant application requirements and the application can be found on HCAC’s grant webpage:. The application form is a fillable PDF. Applicants should download, fill out and email the final application to director@haywoodarts.org with the subject line: Grassroot Application/Organization Name.
All applications must be provided via email no later than 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31. No hard copies will not be accepted. haywoodarts.org.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) is currently seeking one ALSO: or more gallery interns with a passion for the arts and interest in learning about the administration of a small nonprofit. Send cover letters and resumes to
HCAC Executive Director Morgan Beryl at director@haywoodarts.org. • Cold Mountain Art Collective (Canton) will host “unWIND: Mommy’s Night Out” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, where you can join other local mommas for a night out painting your own ceramic wine cup. coldmountain artcollective.com/events. • “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The
Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. For more information, call The Uptown Gallery at 828.349.4607 or contact Pat Mennenger at pm14034@yahoo.com. • A “Foreign Film Series” will be held at the
Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Each month, on the second and fourth Friday, two movies from around the globe will be shown.
This program is in the Community Room and is free of charge. Masks are required in all
Jackson County buildings. To find out what movie will be shown and/or for more information, call the library at 828.586.2016.
On the stage
HART kicks off winter shows
The “Winter Studio Season” will open with Wendy MacLeod’s comedy “Slow Food” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21-22 and 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Lyn Donley, Stephen A. Gonya and Ariel Killillay are featured in the production, under the direction of HART Executive Director Steve Lloyd.
This production had one prior performance on March 13, 2020. At the time the cast expected to be able to return after a few weeks. That didn’t happen, with the cast waiting two years to bring the show back.
In recognition of the continuing increase in COVID-19 positives, seating will be socially distanced in the same manner as created for last spring’s production of “Say Goodnight Gracie,” with parties at tables six feet apart.
The setting, a Greek restaurant in Palm Springs, on a Sunday night. A couple celebrating their anniversary have found the only place still serving, and they are starving after flying from the east coast. What they don’t realize is that they have entered a kind of twilight zone — where an overly accommodating waiter never seems to be willing to actually take their order.
Hold over performances will be the following weekend. To make a reservation, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 anytime and simply leave your name, phone number, the number of tickets you need and the performance you wish to attend.
Seating is general admission, but reservations are recommended. To reserve tickets online, click on harttheatre.org.
