Faust (Live film score by Modern Robot)
You may not know the name “Faust”, but you do know the story. Something between a doctor, scientist, and alchemist, Dr. Faustus thirsts for what he believes is the ultimate power — knowledge. Reaching his own limits, he makes a bargain — the Faustian bargain — and sells his soul to the Devil. “Every notable historical era will have its own Faust.”—Kierkegaard In 1587, a small chapbook called “Historia von D. Johann Fausten” told stories of an actual Johann Georg Faust, who traveled around Germany in the early 1500‘s performing magic tricks, telling horoscopes, and committing various kinds of fraud. He may have died in his own alchemical experiment. Since then, his story has been superimposed with legends of a pact with the Devil and then retold in innumerable ballads, plays, novels, operas — any kind of adaptation you can imagine, including an episode of The Simpsons. In 1947, Thomas Mann re-cast the story as a talented composer reaching for greatness. By intentionally contracting syphilis, he created music of extraordinary inspiration, but also caused his own madness and demise. You may also recognize this as the story of the Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson, who meets the Devil at the crossroads to be given mastery of the guitar, a reason I called this show “At the Crossroads” when I performed it on the Fringe circuit in 2016. Which brings us back to this show. “One of the most astonishing visual experiences the silent film has to offer.”—Dave Kehr, The New York Times Like all Modern Robot shows, this performance is a film with a live musical score, in this case the first major adaptation of Faust, released in 1926. German production company UFA hired F.W. Murnau to direct the film. Lavish sets, complicated shots, and Murnau‘s many, many takes made this a massively expensive production as well as a financial flop. But it also makes for a fantastic movie filled with effects and compositions that seem more painted than filmed. After a premier in Greensboro, Ben Singer performed the show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (five-star review by Broadway Baby), the Orlando Fringe, the San Francisco Fringe Festival (Best of the Fringe award), and the New York International Fringe Festival (Overall Excellence Award for Music Composition). The score will be performed by Ben on guitar and Tyler Monroe on drum set.
Wednesday (solo) + Cryogeyser (solo)
A Wednesday song is a quilt. A short story collection, a half-memory, a patchwork of portraits of the American south, disparate moments that somehow make sense as a whole. Karly Hartzman, the songwriter/vocalist/guitarist at the helm of the project, is a story collector as much as she is a storyteller: a scholar of people and one-liners. Rat Saw God, the Asheville band’s acclaimed record, is ekphrastic but autobiographical and above all, deeply empathetic. Across the album’s ten tracks Hartzman builds a shrine to minutiae. Half-funny, half-tragic dispatches from North Carolina unfurling somewhere between the wailing skuzz of Nineties shoegaze and classic country twang, that distorted lap steel and Hartzman’s voice slicing through the din.The songs on Rat Saw God don’t recount epics, just the everyday. They’re true, they’re real life, blurry and chaotic and strange – which is in-line with Hartzman’s own ethos: “Everyone’s story is worthy,” she says, plainly. “Literally every life story is worth writing down, because people are so fascinating.”But the thing about Rat Saw God – and about any Wednesday song, really – is you don’t necessarily even need all the references to get it, the weirdly specific elation of a song that really hits. Yeah, it’s all in the details – how fucked up you got or get, how you break a heart, how you fall in love, how you make yourself and others feel seen – but it’s mostly the way those tiny moments add up into a song or album or a person.
The Wes Collins Band with Jeffrey Dean Foster and Sam Frazier
Wes Collins’ songs dig deep and go to uncertain, sometimes scary places. On his new album “Jabberwockies” (available June 3) you meet a woman who fears her power over men, and eavesdrop on both a precious friendship destroyed by unrequited romantic feelings and an addict in full-fledged panic. A lyric suggesting you “look out for the people who love you” takes a nasty twist in the last verse: “You got a scar on your spirit? / Somebody who loved you was probably holding the knife.” “Wes Collins has a wonderful gift for telling stories from truly unique points of view. Every narrator in Jabberwockies reveals thoughts I’ve had, but would certainly be terrified to express. Wes is a courageous songwriter. Wes also has that magical musical sensibility that makes me hit “repeat” on his songs. He makes my favorite records and he’s one of my ultimate favorite musical artists.”Jaimee Harris “(Collins) is one of the best songwriters in the (North Carolina) Triangle’s vital Americana quadrant.Author and critic David Menconi “Wes Collins’ songs have a way of circling around my mood and elevating it. His music makes me feel better, no matter how my day is going. I congratulate him on his new record Jabberwockies, a stellar collection of new songs, beautiful vocals, and glorious harmonies by Jaimee Harris and Crystal Hariu-Damore. I can’t stop listening to it, I love it!”Mary Gauthier
¡TUMBAO! with special guests: Royal Jelly
Folkknot and Mild Goose Chase
Fifth Floor, Blankstate, Monsoon, and SLOTHH
Megan Jean’s Secret Family w/ Kyle Caudle & Timberline and Don Mercle
MEGAN JEAN’S SECRET FAMILYMegan Jean: Lead Vocals, BassByrne Klay: electric banjo, VocalsTommy Bailey: Drums, Keys,Eric Davis: Guitar,Megan Jean’s Secret Family is a fresh blend of the 70’s by way of the 90’s rock, soul, country, and jam, emphasizing vocal-driven danceable original songs that bring together generations of sound. In May of 2024, the band made their national radio debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage alongside notable acts like Keller Williams and Bettye Lavette. DC Music Review called them one of their “New favorite acts” following an energitc performance at 2024’s DelFest. The band was awarded a creativity grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to produce their debut full-length album PLOT (Play.Loud.On.Turntable) which will be released in Fall 2024. In the three years since their formation they have shared the stage with Fastball, The Spin Doctors, Cabinet, Joan Osbourne, and Cris Jacobs.
Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam w/ Audrey Smith and Rebecca Porter
Audrey Smith”Audrey Smith writes music from the heart, one molded within her rich cultural heritage of the North Carolina Piedmont. Her songs honor traditional country and southern folk, with a unique sound dancing between the lines of bluegrass, radio country, and piedmont blues. She’s heavily influenced by North Carolina icons Doc Watson, Etta Baker, and her time spent in south Louisiana over the last decade.”Rebecca PorterRebecca Porter, originally from Guam and now based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, brings raw authenticity to her music, defined by her honey-smooth voice and sharp, irreverent songwriting. Her lyrics courageously explore personal themes such as trauma, discrimination as a Pacific Islander woman in rural Virginia, and the complex challenges of motherhood.Her musical journey began over a decade ago as a member of local cover bands, where she honed her skills and gained local acclaim. However, it was during the pandemic that Porter redirected her creative energy, eventually releasing two EPs: “Prime Rainbow Conditions” and “Queen of the Local.” The latter marked a pivotal move towards independence, propelling Porter to national and international recognition through her grassroots efforts.Recently, Porter joined Rissi Palmer’s esteemed Color Me Country Class of 2024 and made her debut on NPR’s Mountain Stage. Her music also captured the interest of Ed Helms, editor of Good Country, who selected her for his curated playlist, ‘Ed’s Picks’. These achievements underscore Porter’s artistic evolution and the broad appeal of her music, touching listeners well beyond her local beginnings.Listeners near and far have come to appreciate and connect with the depth of Porter’s emotional landscapes. She continues to captivate audiences with her musical journey that embodies unwavering determination, creativity, and the transformative power of storytelling through music. Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam Folk? Country? Blues? Rock and Roll? Sugar, vinegar, or spice? When Colin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam show up, it’s all on the table.”…a juke joint energy coursing through it and a humidity that seems to sweat out the sins and the booze that these characters are often soaked in.” ~Paste”Wickedly funny.” ~Susquehanna Folk Music Society”Devastating.” ~Americana Highways”One magnificent tapestry of roots music.” ~No DepressionColin Cutler and Hot Pepper Jam’s music stretches across the American roots music world, from acoustic oldtime and alt country to electric blues and rock’n’roll, with touches of bluegrass and jam band energy.The last couple years have seen them playing at Merlefest, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, the North Carolina Folk Festival, the Susquehanna Folk Festival, Antlers and Acorns Songwriters Festival, and the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival, while selling out Greensboro’s Flat Iron and touring for shows from Georgia to Indiana’s Notre Dame University. Tarwater, their first release as a band, reached the top 20 in both Folk and Alt Country radio charts on its release
Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast (Album Release Show) w/ Florencia & The Feeling
After the unexpected death of her mother in 2023, ‘Blueprints’ is an introspective reflection on the waves of emotion that follow such a loss. Caitlin Krisko delivers soaring melodies while simultaneously pouring her soul into the center spotlight of the album. Gut wrenching ballads like “Haunted By You” performed to near perfection, sit comfortably next to groove heavy rock anthems like “Piece of You”. Blueprints puts the listener in the front seat for the Krisko experience as she turns to the music to capture her grief in songs like “Have To Say Goodbye” and “Blue Monday”. Uplifting the listener with songs like “Devil On Your Side” and “Operator”, her songs are celebrations with storytelling lyrics that take you for a full spectrum ride. Powerful drums, driving bass, and raw blues and rock guitar are hand squeezed into every nook and cranny of the album, delivering a saturated roots rocks experience done with a masterful and heartfelt touch. Born in Detroit, raised in New York City and currently living in Asheville, North Carolina, Caitlin Krisko has been influenced by the sounds of East Coast rock and roll, Motown, and roots music. Krisko has been stunning audiences across America and Europe touring relentlessly with her own brand of roots-rock filled with soaring vocals, powerful grooves, emotional lyrics, and undeniable songwriting. The band consists of Caitlin Krisko (lead vocals), Aaron Austin (guitar, background vocals), Michael W. Davis (drums), and William Seymour (bass, background vocals). Caitlin Krisko and The Broadcast have shared the bill with artists such as Mavis Staples, Marcus King, Blackberry Smoke, Margo Price, The Avett Brothers, Greta Van Fleet, and Robert Jon & The Wreck. Last fall, the band released “Haunted by You” which was placed at the top of Spotify’s “Blues Ballads” playlist, garnering critical acclaim for its soulful blues and Krisko’s captivating performance. w/ Florencia & The Feeling: Since their conception in April 2021, Florencia & the Feeling has been impressing crowds and getting folks on their feet. With their up-beat funky grooves, heartfelt songwriting, and all-around good vibes, this jazz-laden, pop-funk fusion band with Latin roots has hit the scene running with no plans of slowing down.
Cigarettes At Sunset, Bedroom Division, and Scoby
Cigarettes @ Sunset is a band that hails from the mountains of North Carolina consisting of Garrett Dellinger, Sarah Vann, Ryland Bagbey, Wells Whitman, and Ethan Moore. Forming in 2021, the band calls Boone home. Since 2021, they’ve been touring regularly through the east coast with such acts as Dexter & The Moonrocks and others. The band’s music juxtaposes driving guitar riffs, drums that swerve out of country and punk, with swelling violin, and Dellinger’s semi-autobiographical lyrics anchor the band in both time and place. Their live shows turn any venue into an intimate and energized space, amalgamating shoegaze, old time, and indie rock into a whirlwind of sound. Mellow, woozy and romantic indie/alt-pop from Greensboro, NC. Bedroom Division is the recording project from songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dylan Wishon. Fusing mellow, jangly guitar with 80s inspired synths. Creating soundscapes inspired by well known artists such as Mac DeMarco, boy pablo, Rex Orange County, and The Strokes. SCOBY is an indie-rock outfit from Winston-Salem, NC. Consisting entirely of Wake Forest students and alums, SCOBY recorded their first EP in their drummer Doug’s basement on campus. The band functions as a true community project, often opening their space to lone student musicians and being reciprocally lifted by a cult student fanbase. Their EP, “That Will Be The End”, couples a DIY indie ethic with candidly sentimental subject matter, exploring themes of grief, growth, and coming into identity. The project soars through a quirky, reflective diary of college age, featuring jittery hooks and composition that is “uninhibited and confidently playful” (CLTure Magazine). As they round out the recording of their upcoming full-length LP, SCOBY hopes to continue down a path of authentic songwriting and reverence to the local talent that supports them.
