Melodies of love: Asheville Mountain Boys to play Sylva
Asheville Mountain Boys are an Americana/bluegrass act. File photo
The sheer beauty and fundamental foundation of bluegrass music resides in one simple truth about the tones, textures and talents within the “high, lonesome sound” — its timelessness.
A song written and recorded a century ago can (and often does) sound as fresh, relevant and soothing right now in this exact moment in time. Whereas something conceived and captured today could have the same historic parameters and effect on the sentimental, jovial mindset as it did decades previous.
Case-in-point, the Asheville Mountain Boys are the latest bluegrass ensemble to make waves around Western North Carolina when it comes to real deal, high-quality acoustic melodies in the realms of Americana, folk, roots and mountain music.
A super-group of sorts, the outfit is a well-oiled machine of some of the finest pickers and grinners around in Southern Appalachia. It features John Duncan (banjo/fiddle), Zeb Gambill (mandolin), Jacob Brewer (bass) and Marshall Brown (guitar).
To note, the band’s self-titled debut album will hit the streets and all streaming services next spring. And with its increasingly busy touring schedule around this region, the Asheville Mountain Boys will make its Sylva debut on Aug. 30 at Breadheads Tiki Shak on Main Street.
Smoky Mountain News: With the origins of the Asheville Mountain Boys, how was the initial seed planted for this group? What sparked this journey?
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John Duncan: We’ve known each other for years through going to fiddlers’ conventions and jamming together. Then, in 2023, Marshall was putting together a solo album that had all of us on it. After playing a few album release shows, they went so well and we were having so much fun playing together, we decided to form a new band.
SMN: What was it about the greater Western North Carolina scene — of people, of culture, and of live music — that make it such a great incubator for the development and evolution of the band?
JD: Asheville is a historical landmark for early bluegrass and hillbilly music. Not only was Bill Monroe’s first radio performance here in Asheville, but big names in old-time fiddle music like Marcus Martin and Wade Mainer also lived nearby.
In addition to these historical bluegrass connections, Asheville is an inspiring place to be an artist given all the creative projects and spaces going on around town. We’ve been fortunate to collaborate with local businesses like Parkway Studios for videos, recording and graphic design, as well as Lightning Bolt Ink for embroidery and merchandise.
SMN: You’ve a group that truly moves at its own rhythm and pace. Where does that sentiment and ethos come from within you?
JD: The work ethic of the band is inspired from the practice schedule of JD Crowe and Paul Williams from their time with Jimmy Martin. We were inspired to learn how much they practiced, and we get together to practice vocals and work with the metronome twice a week. We want to deliver the best traditional bluegrass experience to our audiences.
SMN: In a modern era of digital distraction and white noise, what is the role of the musician/performer, more so the acoustic performer/ensemble, in the 21st century?
Marshall Brown: We’re constantly assaulted with music intended to be in the background. From retail stores to advertisements, music has sort of become an appendage of consumption habits.
We’ve been fortunate to play some amazing venues and listening rooms, where it’s really all about the performance. Some of our favorite shows have been DIY barn performances and rural community centers. Those audiences have been some of the most enthusiastic and encouraging crowds we’ve encountered.
We want to continue to bring intimate performances of traditional bluegrass to people all around the country, because it really is some of the most exciting and emotionally moving music around.
SMN: What is it about bluegrass — whether sonically, emotionally, spiritually or otherwise — that really sets it apart from other genres?
JD: The harmony and rhythm of bluegrass is really compelling to us as performers. We love the intense sonic and emotional content of bluegrass harmony. The themes in bluegrass music are universal and timeless which makes it easily accessible to the listener. We live for the challenge of performing live and giving the audience a great experience.
SMN: In this uncertain era of the music industry, what is it that keeps you going and inspired to push ahead and overcome the tough challenges of being a musical act that records and performs in the digital age?
Jacob Brewer: We’re lucky to get along so well with each other in the band that it’s rewarding enough just to play and travel together in the first place.
As for the modern music industry, we are attempting to bring back the methods of recording — all live, no overdubs — and work ethics of classic bluegrass bands like Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys.
This focused attempt to emulate the methods of classic bluegrass bands in the musical climate of today is a goal that keeps us focused and driven.
Want to go?
The Asheville Mountain Boys will perform at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Breadheads Tiki Shak, located at 606 West Main Street in Sylva.
Admission is $10 at the door. For more information, call 828.307.2160 or go to breadheadstikishak.com.
