Town Mountain - Lines in the Levee Tour w/ Tray Wellington Band

1977 Maybank Hwy.,Charleston Pour House SC 29412

11 March, 2023

Description

Town MountainLines in the Levee Tourw/ Tray Wellington BandSaturday 3.11.23 Charleston Pour House Main Stage 9pm doors /10pm show $16 advance /$20 day of show Town MountainHailing from Asheville, North Carolina, Town Mountain is the sum of all its vast andintricate influences — this bastion of alt-country rebellion and honky-tonk attitudepushed through the hardscrabble Southern Appalachian lens of its origin. “For us, it’s all about the interaction between the audience and the band — doingwhatever we can onstage to facilitate that two-way street of energy and emotion,” saysmandolinist Phil Barker. “Whether it’s a danceable groove or a particular lyric in a song,we’re projecting what we’re going through in our daily lives, and we feel that otherpeople can attest to that, as well — it’s all about making that connection.” Amid a renewed sense of self is the group’s latest album, Lines in the Levee, a collage ofsound and scope running the gamut of the musical spectrum in the same template offreedom and focus found in the round-robin fashion of the musical institution that isThe Band — a solidarity also found in the incendiary live shows Town Mountain is nowrevered for from coast-to-coast, this devil-may-care gang of strings and swagger. “This is the sound we’ve been working towards since the inception of the band,” saysguitarist Robert Greer. “We realized we needed to do what’s best for us. We’re being trueto ourselves. It isn’t a departure, it’s an evolution — the gate is wide open right now.” “We’ve always had such a reverence and respect for those first and second-generationbluegrass bands, and it was that sound that initially inspired all of us to get together,”Barker adds. “And that will always be part of our sound. But, we also need to grow asartists, and as individuals — for us, that means bringing in a wider palette of sonicinfluences.” Formed by Greer and banjoist Jesse Langlais over 15 years ago on a ridge high above theAsheville skyline, the sturdy foundation of Town Mountain came into play with theaddition of Barker not long into the band’s tenure. From there, the group pulled infiddle virtuoso Bobby Britt and bassist Zach Smith. And though the road has been long,it’s also been bountiful. “It’s definitely been a slow climb. But, it’s been a climb nonetheless, where each newopportunity is filled with a sense of gratitude — to be able to make music, to be able toplay music with your friends,” Barker says. “And to be able to bring music to the people,and have them want to show up and listen to it? Well, we’re thankful for that everysingle day.” Lines in the Levee also marks the band’s debut album release for famed Nashville label,New West Records. Well-known and championed as a fiercely independent act, themembers of Town Mountain felt an immediate kinship with the record label — thisgenuine bond of creative fulfillment and sustained artistic growth to ensure the longgame for the ensemble. “We’ve always wanted to have a relationship with a label that felt right, and New Westfelt right,” Langlais says. “New West came to some of our shows and the ball startedrolling. They knew they wanted to work with us, and we knew we wanted to work withthem. New West lets the artist steer the ship and that’s what we were looking for — tohave the autonomy to do what we want, but also have a great label behind us.” Recorded at Ronnie’s Place (part of the Sound Stage Studios) on Music Row in the heartof Nashville, Lines in the Levee is a bona fide workshop in the seamless blend ofAmericana, country, bluegrass and folk roots — this crossroads of deep influences andcultivated visions each member of Town Mountain brings to the table. “The studio has been part of Nashville for over 50 years, and there’s a certain mojo thatcomes from a space like that — you’re literally stepping into history and that history is inthe air when you hit the record button,” Langlais says. The album also cements the standing of drummer Miles Miller (of Sturgill Simpsonmusical lore) a creative force of nature, one who throws several more logs of ideas andinspiration onto the fire that burns brightly within the group — onstage and in thestudio. “When we were looking to add percussion to our sound, Miles was the guy we wanted.We’ve been good friends for a long time, and it just seemed like the natural fit to havehim join us,” Greer says. “He’s a fantastic drummer who really elevates the music sohigh. And he truly understands how to bring drums into a string band setting,something not a lot of people can do.” Lines in the Levee is also a moment in time for Town Mountain to take pause and glanceover its shoulder at the road to the here and now. It’s this whirlwind blur of people,places and things that fly by, especially when your hardscrabble existence is spent alongthat lost highway — bouncing from town to town, show to show, all in an effort to turnlong-held dreams into a daily reality. “Right from the beginning, it’s always been about camaraderie and the creation ofsomething unique, where we haven’t let any of the bumps on the music business roadget us down too much,” Langlais says. “And I think we feel really comfortable withwhere the Town Mountain sound is right now — that’s a damn good feeling.” Tray Wellington BandTray Wellington Band is a high energy acoustic Newgrass group led by banjo virtuoso, and multi-time IBMA Award winner, and 2019 Momentum Instrumentalist of the year Tray Wellington. This group pushes the bounds of bluegrass music, incorporating Bossa Nova, Jazz, and Blues elements, to their originals to create a unique, new exciting sound, as well as pay tribute to their Bluegrass heroes before them. They have opened for a number of premiere artists in bluegrass including Dan Tyminski, and Joe Mullins. * Show is 21+. Attendees under 21 must be accompanied by a parent & will be subject to a $5 surcharge. The surcharge must be paid in cash at the door on the day of the event.