Asheville live music best bets: Rich Nelson, Michael Franti, Amos Lee, more

While he watched a movie about four lads from Liverpool try to write and record a final album, local musician Rich Nelson had an idea on how to proceed with a new recording. 

“This is a different one,” Nelson said about his trio’s newest recording. “We were really inspired by The Beatles’ movie ‘Get Back.’ It’s kind of ambitious to try and be the like The Beatles. I thought it was a different way of doing it.” 

After watching the documentary, Nelson (guitar and vocals), drummer Rob Driscoll, and bassist Jeff Manson, planned to record tracks live in the studio. The result is a 10-song album, titled “Lucky Bounce,” that was released on June 20. 

The Rich Nelson Band will celebrate its new songs with two upcoming local shows. They’ll play at 8 p.m. June 30 at The Grey Eagle and at 7 p.m. July 1 at Highland Brewing’s Meadow.  

To prep for the live recording sessions, which took place over three days at Asheville’s Sound Temple Studios in March, the trio rehearsed the new material and played some songs during concerts. 

Recording was done with all three performers in the same space, lots of microphones on instruments, and without a click track, Nelson said. He added that only a few overdubs were laid down after the initial sessions. 

“Some of these songs go back a few years, but most were written in the last year or two,” Nelson said. “I see them as a group and a lot has to do with what’s been happening with the pandemic and politically. I’ve never been an overt social message guy, but it came out and I don’t really question it. … Generally, I’m a pretty optimistic and peace-loving guy, that’s why a lot of ideas like ‘don’t you want to work it out and get along.’” 

The first single, “Supersonic Star,” was released prior to the album dropping and there are plans for several videos, as Nelson’s son filmed much of the recording process. 

For the album-release shows, Nelson said the group will do all of the new tracks and might perform the songs in the same order as on the album. 

“I come from the days of albums, so I really focused on the running order,” he said. 

Michael Franti and Spearhead return to Salvage Station 

Michael Franti will come back to perform in Asheville with new music. The singer-songwriter recently released “Follow Your Heart” on June 3 and contains the singles “Brighter Day” and “Good Day for a Good Day.” 

Franti and his band, Spearhead, who are known for such hits as “I’m Alive (Life Sounds Like),” “Say Hey (I Love You),” and “The Sound of Sunshine,” will play at 6:45 p.m. June 26 at Salvage Station’s outdoor stage. New Respects will open the show.  

The rock and reggae performer is well known around the globe for his music and activism. He has had six Top 30 Hot AC singles, nine Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. 

During an interview last year, Franti gushed about returning to Asheville. 

““I love being able to get great healthy food at so many different restaurants, especially the comfort food at Rosetta’s Kitchen,” he said in an email interview. “Mmm mmm, some vital vittles there! Our most memorable show was doing an impromptu gig on the loading dock behind The Orange Peel. And there’s nothing like playing on the French Broad in the summertime. All that being said the reason we love coming back year after year is simple - community. Asheville is a community of folks who care about music, people and the planet.” 

Rescheduled show for Amos Lee 

Fans of the rock, folk, and soul performer Amos Lee will finally get to see him in Asheville. 

He was scheduled to perform in April at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, but it had to be postponed. He will now play at 8 p.m. June 28 at the downtown venue. 

Lee has been a present force on the soul-folk-rock scene since 2004, having released eight albums, including this year’s “Dreamland.” Songs like “Windows Are Rolled Down,” “Shout Out Loud” and “Worry No More” have been hits on adult alternative radio. He has opened for such big names as Adele, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Dave Matthews Band. 

Virginia band comes to Isis 

The Virginia-based band The Wilson Springs Hotel mixes rock, country, folk and bluegrass sounds to create its sound. 

The group, which formed in 2020, released its self-titled debut in 2021 and is slated to play at the famed FloydFest event in July. 

Before that big event, though, the group comes to Asheville to perform at 8:30 p.m. June 25 at Isis Music Hall.