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{ T he B LUE B anner} hursclay, Xovcinbcr 29, 2007 Arts Pages r [SCAPE 2,500 ft 4t>ove stress level. . . Hot Tubs Cold Plunge Sauna $34 All Inclusive BOOK NOW 299-0999 www.shojiretreats.coni MASSAGE THERAPY IkimeTnMi Bnk [■)a'.K'lll.H: IHuD I w Fri.Nofc 30*09pm |ll|ll|ll|ll||l| III fcldubconsGiQus Sat. Dec. 1**Q9pm iniiiiit|ii|ii|iii ‘Rockin'i(rhe P SunT' OecTz”* Q 3:30pm coming soon 12/8 BLACK UPS & REIGNING SOUND 12/13 HOMETOWN HOUDAY)AM VII 12/15 SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS 12/16 BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME 12/19 MAKE-ArWlSH HOUDAY lAM 12/28*29 THE AMragESWlERS 12/30 TOUB, imr.tleoraigepeil.nt Picket BOX OHQ * WFOWSOAV - SATHMIW I2|».B:31I.|| III BHimilt WE * ASHEVUE.NC*828.22&5ISI Celebrate the new year with Toubab Krewe Bv I iffan> Narron An intense style of string pick ing deep rtxited drum and bass make up the sound of Asheville’s own Toubab Krewe, who will be bringing their rhythm back home for New Years along with the eclectic stylings of the local Snake Oil .Medicine Show. When asked to describe their sound and what style of music they fit into, the Krewe will answer that it is what it is. “It is always wonderful to play music in our home town," said guitarist Drew Heller, "Nothing quite compares to the feeling of excitement, nervousness and joy of performing here." Not all members of the quintet arc from Asheville. The newest bass player, David Pransky, hails from Vermont, while drummer Luke Quaranta is a New York native. The other three members incluiling Heller, drummer Teal Hrown and electric guitarist Justin Perkins were born in the WNC mountains. "We have been friends since elementary school." Heller said. “Justin and I have been playing music together regularly since the fourth grade. Toubab Krewe has been playing music together since 1998 but it was not until January, 2(X).S that we began per forming in public." The "roup's knowledge of African style music comes directly from Africa. Perkins began playing drums at an early age, taking innuence from a variety of styles including Jazz, rock, and afro-Cuban, according to publicist Jake Frankel. At the age of 16. he was intro duced to the eclectic style of West African music through local drum maker Gordon Ray. In 2()()() he Joined the drum and dance ensemble "Common Ground” and in the summer of 2(X)I took his first trip to Africa with Heller, Brown and Quranta. There, Ray studied the rhythm and dance of Guinea and the Ivory Coast and discovered the kora, a 21-string African harp. "There is a constant evolution in process.” Heller said. "Some of it feels conscious, much of it feels unconscious. What feels con scious is the occasional decon struction of elements that have grown into the group's musical consciousness." While in Africa. Perkins put down the drums and devoted him self to learning the sound of the kora, studying with musician Kelanton Sissoko. During that same trip, Perkins and Heller were intrtxluced to lifelong musi cal mentor and friend l.amine Soumano. "On April 20. our goexi friend and mentor Lamine Soumano was able to Join us for a fun. festive CoLRrLSY 01 Tolbau Kkcwe Toubab Krewe will play at the Orange Peel, Dec. 30 with Lee Boys and Dec. 31 with Snake Oil Medicine Show. show at the Orange Peel,” Heller said. Soumano intricately instructed both Heller and Perkins on the eclectic mix of what makes Manding's music, according to the band. They have fused this sound into their own over the years, blending it with their per sonal styles and influences. In 2004. the two traveled to Mali for four months, studying and practicing their newfound musical passions. During this trip. Heller studied the soku, Malian fiddle, with musical mas ter Zoumana Tereta. Drummer Teal Brown has a musical history much the same. His first encounter with drum ming was in the second grade when he discovered the art of beat boxing, according to Frankel. When he was a teenager he dis covered his father’s ashiko drum and created a lifelong passion. While enrolled at Warren Wilson College, Brown and some friends took a trip to Guinea, where he learned and lived with master drummer Koungbawan Conde, according to Frankell. He graduated a few years later from UNC Asheville. "We were a part of this music festival held in an extraordinary location, five hours north of Timbuktu, deep in the Sahara Desert,” Heller said. “Having the opportunity to share the stage with so many of our heroes from West Africa was quite an experi ence. It was also the first time that we performed as Toubab Krewe in West Africa. Musically, it was raw and emotional.” The Krewe’s bass player, David Pranksy taught himself the man dolin and began playing sold-out shows with the band Dispatch, according to Frankell. He released a solo album before hooking up with the Krewe in 2004 and picking up the bass. Since the band’s public debut in 2005. their unique African blend of floaty guitar riffs, kora, Jimbae harmonies and deep rhythms have kept the crowds moving. Just this year, the band toured from West Africa to New York City to New Orleans, according to Frankell. “Almost like needing to trim some of the weeds, letting some light in for the flowers and help ing you better see where you are placing your feet," Heller said. "When you let your unconscious minds have equal stake in what is going on. it’s often helpful to look at what has evolved and what has simply grown.” The band will perform on Dec. 30 and 31 at the Orange Peel. The second night will include the local act. Snake Oil Medicine Show. Snake Oil has a musical styling all their own, blending feel good original Americana with a mix of Jazz, swing, reggae and funk, according to fiddler player/vocal ist Caroline Pond. “We have shared festival time with Toubab Krewe and they are stellar musicians,” Pond said. “I absolutely love their style and its great playing festivals because you get to hear bands that you normally don’t get to hear.” Snake Oil’s variously textured music fuses Appalachian blue- grass and old-time with early Jazz styles, reggae and psychedelic funk. Their goal is to convey pos itive energy and ideals to their audiences through their encom passing mixture of music and art. "1 feel honored to have merry lil’ pranksters at our shows,” Pond said. "What a beautiful blessing that people still believe in us and come to our shows. 1 love to share our gifts with the people. It’s Just a positive exchange of energy.” Having recorded six interna tional releases, Snake Oil shares the stage with musicians such as Keller Williams, the Yonder Mountain String Band and Sound Tribe Sector Nine. They travel with an artist, Phil Cheney, who paints to the rhythms and grooves of the music on stage. “The Snake Oil is like my church and then art is my reli gion,” Cheney said. “When we would be apart for a while and then re-connect at a performance, it would all come rushing back to me, the reason for wanting to per form with this group. It’s very powerful stuff. I feel like each musicians magic flies up in the air and then comes to me and I trans fer that energy into the visual realm.” Toubab Krewe at the Orange Peel Dec. 30; with Lee Boys; $15 Dec. 31; with Snake Oil Medicine Show; $20 $30 for both nightrs ■ M ■ « ROCKY'S CONVENIENCE STORE Ben Lee & Cary Brothers and Kate Voegele Wendesday, 8 p.ni The Orange Peel. Tickets: $14 (advance): $16 (dexxr) Dinosaur Jr. and Awesome Color & Labiators Friday. 9 p.ni The Orange Peel Tickets: $22.,50 (advance); $25 (door) Afroniotive & Dubconscious Saturday. 9 p.ni. The Orange Peel Tickets: $10 (advance); $12 (door) The Avett Brothers and Langhorne Slim Friday, Dec. 28,9 p.m. The Orange Peel Tickets: $20 (advance); $25 (door) Saturday, Dec. 29,9 p.m. Tickets; $20 (advance); $25 (door) Found Magazine vs. PostSecret Tour Friday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m. The Grey Eagle Tickets; $10; $7 student COUKTKSY or NEW WEST RECORDS Bob Schneider and AM Sunday, Dec. 16 The Grey Eagle Tickets: $12 (advance); $15 (door) R est figl Th( 0U( hit I am Fif fig me fur bif Th fig es[ Fi| lea 1