Mount Dungeon Records Asheville Bands for TV

With Asheville’s music scene growing and branching out all the time, it’s a good thing that the city has Mount Dungeon to record all the wonderful bands coming out and put them on our TV screens. Well, for Asheville cable subscribers anyway. Those lucky folks can tune in to Channel 20 (public access channel URTV) Thursday nights at 11 p.m. to catch the weekly show. The rest of the world can view recent episodes on the show’s MySpace page.

Each show includes a performance as well as an interview by host Matt Howard, who usually breaks the ice with a query regarding the band’s name.

“I usually get interesting answers, or at least an answer,” he tells Asheville’s Bold Life. “And if somebody doesn’t have a good answer I encourage them to lie and make one up.”

The show is recorded on a Saturday afternoon by folks who might not have the most experience in such matters but certainly have the dedication. Ben Robinson, the shows founder, is the only crewmember with any past videography and editing experience. Cameraman and booking agent JJ Jackson is a professional photographer, cameraman John Robinson first used a camera when he started working on the show and the show’s graphic designer Megan McKissack has been learning many of her skills along the way. But, quite possibly most importantly, soundman John Blackwell has been manning different boards for many years.

The lack of experience hasn’t hurt the show at all. With bands like Mad Tea Party, Laura Reed & Deep Pocket, Ruby Slippers and Stephanie’s Id having already made appearances on the show, Mount Dungeon is going to be bringing great Asheville music to TV screens for a while longer.

www.myspace.com/mountdungeon

Venue Profile

The Grey Eagle

The best way to get booked at this 610-capacity listening room is to open for an act already booked. Though the venue is happy to help out new acts, a band has to have an audience in the area in order to play. Which is why the booking agents will be highly skeptical of booking an act that hasn’t played western North Carolina before. Also, don’t send any unsolicited EPKs or press kits — unless you are asked for such mailings, they will automatically be deleted.

Capacity: 610

Gear: Allen & Heath 32 channel console, Ashly limiter, Ashly crossover, Crown power amps, four Bi-amped three-way JBL mains, two OAP subs, five JBL monitors

Genres: Rock, indie rock, country, singer/songwriter, punk, jam, world, soul

Booking Contact: Tyler Richardson

Phone: (828) 232-5800

Email: booking@thegreyeagle.com

Address: 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville, NC 28801

Website: www.thegreyeagle.com

IN THE NEWS

Bluegrass quartet The Biscuit Burners out of Weaverville, N.C. held a CD release show at The Grey Eagle in Asheville March 13. The album, entitled Take Me Home, is their sophomore release, following their 2006 record A Mountain Apart.

www.thebiscuitburners.com

Ashley Chambliss played The Orange Peel’s Local Show IV March 7 in promotion of her upcoming third album, due for release this month. Other artists who performed at the show were Angi West, Nikki Talley and Ginni Wilder. Chambliss’ previous albums can be found on iTunes and CDBaby.

www.ashleychambliss.com

The Mad Tea Party is touring around the U.S. this spring and summer in support of its upcoming album Found A Reason. This month the band will be in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and branching out of the Southeast to California.

The band teemed up with Nine Mile Records out of Massachusetts for the new release, due out this summer.

www.themadteaparty.com

Bugs Multiply is currently working on the release of a new album due out at the beginning of the summer. In the meantime, you can request the group’s older songs on many local radio stations, as well as a few commercial stations in South Carolina, New Mexico, Texas and other states. Check the band’s MySpace for more information, including specific stations and phone numbers.

www.bugsx.com

Peace Jones, the high-energy flautist-led quartet, is currently on tour. The band will be visiting small venues, restaurants and bars throughout May and June in North and South Carolina.

www.peacejones.com

The 11th Annual French Broad River Festival will be held May 2-4 about 45 minutes north of Asheville in Hot Springs. Ticket prices are $65 online and $75 at the gate. The two stages of music will host many local bands, including

The Mad Tea Party, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Acoustic Syndicate, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Blueground Undergrass, Big City Sunshine, Strut, The Trainwreks, The Snake Oil Medicine Show, Sol Driven Train, Jessie James & The Junkman’s Daughter and Jen & the Juice.

www.frenchbroadriver

festival.com

Garry Segal recently released a new album, steeped in acoustic Americana, entitled Taking Notes. The To Dye for Band played the instruments on this his fourth album.

www.myspace.com/garrysegal