Richard Buckner at The Grey Eagle: June 30

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Richard Buckner at The Grey Eagle: June 30

  • Carolyn Fagan

    Carolyn Fagan is a writer. After spending a life in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York, she is eager to explore everything inside of and around Asheville. 
    Craving live music? Head to The Grey Eagle this Thursday to see folk rock veteran Richard Buckner. BloomedBuckner's first album, released in 1994, put him on the scene. The album resonated heavily with Pitchfork, Spin, and music fans looking for literary lyrics. He’s had a long and dense career, including acoustic and re-released albums most often described as “alternative country.” Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon extensively cited Buckner’s lyrical originality as a major influence on his own music. His lyrics aren't the only way sign of his ingenuity. Buckner has made a career of creating ways to genuinely interact with fans. In 2013, Buckner embarked on a “Living Room Tour,” performing in lofts and homes across America. That same year, Buckner recorded a video in the American Folk Arts Room of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts for radio station WBUR’s Off The Record series. It’s worth a watch—Buckner’s voice, presence, and lyrics command the room completely. “4am,” off of 1997’s Devotion and Doubt is particularly moving—“I'm just lying here anyway/With a chill a little heat/Could kill on sight/But where are you tonight?   Buckner is consistently turning listeners’ feelings into words, and his own dreams into reality. Check him out live to see what that looks like on stage.