Band of the Sky Podcast

Local news: Government Mule plays Asheville, Haynes scapula injury, Anders produces Elise Eden; Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? Owning the super villain; more Floydphil no more and communication; Breathe in breathe out...go with the flow of the breath. If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK She Beats All-Praying for Rain Wim Hof Ou...

Rich finally locates the nude centerfold of former WSKY morning guy and outsized personality, Farmer Russ. See it at Band of the Sky Instagram account; Bill talks the pitfalls, pressure and reality of managing a Pink Floyd tribute band. If You Hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Battle Flag-GEEZER Kings are Flying-RTFK Get it Right-Rattlesnakes WAR-RTFK Outro:RTFK www.richandrock.com www.richietipton.com I...

Rich and Bill recall Batcave Philharmonic which was an offshoot of MTV Unplugged and included three members of Praying for Rain. Batcave Phil was one of the first acoustic, cover bands in Asheville. Jeff Anders parlayed Batcave Phil into several cover bands in the following decades, including Social Function and his current gig, Commodore Fox, with Bobby Ingle (Ingles); Rich remembers the time Mic...

Farmer Russ (Russ Offhaus) was a hugely popular morning DJ who posed nude for the local  "Native Stone" newspaper's centerfold, in 1972. The stunt caused a sensation. People said, "He oughta be run out of town on a rail." The photo was a parody of Burt Reynolds nude centerfold in Cosmopolitan the same year. We haven't seen the photo; Bill tells the story of a repulsive practical joke played out in...

Most Band of the Sky conversations between Rich and Bill are off the cuff. One topic leads to another like ripples in a pond created by a rock thrown into its center. Today's conversation unrolls across four decades to the present year. In 2017, Phillip Stroupe II broke through a law enforcement perimeter headed by the then Henderson County Sheriff. Stroupe kidnapped and murdered a pillar of the M...

Rich and Bill discuss liars, especially those who tell obvious lies for no reason.  If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Cough Music (not COVID)-Various Strong Man-N.C. Rail 'A Vucchella-Enrico Caruso The Ballad of Curtis Lowe-Lesson with ODWB The Ballad of Jimmy the French-Praying for Rain You Don't Know Me-RTFK Outro-RTFK www.richandrock.com www.richietipton.com Instagram @bandofthesky

Rich and Bill return from break to talk about the skill of the Artemis Pyle Band-- which features an all Asheville lineup straight out of  the Band of The Sky 90s.; Bill recalls an impromptu dance competition (dance off) between two guys wearing dusters... "Guys who dance alone to Skynyrd's "Simple Man,"' to paraphrase Bill. If You Hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK  Lonesome Too-RTFK Wish You Love-N.C. R...

Bill remembers mentor and friend, George Wilkins Jr., who was known as the musical soul of Flat Rock Playhouse and was once featured in Life Magazine about kids with high IQs; Confrontation and who gets to do it; Life in GEEZER; Wim Hof Method.  If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Hell Brain-Twisted Richards Cherry Lane-Rudy Colombo War Kills-Richie Tipton Lost in You-Richie Tipton Outro-RTFK www.ri...

Rich tells the story of a high school bully goat who met his match when Rich's old man came to a midnight showdown in a bank parking lot. The bully goat thought the showdown was between him, his henchmen and Rich. The bully goat was sent packing; Bill remembers Sea of Souls and discusses the curse of hometown popularity. Why go on the road when you can simply go uptown? Meanwhile the world passes...

Disco was white hot when MIT graduate Robert Doc White opened Doc's Rock Shop at 951 Merrimon Ave. Combining contemporaneous newspaper accounts, Rich and Bill remember the venue, and the murder of White by two "Asheville Youths." White was a club owner and is relevant to Band of the Sky timeline. Doc's Rock Shop was a big deal in the day, a disco for young people. A place to go. It's a sad and sor...

In our extemporaneous, jazz, noir show Rich riffs on Daylight Savings Time and recording in Raleigh with Geezer;Bill promotes Floyd Philharmonic. If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK La Dark Jazz Radio 24 hour stream Bill's Insta Promo Outro-RTFk

Bill and Rich discuss a recent show at FR8Yard in Spartanburg, S.C. with Bill's Imij of Soul, and Rich with Matthew Knights vehicle, GEEZER; Rich wonders about going to Raleigh to record with GEEZER and the "Dream Assassin."; "What's the matter with pointed criticism you bunch of softies?" If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Penny for Your Thoughts "YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!"-McEnroe Outro-RTFK www.ric...

The poor fragile artist. Even the greatest among them have bouts of doubt, frustration, confusion and neediness. Rich reads a passage from "Epitaph of a Small Winner," by Michado De Assis, to illustrate the battles in the head of the poor, misunderstood thing; a prophet needs to go out of town to be recognized as a prophet. Amen, Jim.  If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Thunder Rock-Rocky Lindsley...

Bart Cole mistakes potted meat for dog food and for a while is known as "Mighty Dog." However, he should have been nicknamed "Mister Ed" because more than likely he had a horse meat sandwich. Would you eat a horse? What kind of bird would you not eat? Beef tripe, Jim? If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Apocalyptic Mass Horrific Super Psychedelilicious Drive by Suicide-Rich and Rock Free as A Bird-R...

Breaker, breaker 1-9... in episode 68, Bill and Rich put the hammer down between the fence posts. You got your ears on? We're eating high-speed chicken feed,(not really, we don't do pills) our 20 is Goodrich Studio and we're blowing the doors off this CB Radio episode. 10-4. Band of the Sky...Homegrown and Self-Rising Jam;  Red Sovine to Walker Hayes. If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Radio Shack...

Asheville loses one of its seminal figures. Two time Grammy award winner Eliot Wadopian (Paul Winter Consort, Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Greenville, S.C. Symphony Orchestra, substitute bassist  for Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Free Planet Radio, Inside Out, among many professional and personal accomplishments) dead at 63. Bill recalls his friendship with Wadopian.  If You Hear the Sound: Intro...

In what seems like a bad Steven King story, a black metal band appeared at the Lexington Ave. Brewery and doused the venue and audience with pig blood, briefly closing the establishment and putting dozens out of work. Is this art or a cheap trick? Cheap, cheap cheap, little chicken. Outrage to outrage. What happened to those punks? If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Like I Wore You-You Dirty Rats W...

Does the church use hypnosis to put and keep people in the building? Knowingly or unknowingly, the answer appears to be yes, the cadence is hypnotic. From the greeter at the door to the emotional music to the preacher's delivery, all is used to massage the spirit and boost dopamine; Also, the influence of the church on popular culture. Lots of musicians, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, among...

Rich and Bill return to discuss recent deaths of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, and ZZ Top bass player Dusty Hill; southern rock burners Molly Hatchet and southeast powerhouse Nantucket are recalled. If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Burning Man-Richie Tipton Plain Clothes Sheriff-Rich and Rock Livin' in the 90s (intro)-Rattlesnakes Heavy Rock-Rocky Lindsley Firty Firty Minutes-Bart Cole It...

Scott Raines and The RoosterTones are recalled; The negative visceral reaction of some  to N.C. Rail and the broken glass voice-hate, scorn and anger; Bill remembers seeing Praying for Rain, who'd recently crossed its Rubicon, opening for Cry of Love, in Greenville, S.C.; "Engineer" is found. "Engineer man got the fix when my love wouldn't do." If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Rita-RoosterTones r...

Short stack: Boy, Bill really has a problem with Raygene Hardin's vocal style. He's also funny as hell. If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Blooming There-N.C. Rail Outro-RTFK 

Rich talks his recent Spartanburg appearance, after a seven year absence, with Matthew Knights and his group Geezer; Bill's Big Block Dodge fusion, featuring music from the album, "Manifold Destiny."  If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK SoL-Big Block Dodge Lyle's House of Ill-Big Block Dodge Erik's Johnson-Big Block Dodge

Bill declares "Purple Rain" officially over as a cover along with a few other tried and true arrows in our collective quivers; Rich recalls forgetting the words to "Purple Rain" during Rocky Lindsley's Celebration of Life ceremony. If you hear the sound of drums on Band of The Sky you're probably listening to Rocky Lindsley; running into Steve Weams after 25 years. "Fins to the left...fins to the...

Bill plays guitar; Rich and Bill decide to play and sing a little of the coda to "Reasons"; Universal musical devices such as the chromatic descending single note over the chord progression on "Something," "Blue Skies," "These Arms of Mine," "Stairway to Heaven," "Piece of Silver," and "Bleeding Heart" are discussed; Small market, premium players. If You hear the Sound: Intro-RTFK Reasons-Rattlesn...

Satan he wants me. Satan he tries. He flies at my doorway and claws at my eyes. Sometimes I believe him when he looks like you-dressed as a woman, shooting guns. He's there in the powder. He's there in my friends. He's there on the ladder and the hole I'm in. Wish I could defeat him, but you've rendered me weak. Now I'm your fallen angel in your victory seat. Beautiful Satan, your reign's never en...