Ben Phan, Alexa Rose set for Saturday show at The Grey Eagle

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Ben Phan and Alexa Rose will play the Grey Eagle on Saturday.

Ben Phan with Alexa Rose at the Grey Eagle on Saturday is going to be a fun show. Here’s the press release:

Popular​ ​Asheville​ ​musicians​ ​Ben​ ​Phan​ ​and​ ​Alexa​ ​Rose​ ​will​ ​offer​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​blend​ ​of original​ ​music​ ​on​ ​Jan.​ ​6,​ ​backed​ ​by​ ​Phan’s​ ​dynamic​ ​band,​ ​the​ ​Soul​ ​Symphony.​ ​

The​ ​concert​ ​will​ ​feature​ ​new versions​ ​of​ ​both​ ​Phan’s​ ​and​ ​Rose’s​ ​original​ ​songs,​ ​with​ ​crowd-pleasing​ ​harmonies,​ ​fiery​ ​improvisation,​ ​and​ ​an openness​ ​to​ ​new​ ​ideas.​ ​​ ​The​ ​show​ ​will​ ​take​ ​place​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Grey​ ​Eagle,​ ​185​ ​Clingman​ ​Ave.,​ ​Asheville,​ ​at​ ​8​ ​pm, with​ ​doors​ ​opening​ ​at​ ​7​ ​pm. (Tickets here.)

“Playing​ ​music​ ​with​ ​great​ ​artists​ ​is​ ​a​ ​conversation​ ​where​ ​anything​ ​can​ ​happen,​ ​and​ ​often​ ​something​ ​new​ ​and amazing​ ​does,”​ ​says​ ​Phan.​

​“I’ve​ ​admired​ ​Alexa’s​ ​music​ ​for​ ​a​ ​long​ ​time,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​will​ ​be​ ​great​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​live, musical​ ​dialogue​ ​and​ ​play​ ​fresh​ ​versions​ ​of​ ​our​ ​songs​ ​together.”

Rose adds,​ ​”I’m​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​with​ ​one​ ​of​ ​Asheville’s​ ​most​ ​captivating​ ​and​ ​well-composed​ ​songwriters and​ ​his​ ​stellar​ ​band.​ ​The​ ​concert​ ​will​ ​be​ ​exactly​ ​a​ ​year​ ​after​ ​my​ ​album​ ​release​ ​at​ ​The​ ​Grey​ ​Eagle,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​will be​ ​great​ ​to​ ​create​ ​new​ ​takes​ ​on​ ​old​ ​songs​ ​with​ ​these​ ​unique,​ ​virtuoso​ ​players.”

Phan’s​ ​original​ ​music​ ​is​ ​a​ ​blend​ ​of​ ​gypsy​ ​jazz,​ ​bluegrass,​ ​classical,​ ​and​ ​folk,​ ​a​ ​unique​ ​synthesis​ ​all​ ​his​ ​own. His​ ​first​ ​album,​ ​Dreams​ ​in​ ​Modern​ ​Folk,​ ​was​ ​drawn​ ​from​ ​his​ ​experiences​ ​hiking​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​Pacific​ ​Crest Trail​ ​in​ ​2014,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​his​ ​past​ ​struggles​ ​with​ ​depression,​ ​addiction,​ ​loss​ ​and​ ​love.​ ​

After​ ​a​ ​Kickstarter campaign​ ​that​ ​smashed​ ​all​ ​expectations,​ ​Phan​ ​and​ ​his​ ​group​ ​the​ ​Soul​ ​Symphony​ ​recorded​ ​their​ ​new​ ​album at​ ​the​ ​studio​ ​of​ ​two-time​ ​Grammy​ ​award-winning​ ​producer​ ​Matt​ ​Williams.​ ​The​ ​album​ ​title​ ​Fear​ ​is​ ​the Teacher​ ​serves​ ​as​ ​its​ ​theme,​ ​conveying​ ​the​ ​freedom​ ​Phan​ ​has​ ​found​ ​as​ ​an​ ​artist​ ​by​ ​embracing​ ​his​ ​fear​ ​and transforming​ ​its​ ​teachings​ ​into​ ​music.

Rose​ ​crafts​ ​clever​ ​lyrics​ ​and​ ​boot-tapping​ ​mountain​ ​magic​ ​in​ ​her​ ​own​ ​brand​ ​of​ ​modern​ ​folk.​ ​She​ ​spent​ ​her formative​ ​years​ ​curating​ ​original​ ​music​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Blue​ ​Ridge,​ ​releasing​ ​two​ ​albums​ ​in​ ​her​ ​early​ ​twenties.​ ​Her latest​ ​full-length​ ​release,​ ​Low​ ​and​ ​Lonesome,​ ​written​ ​on​ ​a​ ​hand-me-down​ ​guitar​ ​from​ ​her​ ​mother,​ ​is​ ​a​ ​toast to​ ​Rose’s​ ​heritage,​ ​and​ ​its​ ​anthem-like​ ​chorus​ ​haunts​ ​the​ ​listener​ ​with​ ​a​ ​somberness​ ​evocative​ ​of​ ​Gillian Welch.​ ​Her​ ​band​ ​currently​ ​tours​ ​under​ ​the​ ​moniker​ ​Alexa​ ​Rose​ ​&​ ​The​ ​Midnight​ ​Stringbird,​ ​and​ ​delivers heartfelt​ ​performances​ ​with​ ​stringed​ ​instruments​ ​and​ ​warm​ ​family-style​ ​harmonies.