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Get Your Fill of Appalachian Funk-Grass with Dr. Bacon Band at Beech Mountain Feb. 13

By Bailey Faulkner

Can’t get enough of the slopes? Want to wrap up a night of skiing and snowboarding with one of Boone’s favorite bands? Beech Mountain is making it happen! “Appalachian funk-grass” band Dr. Bacon will return to Beech Mountain for a night of “infectiously danceable” tunes on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 6-8 p.m.

Anyone who has seen Dr. Bacon knows that the band could be described as slightly unusual. The group’s deep roster allows Dr. Bacon not only to create a huge sound, but also to introduce a wide range of instrumentation and musical styles. The seven-piece band is made of:

Jesse Talcott (guitar, vocals, washboard, trombone)

Myles Dunder (resonator guitar, vocals, tenor and baritone sax, kazoo)

Tucker Galloway (banjo, vocals)

Michael Crawford (harmonica, manager)

Phil Alcock (bass)

Wilhelm Schmidt (percussion)

John Kirby (electric guitar)

Mixing funk, soul, jazz, rock, blues, folk, hip-hop and more, Dr. Bacon is sure to please the ears of any true music lover.

Dr. Bacon

The Asheville-based band formed in Boone in June 2012, starting out with only two guitars and a mandolin. Since then, Dr. Bacon has grown to its current seven-member lineup and has added a seemingly infinite number of instruments and musical styles to its performances and recordings.

Dr. Bacon Band. Photo by Nathania Beardsworth/Facebook.
Dr. Bacon Band. Photo by Nathania Beardsworth/Facebook.

While certainly eclectic musically, the band relies on its “Appalachian bluegrass foundation” first and foremost. Dr. Bacon’s bluegrass background becomes especially apparent when the members cover their favorite tunes.

Some of the band’s most bluegrassy choices on its long list of covers and mash-ups are “Tell It to Me (Cocaine Habit) and Salty Dog, but that doesn’t stop the group from covering “Use Me,” “Uptown Funk” and other popular tunes that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a bluegrass band.

“The sheer diversity [of the band’s repertoire] ensures that no matter what genre of music you identify with most, you will hear something that resonates,” Dr. Bacon’s press kit says.

That diversity has helped the band build an ever-growing fan base. Well known in the High Country, the band has worked hard to spread its music to the rest of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The band has taken the stage at:

  • The Pour House Music Hall (Raleigh)
  • Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival (winner of Fall 2013 band competition)
  • The Cave (Chapel Hill)
  • The Whisky (Wilmington)
  • Camp Barefoot Music Festival (West Virginia)
  • Capone’s (Johnson City, Tennessee)

Dr. Bacon has had the chance to share the stage with some cool acts over the years. The band has played alongside Boone-famous:

  • Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
  • The Mantras
  • Fat Cheek Kat
  • Ellis Dyson and the Shambles
  • From Bears

Recently, Dr. Bacon has been at work in the studio. Having already dropped an EP, The Kreature, the band is looking forward to releasing its first full-length album sometime during the spring.

With all of the actual recording for its upcoming album already completed, the band is now looking to the future.

“We’ve been doing a lot of practicing and writing,” harmonica player and manager Michael Crawford said.

The band has already begun working on songs that will hopefully appear on its second full-length album in the not-so-distant future.

Beech Mountain

You certainly won’t be disappointed with Dr. Bacon’s upcoming show at Beech Mountain. The band played some of its first shows at the venue and is looking forward to returning to the High Country.

“Boone is absolutely magical. It feels like home,” Crawford said.

The crowd at Beech Mountain will certainly have a great time watching the band.

“We love to play music for people. We especially love it when our music makes people smile, dance and have a good time,” the band’s Facebook page says.

Excited to return, the group plans on breaking out three or four new songs since its last show in Boone at The Local.

If you have never heard Dr. Bacon before, the Beech Mountain show will be a perfect opportunity to enjoy the mountain and catch new music.

“If you like good music, fun, dancing and something a little out of the ordinary, we are the band for you,” Dr. Bacon’s Facebook page says.

Fans should check out the band’s Facebook page and website to stay up to date on upcoming shows, new releases and other exciting Dr. Bacon news. You can purchase the band’s EP on CDBaby and other online services. You can also stream the group’s EP on Spotify.

Don’t miss out on an awesome night of Appalachian funk-grass!

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