Album Review - A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door by River Whyless

A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door was released
on March 1, 2012

A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door is a debut album unlike many, while River Whyless has been active for years now as Do It To Julia, the band made the move to Asheville and dropped not only their moniker, but their style of songwriting.  Since their name change and move the band has flourished in every way, whether it be their lush orchestration or their developed and picturesque lyricism, River Whyless has completely revamped their approach to music.


A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door received a physical release on March 1, 2012 and the band has been touring non-stop since, hitting up SXSW, Daytrotter, and our great northern brethren in Canada.  It seems as if River Whyless has finally found their niche within this beautiful baroque folk they're producing, and it feels like they've got a lot more developing left to do.

The album opener "Leaf", sets the tone brilliantly for the rest of the album.  It affirms the band's traditional roots with a wonderful violin part meshing perfectly with the slow croon of Ryan O'Keefe as he pours his heart out with lines like, "At the top of the morning/At the bottom of night/You were sleeping closer to him/And I wept in the stairwell/That's where our love I said to farewell/I had just let you go/To the god that I'd never know".  Halli Anderson's vocals serve as the perfect harmony within lines such as these, the two have a feeling of sincerity within their voice that play perfectly off of one another.  As the album unfolds both songwriters have their own defining moments, but the band shines brightest when the two vocalists are playing off of one another.

Music on the Mountaintop brings Railroad Earth, Dr. Dog and some stellar locals to Grandfather Mtn.

Music on the Mountaintop brings Dr. Dog,
Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Railroad Earth, and
more to Banner Elk, NC on August 24-26

Music on the Mountaintop is celebrating its 5th anniversary in a big way, bringing in the highly esteemed Railroad Earth as a partner in curating and hosting a Superjam on the last day of the festival.   Headlined by Railroad Earth and the fantastic indie folk rockers Dr. Dog, Music on the Mountaintop is a quaint but expanding event held near the college town of Boone, NC.  The three-day festival held at the foot of Grandfather Mountain from August 24 through August 26 is currently selling tickets at an early bird price of $85, allowing you to enjoy three days of music and two nights of camping in one of the most gorgeous festival locales in the state.

Held at Grandfather Mountain Campground, the festival offers satellite parking at a lot under 5 miles away and requires festival goers to take the golf cart shuttle or the free Boone/App State shuttle.  With a low price and some stellar local acts filling out the line-up, MOTM looks like it's going to be an absolute blast.

Radiating nothing but good vibes, Music on the Mountaintop is held in Banner Elk, NC roughly 10 miles from Boone and already features a diverse lineup of talented North Carolina musicians along with some highly revered international acts as well.  Beginning in 2008, the festival has grown from humble beginnings and has continually supported local non-profits such as Appalachian Voices throughout their history.  With last year's attendance at 5,500 the festival has since expanded to three days, and with artists like The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Sam Bush, MOTM continues to fill their expanding lineup with an eclectic blend of musical styles that makes for their best lineup yet.  Local standout artists like River Whyless and Naked Gods of Boone return to the festival along with the beloved Holy Ghost Tent Revival make for an excellent snapshot of North Carolina's music scene.  Be sure to check out the rest of the lineup thus far after the jump!