Caverns of Gold
5 Asheville area musicians responded to the need of the Western North Carolina community devastated by Hurricane Helene by assembling a music compilation called Caverns of Gold. 280 artists are featured on the compilation and include well-known artists like R.E.M., Luscious Jackson, moe., Leftover Salmon, Consolidated, Milk Carton Kids, Kevn Kinney (of Drivin' n' Cryin'), and dozens more artists from around the globe. The Caverns of Gold podcast features interviews with artists who donated their music to assist with the recovery efforts. To date, Caverns of Gold has raised over $20,000 for BeLoved Asheville.
Caverns of Gold
Caverns of Gold #007 - Kevn Kinney of Drivin' N' Cryin'
Drivin' N' Cryin' is a legendary southern roots rock band from Athens, Georgia that doesn't get the credit it deserves for bridging the hap between the jangly alternative pop that Athens made famous worldwide through bands like R.E.M. and Guadalcanal Diary with what was to be become more widely known as Americana and alt-country in the 1990's. Bands like Old 97's, Uncle Tupelo, and Drive-By Truckers owe an immense debt to Drivin' N' Cryin'. Although frontman and songwriter Kevn Kinney hails originally from the upper Midwest, his songs are steeped in the imagery of the south. It is from his song "Honeysuckle Blue" that we took the name for the compilation. "Runnin' through these caverns of gold runs a river of death indeed." For many in western North Carolina this image hits way too close to home. As we come upon the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene and its devastation I caught a few minutes of Kevn's time before Drivin' N' Cryin' took the stage at the Grey Eagle in Asheville.