Last Saturday night, I went to my third Dexter and the Moonrocks concert at The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina. They were touring with the band Fox N’ Vead. The venue was packed. The first time I saw them was in January 2024 at Ground Zero. The second time was also at The Orange Peel in July of 2024. Watching bands go from local gigs to bigger venues is one of the most rewarding parts of being a music fan. There’s something special about watching a band grow, from figuring out their sound to seeing them own the stage. I love seeing the evolution, the different lineups with each tour.

The crowd was a sea of cowboy boots, flannel, and beers. People from all walks of life were singing every word as if it were therapy. James walked the stage, hair flying, connecting with everyone. What gets me every time isn’t just the music, though James’s voice live is unreal; It’s how real it feels. These guys talk about real stuff, small-town struggles, heartbreak, mental health, getting through the mess, and they deliver it with so much joy that you can’t help but feel seen. The crowd feeds off it. James Tuffs (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Ryan Anderson (lead guitar/vocals), Ty Anderson (bass), and Fox (drums/vocals) - right now, they are on fire! They’re hitting spots like The NorVa in Norfolk on March 6, The National in Richmond on March 7, and coming up soon in places like Columbia, South Carolina, at The Senate on April 18. Tickets are moving fast! Western Space Grunge is the new Y’allternative sound.