Music to Your Ears Discussion Series:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Hosted by the Asheville Guitar Bar, a discussion series
provides deeper understanding and greater enjoyment of classic albums and recording
artists. Led by Asheville speaker, author and music journalist Bill Kopp, Music to Your
Ears is an interactive experience that shines a light on important music and people. Music
to Your Ears is a 90-minute conversation, held at the Guitar Bar, a music magnet in
Asheville’s historic River Arts District. The March 6 event is a listening party and
discussion focusing on the landmark concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
In 1974, English progressive rock band Genesis was at its peak. With a nuanced and
melodic musical core, the group provided a complex and intriguing backing for the
vocals and lyrical visions of front man Peter Gabriel. On the heels of a critically-
acclaimed string of adventurous albums, Genesis embarked on a creative endeavor to
make its most ambitious work yet: a double-length conceptual work. Featuring wordplay and social commentary, the words and story
of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway were the product of Gabriel’s creative mind, and the accompanying music was a collaborative
effort with guitarists Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford, keyboardist Tony Banks and drummer Phil Collins.
A mix of fantasy and character development, Gabriel’s storyline for The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway centered around Rael, a young
New York man of Puerto Rican origin. Released in November 1974, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was a critical and commercial
success, peaking at #41 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the U.S. Described in The New Yorker as “The Ulysses of concept
albums,” The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway regularly ranks high on best album lists; Uncut named it as one of the ten greatest
concept albums ever made, and Allmusic awarded it five stars, the highest ranking.
At the time of its releases, the album also exerted an influence on a young Puerto Rican boy growing up in New York City. Today Jeff
Santiago is a well-known and celebrated figure in the Asheville music and arts community, leading his band Los Gatos. But in the
‘70s he was a kid whose musical tastes were informed by the music his older siblings and parents played. And they turned him onto
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Its main character resonated with young Jeff even before he began his own musical journey.
Join host and music journalist Bill Kopp for an evening in discussion with Jeff Santiago about Genesis
and their album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. We’ll listen to key tracks and encourage questions
from the audience. The evening is the latest installment of the popular “Music to Your Ears” discussion
series, hosted by Asheville Guitar Bar and sponsored by AshevilleFM.
ABOUT THE DISCUSSION SERIES
Music to Your Ears is Bill Kopp’s monthly discussion series hosted by Asheville Guitar
Bar and co-sponsored by AshevilleFM. On the first Wednesday of each month, music
enthusiasts gather to discuss an important album, artist or musical movement. An
interactive evening, MTYE isn’t a lecture; it’s a discussion led by experts and designed
to enrich the listening experience.
ABOUT BILL KOPP (blog.musoscribe.com)
With over 500 bylines in regional publications (Mountain Xpress, Bold Life, WNC Magazine and more), Asheville-based speaker,
author and music journalist is an acknowledged expert on popular music. Author of two books – Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd
Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon and Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave – Bill Kopp writes for
publications across the country and abroad. A contributing editor at Goldmine Magazine, he has authored more than 30 album liner
note essays and conducted more than 1100 interviews. He regularly hosts discussions on artists and albums of historical importance,
and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts.
ABOUT JEFF SANTIAGO (jeffsantiago.com)
After settling in Asheville, NC, Bronx born singer-songwriter Jeff Santiago quickly became immersed in the city’s diverse music
community, forming Santiago y Los Gatos. The band brings a combination of emotionally driven lyrics and funky, rhythmic rock-
inspired jams to the stage. Santiago y Los Gatos is pop music at its core, indie rock at its root that is infused with Hispanic heritage
and Southern soul. All this, delivered in songs from the heart. Their live shows are full of passion, energy and emotion.