FLOATING ACTION
After a Shuffle showcase a few years back, a friend walked by on the way out and praised the show, with one exception - she didn't care for the headliner. At the top of the bill that night was Asheville's Floating Action. That refrain was repeated a few times, even from within the Shuffle camp - but the editorial staff of that magazine never once wavered in its choice to feature Seth Kauffman's anachronistic vehicle on the cover or subsequently whenever he released one of his under-appreciated gems. After all, in an age of prosthetic dance music, hook-less texture "songs" and imagination-free MBV wannabes, here was a band that knew the value of Memphis grit and Trenchtown riddims, and came up with something new and cool in the blend. That it was just one dude making all the sounds on the LPs, well, that just sealed the deal for us (live, there's usually a full band, but not on this tour). Sadly, and for reasons that totally escape this writer, Kauffman's music seems destined to resonate only with a small slice of the music world. But it's a slice you don't mind being one with: My Morning Jacket's Jim James, who released last year's Fake Blood on his own Removador label; Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell, who took them out on tour; Doctor Dog, who got them signed to their label; country singer Courtney Jaye, who insisted Kauffman bring his lo-fi production to her recording ... well, yeah, like they say: a musician's musician. Opening for Tyler Ramsey at the late show. $12-$14. Sept. 13, 10:30 p.m. The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. 704-376-3737.