A RUFUS GROVE Homecoming Artimus Pyle & Asheville Band Return to Boone By Jeff Eason Music fans in the High Country remember the Appalachian State University band Rufus Grove for its high energy concerts and laidback philosophy. The band picked up its stakes a few years back and relocated to Asheville but the college town of Boone has never strayed far from its collective heart. “We all met each other in 1997 when we were living in East Dorm at ASU,” said Rufus Grove’s John Holden. “We formed the band around 1999 and started playing around town.” The band will return to Boone for a special homecoming show at Murphy’s on Friday, April 30th. The show starts at 10 p.m. and admission is $5 per person. Rufus Grove includes Holden, Jamie Dose, Mike Boling, Dorsey Parker and Davidson Wicker. Since Christmas of last year, the band has been performing with former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle. “We met at a benefit show at the Orange Peel in Asheville,” said Holden. “It was one of those Christmas Jams arranged by Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes. This was one of the ones in the south where local bands like Molly Hatchet came out to help out with the benefit. We met Artimus backstage and hit it off. We’ve been playing together ever since.” Rufus Grove becomes the Artimus Pyle Band for those shows where Pyle is the headman, recreating the glory days of Lynyrd Skynyrd and southern rock. At other shows, it is a Rufus Grove gig, and Pyle becomes just one of the guys, adding percussion to their already rhythmic mix of classic rock and original tunes. A typical Rufus Grove set consists of jamband originals plus covers of songs by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder and Peter Gabriel. Rufus Grove has just recently finished recording its latest studio album, tentatively titled Sanctuary. The album was recorded at Collapseable Studios in Asheville under the guidance of studio owner Arron Price and Atlanta musician Dr. Dan. The album is currently in the mixing stage and the band hopes to have it in their hands by the end of the summer. Before that happens, however, there is the matter of undertaking a nationwide tour as The Artimus Pyle Band. The next few months will see the guys hitting the road for gigs in Midwest and Florida before returning to Asheville. “We just got back from Louisiana,” said Holden. “We’re trying to stay busy before our CD comes out. We hope to see a lot of our old Boone friends on Friday night.” For more information, call Murphy’s at (828) 264-5117.