Maximumrocknroll, Yama And Clifftop, Inside Appalachia

A Tennessee DJ takes us on a tour of Appalachian punk and metal.

Also, Appalachian culture is enriched by its immigrants. We explore the fusion of West Virginia and Japan.

And, Appalachia isn’t all punk rock and Japanese food. There’s also string band music.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

• Maximumrocknroll Uncovers Appalachia’s Extreme Music Scene
• Japanese Homestyle Haven In Morgantown
• Federal Cuts Impacting Mammoth Cave National Park
• Using The Internet To Connect With Extended Family
• A Sharper Silence Explores Grief, Nature and Hurricane Helene
• Journalist Documents Experience Of Trans Youth In American Teenager
• Appalachian String Band Music Festival In W.Va.

Maximumrocknroll Uncovers Appalachia’s Extreme Music Scene

Appalachia is known for its distinctive music. It’s home to thriving punk, metal, indie and hardcore scenes. Now, the world is getting a chance to check out Appalachia’s extreme music scene, thanks to Maximumrocknroll. Maximumrocknroll was a zine that ran from 1982 to 2019. It first started as a radio show in California though. Now it’s a podcast. Since October, Johnson City, Tennessee, DJ Cary Allen has been part of the show and spotlighting Appalachian bands. Host Mason Adams spoke with Allen.

Cary Allen is a DJ on Maximumrocknroll Radio. He also plays garage rock and gospel on his Fuzzkill and Righteous Fuzz radio shows in the Johnson City area. The bands we heard in that segment were L.I.P.S., Coffin Smoke, Nerve Endings, Ex-Parents, Warmones, Wyndrider and Buzz-Hound. You can find Maximumrocknroll Radio wherever you get podcasts.

Japanese Homestyle Haven In Morgantown

Just about every college town has its go to block or neighborhood for restaurants and bars. In Morgantown, the home of West Virginia University (WVU), that’s High Street. And tucked off the main drag is Yama, a cozy diner that’s been serving up homestyle Japanese food since the 1990s. Japanese students and staff go there to share language, culture and food. It’s also a place of comfort and connection for the larger community.

In 2023, Folkways Reporter Lauren Griffin brought us this story. 

Federal Cuts Impacting Mammoth Cave National Park

Since January, the Trump administration has fired or laid off nearly one out of four staffers in the National Park Service. Republicans in Congress are now proposing even more cuts.

WKYU’s Derek Parham reports that visitors around the country are feeling the effects, including at parks like Mammoth Cave and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Using The Internet To Connect With Extended Family

A growing loneliness epidemic has gripped the country. People struggle to make connections with other people, and sometimes even within their own families. Some experts blame the internet, especially social media. But a Pennsylvania man is using the internet to connect with his extended family – and they number in the thousands.

WESA’s Kate Giammarise has the story.

A Sharper Silence Explores Grief, Nature and Hurricane Helene

Seven years ago, poet Michael Hettich landed in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Since moving there, Hettich has published four books of poetry, including his latest, A Sharper Silence. The book explores nature, touches on Hurricane Helene and speaks of his relationship with his wife, Colleen, who died in January of lung cancer.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hettich about the collection.

Journalist Documents Experience Of Trans Youth In American Teenager

Nico Lang is a non-binary, award-winning journalist who has spent over a decade covering the transgender community. Their work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Lang’s latest book, American Teenager, chronicles the daily lives of eight transgender teens across the U.S., including one in West Virginia.

WVPB’s Jack Walker spoke with Lang and brings us this.

Appalachian String Band Music Festival In W.Va.

Summer is high time for string band music. And since 1990, mountaineers have gathered in Clifftop, West Virginia for the Appalachian String Band Festival. The festival attracts thousands of old-time music fans from around the world. And if you know much about old-time, you know most folks who journey there don’t show up just to listen, but to play and dance.  

WVPB’s Randy Yohe went out for a visit and brought us this.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Ron Mullennex, L.I.P.S., Coffin Smoke, Nerve Endings, Ex-Parents, Warmones, Wyndrider, Buzz-Hound, Erik Vincent Huey, Paul Loomis, Mary Hott, Blue Dot Sessions and John Blissard.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.