Flying High, Under the Radar: Spotlight on Jeff Anders
- 50Plus
- 37 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Local Music Makers
When my husband Bryan and I first moved to WNC 23 years ago, the local dance band that was packin’ them in was a seven-piece called ‘A Social Function.’
We found ourselves nearly every weekend back then, dining and dancing at the now closed Magnolia’s Raw Bar on Walnut Street in downtown Asheville.
Lead guitarist and background vocalist, Jeff Anders assembled the first “all-stars” Asheville cover band and they played the venue three times a week for years.
“That Magnolia’s gig three times a week sustained me because during the day, I was steeped in original projects” says Anders. The venue owner paid them well and Jeff says “I had the best players because I could pay them what they deserved to get paid.”
For someone with his pedigree who says he’s not “a self-promoter” and whose internet presence is fairly limited, his career as a Nashville songwriter, session’s player and band leader are legendary and still going strong.
A Social Function is probably the longest running band in Asheville history, playing regularly at private events, eateries, bars and breweries to this day.
I can’t express to all of you just how nostalgic and fun my conversation and interview was with Jeff Anders. The core history, the foundation of the Asheville music scene rests on his strong and steady shoulders and so many of the other outstanding musicians from the 1980’s- 2000’s.
We reminisced about prominent and beloved players who have passed away like the Black brothers, keyboardist John and drummer Jim.
Rocky Lindsley, whose love for dogs, music and “hot” chicken made his sudden passing that much harder to take for those close to him and the community at large.
Though Jeff is originally from here, he grew up in Indiana. He came back in time to graduate from Asheville High School and go onto major in art and play football (outside linebacker) at Mars Hill College.
“I really just have done art my whole life but when I started playing music, I put the art on hold for a long time.”
His lifelong friend, Warren Haynes (Government Mule/Allman Brothers), eventually moved from here to Nashville after high school and urged Anders to do the same. “He talked me into moving and so I did.
I ended up co-writing a tune for his first solo album (Tales of Ordinary Madness) and he produced a band I joined up there called ‘Crystal Zoo.’ And the really cool thing is that they are re-releasing a 30th anniversary issue of ‘Tales’ soon.”
Though Jeff co-wrote a few more cuts that Haynes has recorded, the song he co-wrote and says is “the best thing that ever happened” to him was the tune the Allman Brothers released on their ‘Hittin’ the Note’ album in 2003 called ‘High Cost of Low Living.’ Jeff tells me, “It paid off my house.”
While brushes with fame didn’t come full circle for Jeff Anders in the Crystal Zoo project, they released three albums under the Animal Record Label from 1992-2003 and toured extensively during that time.
That group’s break up allowed him to more fully commit to a rock band he was traveling back here to rehearse with, record with and tour with. They were a noteworthy group of Asheville cats who called themselves ‘Prayin’ for Rain.’ Jeff officially joined the group when he moved back to WNC for good.
Their sound is a dynamic fusion of global influences blending original songs with covers, spanning classic rock, folk, world beats, jazz, hard rock, southern rock, progressive rock, country, and blues.
“I’ve been a hustler and I really don’t talk about it much and I guess if I did, people would know more of these things about me. I like being in the background.”
Most people don’t realize, for instance, that the band he co-formed called Commodore Fox has had a stellar and rotating mix of lead singers that at times have crossed over to A Social Function.
Notable songstress ingénues like Jesse Barry, Andalyn Lewis and Elise Eden not to mention occasionally working with Leeda Lyric Jones on drums and vocals. Jeff Anders is more of a mentor than a hustler in my humble opinion.
He’s eager to move onto talk about his new project, Band of Sky which is a collaboration with old friends and bandmates; a revival of Prayin’ For Rain with Mike Barnes, David Bradley and Richie Tipton.
After the passing of Rocky, Barnes invited Chipper Lundsford to sit on the drum throne. They all agree that with the addition of Lundsford there’s no better tribute to Rocky’s legacy.
From the band’s biography: With over 30 years of musical roots in Asheville, the band proudly reflects their local heritage, even in their name, which nods to the Land of the Sky.
Their sound is a dynamic fusion of global influences blending original songs with covers, spanning classic rock, folk, world beats, jazz, hard rock, southern rock, progressive rock, country, and blues.
Powerful yet delicate, the band is as solid as the Blue Ridge Mountains, and as radiant as a summer day.
“When Covid happened, I took out my art supplies and started painting again and I was able to sell some paintings. This led to a painting I did that ended up being the cover of Government Mule’s 2021 released record ‘Heavy Load Blues.’ I’ve been able to sell quite a few paintings and prints since then.”
Jeff had a space at the Marquee in the River Arts District before the hurricane and miraculously he’d just taken down most of his collection there just before September 26, 2024. He says, “At least I had a place for people to go to see my stuff and buy my stuff if they felt moved to.”
With a sprinkling of gossip, too much self-deprecation, stories like when he broke two ribs tripping over a monitor one night and kept playing, shared opinions and undying praise for all of the players he’s worked with over the years along with repeated promises that we will share the stage together someday, our conversation ended all too soon.
To keep up with Jeff and all his projects:
https://www.facebook.com/asocialfunction/
To keep up with Peggy’s gig schedule visit:
Peggy Ratusz is a vocal coach,
song interpreter, and songwriter.
For vocal coaching email her at