Local roots rocker Andrew Scotchie has built a reputation over the years for high-energy performances and unforgettable riffs. But just as defining as those trademarks is the deep heart at the center of his music — a quality that consistently leaves a lasting impression.
Scotchie recently contributed a new song to After the Flood: Songs Inspired by Helene — a compilation curated by Experience Music, with proceeds supporting ongoing relief efforts. Written last October, just weeks after Hurricane Helene, “Neighbor” was inspired by the overwhelming sense of community Scotchie experienced in the aftermath. Driven by barroom piano, soulful backing vocals, and his heartfelt croon, the southern rock gem beautifully channels the warmth of its inspiration.
I reached out to Scotchie to share the story behind “Neighbor” and reflect on his personal experience of Hurricane Helene. What he shared was an unflinching and deeply human glimpse into those first chaotic days:
Like so many, when we woke up the morning of September 27th, we didn’t know the full extent of the damage and how lucky we were just to be alive. I immediately wanted to call or text my loved ones but couldn’t. We checked in with our neighbors and listened to whatever news we could get on our handheld radio.
My neighbor Tim went to the Bowen bridge to see where the water was. I’ll never forget his face when he came back. That ghostly look of horror and disbelief. “It’s so much worse than we could have imagined,” he said. The sound of emergency sirens would continue for weeks.
I tried to reach my mom, stepdad and little brother in Weaverville but the amount of fallen trees and power lines only allowed us to get to Woodfin before we were forced to turn back. It became really clear that the best way to get information was from our neighbors and from radio signal or at the register of deeds office where people were gathering for power and cell signal. We live near Weaver Park in North Asheville and the back of 5 houses form a lot where we could all gather, exchange news, share food etc.
Parts of those first couple days are blurry but I’ll never forget seeing people walking the streets checking in on one another, running to go grab chainsaws to clear driveways, calling out to one another and the genuine concern we shared for each other. The whole city was an otherworldly combination of chaos and community.
I remember meeting neighbors for the first time because of the storm. Our closest neighbors were amazing and one of them went for supplies as soon as the roads were clear enough. Looking back on my journal from those first couple weeks, I am reminded that our camp stove dinners with our neighbors was the greatest sense of normal. We talked every night about what we took for granted, how the river will always win, how lucky we are to be alive and to have clothing and enough food.
People forgot about the upcoming election and there wasn’t a chance to doom scroll. Our happy little haven had turned into an unimaginable hellscape but we had each other. When we were able to get some signal, we felt the concern from the rest of the country. As thoughtful messages started to come in, so did the reality of the damage. Our city was never going to be the same. People were leaving and the death toll was rising. We had to find light within each other and lean on each other.
I am so thankful for the music series Josh Blake hosted on the south slope at World Kitchen and the benefit shows we got to play like the one at Sierra Nevada and the Orange Peel. The Peel krewe responded quickly and turned the basement of the venue into a well stocked supply drop/pick up location. My friends Jenny and David made waterless toilets for those in need. Everyone found a way to help and searched for a sense of normal.
In October, the amazing crew at Echo Mountain opened its doors to local musicians needing an outlet. A few days before the session, I had written the music and chorus for “Neighbor”. A simple song inspired by the community response and a song that is hopeful in that WNC can serve as an example to the rest of the world. When the everyday luxuries and distractions are stripped away, some of the best human instincts can shine through. What if we treated everyone we met like a next door neighbor? Wouldn’t the world be a much more peaceful place? I know plenty of cynics would happily rip this idea apart or call it naive but it felt right, the song was a source of hope and gave me something to work towards.
I went into the Helene Jam Session at Echo and got to try “Neighbor” for the first time with an incredible band featuring Dorsey Parker, Peggy Ratusz, Taylor Pierson and many more. [There were] several people I had never played with but we shared the trauma and all needed the catharsis. The form of the song that night was slightly different from the way it was recorded this past June but hearing it back for the first time was really exciting. I remember leaving those sessions feeling the happiest I had felt in weeks. In the months following, I played “Neighbor” live every chance I could. People would come up after the shows and share their powerful stories. I found myself comforting and being comforted by so many strangers.
So many songs have come out and will continue to come out of this tragedy. “After the Flood” is one of many great compilations featuring a variety of local writers. I took some music to McKinney this past spring and she did a great job writing lyrics to it. Our song “Broken Record,” on the compilation, addresses some of the abandonment our community felt once we fell out of the news cycle and once we realized so much of the rebuilding would be left to everyday people with limited funds. The emotions are all over the spectrum, they come from first hand experience and align with bigger picture problems our country is facing.
Many of the financial effects weren’t blatantly apparent until this summer when we noticed a drastic drop in tourism revenue. The balancing act of drawing people in to spend money while supporting the artists that define the scene is the most delicate it’s ever been. The community spirit is different now but it’s still very strong. It’s important for us to advocate that the towns are open for business and are still lovely to visit. I have met many people on the road that just aren’t aware of the progress Asheville and neighboring towns have made. Marshall is a great example of a town that was devastated by the flood but is back at it, hosting events and supporting local businesses.
Again, the recovery is years in the making. Much hard work lies ahead. I am so thankful just to be alive and to get to write about it. I think our WNC community is doing a good job honoring who and what we lost. The discussions need to keep happening and we need to elect compassionate leaders that put the people over profit.
We are all going to be feeling quite heavy with the one year mark of the storm. Another way to help is just to check in on one another. I hope that “Neighbor” and every song on this compilation can be a reminder of how strong we are and how far we’ve come.”
Catch Scotchie on Friday, Sept. 26 at Records in the RAD, performing after a special acoustic set from UK band The Heavy Heavy (who will also be at The Grey Eagle later in the night).
