Fruition & Jon Stickley Find It’s ‘Hard To Make Money’ In Asheville

Fruition brought their headlining tour in support of How To Make Mistakes, the band’s first studio album in four years, to Asheville, North Carolina on Monday. North Carolina’s own Jon Stickley joined Fruition for How To Make Mistakes single “Hard To Make Money” late in their main set.

Fruition — guitarist Jay Cobb Anderson, multi-instrumentalist Mimi Naja, keyboardist Kellen Asebroek, drummer Tyler Thompson and bassist Jeff Leonard — showcased their new album last night at the Grey Eagle. The quintet played 10 of the record’s 13 tracks in Asheville.

Jon Stickley emerged with electric guitar in hand for “Hard To Make Money,” which ended a six-song run of How To Make Mistakes cuts. Stickley engaged in an impressive call and response with Jay Cobb Anderson. The pair of guitarists urged each other to great heights throughout the duel.

Watch fan-shot footage of Jon Stickley and Fruition performing “Hard To Make Money” below:

Jon Stickley’s young son Callum has a rare genetic disorder called STXBP1. September is STXBP1 awareness month. “Team Callum” t-shirts are on sale now with proceeds going towards the STXBP1 Foundation.

Fruition also worked several fan favorites into the setlist in Asheville. “Mountain Annie,” “There She Was,” “Forget About You” and “Lonesome Prayer” dotted the main set.

The band made a pit stop on Monday at Nina Simone’s childhood home in Tryon, North Carolina. The site is currently under restoration with Summer 2025 targeted for completion.

Fruition honored the legendary singer and civil rights activist by opening their encore with a cover of Simone’s “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” The five-piece then performed the beloved “The Meaning” before capping the night with How To Make Mistakes closer “When It’s All Said and Done.”

See Fruition cover “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” below:

Fruition rolls into Carrboro, North Carolina tonight for a concert at Cat’s Cradle. The How To Make Mistakes Fall Tour continues through late November.

Setlist (via Rob Turner)

Set: Tomorrow, Dawn, Scars, Counting The Days, Forget About You, Where Can I Turn, Can You Tell Me, Eraser, Mountain Annie, Take It Back, Never Change, Lonely Work, One By One, Made To Break, Hard To Make Money*, Lonesome Prayer, There She Was, Get Lost, Whole World Of Trouble

Encore: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, The Meaning, When It’s All Said and Done

* – w/ Jon Stickley