TREY SANSOM’S DIDGERIBLUE

A wonderful advertising error occurred last fall when a local music venue ran the wrong ad for a Friday night show. I arrived expecting to hear a 1970’s style funk band, but onstage was a man setting up multiple didgeridoos and guitars. What the…?!? That man was Trey Sansom. Playing such diverse cover songs such as Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry,” Peter Rowan’s “The Hobo Song,” David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” and The Beatles’s “A Day in the Life,” plus very upbeat and positive originals, including an Aboriginal inspired instrumental that was so good I thought branches would start growing from his didgeridoos, I quickly became a rabid fan and I try to catch his shows whenever he and his band play.

Trey says “Didgeriblue is the concept of mixing American roots music with the ancient sounds of the Australian didgeridoo with a hint of the Caribbean to create a refreshing new sound. The blues, rock, bluegrass, reggae, Latin and indigenous sounds are all flavors that can be found at a Didgeriblue show. Some refer to the sound as “bluesy southern world fusion,” while others cannot describe what they’re hearing, or feeling for that matter. They just can’t believe what they are seeing. ” I couldn’t believe it either, when I saw Didgeriblue for the fist time. Prior to this show, I didn’t think I was particularly enamored of the didgeridoo, but I was immediately delighted and hooked by this unusual droning sound being joyfully incorporated into a variety of music styles.

Trey is also a solid blues guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with a powerful and appealing vocal style. He is joined in Didgeriblue with Shaggy, from Cornbred Blues Band, on bass, and Eric Keeble, from Moonshine Cherries, on drums.

I spoke to Trey about how this whole thing started:

520: Why didgeridoos?

Trey: It just kinda happened.

520: This kind of thing doesn’t just happen! This would never happen to me.

Trey: I was at friend and musician Devin Brewer’s house and he plays and the sound just kinda clicked with me. My parents have bamboo in their yard and I made my first didgeridoo, and then I started experimenting with making didgeridoos out of PVC pipe.

520: Why do you have three didgeridoos connected together?

Trey: That’s the “triple didg.” Each didg is one note and I use a method of circular breathing between the three to obtain a varied sound.

520: What about the single large didg next to the triple didg?

Trey: That is an authentic didg made from blood wood eucalyptus that was naturally hollowed out by termites. I bought that didg from Ganga Giri when he was playing at Preservation Pub. Giri plays didg for Peter Gabriel. This large didg is actually higher in pitch that the ones that make up the “triple didg.”

520: Have you always been playing didgeridoo while playing guitar?

Trey: No. When I was playing with a southern jam-rock band called “Left Foot Down,” I began adding the didg during a drum-jam, and I wasn’t very good at it. When I played with St. Somewhere, a Caribbean-influenced rock band, I put the didg on a stand and would play it while also playing percussion. When St. Somewhere broke up, I started playing the didg while playing guitar and it just really clicked.

520: What are your future goals for Didgeriblue?

Trey: I’d like to get to where the band plays an acoustic and electric set.

DIDGERIBLUE with Cutthroat Shamrock
December 29, 2006
Preservation Pub
28 Market Square
Knoxville, Tennessee
(865) 524-2224

Posted by the 520 gang at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

THE LONGBRANCH SALOON
30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

This Friday, December 29th, the Longbranch Saloon, at 1848 Cumberland Avenue, will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. My first foray into the Longbranch was in 1987. A friend had told me that one time a man had been thrown through the saloon’s front window. I didn’t know if that story was true, but it was enough to make me want to step inside. I was never disappointed with a trip to the Long Branch. You could always count on meeting out of the ordinary people and the Branch’s excellent juke box was legendary.

R.B. Morris says "the basic story is that this is the 30 year anniversary of the Longbranch Saloon, 15 years on one side of the street and 15 years on the other. That’s quite a legacy in an a-historical college town. The bar’s been through a world of changes, different eras, different times, but has a long tradition as an artist and musician’s bar. A mixed crowd of the most interesting people."

Please stop in for a bit of nostalgic fun and help celebrate 3 fascinating decades of Cumberland Avenue history. For more details, please contact:

Longbranch Saloon
1848 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee
(865) 546-9914

Jack Rentfro

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We here at Knoxville520 consider ourselves cool and hip, that goes without saying. But that doesn't mean we're above gooey sentiment. Flush with holiday wine and nostalgia, we decided to take a look back at Knoxville 2006 to determine which events in town had the biggest impact on our lives. And, as always, we asked what plays/gigs/concerts/pagan rituals inspired you the most this year. Here's what we all had to say.

The best of 2006 by far has to be the creation of Knoxville's own Roller Derby league, The Hard Knox Roller Girls. Supporting 3 teams, The Lolitas Locas (season champions), The Black Bettys and The Machine Gun Kellys. 40+ bad ass ladies from Knoxville have shed blood, sweat, tears, had tons of bruises, quite a few broken bones, and with a crap load of determination, these hot girls in short skirts have brought back this very violent sport just for your viewing pleasure. What could be better than that??

-Sugaree97

When Awadagin Pratt played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 with the Knoxville Symphony- I was in the balcony and could hardly stay in my seat.

-Cynthia Markert

It's really impossible to choose from so many good ones, but I guess I have to say Richard Thompson's performance at the Bijou.

-Peter Scheffler

Madama Butterfly, Knoxville Opera, Tennessee Theatre

As a new opera fan, this was my first foreign language opera and I fell in love with Puccini. At the opera's end, when Butterfly commits suicide, the stage curtain dropped immediately and it was over. It was a startling, emotional and blunt ending. Unlike in a Shakespeare tragedy, where many characters die, usually someone comes forth and claims to be in charge and wraps things up. The realism of death being final and leaving the audience hanging the opera's most climatic moment was brilliant. Puccini's secondary characters were also very endearing and the music was beautiful. Within a week after wards, I had opera tickets to Puccini's Turnadot in Nashville and Puccini's Tosca in Atlanta. It was a wonderful tour inspired by the Knoxville Opera's Madama Butterfly.

-Debra Dylan

2006 was another year of great music in Knoxville of which the list would be too long to list. But my favorites are still some that for some reason are little used. WDVX blue plate special comes to mind with stars like Sam Bush, John Cowan, Rodney Crowell, Goose Creek, Jim Lauderdale, Del Mccoury, Marty Stuart to name a few. The Corner Lounge is a cozy place to drink a wide assortment of beer and hear some really great bands too. The Laurel Theater is a well kept secret in Knoxville with well known local and world wide artist with a wide genre of music. But I would have to say my favorite would be Writers Block at the Knoxville Museum of Art. It happens on usually the first Wednesday of the month and who you hear you might not know of but it is always a pleasant surprise. It is a singer songwriter deal and you always go away feeling better for some reason. Of course there are artist you might know there too like R.B. Morris, Jay Clark, Malcolm Holcombe, Maggie Longmire, Karen E. Reynolds to name a few. The last one was Jason Wilber and it was another don't miss show. Go out and buy a Jason Wilber cd and you will get the idea. Who is Jason Wilber you say? He has played guitar for John Prine for the last 11 years. It is here in Knoxville so get out and enjoy. The local band scene is better than ever before check out bands like The Lonetones, The Drunk Uncles, The Band of Humans, The Bearded, Sara Schwabe, Scott Miller, Dark Hollow Band, Lonesome Coyotes, Mountain Heart, Robinella, Wildfire the list goes on and on. You missed 2006. Do not miss 2007. The best way to keep up? You DO know that. You are here!!!!

-Dennis Double

My opinion of the best entertainment event of 2006, huh? Well, as host of Writer's Block, I'd be remiss if didn't say that the concert series has had the biggest impact on MY life. I'm constantly amazed at the talent that, while appreciated by discerning listeners, still aren't household names. I've been blessed this past year with a front row seat to some of the best independent artists around. They've all been spectacular and just when I think another artist can't possibly put on a better performance, the next one surpasses the previous. Amazing. I am always moved and always entertained...and I'm an old fart, jaded musician myself. I've already seen and heard more music than most people hear in a lifetime. I'm, frankly, hard to impress...yet the artists who play this series consistently blow me away with their songs, voices and ability to connect and move the audience.

A bonus of this is that I witness, time and time again, the support that Knoxville concert goers are always willing to provide. People who genuinely appreciate the music and the people behind it, flock in by the droves and buy cds like they're going out of style. God love 'em! . So, clearly, I'd have to say that the series has had the most impact on my year. I may be the host, but it has nothing to do with me...it's about the music. Always.

Taking things a little beyond my orbit of all things "Block", the event that made a most distinctive mark on my entertainment memory, was this year's Hank Days. So many wonderful local folk were heard and they seriously rocked the Old City in the name of charity. Playing for free...honoring one of Knoxville's own heroes, one Mr. Terry Hill, and providing lessons and instruments to youngun's here in East Tennessee, insuring that the music scene in Knoxville remains in good hands. I mean...does it GET any better'n that?

And I gotta toss props to the 520 Team. Your presence has been a boon to all; venues, artists, music lovers and visitors to our fair citeh! You've made an indelible impact on all of us. Much Obliged for all you do!

Kudos to ALL the events, efforts and happenings that continue to make Knoxville THE place to be for great music and fun. I'm a Knoxville girl...Fountain City, specifically...and in my own musical travels, am always proud to boast that we have it going on in these parts.

KnoxVegas...may we always kick musical ass!

Best to Y'all for a happy and prosperous 2007!

-Karen E. Reynolds

Well, as usual, I'm going to be selfish. My favorite event of Knoxville 2006 was the back-to-back performance marathon of Rocky Horror at The Fairbanks on Halloween. The crowd was rabid, the drinks were plenty, and blood, sweat, and feathers littered the stage. 'Twas beautiful.

-Joe Beuerlein

I think the two Knoxville performances that moved me the most both took place at the Bijou: Jamie Cullum and The Dresden Dolls. Both shows featured artists of more than exceptional talent, charisma and showmanship. Both shows made me want to be a better musician and performer, myself. During 2006, I was shown time and time again that the Arts are alive and growing in Knoxville. Just think of how great 2007 will be!

-Sara Schwabe

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since most of us will be spending more time at home during the holidays, we thought we’d hook you up with some hot new holiday cocktail recipes to try in your own kitchen with those you love. (We’ve even thrown in a non-alcoholic recipe if you need to detox a little bit!)

The Brandy Blazer

2 small shots of cognac
1 sugar cube
orange twist
lemon twist

Combine all ingredients in rocks glass. Flambe and stir with long spoon. Extinguish flame and strain into a brandy snifter. Serve warm.

Rim sugar
Lemon wedge
Lemon-lime soda
Advocaat liqueur (Dutch vanilla brandy liqueur)

Rim cocktail glass with sugar. Put ice cubes in glass. Fill 1/3 of the way with advocaat and fill the rest of the way with soda. Garnish with lemon wedge. Mixture will be cloudy white (hence the name).

Cranberry Slush

1 cup boiling water
3 cups cold water
1 large pkg. Jell-0
1 12oz lemonade
1 12oz orange juice
2 cups cranberry juice
1 liter lemon-lime soda
1 cup vodka
1 cup brandy

Add 1 cup boiling water to jello and dissolve. Then add the rest of ingredients. Freeze and serve 50/50 with soda. Stir enough to be slushy in glass.

Hot Cider Punch

1 qt organic apple cider
1 pt cranberry juice
1 pt orange juice
1/2 sugar
1 tsp whole allspice
1 tsp whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks

Put all items in a large pot on the stove and bring almost to a boil. Serve hot in mugs. Garnish with slice of orange if desired.

3oz Pennsylvania Dutch Eggnog (use this brand only for this recipe)
1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
3/4 oz hazelnut liqueur
Nutmeg

Shake all ingredients in metal shaker and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh-ground nutmeg.

The Albion

3 parts Dr. Pepper (seriously)
1 part port wine
Whole cloves
Cinnamon sticks

Combine soda and port in a glass. Add two whole cloves and a cinnamon stick. Heat and serve.

You know the drill - please drink responsibly. Also, let us know if you try any of these. We always want to know what you've got to say!

Posted by the 520 gang at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome to the brand-new 520 blog, The Monday After. This blog is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer up quickie reviews of all the things we’re pretty sure we got into this past week, including gigs, concerts, movies, plays, and restaurants. Pop a couple of ibuprofens and enjoy.


In case you missed it last week, the Guttmacher Institute in New York released the findings of their study of how many Americans get into the sack before tying the knot. Surprise, surprise: 95% of Americans do the deed before getting hitched.

We dedicate this edition of The Monday After to all you premarital, naughty-but-nice, sex-making Knoxvillians. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night in bed!



Oh, and if you still need a last-minute present, look no further.

Kerry White at 4620

Rest easy, Comedy Zone. There's no danger of 4620 becoming the newest comedy joint in Knoxville.

They've been constantly mixing it up over there at 4620, trying new things to attract new clientele. When I first heard that they were going to throw some live comedy into their jazz-heavy rotation, I was impressed with their gumption. Comedy is a hard sell in Knoxville, especially on a cold Tuesday night.

When I got there, I immediately could see how the space of 4620 could work well as a sort of sophisticated stand-up club: intimate, dim, smoky, classy. But I also could see that it would take much more that ambiance to attract a Bearden crowd to hear comedy on a Tuesday night. When my friend and I sat down ten minutes before Kerry White went on, we became the third and fourth members of the audience. By the time he began his routine, only four more people had joined us. And when he began, you could barely hear him. Was there no sound check?

Really, the acoustics were pretty awful. The sound system did nothing to complement White's rapid-fire, deep bass voice. The three chatting sorority girls in the front row also did nothing to help the situation. Two minutes into his monologue, the three girls and two others had left, leaving me, my friend, and one guy way in the corner as his only remaining audience. My friend finally couldn't take the weirdness anymore and ditched me under the pretense of going to the bathroom. I stayed for a minute, but it quickly became just too strange to be the only guy the comedian was trying to make laugh. Nice fellow, though. He politely thanked me as I left him by himself in the room. (1/5) -J.B.

Christabel and The Jons and Tommy Bateman & The Thunderthieves Christmas Special at Preservation Pub

Christabel and The Jons are sort of like hanging out downtown. Two years ago, never heard of such a thing. Now, can't get enough of it. Kudos to them for working hard and having it pay off in the form of sharp music and great gigs. When I heard of the Christa-mas Spectacular happening down at the Pres Pub on Friday night, I couldn't think of a better, crisper, more trendy group to hear sing some classic holiday songs while sipping my yuletide whiskey.

I arrived in good spirits, and cheerfully paid my three dollar charge to the sentinel at the gate. I then walked into Who's-Who-Ville, so named because I saw at least twenty friends on my way from the door to the bar. Good friends were here, good whiskey was ordered, and some good carols were soon to be heard. What could be better than Christmas at the Pub?

Unfortunately The Electronic Grinch had come to visit Who's-Who-Ville, threatening to take all of our sound-presents and ear-candies away. I'm not acoustically inclined, but I could guess that either a speaker was blown or that someone had left all the microphones in their jeans and accidentally ran them through the wash. After a laborious sound check, C&TJ began.

Ugh. Christa's pristine voice was marred nearly their entire set by the constant crackle of the speaker. The intermittent radio "commercials," written and read by local thespian Dennis Bussel, were similarly distorted. (When you could hear him, though, he got some great laughs.) By the end of their caroling, they had all learned how to not offend the microphone, but the sound quality never rose above average.

By the time Tommy and his crew finished their lengthy sound check, I had put away my fair share of holiday spirits, and was in the warm, fuzzy mood to listen to more songs about Santa. When they finally began, the sound was still yucky. So I went home, but not without my first Christabel CD. (3/5) -J.B.

Brent Thompson and His Wandering Circus w/ Christabel and the Jons at Preservation Pub

Last Thursday I went down to the Preservation Pub for Brent Thompson and His Wandering Circus. As a precursor to the main event, Christabel and the Jons treated us to a set of acoustic swing. Each time I see Christa her music and overall artistic vision for her band seem more refined. Their gracefully written originals as well as a few covers, including a beautiful rendition of Roxanne, coasted me right through my first few beers.

Then at a little after midnight the circus wandered, or actually marched, right down the pub to the stage New Orleans style. You never quite know how many of the 12-15 members of this band will perform on a given night and Thursday’s line up was new to me. Lead guitarist Mike Seal was gone for the holidays, but with Ben Maney ripping up the organ/piano and Vince Ilagan taking some solos on bass the music was as tight as ever. But this band is of course centered on the vocals and songwriting of Brent Thompson. Trading lines with his lovely group of back-up singers Brent takes you everywhere from the church to the block party. He’s charismatic as a front man and his voice is always strong and confident. My only “complaint” would be that a good portion of his music is of the beautiful ballad variety, and during these intimate moments the whole circus theme is a bit distracting. But I loved his show and look forward to the next time the circus comes to town. (4/5) -D.M.

Editor's Note: Neither Christabel nor Brent Thompson is bribing us. All fawning is well-deserved and free of charge!

Thursday night at the Preservation Pub was a sight to behold. Brent Thompson and his Wandering Circus circled the wagons for a night of musical merriment that included mostly original songs written by Thompson. His lyrics were deep in meaning and the multitude of musical layers kept this audience member mentally occupied for quite awhile. I will say, though, that the band seems to be upstaging their own music with their random, slap-dash costumes and make-up. Thompson’s musical work is so worth hearing, but it’s in danger of being overshadowed by the performance itself. My opinion, in a nutshell: the music would shine even more without all that paint. (4/5) -K.S.

Big Fatty's

Yeah, I know. We mentioned Big Fatty's just the other day. But let me tell you, this past Friday night I was stressed the eff out from holiday shopping and last-minute packing. I needed a quick injection of some down-home, mom-made comfort food. If you've ever had the pleasure of eating there, you know that nothing coats the soul quite like Big Fatty's. After a big heaping plate of fried chicken, okra, and mac & cheese, and after a big bulging bowl of banana pudding, I was right as rain. It was a bit quiet in there for a Friday night, so get your butts over to Homberg and give them some love. Your belly will thank you. (5/5) -J.B.

That's it for our special Christmas Day edition! We're taking New Year's off, but check back on January 2nd for a very Tuesday edition of The Monday After!

Posted by Sara Schwabe at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I made way to the bar and was promptly served a $3 Shiner Bock draft. Then I actually looked around, a Jerry Garcia black and white abstract portrait next to Sinatra’s mugshot caught my eye. Next, I had to change the music. To my surprise The Sidestreet Tavern has the first “Internet Jukebox” I have ever come across. It literally has any song you could want. The only gimmick is that you have to pay twice as much if your selection has to be downloaded, but still very cool. So at this point my experience is starting to turn around.

After picking out some tunes we took a look around. The house-like tavern turned out to be much larger than expected with a dining room lined with booths and tables offset by a few large video games, all sports I believe. Then we ventured up stairs. The second level loft turned out to be the coolest part of the Sidestreet Tavern. Its like your own personal living room stocked with comfortable couches, two TV’s (you even get the remote), a foosball table, and the only shuffleboard table I’ve seen in Knoxville.
So we got into some mean shuffleboard action and totally lost track of time. That loft was definitely the high point of my experience. But then a group of suit clad business types came upstairs to claim their territory. One of them actually did a drunken jig and made some sort of barking or grunting noises. At that point it was almost last call and we decided to head home.

All in all I ended up liking but not loving The Sidestreet Tavern. Nevertheless, the shuffleboard and the online jukebox are enough to validate a recommendation that everyone in town go check it out for themselves.

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Before we officially turn our thoughts to the exciting possibilities awaiting all of us in 2007, we want to take a moment to reflect on the past 12 months: There were some outstanding shows that came through Knoxville, some near history-making festivals, gobs of local bands raising the entertainment bar in this town, and several theatrical productions that made you forget this is Tennessee and not New York.

As usual, we can't wait to hear what y'all have to say!

The 520 Gang

Posted by the 520 gang at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At the stroke of 10:00 p.m., Preservation Pub will time warp back to a fantasy Christmas radio broadcast of yore. Actor and bon vivant Dennis Bussell, that shameless scene-stealer from Roane State Community College’s Halloween production of The Rocky Horror Show, will be our Yuletide host as he reads from traditional and modern holiday fare, performs commercials, and introduces us to a torch singer in a splendid gown and tuxedo clad musicians performing Christmas music. (I am not hallucinating. This is really going to happen!)

Arrive early and partake of ice skating and funnel cakes on Market Square and then enter this seasonal twilight zone for a one-of-a-kind holiday extravaganza. And, fasten your seat belts…it’s going to be a bumpy sleigh ride!

Posted by the 520 gang at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Harry Connick, Jr. and His Big Band Bring
"My New Orleans Tour" to Knoxville

Who: Harry Connick, Jr. and His Big Band
When: Saturday, March 10, 2007, 8 p.m.
Where: Knoxville Civic Coliseum
How: Tickets go on sale Friday, January 12 at 10 a.m. at the Tennessee Theatre box office, all Tickets Unlimited outlets, by phone at 656-4444 or online at www.tennesseetheatre.com. Tickets are $67, $60, $37, plus applicable service fees.

KNOXVILLE Following his critically acclaimed performance in the Broadway show The Pajama Game, Harry Connick, Jr. takes to the road with his Big Band in support of two albums to be released on January 30, 2007.

Oh, My Nola features four new songs written by Connick as well as classic tunes associated with New Orleans, including Hank Williams' hit "Jambalaya." With the assistance of his Big Band, plus the added input of a few special guests, he has created an unprecedented musical cornucopia of songs inspired by the Crescent City.

Chanson du Vieux Carré, Connick's third instrumental piano release in the Marsalis Music label's Connick on Piano series, also comes out January 30. The disc was recorded with his Big Band in May 2003, long before Hurricane Katrina. The collection of original and traditional songs serves as a stirring tribute to Connick's native New Orleans.

In addition to his music and humanitarian work, Connick has kept himself busy performing on Broadway and making a name for himself as a television and film actor. He made his Broadway theatrical debut in The Pajama Game in January 2006. The cast album from the Tony Award-winning production was just nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Musical Show Album.

A portion of Connick’s royalties from both of the discs, and 100 percent of Connick’s royalties from the single “All These People,” will benefit the New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village (www.habitat-nola.org and click on Musicians’ Village), a project conceived by Connick and his longtime friend and colleague (and Marsalis Music founder) Branford Marsalis.

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Projecting a sound of funk heavy fusion The Colonel Sanders Trio is one of the newest additions to the Knoxville music scene, and this week all the unacquainted music lovers here in town have two chances to get onboard. First on Thursday at Manhattans in the Old City, then again Saturday night at The New Knoxville Brewing Company.

I had my first chance to hear the guys a few weeks back at their last New Knox gig. Arriving just after the first set, I was surprised to find the tasting room almost uncomfortably packed. My initial reaction: “Who are these guys, and how did they manage to draw this well at one of Knoxville hardest to find venues?” I recently sat down with The Colonel Sanders Trio to get the scoop.

Gilbreath describes their collective sound as “mostly based on improv” with much of their original material stemming from recorded jam sessions. Listening back to those tapes they would find musical seeds to cultivate together into new tunes. This approach to writing lets their music flow out conversationally on the stage with genre mutating melodies book-ending open areas of exploration. Those originals are balanced by a constantly expanding repertoire of cover songs. For example the one show I witnessed included covers ranging from Curtis Mayfield’s “Stone Junky” to The Beatles “And Your Bird Can Sing”.

What does the future hold? With about fifteen varied instrumental compositions under their belt they are excited about the possibilities of recording an album. These three Farragut High graduates, all currently studying at UT, seem honestly inspired by the sheer fun of making music and with their play anywhere, practice whenever possible attitudes it seems certain that nothing is off limits for The Colonel Sanders Trio.
Check them out this Thursday at Manhattan’s in the Old City and again this Saturday at The New Knoxville Brewing Company. Both shows start at 9:30 p.m.

Visit the band's website here.

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Solomon Burke: Nashville

Short review this week...You have to check out 60's soul legend Solomon Burke's foray into country, Nashville. The sound comes completely naturally for Burke and the sparse instrumentation showcases his warm voice. Fantastic collaborations abound here including songs with Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. Buddy Miller handles the production. Nashville, like the past couple albums in Burke's recent "comeback", is an excellent listen for a lazy Sunday.
----
The Black Crowes - Lost Crowes

1997's The Band Sessions features more of the better-known tracks that never made it to the studio releases. The opening two songs, "Paint an Eight" and "Another Roadside Tragedy", are both songs that fans have likely heard live. Both continue to be kept in the live rotation to this very day, and for good reason. Unlike the Tall Sessions, these sessions only contain one piece, "If It Ever Stops Raining", that would eventually be renamed as "By Your Side", the title-track to the Crowes' fifth studio release. The two tracks that really set these sessions apart are definitely, "Wyoming and Me" and "Grinnin'." "Wyoming..." is a down tempo love ballad that is very much like Chris Robinson's New Earth Mud material, while "Grinnin'" hints at a future Crowes sound unheard at that point.

The Black Crowes today are not what they were fifteen or even ten years ago. Both Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch have both left the band recently, leaving only the Robinson brothers and drummer, Steve Gorman in the fold. Oh well, I guess this will be the last thing that we Amoricans can treasure from the original line-up from what once was and will always be one of the most rock-and-roll of rock bands. ---Andrew Bryant

(P.S., be sure to check out the Disc Exchange website for great holiday gift ideas!)

Posted by the 520 gang at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome to the brand-new 520 blog, The Monday After. This blog is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer up quickie reviews of all the things we’re pretty sure we got into this past weekend, including gigs, concerts, movies, plays, and restaurants. Pop a couple of ibuprofens and enjoy.



Last week, UT had its annual fall commencement ceremony at the Thompson Boling Arena.

We know from experience both how hard four years of school can be and how agonizingly long a commencement ceremony can last. In 2004, Representative Zach Wamp gave UT's spring graduation address in which he told a story about golfing in South Africa. What was supposed to be an anecdotal tale of perseverance turned into something else entirely. Let's just say that college students are plenty immature enough to find tales of monkeys running out of South African forests to grab Mr. Wamp's (golf) balls pretty dern funny. By the time Mr. Wamp realized what he had said, half the graduating class was snickering with perverted glee. Silly politicians! We'd like to congratulate all the grads for their perseverence by dedicating this week's The Monday After to them.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2/5)

This marks the third straight weekend I swore up and down that Dreamgirls was coming out, and the third straight weekend of having to grumpily settle on a different film to see. This week I chose the three-hanky chick-flick The Pursuit of Happyness over the less desirable new releases (kiddy sci-fi Eragon and kiddy pig-slasher Charlotte’s Web).

I already knew the entirely predictable plot from the trailer: A down-on-his-luck single father perseveres through hard times while completing a competitive internship at a broker firm. The only things left up in the air were whether or not the guy would get the job in the end, and just how many tears you were going to shed when he did or didn’t.

Will Smith plays the hard-working single pop, and the real live Will Smith Jr. plays his adorable son. But it’s a story you’ve seen a million times, and there’s no reason to pay ten bucks to be suckered into crying by a worn-out plot. Download the trailer for free, tear up in the privacy of your own bedroom or cubicle, and wait for the movie to air on Lifetime. In the meantime, it might be more worthwhile to go see Dakota Fanning in Charlotte’s Web after all. What the ravages of puberty do to child actors is surely less predictable and more entertaining than this cliche of a film. -J.B.

Che Guevara (3/5)

I’ve never had a bad meal at Che Guevara. It’s my personal favorite Mexican spot here in town, you may remember it by it previous name La Paz, and this past Friday I made what seems to be my bi-weekly trip in for some grub and margaritas. Located in the Barnes and Noble shopping center off Kingston Pike this eatery is covered in delightfully tacky art. Random disco balls light up themes of Jesus, Miller High Life, Elvis, and of course Guevara himself. They have plenty of vegetarian options-my favorite has to be the mexicotti enchiladas, and the specials are always intriguing.

But I have to dock their rating a little for my last trip in. When I sat down I immediately noticed that they had a new menu, the first of my knowledge in at least a few years. But as I scanned the page disappointment set in. There didn’t seem to be any new items, just a couple deletions and a slight increase in most all of the prices. Oh well, it’s still the same great food and the increases were very modest. That aside I highly recommend Che Guevara to anyone up for some great Mexican cuisine. - D.M.

Scott McMahan at the Corner Lounge (4/5)

Friday's Toys For Tots show at the Corner Lounge featured an impressive roster of perfomers. The first to take the stage was Scott McMahan. I'd never heard him before, although he's been on my must-see list for awhile. I thought I was going to miss him again, but fortunately the Schedule Gods smiled down on me and made it to the show in the nick of time. I walked through the door and was instantly wrapped in McMahan's warm, gritty baritone. His songs kept the ever-growing audience captivated as we sipped our High Life or PBR. I was struck by how tuneful and melodic his voice was. You don't usually find that in someone with a vocal quality like his. McMahan's list of originals seems to be short, but he's still new on the scene. When he ran out of his own stuff, he got the crowd on its feet with a nod to Ray Charles. Listening to McMahan got the night off to a great start - and it only got better from there! - K.S.

The Philippine Connection (4/5)

The Philippine Connection, located at 3225 E. Magnolia Avenue, is a wonderful carry-out restaurant located near Chilhowee Park in East Knoxville. Menu items are cooked fresh upon order. While you can place your order in person, calling ahead (522-5276) will be your best bet.

Entrees are available in small or large portions, with your choice of meat and/or seafood, and are accompanied with fried or steamed rice and a very crisp vegetarian egg roll stuffed with cabbage. (Shrimp and turkey egg rolls are also available as appetizers.) The beef or pork lumpias are a tasty and narrow variation on the traditional egg roll.

The Philippine Connection offers two varieties of Pancit, a noodle dish with broccoli, carrot, celery and green bell pepper and your choice of meat or additional vegetables. Another popular traditional Philippine dish on the menu is Adobo, which is a meat braised in garlic, soy sauce and vinegar. The menu also offers a stir fry, chop suey, and other noodle and vegetable entrees. The frozen mixed fruit drink/dessert Halo-Halo is also available.

The Philippine Connection has been in business for well over a decade and it's small and dedicated staff are happy to assist you in placing your order. - D.D.

McGhee Tyson Airport (5/5)

Sometimes the best thing to do in Knoxville is to get out of town. This past week I made a quick trip to New York to see some friends, to spend some money, and to use public transportation while a little tipsy. I accomplished all three. (I also saw a black-haired Cameron Diaz in Times Square and successfully resisted the temptation to slather her with my adoration.)

I have to say that of all the airports I travelled through this weekend, we've got the most efficient, cleanest, and prettiest one right here at home. And the flight in from the north is stunningly picturesque. Go us. - J.B.




May you have wonderful holidays, receive plenty of expensive gifts, and keep Uncle Earl out of the nog! See you next week!

Posted by Sara Schwabe at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

But that's precisely the path Phil Jones followed.

The young band Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues created a buzz in their hometown of Sydney, Australia, with their single "If I Had a Ticket," capitalizing on their blues-tinged pop sound. But the same man who belted a thoroughly danceable version of "Pick a Bale of Cotton"--the 1967 video is available for viewing on YouTube--went on to continue evolving the idea of "spiritual" in his own life.

After a brief stab at a solo career, Jones, by then performing under the name "Shiva," was involved with the UK-based Quintessence, playing a multitude of European festivals during their career in the early '70s.

"I had a long background in the healing effects of Sacred Mantras and Meditation going back to the mid 1960’s," Jones comments in an e-mail interview, and Quintessence embraced these ideas as a regular part of their repertoire, frequently highlighting chanting as part of their shows, and even claiming a "household guru."

Jones still makes "cosmic rock" with an altered incarnation of the band, under the name Shiva's Quintessence, but it was in the '80s that Jones returned to Australia and discovered the instrument that would direct the following decades of his life.

"I found the harmonic sounds and breath work of the Didgeridoo instantly healing and stress reducing," Jones says. And though he discovered the "didg" in his, and the instrument's, native land of Australia, he brought his knowledge to the United States, where he now lives. "My involvement in America began with Deepak Chopra’s center in LaJolla," he explains. And his passion for the instrument was feuled by his early interest in meditation. "It became apparent that this instrument could enhance self empowerment, meditation and relaxation....all of these aspects made it very popular when I worked at Chopra’s seminars and healing center."

The idea that body and mind are intrinsically linked has become a large part of Jones' teachings. Building from the instinctual response Jones had to the didg, he has become a master player, and now teaches his "circular breathing" technique, which he claims puts the player in the proper state to reap the benefits of the act, which he says, "has now been medically proven to lower high blood pressure, relax heart muscles and and significantly reduce sleep apnea and snoring."

And he's bringing his medicine to Knoxville. Jones will host a workshop at the Gypsy Hands Healing Center on Wednesday, December 20, from 7-9:30 p.m. Pre-registration is $20, and Jones will provide didgeridoos for all participants of all levels of experience.

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BRENT THOMPSON & HIS WANDERING CIRCUS

Please do not be put-off by their clown makeup. Even if you suffer from coulrophobia, the clowning is, thankfully, kept to a minimum, is never precious, and at times adds to the joyous and poignant moments. And what moments! If you can imagine a vintage VW bus being driven by Bob Dylan and loaded with Jerry Lee Lewis, Mama Cass, John Lennon, Lenny Kravitz, Chris Robinson, and various jazz legends, then you are starting to get an idea of what this circus is about.

Based on the two performances I have seen, their shows have kicked off with the band’s wonderful Mardi-Gras style entrance with the clowns playing sousaphone, whistles, maracas and hand percussion, while leading into Thompson’s original instrumental “Tennessee Redbone.” Pianist Ben Maney shines throughout the show, and punctuates this song with flairs of Thelonious Monk and Charlie Mingus, while Jamie Warren gleefully responds on trombone and Kirk Fleta wails on harmonica. The full band is also together for the beautiful and mysterious “Head of Mine” and the raucous and soulful “Guilty Hat.” This is where Thompson earns the right to wear his big afro wig. Between his passionate vocals and the growing momentum of the changes in this song, plus Maney and Fleta having out-of-body experiences, and the backup vocalists getting funky, it is all but impossible to remain seated. One sign that this band is something special is the reaction of their audience. At first, the crowd is talkative and socializing, but it isn’t long before the room gets quiet and people are closely listening. It is also not unusual to see spontaneous eruptions of excitement from audience members. The music is that powerful, arresting and interesting.

The emotion provoked by “Guilty Hat” is followed up by a dreamy and orchestral original entitled “Go Where You Want to Be.” Here, Maney switches to organ, which adds a nice variety and cinematic quality to this song. Thompson said the title to this song came to him “like a freight train and he had to write his feelings down and explain them. I have said this to many friends who feel stuck in certain places in their lives.”

Thompson refers to his delightful and gently Dixieland fused “I Get High,” as “the almighty love song. With so many vices to chose from, the feeling of being with someone you love trumps them all.” When I saw the band perform this song at World Grotto, the audience was enrapt, but a lone cowboy leapt up and danced a slow and sexy soft-shoe. (You gotta love that.) The backup vocals on “I Get High” are stunning, as they are “On The Road to London.” This beautiful and mournful song is graced with Kellye Thompson’s vocals backing brother Brent, with Alexia Pantanizopoulas on cello. Another first-rate quality about the Circus is that not all of the performers participate in every song. The variety of instrumentation is well organized and executed, thus not overwhelming or tiring the listener.

The only cover songs I have heard the band play are Dirk Powell’s “Waterbound” and Elvis Costello’s “What’s So Funny (about Peace, Love & Understanding). Stellar guitarist Mike Seal’s arrangement and performance on “Waterbound” is exquisite with Vince Ilagan on bass and John Nipper on drums providing consistent and tasteful accompaniment withSeal on this number and throughout the entire show.

Thompson takes over the keys on Costello’s “What’s So Funny…” and delivers an emotional and gospel infused performance that reaches an exciting and moving climax.

When this merry band of clowns exits in the same joyous vein they entered into our world, we feel better off for having experienced their show. Thompson anticipates the Circus’s CD will be available in spring 2007.

Current Circus personnel:

Brent Thompson, Ringmaster
Lead Vocals
Guitar, Piano
Christa DeCicco
Vocals
Kirk Fleta
Harmonica
Vocals
Brian Herrin
Vocals
Vince Ilagan
Upright bass
Electric bass
Seth Hopper
Violin
Mandolin
Trumpet
Ben Maney
Keys
Vocals
John Nipper
Drum kit
Alexia Pantanizopoulas
Cello
Vocals
Mike Seal
Guitar
Alex Thompson
Vocals
Kellye Thompson
Vocals
Jamie Warren
Trombone
Sousaphone
Jon Whitlock
Vocals
Hand percussion

Brent Thompson & His Wandering Circus
With Christabel & the Jons
Thursday, Dec 21st
Preservation Pub
28 Market Square
Downtown Knoxville
(865) 524-2224

Posted by the 520 gang at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Here's the latest release about the 2007 'roo:

2007 Bonnaroo Early Bird Tickets are SOLD OUT!

We're excited to announce that the sixth annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is confirmed to take place June 14 - 17, 2007. The four-day camping and music festival will once again be held on the same beautiful, 700-acre farm in Manchester, TN, 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

Stay tuned to the website and mailing list for all info including lineup announcements, special activities and more. We are looking forward to another incredible festival and to seeing you all in Manchester!!

--The Bonnaroo Folks

Posted by the 520 gang at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not to burst your nostalgic bubble, but the concept of White Christmas was actually cooked up as an attempt to capitalize on the extreme popularity of the song of the same name featured in 1942's Holiday Inn. Bing Crosby's velvet pipes were used in both films to sell his eventually signature song to adoring masses -which turned out to be a pretty good idea for everyone!

No matter the reason White Christmas exists, the holidays wouldn't be quite the same without Bing, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney and their VistaVision ski-lodge adventures. It will be especially warm and lovely when enjoyed in the charm of the Tennessee Theatre.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for kids and seniors. Internet sales end today, Dec. 14th at 5pm, and remaining tickets will be sold by phone or at the door one hour prior to showtime. Contact the ticket office at (865)684-1200 for more information.

Posted by the 520 gang at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Friday night, ye olde Corner Lounge will celebrate the spirit of the holiday season by hosting a benefit show for the Toys For Tots campaign.

Festivities get underway at 8 p.m. with popular local singer/songwriter, Scott McMahan. He's been regularly hypnotizing folks with his soulful-folksongs at Manhattan's and the Backroom BBQ. Ellen Mallemee wrote in a 2005 MetroPulse that "...within Scott McMahan's wounded, tender voice there's a tremor that makes women want to take him home, make him some stew, smooth the worry from his brow and put him to bed." Get the soup ready, ladies.

The star at the top of a rowdy musical Christmas tree will be The Drunk Uncles. If you haven't seen these guys in action, Friday's your night. Rest assured that none of your crazy uncles can hold a candle to these wildly talented guys! Their whirlwind mix of true country music, Pabst Blue Ribbon and occasional table dancing will keep the joint jumpin' til the wee hours. (Pow!)

All this talent, and more, could be yours for the low, low price of $7 at the door. Proceeds from this benefit show at The Corner Lounge will go directly to the Toys for Tots drive. They will also be accepting donations of new toys in addition to the cover.

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome to the brand-new 520 blog, The Monday After. This blog is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer up quickie reviews of all the things we’re pretty sure we got into this past weekend, including gigs, concerts, movies, plays, and restaurants. Pop a couple of ibuprofens and enjoy.

This week, we've decided to incorporate a little ratings system into The Monday After to give you a better sense of what we liked, what we didn't like, and what we thought was worth our money. Instead of something boring like stars or a letter grade, we're gonna pick a different way every week to rank what we've seen. This week, we would like to give a heartfelt tribute to everyone's favorite Appalastic Surgery Songstress, Dolly Parton, who was lauded at the Kennedy Center just the other day for her life's achievements. Congrats, Dolly!

Firehouse Subs in Fountain City (1/5)

I wish there were spot for Most Annoying Décor in a Restaurant in one of the local paper’s annual awards issue. Sadly there are many, many potential nominees for this title, but more depressing is that annoying décor often coincides with equally annoying food. That is fortunately not the case with Firehouse Subs.

I’m not a food aficionado, but I’ve eaten my fair share of subs in this town. First there was my Subway kick, then my Lenny’s obsession, then my year-long love affair with Quiznos. But I live on the North end of town these days, and if Firehouse is going to open up shop next door in Fountain City, I’m gonna give them a whirl if it means not having to drive a half hour to the Chapman Highway Quiznos to get my Chicken Carbonara fix.

So give the new Fountain City Firehouse Subs a whirl I did. The sandwiches are good. A smidge overpriced for their size, but really quite scrumptious, especially the "Fully Involved" Italian and the NY Steamer. What isn’t good is the fact that about ten employees shout “Welcome to Farhouse!” every time you open the door, deafening your ears while your eyes try to adjust to the blindingly bad Firehouse motif. And if you survive this Helen Keller-esque stupor long enough to place your order, you end up having to wait a surprisingly long time for your food to make it to the table.

The menu is on-line, so go phone your order in at (865)357-9866 to spare you any length of time inside. Good food, bad everything else. -J.B.

Absurd Person Singular at the Black Box Theatre (3/5)

British plays are hit and miss in East Tennessee. Well, they’re usually miss, because it takes a minor miracle to find enough good actors with passable accents to even cast these shows. The exception is of course Noises Off, which is a guaranteed hit whether cast with Shakespearian masters or with Bucksnort locals. Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular is a much more sophisticated farce, with complex characters and subtler motives, and thus much harder to pull off. How does Actors Co-op fare with its latest offering?

Director Micah-Shane Brewer keeps the pacing quick and fluid, slowing down just enough to let us enjoy each laugh at the idiosyncrasies of the characters and at the awkwardness of having so many nuts in one kitchen, but moving quickly forward so that our minds don’t linger on the fact that these characters are very real and quite pitiable. Pity is clearly not the stuff of farce, so Brewer makes sure we’re laughing too hard to bother sympathizing. Getting the most laughs was Co-op newcomer Nancy Duckles, who all but steals the show as the narcissistic, needling socialite, Marion Brewster-Wright, a boozing banker’s wife. Also deserving of kudos is Leigh Monet, who plays the very suicidal Eva Jackson. Monet is very impressive in that she manages to be the funniest part of the second act despite having not one line.

The only thing that kept this production from soaring was the low-quality set. Several things either broke, fell, or simply didn’t work like they should have, prohibiting the actors from keeping their concentrations and the audience from suspending their disbeliefs. If there wasn’t a budget for a sturdy set, then why was a show picked that required three completely furnished, completely different sets? Go treat yourself and see this production. You’ll laugh at the characters (and the kitchens) falling apart. -T.W.

Blood Diamond (4/5)

You will hear the letters TIA several times through the course of Blood Diamond. “This Is Africa,” more or less the movie’s theme, is at once a statement, motto, and excuse, used both to explain and to pardon the violence and bloodshed in Africa. There is violence in Africa because Africa is violent is what the more cynical characters in the movie are saying. Oh shit, I’m about to be beheaded by an angry separatist militia. Ah well, TIA. I guess I’ll shrug my shoulders and have another beer while I can, mate.

The acronym has another meaning in Blood Diamond: This Is Acting. Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou give studied, intricate, Oscar-caliber performances in this film. These two blokes really do a fine job, and Leonardo is really starting to prove that he’s capable of taking on adult roles. Jennifer Connelly, however, is another story altogether. About halfway through the film my intelligence started crying, its feelings were so insulted by her by-the-books portrayal. I’m playing a reporter who really and truly cares, I mean ACTUALLY cares about the human toll of the civil war she’s covering. This Is Acting, Mr. Director, so can you please get a close-up of my humanity now? I can’t tell if it’s completely Connelly’s fault why she’s so awful, or if the scriptwriters were being passive-aggressive when they cooked up the totally unbelievable and cheesy romantic exchanges between her character and Leo’s. Shame on this movie for having a romantic subplot for DiCaprio and Connelly anyway when it’s the romance between refugees Solomon and Jassie that we really want to see.

If you’re one of those people who faun over diamonds and demand one for every Christmas and milestone of your life, stay at home so you can remain pleasantly innocent. But if you’re ready to be a little pissed off at the world and at corporations and at the man, then go see Blood Diamond. It’ll make you think more than twice about what’s really important in the world. -J.B.

Elemental Harmonics at Barley's (4/5)

Electronica is really starting to grow on me, given a few requirements. I prefer the type of band with live instrumentation over those who simply break out the laptops and hit the instant dance party button. I also need to hear them improvising together to really achieve that “trance” element the genre goes for. This past Saturday at Barley's Elemental Harmonics brought that exact sound. The Atlanta based trio pumped out high-energy delay-drenched dance music that managed to get at least fifty people out of their seats and moving, not an easy task on a slow night at Barley's. If you dig The Pnuma Trio or Sound Tribe Sector Nine this band will provide you with the same fix. Elemental Harmonics takes you on a completely instrumental musical ride, not overly cerebral, with a beat so driving that even the whitest of the white men have to, in the words of Les Claypool, “Succumb to the bounce”. Finally I have to mention that they passed what I consider to be the true test of an electronica band. Someone in the audience was doing the robot. And doing it well. -D.M.

Editor's note: Nothing says Dolly Parton like "succumb to the bounce."

Jason Thompson at Cha Cha (4/5)

In the past year, I've spent more than a few hours at Cha Cha, which now claims to be the jazz spot in Knoxville. I haven't been so sure about that claim until last Thursday night when I caught Jason Thompson's amazing set. It's been a long time since I've been moved by traditional, instrumental jazz in this town. Thompson (the Gran Torino/Superfly Soundtrip alum), along with his exciting ensemble, kept the small-but-committed crowd riveted with a lively repertoire. The group's selections spanned form Monk to cartoon themes, and left the audience wanting more. Guess we'll all have to wait until next Thursday night! -S.P.

The Queen (5/5)

Helen Mirren is all over this year's awards season. She’s on track to bag every major Best Actress statue in site, the way Phillip Seymour-Hoffman did last season for his work in Capote. Is she deserving of such accolades? Yes. Yes, she is.

Queen Elizabeth II is generally assumed to be cold-hearted, but if you're willing to look deep into her eyes (past her ginormous glasses), you will see that beyond the frost is a highly intelligent woman, a no-nonsense grandmother, a loyal wife, and a person with all the same insecurities and emotions that the rest of us commoners enjoy. But she’s the Queen of England, and she’s sure as hell not going to let us see anything other than stoicism and nobility. Helen Mirren reminds us, whether or not we want to hear it, that the queen is nevertheless human, warts and all. -J.B.




Chinese, Japanese, milk carton, Dolly Parton! See you next week!

Our new podcast is here.

Posted by Sara Schwabe at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

So what is a “runner”? Basically you’re a temporary employee hired for a specific event to do whatever comes up, (you’re the event’s bitch). You answer to a hierarchy of bosses from the artist himself down to the parking lot attendant; “Hey buddy here’s a fiver, can you get me a can a grizzly on your next time out?” Staple runs include filling hospitality needs (groceries, alcohol, patchouli oil, etc.) and making pick-ups of bus drivers and/or crewmembers. My tasks range from urgent show stopping equipment needs to things like, “Ray wants some Peanut-Butter Twix”.

A quick word about tour managers: they can make or break everyone’s day. Some are cool and collected, generally nice people, who seem passionate about their artist’s music and the part his crew get to play in the music scene. Others are pretentious whip crackers, who swear something’s about to go wrong cause, “local workers in these backwoods towns don’t know nothing bout showbidness”. Daniel was definitely the first type. He kept me busy, but was very polite and when the show started I was completely free to enjoy it.

I’ll have to admit I had never seen or heard much of Ray Lamontagne. Maybe a song or two had passed through my ears listening to the radio but I never really picked up on it. So with fresh ears I went into the show about ten minutes after his set began. The Bijou was sold out and completely dark except for one dim red light that come down on Ray and his band. The music instantly grabbed my attention. His voice is huge and raspy and sounds perfect with his band, which included a pedal steel (one of my all-time favorite instruments). Lamontagne said nearly nothing to the crowd all night except one comment on how great the acoustics were in the room. Then it happened. One of our good ol’ boys let it fly, “FREE BIRD!” Ray rolled his eyes and proceeded to fake slitting his wrists on the stage. I kept waiting for him to smile but he didn’t. All in all he gives off the impression of being talented but disturbed, and after seeing him in concert I totally believe his lyrics.

That was day one. The next morning started at 9 a.m. with me picking up a fifteen-passenger van. I fully prepared myself for an all out balls-to-wall marathon day with the GAC Country Christmas Spectacular. I pulled up to the Tennessee Theatre to find four tour buses, a television crew and the biggest production I have ever seen. I wolfed down some breakfast in the catering room and proceeded to find the tour manager to report for duty. Right away I made two small runs and then waited in the AC Entertainment production office.

And basically I kept waiting for the next 12 hours. Sometimes that’s how it goes. On a huge production like that there are so many people working that locals like me are basically insurance. So my presence was very necessary because things can and usually do happen but I really only received one other actual run that day. I was never really bored, passing the time studying and listening to people tell stories about past tours, and I learned a lot about pop music and the magic of television. I was cut shortly after the show, returned my van to Enterprise, and headed home.
So that’s the basics of being a runner. Not as glamorous as some might think, but definitely an interesting way to make some extra holiday cash.

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Following successful stints in widely respected clubs such as The Viper Room, The Derby and The Cat Club, bi-coastal rocker Ruby James makes a stop at the ever-hip World Grotto tonight, December 11th.

After developing her sound in Florida and California with various bands, Ruby James has now hit the road as a solo artist and is experiencing much success! She has been touted as one of the best female rock vocalists since Her Royal Rock Highness, Joan Jett. I don't think they're far from the truth, either. Like Jett, James's voice is clear yet tough, and demonstrates a surprising range. It's melodic but posesses enough grit to keep it from being too pretty for rock-n-roll. In her words, she's "a li'l bit sweet, a li'l bit sour."

Her appeal is broad, as her music shimmers with hints of soul and sexiness. In true rock tradition, her lyrics are the tales of everyday experiences and lessons. Nothing too high-brow, here, just some very catchy and enjoyable songs about stuff to which all of us can relate.

A seemingly charmed up-and-coming artist, Ruby James has already won admiration from bands for whom she's opened including Soul Asylum and 7Mary3. She must be doing something right, considering the credentials of her own band. Members have played with such notable musicians as Ozzy Osborne, Metallica, Steve Vai, Chick Corea and even Frank Zappa. Yowza! Based on that list, alone, I know where I'll be tonight!

Oh! And if Ruby James wasn't enough, she'll be joined by Knoxville's own sweet-tart Jenna and the Joneses. Between these two ladies, that's about as much sass a person can handle in one night!

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It must be the cold weather that's making our system freak out at the moment.
We're in the process of fixing our calendar issues as we speak...um...type.

Stay Tuned!
The 520 Gang

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Entering Sapphire, we passed a group of friends dining al fresco and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and the company of their very friendly dog. Once inside, we were quickly greeted by a pleasantly perky waitress who led us to the prime seating position in the front window. Totally private and ensconced in the seductively lit darkness, we commenced to perusing the menu.

First things first—cocktails. As it happened, we sat down before 7pm, which meant that it was happy hour. Yay! I ordered $3 champagne, and to my bargain-loving delight, received an upgrade to Domaine St. Michele Blanc de Blanc since the house champagne was out of stock. Our waitress supplied a bowl of crunchy wasabi peas, which had just the right amount of sinus-clearing bite.

To start, I ordered a warm goat cheese salad, comprised of mixed greens, Sapphire’s basil vinaigrette, and a small square of breadcrumb-coated goat cheese. The goat cheese was warm and creamy, and I really enjoyed it paired with the basil vinaigrette. This was a very good start (in fact, I wished they had included more of the cheesy goodness on my salad).

For the main event, I chose the special that night: roasted duck breast with corn and black bean salsa. When the plate arrived, I thought, “wow, fancy portions,” which translates into “wow, not much food here.” However, once I tasted the richness of the duck combined with the spiciness of the salsa, I adjusted my first impression. This portion was just right.

Feeling on-the-brink-of-full and my mouth still buzzing from the salsa’s peppers, I decided to order something sweet. I wanted to try one of Sapphire’s much touted holiday-themed cocktails because I was feeling festive. After much flip-flopping, I decided on the ginger fizz, which turned out to be not too sweet and very gingery. The ginger fizz is champagne-based, served in a flute, with Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur) and ginger vodka. This is a good cocktail for those who don’t like syrupy sweet drinks.

To go along with my festive cocktail, our ever-helpful waitress recommended the chocolate plate, and I excitedly agreed. This was a chocolate lovers dream come true: chocolate truffle, which was fabulous dipped in the accompanying pineapple puree; vanilla coconut truffle, with a very strong vanilla flavor; and pieces of various chocolate bars like chocolate mint, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and 88% dark chocolate (wow!).

So while I did indeed have a great cocktail or two, as expected, I also learned that Sapphire serves some very fine food as well. You won’t find chicken fingers or fish and chips at this pub. Expect fancier fare along with some fancier prices, though my overall bill wasn’t so bad considering the quality of food, the chic atmosphere, and the excellent service. I would definitely recommend Sapphire for a special holiday evening with that special someone.

This just in: Sapphire will now be serving fresh, hand-rolled sushi Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights!

Posted by the 520 gang at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

“FIRST THURSDAYS LIVE” at BECK CULTURAL CENTER

Knoxville’s best kept secret venue has to be the Knox County Public Library System. With opera previews, films, lectures, demonstrations, poetry readings, and live concerts, the Knox County Public Library provides a very unique setting for a wide variety of events.

The most unique library concert setting is “First Thursdays Live” at the newly renovated Beck Cultural Exchange Center located at 1927 Dandridge Avenue. Just blocks from downtown, Beck Cultural Exchange Center (Beck), founded in 1975, is home to a museum, library and exhibits relating to African-American history and culture, with a special emphasis on local history ~ and on the first Thursday of every month, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Beck is home to hot and smokin’ live jazz and rhythm & blues concerts! The atmosphere is intimate, comfortable and lively.

Last month’s performance with vocalist Sharon Mosby, accompanied by pianist Wendel Werner, Dave Slack and Terry Schmidt, was great fun as the vivacious Ms. Mosby explained to us about being “attitudinal,” and how to get our “rewind” on, while treating us to over 2 hours of old-school style jazz reminiscent of Carmen McRae, Joe Williams, and Jimmy Rushing, with little gospel touch Marion Williams-style.

Admission to “First Thursdays Live” is $7 for Beck Members and $9 for non-members. Admission includes entrance to the museum and the show. Catering and refreshments are available and parking is free. This is a smoke-free venue, although the musicians are hot!

Beck Cultural Exchange Center
1927 Dandridge Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37915
Phone: (865) 524-8461
Regular Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
“First Thursday Live” hours 6 pm -8:30 pm
Mr. Avon W. Rollins, Executive Director

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This added service of ours will be brought to you on a regular basis by the music gurus over there at Disc Exchange. Be sure to pay a visit to their website for more of their infinite wisdom.

Okonokos - My Morning Jacket

Usually a live album either sinks or soars in my book. Some artists surpass the brilliance contained in their albums with live shows, feeding heavily off of the crowd's energy and come up with something that leaves the studio albums in the dust. In other cases, musicians try and put too much into their studio releases, making it virtually impossible to recreate these songs live, thus live recordings come across as lacking and usually find their way back into the used CD bins. My Morning Jacket's newest release, Okonokos, is thankfully not one of these releases.

My first impression was "they are never going to be able to capture whatever it is they do live with this album." I was sorely mistaken. As the tracks progressed through this two-disc adventure, I found myself not able to keep my mind on anything else but the music, the same feat that happens every time I see MMJ live. It is almost like a trance in which Jim James and his merry Louisvillians grab a hold and weave their gothic, Southern tales with the magic that only they could do. James' voice rings out of a pallet of layered musical intensity witch makes you want to throw up horns and head-bang along with the band at one moment and curl up into a ball and weep the very next. This can be attributed at the root to Jim James and his phenomenal songwriting ability. But it's more than that really. The way in which he uses his voice more as a complementary instrument than a tool to hammer the lyrics into your brain is extraordinary, thus making the songs even more beautiful and mysterious.

Recorded at the famous Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, this live album covers mostly songs from the latest MMJ studio album, Z, but also visits other favorites from the vault including "Xmas Curtain", "I Will Sing You Songs", and the epic, "One Big Holiday." This release definitely has "Top 10" potential for 2006 and is definitely one of the best live albums I own. The great thing is they are just getting started and beginning to get the respect that they deserve. This makes the future look so much brighter.------Andrew Bryant

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This enchanting all-woman group displays "an astonishing array of virtuosity", according to the Washington Post. Each member contributes many different elements to their performances. Their varied talents and superior musicianship has made them one of the most sought-after Irish music groups in the world!

The ensemble formed following a concert series that was intended to feature the up-and-coming stars on the Irish-American music scene. The chemistry was so strong between the participants that they decided to make music together on a regular basis. Combining the already legendary talents of the individual players & singers with the elements of traditional Irish dance and a bit of storytelling, Cherish The Ladies (whose name actually comes from an old Irish dance) has created a performance experience unlike any other.

Their recordings have been "cherished" by music critics all over the globe. On Christmas Night earned them fans at The Village Voice, The New York Times and The Washington Post. One of their non-seasonal albums, Woman of the House, made it to the Billboard Top 10 on the World Music chart. They have played with such noted performers as James Taylor, Joan Baez and The Chieftans, as well as with the Boston Pops Symphony - a performance that garnered them a 1999 Grammy nomination. (Whew!)

It's almost impossible to overstate how important these women are, not only to the Irish music tradition, but also to live music in general. The skill they exhibit is astonishing and inspiring. Don't miss out on the chance to catch these ladies at their holiday best this week!

Posted by the 520 gang at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome to the brand-new 520 blog, The Monday After. This blog will be our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer up quickie reviews of all the things we’re pretty sure we got into this past weekend, including concerts, movies, plays, and restaurants. Pop a couple of ibuprofens and enjoy.

Casino Royale

This ain’t your daddy’s James Bond. This movie takes pride in bending all the James Bond rules. Q’s gone, Moneypenny’s history, Bond doesn’t given a damn how you make his martini, and the only person emerging hot and wet from the ocean is Bond himself (in a Speedo, no less). And you’ll emerge from the theater hot and wet, because this Bond emits more pheromones than a castle full of Monty Python nuns. (Daniel Craig could have had anybody in our Turkey Creek audience that he wanted. Really, Bond’s clothes were tighter than anything those Bond girls were wearing.) While this movie relishes in emasculating Bond (his pants are too tight, his car gets trashed -- even his man bits get tortured to the point of a literal emasculation), Bond always emerges bigger, sexier, and more bad-ass than ever. Best movie I've seen so far this year. -J.B.

For Your Consideration

Like I wrote last week, I’m thankful for the Christopher Guest Collection: Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind. But I’m also thankful for the dentist. Both keep me smiling, but sometimes the visit can be painful. Guest’s latest, For Your Consideration, dumps the “mockumentary” style of its predecessors and tries to stand up as a more traditional comedy. Kudos to Guest for ditching the overused format that he helped to pioneer, but perhaps its time to also ditch the improvised, on-the-fly script so that the jokes aren’t so few and far between. Yes, improvisation tends to create rawer, funnier material (Fred Willard and Jane Lynch can’t get any better), but it also leads to bigger bombs (John Michael Higgen’s Native American schtick). There are just too many gifted bullshitters in the cast, and there’s simply not enough screen time to let them all blossom. Although it’s fun to see who can get in the best jokes -- it was like watching the Discovery Channel, the way you could see Sandra Oh getting eaten alive by Jennifer Coolidge – it’s also a tragedy to see a comic genius like Ricky Gervais flounder. See it, but wait until you can download it cheap onto your iPod. -J.B.

The Laramie Project at the Clarence Brown Theatre

Technically I’m a week late in writing about this show, but hey, turkey happens. So the UT Theatre Department is experimenting with throwing their undergrads into the spotlight by including a “Studio Series” of undergrad-only productions in their regular professional season. As the program reads, a Studio Series audience can “enjoy the experience of witnessing the next generation of theatre professionals emerge.” That’s a lofty statement, Mr. Brown.

The Laramie Project is a hard show to screw up. I saw an abridged, high school production of it three years ago and was still moved to tears despite some bad acting and dropped plot points. And UT did an admirable job with the unabridged version, despite some mediocre performances and uninspired staging. While there were no breakaway performances in the show, Pedro Tomas, Shane Chuvalas, Martha Reddick, Sandy Greek, and Doug Jennings all gave solid, nuanced portrayals of their many characters. What unfortunately lingers in my mind are the missed opportunities of the more inexperienced or untalented actors. The script relies on the role of Jebediah Schultz to provide some much needed comic relief, but freshman Seth Crowe was too green to give Jebediah life. And perhaps the most memorable role in the show, Marge Murray, was given a completely forgettable performance by senior Christen Gee. More upsetting was that the emotional climax of the play, the moment when the townspeople of Laramie unveiled their “big-ass” wings in a show of town solidarity against hate-mongering, was such a let-down. (If you’re gonna talk about drowning out Fred Phelps, you better show him drowning on stage. It’s too much of an audience pleasure to play in a minimal fashion.)

As far as the scenic elements went, everything was suitable and unobtrusive. The set was interesting, the lighting wasn’t noticeable, the costuming was fine. The only thing that called attention to itself was the sound design, and it was only now and then that you would notice how cheesy the soap-opera-like interludes were. The focus in this show was obviously on the actors. I just wish the actors had been brave enough to call attention to themselves from time to time, too. -T.W.

A Year with Frog and Toad at the Clarence Brown Theatre

I never read those famous Frog and Toad books as a kid. They always struck me as just too plain dull to bother with. Maybe it was the musty yellow pages of the hand-me down editions our library owned that turned me off. Maybe I just couldn’t get into reading a story about two amphibians drinking lots of hot tea. I have no idea what Frog and Toad actually did in those stories, but I always figured that it wasn’t a whole lot.

I think I might have been right. In A Year with Frog and Toad, playing now at the Clarence Brown Theatre, Frog and Toad don’t do much of anything. They drink tea, send mail, and eat cookies, and that’s about it. But I have to admit, I wasn’t bored for one second.

The team at the Clarence Brown has put together a wonderfully entertaining show that will captivate kids and adults alike. The whimsical set is a playground for the imagination, and the costumes are chock-full of sparkle and pizzazz. And while the kids will marvel over everything they see, the adults in the crowd will be just as pleased with the professional performances on the stage. While everyone in the ensemble is given a chance to shine, it is Ryan Dietz as cranky, flustered, manic Toad who easily and handily steals the show.

Frog and Toad is much fun, but it did have its when-do-we-get-to-sleep opening Saturday actor fatigue. The choreography was just shaky enough to be distracting (though even more distracting was Frog’s swimming trunks, which had no business being in a live-action family show). And I don’t know who thought stopping the show for an interminably long leaf-blower routine was a good idea, but I’m still cringing thinking about it.

Robert and Willie Reale’s music has the power to make you feel really, really good deep down inside, good enough to pardon the show for not being as polished as it should be. Frog and Toad would readily forgive a few botched dance cues, so I guess I can to. Go see it. -T.W.

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