The lustful breath of spring
This past weekend, my dear friend and fellow singer, Ellen, and I took in perhaps the hottest work in the history of classical music: the Carmina Burana.
The Carmina Burana was composed by Carl Orff in 1937, and is based on a collection of poems about sex, drinking and gambling. The poems are part of a manuscript dating from around 1280 and found in the Benedictine monastary of Beuren in present-day Germany. They're composed in Latin, Old German and Old French by "golliards", or defrocked monks and minstrels. And let me tell you, friends...don't let the frilly, foreign words fool you. These poems are about as lustful as they come:
My virginity
makes me frisky,
my simplicity
holds me back.
The entire piece is made up of 25 movements for soprano, tenor and baritone singers, as well as a youth chorus, adult choir and full orchestra. It is organized into 3 settings, and the whole thing begins with a heavy whack on the tympani followed by all 100+ singers wailing in unison to the goddess of Fortune in the very famous song, "O, Fortuna!" (I'm pretty sure you've heard this piece, as it's been used in countless films and soundtracks, but click here for a somewhat lame sample.) From the first note of the Carmina Burana to the last, it's "all hedonism all the time." Not bad for a bunch of 13th century monks!
Once I lived on lakes,
once I looked beautiful
when I was a swan.
Misery me!
Now black
and roasting fiercely!
The servant is turning me on the spit;
I am burning fiercely on the pyre:
the steward now serves me up.
Even as an audience member, it's hard to stay in your seat while the orchestra and choir take you on an almost-pagan journey through the world of medieval Europe. However, I suspect that it's the "almost-pagan" part that resulted in so many empty seats during the second half of the show, on which the Carmina Burana was performed. I would like to think that the seat-owners couldn't contain themselves and were dancing wildly to the driving rhythms in the back aisle - but somehow I don't think that was the case. Regardless, among the brave, elderly audience members who stuck around, many of them were bobbing their heads and humming along to the famous, raucous melodies.
At some points, humming along to the familiar tunes was difficult, as there were several spots where the orchestra and chorus seemed under-rehearsed. The danger of not rehearsing a musical behemoth like the Carmina Burana, is that the players eyes are glued to their music and not on the conductor - who is responsible for cutting off the choir and orchestra in very specific and dramatic spots. This lack of practice resulted in several singers and players sharing unexpected solos out of turn.
In spite of the obvious mistakes, the Knoxville Symphony and Choral Society succeeded in bringing the exuberant and expressive Carmina Burana to life upon the Tennessee Theatre stage (mostly thanks to the exceptional headlining soloists). In a way, the flub-ups made the performance even more human & real, and living a "real" life is a large part of what the Carmina Burana is all about.
The State of Rock: WFIV
I hardly ever listen to the radio in my car.
There’s no real reason to. I have hundreds of CDs and, even though only two of the speakers in my 1995 Ford Escort actually function, I constantly switch out CDs instead of listening to the radio.
But not long ago my friend Lisa had the radio playing at her house one day, and much to my surprise, I actually heard an astonishing mix of music on 105.3.
It only took about four songs for me to realize the station plays songs with the same feel. It seemed like a mix CD that acted as the perfect soundtrack for just hanging out on a Saturday afternoon. Somehow, 105.3 made a lineup of Fleetwood Mac, Sublime, the Shins, and Sheryl Crow sound amazing.
The station, which is privately owned, is run from far out west in Farragut. It’s only been around for a year or two, having formally been an ‘80s station. The station owners, however, realized that with an ‘80s station, you’ve backed yourself into a corner. There won’t be anything new you can play, and much like classic rock stations, you have to rely on the same small rotation of songs over and over again with no potential for anything new.
Also, when it came time for the station to change over, they simply repeated the creepy music from old Clint Eastwood movies for five straight days with a sound clip of someone saying that something new was coming from the west. Something this bizarre undoubtedly gets attention, especially in a more traditional city like Knoxville.
With the privately owned station (the owner literally lives down the street) there is more freedom for song selection. “Have you ever heard the Ramones on the radio in Knoxville?� Todd rhetorically asks, implying their station plays the ‘70s punk band. “That’s something that we’re proud of.�
The station is formatted as a “Triple A� station, standing for “adult album alternative-“ a blanket term for a number of sub-genres. With this format, it’s not uncommon to hear Pink Floyd and Radiohead in the same hour— perfect parallels from two generations.
And whereas the song selection is so unique it’s actually worth leaving your CDs at home when you drive somewhere, or permenately leaving your clock radio tuned to 105.3, the station adds a unique touch with its DJs. Todd says he wants the station to be more like ‘70s radio, when DJs actually knew something about the music they were playing and would talk about it on the air.
The fact that the station is run by a number of “music geeks,� according to Todd, certainly helps. The staff clearly cares about what they’re doing, or else a such a great final product could never result.
“I love to throw curveballs,� Todd says regarding obscure music selections. For example, he played a rendition of “Working on a Coal Mine� done by ‘80s punk-pop band Devo recently, which he says got an immediate reaction from listeners calling in or emailing. “There are days when you feel like you are a party DJ,� he says.
And this is the biggest reason to listen. Given the thought that goes into the timing and order of the songs, there are no real abrasive changes and it all provides a distinct mood. Therefore, even when bands come on that I don’t care for, in context they can sound amazing.
I wouldn’t ever choose to listen to U2 or Sheryl Crow, but when I hear them on 105.3 it makes perfect sense and I don’t feel the need to change the station.
Prayer for Pees
Operation: Save Our City From Itself prayer rally
Welcome to this subpar edition of the 520 blog, The Monday After. This is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer you some 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.
Whenever the goin' gets tough here in East Tennessee, you can always count on the tough gettin' their butts to church. And then forming an army.
In response to some recent murders in Knoxville, local religious leaders from varying faiths have formed a coalition to fight the war on homicide. "Operation: Save Our City" is still in its preliminary war-room stage, but once the attack plan is drawn, this non-denominational operation will "implement programs to help curb the violence across the city." Yet, according to WATE, violence isn't so much on the rise. In fact, the murder rate seems to be dropping, and the crime rate really isn't any worse than it ever has been.
Instead of this reactionary "operation" to save our city from a mistakenly perceived descent into crime and murder, how 'bout we focus on more tangible atrocities, like the fact that for the second week in a row, a Knoxville story has made News of the Weird files the world over. Last week, it was the father who made his son wear a sandwich board to school proclaiming his drug habit. This week, it was the mom who complained about the drunk golfers who keep urinating right by her house, even though they can see her videotaping them for evidence.
We'd like to see a coalition of teachers and social workers form their own army. "Operation: Save Our City From Itself" might do wonders in reducing our town's propensity at making the Bizarre Section's headlines.
And now for our weekly rankings!
This week's key:
= Operation: Sucked A Lot.
= Golfer peed on your crepe myrtle.
= City gets saved, but then starts acting all preachy.
= Videotaped golfer is really cute.
= Videotaped golfer is a celebrity; tabloids pay out millions.
Iris DeMent at the Bijou ()
Sometimes it's good to be reminded that not all music people are show people. Such was the case at the Iris DeMent show at the Bijou on Saturday. I have long admired her songwriting and unique vocal style, but was (for some reason) surprised to learn that the stage is not where she shines. Amid an evening of forgotten keys, false starts on songs and awkward pauses between numbers, Iris still managed to charm the almost-full theatre with her enchanting songwriting and delivery. It just took me awhile to remember that it's her music that we all paid to hear, and not Spectacular Spectacular. Once I adjusted my focus, the very gifted and honest Iris DeMent had my complete focus. -S.S.
Fracture ()
Fracture is the story of a homicidal genius (Tony Hopkins) who really gets off at effing with the mind of up-and-coming D.A. (Ryan Gosling) who is prosecuting said genius for the murder of his wife. This film isn't worth much ink, so I'll keep it brief. Hopkins does his typical crazy genius schtick, and Gosling plays the exact same character here that he played in Half-Nelson. I liked him Half-Nelson. I despised him in Fracture. Playing every scene like you're hungover, delivering every line with a mumble, and filling in every spare second with some sort of idiosyncratic tic does NOT a compelling character make. Despite the boredom of their characters, the film could have survived with a suspenseful plot. Instead, the film sinks with a whole lot of waiting around for the D.A. to figure out the one and only twist to the plot. The film isn't a thriller, it isn't a character study, and it isn't worth a ten-spot to go see. Blah. -J.B.
See you next week!
Heartfelt & forthright
Her 2006 CD release, “The Underdogs,� was also a finalist in the Pop Category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the single track “Taking Bob Dylan� won the Nashville Song & Lyric Contest and was also the Grand Prize winner at the International Acoustic Music Awards.
Jeff Trott, a music producer for Sheryl Crowe and Stevie Nicks, worked with Jen Foster on “The Underdogs� and says “she is my new hero. The sound of her voice is truly beautiful to me. She has a way of writing songs for anyone who has ever been at the short end of the stick and turning it into victory. Lyrically, her details are very poetic and brave. Most songwriters hide behind oblique imagery. Jen revels in bearing her heart.�
And she’s been stealing the hearts of fans and critics with her frank songs about relationships and “come-from-behind wins.� Her voice has also been compared to Sheryl Crowe, Tracy Chapman and the Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan, and her musical style, ranging from pop to rock, has been compared to Bono and Alanis Morissette. Jen states, “There is supposed to be more to rock music than just making noise. I want my lyrics to strike a nerve in people, to communicate something unique and universal all at once. I mean, what’s the point of writing or performing if you don’t provoke your audience?�
We are fortunate that the Writer’s Block LIVE series is bringing this talented “rising star� to the Knoxville Museum of Art’s auditorium on Wednesday, May 2nd. This 170 seat auditorium’s customized sound system, provided by Broadway Sound, makes this one of the best listening rooms in town and the perfect setting for intimate solo performer shows.
This Wednesday is the perfect opportunity to catch Jen Foster. From the sound of her work and her reputation, it likely won’t be long before she is performing for steeper ticket prices at venues like the Tennessee Theatre.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at 6:30 p.m.
Knoxville Museum of Art
World’s Fair Park
Tickets are $7.00 and can purchased online KnoxTix.com
or at the show
Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
Complimentary snacks by Panera. Cash bar available.
April 27, 2007
Theatre blogs
It was a New Year's resolution to get more organized, so it seemed about time to follow through. Below is what we've published concerning the stage, spoken word and other theatricalness. Be sure to let us know if you or your company has something interesting coming up - we'd be glad to cover it!
520
---------
Events listed from most recent to over-the-longest...
"Next, please!": local stage audition notices
Steve Wildsmith's article on “Art,� the new production at Maryville College
The Black Box Radio Hour Presents: A Co-op Companion
Backstage with Michael Kostroff
Spoken word circus
Burlesque at the Knoxville Museum of Art Fences, at Clarence Brown Theatre The Producers, at Broadway in Knoxville Cinderella Confidential, at the Actors Co-op Bill Cosby, at the Tennessee Theatre Aida, at Broadway in Knoxville Rent, at Broadway in Knoxville The Gorey Ball, fundraiser for the Actors Co-op Robin Goodfellow, at the Actors Co-op The unique history of the Barter Theatre Unidentified Human Remains, at the Actors Co-op Improv comedy with Einstein Simplified Mamma Mia!, at Broadway in Knoxville
April 26, 2007
IdFest Winners
Here they are...the winners of the tickets to this weekend's big, fat music festival across the mountain in Asheville (a $50 value!):
Mr. Paul Simmons
and
Ms. Sandra Harbison
Congratulation to both and thanks to all of you who entered. There will be more contests and giveaways very soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
520
An Earth Day Odyssey (pt.3): Fish - the other roadkill
(continued from here)
You know, I made these mountains and these valleys. Well, not so much me myself personally, but me myself as a totem. By flying low over the still hot, molten earth in the beginning, my wings made the valleys and the hills, and the mountains. My wings made this valley, and the river and the lakes. Alright, maybe not all the lakes; the dams did most of that. But still, I've been around for a while, and I know what I've seen.
I'm sort of the busboy of the earth; I clean up the left overs. Something dies, I come by and clean it up; something's killed and some is left behind, I'm the guy to clean it up. For most of my history, it's been just that; some animal kills someone else, eats a lot of it, leaves, and leaves the rest for me. Thousands of years, I've lived like that.
Lately though, it's different. Most of what I eat is laid out on the road. I don't even know what some of it is till I'm already eating it. "Oh, that's rabbit," I'll say with half a mouthful. Or, "I recognize this, it's possum, I knew his aunt," I might murmur. Anyway, it's tricky trying to find the stuff by scent through the smog, then avoiding cars and trucks to try to get down close. We've had a couple of feasts that started including some of us, because everyone kept getting hit! Whatever. It's crazy.
I'll tell you one thing they're doing: they're killing the fish. Maybe it's the oil and gas they leave behind, or maybe it's the motors hitting the fish - talk about not recognizing something before you eat it - try figuring out if somebody already was eating on a fish or if it just got hit by a prop! It's disgusting, and believe me, I know disgusting.
It'd probably be better if I could just stand along the shore and scoop up a dead fish here and there, but even that's becoming more and more difficult. There's less and less shore left; those motor boats stir up the water so bad, it's all washing away.
I feel real bad for Heron and Crane; they got less places to live, what with all the luxury, riverside houses going up (tacky if you ask me), less fish for all the pollutions and boats, and less shore to even stand on to catch them.
I guess, at least, I'll be the last of them all. When everyone's hit by a car or boat, when they've wore out all the homes of everyone, and when y'all people kill yourselves with your stress and wars, I'll be around on that last day, cleaning up the last of it.
I was here in the beginning, and I'll be here at the end.
2nd annual Knoxville Poetry Festival
The second annual Knoxville Poetry Festival is Thursday, Friday and
Saturday of this week at Lawson-McGhee Library downtown. More than 35
poets and performance poets will participate, with well-known literary
artists such as R.B. Morris, Marilyn Kallet, Jeff Daniel Marion, Linda
Parsons Marion and Art Smith performing alongside a couple dozen of
Knoxville's finest poetic voices, including Knoxville originals Jack
Rentfro, Judy Loest, Kali Meister, Daniel Roop, Laura Still, and many
others. This year we will feature, among much else, the launch of new
books by Marianne Worthington, Connie Green, Patricia Waters and RB
Morris. See the schedule below for reading times.
The festival kicks off on Thursday with a series of readings (2:30, 5:30 and 7:30) by some of the finest young poets from the University of
Tennessee's Creative Writing Program, hosted by acclaimed poets Marilyn
Kallet and Art Smith.
On Friday at 6:00 Knoxville legend RB Morris will appear in a solo
performance, in celebration of the launch this month of his new book
Early Fires, from Iris Press.
Finally, on Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 a wide range of poets,
performance artists and musicians will take the stage outdoors on the
plaza behind Lawson-McGhee. There will be Greek food from Vera
Pantanizopoulos of the Smoky Mountain Deli, hammer dulcimer performances
by Tim Simek, tables of books and CD's by area writers and musicians,
and music from Phil Pollard and his Band of Humans. (See schedule
below.)
One last thing -- limited edition broadsides will be available at the
Festival, featuring poems by Marilyn Kallet, Art Smith, Jeff Daniel
Marion, Linda Parsons Marion, RB Morris, and Judy Loest.
Below you will find more details about Festival events, including
reading times for various poets. For more info, contact Brian Griffin,
Writer-in-Residence at Knox County Libraries: taylorprize@yahoo.com, or
719-6823. See you there!
MORE DETAILS:
On Thursday, April 27, students from Dr. Marilyn Kallet's classes will
read at 2:30 and 5:30 on the mezzanine at Lawson-McGhee, followed at
7:30 by Dr. Arthur Smith's graduate students - a group that includes
Austin Church, Jesse Graves, Otis Haschemeyer, Charlotte Pence, and Ben
Samples.
On Friday, April 27, at 6:00 PM Knoxville legend R.B. Morris will read
and discuss his new book of poetry, Early Fires (Iris Press 2007) in the
Arts @ the Library Room of Lawson-McGhee. Morris is a poet, playwright,
recording artist and musician who currently serves as
Writer-in-Residence at the University of Tennessee Libraries .
The outdoor portion of the festival takes place on the plaza behind
Lawson-McGhee on Saturday, April 28, from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Saturday begins with readings at 1:00 by Marilyn Kallet and Art Smith,
followed at 1:30 by Connie Green, Marianne Worthington, and Patricia
Waters, each reading from their new poetry collections.
At 2:00 on Saturday performance poets Kali Meister, Daniel Roop, Ben
Samples, Jessie Janeshek and Shoshanna Cole will perform, along with
performance poets from Austin-East High School.
At 3:00 on Saturday poets Jeff Daniel Marion, Linda Parsons Marion and
Edward Francisco will perform, followed at 3:30 by Donna Doyle, Judy
Loest, Laura Still and Wendy Smith.
The afternoon closes with a 4:00 performance by spoken word artist Jack
Rentfro, with the music of Phil Pollard and His Band of Humans.
The Rising Stars of Sundown: Anne McCue
A native of Australia, McCue hadn't planned on a life in the music world at all, although she could play a bit. She focused her time and talents on degree in Film Studies at the University of Technology in Sydney. After graduation, she gathered up a few necessary objects, including a cheap guitar, and headed to Melbourne. When the ol' post-graduation life uncertainty set in, she decided to get a little wild.
She bravely responded to a classified listing that said, "Wanted: Wild Women For Rock'n'Roll Band". She got the job and began playing as the lead guitarist for a suprisingly successful pop group. Even though she could rip though the basic chords, she admirably took it upon herself to learn music theory. (Anyone who's studied music theory knows what a daunting task that must have been!) Soon, she was able to write songs for the group which ultimately led to the Australian equivalent of a Grammy nomination. As her skills increased, so did her desire to be a solo artist. She took another leap of faith and left the band to pursue her own place in the music business.
Since then, there's been no looking back for Anne McCue. Her hard work and dedication has brought her attention from the likes of Lucinda Williams, The Pretenders, Emmylou Harris and Sarah McLachlan. She's even had the opportunity to tour with Lucinda Williams on several occasions and released a live recording from a joint 2002 performance called, "Ballad of an Outlaw Woman". She has played Lillith Fair and appeared as guest guitarist/vocalist on albums by Michelle Shocked and Gina Villalobos.
Be sure to catch up on past Sundown 2007 openers, too!
Watch the time-lapsed video of last week's show here.
Sundown 2007
Here's a running tally of 520's coverage of this year's opening acts:
4/12/07: Antibalas & the Low Stars
4/19/07: The American Plague
Smile Empty Soul
Smile Empty Soul started out in 1999 as a trio of like-minded, musically-inclined high-school kids. Sean helmed the band with vocals and guitar; Ryan Martin was on bass; and drums were courtesy of Derek Gledhil. Although two of the three original members are long-since gone, they were present for the making of the band's self-titled debut album on the Lava Records label.
Since that initial album, Smile Empty Soul has soldiered through a sandstorm of line-up changes, label drama, and controversy. Sean tells the story like this...
"There's a lyric in our song, Holes, that says 'take your bibles and go home.' Once the song was out, the label [Lava] got over 30,000 emails from The Christian Coalition in one weekend, protesting release of the song as a single. So there was that, and then the release date for the second album kept getting pushed back."
Clearly, that's the direction they needed to take. Since December 2006, their CD Vultures, released on their current label, Bieler Bros. Records, had sold over 13,000 copies. No small feat for a band floating on the finances of its lead singer/guitarist. These days, Smile Empty Soul is on tour, making their way around the U.S. They'll be stopping in Knoxville this Sunday, April 29, at Blue Cats, supported by fellow City of Angels rockers, The Exies, and St. Louis band, Autovein. Check it out!
Episode for April 27th - 30th
Welcome to The Roundup, our weekly podcast that keeps you "uptuh date" on everything in 520 land. Brush up on your local music, listen to the podcast, and you might just win yourself a t-shirt. With Joe Beuerlein in it.
Let host Pete Powell take you to places you've never dreamt of going! The latest episode is now up! This week: An androgynous and high Sundown in the City Preview, a round of Guess That Local Tune, an interview with Jodie Manross, and our Weekend Fun Time Pick.
Listen to it here.
Or use this RSS feed to subscribe via iTunes.
Or listen to it at our myspace site.
Yeehaw, K-Town.
April 25, 2007
Bloody huge blues
The Bluesman from Downunder and his band are back by popular demand after being enthusiastically received at their Alive After Five debut last spring.
Geoff Achison has developed a reputation as a guitarist’s guitarist, equally adept at acoustic and electric styles. He’s also a soulful vocalist with an engaging stage presence brimming with droll Australian humor. Mike Daly of The Age describes Achison's playing as "One of the sweetest sounds in the world today." The Times of London declared Achison as "One of the most gifted musicians to arrive on the scene. The man could be king."
Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers
Knoxville Museum of Art
1050 World’s Fair Park
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, April 27
$10 non-KMA members
$6 KMA members or with student ID
Free parking
Cash bar and concessions available
April 23, 2007
Seoul Food in Knoxville
Just as the smell of fresh cornbread reminds me of my nanny’s house in North Carolina. The smell of kimchee reminds me of my best friend’s house in high school. Andrea’s mom, who moved from Korea before Andrea was born, always kept a large jar of the traditional cabbage dish on hand, filling the house with the pungent aroma. For me, the smell brings back lovely memories of laughing, eating, and stirring up teenage mischief. So when I walked into Korea House restaurant last week and smelled that familiar aroma, the memories came flooding back and I immediately felt warm and happy.
But the memories weren’t the only cause of my instant comfort—the warm ambiance in the restaurant would make anyone feel at ease. The minimalist design makes the space feel light and airy, and the hanging lamps draped with natural fiber paper emit a soft glow. Seven tables and one long table in the middle provide plenty of seating for the small restaurant without being cramped.
I knew before I arrived that I would probably order a dosilak, which is a compartmentalized box called a bento box, filled with a delightful assortment of tasty foods. I’m a sucker for multiple side items, especially when one of those side items is sushi. I settled on the teriyaki chicken dosilak, which I specified to be both spicy and sweet (I was given a choice and, failing to make a decision, asked for both). In addition to the chicken, the box also contained a salad, sushi, and fried shrimp and dumplings.
The sweet n’ spicy teriyaki chicken, served with rice, was perfect. I wouldn’t classify this as “hot,� but I’m not typically one for nose-runningly spicy foods. The spiciness was beautifully offset by the sweetness of the dish. The salad, covered in a ginger lemon dressing was crisp and refreshing and, to my surprise, fat free. This lack of fat made me feel fully justified in eating the pile of crispy fried shrimp and dumplings, which were filled with veggies, beef, green onions, cabbage, and tofu. The sushi was a nice accompaniment to the meal, and filled with crab, white radish, and cucumber, served with a sauce fuller than the typical soy sauce and wasabi combo, including sesame oil and ginger as well.
For a person who likes to taste a variety of foods in one meal, this place is a dream come true. In addition to our meal, Korea House provides a variety of side dishes for the table to share, typical of Korean restaurants in general. The side items change regularly, but on this particular night, we enjoyed spicy kimchee (some of the best in Knoxville); soybean sprouts, which were salty with a mild spice; pickled white radish, with both sweet and sour flavors; egg and veggie omelet; fish cakes, made with pollock pounded flat and deep fried; seaweed and white radish salad, which tasted of vinegar and mild spices; and zucchini, which was salty and light.
It’s a wonderful feeling to find another restaurant to add to my list of go-to places in Knoxville for good food and good atmosphere. And take note, fellow wine lovers: Korea House lets you bring your own wine with no corking fee. The next time you’re running through your usual catalog of places to grab a bite, add this one to the top of your list.
--Amy Lawless for Lawless Eats/ brilliant post-production by Grainger Marlar.
Supply & Demand
The man can feel. He has an uncanny ability to mix music and lyrics and seamlessly blend them so that you are caught up in the story much like you find your self laughing or crying during a movie. I can only imagine how cool it will be to experience him live and even more raw and on the fly. He reminds me of Citizen Cope in his story telling ability, which is truly a gift that only some possess. Amos however, not only shares a story but adds what he thinks of it, and you can tell that he must be a positive soul, because he makes a point of adding the redemptive side to his stories. I admire his courage to lay it out there and call it as he sees it. You can hear some live tracks on his myspace page.
Amos Lee will be here this Wednesday, April 25th at the Bijou Theatre.
An Earth Day Odyssey (pt. 2): People still party
(Continued from here)
Then the guy with the sunglasses spoke.
I got a perfect solution about how to enjoy our parks, become a better citizen, and still party.
There's a problem in our parks. Have you gone for a walk along the shore lately? Glass, trash everywhere. Have you tried to throw some disc? Glass, trash everywhere. You can’t hardly bring your children down there without constantly reminding them to watch out for the glass. Forget about going barefoot in the park. It’s dangerous.
But why do we go to the park? It’s lovely to see the river. Sure. I like to walk and throw discs on the disc golf course? Sure. I like to do these things while high? Better answer. Much better answer.
Look, I don’t even get high in the park anymore. I’m taking my children for walks and I'm teaching them how to throw frisbees I'm showing them how to enjoy life, their own and the life of nature-the woods, the river, the various animals.
Others do though, many others. Every time we go, people are partying. That’s great; they don’t bother us, we don’t bother them, everybody minds their own business.
I could say what everybody says: stop littering. Or maybe I could make a clever rhyme: don’t throw down on my town or whatever.
These don’t work. Remember the guy crying by the trash laden park? Very artistic; it didn’t work.
Here’s the solution. Call the police. Littering is illegal. You see somebody littering, call the police. The police will come; they like to drive in the park as much as anybody, plus they like to have a reason to roll through the park looking for dopeys. When they roll up, point out the disgusting offenders, explain what and where they littered, and you’ve become a better citizen. If we all start doing this, word will get out and the parks will get clean.
Wait, you say. I know, I remember; though I thought you might have forgotten my initial promise, what with your short-term memory loss and all. I know, you’re worried about inviting the police to your party. How much did you bring just to sit in the park for a couple of hours?! Good Lord! Bring a doober, and eat the roach. You’ll be fine.
Besides, maybe the police will catch a few of the real dopes, the ones who sell meth and hard stuff in our parks, around our children. Maybe those dopes will get toted to the park from their jail cells so that they can pick up some trash in the parks.
Then the man with the red, white, and blue glasses spoke.
Look, I'm an American. I work my week, and I rest on the weekend. I take care of my family, my house, and my yard.
So, when it’s eight o’clock on a Saturday morning, I’m still sleeping, or, I should say, I am until I'm choke startled awake by the awful grinding and the choking dust of gas mowers and leaf blowers.
Lawn mowers are not just annoying, they're killing us. The dust and polluton they create contributes to asthma attacks and other breathing problems. Heck, gas is poison.
Speaking of gas . . .
Did you know that a gas-powered mower running for an hour emits as much air pollution as a 100 mile automobile ride? And did you know that about 54 million Americans mow their lawns each weekend with gas-powered mowers? That's like 800 million gallons of gas every year. And when are using the mowers? You're right - in the summer, when ground level ozone is already at its highest.
So, not only are we poisoning ourselves, we're supporting the terrorists by running the gas mowers.
So I say, quit using the gas mowers, quit annoying your neighbors, and quit supporting the rogue nations. Be a real American: get a reel mower.
(To conclude 4/26/07)
Raw & exposed
Lucinda Williams’ Saturday night concert at the Tennessee Theatre was outstanding and awe inspiring.
One of Lucinda’s many charms is her genuineness. After her opening number, she stated she was glad to be back in Knoxville. “I’ve raised some serious hell in this town.� After introducing the ballad “Blue� from her album Essence, some wise guy in the audience starting counting off 1-2-3-4, indicating a desire for a faster number. Williams’ quipped “Getting restless? Let’s skip this song,� and played it anyway. When her band began “Sweet Side� with a quick tempo, she halted the song and requested they slow it down. During her second attempt, she flubbed the lyrics and stopped the song again. During her third try, the song just wasn’t happening for her, so she aborted it altogether. I never liked that song anyway.
I always appreciate when an artist, especially songwriters as talented as Williams, shares the sources of inspiration to their work. “Too Cool to be Forgotten� from the perfect album Carwheels on a Gravel Road, was written on a bad New Year’s Day in Knoxville and was inspired by two books of photography-- “Appalachian Portraits� and “Juke Joint.� Also from Carwheels, the song “I Lost It� was initially triggered by seeing “I Found It� bumper stickers on cars in Houston, Texas. “Atonement� from World Without Tears was motivated by Z.Z. Top, Jim Morrison, Flannery O’Connor and Eudora Welty. Lucinda swears “Unsuffer Me� from West is not a song addressed to a former lover, as the press has said, but is really a song about spiritual freedom and redemption.
Also during her encore, prior to launching into “World Without Tears,� Lucinda paused for a very moving acknowledgment of the Virginia Tech tragedy and a plea for more support and funding for mental illness treatment. “Sadly, this is a taboo subject. Still.�
Other highlights of the show included “Fruits of My Labor,� “Pineloa,� “People Talking,� “Greenville,� and the funny, redneck honky-tonk lament “Jailhouse Tears,� and the peculiar and seductive “Hotblood.�
The first time I saw Lucinda Williams in concert was during her 2005 performance at the Tennessee Theatre. While I really enjoyed that show, it was nothing compared to her performance this past Saturday. Her positive energy was infectious and her hell driving passion and power were mesmerizing. I was grateful to be a witness to her testimony. This was overall one of the best concerts I have ever experienced.
MyShame
Welcome to the penitent 520 blog, The Monday After. This is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer you some 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.
Last week at Cedar Bluff Middle School, an 8th grader had a morning he won't soon forget. This particular kid, like most students nowadays, had listed a couple of his extracurricular activities on MySpace. This young man, unlike most MySpace users, was blissfully unaware that if you don't set your profile to private, then just about anyone can read all about your favorite music, or look at your pictures, or, in his case, discover that you abuse pot and OxyContin. Whoops! It looks like Dad got online and was none too pleased with what he found.
So how shall I punish this incredibly naive little addict? wondered the father. Why, I know! Public shame and humiliation! Yes indeed, this little dude's punishment was to wear a sandwich board declaring "I abused and sold drugs" while standing on the sidewalk in front of school as his friends arrived for first period.
Perhaps this incident will turn the young boy's life around. More importantly, perhaps this incident will make him a less idiotic MySpace user. We here at 520 wonder what would happen if every MySpace offender had to publicly atone for his/her abuse of MySpace. Those hypothetical sandwich boards would probably include phrases like "I don't notice for at least a week when my hijacked account is flooding your bulletin board with spam," or "I routinely post inane astrological shit," or "I cyberstalk high school girls," or "I add people I don't like but delete them later so they don't notice," or especially "I have the grammar skills of a retarded monkey but still pester you to read my blog."
Fun note: The Cedar-Bluff-sandwich-board-sin-atonement story has made it around the globe.
And now for our weekly rankings!
This week's key:
= Spam.
= Another friggin' band add request.
= 1 new message, but no new comments.
= Your blog is the talk of the town.
= Your crush sent you an Event Invite to the party in his pants.
EarthFest2007
()
World's Fair Park was packed on Saturday with fans of both music and the environment for EarthFest 2007. The waste-free event kicked off at 11am with live music from Adlin & Appleford, followed by performances from Nug Jug, Mac Comer, Llama Train, and the always-terrific-live Dishwater Blonde. Information tents were set up by KUB, a lot of green-power / recycling / clean-Earth-promoting folks, clothing, food, and other souvenirs. I spent most of my time helping out at the WUTK booth (where "helping out" translates to "sitting in the sun enjoying some awesome live music and chatting with a lot of interesting people"), and when the party wound down at 7pm, I strolled back to my car, which I'd had to park over by The Foundry. Walking along, I enjoyed the smell of the grass, seeing the blue sky overhead and flowers all around, and I felt a real sense of appreciation for all of it. I'd say it was the perfect end to a day of celebrating our beloved planet. For photos and other info about EarthFest 2007, check out knox-earthfest.org. -B.T.
()
Downtown was bustling with activity on Saturday morning. The MDA fun run, the ugly dog contest and Earth Day brought man, woman, child and beast to the area. The Earth Day festival inspired with its messages of alternative transportation and fuel, clean air and water, and kindness to animals. The many nice free vendor gifts were also inspiring. Surprisingly, there weren't many dreadlocked heads in attendance and I never once caught a whiff of patchouli, but there was plenty of tie-dye available. Live music, which included Nug Jug and Dishwater Blonde, was excellent. The food and drink vending was underwhelming. The best happening of the day was spotting two beautiful Borzoi Russian wolfhounds in the crowd. -D.D.
Carrie Rodriguez at the Tennessee Theatre ()
What a weekend! It was hard to pick just one thing to report on for this edition of The Monday After. However, I finally settled on the performance of the gracious and gifted Carrie Rodriguez at the Tennessee Theatre. Rodriguez was the opener for Lucinda Williams and I daresay that her days as pre-show entertainment are numbered. Her powerful voice portrayed, all at once, the innocence of a little girl and the lust of a woman who knows what she wants. Her impressive control of the stage made for an excellent concert in itself - and we still had Lucinda to look forward to! -S.S.
Entropy at World Grotto ()
This impressive five-piece funk band from Atlanta is on a mission "to remedy the depletion of pure funk on the plant," and they accomplished their mission Saturday night at World Grotto. After hearing their mix of old school funk, hip-hop and rap, plus the powerful old-school gospel style vocals from singer Alvetta Newby-Jones, it's easy to understand why the band won a readers' choice poll for Best R&B/Soul/Funk Act of Atlanta. Mixing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" with an expletive and passionate filled rap was fascinating. I hope they return to Knoxville soon. When they do, you must let the funk be with you. -D.D.
Hot Fuzz ()
I think I've made it abundantly clear on this blog just how much I love Shaun of the Dead. It's easily in my top ten list, nestled comfortably alongside the likes of Clue and The Goonies. Imagine my pure joy, then, at finally getting to see Hot Fuzz, the latest offering from writers Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, the geniuses behind SOTD.
The film was very different than I expected, but once I accepted the tone it was going for, I was taken hook, line, and sinker. Hot Fuzz is more than just a comedy, and it's more than an action/slasher film. It's a brilliant action/slasher parody of the typical American buddy cop movie, and it's twice as bad-ass as any Bad Boys film ever aspired to be.
By the power of Greyskull, go see this film. Hell, see it twice and soak in as much Simon Pegg goodness as you can. He unfortunately won't be back in theaters until 2008, which gives me a whole year to look forward to Run, Fatboy, Run. -J.B.
See you next week!
April 20, 2007
The Roundup for April 20th
Welcome to The Roundup, our weekly podcast that keeps you "uptuh date" on everything in 520 land. Brush up on your local music, listen to the podcast, and you might just win yourself a t-shirt. With Joe Beuerlein in it.
The latest episode is now up! This week: Christabel & the Jons, Guess That Local Tune, and more!
Listen to it here.
Or use this RSS feed to subscribe via iTunes.
Or listen to it at our myspace site.
Yeehaw, K-Town.
April 19, 2007
An Earth Day Odyssey: the Sunsphere Oracle
I love going there just to hang, but this day was different. I was there to help me solve a complex problem I had been contemplating: I was wondering why every morning the 100,000 or so people of Knoxville get up and trade places; then, in the evening, they trade back. In other words, why are the roads full every morning with the same people? I had no answer for this, but it led to a bigger question, one that might possibly involve mathematics or even physics.
How much energy does it take to awaken a community? Think about it. Every morning, every person in each household awakens to an alarm from their clock; they proceed to turn on every light in the house or at least all those on their path to the commode. Then there's the television, and the refrigerator, and the microwave, and of course the coffee maker. Every one then takes a hot shower. Then every one starts their motor cars, at least two to a house. They trade places with someone on the other side of the city: Wests go East, Easts go West; Souths go North, and Norths go South. Everybody trades.
It was this thought that brought me to the Sunsphere that day. For World's Fair Park is the Delphi of energy, and the Sunsphere her oracle. I came to ask an answer for my question.
I told mine first. Then we moved east about twenty feet.
The guy with the glasses spoke.
"So I'm drivin' the other day, and I'm on my way to see some mountains. (It's hard to see them from town, here, because of the smog, I mean, the Smoky.) Well, anyway, on all sides of me, I'm surrounded - there are wires goin' ever which a way, and I can't even think to where any a one of 'em might be going or to what it might be supplyin' electricity or, perhaps, phone service, which reminds me of why I was goin' up to the mountains in the first place, because I wanted to take a good picture from up there so as I could have something beautiful to look at whenever I'm a sittin' at my computer in my office doin' work. (Hardly workin', that's a good one too, and I suppose I'll try to remember to use that one tomorrow when I get to work. I get Elaine with that one ever day. Man, she don't know what hit her when I come up with those good ones!)
So, I'm drivin', and I'm surrounded by the wires and whatnot a strung from ever thing that ain't movin', especially those billboards. Do I need some jewelry? I s'pose I might if I keep up that flirtin' with Elaine at work. How about should I go to school or not? Those ladies all seem to be successful and real pretty and such. Good Lord, that's a big drink! I sure could use a beer that size! Oh, dangit! Wouldntcha know it? It's one of them temprance adds. How about that! There's some mountains if I ever seen some! She's just as big as can be, sittin' up 'er in them orange shorts and that tiny little t-shirt. Maybe I should ask Elaine to go there with me sometime after work, 'cept Elaine don't look exactly like that there . . .
So, I'm drivin' on up to the mountains and I keep on gettin' distracted by the wires and signs on poles, and the ones hangin' from the sides of buildings, and perhaps I wouldn't even have to go up there to get pictures if maybe my office had windows I could open, and if maybe all these signs weren't just in my face all of the time. And then I see one of them God's talkin' billboards. (How anybody knows just what God would write on a billboard, anyway, I don't really know, but I guess they figure they must know because they sure don't mind just settin' 'em out there.)
So, I'm drivin' on up to the mountains, and there's this big ol' sign, obviously meant for us to read, and it says, 'Quit blocking my view!' and I was so flabbergasted I didn't look to see Who it was that signed it."
(Part 2 continues here)
Your ticket(s) to IdFest
Knoxville520 wants to send you to the biggest Idfest yet on April 27 and 28,2007!
Entering the drawing is simple: sign up for our weekly newsletter on the 520 homepage and you're automatically entered to win. Already get our weekly rundown of entertainment selections? Never fear - just send us an email to 520contest@gmail.com and ask to be entered. Nothin' to it.
What exactly is IdFest, you ask, and why should you be there to experience it? Well...
It's a music & arts festival presented by regional musical mavericks, Stephanie's Id, celebrating the area’s “Id factor� (uniqueness, artistry, authenticity). It's two days of music, art and film in some of Asheville's hippest venues. Its mission is to provide an environment in which local and non-local acts showcase their music to discerning music fans and fellow musicians. Still not sure, check out this review of last year's IdFest.
Continuous music (28 bands) will be showcased both evenings at The Grey Eagle and Wedge Gallery, on 3 stages. During the day on Saturday, attendees will have the opportunity to sit in on a recording session at Asheville’s legendary Collapseable Studio and also tour the award-winning Echo Mountain Studio, and view a screening of the brand new Studio South TV pilot, featuring the festival’s founder, Stephanie’s Id. For a complete schedule of events and performances, click here.
Of particular interest to musician attendees is a panel discussion about the music business on Saturday afternoon at Echo Mountain Studio. As if a weekend's worth of great music and art wasn't enough, Idfest attendees will receive DISCOUNTS at the following area businesses during the event:
Harvest Records (10% off)
Hip Replacements (10% off)
Izzy's Coffee Den (50 cents off)
Static Age Records (10% off)
Honeypot (10% off)
Digable Pizza (10% off)
Clingman Ave. Cafe (10% off)
Sponsors include WNCW, Mountain Xpress, Echo Mountain Studio, Collapseable Studio, Orbit DVD, Studio South and others; in addition, some Asheville-area businesses will be offering discounts to wristband-wearing attendees.
Knoxville520 staff will select two names at random from the entries and each will receive a pair of tickets to the event. Winners will be notified via email on Wednesday, April 25.
If your name isn't selected in our drawing, you can still purchase IDFEST tickets for $25 each. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as attendance will be high. Purchasing information can be found here.
For overnight accommodations, check out some of Asheville's groovy hostels. If that's not your speed, give the Crowne Plaza a try!
Faboo discounts, mind-blowing performances, behind-the-scenes studio tours and free tickets to IdFest could be yours! All you have to do is enter!
The rising stars of Sundown: The American Plague
On Thursday, April 19th, the American Plague will be unleashed at Sundown in the City.
For those of you who just thought “where can I get vaccinated?� or for a brief moment decided it would be a bad idea to go to Sundown, think again. American Plague is a Knoxville-based rock band opening for George Thorogood.
A couple months ago I wrote an article begging for more rock in Knoxville. I hadn’t heard American Plague at the time.
Plague’s influences shine through in their straightforward rock. You can hear a bit of the Misfits. You can’t really hear it but you can tell Black Sabbath is in there somewhere. It’s not quite a simple as The Stooges, nor as raw, but the intensity is the same. The lyrical content is edgy, including mentions of drug use and suicide. It’s the kind of music that goes well with whiskey, and not too badly with PBR. This form of music lends itself to a spectacular live show.
“If you want to hear Sabbath or Motörhead, you pay $50-$75 and go see them,� says front man Jaw. “If you want to get your face chewed off for five or ten bucks, come talk to us."
And now they’re playing Sundown—the Shea Stadium of Knoxville. On its first week, it drew a crowd of 13,000 in unseasonably cold weather, so there’s no telling what their turnout may be. And on a night with George Thorogood headlining, nonetheless.
“We are extremely excited to be playing Sundown,� says Dave Dammit. “It will be the biggest show we've played to date in our careers and we couldn't be more thrilled.�
With the tinge of southern rock influence, one can’t help but wonder if Thorogood has influenced them.
“I can't say honestly that's he a big influence but he has most definitely made his mark in this industry,� says Dammit. “He had some great songs that sold tons of records that were written years ago and he can still headline huge shows like this. That should say something right there,� he adds. “We are very happy to be opening for Thorogood.�
But opening up for a legend (especially in this part of the country) is no easy task for any band. There’s a lot to live up to.
“I think audiences respond well if you give them something to respond well to,� says Dammit. “People who have seen us know we put out 150% energy 100% of the time so I'm sure they will respond to that. I think there will be some older rock n' rollers who like to drink, and probably a lot of bikers too. Sounds like a great crowd to me!�
American Plague goes on stage at 6:30 p.m.
The Hoge
Knoxville is in for a treat this Friday, as Nashville's own Will Hoge brings his brand of American rock to Blue Cats in the Old City. I was lucky enough to chat with Will by phone, and dig a little deeper into what's behind "the man who killed love." As a fan of The Hoge, I was tickled pink to get the chance to sit down and ask some questions I'd had in mind for awhile.
Here's how it went:
..............................................................
Will Hoge: Well, I think it's all of those things, really. I listen to records a lot, but I think an artist needs to pay attention to all of those things.
B: You've done a lot of touring since your first CD release (with his first band, Spoonful, in 1997) - any favorite places, or places that surprised you with how you were received?
WH: Definitely the West coast. We started touring there in July [2006], and we've been back there twice since then. It's a lot of fun, seeing something that seems so far away from home grow on a level like it has. It's really encouraging to get to experience different things like you find on the West coast.. that's something unique, in and of itself.
B: I can imagine! How about working with other musicians, both in your band and separately?
WH: I have a lot of fun with being a bandleader, especially getting to bring in other people to play with us. You can learn a lot from other musicians - having a new guitar player come in, they'll play a song you've been doing for eight or nine years, but add their own touches to it. People can't be replaced; instead, everyone brings something new to it. There are so many great musicians in Nashville, it's great bringing someone in to play on a new record, and they're really just a phonecall away. That's one thing I'm definitely excited about on the new record [due out in Fall 2007].
B: So how did you get into playing music? How did you cross that line from listener to producer?
B: As a teenager, what did you listen to?
WH: My father was a musician, and he had a big record collection. I grew up in the 80s, and music was really, really bad...Poison, White Lion...all those bands with "white" in the name, just bad. My dad would play Rolling Stones, The Beatles, James Brown, The Temptations. That's where I realized, someone may think Poison is a great band, but listen to it back-to-back with Let It Bleed (the 1969 Rolling Stones album), and you can't help but see how much better The Stones are. Lynrd Skynrd was probably the first great band that I started listening to on my own. I really liked them, because they weren't glamorous, the lead singer didn't strut around in spandex, lighting shit on fire, you know? I was just really taken aback by the whole thing.
B: I hear you on that! Finally, Will.. I've heard your name pronounced and mis-pronounced a lot of ways; what's the worst version of it you've heard?
WH: (laughs) Oh, well I've definitely heard the last name pronounced every way from here to Sunday. The worst, though, was actually my first name. When we first started, we had a little gal working as a booking chick, and she was very country. She'd booked us a show one time, where because of her accent, they billed us as "Wheel" Hoge. W-H-E-E-L.. that's a country accent for you.
..............................................................
Will's got a very natural, genuine way of speaking; he says what's on his mind, and doesn't seem to stop to think about what he should answer; he just gives the answer he feels is right, much the same as the songs he writes and sings. His 2006 album release, The Man Who Killed Love, is finding major success on the indie airwaves, and rightfully so. Get your fill of Will this Friday at Blue Cats, where he'll be appearing along with Nashville singer-songwriter, Garrison Starr, and Southern rockers Gringo Star. Show starts at 9pm. For more info, check out bluecatslive.com.
April 18, 2007
You know you want it: Gig poster art sale
No doubt you've noticed all those kick-ass posters bedecking the walls of the World Grotto for the past few weeks. Well, this weekend you will get the chance to add some of that great artwork to your personal collection.
The folks of Knoxville-based Status Design will be hosting a reception/art sale this Friday and Saturday nights (2 til 10pm-ish). Entertainment will be provided by the Natti Love Joys (Friday) and Dishwater blonde (Saturday). Individual artists will be there for you pet and fawn over, which they certainly deserve. Check out the talent represented:
Contact Status Design or the World Grotto for more info. See you there!
April 17, 2007
Local music blogs
You asked for it, so here it is - a catalogue of all the pieces we've published concerning local music and festivals.
We aim to please.
520
-------
Listed in order of most recent events...
UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!!
landscape with stickfigures
When we say "new", that's precisely what we mean. This play is still in its infancy and its playwright, Steven Alan McGaw, is working with various theatre companies around the country known for their collaboration skills to smooth out the kinks. This creative process is called "workshopping" and is a very valuable tool for anyone involved in bringing a new play to life. The Actors Co-op is thrilled to offer this type of experience to Knoxville audiences!
McGaw, a noted playwright from Texas, spent time in Knoxville with this production's director, Dennis Perkins, as well as the cast of eleven actors. As a group, they read and discussed the play's difficult subject matter. McGaw explained that he felt compelled to write this play following the Columbine shooting in Colorado. Since then, landscape with stickfigures has been a work in progress - and still is.
For the Black Box's production, playwright, director and actors explored as a group the ways in which different people in a community would be affected by such a tragedy - from the mother of the shooter to the news reporters covering the event. The playwright's goal is to touch on these varying viewpoints, rather than give a one-sided account of the shooting. In order to achieve this, Perkins and McGraw tried to streamline and clarify each character's story as much as possible. In fact, the cast was still receiving cuts and rewrites in the final rehearsals. However, the broad scope of the script still would benefit from some whittling down in its next mounting.
Even in its current phase, landscape with stickfigures is a compelling story that needs to be told and deserves to be seen. The Actors Co-op was honored to receive a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, making it possible for this production to be seen by school groups in the area. They have also arranged for Child Psychiatrist, Michael Greer, to be on-hand at these outreach shows to address any questions. For information on tickets for schools or youth groups, please contact Lesley at (865)909-9300.
Cast and production staff for landscape with stickfigures is as follows:
Directed by Dennis E. Perkins and featuring Seth Crowe, Jacques Durand, Jarrod Hawn, Mandi Lawson, Julie Page, Chip Morris, Nicholas Robinson, Jessica Santrock, Ashley Shelton, Emma Wiseman and introducing Chad Wood as Ethan.
Production team includes Ellen Chemay, Jon Chemay, Sarah Campbell, Rob Link, Amy
Sinnott, Barak Weinstein, Katie Alley and Leigh Spencer Brown.
The Actors Co-op looks forward to its 10th Anniversary Season, beginning in July, which will feature its "greatest hits" of the past decade.
SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE ACTORS CO-OP:
The current Actors Co-op production, "landscape with stick figures" has presented the Actors Co-op a
unique opportunity to reach out to our community's schools and engage in meaningful dialogue with
them on the topic of school violence. Our focus on this intiative has necessitated that we alter our
performance schedule to accommodate our outreach performances. We appreciate your support and
understanding of this important part of our role in the community, and apologize for any
inconvenience this may have caused. We will hold two public performances on Saturday, April 21st
and 28th at 8pm at the Black Box Theatre, and we encourage any and all to come and join in the
dialogue. For advanced ticket sales, please contact www.knoxtix.com or call 523-7521.
Outreach performances for middle and high school students, parents, teachers and administrators
are on Saturday, April 21st and 28th at 2pm. Please contact our office at 909-9300 for reservations.
There will be a talk back session following each outreach performance. Child psychiatrist, Dr.
Michael Greer will be onhand to lead the discussion. Outreach performances are supported by the
National Endowment for the Arts.
"landscape with stick figures" by Steven Alan McGaw, follows the life of Ethan Salisbury and the
events that take place before and after a fictional high school shooting.
Thank you for your continued support for our mission to engage our community with inventive,
entertaining and thought-provoking theatre. The Actors Co-op is very saddened by the shootings at
Virginia Tech and hopes to examine questions of violence through our production.
Amy Hubbard
Executive Artistic Director
The Actors Co-op at the Black Box Theatre
865-909-9300
April 16, 2007
A Decade In: Hellbender Presses On
And to think, they could have called it “Snot Otter.�
Roughly a decade ago, three friends from the University of Tennessee with a common interest in journalism and ecology were inspired to create what has become the leading environmental publication of the region.
This is a big step for a publishing venture that never had more than a shoestring budget and a mission some might consider a forlorn hope: Educating a complacent public to reduce, reuse and recycle and conserve Earth’s finite resources.
“It's a bit of a leap-of-faith, a bootstrapping effort,� says Hellbender columnist and managing editor Rikki Hall. “The Corner Lounge fundraiser (see separate story) is intended to raise seed money for implementing that plan.�
Hall, an amateur naturalist and Metro Pulse columnist, may be one of the more visible members of the Hellbender staff, but he was not there at the very beginning. Hellbender Press was established by Mike Knapp, Rick Vaughan and Thomas Fraser (now an editor at The Daily Journal in Vineland, N.J.) Fraser and Vaughn had been journalism students on the UT Daily Beacon staff; Vaughn and Knapp met in an eco-philosophy class led by UT professor and regular Hellbender essayist John Nolt. Fraser and Knapp were “already best buddies from Oak Ridge High School where we graduated in 1990,� Knapp recalls.
The group dynamic was further cemented by years of hiking “where a special bond and trust also was established. This helped us stick together for many years as co-publishers. With this collective reporting ability, the three of us had numerous connections to reach out to and get leads on stories. We share a strong sense of the old-style muckraking, gonzo approach to journalism,� Knapp says. The trio found mutual inspiration from the works of journalists and philosophers like Edward Abbey, Hunter S. Thompson, Edward Herman, Noam Chomsky, Edward R. Murrow, Seymour Hersh, George Orwell, and Tom Wolfe.�
Knapp remembers how the inspiration to create Hellbender came in no small way from a desire “to carry their collective standard forward since it had become clear that very few in the mainstream did, back then, nor now.�
The three young men settled into a division of labor that worked as they dealt with the nuts and bolts of news gathering, meeting printer deadlines and paying bills. But no one seems to be able to remember how the slimy, foot-long hellbender salamander became the publication’s totem spirit. It had something to do with the fact that the hellbender is an “indicator species,� meaning, it has a canary-in-a-coal mine sensitivity to environmental degradation. Plus, there’s the fact that it is a uniquely homely critter that lives in very few other places in the world outside of Appalachia and is dubbed with the kind of name that gives pause. “We wanted something that would stand out, visually, aurally and philosophically. So ‘Hellbender’ stuck,� Knapp recalls.
“One of the biggest challenges early on and still today was making sure we had enough cash flow to pay the print and layout costs. We were blessed to have had a printer who worked with us, waiting for us to scrape together enough funds to pay the entire bill, oftentimes after the paper was pressed. This is the challenge of small papers, understaffed with non-paid employees. In the same vein having only volunteers writing means that often the deadlines were, let's say, very fuzzy. This holding pattern was also in effect while waiting for folks to pay up. Another big challenge, a very time consuming one, is that we did our own distribution. Lots of time spent driving around the town,� Knapp adds.
The best moments over the past decade involved “hanging out and publishing the paper with good friends and people saying thanks for doing it.� Over the years, some financial relief came in the form of fundraisers, but being able to compensate writers and editors as a regular thing began to look possible with the emergence of Knoxville businessman Mike Evans as a patron.
Hall says he would like to see the paper be able to hire a real advertising salesman to “pull us to profitability.�
Hellbender ‘s journalistic track record over the past decade includes exposes of religious reactionaries; coverage of the hemlock woolly adelgid invasion that threatens the Smoky Mountains; Champion Paper’s contamination of the Little Pigeon River and pending recovery; coal mining’s controversial “mountaintop removal� and strip mining policies; and Nuclear Fuel Services’ uranium downblending scheme. The paper has become a vehicle for some of the finest reporters and writers around, including Leslie Wylie and Scott McNutt. Hellbender continues to provide a pulpit for Nolt as well as Mike McKinney and Dean Hill Rivkin, also UT professors, and Ijams naturalist Lyn Bales. Other regular columnists provide advice on green living, wildlife, gardening and landscaping. Hall’s own entomological musings, “Six Legs and a Buzz,� are another regular feature of the paper.
The 2007 Hellbender Symposium is coming up this summer, June 10-13 in Wheeling, W. Va. Anyone with an interest in Hellbender conservation or watershed protection is urged to attend.
Read more about the Hellbender Press Benefit Show here!
Hellbender staffers Gregg Baird (intern), Amanda Womac (assistant editor) and Rikki Hall (managing editor) enjoy an art auction fundraiser held at Sapphire last December. Photo by Randy Neal.
Books at the Bijou
Not enough bands reference the early 1990s Nickelodeon TV show “Hey Dude.� In fact, I can only list one off the top of my head.
Of course, indie-pop duo The Books only reference the show once (that I’ve noticed—don’t hold me to that) on the first track of their 2002 album Thought for Food, in the form of a (roughly) four second sound clip. But what an obscure sound clip to include, but you must have to get obscure when your music centers around short, sampled sound clips.
The duo, consisting of Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong, play guitar and violin respectively, providing an ambient, sometimes-folky background to a plethora of sampled vocal clips.
The clips are hands down the most intriguing part of the music. The Books include a “found art� aspect to their sampling, including whatever they can dig up, record themselves, or are allowed to use by the Fair Use Doctrine. The listener usually doesn’t distinguish the source of the clips, but they’re fascinating regardless. This merging of peaceful instrumentation and sound clips creates a colorful, yet minimalist sound. The band can make tuned-down, droning guitars, a violin, and sound clips seem like a symphony.
The vocal clips add an element of surrealism to the music. You’d be surprised how trippy butchered clips of a 4th grade spelling bee can sound, or how frantic a woman with a thick New England accent can really sound.
But with the vocal clips as the bulk of the appeal, this prompts one to wonder: what are the Books like live?
The answer will be revealed to Knoxvillians on Thursday, April 19th at the Bijou Theatre for the price of $15.
Seeing how the Books play their instruments (which, on the albums, sometime branch out to include cello and vibraphone) while backing up sampled sound clips should be interesting. The dreamy, surreal nature of their music is perfect for the Bijou Theatre—a place which is dreamy and surreal in and of itself.
Violinist Todd Reynolds will be opening for the Books.
For tickets, call the Bijou Theatre at (865)522-0832.
Earth Day Benefit Concert for Hellbender Press
That little tabloid you see in the freebie rack around town—the one that is doing all it can to save the planet, one reader at a time—needs your help.
The enviro ‘zine’s party also will provide a good opportunity to pick up the latest edition of Hellbender. Aspiring environmental reporters are invited to submit articles or just come down and discuss issues of community interest with the paper’s editors. Over a beer, of course.
Showtime is 9:30 p.m., immediately following the Friday poetry slam hosted by the Corner. A donation of at least $5 is requested. Headlining are Tommy Bateman and the Thunderthieves, the fascinating chamber music alter ego of Knoxville’s favorite pop-juggernaut, the Rockwells. The Thunderthieves, whose members include Bateman and his brothers, real and imaginary, are expected to take the stage around 11:15 p.m. They will be preceded by the Apocalypso Quartet, an amalgam of spoken word and music by Phil Pollard, Jack Rentfro, Chris Zuhr and Nathan Barrett. Musically inclined Hellbender staff members will entertain earlier in the evening, starting with Rikki Hall and his group, Goodbye to Locks. A door prize will be given to the contestant who figures out whether Hall’s group is named in reference to TVA or some sort of desperate tonsorial proclivity. Hall will be followed by Hellbender assistant editor Amanda Womac performing with a friend as Southern Smoke. Holly Briggs of May Gray also is on the schedule.
“Hellbender is a paper editors and writers believe in and want to see succeed,� Womac says. “That's what sustains us. So this benefit concert is a great opportunity for folks to come out and support their hometown environmental paper. We need and appreciate every cent. Anything people can give, we'll take and put to great use.�
Womac believes Hellbender’s mission is to “report on local issues and help educate East Tennesseans on the intricate role our environment plays in our survival. So, a benefit concert is a chance to put us ‘doom and gloom’ environmentalists out there in the community, dancing and drinking, having fun and talking about these issues. Benefits are a fun way for us to get support, both financial and community.�
For more information, contact Womac at 406.2964 or email: editor@hellbenderpress.com
The Corner Lounge
842 N. Central Ave.
865.971.1711
Doors open at 9:00 p.m., Show starts at 9:30
Sliding scale donations ($5 min.) will be taken at the door
18+
Featuring:
Goodbye to Locks
Southern Smoke
Holly Briggs (of May Gray)
Apocalypso Quartet (Phil Pollard, Jack Rentfro, Chris Zuhr, Nathan Barrett)
Tommy Batemen and the Thunder Thieves
Read more about the history of Knoxville's Hellbender Press here!
Overtly White
Welcome to the gahwgeous 520 blog, The Monday After. This is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer you some 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.
...Now, Missis, do jist look at dem beautiful white hands o' yourn with long fingers, and all sparkling with rings, like my white lilies when de dew 's on 'em...
-Uncle Tom's Cabin
Be wary, Knoxville. Another transient is coming to town, and this one doesn't want your money. This one wants to eat you alive.
No, not really. All she really wants to do is lie down and soak in the sun, and maybe eat a duck or two when she's feeling peckish. Say hello to this rare white alligator, imported last week from our favorite state-to-hate, Florida. She's left her winter home in St. Augustine to visit Knoxville Zoo for the summer.
White alligators, however, are native not to Florida, but to the storied bayous of Louisiana, which Knoxville Zoo is apparently using as a selling point. The zoo invites you to come on down and gaze at the alligator's splendid albino-ness, including its pink irises. Louisiana legend has it that a good stare into those albino gator orbs will bring you good luck. From the zoo's website:
This summer through Labor Day, Knoxville Zoo visitors can "look in dem eyes" and find out if the legend is true.
Um. We're absolutely positive the folks at the Zoo mean well. Absolutely positive. They're earnestly trying to create a "true, Louisiana bayou experience" complete with "a waterfall, pool, cypress trees, moss and a mud bank." Let's just not add "stereotype" to that list, 'k?
And now for a segue!
Speaking of rare -but very special- life forms, you should take a look at this local news release:
April 14, 2007
Kingsport, TN @ the Civic Auditorium
1. Cody Ices defeated Tobias Grimm
2. Steve Fury defeated Bryan Wayne... After the match, John Hawkins sprayed mist into the eyes of Fury and blinded him.
3. United States Tag Team Champions, Tony Givens & Robbie Cassidy defeated Eddie Golden & Allen King... After the match, King and his manager, Bolo turned on Golden.
4. National Heavyweight Champion, Ray Idol defeated Nick Hammonds
5. Thorn, Beau James & Kandy defeated The Tennessee Rednecks & Miss Rebecca Lynn in a 6 Person Mixed Tag... After the match, Wayne Adkins tried to hang Kandy from the balcony.
Championship Wrestling returns to Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium on Friday, April 27. The Main Event will be a "Hangmen's Noose Match" with Givens, Cassidy & Thorn vs. The Tennessee Rednecks & Cody Ices. The 1st team to hang a member of the opposing team will the winners.
Hope you're okay, Kandy.
We really like that this article's descriptions of aggravated assault, attempted murder, and an upcoming hanging are so refreshingly nonchalant. We think that 520 is gonna have to take in a local wrestling match as soon as humanly possible.
And now for our weekly rankings!
This week's key:
= Death by alligator.
= Smells like the zoo.
= Perfectly ordinary.
= Vols win!
= Even better: Gators lose!
105.3 Singer/Songwriter Contest at Stir Fry ()
I had the good fortune to be selected as one of the judges for the 105.3 Singer/Songwriter contest taking place on Thursdays at Stir Fry Turkey Creek. This 12-week competition is ferreting out the best of our area's gifted musicians and bestowing them with all sorts of cash and prizes - including $1500 worth of time in a recording studio. The night I was there, five performers of varying ages and experience took the stage with their own compositions and shared them with the sizable crowd. They were all nervous and excited, but fully embraced their 7 minutes of fame. I was thrilled to see how supportive the audience was of these mostly novice performers. (Your first time is scary!) Here's to Brent Thompson, the crew at Stir Fry and to WFIV for fostering local talent.
P.S. There are still 3 weeks left of this competition - contact Brent at Stir Fry Turkey Creek to secure your spot in this very cool contest. -S.S.
Grindhouse ()
The trailer for Grindhouse turned me off completely, and I had no desire to see this movie, despite the many favorable reviews given to me by my pestering film nerd friends. I've been overloaded with gore and violence in movies this year, and dammit, I just wanted to see a comedy for a change. Despite my best intentions, sometimes you just gotta go see the flick your roommate wants to watch. So I went to Grindhouse.
And I liked it. Quite a bit. What had turned me off in the trailer was its "bloodiest, goriest film ever, ever made" vibe, and I was unimpressed with that legless broad toting a gun for a stump. What turned me on in the movie was that both films (Grindhouse is a double feature) were made by directors affectionate for B movies, resulting in two pretty funny, pretty ridiculous B movies. The first, "Planet Terror" by Robert Rodriguez, is more of a comedy that a slasher flick, and very much reminded me of Shaun of the Dead, which is, in my humble opinion, the best zombie film ever made. It wasn't pure cinematic joy like Shaun, but it certainly made people exploding and getting eaten alive a pleasure to watch. The second, Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof," almost lulls you to sleep after the frantic pace of "Planet Terror," since much of the opening act is devoted to watching a bunch of young ladies yak about boys and sex and weed and everything and nothing for about forty-five minutes. But it turns out Tarantino's just winding us up, because instead of rewarding us with boobies and lesbian kisses (there was an loud "Aww, man!" from the audience at one particular let-down), he gives us something much more interesting: death, flying body parts, and a ridiculously tense car chase. Props to expert stuntwoman Zoe Bell for being totally badass and for delivering the best line of any movie this year: "I'm okay!" -J.B.
Sunsphere Development ()
This past January, plans to restore and reopen the Sunsphere were announced, after years of the public and those in public office flip-flopping over whether to do anything with the empty landmark, or just get rid of it. That was super-exciting to a child of the 80s like myself. This weekend, however, I read a press release announcing that Southern Graces catering would be sub-leasing two floors of that big gold globe in the sky... a sure sign that things are looking up for the sphere. Set for a grand opening this September, the floor right above the observation deck will be a snack bar/drinks bar, open to the public during lunch hours and evening hours. Another level will be an "Event Floor," sure to add a dash of class and glamor to any bar mitzvah or cotillion. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair, and many local folks have been petitioning to have the Sunsphere reopened. At last, success! -B.T.
See you next week!
April 12, 2007
The Rising Stars of Sundown
Knoxville is very lucky.
Not only do we get to see some of the biggest names in the music business for free on a weekly basis in a cool, historic setting, but we are also fortunate to witness the lift-off of some of tomorrow's headliners - many of them from right here in our own backyard.
To be selected as an opener for Sundown in the City is no small pat on the back. It's a serious nod to a band's talent and appeal. Knoxville520 hopes to shed some more light on these up-and-coming artists in our continuing Rising Stars of Sundown series. Each week, we'll say a few words about the opening band for that Thursday's Sundown. We'll provide links to their websites, MySpace pages, sound clips (if available) and show you their ugly mugs - so you'll know what talent looks like when you see it! We encourage you to leave a comment about the bands - especially the local ones - so they know how proud Knoxville is of them!
This week, Sundown in the City welcomes two bands as openers: Antibalas and the Low Stars.
Tonight's headliner is Edwin McCain. The opening bands will take the stage starting at 6:15pm. There are no coolers or pets allowed and wristbands are required to drink.
Happy Sundown Season!
Big fat hair
Hairspray, the kitschy, catchy, Tony Award-winning musical based on the 1988 John Waters film blows into Knoxville's Civic Auditorium this weekend thanks to Broadway in Knoxville.
Set in the less-than-groovy (and more-than-made up) early 1960s, Hairspray tells the story of the loveable Tracy Turnblad. She's a big, bouncy and unconventional teenager who wins a coveted spot on a local TV dance show. While on the set, her unique dance moves are spotted by some show-biz folks and Tracy is instantly catapulted into the exciting life of a teen celebrity.
It's a big show with big songs written by Marc Shaiman - who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the animated South Park movie, Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Not to be upstaged by the larger-than-life song & dance numbers, is the gargantuan hair. In Knoxville, that means both onstage and off...
To celebrate the show's stop in our area, Broadway in Knoxville partnered with Salon Visage on Market Square this week in a challenge to create the biggest hair imaginable. So, early on Tuesday morning bangs were teased, ribbons were cut and super firm hold hairspray was unleashed on the three finalists: Cami Keiser, Erika Wolf & Lauren Pigott. The skillful and ultra-creative stylists Josie Rocco, Jared Hollyfield and Adrienne Hamlett worked for over 2 hours to sculpt the contestants' hair into designs befitting the pages of a Dr. Seuss book.
The result? Get a load of this:
I cannot comb it in a box. I cannot comb it with a fox.
You can choose the best of the biggest hair in Knoxville - just follow this link and cast your vote. The winning stylist and stylee will each receive $100 in cash, prizes from B97.5 and WBIR, 2 tickets to the opening night show and the after-party with the cast, as well as a pre-performance dinner for two at Club LeConte.
Once you've voted for your favorite 'do, be sure to arrange for your own tickets online for this weekend's production of Hairspray. You can also reserve seats over the phone by calling (865)656-4444. The show runs April 13 - 15 and still has a few seats available. We'd recommend the balcony, so you don't have to look over anyone's hair!
Hmmm...we wonder if the Mayor cast his vote?
The Roundup for April 12th
Welcome to The Roundup, our weekly podcast that keeps you "uptuh date" on everything in 520 land. Brush up on your local music, listen to the podcast, and you might just win yourself a t-shirt. With Joe Beuerlein in it.
The latest episode is now up! This week: Dolly Parton, Kick Shots, tax evasion, the Yankee Jass Band, deviant sex, drag queens, carnivorous Easter Bunnies, and more!
Listen to it here.
Or use this RSS feed to subscribe via iTunes.
Or listen to it at our myspace site.
Yeehaw, K-Town.
April 9, 2007
A review of Neil Young's new album
This review of a new Neil Young release comes to 520 courtesy of the fine employees Knoxville's-own Disc Exchange.
Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall 1971
Coming a few months after the inaugural Neil Young Archive release Live At The Fillmore comes Live At Massey Hall 1971. It's a solo acoustic performance from Neil and it couldn't be better.
The set features 17 songs, eight of which were not even on an album at the time. This may seem weird by today's standards when all an audience wants to hear are the hits, but the 70's were a different time.
Neil does do some of his more well known material like "Helpless" and "Down By The River" but treats the audience to a preview of his then upcoming album Harvest with tracks like "Old Man", "The Needle & The Damage Done, and an absolutely haunting version of "There's A World" that is made even more striking performed solo without all the orchestration that adorns it on the album. There are even some lost gems here that have never made it to CD, like "Journey Through The Past," "Love In Mind" from the as of now unreleased CD Time Fades Away, and "Bad Fog Of Loneliness" that was never even featured on an album.
The sound of show is another thing that grabs you. For a recording that is over three decades old, it is crisp and vibrant and jumps out of the speakers thanks to the HDCD mastering.
–Chris Parks
Tax To Grind
Welcome to the splendidly glorious 520 blog, The Monday After. This is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers and offer up some 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.
'Twas a cruel Easter. Mere weeks after welcoming to Knoxville the hot, nubile Spring, after tasting and relishing Her sweat-inducing warm embrace, after making our first trip of the year to Mayo to celebrate our love for Her, She was gone. With no explanation, Old Man Winter had come back to replace Her for the weekend. And He made Easter Sunday really, really cold. Too cold for the Easter Bunny to do its duty:
And now for a segue.
"What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? The taxidermist takes only your skin." -Mark Twain
Tax season makes us all feel a bit like we're getting skinned and left on the side of the road, right? If you haven't yet cut that check to the government, and if you really, really like Michael Moore-sized conspiracies, then check out this documentary. You can watch the entire film for free here. Watch the first half hour, call up your lawyer friend to verify the facts, and then decide for yourself whether or not you're gonna "voluntarily comply" with paying your federal income tax.
Of course, we here at 520 do not condone tax evasion. We also do not condone making light of Easter, nor do we condone Winter resurrecting from the dead like that this past weekend.
And now for our weekly rankings!
This week's key:
= Kill me.
= Messy diaper.
= Agreeable.
= Cool.
= Stupendous.
Kick Shots ()
Cold beer, hello! This big little sports bar on Chapman Highway was where I spent most of Saturday night and some of Sunday morning, too. I played some pool (badly). I had my share of icy cold bottled beverages, as well as an expertly-poured Red Snapper shot. I played deejay on their jukebox. I stared incredulously as two fist-fights broke out during the big boxing match that about half the people there were sitting and watching... most of whom turned around to watch the live fighting there in the bar. Okay, that was a little worrying, because it didn't get broken up right away. On the bright side, I got some cool free stuff from The Miller Lite girls after doing a rather silly taste-test... my friends and I were already drinking their brand. All in all, a fun time at a pretty cool place.. minus the fisticuffs. -B.T.
The Back Hills Cafe & Pickin' Parlor ()
If you head over the river and through Alcoa, you'll come to a little cabin in the woods hell-bent on being a haven for musicians and music lovers, alike. The Back Hills Cafe & Pickin' Parlor is tucked away off West Hunt Road and is quickly becoming a spot for music afficianados of all ages to gather for a home-cooked meal and great music. The charm of this 150-year old cabin typically lends itself to bluegrass and folk styles, but this weekend it hosted a jazz set. Lit only by candlelight once the sun went down, the wooden beams and weathered floor took on a romance befitting the sultry strains of the music. If you haven't been out to the Back Hills Cafe, do yourself a favor and make the short trip out there. Don't forget to BYOB, though! If you get lost, their number is 865.982.1010. -K.S.
The Sunspot ()
On Thusday night a group of friends and I headed down to Sunspot for a late meal and some beverages, beginning the three-day weekend. Thursday nights are dollar off drafts, too, so we all saved a little bit of cash, even though I didn't steer away from Miller High Life all night long (thus not fully utilizing the drink special).
But that's why I like Sunspot. I can go, sit down, have my usual beer, and actually be able to speak to my friends instead of having to shout over loud, obnoxious music. Sure, Sunspot has music, but it's at a comfortable volume. And speaking of comfortable, we were fortunate enough to get a couch in the corner of the room.
It's refreshing to sit around, have a beer or seven, and relax with your friends. Sunspot seems to be one of the only places that this is possible. -G.W.
Shortbus ()
In John Cameron Mitchell's sophomore directing effort, he takes us deep into Shortbus, a bohemian sex club/art house where everyone hip seems to go to fix their sexual, emotional and artistic inadequacies. Or, to taunt their sexual, emotional, and artistic superiority. The shortbus is, afterall, a place for the gifted AND the challenged. (I know this first hand: I used to ride the shortbus every other week in elementary school with the gifted kids and the mentally handicapped kids. I'll let you guess which one I was.)
Shortbus takes a frank look at sex and relationships in a post-9/11 New York. While the film is blunt in its portrayal of sex --you'd be hard-pressed to find more skin in any other serious film -- it is never pornographic. Instead, Mitchell's film is sweet and nurturing, and finds something to love in both the geniuses and the emotionally retarded. Shortbus is more than anything else a place of love, and Mitchell just wants you to be happy.
Netflix it already. -J.B.
See you next week!
April 5, 2007
The State of Rock: WUTK
WUTK, if you can’t deduce by the name, is run on the campus of the University of Tennessee by Benny Smith and a staff that is 95% college students. The station plays your typical college radio selections (Modest Mouse, The Shins, Arcade Fire, among others) on regular rotation, which other stations in town lack.
However, 90.3 is known as “local music’s best friend", playing up to 30 songs per day by local acts—something distinctly unique to their station.
“Not only do we play more local music than anybody in town,� Benny Smith said, “we’re very liberal about it, genre-wise.� Specifically, Smith mentioned new releases coming up from Americana singer/songwriter Brendon James Wright, indie-rockers Westside Daredevils and Angel and the Love Mongers. “We feel it’s important that get that exposure,� Smith added.
As well as frequently playing local music, WUTK has a vault of exclusive tracks. The station invites local acts to play a live set in the studio, which is aired on Wednesday nights from 5:15 until 5:45. Some gems from these performances include a version of Scott Miller’s “Lulu Waltz� with just him and an acoustic guitar, and a track by Robinella that she’s never performed live anywhere else, just to name a few. These tracks make it into regular rotation, as well as older live tracks from bands like the Judybats.
“The really fun thing is going back and playing old Judybats songs,� Smith said. He said it reminds everyone that the “really strong music scene didn’t happen overnight here.�
WUTK doesn’t just help out local bands by airing their music. They go so far as to help bands with Electronic Press Kits and other self-promotion, fully earning their title as local music’s best friend. Smith mentioned that just a few days prior he had helped out Brendon James Wright.
Overall, WUTK is encouraging college students specifically to form a band, or at least get out and play music. As Smith says, the station is very liberal about what they play. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll play just anything. “The litmus test for bands is do they play out,� Smith said. Although recording is great, in order to be an active member of the local music scene, live performance is imperative.
The station hosts an annual battle of the bands as well as numerous other promotional gigs. Soon, they’ll be having a Bonnaroo promotional. When you hear the sound clip of Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All-Stars yelling “Bonnaroo!, call into the station and the 7th caller is entered into a drawing. The week before the show there is a reverse drawing (when your name is pulled, you are eliminated, narrowing the crowd slowly) and the winner gets two tickets as well as a camping package and a Bonnaroo Survival Kit.
But despite being local-music oriented, WUTK is broken up into a number of specialty shows, which really separates it from other stations. These shows are usually run by upperclassman who have stuck with the radio program for a few years. The shows are done by genre and occur on a regular schedule, available on their website.
“What this allows is people who really like a certain genre of music to really listen to nothing but that,� Smith said.
The station started a new segment where they play cheesy ‘80s songs up against more alternative, musically relevant ‘80s songs—a fascinating concept.
Much of the staff is provided by UT students who are required to do an internship for the Journalism and Electronic Media course. Each student has a two-hour shift where they get hands-on experience in running the station. Smith also added that this gets students into music they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to, which is part of the college experience.
But despite being located at UT, and being staffed mostly by students, WUTK receives no funding from the University since October of 2006. The university funded the program for 24 years, but dropped them months ago. The bulk of their funding now comes from private donations which are made through their website.
“We’ve got to depend on that now,� Smith said. “Otherwise, it will go away. That will kill the local music scene on a couple of fronts.� Smith stresses that college radio is a large part of the college experience.
“We’re listener supported or we’re not run,� Smith said.
Renegade artist
On the afternoon of her closing party at UT's Ewing Gallery, Requia sat down with me in the nearby courtyard to discuss her show, as well as her very conscious departure from traditional visual art. As a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, Requia Gray's main concentration is in sculpture, but she has chosen unification as the primary medium for her thesis project. She combines painting, papermaking and Hip Hop to create a unique and interactive experience for herself as an artist, and also for her audience.
Where does Hip Hop come in?
Among other things, Hip Hop has always been a vehicle for self-expression. It broadcasts the evolution of Urban street culture and infiltrates mainstream society. Hip Hop has the power to translate very specific cultural instances into a vibrant language heard by millions. Requia believes that her work "is not inspired by, but a part of Hip Hop". A native New Yorker of African & Puerto Rican decent, she absorbed the creative culture that surrounded her. Similarly, Hip Hop absorbs little bits from each society it encounters, thus becoming a representation of countless cultural expressions. This innate inclusiveness makes Hip Hop a natural accompaniment to an artistic enviroment people from all walks of life are encouraged to experience. Bringing people together is Requia's mission - and what makes her a rengade in the all-too-often exclusive artworld.
In most every way, this particular artshow rebels against traditional gallery culture. Normally, art is not meant to be touched - just viewed from a safe distance. To Requia, art is at its best when you can touch and breathe and live in it. She wants you to immerse yourself in the whole artistic experience. What she devised is anything but mainstream and wasn't an easy concept for her colleagues to get their minds around.
She has built and designed hundreds of intricate paper masks that will be available for purchase/loan the night of the ball. When I asked her the signifigance of a Masquerade Ball, she explained that historically, that kind of event was the one night of the year when rich and poor, mannered and common, black and white would intermingle without regard to class, status or race. The mystery prevented judgement and encouraged that fun be had by all.
Tomorrow's Masquerade Ball, presented by the Kiki-Cinza Movement, will follow suit. A DJ will be playing Hip Hop music from 8pm til midnight. Attendees are encouraged to express themselves with their dress (according to the wall at her UT exhibit, "dress to impress") and wear the beautiful handmade masks. The event will be hosted by the incomparable Paj Jackson, a staple figure in Hip Hop music videos. She will also be introducing a new champagne cocktail that night, called the "Paj Royale".
Art, cocktails, beautiful people and social change - what could be better than that?
(For more First Friday events, click here)
First Friday - April 6, 2007
April 6th, 2006
First Friday - Downtown
When: Friday, April 6 - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: the Market Square District & other downtown areas
(now 21 participants - record number)
Cellist, Georgia Sinko, will perform on Market Square.
*Indigo will spotlight the work of artist Rachel Murphy graduate of University of Tennessee who lives and paints in Nashville, Tennessee. Her work stems from ideas of Self and Identity; Jungian persona in an era of technological co-dependency and emotional detachment.
*La Costa on Market Square will feature $3.00 Caipirinha's until 9:00pm in addition to our regular happy hour (4:00 to 7:00,) which features $3.00 Margaritas, $2.00 Beer, and 1/2 off of all Wine Bottles! Just in time for Spring…. La Costa introduces our refreshing hand made Caipirinha's! Made up of fresh organic lime juice, hand muddled limes, turbinado, and imported Brazilian cachaca (ka-sha-sa,) the Caipirinha has been a Latin American favorite for many years. The Caipirinha has gained international popularity in recent years, and after much demand (and a little of our own curiosity,) we've brought it home to Market Square.
*Vagabondia: Jewelry Trunk Show and Reception Featuring Jewelry Artist Jyl Walker of Be-Jeweled!. Jyl works with genuine semi-precious stones and sterling silver on hand-knotted silk.
*bliss will host a trunk show with local jewelry artist Chi Chen Cheng. Using materials and techniques from her native Taiwan, Chi Chen creates unique silk-knotted necklaces and bracelets. Each piece contains a carved jade piece, which, according to traditional Chinese culture, brings luck to the wear.
NEW: Trio Cafe is now open at 13 market square. They are serving breakfast lunch and dinner 7am-9pm during the week and 9-9 on saturdays and sundays!
Come by to check out their "First Friday" menu, enjoying a gourmet coffee or glass of wine while sitting on our patio!
The Phoenix
Live mannequins will be on display as they sip Downtown Grind coffee while lounging in the "bliss"fully decorated window.
Village Marketplace
Will feature a new collection of ceramics. These include beautiful bird baths, planters, and tableware. Influenced by Ming China, Vietnam's blue and white ceramics have been sought after throughout the world since the 15th century. Today potters blend artistic skill with time honored techniques in the famous pottery village of Bat Trang, just east of Hanoi, where there are as many kilns as houses. Ceramics skills are passed down through the generations. Artisans pour clay into molds, and carefully remove the pieces when they are set. Paint and glaze is applied by hand, and, when dry, the pottery is fired at very high temperatures, giving it strength and durability.
Mast General Store
Mast will have live folk and old time music from 6:30 pm to 8 pm, performed by Steve Hancock.
Arts & Culture Alliance
Opening reception. The Arts & Culture Alliance presents "Honoring Betsy Worden: A Retrospective", a new exhibition on display April 6-28 at the Arts & Culture Alliance’s Emporium Center. Worden, who died in January 2006, was perhaps best known for her works in watercolor and weaving, and she contributed greatly to Knoxville’s visual arts community throughout her life. Join us for complimentary hors d’oeuvres on Friday, April 6, 5-9pm.
World Grotto
Free Wine Tasting, Hors devours and Martini Specials. "Plastered: a showcase of Tennessee poster artists" is a showcase of highly talented poster designers from the state of Tennessee. It is being held in the month of April at the World Grotto Gallery and Music Venue in Knoxville, TN. There will be a meet and greet as well as a sale of posters held on the 20th and 21st. This show is going to include: Boss Construction - aka - Andrew Vastagh (Nashville) the new year - aka -Sasha Barr (Memphis) Status Design - aka - Justin Helton (Knoxville) Yee-Haw Industries - aka - Kevin Bradley, Julie Belcher and a crew of others (Knoxville) Zach Hobbs (Chattanooga) Leia Bell (Knoxville)- as well as works from various other TN poster artists. All of the artists will be showing their work as well as a poster sale at the reception weekend. The weekend will include the poster sale and meet and greet as well as live music at night including Dishwater Blonde and the Natti Love Joys.
Art Gallery of Knoxville
Paces: Lou Mallozzi and Gustavo Matamoros create a performance and media installation using hand-held microphones, video cameras, and flashlights.
Art Market Gallery
The Mobile Meals Mother’s/Father’s Day card campaign is “co-opping� with one of the area’s oldest artists’ co-op, The Art Market Gallery. This year's special partnership with the Art Market Gallery is highlitghted by their sponsorship of one of their own artists, B. J. Clark, in providing her work for the card’s artwork.
Three Flights Up Gallery
Three Flights Up Gallery, located in the Emporium, invites you to an evening of art, food and music. The 9 featured artists this month work in a variety of media--photography, painting, sculpture, and digital imaging-- and include Julie Camarata, Steve Cunnigham, Stacey Fletcher, Tovah Greenwood, James Edwin Hall, Nic Hankins, Liz Nixon, Ben Katz, and Jon Ross.
The Basemet Gallery
Life is an Open Book: a collection of cliches by artists Brandon Rogers and Rachel B. Travis.
Gallery 1010
Photographs by Angela Dick. MFA Thesis Show. "My photographs are my mementos and my documents. I use the images I create
as a way to preserve my memories and my experiences, and as keepsakes of the alluring elements of the spots I visit.
Tomato Head
A very special First Friday of Spring dinner special along with special prices on select bottles of wine, most reduced to $12.
Downtown Grill & Brewery
The Brewery will extend their happy hour until 10:00. FREE popcorn in the bar.
UT Downtown Gallery
MFA Thesis Exhibition - Lin Lee, Graphic Design.
Downtown Grind
Try their Brainfreeze drinks: sweet frozen blended drinks, offered in several fruity and coffee flavors.
bliss Home
bliss home will host an opening for Ryan Blair. from Ryan's artist statement, "My subject matter varies and is usually developed through a series of sketches and notes. My new work employs the use of poured acrylics. Though I work quite deliberately, consciously employing both traditional and innovative techniques, the pouring leaves a feeling of a raw unplanned approach. After my surface is prepared, canvas, wood or paper, I draw directly on that surface using charcoal. The areas that have been drawn are then masked off. Paint is then poured to create patterns and grids. After drying, I begin painting thin layers of paint until I achieve the desired color density over the entire surface. Often during the layering of color, I sand and scrape revealing covered layers." As always Pasta Trio and wine will be plentiful. *image attached.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----
In conjunction with the popular First Friday downtown gallery and shopping tour, KAT will operate a trolley route to connect downtown visitors with the galleries and shops along Gay Street, Market Square and the Old City. The First Friday trolley will travel down Gay Street and through the Old City every 5-7 minutes from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
The First Friday trolley is Fare-Free!
To catch it, just watch for the sign on the front of the trolley that says "First Fridays."
This highly successful First Friday event, now downtown-wide, began in October of 2003. On the first Friday of every month
the Market Square District, Gay St including the 100-Block and Old City merchants offer something special for all downtown
residents and visitors. Promotions include artist receptions, gallery openings, special food and drink offerings and more.
contact Scott Schimmel 256-2469 for further details
(image from Requia Gray's Ewing Gallery Exhibit)
The Roundup for April 5th
Welcome to The Roundup, our weekly podcast that keeps you "uptuh date" on everything in 520 land. Brush up on your local music, listen to the podcast, and you might just win yourself a prize. Or scrap metal. You decide.
The latest episode is now up! In this week's edition: cost-cutting, renegade technology, Candace Parker hotness, laser fights, Jodie Manross, robot-punching, Ben Hur, Guess That Local Tune, and much more!
Listen to it here.
Or use this RSS feed to subscribe via iTunes.
Or listen to it at our myspace site.
Yeehaw, K-Town.
April 2, 2007
Literary rockers
Some of pop culture's most notable people have come from Helena, Montana - legendary actors Gary Cooper and Myrna Loy, theologian and celebrity-funded profiteer L. Ron Hubbard, and country music man Charlie Pride. Portland, Oregon is well-known for its proliferation of influential musicians, the likes of which include Elliott Smith, The Shins, and Everclear. So when one of Helena's prodigal sons, Colin Meloy, was introduced to fellow musicmakers Jenny Conlee and Nate Query in Portland, they conspired to form one of the best. bands. ever. With the addition of Chris Funk and John Moen, The Decemberists were born.
Their latest CD release, 2006's "The Crane Wife," was inspired by a Japanese children's tale warning of greed surpassing love in one man's heart. The songs tell of ill-fated love, murderers in the night, and death by drowning... the stuff of the best folk tales and allegories on record. Meloy has a way of putting his words into the music on this album, rather than singing them over it. It's this combination of melody and lyrics that set The Decemberists apart from traditionally successful pop bands, and yet the video for "O Valencia!" is in near-constant rotation on MTV2.
The Decemberists have received numerous accolades and acknowledgments from the media: "The Crane Wife" was voted as NPR's Top Album of 2006; band guitarist Chris Funk challenged comedian Stephen Colbert to a "rock-off" last December on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report"; chosen as Sony Connect's "Next Artist of the Month"; and the list goes on. But the proof of this band's excellence is in listening to them.. if you enjoy the art of storytelling, punchy melody and heartfelt vocals, you're bound to be a fan of this band.
Check them out live when they make an appearance at The Tennessee Theatre on Wednesday, April 4 at 8pm. Opening will be Brooklyn, NY-based band My Brightest Diamond.
The Acoustic Axeman Cometh - to Writer's Block
“…Literally the best singer-songwriter to emerge from Nashville in over a decade…His heartfelt but sophisticated lyrics aim to reconcile the heart and mind in everyday life. His sense of melody is unique and he has a voice that could melt ice caps.�
- Vic Garbarni, Playboy and Guitar World
“A writer who is capable of creating striking images…A driving acoustic rocker…�
- Stephen Holden, Rolling Stone Magazine
“Lyrics that speak and melodies that hold on to you forever.� - Cashbox Magazine
“If you don’t think there’s much to strumming a guitar, you got to see Dana Cooper do it. It’s something like a drummer doing a roll with one hand. He’s also a fine finger style player, and a superior harnonicat….� - Puremusic.com
“As usual, Cooper’s songs are literate and lyrically interesting, and the musical backing is very tasteful. Cooper himself comes across as a personable performer with an attractive voice.� - George Graham’s review of Made of Mud
This Wednesday, April 4, Writer’s Block will feature contemporary folk artist Dana Cooper. On Wednesday, April 18, Writer’s Block will serve up a special homecookin’ concert with local poet/musician, R.B. Morris.
Dana Cooper, a native of Kansas City, has been performing since age 16 and released his first album in 1973. A veteran of the Nashville scene for many years, Cooper now also enjoys a strong following in Texas. He has been named Best Songwriter in Houston and was nominated Best Male Vocalist by the Kerrville Music Foundation and was nominated by their Hall of Fame.
His songs have been recorded by Maura O’Connell, Trout Fishing in America, and long-time co-collaborator Shake Russell. Cooper has also shared the stage with Jerry Garcia, Taj Mahal, Lyle Lovett, Melissa Etheridge, and the late great Townes Van Zant. Cooper’s tribute to Van Zant, “Boney Man,� appears on his album “Harry Truman Built a Road.�
According to Dana Cooper, his tenth and most recent album, “Made of Mud,� is a collection consisting of “songs about mortality and immortality, politics and religion and love, the struggle of living, and the possibilities of how much we can accomplish. It’s a journey through life, from song to song.�
“I just want to make great records that appeal to people’s emotions, and speak to their life experience. There’s nothing better than when someone says, ’Man, when you write your songs, you say the things that I want to say.’ That’s what I’m trying to do.�
But, he’s not all serious business. Cooper has a reputation for very dry and sarcastic banter and his music spans a variety of styles, from ballads to swamp rock to exuberant danceable ditties.
Dana Cooper also shares his talents with the Children’s Music Project, a fine arts program for youth in Texas. This program “seeks to discover, encourage and accommodate the artistic talents of children. Typically, children at the Ranch write poetry, which is then taken by professional songwriters and musicians and recorded in an effort to spread the words of the children and the stories of their lives.�
You can experience this poet in person at Writer’s Block:
Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at 6:30 p.m.
Knoxville Museum of Art
World’s Fair Park
Tickets are $7.00 and can purchased online KnoxTix.com
or at the show
Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
Snacks by Panera. Cash bar available.
A bottle and a good time
This Saturday, I lugged a bottle of wine and my boyfriend to Pasta Trio for a night on the town for no particular occasion other than to luxuriate in a delicious meal on a beautiful spring night. There is some amount of planning that must go on before the fun can begin: reservations are recommended for weekends, and don’t forget to pick up a bottle of good wine.
I showed up at Pasta Trio with an empty belly ready to be stuffed. We were seated in a prime location, next to the window and away from the door. Since the restaurant is located on Central Avenue in the Old City, people watching is most fun—punk kids on their way to and from Java, dressed-up couples on first dates, women perusing the antique stores, and the occasional freak doing lord knows what. Even the shop front across the street led to great conversation—who is this Big Don the Costumier and does he do good business in his huge freaky store that never seems to be open?
After cracking open the wine, the waitress pre-empted our starving hunger by bringing us an incredible loaf of Italian bread, swimming in butter and covered in parmesan cheese and garlic.
The bread was fresh from the oven, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and delicious. We couldn’t help but get seconds. Soon after, she returned bearing plates of surprisingly tasty salads. I like salads, but this salad was special. Delicate field greens and tomatoes coated in a bold, sweet balsamic vinaigrette were topped with a three-bean salad comprised of green beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans. I could make a meal of this.
One look at the menu, and I knew I’d be ordering the salmon pesto (two of my most favorite things!). I was not disappointed. The salmon filet was cooked medium, smothered with pesto and grated cheese, and sat upon a bed of creamy pesto spaghetti sprinkled with sweet sun dried tomatoes. The pasta was cooked perfectly, both firm and creamy, and the pesto sauce was cream-based and savory but not overpowering. The dish was very rich, but a spritz of lemon juice on the salmon provided balance. Knowing that I wanted to indulge in dessert, I wisely boxed half of my meal to go.
After ordering a cup of strong coffee to help me perk up after the rich foods, I was ready for dessert. I settled on the featured dessert of the evening, a pound cake with orange zest, strawberry compote, and cinnamon whipped cream. Wow! This dessert was incredible. Three slices of warm vaguely orangey pound cake were smothered with a generous helping of sweet strawberry compote and a couple scoops of thick cinnamon whipped cream. I couldn’t help but over-indulge in this sweet concoction.
Surprisingly, this decadent meal was not overly pricey. Our final bill tallied $50, which included two main entrees plus coffee and dessert. We brought our own wine, which made the evening more economical. We don’t typically spend this much money on dining out, but this was not a typical restaurant meal, this was an experience. It felt special. So the next time you feel like having a special evening, grab that special someone and head to Pasta Trio. Just don’t wear tight pants.
Insult to Injury
Welcome to the below-the-belt 520 blog, The Monday After. This is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers and offer up some 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.
Last week in a bold move, discount electronics giant Circuit City publicly announced that it was the shadiest company to have ever existed in the history of business, ever. If you haven't heard, the company recently decided to fire all of its employees who were making too much money (regardless of how many years they'd been faithfully toiling in retail hell) in an effort to slash their expenses, which put big, fat-cat smiles on shareholders' faces. And in an insult-to-injury move, Circuit City then offered to rehire the axed employees, as long as they were willing to take significant wage cuts.
We here at 520 salute your ballsiness, Circuit City, and enthusiastically condone your behavior. You see, we 520ers recently tried to cut down on our expenses by replacing intern Dustin with a toaster. While the toaster was willing to work for next to nothing, we discovered that it was neither willing to participate in group discussions nor capable of data entry or article writing. So we had to hire Dustin back. But we now pay him solely in toast. And he likes it.
But there's still a lesson we can learn from you, Circuit City. And that lesson is, when you've got a man by his man-bits, you may as well go ahead and call him names while he's down. So...
...finding any excuse to change the subject to women's bball...
...TAKE THAT Lady Tar Heels! I mean, gawwwd, you had a 12 point lead on us with only eight minutes left and you FRICKIN' BLEW IT! Sorry you had to walk away with a WHOLE LATTA NOTHIN', Miss Ivory! Your, your teammates, and Coach Hatchell can all march yo' SORRY, UGLY BUTTS back to that North Carolina ORC PIT you were hatched from!
Congrats, Lady Vols, for reaching tomorrow night's Championship Game against Rutgers. Go kick some HARLOT KNIGHT ASS!
And now for our weekly rankings!
This week's key:
= Worse than W.
= Woe.
= Whatever.
= We likey.
= W00t!
Union Jack's ()
If you've never been to England, you might not get just how much the British embrace camaraderie. One of their favorite pastimes is meeting at a pub for a drink or two with their mates. Union Jack's English Pub is a fine rendition of the English way with the no-nonsense servers and seemingly boundless types, brands, and variations of beer. A nice bonus this time was the evening's live music: first up, singer-songwriter John Adam Thomas entertained the crowd with his pleasingly unique acoustic sound; then his cousin (I think), Michael Thomas, took up the reins, and was equally terrific. Sadly, it was uncomfortably crowded for the majority of the time my friends and I were there, almost ridiculously so. Fortunately, most people were polite when jostling by with their very pointy elbows. Any old time you're looking for a place with some atmosphere, check out Union Jack's and see if you don't agree that if nothing else, it's got character. (4/5) -B.T.
Mr. Hank Sinatra at Loudon Amphitheatre ()
Saturday I got called up to fill in as the bassist for local singer/songwriter Mr. Hank Sinatra, I liked his tunes so much that I'm asking him to keep me around. Hank, Chris Peck and myself managed to get 7 songs together in about an hour and a half and headed over to Loudon to play a benefit for the Helen Keller Society. With about 7-10 different acts the benefit was a huge success, the music was mostly heavy rock and emo so we definitely provided some contrast with Hank's catchy acoustic hooks on life, love and politics. Check out his MySpace page, and come see us at our next gig. (4/5) -D M.
A Co-op Companion at the Black Box Theatre ()
Everything about the Actors’ Co-op 10th annual spring cabaret was positively delightful. Performed in the style of a 1940’s live radio broadcast, the talented cast, looking fantastic in their vintage costumes and elegantly coiffed hair, belted out an interesting and engaging variety of songs while being expertly accompanied by the Yankee Jass Band. It was also the attention to small details that made the show so special: the event program, table settings, and vintage radio show posters and “on air� and “applause� signs. The story line of the on and off-air romantic affairs of the characters was simple, sweet and funny. The chemistry and camaraderie between all the performers was unmistakable and added to the charm of the production. (5/5) -D.D.
Drunken Cha Cha Sentiment ()
One of my fave conversation spots is the patio at Cha Cha. Once the dinner crowd has gone, it becomes a surprisingly intimate setting. The low light, mellow music, cool breeze and gin Gimlets made for an excellent Friday night following the show at the Black Box Theatre. It was one of those magical nights when every person who walks through the door is a friend. (Insert "Cheers" theme here.) We started with a group of around 8 people, but ended up with about 20 folks gathered around the table. It was also one of those magical nights when I found myself sitting back for a moment, watching my friends talking and laughing, thinking about just how lucky I am to have such cool, smart and talented people in my life. (5/5) -S.S.
Tennessee vs. North Carolina ()
I don't want to bore you with a recap of yesterday's Final Four match up; that's what ESPN.com is for. I'll just say that the game was tremendously sloppy, and that we're lucky to have come out with a win.
I do, however, want to give the UT team some credit where they're due: The Lady Vols are hands-down at least ten, maybe eleven times more attractive than the Lady Tar Heels. Let's start with the Heels' starting five surnames: Little, Latta, Larkins, Pringle, and McCants. While "Larkins" might evoke images of songbirds, together the names sound like some sort of clown law firm. Sure, our own Alexis Hornbuckle has a funny name, too, but I like to think that hers sounds more like a heroic, feminist pirate.
As for their visages, Tennessee has compiled the prettiest team it's had in awhile. The past couple of years have thankfully seen the elimination of all the dreadful cornrows and weaves that were the trademark of women's basketball at the turn of the century; in its stead is a welcome Beyoncé-like beauty ethic spearheaded by Candace Parker, the super talented, super hot sophomore. Even Pat got into the beauty act last night by styling that mannish coif of hers into something very soft and flattering. (I think her State Farm commercial stint (in which some hair-stylist man-handled Pat into looking like a hooker) had some sort of positive effect on her grooming.) And compared to that troll Sylvia Hatchell - she's obviously very talented, and I'm sure she's a great person, blah, blah - that coaches North Carolina's team, Pat looked damn well sexy. (I mean really, under which hay bale did they find Ms. Hatchell? When she opened her mouth during a halftime interview last night, I couldn't believe how thick her accent was. But like I said, I'm sure she's just lovely.) (3/5) -J.B.
See you next week!
Our blogs...
- "...where music dwells": local music blogs
- "First Friday": monthly arts celebration
- "Next, please!" audition notices
- "The Roundup" Podcast
- 520 Etc.
- 520 Housekeeping
- 520 Pub Crawl
- All The World's A Stage: Theatre blogs
- Amanda Mohney
- Amy Lawless
- Ashley Hearn
- Bess Newton
- Bethany Tomkins
- Bluegill
- Brent Thompson
- Debra Dylan
- Dennis Perkins
- Dustin Milotte
- Greg Wood
- Gretchen Paxton
- Jack Rentfro
- Joe Beuerlein
- Jon Worley
- Julia Marino
- Kiss Me Black
- KnoxNews "Random This" video
- Lawless Eats
- Local entertainment gurus
- Michael Gill
- Michelle Sanders
- Paige Travis
- Phil Pollard
- Rising Stars of Sundown (archives)
- Sara Schwabe
- The Gospel According To Disc Exchange
- The Monday After
- Ultimate Knox Vegas Survivor Blog Challenge! (archive)