Welcome to this shaallow 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.
We here at 520 JUST realized that we've never posted half-naked pictures of Jake Gyllenhaal here on the site. Our deepest apologies.
Vestal. There was a time when the mention of this South Knoxville neighborhood conjured up images of pit bull fights and vicious armed robberies. Thanks to the creation seven years ago of the South Knoxville Arts & Heritage Foundation, Vestal has been reintroduced to Knoxville through a charming family-friendly festival promoting historic preservation and music.
This Mother’s Day weekend, The Vestival proudly celebrates its 7th year of showcasing the historic Candoro Marble Works Building, along with an eclectic mix of some of the area’s finest musicians and artisans.
Continue reading "It's not just a festival, it's Vestival!" »
Think there’s nothing fun to do in this town? Been meaning to start that exercise program? Looking for something different to do? Then go to the City of Knoxville’s FREE Go-Expo at Victor Ashe Park on Saturday May, 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the Go-Expo you will discover a wide variety of local outdoor and recreational opportunities while enjoying demonstrations, food, and live music in one of the City’s most beautiful parks.
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?”
Lucinda Williams’ Saturday night concert at the Tennessee Theatre was outstanding and awe inspiring.
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.
“…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
Continue reading "The Acoustic Axeman Cometh - to Writer's Block" »
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.
Local writer/musician, R.B. Morris
Last Thursday’s Leon Redbone concert at The Bijou opened with local poet and musician, R.B. Morris, who treated us to a very entertaining and inebriated poetry reading that could have been entitled “The Man Who Reads Here is Loony.” Ripping page after page out of his new anthology of poems, Early Fires, Morris read several delightful and clever poems about Knoxville (d’uh), and a particularly sexy poem about the mysterious power women have over men. Later in the evening, Redbone thanked Morris for opening the show and quipped, “He’s no longer with us.”
Decked out in a dapper dark brown suit and trademark sunglasses and Panama hat, Leon Redbone, along with cornet player Scott Blake and ragtime pianist Paul Azaro, charmed the knickers off the crowd with what Redbone referred to as Dead Singers’ Society music, which included lovely jazzy renditions of My Blue Heaven, I Ain’t Got Nobody, and Mr. Jellyroll Baker. His multiple encores (“Either you people are gluttons for punishment - - or you don’t have homes to go to”) included Polly Wolly Doodle, Shine on Harvest Moon and The Sheik of Araby.
Redbone’s music was almost upstaged by his vaudeville-esque between-song banter. Scott Blake played straight man to Redbone’s daffy deadpan delivery throughout the show:
Leon: I’ve had trouble sleeping and I went to the doctor and he told me what to do and I didn’t do it.
Leon: Drink liquor 1 hour before bed.
Scott: And you didn’t do it?
Leon: I tried for 45 minutes.
Scott: What’s the name of your doctor?
Leon: What?
Scott: What is the name of your doctor?
Leon: I’m adopted?
*
As an introduction to Reading Old Love Letters (Bring Memories of You), Redbone warned that “Life is full of disappointment - - and this might be one of ‘em.”
*
Leon: I have good news. The Mayan calendar says we have 5 years left.
Scott: This is good news?
Leon: It is if you believe it. Take out a big loan and enjoy yourself.
*
Scott: Who was that lady I saw you with on the street?
Leon: Why that was no street -- that was an alley. She said for $50 dollars she would do anything I want. Right now she’s painting my house. Two coats.
(Badda-boom! Badda-bing! The only thing missing from this schtick was a rim-shot.)
Prior to last week’s show, Leon Redbone last performed in Knoxville 15 years ago at the much treasured and sadly short-lived Ella Guru’s nightclub and restaurant in the Old City. Like many in Thursday night’s audience, he was sporting a dusting of gray in his hair. Here’s hoping he won’t stay away quite so long before returning to Knoxville. He truly is a treasure of a bygone era.
We couldn’t help falling in love with Chris Baratta’s Elvis Presley impersonation show at Wednesday night’s Cocktails at the KMA. This King of Hearts was adorable in his red jumpsuit as he sang, danced and walked amongst the giggling and admiring crowd.
LISTEN UP YOUNG PEOPLE! GO SEE LEON REDBONE AT THE BIJOU THIS THURSDAY! WHY AM I SCREAMING? BECAUSE I DON’T WANT YOU TO MISS THIS!!!
Leon Redbone doesn’t come around often, and I would hate for you youngsters to overlook this one-of-a-kind show. Imagine soft warm breezes blowing through a lace curtain; old fashioned handmade lemonade; lazy canoe rides; and mint juleps and front porch swings. Redbone’s music is magical, romantic, and fun.
Some refer to him as a vaudeville performer, but there’s no 23-skiddoo, slapstick or vodeodo here. Redbone performs classic covers and originals inspired by pre-World War II jazz and folk music. His delivery is smooth, sweet and sly.
If you won’t take my word for it, just ask your parents. Also ask them for $25 for a ticket. I’m sure they will be happy to oblige. Local legend R.B. Morris is going to open the show with a poetry reading. So, take a break from your jam bands and feel what it’s like to really be seduced.
See Leon Redbone on YouTube!
(front page image: Minnesota Public Radio/A Prairie Home Companion)
Some people say bad publicity is better than no publicity at all. Some people say halitosis is better than no breath at all. But why settle for such negativity when you don’t have to? Dental hygiene options abound all around us. And surprisingly, here in Knoxville, there are three small talent/publicity businesses that can assist you as you pursue your creative endeavors. All three of these businesses offer affordable services dependent on an individual client’s needs and budgets.
Welcome to the salubrious 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.
Welcome to the salubrious 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.
Walk on the wild side with Jack Rentfro
“Apocalypso!”
“Music to Listen to While Listening to Music and the Words that Go With It!”
These are the titles to a few of the spoken word happenings recently performed by award winning writer and local personality Jack Rentfro. “I don’t necessarily want to give a name to all the shows. Sometimes, you don’t know if the baby is going to make it through that first winter. So you don’t give’em a name. That way, you don’t get so attached.”
Jack has been attached to the creative writing process since winning his first poetry award while in grammar school. “I’ve been shivering in the literary punch line ever since.” His fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in the last four Knoxville Writers’ Guild anthologies, and he was the 2006 recipient of the Guild’s Leslie Garrett Short Story Award. Rentfro has also combined his experience as a professional journalist with his interest in history and music, and authored the book “Cumberland Avenue Revisited: Four Decades of Music from Knoxville, Tennessee” (Cardinal Publishing 2003). He says his “spoken word performances are the culmination of 30 years of participating in creative happenings around town.”
You can catch Jack’s entertaining spoken-word side show this Thursday, February 8, at Preservation Pub, with the irreverent Phil Pollard & his Band of Humans. The fun begins at 10:00 p.m.
For a sample, please listen to the “Your State or Mine” podcast from Todd Steed’s website ObKnoxCast. This selection features Jack Rentfro performing with the Band of Humans’ vibraphonist, Phil Pollard, and pianist, Geol Greenlee.
“I Was Driving Under the Influence of Kerouac”
Welcome to the new 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.
When Karen Reynolds, host of Writer’s Block, introduced Malcolm Holcombe during his last Knoxville performance, she told the crowd that seeing him live was an “experience.”
For the uninitiated like me, I was confounded and entranced by Holcombe’s primitive and passionate style. He gets so into his music, it’s as though he’s in a trance as he wrestles his guitar, stomps his boot heel and growls and drools like a back-woods Tom Waits. I attended this 2006 concert based only upon press reports and hearing a cover of his beautiful song “Dressed in White”. By the end of this show, I was hooked on Malcolm and his music, and I am very much looking forward to his return this Wednesday, February 7, as he kicks off the Writer’s Block Live! 2007 series at 6:30 p.m. at the Knoxville Museum of Art.
A very gifted songwriter and fierce guitarist and singer, Holcombe’s music has been described by Rolling Stone as “haunted country, acoustic blues and rugged folk….” Performing with small combos or solo, his delivery is captivating and interesting, sparse and striking. No Depression magazine listed Holcombe’s “I Never Heard You Knockin’” as “Holcombe at his best.” The Wall Street Journal also described this CD as “a stunning and aural equivalent of found art.” Americana Roots refers to his latest release, Not Forgotten, as “a work to be remembered, to be listened to time and again.”
If you are a lover or writer of poetry, fiction or music, please experience Malcolm Holcombe in person. Lonesome Coyote, Maggie Longmire, will perform the opening number on Holcombe's show. The Writer’s Block Live! series focuses on independent performing songwriters and these artists frequently share stories about their craft. These concerts are a great way to learn and absorb writing techniques. Also, the Knoxville Museum of Art’s auditorium is a comfortable, smoke-free pitch perfect listening room. With an affordable ticket price and early start time, Writer’s Block Live! concerts are a great way to experience the incredible Knoxville music scene.
Saturday, April 7 at 8:00 p.m.
Malcolm Holcombe
Laurel Theatre
1538 Laurel Avenue
Ticket price to be announced
UPCOMING WRITER’S BLOCK LIVE! SHOWS
Wednesday, March 7
Buddy Mondlock
Wednesday, April 4
Dana Cooper
Wednesday, April 18
R.B. Morris
(photo credits: Bill Emory, cover & Chris McFall, body)
Welcome to the new 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.
Just over a week ago, we here at Knoxville520 thought we were at the end times.
Back Hills Cafe & Picking Parlor
“If I were raised in an evil social system, would I be able to recognize it and condemn it, or would I be a well-adjusted citizen happy with the status quo?”
That is the question raised in the film “Theologians Under Hitler,” based on the 1985 book by Robert P. Ericksen. The film’s director, Steven D. Martin, will be part of a panel discussion following a showing of his film on Tuesday, January 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of the Savior at 934 Weisgarber Road.
According to film critic Cliff Vaughn of www.Ethicsdaily.com, this 64 minute documentary “focuses on three prominent men of faith who come to ally themselves with the Nazi party, and how these respected German theologians of the day embraced Adolf Hilter’s ideology and spun it for the German people.”
Author Robert P. Ericksen states that “if you looked around the university community, you almost could not find real resistance to the Nazi state. If you looked in the church, you didn’t find much resistance.” Ericksen’s book and Martin’s film also will give readers/viewers a reason to question whether current theologians would do any better when faced with a similar crisis.”
This even is sponsored by the Knoxville Ministerial Association. For more information, please contact Chris Buice at 281-9759.
REMEMBERING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Exhibit January 5 - March 31, 2007
Beck Cultural Exchange Center
Beck is hosting an exhibit of artifacts relating to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at its main location at 1927 Dandridge Avenue, until March 31, 2007. All artifacts on display are from Beck’s permanent collection, and include several posters, banners, artwork and various memorabilia.
New to the Beck permanent collection and the Dr. King exhibit is a series of 6 large, striking and interesting panels documenting Dr. King’s life from the time of his childhood in Atlanta, George until his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. The panels are entitled, “The Genesis of Martin Luther King, Jr.,“A Movement is Born in Montgomery, Alabama,” “Atlanta, Georgia Homecoming,” “I Have a Dream,” “Legal & Economic Empowerment,” and “I Have Been to the Mountaintop.” Curator of Exhibitions/Museum Planner for Knox County Libraries, Adam H. Alfrey, says these panels “progressed through a series of phases, beginning with research, writing, and image selection culminating with the final design and production. A conscious effort was made to effectively communicate the nuances of Dr. King’s personal life and career in a succinct and readable manner.”
Beck will display this exhibition yearly and will continue to add new artifacts to offer a fresh perspective on the life of Dr. King. Mr. Alfrey says that “when this exhibit is not on view, other institutions may borrow the panels in accordance with the Beck Cultural Exchange Center’s policy for outgoing loans. The Center has set a precedent of developing and lending panel exhibitions with its first series, “Stony the Road” - 7 panels that investigate the integration of area educational institutions such as Clinton City Schools and the University of Tennessee.”
In addition to his duties with the Knox County Library system, Mr. Alfrey also serves on the boards of the Frank H. McClung Museum and the Fountain City Art Center. While a student at the University of Tennessee, he won numerous awards and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History. Mr. Alfrey worked with Beck Director Avon Rollins and Beck Archivists Sue Ann Reese and Phillip Smith in the preparation of the Dr. King exhibit.
Beck Cultural Exchange Center
1927 Dandridge Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37915
Phone: (865) 524-8461
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
It was a dark and stormy night during the best of times and the worst of times when you called me Ishmael. You know you have always daydreamed about writing fiction. Now here is your chance to attend a FREE 3-part workshop called “The Art of the Short Story.”
The Knox County Public Library System and its writer-in-residence, Brian Griffin, will be hosting this workshop at Lawson McGhee Library at 6:00 p.m. on January 11, 18 and 25. Brian holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing (fiction) from the University of Virginia, and has won several awards for his short fiction and has worked closely with several novelists, including Pulitzer Prize winner Peter Taylor (A Summons to Memphis).
The workshop will cover:
Origins of literary creativity
Process of writing
Discovering stories
Creating place in short fiction
How conflict works in short stories
This workshop is designed for avid readers, beginning and experienced writers and writing teachers. That’s you! It’s open to all ages. Attendees who participate in all three sessions and complete the suggested exercises will come away with a critiqued short story, but participation is not mandatory, and Griffin states “the lectures will stand on their own.”
For more information, please contact Nelda Hill at 215-8729.
Welcome to the new 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.
This week marks an important yearly turning point in the lives of us Knoxvillians. It is the same week every year that we realize how silly it was to get all worked up over the Volunteer's football season when all it gave us was disappointment, headaches, and another damn loss to the Gators. It is the week that we come to our senses, notice our families again for the first time since August, and realize that what's really important in our lives can be found not at Neyland Stadium (duh!) but instead at Thompson-Boling Arena, where our happiness was surely hiding all along.
FREDHEADS UNITE!
“Eaglesmith can jump easily from poignant to hilarious, and his stage patter is about as good as his songs…Eaglesmith is the real deal. So are his songs...In the music world, it’s always fun to watch artists come out of the proverbial nowhere and build a large and loyal following not on the strength of hype and massive marketing campaigns but on the strength of chops, talent and pure old fashioned hard work.” - Jim Beal, Jr, San Antonio Express News.
“An uncommon ability to handle difficult topics with such care and candor make Fred a cherished story-teller whose insightful understanding of human foibles brings to mind the mournful sweetness of Doc Watson’s delivery and the potent compassion of Springsteen’s songbook.” - Rutland Herald
“I like the depth [he’s] digging with this songwriting, taking an unusual perspective and debunking dreamy stereotypes.” - Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Sun
“Eaglesmith still sleeps with his guitar on his bed.” - nucountry.com
During last December’s local Writer’s Block concert, WDVX disc jockey and award winning singer/songwriter, Karen Reynolds, commented that the Writer’s Block series and WDVX’s Blue Plate Special gives musicians a reason to stop in Knoxville. This Thursday, January 4, songwriting extraordinaire, Fred J. Eaglesmith will be making a stop at WDVX’s studio for a live performance at noon.
Continue reading "Eaglesmith rolls on into WDVX Blue Plate" »
TREY SANSOM’S DIDGERIBLUE
A wonderful advertising error occurred last fall when a local music venue ran the wrong ad for a Friday night show. I arrived expecting to hear a 1970’s style funk band, but onstage was a man setting up multiple didgeridoos and guitars. What the…?!? That man was Trey Sansom. Playing such diverse cover songs such as Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry,” Peter Rowan’s “The Hobo Song,” David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” and The Beatles’s “A Day in the Life,” plus very upbeat and positive originals, including an Aboriginal inspired instrumental that was so good I thought branches would start growing from his didgeridoos, I quickly became a rabid fan and I try to catch his shows whenever he and his band play.
Trey says “Didgeriblue is the concept of mixing American roots music with the ancient sounds of the Australian didgeridoo with a hint of the Caribbean to create a refreshing new sound. The blues, rock, bluegrass, reggae, Latin and indigenous sounds are all flavors that can be found at a Didgeriblue show. Some refer to the sound as “bluesy southern world fusion,” while others cannot describe what they’re hearing, or feeling for that matter. They just can’t believe what they are seeing. ” I couldn’t believe it either, when I saw Didgeriblue for the fist time. Prior to this show, I didn’t think I was particularly enamored of the didgeridoo, but I was immediately delighted and hooked by this unusual droning sound being joyfully incorporated into a variety of music styles.
THE LONGBRANCH SALOON
30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
This Friday, December 29th, the Longbranch Saloon, at 1848 Cumberland Avenue, will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. My first foray into the Longbranch was in 1987. A friend had told me that one time a man had been thrown through the saloon’s front window. I didn’t know if that story was true, but it was enough to make me want to step inside. I was never disappointed with a trip to the Long Branch. You could always count on meeting out of the ordinary people and the Branch’s excellent juke box was legendary.
R.B. Morris says "the basic story is that this is the 30 year anniversary of the Longbranch Saloon, 15 years on one side of the street and 15 years on the other. That’s quite a legacy in an a-historical college town. The bar’s been through a world of changes, different eras, different times, but has a long tradition as an artist and musician’s bar. A mixed crowd of the most interesting people."
Please stop in for a bit of nostalgic fun and help celebrate 3 fascinating decades of Cumberland Avenue history. For more details, please contact:
Longbranch Saloon
1848 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee
(865) 546-9914
Jack Rentfro
At the stroke of 10:00 p.m., Preservation Pub will time warp back to a fantasy Christmas radio broadcast of yore. Actor and bon vivant Dennis Bussell, that shameless scene-stealer from Roane State Community College’s Halloween production of The Rocky Horror Show, will be our Yuletide host as he reads from traditional and modern holiday fare, performs commercials, and introduces us to a torch singer in a splendid gown and tuxedo clad musicians performing Christmas music. (I am not hallucinating. This is really going to happen!)
Arrive early and partake of ice skating and funnel cakes on Market Square and then enter this seasonal twilight zone for a one-of-a-kind holiday extravaganza. And, fasten your seat belts…it’s going to be a bumpy sleigh ride!
Welcome to the brand-new 520 blog, The Monday After. This blog is our attempt to blast through our Monday morning hangovers to offer up quickie reviews of all the things we’re pretty sure we got into this past weekend, including gigs, concerts, movies, plays, and restaurants. Pop a couple of ibuprofens and enjoy.
Last week, UT had its annual fall commencement ceremony at the Thompson Boling Arena.
BRENT THOMPSON & HIS WANDERING CIRCUS
Please do not be put-off by their clown makeup. Even if you suffer from coulrophobia, the clowning is, thankfully, kept to a minimum, is never precious, and at times adds to the joyous and poignant moments. And what moments! If you can imagine a vintage VW bus being driven by Bob Dylan and loaded with Jerry Lee Lewis, Mama Cass, John Lennon, Lenny Kravitz, Chris Robinson, and various jazz legends, then you are starting to get an idea of what this circus is about.
Based on the two performances I have seen, their shows have kicked off with the band’s wonderful Mardi-Gras style entrance with the clowns playing sousaphone, whistles, maracas and hand percussion, while leading into Thompson’s original instrumental “Tennessee Redbone.” Pianist Ben Maney shines throughout the show, and punctuates this song with flairs of Thelonious Monk and Charlie Mingus, while Jamie Warren gleefully responds on trombone and Kirk Fleta wails on harmonica. The full band is also together for the beautiful and mysterious “Head of Mine” and the raucous and soulful “Guilty Hat.” This is where Thompson earns the right to wear his big afro wig. Between his passionate vocals and the growing momentum of the changes in this song, plus Maney and Fleta having out-of-body experiences, and the backup vocalists getting funky, it is all but impossible to remain seated. One sign that this band is something special is the reaction of their audience. At first, the crowd is talkative and socializing, but it isn’t long before the room gets quiet and people are closely listening. It is also not unusual to see spontaneous eruptions of excitement from audience members. The music is that powerful, arresting and interesting.
The emotion provoked by “Guilty Hat” is followed up by a dreamy and orchestral original entitled “Go Where You Want to Be.” Here, Maney switches to organ, which adds a nice variety and cinematic quality to this song. Thompson said the title to this song came to him “like a freight train and he had to write his feelings down and explain them. I have said this to many friends who feel stuck in certain places in their lives.”
Thompson refers to his delightful and gently Dixieland fused “I Get High,” as “the almighty love song. With so many vices to chose from, the feeling of being with someone you love trumps them all.” When I saw the band perform this song at World Grotto, the audience was enrapt, but a lone cowboy leapt up and danced a slow and sexy soft-shoe. (You gotta love that.) The backup vocals on “I Get High” are stunning, as they are “On The Road to London.” This beautiful and mournful song is graced with Kellye Thompson’s vocals backing brother Brent, with Alexia Pantanizopoulas on cello. Another first-rate quality about the Circus is that not all of the performers participate in every song. The variety of instrumentation is well organized and executed, thus not overwhelming or tiring the listener.
“FIRST THURSDAYS LIVE” at BECK CULTURAL CENTER
Knoxville’s best kept secret venue has to be the Knox County Public Library System. With opera previews, films, lectures, demonstrations, poetry readings, and live concerts, the Knox County Public Library provides a very unique setting for a wide variety of events.
The most unique library concert setting is “First Thursdays Live” at the newly renovated Beck Cultural Exchange Center located at 1927 Dandridge Avenue. Just blocks from downtown, Beck Cultural Exchange Center (Beck), founded in 1975, is home to a museum, library and exhibits relating to African-American history and culture, with a special emphasis on local history ~ and on the first Thursday of every month, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Beck is home to hot and smokin’ live jazz and rhythm & blues concerts! The atmosphere is intimate, comfortable and lively.
Last month’s performance with vocalist Sharon Mosby, accompanied by pianist Wendel Werner, Dave Slack and Terry Schmidt, was great fun as the vivacious Ms. Mosby explained to us about being “attitudinal,” and how to get our “rewind” on, while treating us to over 2 hours of old-school style jazz reminiscent of Carmen McRae, Joe Williams, and Jimmy Rushing, with little gospel touch Marion Williams-style.
Admission to “First Thursdays Live” is $7 for Beck Members and $9 for non-members. Admission includes entrance to the museum and the show. Catering and refreshments are available and parking is free. This is a smoke-free venue, although the musicians are hot!
Beck Cultural Exchange Center
1927 Dandridge Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37915
Phone: (865) 524-8461
Regular Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
“First Thursday Live” hours 6 pm -8:30 pm
Mr. Avon W. Rollins, Executive Director
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, 520 put a challenge to its writers in the form of a task: choose the song, artist, band or musical venue for which your most thankful.
It seemed so simple, at first. But as it turns out, this basically amounts to cruel and unusual punishment for a bunch of music fanatics. They rose to the challenge, though. Below you'll find the well considered results of their soul-searching.
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Although my initial reaction was to say I’m thankful for Nirvana or Radiohead (both of which I am incredibly thankful for), I realize I’m most thankful for Neil Young. After all, he greatly influenced both Nirvana and Radiohead.
Neil’s music is down to earth, so much so that he often doesn’t bother to tune his guitar before recording. Sometimes, he gets so into the song he doesn’t even care if his voice is slightly (or sometimes majorly) off key. Also, there is some Neil for everyone and for every mood—he’s done country, he’s done rock, he’s often seen as one of the creators of grunge, he’s done rockabilly (albeit awfully, but still) and he’s done techno. We love Neil for his diversity in his sound, but the overwhelming passion and sincerity shines through so frequently. There’s never a bad or wrong time to listen to Neil Young.
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WDVX: for their dedication to great music and for the Blue Plate Special, in particular: Greg Garing's Music City Circus, Mad Tea Party, David Onley, All Star Refugees of Sierra Leone, & Asylum Street Spankers. These shows had a huge impact on me.
Jobe Blues Band: Diane Jobe and Robert Higgenbothom were the first local musicians I met during my happy transition from Seperated to Divorced. I admire Diane's energy, passion and talent. When I'm feeling down, Jobe's shows are a necessary tonic. Just "Push on Through."
Phil Pollard & his Band of Humans: I was startled the first time I saw the Humans. I swore I never wanted to see that freak and his xylophone again. Now I can't get enough of them! I'm thankful for their talent, ingenuity, humor and love of literature. You guys are rocking fantastic.
The Bearded: For keeping it real and for being so delightful.
Vanilla Junket: Thanks for the Zappa, the Rolling Stones' "Monkey Man", and most importantly, for the Ziggy Stardust. And thanks for not freaking out when I stand in front of the band and sing along while sometimes engaging in tai chi.
Christabel & the Jons: Thank you for your glorious vintage sound and style. I've had a blast with you at Preservation Pub, Oodles, and especially the Barley's shows.
Natti Love Joys: I'm thankful for your beautiful happy music and your message of peace. Your shows always make me happy.
Cutthroat Shamrock: Thanks for the euphoric vibes and the catharsis!
The LoneTones: Your sweet peaceful music feeds my soul.
Sara Schwabe & her Yankee Jass Band: Thank you for your sense of fun, your excellent song selections, the band's chemistry and talent, for spelling jazz in its original form, and for your friendship.
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This Year I am thankful for Umphrey’s Mcgee. Last Friday I witnessed my 30th (give or take) performance from the Chicago six-piece. For the past four years their sound has been organic Adderall to my musical psyche. So many fond yet hazy moments to ponder, my favorite has to be either New Year’s in Chicago 2003 or late night at Bonnaroo 2004. Be on the lookout for them at the Bijou this spring.
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This is like the Sophie's Choice of the music world, right? If I am forced to select just one of my favorite musical entities for which to be the most thankful, will the others be dead to me? (ok...so that's a tad dramatic.)
I've given this much thought over the past few days. I've spanned centuries and run the gamut between my favorites like Anton Bruckner and Tom Waits. I finally (and happily) settled on jazz legends Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. My grandfather had me listen to Everybody's Boppin' when I was about 12 years old and I've loved them ever since. Annie Ross' vocal range and sass made me want to sing - still does. Jon Hendricks' nimble solos made me want to scat - still do. I don't know of another jazz group in the history of history that had more fun making music. They're still an inspiration to me and for that I'll always be thankful for Lambert, Hendricks & Ross.
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Dear World Thankers-
On this day of intoxication with family, minimized communication between friends via text message, and overabundant indulgence I would like to express my thanks for my roots. So many great musicians have penned moving songs that have given me chills in my life that it is hard to pick just one, so I'll pick a collection. Today I am most thankful that my Dad introduced me to Paul and Art. The music they made was introspective, political, whimsical, and beautiful. While there are several releases that I could choose from I am thanking the boys for cranking out the, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" album. This album filled me with moxie when I was five and still does today. Of course the title track I still regard as one of the greatest songs ever written. It is about friendship and it's most poignant purpose; "being there for someone". You've said it...I've said it...and we mean it. My sister and I grew up harmonizing every note in these songs like, "The Boxer", "Cecilia", "Keep the Customer Satisfied", one of my faves is "Frank Lloyd Wright", and "Song For the Asking". If you don't have this in your collection I implore you good music lovers to acquire very soon. You could download it, but at least look for the vinyl. Check out the library and give it a listen. Two voices in the name of peace and love. If you do have it pull it out and listen today. Give thanks for harmony. I do.
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520 is grateful for its dedicated and brilliant staff of writers and contributors. We're thankful for Knoxville's vibrant entertainment scene. We're also thankful for good folks, like yourself, who read our site on a regular basis! Happy Thanksgiving!
Christabel & the Jons will be performing a live show and hosting their CD release party this Tuesday at noon, at WDVX’s Blue Plate Special. Love & Circumstances, their much anticipated studio release, recorded at Ottofish Studios in Johnson City, is pure joy from start to finish.
At the sound of her unique voice singing, Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons,” I quit my jawing and looked up from by beer. This is how my love affair with the band began. Not sure if this was a fluke, or the effect of the beer, soon thereafter, I caught Christa DeCicco’s solo performance on a WDVX Blue Plate Special, and my first impressions were correct: her voice and original songs are amazing.
Now, Christabel & the Jons are a swinging quartet with Christa DeCicco and Jon Whitlock joined by Mischa Goldman on upright bass and Seth Hopper on violin, mandolin, trumpet and bandoneon. (Special guests Tom Pryor on pedal steel guitar, Valerie Sanders on flute and clarinet and local big band The Streamliners also appear on Love & Circumstances.)
One of the reasons I keep returning to their shows is because of Ms. DeCicco’s captivating voice. The modulation of her pristine vocals and her phrasing fascinate. Even her humming is enchanting. A natural born performer, her gracious stage presence is also a draw. The band’s vintage wardrobe also contributes to the atmosphere of their “speak-easy,” jazzy folk-infused music.
The band’s swinging renditions of not often heard cover songs, plus DeCicco’s original material, also merits repeat visits. At any show, you may be treated to the band’s unique take on songs by Bob Dylan, George Gershwin, or Marvin Gaye. Of special note is the band’s somber and plaintive cover of The Police’s “Roxanne.” As their audience has grown, so have the requests for Christa’s original work. Love & Circumstances contains eleven original songs and a barn burning cover of Louis Armstrong’s “St. James Infirmary.”
The CD kicks off with the lively “It’s Love” where memories of a teenage romance (and comfort food) are fondly recalled. “Best Kind of Friend” is another upbeat and fun reminiscence of a past love whose friendship is cherished. Here, Mischa Goldman playfully punctuates on bass while Jon Whitlock chimes in on sleigh bells. The beautiful “Sweetheart” contains interesting musical changes as it slinks along during the verses and then suddenly changes into a hip and catchy refrain. Mischa and Seth swing sweetly on this love song about a former beau’s return to town.
The only dark moment on the CD is the brooding and dramatic “You Go to My Head.” Harper’s violin is mournful and Goldman’s bass is ominous. This mysterious story builds in tension as DeCicco’s vocals and Whitlock’s drumming become more forceful.
Phil Pollard, Steph Gunnoe, Sean McCollough & Maria Williams
I am grateful for whatever divine force brought Steph Gunnoe and Sean McCollough together. In addition to their marriage and family, their union has also spawned incredibly beautiful original Americana music. Sean’s friendship with drummer/percussionist Phil Pollard eventually lured Pollard to the band, and Pollard’s friendship with his neighbor Maria Williams added her angelic backup vocals and an upright bass to round out this gifted quartet.
On Friday, November 17, The Lonetones will be celebrating their much anticipated, long awaited release of their new CD, “Nature Hatin’ Blues". Their CD release party will be held at Carpe Librum Booksellers from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
This follow up to their wonderful debut CD, “Useful,” which included the popular single “Little Thing,” finds the band in a more contemplative mood on “Nature Hatin’ Blues.” “Useful” was dominated by plucky love songs and the living was easy (except when being bathed by mama). Their new CD is “dedicated to hometowns and misfits everywhere. To mountains and people who fight to save them. To the soil we grew up in….” Sean says he and Steph did not plan to write a themed album about internal struggles, “it just turned out that way.” While “Nature Hatin’ Blues” explores several thorny topics, the songwriting is striking and their delivery is, as always, very moving and very engaging.
The Fringe Festival at the Black Box Theatre
Thursday, November 16
7:00 p.m. Chanticleer and the Fox will be presented by Interact Theatre for the Deaf. This one hour play, adapted by Joseph Robinette from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, revolves around Chanticleer, an arrogant rooster, who is easily fooled by a cunning fox. The play promises to be pure entertainment for children young and old and will be performed in spoken English and American Sign Language.
The Knoxville520.com webmisstress had a great idea for a story about dive bars. I quickly and enthusiastically volunteered to research dive bars in East and North Knoxville. I even consulted with construction dude about town and Preservation Pub Beer God, Paul Voght (a/k/a Big Paul, Paul Bunyan). He suggested particular bars and advised me on how to behave. The last time I saw Paul, he said, “Debra, you’ll need to dress down when you do this, or they’ll think you’re a narc.” Of course, I disregarded everything he told me.
Due to illness and injury, my research was delayed by several weeks, so one night after a business meeting adjourned early I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to stop at Hugh’s Tavern, which is approximately one block from the Corner Lounge, on N. Central. There is parking available behind Hugh’s and entering through the back door will give you an incredible view of what a dive the place is. Lots of abandoned kitchen appliances, cans of food, bags of chips, old stuffed animals, a Red Skelton photo, NASCAR stuff, and many unidentifiable objects and odors. When I reached the bar, one patron shouted, “It’s a lawyer and she’s shutting the place down.” (Note to self: don’t wear a suit to a dive bar. See quote above.) Once I was finally able to settle on a beer selection (They don’t have PBR. I’ve since been told that only kitschy bars pretending to be dives serve PBR.), I was asked to join a table of folks sitting in a booth in front of Hugh’s window.
THE KNOXVILLE MUSEUM OF ART’S ALIVE AFTER FIVE SERIES
Sultry alto vocalist Sara Schwabe, expertly accompanied by Dr. Geol Greenlee on keys, Chris Zuhr on upright bass, and Phil Pollard on drums, performs an impressive array of traditional and eclectic jazz, cabaret, show tunes, and popular music. It’s not unusual to hear “Mambo Italiano,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “Centerpiece,” “Fever,” the Beatles’ “Michelle,” and Tom Waits’ “New Coat of Paint” during one set. The band might even launch into “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof. The extensive and enjoyable variety of music is engaging. The KMA’s Michael Gill describes Sara Schwabe as “glamorously talented.” She also looks glamorous, and her smoky, rich vocals will keep you intrigued and will leave you wanting more. On November 18, the band will be recording a live CD at the Black Box Theatre at 9:30 p.m. You can also frequently “taste the band” on Wednesday nights at Sapphire on Gay Street or on Saturday nights at Oodles’ wine bar on Market Square.
Also, earlier this year, the Humans were a surprise hit during their first performance at the annual Bonnaroo music festival. As some new fans enthusiastically reported, “[I] did a double take when I saw the lead instruments in the band…were vibes and tympani,” “the room comes alive with you,” and “you guys tickle my insides.” While the Humans’ music style is different from, say, Spike Jones and his City Slickers, the Humans are every bit as skilled, talented and creative as Jones and his band were during their live performances in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Humans are also kid-friendly, frequently appearing in themed costumes or silly hats. Families who attended the recent “Movies on the Square” showing of October Sky were delighted by the band’s pre-film performance and their original soundtrack accompaniment to the classic silent film “A Trip to the Moon.”
Please do not miss this amazing double-bill!
Knoxville Museum of Art
1050 World’s Fair Park
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
$8 non-KMA members
$4 KMA members
Free parking
Cash bar and concessions available
On the First Friday of every month, Market Square clothier Vagabondia, in the charming yellow building next door to Subway sandwich shop, has joined with other Market Square District Association members and merchants in hosting a variety of trunk shows and art-related events. Vagabondia specializes in beautiful natural fiber clothing, enchanting hats, jewelry and other accessories. Vagabondia proprietress, Andie Ray, reports she typically invites local jewelry and/or accessories designers to her store during downtown’s popular and festive First Friday affairs, but on Friday, November 3rd, she is “particularly tickled to have my good friend, local artist, Cynthia Markert, bring her “girls” (as she lovingly refers to her paintings) for an art opening and a special silent auction of three beautiful and exquisite boxes that have heretofore been unavailable for purchase.”
Sure there were plenty of people at Coyote Joe’s dressed as bikers, but some of the best costumes of the evening appeared at this venue. When a mammoth, I mean just plain big, Gene Simmons entered the room I was frightened. When Michelangelo’s David walked in, I covered my eyes. This nude work of art was joined by his band mates who claimed to be Jenna & the Joneses. This motley blues crew consisted of an Elvis Pez dispenser, Indiana Jones, Luke Skywalker, Fred Flintstone, and Ms. Jenna as a stunning Tina Turner. Fearing an unexpected appearance by Ike, we fled to Gay Street.
Orton Caswell “Cas” Walker (1903-1998) was a controversial politician, business and entertainment figure in East Tennessee. Well known in these parts for launching the career of Dolly Parton, he also featured Bill Monroe, the Osborne Brothers, Chet Atkins, the Everly Brothers, and hundreds of other musicians on his “Farm and Home Hour” televised musical variety show.
Cutthroat Shamrock shows are always wild and wonderful occasions. While the music is frantic and joyful, there are so many distractions in the room. The people watching is fascinating. Sometimes I’m mopping up the beer soaked floor. Other times I’m dancing. Then there’s Guido’s hair and shoes and that spidery way he has of climbing onto his upright bass. There’s Derek’s scowl. Something good is always going on.
I am grateful the boys were able to capture so much of the vibrant energy of their live shows onto their newly released self-titled CD. Another advantage to the CD versus the live show is the crisp clear sound. Without the distractions of the bar room and the limitations of tavern sound equipment, all of the instrumentation and vocals are fierce and discernable. While I would not want to give up going to the live shows, this professionally recorded CD provides a much needed fix when one is between shows.
The exuberant Steady Rain kicks off the CD with its charming sing-a-long back up vocals and heartfelt reference to Tennessee whiskey. Next, the pace quickly revs up with the raucous pirate tune, S.S. Sorrows. This is the most musically complex song on the CD, with an operatic-style trio handling of the chorus, which includes a gruff and gravelly old sailor voice chanting, “the old bag of bones.” The musical changes add to the urgency of this tune, with things slowing down to a teasing bass solo from Guido and then revving back up into a fury of drumming with Suavo on drum kit, Johnny on congas and Ryan on djembe.
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(this article began here)
Gatlinburg Irish Punk-rockers Cutthroat Shamrock’s self-titled CD is now available at shows and can be heard on the Preservation Pub’s jukebox in Knoxville. Within a month, the band hopes to have their CD available at Disc Exchange and Cat’s Music.
The CD is $10.00 when purchased at shows. As Benjamin says, “You’ll still be able to afford beer. Why go home and listen to a CD without a buzz? We also included the lyrics on our liner notes so you can understand what we are slurring about.”
520: Your live shows are very energetic. Do you feel you were able to catch that live spirit?
Benjamin: We were more sober when recording the CD, so it’s not as chaotic.
520: This is your first “official” CD, isn’t it?
520: What was the most difficult or unexpected aspect of recording the CD?
Benjamin: Recording one piece at a time and running out of beer.
Derek: We had to record our parts separately. It was strange not playing as a whole group.
Guido: I had to re-write several bass lines. When playing slap bass, it pops like percussion and recording the tracks separately, my slapping was not in sync with our percussionists’ tracks.
Johnny: It sounded so different because we weren’t playing off of each other. I missed jamming with everybody. I really enjoyed the experience, though, and I learned a lot.
GET YOUR MOZART ON!
THE KNOXVILLE WRITERS’ GUILD RELEASES NEW ANTHOLOGY
Rip Lydick said the pairing of the launch party with the Body Sacred art exhibit was a coincidence. This wonderful art exhibit focused on the body, and two ironic pieces by Denise Sanabria were particularly popular. In the booklet accompanying the exhibit, Ms. Sanabria states that when she appropriates “images of individuals represented in historical works of art, I like to use them in a way that contrasts what they represented at that time with the cultural distortions and absurdities of present day American values and norms.” In her piece entitled “The Neo-Classical Time-Warp Apollo, this beau ideal of manhood is outlined with the following words: Sedentary, Cholesterol, Pump, Steroids, Six Pack, Height, Prozac, Alpha, Stress, Strength, Viagra, Inches, Testosterone, Training, and Fitness. We ladies don’t escape scrutiny either. Sanabria’s “The Mutilation of Venus” is surrounded by: Liposuction, Starve, Lift, Implant, Shave, Wax, Bleach, Prozac, Diet, Pill, and Dumb. We humans are very harsh on our selves. While the marathon reading from this new anthology covered many topics, in the spirit of Ms. Sanabria’s art, below is a brief review of our “cultural distortions” regarding the aging and attitudes toward different body types.
At the standing room only reading from Low Explosions: Writing on the Body, the first immediate theme to emerge was aging. While an unpleasant topic for those of us getting on in years, thankfully, we had Julie Auer, Rhonda Redden Reitz and Kay Newton to provide some comical relief to this inevitable, unstoppable natural phenomenon. Julie Auers’ “creative non-fiction” prose piece, “The Corner of Freud & Gay” (p. 22), which she disclaims as “not being entirely true” is a marvelously hilarious journey of a 40 year old woman’s frustration while making her way through a Santa parade crowd while observing youthful women. “They’re so pretty. So young. So unaware of the horror of their future.” Rhonda Redden Reitz’s “Lamentation” (p. 33) brilliantly describes the “beautiful ruin of our faces,” “the sweet slippage of our skin/like frosting on a cake to warm,” and “the gentle corporate merger taking place between our jawlines and our necks.” She goes on to define the three types of aged necks. None of it is pretty. While Kay Newton, in her “Sonnet to My Self” (p. 139) also tallies a hit list of less than enchanting aging wonders, she is clever to remind us that “Still, what a privilege we count it to endure/our problems - they won’t last long, that’s for sure.” I was delighted when Julie Auer’s surreal December journey through the Santa parade triumphantly concludes, “Fuck age; let’s live.”
Only one hour into the festivities at the 4th annual Hank Days celebration, as Labron Lazenby and his band left the stage at Patrick Sullivan’s, emcee Jack Rentfro declared, “You people are getting too much bang for your bucks! I’m jealous.” For a mere $10.00 donation to the Terry Hill Memorial Children’s Music Fund, festival goers had the option to go honky-tonkin’ amongst four Old City venues participating in this celebration of Hank Williams‘ music. Even though Rentfro tried to tempt the Patrick Sullivan‘s crowd into sticking around because he said he would be making as ass of himself later, it was the incredible line up of musicians and other fun activities that kept the happy revelers traveling back and forth between Patrick Sullivan‘s, the Urban Bar, the Pilot Light and Manhattan’s.
In the early cool evening, Hank Williams impersonator Joe Wampler was strolling the streets, there were festive Hank decorations, street musicians, and the smell of Jambalaya in the air. Doc, the French-Cajun doorman from Manhattan’s won the Jambalaya cook-off. Doc’s secret seemed to be using fresh ingredients, including generous helpings of deep-Gulf Shrimp. Labron Lazenby, looking like a rock-a-billy hipster, performed a scorching blues and boogie show, while the Pilot Light offered a large screen viewing of a sweet and quaint Grand Old Opry video that included the lanky Hank singing “Hey Good Lookin’”.
The 4th Annual Hank Days
celebration of Hank Williams, Sr.’s music in the Old City includes a stellar line-up of live music and interesting events, including, but not limited to, the showing of video television clips of the late great Hank, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” speed dating, a country music walking tour, and numerous contests.
Hank Days 2006 coordinator Jacqui (Alexander) Wadsworth reports that Knoxville’s Hank Days’ festivals have always been fundraisers, and this year, like last year, this event will support the Terry Hill Children’s Traditional Music Fund. Terry Hill was a local guitar god who passed away on November 1, 2002. The proceeds from Hank Days will support scholarships available to children and teenagers who are interested in learning to play the guitar.
My Mysterious Knoxville520.com Odyssey:
How a This Website Led Me to the Alter of Hillbilly Music and an Incapacitated Hooker
Sure, I was downtown when Knoxville520.com launched its inaugural “pub crawl” marketing blitz. For a while I thought Knoxville520.com was a part of the gay pride event that was wrapping up on Market Square. While I am all for gay rights, and I like Melissa Etheridge, all I wanted was beer. I quickly accepted the Knoxville520.com free plastic red bracelet just to prove I am open minded, but, “No thank you, I don’t have time for a demonstration of this website or to play gay bingo because I am too engrossed in trying to make eye contact with a bartender.” After completing my ritual “walk through” of all of the downtown taverns, I was just amazed at the friendliness of these Knoxville520.com people. They even gave me a t-shirt! My final stop was at Uncorked, the wine bar attached to Oodles restaurant. The Yankee Jass Band was setting up, but their leader, vocalist Sara Schwabe was not with them. One of the Yankees said Sara was all about Knoxville520.com and that she would be singing during the last half of their show. The Jass band immediately launched into their instrumental set with “When Johnny Comes Matching Home.” Alright already, so “we’ll all feel gay.” (I had no idea Sara was gay! I knew she liked Cabaret music and theatre, but I am not one to stereotype.) It was not until many beers later that I learned she was not gay (not that there is anything wrong with being gay) and that she was not promoting gay rights, but she, instead, was fronting and maxing an exciting new local entertainment website. I am a local music fanatic so I was very pleased learned there was finally one place to go to find a calendar and other information about the local scene. And over the next few weeks, I kept meaning to look at the website. I really did. But I do not have a computer at home and it was always when I would log off of a library computer that I would remember this new website.
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