Fred Eaglesmith Amazes the Blue Plate Audience - Plus, Waynestock starts tonight!

Fred Eaglesmith, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, January 2012

I'm publishing blog posts as fast as I'm able, but I seem to keep falling behind on writing about some of the great shows I've seen lately. One of the reasons is that so much great music has blown through in a very short time. I wrote a couple of days ago about seeing Jenna and Her Cool Friends' phenomenal show at KMA and that same weekend I saw Fred Eaglesmith at the Blue Plate. And then I saw Blue Mother Tupelo (later post) at Boyd's Jig and Reel.

And the music will keep on rolling this week. The second (annual?) Waynestock will be held at the Relix Theater. The Relix is locate in Happy Holler, just outside of downtown proper on Central. It's a really cool venue which has been crafted from an old White's Grocery Store. Most importantly, for only $5 a night, you can enjoy some of the very best local music and see more local bands in one stop than at any other time during the year. All money goes to benefit former Band of Humans' front-man Phil Pollard's family. Phil died this past fall and is being honored in this year's event.

Here's the schedule:
Thursday (starting at 7:00 PM) - Jeff Barbra and Sarah Pirkle, Greg Horne, Kevin Abernathy and Jay Clark, Jack Rentfro and the Apocalypso Quartet, Ian Thomas and Christabel and the Jons
Friday (starting at 8:00 PM) - Sara Schwabe and Her Yankee Jass Band, The Lonetones, RB Morris, Tim Lee 3, King Super and the Excellents
Saturday (starting at 8:00) - The French, The Theorizt, Todd Steed and the Suns of Phere, Senryu and an All-Star Tribute to Phil Pollard featuring members of the Band of Humans

Unbelievable. You just can't miss this. Drinks and food available, but wouldn't you do without both just to hear this? I'm serious. If you'd like to get a feel of how it plays out, you might enjoy reading my blogs about last year which you can find here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3. But enough of that - you'll get all the details later - let's talk about Fred Eaglesmith.

Fred Eaglesmith, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, January 2012

Fred Eaglesmith, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, January 2012

Fred and his traveling show took over the Blue Plate at WDVX recently. Playing a show at the Shed later that night, they pulled their "special" bus into the parking lot beside the station, propped a piece of cement under the wheel and came inside to set the house on fire. Bill Poss did a couple of songs, followed by the Fabulous Ginn Sisters doing a few and then Fred took the stage.

He's got a funny stage presence, part comedian, part icon, both wry and corny in the same story. His weathered voice, tasteful guitar work and always, the excellent songs he writes combine to form a perfect union. His band is just right for what he is doing and they are each very talented. Always joining him center stage, the Ginn sisters have a very unique vocal blend that twangs as hard as any Nashville vocalists.

Fred Eaglesmith, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, January 2012

Fred Eaglesmith, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, January 2012

He's promoting his new album, "6 Volts," which I bought that day and it is excellent. My favorite song has to be "Johnny Cash," which is great on the album, but is even better live with Fred staring down the crowd spitting out lyrics like "You sure do like Johnny Cash, now. Now that he's dead and in the ground . . . and where were you in 1989 when it looked like Johnny was on the decline. His career was fading, his shows weren't selling and you were listening to heavy metal, but you sure do like Johnny Cash, now."

When he sings "I'm dangerous to myself," it's believable. Sometimes he sounds as if he might be dangerous to anyone. Then he tells a joke or gives a wink and you aren't sure if he's dangerous or if he's more like your mischievous uncle. He patiently signed everything handed to him after the show and posed for a picture with me when he certainly didn't have to, so I'm thinking maybe on the not-so-dangerous end.

Fred Eaglesmith, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, January 2012

Fred Eaglesmith, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, January 2012

The room was packed when I arrived a half hour before the show and the crowd got what they had hoped for. We all need to be very appreciative of the great music we get to hear at WDVX. It's a great radio station that distinguishes our city from any other. And on this particular Saturday they gave us a great musician and a great band. Thank you Tony and thank you Fred.

I'll end with Fred performing "Johnny Cash." See you guys at the Waynestock shows.

The Special

Just Old Men Passin' Through: Fred Eaglesmith and Urban Guy

Everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day! I'm not sure why.

Image via Wikipedia

Are you? I mean, I'm happy for the Irish and I suspect I have a little Irish back in my own ancestry, but why do we all wear the green and go for the day with such gusto? I also have a little Creek Indian in me, but I haven't noticed any celebrations breaking out on their behalf. How about we pick a day and dress like these guys?

Cocoa Moon - the Latin restaurant - dressed up for St. Patrick's Day

Really, no other group causes us all to act as if we are all related. I know it's all in good fun and I really don't mind. I enjoy celebrating different cultures, it's just that I don't understand how this one captured the imagination of so many. We're even chided if we don't participate - "Where's your green?"

Latitude shows the green and snags a media interview.

Jack Neely, who wrote a great article on the subject last week, suggested that perhaps our identification with the Irish reflects our American inclination to support the underdog and the defeated. Again, I submit to you my Creek ancestors. You'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger underdog or a group more thoroughly defeated.

Junior League Band, Blueplate Special, Knoxville

Ah well, might as well join in. Knoxville goes for it to a small degree. We have Irish music and green is abundant, though mostly for commercial reasons. There is no parade. I caught the Blueplate Special that day at WDVX. The first artist, the Junior League Band was not Irish, nor did Lissy Rosemont and her band play Irish music. Their website describes them as an "old time inspired rock band." That's probably a fitting description.

Lissy Rosemont sings and Irish Ballad

She played banjo and every song featured an electric rock guitar. Their music and particularly her vocals reminded me greatly of Hilary Hawke who I wrote about a while back. One hails from Georgia and the other from New York, but they have arrived at similar musical styles, at least to my ears. Lissy did end with an old Irish ballad in honor of the day.

Four Leaf Peat, Blueplate Special, WDVX, Knoxville, St. Patrick's Day 2011

There was no mistaking the Irishness of the next band. Hailed as "Knoxville's Premier Traditional Irish Band," and perhaps our only traditional Irish Band, Four Leaf Peat. I believe they said this represents their fifth consecutive St. Patrick's Day show on the Blueplate.

Four Leaf Peat, WDVX, Knoxville, March 2011

Four Leaf Peat, WDVX, Knoxville, St. Patrick's Day 2011

They are a talented group playing a wide range of traditional instruments and sticking very close to their tradtional Irish roots. I enjoyed them live, but I'm not so much a fan of the genre. Hearing that style music once a year is enough for me.

Now, if you want to talk about some Creek songs, that's another discussion altogether. Here's a little clip to get the movement started.

Young People Playing (Very) Old Music, Part Two

 Hilary Hawke and band, Knoxville Visitor's Center, January 2010

The second artist I heard recently at the Blue Plate Special was Hilary Hawke. She and her band are from upstate New York and their sound is more western swing, with close harmonies and mid-tempo rhythms. Of course, her lilting voice soars above it all. She also plays a very nice banjo. Red Hickey (host of the Blue Plate) asked her how she came to the banjo living in New York. She pointed out that the Adirondacks are far removed from the city and said she grew up listening to old country music and particularly mentioned being a fan of Earl Scruggs.

Hilary Hawke, Knoxville Visitor's Center, January 2010

Even with the western swing sound and a frequent banjo solo there was still an alt-twist. The band members certainly looked as if they could be in an alternative band and there was more to it than that, perhaps an undercurrent of intensity as a slight counterpoint to the bounce of the music. More so than Woody Pines, there seemed to be a slight modern edge to this music, though on the surface it remained very traditional.

The vocals are also a bit more quirky than Bob Wills would have expected. Hilary's charm and personality shine through in every song and that combined with her songwriting talent should serve her very well as her career progresses. There was a little something that reminded me of Hot Club of Cowtown.

Hilary Hawke, Knoxville Visitor's Center, January 2010

She and everyone in the band were exceptionally friendly and warm with anyone who wanted to talk with them. I regret that they hit town during snowy weather and had such a small audience. They invited me to their show at the Preservation Pub that started at 11:00 on a work night! Maybe when I was younger.

You can hear a few of their songs on their MySpace page. You can buy Hilary's solo album Goodwill by following that link. The latest by the band is available on their website (first link above). I'll leave you with a video for your viewing and listening pleasure. Check them out.

Did I Mention the Blue Plate Special?

Not as much as I should.

Knoxville is and will always likely be a small city. We'll never have a Chinatown or a Little Italy. We'll never have the tallest buildings or the most bustling streets. We'll have art, but not in the volume and of the stature of other cities. There will never be direct Knoxville to Paris flights and no one from Europe is likely to make a stop in our town the centerpiece of their North American vacation.

Yet, there are many great things about Knoxville. Some of those are very unique even when held alongside our larger sisters. (That doesn't make them sound so good after all, does it: "She's our larger sister, but we still love her.") One of the unique features of our little town is the musical heritage along Gay Street. Is there a street in America that has seen more live music broadcast over the radio?

Starting with WNOX in the 1930's, live music broadcast over the radio has become part of our heritage. Though it died out for a few lost decades, it has returned in recent years in the form of radio station WDVX. The brainchild of Tony Lawson, with humble beginnings in a travel trailer, WDVX is now located on the corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill in the same space as the Knoxville Visitor Center. Daily concerts are broadcast at live at noon each weekday (and recently on Saturdays) in the form of the Blue Plate Special.

I've been fortunate enough to be a WDVX listener since the first weekend they were on air. I've also been able to attend many Blue Plate Specials over the years, though not nearly as many as I would like because of that little inconvenience called, "making a living," which keeps me away most days. If you haven't listened to them, do. The mornings are bluegrass heavy, while the afternoons are more Americana and the rest of the time is a mix of those and classic country (AKA real country music). It's a good station that will serve up Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead. And did I mention commercial free? It's at FM 89.9 outside the city and 102.9 downtown. It's always waiting at http://www.wdvx.com/.

Brothers Burn Mountain, WDVX, Knoxville, November 2010

So, I recently saw a Blue Plate Special featuring The Brother's Burn Mountain and Kevin Gordon. It's always interesting and often it's an entry point to music you will grow to love. Whether the artists are nationally known singer/songwriters or artists with whom you are unfamiliar, something good is likely waiting. I'd never heard of either of these artists and they provided me with a reminder that looks are so often deceptive. As you can see, the brothers in Brother's Burn Mountain look pretty cool. They look like the kind of guys I'm nervous talking to at parties because I know they'll quickly figure out I'm not cool enough to hang with them. I figured if they were that cool, I'd probably like their music.

Brothers Burn Mountain, WDVX, Knoxville, November 2010

Why do I continue to think irrationally after a few million experiences that should teach me better? I won't say they aren't good - I'll link and let you judge. I'll just say that for me there was a melodic sameness that challenged my capacity to stay upright in my chair. The most fascinating, strange, bizarre, weird and therefore entertaining quality of the brothers was watching the facial contortions of the drumming brother. I won't even try to describe it. It defies my small ability to manipulate words. Just watch the video. You may like their music. I'm sure many people do.

Kevin Gordon, WDVX, Knoxville, November 2010

The second artist was a gentleman named Kevin Gordon. He was in town to do a show at Cafe Four. And, I have to say he didn't look nearly as cool as those guys. In fact, he looked like the kind of guy I'd wind up talking to at that party. Of course, I irrationally made the assumption that this must be some sort of sympathy gig. He just couldn't be that good. Naturally, he was. His songs are carefully crafted lyrically and melodically, his voice is strong and sure and he's an artist who deserves an audience. Check him out and see what you think. You can listen to or buy his most recent studio release O Come Look at the Burning or check out his new live disc at his website (linked above).

Here's a video of Brothers Burn Mountain:



Here's a video of Kevin Gordon:

Free Music, A Little More Pricey Music and Great Food

Friday, July 30 (I know I'm going back a couple of weeks, but so much has been happening!), offered yet another great day for music downtown. Mary Gauthier was in town for a joint show with Robinella at the Square Room. Tickets, with all the little charges, were around $40 or $50 per person, but that included a delicious four-course meal prepared by Cafe Four. Not a bad deal at all and in the intimate confines of the accoustically superior Square Room, really a remarkable evening. Still, at that price, not everyone would be able to attend.

That's where Knoxville, Tony Lawson, WDVX and the whole musical community here reveal their true beauty: Introduced by Tony, Mary did a sample of the songs at the Blue Plate special broadcast from the Square Room at noon, and it was entirely free.

The pictures included here are from that show, though I attended both. Mary's slightly ragged, dry and southern delivery of some of the most poignant lines being written effortlessly moves audiences. It is stunning to realize this enormously talented woman did not write a song until she was thirty-five years old. One of the absolutely best songs ever written - and I don't say that lightly, I've loved and studied music for many years - is her tender homage to the woundedness in us all, Mercy Now. Follow that link and you can hear a clip, but don't stop there, buy it or buy the entire CD. I've worn the song out and it can still bring me to tears. It has to be on your ipod. I mean it. Have you clicked, yet? Promise to get it from itunes, later? OK.

She was in excellent form at both shows and accompanist, Tania Elizabeth, formerly of the Duhks was fantastic in support. The always lovable Robinella finished the evening with her amazing vocal stylings and ever charming stories. A great night (or lunchtime) to be in Knoxville.

Blue Plate Special: Christabel and the Jons

I can't believe I've written over fifty posts and I'm only now getting around to mentioning one of the coolest and most unique attractions downtown: The Blue Plate Special. It's not a culinary delight (OK, maybe food for the soul), but rather a daily live music show broadcast on WDVX from their studio at 301 Gay Street. Some days are now broadcast from other locations, such as this show I stumbled upon recently on Market Square. Fridays have gotten so big they are now broadcast from the Square Room to accommodate the crowds of 200-300 people.

Where to start? The history of music on Gay Street would rival the history of the music on any street in America. Yes, I've been to Beale Street and Music Row. Dolly Parton, Roy Acuff, the Everly Brothers, Archie Campbell, the Louvin Brothers, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Chet Atkins performed on early live shows broadcast over WNOX and other early radio stations. On this little street, I've personally seen Bob Dylan, Earl Scruggs, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Bobbie Bland, Koko Taylor, Joan Baez, Jefferson Starship, Merle Haggard and B.B. King, not to mention about a million (estimated) others. Hank Williams died on this street. You get the idea.

I mentioned the great Cradle of Country Music Walking Tour in a recent post and a helpful reader pointed out that it is no longer available. I'll get to the bottom of that and correct it if I have to publish it on this blog, myself. It was awesome. I can't find a link that includes the history of this great street, but I'll keep working on that. What an oversight!

So, a few years ago local hero Tony Lawson set out to single-handedly preserve the precious music of our area and provide an alternative to commercial radio and classical-only public radio. He gave birth to WDVX which originally lived in a trailer on a mountainside, but eventually moved to Gay Street, reconnecting with that grand tradition. Please go to their web site and learn about the station and make a contribution.

Red Hickey

Which brings us, finally, to the show. Christabel and the Jons played on the square, hosted by Red Hickey of WDVX. Christabel has grown so much as an artist. She does her own brand of softly swinging indie country music. She would probably hate that amalgamation of a description, but that's as close as I can get. Check her out and you'll likely get enchanted. It was a hot day (haven't they all been lately), but she and the group plugged on and played a delightful set. They are touring west and north this summer, but have a couple of shows scheduled back home in the fall. Be sure to catch them. If you want a sample, two of my favorite songs are I Believe and Say I'm Crazy.

Enjoy more photos below. Remember, all pictures on the site may be enlarged by clicking them.