Dirty Guv'nahs and Black Cadillacs Warm Up at Preservation Pub

Chris Doody, James Trimble, Will Horton and John Phillips

Take two of my favorite local bands and add my favorite weekly musical hour and you have the recipe for a great time. And it certainly was. WFIV, 105.3 broadcasts Homegrown, their weekly show featuring live local music from Preservation Pub. It has all the parts I love: early starting time, seats up front and great music. This week (is it every week?) fourteen inch pizzas were on sale for $4.50. Life is good.

Dirty Guv'nahs and Black Cadillacs, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

Dirty Guv'nahs and Black Cadillacs, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

The format is that Joe, a DJ from WFIV, interviews the musicians between songs about their latest projects or simply about the music in general. Last night the bands discussed their upcoming recordings. The Black Cadillacs have an album ready which will be released in late spring, which is about two years after their last effort. The Dirty Guv'nahs have an album almost finished and they anticipate a summer release.

James Trimble

Chris Doody and James Trimble of the Dirty Guv'nahs

The show featured a few older songs, a few of the new songs for each band and some very cool covers, mostly as an encore. When the covers for a night include Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Wilco and the Felice Brothers, it is definitely a good night. As a bonus, the Wilco song was actually a Billy Bragg and Wilco song with lyrics by Woody Guthrie, so the bases were all attended to.

Will Horton

Guv'nahs and Cadillacs, Preservation Pub, Knoxville, February 2012

Chris Doody and James Trimble from the Dirty Guv'nahs were joined by Will Horton and John Phillips of the Black Cadillacs and the duos swapped songs back and forth with a little vocal, rhythm, harmonica or guitar help for each other as needed. Technical difficulties necessitated a shuffling of instruments and microphones and nobody seemed to mind. James jumped up once and tried to work on the jack to John's guitar while he and Will were playing a song. It was all very friendly and the guys seem to enjoy working together.

Guv'nahs and Cadillacs, Preservation Pub, Knoxville, February 2012

Guv'nahs and Cadillacs, Preservation Pub, Knoxville, February 2012

The crowd was surprisingly small for a free, acoustic show by two bands who will likely sell out the Bijou for two nights running. The weather may have kept some people away as a steady rain before the show turned into a torrent by the end of the night. I walked to the Old City afterward to hear Ben Maney, but he had canceled his show due to illness and by the time I walked home I was soaked to the bone. I kept my camera dry.

Guv'nahs and Cadillacs, Preservation Pub, Knoxville, February 2012

Speaking of, it didn't give me what I hoped it might, but I think I learned a little from the attempt and I'll be better next time. It's definitely a journey to attain better photographs.

Guv'nahs and Cadillacs, Preservation Pub, Knoxville, February 2012

But the show was great and the shows this weekend promise to be special, as always, when the full bands take the stage. You can get tickets for $21.50 for Friday or Saturday night here. I understand there are tickets left. I'm not sure I'll be able to make this one, but who knows? I've heard each of the bands many times, but if you haven't, let me tell you, you will be happy you spent the money.

Dirty Guv'nah's, Scott Miller, Preservation Pub and Homegrown

James Tremble, Chris Doody and Scott Miller, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

I've got enough material to go back to seven days a week, but barely enough time between events to blog about it. I'm going to delay the more recent events of the weekend and the meetings I attended last night. I've spent the last couple of blog posts on the serious workings of downtown and the city and it seems like a good time to liven things up a bit and talk about something completely fun.

James Tremble, Chris Doody and Scott Miller, Preservation Pub

James Tremble, Chris Doody and Scott Miller, Preservation Pub

Last Wednesday night I attended the inaugural Preservation Pub broadcast of the i105 Homegrown series which highlights local musicians. The radio station has sponsored the program for sometime and I've written about some prior broadcasts from the Disc Exchange. I love the Disc Exchange, but listening to live music there is difficult. There is no seating and very few good spots for standing with a view of the stage. Those problems were eliminated at the Preservation Pub Speakeasy, the recently added, smoke-free second floor of the bar. The stage is much more spacious, the acoustics excellent and plenty of seats with a view line the wall and center the room.

James Tremble, Chris Doody and Scott Miller

Crowd at the Preservation Pub Speakeasy, John Shaft Presiding

It's hard to imagine a better choice for the inaugural music than James Tremble and Chris Doody, members of the Dirty Guv'nahs, along with Scott Miller. Or you could reverse that billing. Both acts have ardent Knoxville followings and an excellent catalog to bring out for such an occasion. They also have a show coming up next week at the Tennessee Theatre and I think tickets are still available for what will be a triumphal concert as the Guv'nahs headline the Tennessee for the first time. It's hard to imagine seeing them at Barley's with a couple dozen others just a few short years ago.

Chris Doody on harmonica, James Tremble and Scott Miller

James Tremble, Chris Doody and Scott Miller, Preservation Pub

They each did a few of the more prominent songs from their respective catalogs such as Blue Rose Stroll (Guv'nahs) and I Made A Mess Of This Town (Scott Miller). James opted for one cover and Scott pulled out a song about Tennessee of which, unfortunately, I can't recall the title. It featured harmonies by James and Chris and brought the house down. I took it to be a new song but it was definitely a reminder of the strength of his song-writing. All of the songs and performances sparkled and the crowd responded. It was a great night.

Scott Miller sings backed by James Tremble and Chris Doody

James Tremble, Chris Doody and Scott Miller, Preservation Pub

In between songs Joe, a DJ from the station, interviewed the musicians and gave them room to display their considerable wit. James used the opportunity to offer the band's old van as a free giveaway while Scott summed up his current life in droll style by saying he "writes songs, records songs and plays songs. It's almost like a cottage industry."

James offers the van as a giveaway

The series is weekly and will be broadcast each Wednesday at 6:00 PM from the Speakeasy. It's free, though the Pub would probably appreciate it if you selected a cold beverage to sip while you listen. This week will be a strong follow-up with Jay Clark taking the stage. Support local music, Preservation Pub and a great radio station all in one stop. It's hard to beat that.

Three Awesome Things to Choose From in the City

I don't always give advance notice on events, preferring in most cases to talk about how they were after the fact. There are other sites which cover upcoming events and I generally leave it to them. You'll find a number of them listed to the right of this post.

There are three things happening today and tomorrow with the potential to be so awesome I can't resist giving today's space to the topic. Two of the three are at Union Avenue Books and one is at Preservation Pub. Two of them happen tonight and conflict with each other, so you may have to choose - or do like me and run between the two like a crazy person.

Union Avenue Books is hosting a roundtable discussion about Davy Crockett, an east Tennessean, who is celebrating his 225th birthday. If you like history, this one's for you. If you like beer, they have you covered. The monthly "Book and a Beer Night" is hosted by Charlie Thomas and his friends at the table tonight will include "Jack Neely, Michael Lofaro, Dan Feller, director of UT's Jackson Center, Melinda Meador, and maybe -- just maybe -- a fiddle player!" It all gets underway at 7:00.

That just so happens to be the precise time "members of the Dirty Guv'nahs" will be featured on homegrown on 105.3 doing a special broadcast from the Speakeasy (second floor, smoke-mostly-free) of the Preservation Pub. Homegrown usually lasts an hour, I think, so there is an irreconcilable conflict between the two.

Thursday night is BIG, BIG, BIG, if you love fine literature. Bobbie Ann Mason will read from her new book The Girl in the Blue Beret and sign copies afterward. Bobbie Ann is a national (and southern) treasure. I've seen her a number of times an d I think the first was at Davis-Kidd bookstore, the grandparent of Union Avenue Books. My favorite Bobbie sighting was at a Bob Dylan concert in Cincinnati years ago. She is best known for her beloved and much studied and read In Country as well as numerous other books. This is as good as it gets!

So there you are. I'll definitely be at the book reading but I'm not sure what I'll do about the other two. You might find me throwing up on the sidewalk somewhere in between the two from the angst of it all. To get you fired up, I'll leave you with a great vintage video. I'll also mention the great video from yesterday. If you missed it, you really should treat yourself.

Dirty Guv'nahs: Night Two or The Last Waltz for the Bijou?

It has become impossible for me to say which Dirty Guv'nahs concert is best or even better than another. They are all generally spectacular or memorable in their own way. Last night was no exception though, at the least, I think I can pronounce it the concert with the best encore/coda.

The Features opening for the Dirty Guv'nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, April 2011

The night opened with The Features. It was the second consecutive Nashville opener and in introducing them, James declared that they are his favorite band in Tennessee. They were interesting. The energy level was very high, which made them entertaining enough. The vocals were odd, quirky and interesting, but in place of what should have been solos, the band just played really loud and fast. Apparently the only instrument in which they are interested in spotlighting was the whistling of the lead vocalist. Interesting? Yes. Worthy of being anybody's favorite band in Tennessee? I don't think so.

Wayne Chishom introduces the Dirty Guv'nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, April 2011

Cozmo rocking a solo, Dirty Guv'nahs, Bijou, April 2011

Wayne Chisholm introduced the band and the night took off. It's hard for me to name particular songs as standouts in the main set. I enjoyed Brown Little Bird and I'm always happy to hear Oh, Jericho, which James said was played in response to a request on Facebook. Chris apparently worked so hard on the keyboard that it completly fell apart. The bottom set of keys became detached, fell to the floor and ultimately had to be clamped into place with a vice grip and supported with a stool. They played their way through their entire catalog, reaching back to their earliest work, which is no longer available, through songs off their current album, Youth is in Our Blood, and onto unreleased and, as yet, unnamed songs.

Clowning during "Baby We Were Young"

Dirty Guv'nahs joined by the Lenoir City High School Choir

As he's done many times, James annointed this the best night ever for the Dirty Guv'nahs. In that regard he hasn't changed. As I watched the concert and reflected on the group's first five years, I realized they had changed tremendously in other ways. They are far better musicians and the band is miles from where they started as an overall unit. I also thought how much more mature James seems, both as a frontman and a person. Five years is a significant span of time in the life of a young person.

James climbs onto the drum stand and joins the choir.

Going balistic during "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

I remembered how an immature and foolish James had jumped from the stage of Barley's Taproom years ago only to have the crowd part and provide him with an unimpeded trip to the floor. He's so much more mature I was thinking . . . then he did it, again. I couldn't believe my eyes. The guy got a running start and hurled himself outstretched into the Bijou Theater. By all accounts he made another clean fall to the floor once more. Memo to James: Keep the theatrics on the stage. You've tried it twice. Give it up, dude. We love you, man. We don't want to lose you.

Cozmo foreground, his dad behind him on bass and his brother directing the choir.

James promised the encore would be one never to be forgotten and he was dead on. A couple of horns added spice to the later part of the show, giving it just that much more punch, infusing the music with a taste of southern fried soul, bringing to mind those great recordings by Stax Records in the late sixties on the other end of our state. For the encore they kept the brass and added a choir from Lenoir City High School. I've got to tell you brothers and sisters, those white children rocked the house. They sounded like a gospel choir in an A.M.E. Zion Baptist Church.

Happy Choir, Happy Guv'nahs say goodnight

The first song was one I didn't know, though it was great, but I'm proud to say I predicted the finale before the encore began: You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones. When the Dirty Guv'nahs do the Rolling Stones it is always special. Give them a choir and this particular song and the roof is likely to blow. And it did.With his Dad pounding the bass and his brother directing the choir Cozmo brought the house on the lead guitar while James flailed all about the stage, apparently no worse for wear after the ill-advised dive, and sang like there was no tomorrow.

James adds a poignant coda to an amazing night.

A phenominal night ended with the choir and the band taking bows. Or did it? After probably two thirds of the audience had exited, with the house lights up and recorded music playing over the PA, the lights went out once more. After a few moments of confusion, James walked back out onto the stage as if he could not bear to let the night end. He played "Aimee May" off the now out-of-print "Don't Need No Money" EP, accoustic and solo. He left the stage declaring that this would be the last time the Guv'nahs would play the Bijou. He said the next time would be down the street at the Tennesee.

Maybe this was the last waltz for the Dirty Guv'nahs in this small a venue in Knoxville. While I'd miss seeing them in smaller spaces, I hope it happens for them. They deserve to be huge. They are doing their part, here's hoping the industry gods and timing are on their side.

Dirty Guv'nahs Stirring Things Up Again: Five Years on the Road

Dirty Guv'nahs Two Night Run at the Bijou, Knoxville, April 2011

The Dirty Guv'nahs have been together five years. I'm not sure how long I've been a fan, but I've seen them approaching a dozen times and, though I don't go back to the Preservation Pub days, I do go back to the Barley's days. Since that time they've grown so much as a band, it's hard to think of them as the same group. Their popularity can be measured by the fact that they booked the Bijou this weekend for both Friday and Saturday night to celebrate their fifth anniversary. I bought tickets for the first show and, in no surprise to anyone who knows how I love music in general and them specifically, after the first show I had to buy tickets for the second.

Moon Taxi opening for the Dirty Guv'nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, April 2011

A group named Moon Taxi opened the show. Their phenomenal keyboard player is from Knoxville and I believe I understood that the band is from Nashville. Their music reminded me of Arcade Fire, though someone more familiar with the music of either or both bands might tell me I'm way off base. They are actually hyped as a jam band, but I didn't get that at all last night. It's modern rock and I tried to think what its ancestors would be and I came up a bit empty. The light show reminded me of theatrical rock of the seventies but, thankfully, without the makeup. Sometimes their melodies reminded me of Duran Duran, but with more of the edge of the Clash. Mayor Burchett introduced them and quoted Rolling Stone as saying they will do for modern rock what Lynyrd Skynyrd did for southern rock. They were good, but that's saying something pretty big. And what's up with Mayor Burchett starting to show up wherever I'm hanging out? That can't be a good thing.

Abby Hamm and Russel Bivens introduce the Dirty Guv'nahs

The Guv'nahs were spot on as they always are these days. James' exuberance alone could carry them, but no one has to carry this band at this point in their history. The musicianship is solid throughout the band. Chris was over-the-top on keyboards last night, Cozmo was his Cozmo self, Michael just gets sweeter on his end of the guitar playing and James' vocals were great all night. Something happened about two thirds through the two-plus hour set. When the band covered Instant Karma, which was, I think followed by their own Afternoon Eyes, the energy level went to a new level. That song was the highlight of the night for me, though of course Blue Rose Stroll is always a crowd favorite and their version of the Stones Dead Flowers was great fun.

Dirty Guv'nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, April 2011

Dirty Guv'nahs, Bijou Night One, Knoxville,

Surprises of the night included the appearance of Robyn James on violin in an acoustic set that included James and Chris. Scott Miller also joined the band on stage for several songs including the finale: The Weight. Also joining them on that song was Davis Mitchell from Dishwater Blonde and Mitch Stewart who was the original bass player for the band.

Scott Miller joins the Dirty Guv'nahs onstage, Bijou, Knoxville, April 2011

The band was introduced by local celebrities Abby Hamm and Russell Bivens who appear in the video I've included below. Much of the show was filmed and a running gag included a "reporter" who was trying to get interviews with the band while they were playing. I assumed this must be for a coming video, but it was a bit distracting. The band has been recording new music and debuted four songs Friday night. My favorite was "Song Number Two," which presumably will have a different title when it makes it onto a disk. I'll end this post with the video of a track from their current album Youth is in Our Blood: Baby We Were Young.

Dirty Guv'nahs Rock New Year's Eve

As I mentioned, my choice to bring in the New Year was to attend the Dirty Guv'nah's concert at the Bijou. I'm sure there were other great places to be in Knoxville, but this one proved to be an excellent choice.

Dishwater Blonde, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010

Dishwater Blonde, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010

The show started at 9:00 PM with openers Dishwater Blonde. The two groups share a history: James Trimble (of the Guv'nahs mentioned the encouragement they had received from the members of Dishwater Blonde) and Cosmo, the Dirty Guv'nahs' gritty guitar player originally played was a Blonde before becoming a full-time Guv'nah. Dishwater's high energy funk sound was a fit opener for an upbeat night. Their originals and their covers got the sold-out crowd moving about and ably warmed them up for what was to come.

Dirty Guv'nahs, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010

Breaking down a Guv'nahs' concert has gotten to be difficult for me. I've seen them so many times that the different performances are beginning to merge a bit in my head. Some things stand out in my memory: James hitting the floor at Barley's when he dove into the crowd and no one caught him, Dirty Guv'nahs holding their own with Blues Traveler, The Square Room shows - one featuring a sick James - and one featuring a much tighter, road-tested band and the Bijou Shows, especially the CD release concert for Youth Is In Our Blood.

James wails the songs, Justin thumps the beat, Bijou, New Year's Eve 2010

Cosmo and James, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010

The New Year's show was very tight and professional from the beginning. Feedback issues initially inhibited James' use of his vocal mike and they reappeared moderately throughout the night. The show felt like it started off a bit slowly, almost as if the band was tired or a bit uncertain. The exuberance that has marked their previous performances didn't seen to be as apparent early on. The sound was there - no one seemed to miss a lick - but something seemed amiss. Fortunately this cleared up after the first couple of songs and the band hit their joyous stride.

Chris on the Keyboard, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010

Chris and Cosmo, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010 

I'm never sure if I notice things I've missed before or if they are genuine changes from the previous outing. What stood out to me this time was that Michael's guitar playing seemed to be higher in the mix. He took most of the early leads and then traded leads for the rest of the night. As one of the band's two primary song writers, they are, after all, his songs, so this makes sense. Sonically it makes complete sense. I've loved his light, airy solos since the early days and, while I love Cosmo's muscular style of playing, I've felt it overshadowed Michael's excellent playing. The band seems to finally have it right - or they've had it right all along and I'm finally catching up. Both guitarists played stunningly and their disparate styles complimented the total sound of the band adding an intricate texture not previously exploited as fully as it deserves.

Guv'nahs and Friends, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010

There was also much fun along the way. The friends of the band were invited onto the stage for the sendoff for the old year. One friend proposed to another on stage (she said, "yes."). Wayne Chisholm and Dede took center stage during Baby We Were Young (see the video a couple of posts back). Wayne likes the stage. Maybe he could be an honorary Guv'nah.

Cosmo: Rock God, Bijou, Knoxville, New Year's Eve 2010

Covers are always fun with the Guv'nahs. This time they picked several for the encore. The most unlikely was Werewolves Of London by Warren Zevon. It was a fun sing-along. The lead singer from Dishwater Blonde joined the band along with Cosmo's dad on bass, for Stevie Wonder's I Wish. Two other choices were excellent: The last song for the full band was I Shall Be Released, the Bob Dylan song. In their last Bijou performance the band played Like A Rolling Stone (another Bob Dylan song) and while I was delighted, it didn't really seem worked out. This song is perfect for different singers and a large ensemble and gave a note of gravitas to the passing of time as we celebrated the changing of the year.

The show ended with James and Chris singing A House Of Gold by Hank Williams from the front of the stage without amplification. So we got covers by Stevie Wonder, Warren Zevon, Bob Dylan and Hank Williams. That's a pretty good desert island list, right there. It was a great ending to a very good show. Happy New Year, Guv'nahs. Happy New Year Knoxville.