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.

Jack Rentfro and the Apocalypso Quartet at Preservation Pub

Jack Rentfro, Preservation Pub,(with Laith Keilany)

A performance by Jack Rentfro and his ace band the Apocalypso Quartet is difficult to articulate to an uninitiated audience. Apparently initially encouraged by the late, beloved Phil Pollard, Jack rips his way through spoken word apocalyptic verses as the front-man for the quartet, which has always included more than four members when I've seen them. On this recent night there were five including Nate Barrett on drums and percussion, Bob Deck on guitar, Mike Murphy on bass, Laith Keilany on various stringed instruments and Cecilia Miller on cello.

Cecilia Miller foreground with Jack Rentfro

I slipped inside Preservation Pub and walked up to the speakeasy about 7:00, only to find they didn't start until 8:00 which, for regular readers of this blog will come as no surprise. Still, not bad. I was able to catch the first set and walk back home before 10:00. As usual, the crowd was smaller than the music called for, but everyone there,which seemed to include some tourists seated near me, enjoyed the show.

Jack Rentfro and the Apocalypso Quartet, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

Jack will never be accused of being an optimist and his poetry is decidedly dark, pessimistic and generally enunciates the coming damnation and ruin. Yes, I'm exaggerating - by a very little bit. It is also hilariously funny and clever, but always intellectually challenging. His recounting of the personal foibles of the various presidents, which he touted as his early nod to Presidents' Day would not likely be included in any official Washington presentation of the day. The man brings a fine intellect, a jaded, slightly skewed view of the world to every piece

Jack Rentfro, Preservation Pub, Knoxville 2012

The musicians behind him are all excellent. Nate Barrett also plays with Hudson K, but seems to find his way to a drum kit behind many local artists - particularly those whose music is just a tad eccentric. Laith Keilany and Cecilia Miller also find their way onto the stage with many different artists. I've seen Laith with Jodie Manross and Cecilia with R.B. Morris among others.

Jack Rentfro and the Apocalypso Quartet, Knoxville, February 2012

The sound is jazzy. Then it's not. It's funk, it's R and B, it's country and rock and roll. It is whatever the poem demands and it amazes me that without the more common structure of a song they are able to find the groove required for each piece and play it in perfect form. If they were casting about for endings or struggling to ride the wave of the words, I couldn't tell.

Jack leans into it, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

Try to find them near wherever you are. I think they are playing the Well soon, if they haven't already and I hope to hear them downtown, again, soon. Next time I hear them it will be with my new camera and here's hoping the pictures are better.

Market Square Still Evolving: Is it getting better?

Preservation Pub: New Solar Panels and Roof Garden

It seemed the news from Market Square had run its course for the month, from the footnote to the splashy: Bernadette West got approval for some of the solar panels she wants on top of Preservation Pub and Tupelo Honey is coming to 1 Market Square.

Just when it seemed the month would end without more changes, the latest change was announced just before the weekend: Scott and Bernadette West have purchased 32 Market Square. What does this mean? Well, if you believe the comments on Knoxnews, it means either the War on Drugs has been lost or the War on Drugs was a dumb idea in the first place. I'd just as soon look at it through another lens.

There are two businesses on the first floor of that building. I'm not sure if there is currently anything above them. One is Swagger, which is a high-end athletic shoe store originally located in Bearden and on Market Square for just under two years. It wasn't my kind of place, but I enjoyed talking to Ricky. I'm told he hasn't worked there since before Christmas. The other business is Harb's Tailoring. I'm not sure how long this business has been on the square, but it has the look of something from an earlier era.

32 Market Square: Harb's Taylor and Swagger

The plan is for the West's to replace both businesses with an entertainment venue called Scruffy City Hall. The idea appears to be that some artists want to charge more to play than Preservation Pub thinks their patrons would like to pay. This will provide another option for bands who might like to charge $10 for a ticket. I suspect the Wests will do a first class job of this re-purposing of 32 Market Square and you'll probably find me in the new establishment enjoying some great entertainment.

So, it's all good, right? Well, not completely in my mind. It has not been a week since, walking through Market Square, I thought, "People seem to think we only have restaurants and bars in Market Square, but we have so much more." And it's true. Even though the most recent announcement prior to that had been of the advent of Tupelo Honey, there is so much more. We have gift shops in the form of Earth to Old City and Bliss. We have home goods at Bliss Home and clothing and accessories at Fizz and Crass Couture. We have Knox Ivi and an outpost of WBIR along with the Chamber of Commerce and a beauty salon.

But until now we also had a shoe store and a tailor. Two pretty old-school merchants to mix and match with all the new shiny concept stores. Who cares, right? Well, I've got a little concern. We have many, many bars and restaurants downtown and not so many shoe shops and tailors. Are we a place to dine and party or are we a place to live where the residents can also dine and party?

This is nothing against the Wests and nothing against the new business. I have no problem with either and fall into the camp of gratitude for what they have accomplished downtown. I'd like to think they might understand my thoughts regarding building a city. Maybe both these businesses were heading out in any case. I'm not sure what kind of volume Swagger did and Harb's did seem anachronistic in the face of everything happening downtown.

Ugly Storefront at 30 Market Square: Architects with no civic pride? Really?

So, what now? What needs to happen next for Market Square? We are getting Scruffy City Hall and we are getting Tupelo Honey at 1 Market Square. We have two great openings and one ugly, ugly storefront at 30 Market Square. Of course I'd like to see the owners at 30 Market Square finally become good citizens and make their storefront less of an embarrassment. Did you know they are architects? Can you say, "irony?"

2 Market Square: Imagine a Parisian-styled Pharmacy

I'd like to see something different at each of the corners - 2 Market Square and 36 Market Square. It would be great if it could be something that would draw people downtown. Sure, we all want more of that. But I'd love it if either or both could be solid retail establishments that people living in a city actually need. 36 could make a great clothing or small department store.

As for 2 Market Square, a rumor circulated recently on Facebook that it would be a mattress store. That didn't sound so good to the people who discussed it there. Not that people downtown don't like mattresses, but such an exquisite address seems to beg for more. The "For Lease" sign still hanging in the window suggests the mattress idea hasn't been put to bed.

Pharmacy in Paris from http://www.frenchgardening.com/index.html  

Here's another idea: What about a pharmacy? In Paris there is a very small (by our standards) pharmacy every few feet - which has to do with how much better the French health care system is - and they are very cool. You can't necessarily find a two liter drink, a hair dryer, a photo developer and a full selection of greeting cards, but you'll find the most essential over-the-counter medications and most of the common prescription medications all available from a very friendly and helpful pharmacist. That's what I found and I've learned it is not at all uncommon.

If we can't have a pharmacy and a clothing or department store, here's hoping for something at least a bit different that adds to the life of the city. And here's to the West's new venture. I wish it nothing but success and I'll probably see you there. It's just that at some point, somewhere down the road, we will become a real, vibrant place to actually live a life or we will become an Epcot-like entertainment venue. I'm hoping for a genuine place to go about a daily life. What do you think?

2011 Business Review, Part Two: Changing and Rearranging

Nama moved to the 500 Block of Gay Street

Judging from the responses to yesterday's blog post, I think I've caused a great depression to settle over everyone who loves, laments and cheers for our little city. I'll agree it was depressing to see such a list of lost businesses. Of course, there were many reasons for the departures and not all of them were for a lack of business, but that's the worry. One person who commented yesterday questioned whether we have the population downtown to make a go of some of these businesses. It's a legitimate question.

But it's not the whole story. Today we look at businesses which already existed and decided to re-affirm their commitment downtown by expanding or adding to their businesses or by moving to what they viewed as a better location, but still in the downtown area. It's really an equally amazing list when viewed in the rear-view and it's much more encouraging than yesterday's list. No doubt I'll over-look a few, so please add them in the comment section.

Re-runs Re-opens two blocks down on Union

Some of the changes were connected with the closings mentioned in in the previous article. The Hotel St. Oliver closed for renovations that were extensive and expensive. It re-opened a changed business. The rooms are nicely appointed, the lobby is beautiful (hate the painting by the front door, but maybe it's me) and they are an important part of our little city as our only boutique hotel. The new owners wanted a three-meal-a-day restaurant and they felt it imperative that it serve alcohol, which led to the closure of Market Square Kitchen.

Lunchbox moved to Market Street

Yesterday, I mentioned the Market Square Kitchen in connection with the corners of Market Square being strangely abandoned. On the opposite corner from the Market Square Kitchen, Reruns had done a brisk business for years. With the uncertainty involving the proposed sale of the building, Nanci Solomon decided to be pro-active and move the business to the Daylight building a couple of blocks down Union Avenue.

Organized Play moved from Cumberland to Central in the Old City

Others were on the move, as well. Given that they could just as easily moved to another part of Knoxville or westward to the center of the local plastic consumer universe, it makes a statement that they decided to stay in the downtown area. The Lunchbox, long-time downtown favorite, moved from the TVA plaza to a quiet spot on Market Street within sight of the lovely Krutch Park. Nama moved from the 100 to the 500 block of Gay Street to gain more square footage and to be more in the center of the downtown action. Organized Play moved in the opposite direction, from Cumberland (just off Gay) to Central Street in the Old City.

Regions Bank moved across Union Avenue

I'm guessing that the largest, but shortest, move was likely Regions Bank moving their operations across Union Avenue to the Miller's building. The building was given a face-lift and looks beautiful. Now they need to do the right thing and pay to have the dilapidated clock removed from atop their previous address.

Salon Visage became Studio Visage

La Costa became 31 Bistro

Other businesses which changed in some way this year include Dazzo's (new owner, still great pizza) and Salon Visage on Market Square, which became Studio Visage in a business re-arrangement featuring lower prices. La Costa, a long-term favorite on the square, which acquired new ownership last year, changed its name to 31 Bistro and changed its menu to reflect owner Sabrina Brittain's vision of a farm-to-table restaurant. The Flower Pot which has been a downtown florist for forty years completed an extensive remodeling project coordinated with UT architectural students to develop an ecological design.

Preservation Pub opened another floor and the roof

Several businesses added significant square footage to their operations. Preservation pub tripled their usable space on Market Square by opening the Speakeasy on their second floor, offering a little quieter and smoke-free environment, and then after a few ups and downs with the city, opening the Moonshine Roof Garden outside on the top of the building. Soccer Taco opened a basement bar in their building across the square. In the Old City, one of the absolute coolest additions was a speakeasy-type room called the Underground and modeled on London's Tube which was added to Crown and Goose at a cost of about $300,000.

Underground at Crown and Goose

So, what does all this mean? Thirteen businesses expressed confidence in our city with their dollars, investing and declaring a very hopeful vision. By moving within the city, remodeling and expanding they are saying this is a worthwhile and profitable place for them to operate. Many of the people behind these moves are among the best we have among us, but this isn't about being nice. This is about business and these people believe these sometimes very large expenses will be returned to them in the profits they make. In a capitalistic society this is how businesses express optimism.

Feel a little better? In my next post I'll try do like Sly and take you even higher. We'll talk about businesses that have opened and a few that are coming soon.

Roman Reese at Preservation Pub's Speakeasy via i105's Homegrown

Roman Reese at the Preservation Pub Speakeasy

I'd never heard Roman Reese perform before last week. I'd heard his name about town. Last winter I met Adrian Hardcore (as I recall) who sang his praises and noted that he had spent the night on Roman's couch while he was in town for his Blueplate Special performance. He seemed taken aback that I could live in Knoxville and not know him as a musician, if not a person. After that I watched for an opportunity to hear him in person, but never seemed to be able to line up my schedule and his.


Joe listens as Roman Reese performs at the Preservation Pub Speakeasy, Knoxville

 The weekly i105 Homegrown broadcast from the mercifully smoke-free Speakeasy in Preservation Pub presented me with the opportunity I'd been waiting for and I wasn't disappointed. Joe moved his chair and microphone onto the stage this week and that worked much better since people didn't walk between them as they talked and the audience could see the two of them as they talked. Roman showed himself to be a bright, personable and self-effacing interviewee.


Roman Reese, Preservation Pub Speakeasy

Of course, the music is the matter at hand and it was excellent. It may not be for you if you like your music to put you in a happy frame of mind. I generally like my music, movies and books listing toward the depressing side, so for me it was delightful. I did get a bit squeamish during his song detailing how to dispose of a body after committing murder, but that was the exception.


Roman Reese, Preservaton Pub, Knoxville

The grit in his voice matched topics like drinking, murder, getting drunk, bad relationships and consuming prodigious amounts of alcohol. His most recent album, "Listen Before Dialing," includes several songs I've really enjoyed. He performed "Away From Me," which reminds me of some of Cruz Contreras' work with the Black Lilies, "Hemlock"  and "Enough of Your Lies" from that album. My favorite cut is probably "Beer I Fear," which is a clever take on drinking with various buddies such as Jack and Jose and the perils associated with each.
His playing is good, his voice is excellent and his songwriting is the draw. I'd encourage you to follow the link above or go to itunes and check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Tonight at Preservation Pub the Homegrown show will present local singer-songwriter Karen Reynolds who is host of the local "Writer's Block" show which focuses on Knoxville songwriters.

Finally, a word about something that has happened in the Knoxville music community and warrants a comment or two. Phil Pollard, a local musician and human being extraordinaire has died. A memorial service was held today and many people downtown are in mourning. This also bears a mention: in an effort to help people who might not otherwise be able to attend the services in Virginia, Scott and Bernadette West came up with the idea of chartering a bus on their dime. It was one of the most thoughtful and moving gestures I've seen in a while. Sending healing wishes to friends and family and thanks to the Wests.

Jodie Manross, HuDost, Ten Cent Poetry and Brent Thompson in one night!

Jodie Manross, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

I've gotten pretty addicted to the Speakeasy at the Preservation Pub. Unlike the smoke-easy downstairs there is no, well, smoke. What you will find is a place to actually sit and listen to music, which is a pretty valuable thing. It's like the Square Room in that the expectation of most people gathered is that we will all actually listen to the music being performed. The acoustics in both places are also excellent, but the speakeasy has a bit more personality and is much more intimate. It's as if you are sitting in the musician's living room hanging out.


Brent Thompson, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

 That's the environment that Homegrown and WFIV have chosen for their weekly broadcast at 7:00 every Wednesday night and I'm so glad. I don't make every show, but I've made most of them so far. A couple of weeks ago Urban Brother and myself enjoyed a great evening of music starting with Homegrown's presentation of Brent Thompson.


Brent Thompson, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

 His music is very good. The best comparison I could think of while listening to him perform was Amos Lee, so I'd say if you like Amos Lee, this is probably your local guy to investigate. If you don't know Amos, you should definitely look him up. For a little vocal support and a significant enhancement to the visual appeal, he brought a young lady to the stage to perform with him. I didn't catch her name. I felt like he could have probably benefited from offering her a larger part in the vocals.


Ten Cent Poetry, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

 

Ten Cent Poetry, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

After Homegrown ended three other acts took the stage in sequence. Ten Cent Poetry is based in Asheville, but they play pretty much throughout the southeast and their music is quirky, indie, folk with excellent songwriting and harmonies. The duo includes Chelsea Lynn La Bate on guitar and Melissa Hyman on Cello. As far as I can tell Chelsea Lynn "is" Ten Cent Poetry and Melissa is part of the band, but I can't imagine one without the other, so I'm not so sure. The way their harmonies bounced in unexpected directions reminded me of the Civil Wars, but they have much more of an edge and a dynamic range than those guys. The Roches came to mind and there has to be a tip of the hat to the Indigo Girls.

HuDost, Preservation Pub, Knoxville



HuDost, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

HuDost performed next and they are difficult to categorize. "Country and Eastern" is one of the phrases on their facebook page, I believe and that's pretty apt. This is another duo in which it is difficult to tell if "HuDost" is the nomme de guerre for lead vocalist/harmonium player Moksha Sommer or for the band which also includes Jemal Wade Hines on vocals, (amazing) guitar and anything else with strings along with a complicated arrangement of electronics. The music was hypnotic without becoming boring, melodic but not predictable and exotic without seeming completely foreign. You just have to go to their page and listen. Based in Montreal and New York, this is a musical act that deserves a very large following.

Jodie Manross, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

Jodie Manross, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

The night ended with an appearance by Jodie Manross who cut her musical teeth in Knoxville, moved to New York for several years and is now back home still making her musical magic. Her large voice still takes center stage and her sweet personality could charm the most jaded crowd. Being a Bob Dylan fan I was delighted to hear her open with "Make You Feel My Love." Unfortunately she and her guitarist apparently agreed that he would beat a rhythm out on his guitar that really distracted and over-shadowed the beauty of her treatment. It would have been much better acapella. That said, her brief set was dynamic and this is one jewel I'm happy to have returned to our little city. I'll look forward to hearing her again.

So, it was a great night of music, but it continues with at least a one hour version each Wednesday night. Tonight's show features Ryan Michaels. Why not come see what it's all about?

Homegrown plus a rare treat at the Preservation Pub Tonight

Travis Singleton, Homegrown, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

I've caught several of the recent Homegrown shows at the Preservation Pub and I've had a great time at them all. Hosted on the second floor, which is 95% smoke-free, it's a beautiful setting for acoustic music. The format of the show features an hour of tunes and conversation hosted by Joe from I105. For those of you who remember the shows live from Disc Exchange: this is much better. There is plenty of seating facing the stage, cool beverages and a pretty good pizza if you are so inclined. The show is free.

Travis Singleton, WFIV Homegrown, Preservation Pub

Travis Singleton, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

A couple of weeks ago the featured artist was Travis Singleton. I'm constantly amazed at how many talented artists live in our little city. Just when I think I've heard or at least heard of most of them, I run into someone who is presented as a local institution of whom I have never heard. Travis is one such artist. His strong melodies and sometimes beautifully piercing lyrics make him a force in local music. I'm not sure how I've missed him. He is good as an acoustic artist, but check out his music on his facebook page linked above and you'll hear him in full electric glory.

Martha Christian, Preservation Pub, Knoxville

Last week Martha Christian brought her uplifting music to the Homegrown stage. Vibrant, positive and charming, she filled the stage with her understated presence. Ironically, Ms. Christian, who calls Sevierville home, plays in a praise band. Could there be a better name for a praise musician? Her songs are hopeful, positive and uplifting reflecting, I suppose, her rootedness in her faith. Words like "faith," "grace" and references to something larger than ourselves pervade her music.

Martha Christian, Preservation Pub, Homegrown, Knoxville

Her praise band background is belied by her breathy introductions presented over softly strummed chords. Those I could do without, but it was difficult not to be taken in by her considerable charms, her geuine humility and her excellent vocals. Artists like her make me wonder if Praise Bands today will be like the black church of the fifties, giving us our next generation of pop/rock/R and B artists.

Jodie Manross (from website)

Tonight promises to be a great night at Preservation Pub. Homegrown starts at 7:00 and features Brent Thompson and his low-key, jazzy Americana. After Brent a special show ensues on the stage in the speakeasy with Jodie Manross in a (recently) rare appearance in Knoxville along with Ten Cent Poetry and HuDost. Hopefully we'll be graced with selections from her new album "Myth of Solid Ground." Jodie is a transplanted Knoxvillian currently living in and working out of New York City. She used to work at the Knox County Public Library, so she's certainly "homegrown," if not strictly local anymore. She and the others will play from 8:00 to 10:30.

Who could ask for a better Wednesday night option than this? Here's a sample of Brent Thompson to get you ready. See you there.