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.

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.

Rhythm and Blooms on the Cheap

Robinella and the CC String Band, Knoxville, 2011

Rhythm and Blooms is a part of the Dogwood Arts Festival and given that it involves music and downtown, any reader of this blog would reasonably expect that I would be all over it - but it got complicated.

Robinella fronting the CC String Band, Knoxville, 2011

The first night of the three night event fell on First Friday. Immediately I was conflicted. With more great events, exhibits and general fun than I could possibly take in simply because of First Friday, could I also incorporate a music Festival that night? Saturday offered a free night on the stage -which conflicted with the other shows presented mostly in businesses around the square. Sunday the music moved out of downtown and continued past the official time I don't need to be out during a night before a work day. But Sunday also included my favorite act of the weekend: The Felice Brothers, whose most recent album, Yonder is the Clock, is brilliant fun - in their inimitable sick sort of way. One day was twenty dollars and all three were forty. What to do?

Cruz Contreras reprising the CC String Band, Knoxville, 2011

I went for free. I enjoyed First Friday and missed the music that night. Saturday I spent with family - including joining the crowd for the free portion of the festival. Robinella and the CC String Band and Scott Miller played the Market Square Stage for a crowd of several thousand. I enjoy Robinella (I just got "Fly Away Bird" and it is one of her best) and I enjoy the Black Lilies (Cruz Contreras' - the "CC" in this context - band - you CANNOT go wrong with their latest, 100 Miles of Wreckage). I didn't imagine, given the divorce, we'd be seeing them play together again. Could you get the band back together after a divorce? I don't think I could do it. I couldn't imagine what must be going through their minds (and those of their new partners if they have them) while they not only played the old songs, but added a rendition of "Jackson" including those lyrics about getting "married in a fever."

Senior lady sings "Islands in the Stream"

They, also, were singing "Islands in the Stream," but all but one got shy for the camera

Equally amazing was that they sound better than ever together. I heard them together probably four of five times before and I believe they were smoother, tighter and more listenable than they've ever been. Robinella was a bit muted (a good thing, sometimes) and the band played impeccably. Ironically, the song that got the crowd excited was "Islands in the Stream." Both young and old (see the pictures) belted out the chorus every time it came around. Again, maybe it's just me, but that was an awful song when it came out. How in the world has it remained popular? They also did a string band version of "One Love," which was pretty cool.

Scott Miller played quite a mix of music. I've let some of his recent music ( his latest is For Crying Out Loud) slip by me, which probably explains why I only knew about half. He continues to write songs about history and one new one he tried out on the audience, a song about the battle of Fort Sanders, fell  flat. If a song about Fort Sanders falls flat in Knoxville, it probably isn't ready for prime time. Otherwise, his set was great and he remains one of the very best and probably the most intellectual of the songwriters to come out of Knoxville.

Daryl Scott at John Black Studios, Knoxville, 2011

Daryl Scott, Rhythm and Blooms, Knoxville, 2011

I also caught the tail end of the Daryl Scott show at John Black Studios on Union Avenue. The back door was open so we could hear the monitors perfectly. His voice continues to be a thing of beauty even as he ages. I thought the pictures turned out to be interesting. Can you guess my special technique?

Listening from the back door to Daryl Scott.

I decided not to attend the Sunday show for all the reasons listed above. So, I paid nothing but got a sampling of the music. It was certainly worth a forty dollar ticket and if circumstances are different for me next time I'll probably plop down the money, but for this year, cheap was about perfect. Until then, keep checking the festival calendar for more great events. This weekend Market Square and Krutch Park are full of booths of crafts. Today promises to be the prettiest of the three day event, so why not come down and check it out?

Local Christmas Music for Your Stocking

As always, Knoxville enjoys an embarrassment of riches in the musical arena. This Christmas season has given us at least three new disks featuring local artists. You can't go wrong with any of the three, so head out to disk exchange and pick them up!

The first is by Christabel and the Jons. After much thought and consideration she decided to call her new Christmas album . . . "The Christmas Album." No room for confusion there. This is the one of the three that I haven't heard. It was sold out at Disc Exchange when I inquired. According to the person I spoke to there and a review I read it's about what you would expect: gently swinging renditions of old favorites along with a couple of quirky numbers such as John Prine's "Christmas in Prison." It isn't yet available on itunes or Amazon, but you can get it here or of course, you can get it at Disc Exchange - they told me they would have copies starting Tuesday of Christmas week.

Also available is a new disc by a collection of local artists including the Dirty Guv'nahs, Jonathan Sexton and the Big Love Choir and Jay Clark among others, called "Homegrown for the Holidays." Mostly filled with traditional tunes, my favorites are "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by the Dirty Guv'nahs and "Happy Birthday Jesus" by Jay Clark. While not all the music is superb, what makes this disc a must-buy is the fact the money raised from the sales of the album go to the Knoxville Area Rescue Mission. So you get some good music and a good feeling from supporting a good cause.

Finally, the new CD by Scott Miller is my favorite of the batch. It's called "Christmas Gift" and the only flaw it has is that it is too short, coming in at only seven songs. It has a connection to Christabel's album in its inclusion of "Christmas in Prison." Overall it has a reverent feel without relying too much on traditional songs. It's nice to hear Roger Miller's "Old Toy Trains" and Neil Young's "Star of Bethlehem on the same CD. I only wish he had done a full-length album. I wouldn't mind seeing an expanded version of this one next year. It is available on itunes and at Disc Exchange.

So how about enjoying a bit of seasonal cheer while supporting the local folks?