New Life in Neptune

Still sporting a rough-around-the-edges ambiance, the Old City's new Neptune club (the venue formerly known as Mercury Theatre, on Market Square) opened a portion of its spacious upstairs for live performance last week. Robotic post-new-wavers Servotron christened the new hall on Wednesday, followed by three consecutive nights of local/regional music that included local melodic hard-core outfit Torture Kitty (Friday) and punk-pop favorites 30 Amp Fuse (Saturday).

The first week of upstairs shows wasn't advertised, says Neptune soundman and booker Col. Bacchus, because employees were still literally clearing out the room as Servotron set up its equipment. But the new layout gives the now bi-level club the option of hosting both live music and DJ dance on the same night. Bacchus adds that with its low ceilings and sound tiles, the room should also up the ante on the club's acoustics.

"I worked the Mercury for years, and I've heard all the different complaints people have had over time," Bacchus says. "Our goal now is to have primo sound and really make the fans and the bands happy."

Look for two shows at Neptune this weekend, including an early (5 p.m.) triple bill that includes El Sucio and Evil Twin on Friday and a Saturday night set with the Diner Junkies.

Some Call It Fate

Tom Appleton, singer-guitarist for local Tommy Boy records signees Boy Genius, saw his life—and more importantly, his music career—flash before his eyes a couple of weeks back when a lady in an old sedan entered a Union street intersection and struck the guitarist from behind. Coincidentally, Appleton was struck by the same driver who, a little more than a year ago, had collided with fellow CyberFlix employee Michael Gilmore's car less than two blocks away. "She hit me in the ass and sent me sprawling," Appleton says. "Everyone standing around thought I was dead."

But Appleton, a former U.S. Army Ranger, was made of sterner stuff. He was on his feet within moments of the accident, although x-rays later revealed a hairline fracture in his left (fretboard hand) palm. Although the injury required a cumbersome cast, Appleton says he suffered no permanent impairment and should be playing again in less than two weeks.

"It was perfect timing," Appleton says. "We had just finished a bunch of dates [including the prestigious South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Tex.] and had decided to lay low for a while before our album release."

The band will release its inaugural Tommy Boy platter, an eight-song EP, on June 23. And the band's next show will be a CD release party on June 19 at the B&H Performance Hall on Cumberland Avenue.

Go for the 'Grass

Springtime is festival time, and one of the best around is MerleFest, an annual gathering of some of the best traditional and contemporary acoustic musicians in the country. Held on the Wilkes Community College campus in Wilkesboro, NC, MerleFest was originally a one-time fundraiser for a memorial to legendary picker Doc Watson's son Merle Watson, who died in a farming accident in 1985. In addition to an all-star lineup that includes Doc Watson and the Watson family, Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, the Del McCoury Band, Gillian Welch, Leftover Salmon, Mac Wiseman, Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Tim O'Brien, Guy Clark, the Fairfield Four, and Kim Richey, the festival will feature instrumental workshops, impromptu jam sessions, and the Chris Austin songwriting contest (several of the performers are former winners). MerleFest will be held Thursday through Sunday, April 23-26. Tickets are available by calling (800) 343-7857 or at the festival's Web site (http://www.merlefest.org).

Tall Paul: The First Decade

A celebration on a much smaller scale will be held at the Darryl's restaurant in Bearden on Sunday, April 19. This month marks the 10th anniversary of Tall Paul at Darryl's, and to commemorate the occasion they will be performing a special show to benefit the Knox County Humane Society. Special guests appearing alongside the venerable frat crowd favorite will include another local solo artist, Dave Landeo, according to Darryl's manager Mike Sheehan. T-shirts will also be for sale, and admission will be $5 or a 5-pound bag of pet food.

Another Conference, Another Showcase Gig

The first edition of the new industry showcase the Atlantis Music Conference will be held in the Little Five Points/Virginia-Highland area of Atlanta, GA, from Aug. 5-8. A series of lectures, panels, and workshops on topics as far-reaching as "Whatever Happened to the Sex and Drugs in Rock 'n' Roll?", Sister Hazel, management, and label wrangling will fulfill the conference part of the title, but performances by 150 bands, most of them from the Southeast, will add the music. The venues (Criminal Records, Dark Horse Tavern, 513 Club, Little Five Points Pub, Seven Stages, The Masquerade, The Point, The Star Bar, and the Variety Playhouse) are among the coolest in Atlanta, and usually host touring bands as they break into the big time. Seating capacity ranges from 300 to 1,500, and the possibility of industry exposure will be pretty darn big. Everything is centralized, from the music venues to the panel locations, and an official badge gets you anywhere. To submit your band, write to the Atlantis Music Conference, 931 Monroe Drive, Suite 102-339, Atlanta, GA 30308. A completed registration form along with a press kit, photo, CD or cassette, and $15 is required. Then you can answer the question to be discussed at the Point—"Music Conferences: Are We Ripping You Off?"

—Zippy "I'm a Happy Guy, Really!" McDuff