Disco Inferno

Daytona Beach emigree and Stock X-Change proprietor Tony Key insists that his new entertainment complex is not trying to take business away from the nearby Cotton-Eyed Joe. "We just want everyone to come out and have a good time," says the night-life entrepreneur who owns six clubs including the new Knoxville venture. The huge facility on Outlet Drive features three clubs for one low admission price. The Stock X-Change Dance Club features retro-hits from the '70s and '80s, while on the other side Borrowed $ is a high-energy techno dance-club. Soon The Piggy-Bank will open, featuring live jazz and the obligatory cigars and martinis. A three day Official Grand Opening blowout will be held on July 2-4, and the Ms. Hawaiian Tropic Pageant will take place every Friday from July-August 2. There is a dress code, so leave those droopy-drawers at home.

Knox in the News

Granted, it is just Rolling Stone, the aging lady of music journalism, but six Farragut High School students did manage to get their picture in the June 25 issue, the one with the cover photo of Tori Amos communing with fireflies. Now, those who have been paying attention will remember what Farragut High School has become famous for—the cancellation of an Indigo Girls concert for Amy and Emily's use of "profanity" and the protest that the cancellation sparked. And those who weren't sleeping during study hall will also remember that Knoxville was not alone in its sensitivity about the delicate ears of its students as two other southern schools, in Irmo, S.C. and Germantown, Tenn., were a bit gun shy as well. But Knoxville, lucky Knoxville, was the town chosen to have a photo of a student walkout against its intolerance printed in glorious, living color for all of the world to see. Are we hip or what?

Local CD Review
Pleasure Map, Immature Scientist Vacationist League

John Tilson, "The Immature Scientist," may not be a name readily recognized by newcomers to the local music scene, but for old-timers (people who were around way, way back in '93) the name Tilson blazes like a beacon in the fog of musicians who have come and gone. As guitarist, singer, and co-genius of The Swamis, he dared to be a goofball in a time when dread seriousness was the rock rule of the day. The Swamis made danceable garage rock that was literally two-and-a-half years ahead of its time (for proof, try and find a copy of Turl at your local music establishment) and exhibited a healthy irreverence to "the biz" that seems ever more rare today.

While The Swamis may be no more, Tilson has been tinkering in his suburban basement the last four years to create Pleasure Map. According to the CD's liner notes by former MP writer (now Baltimore City Paper music editor) Lee Gardner, "...a single pass over the sonic topography of the album bespeaks the growth of his musical imagination and focus." And to be sure, Tilson goes far beyond his geek rock roots here with sparse arrangements (often just an unaccompanied electric guitar) and heartfelt lyrics that examine his life as a grown-up. But this also makes for an album that may not be readily accessible to the casual listener as it vears more into the realm of offbeat auteurism than the bar-tested rock 'n' roll of his previous band. As Tilson brazenly admits himself, "It's a concept album!"

Nevertheless, Pleasure Map offers many rewards for those who appreciate literate, experimental songs in the rock idiom ("rock" doesn't seem to be the right word for this album, but for lack of a better term...). The simplicity of the recordings highlights Tilson's unique songwriting abilities, which range here from parables of tragedy ("Young Mr. All-American"), yearnings for Michigan's Upper Peninsula ("Keweenaw"), and reflections on adult life ("Fool Circle"). Lyrically, all the songs contain playful imagery and a wit seasoned with self-awareness; in "Expenses for My Interests," for instance, Tilson sings, "With carpal tunnel vision,/I cast my eyes toward the/prize, and I break my neck/for a piddly little check,/extend the balance with a/generous allowance of/lullabies, and cash 'em in/on closed eyes." He's at his best with simpler observations ("If life's a parade/I want the horses/behind me") than the more esoteric bits ("Well well well/Water mine/Pail Pail Pail—/Drop a line/Coin Coin Coin—/Make a wish/Going Going Gone—/Go fish"), but they all seem to work when emoted by Tilson's offbeat tenor.

Unfortunately, the focus on just guitar and voice arrangements for most of the songs means many of them also sound somewhat alike. The album has a very personal, demo-like feel—which is fine, but it would've been interesting to hear some of these songs with a full band (the drums on "Summer of My Discontent" and "Careless" are a welcome addition). That said, one of the finest songs on the album, "Waves of Grain," couldn't be any better—its ghostly, sparse sound matches the soulfulness of Tilson's lyrics and delivery. It's lovely.

Local music aficionados and adventuresome listeners should find much on Pleasure Map to visit and revisit.

You Heard It Here First

The V-Roys' new CD, All About Town, will be released on August 25, produced by E-Squared. Steve Earle is still with Warner Bros. These are the two things that we know. As of press time, the distribution details and the relationship between E-Squared and Warner was a bit more murky. According to Bob Merliss at Warner, that label will "most likely not" be the CD's chosen distributors, which is an about-face from previous announcements. But the details of the relationship were still in serious flux and were being worked out even as we spoke. More on this as the crucial information, which even Zippy couldn't weasel out of the big kahunas, is made available.

We do, however, know two more things. A massive release party is in the works for All About Town and that West Coast record execs are really touchy about early morning phone calls from East Tennessee.

—Zippy "Mr. Hawaiian Tropic" McDuff