Farewell Folk(s)

Normally, Zippy's pretty possessive about his space—but this impassioned letter lamenting the closure of the Old City's Bird's Eye View struck a chord in his hardened heart. So now a word (or two hundred) from guest writer M. Paul Curreri:

"Well, then I guess I have to move," was all I'd said when I heard the news that Bird's Eye View, the acoustic hub of the Old City (and for that matter, KnoxTenn), would be no more by the end of December.

For those of you who never made it down to Bird's Eye, and judging from this article's catalyst, I'm sure there are many, you really missed out.

The layout was simple. A dividing wall separated the place into two rooms. On one half, there was the cozy and well-lit bar area where food was better than expected, the beer selection more than adequate, and the service invisible (wonderfully unobtrusive). "Help yourself" signs hung above the coffee machines. Local art, though not always great art, hung above the signs above the coffee machines. Walk on in, and everybody said hello. Sitting alone? Space would be made at a booth.

But it was the contents of the other side of Bird's Eye View that drew my interest. Just past the partially-drawn curtain lay the stony and antiquated stage area. Lit primarily by the candles on every table and the ends of people's cigarettes, it sometimes took a minute for one's eyes to adjust. But it was worth it once they did. The stage half was the bar half's dirty older brother.

My first encounter happened to be on a Wednesday, when Bird's Eye View hosted its open mike night. Everywhere I looked people had their ears pressed against the sound holes of their acoustic guitars, tuning and strumming and then re-tuning. Entering folks abbreviated their hellos and headed straight for the chalkboard to scribble their names on one of the few remaining blank time slots. And then the show...

An older gentleman, Bill Trac, told stories of his grandchildren, and then a capello-ed an original tune about some friends who died in a coal mining accident, entitled "The Deep Black Hole." Other folks sang folk. Some independent college kids sang wordy acoustic indie rock. Crazies sang crazy. (And man, they were seriously crazy.) A blues song or two rolled from the tongues of the young and old—seemed like everybody's baby left town just the day before. But in the end, two things rose to the surface: A) The fact that every act was worth its 15 minutes. And B) The eclectic audience listened to every single word. I'd never seen anything like it.

And so it continued—every night that I attended a musical event at Bird's Eye View was spectacular. The sound was impeccable. The lighting was ideal—nothing to focus upon but the act. And those small but attentive audiences could draw the acts! Posters on the wall advertised up-and-coming events like Leo Kottke, Chuck Brodsky, Greg Brown, and Steve Earle to name a few—all big names in the acoustic world.

And so then now what? First of all, these artists won't be stopping in Knoxville anymore. Some readers may not be too saddened by this, which is a shame. Long live Banana Joe's, right? In the end, this town used to be riddled with saloons, wallpapered with gunslingers and gamblers, legendary folks who were willing to use their belt buckles to lift the cellblock keys off the waists of sleeping prison guards and ride to safety over the Gay Street Bridge. Romanticizing? Perhaps. But the songs being sung at Bird's Eye View echoed the spirit, and opened doors for new enthusiasm. It should be missed.

On the Drag

Just when Flippy (Zippy's queer cousin) thought he'd truly seen it all, along comes Sox with Attitude, the Drag Puppets. That's right, the drag puppets. Miss Piggy don't got nothin' on dueling divas Ethel Lepsy and Amanda Reckonwith (well, except maybe a couple of costume changes). The terrible twosome, even faker than the real thing but complete with dollar-stuffed décolletage, put on quite a show last Saturday night at the Old City's Rainbow Club. Having an entire arm up their backsides didn't impair the ladies' saucy stage banter, crackling commentary, and glamorous puppet-syncing to favorites by the Weather Girls and the Pointer Sisters. Less female illusion than delusion, the puppets are the creation of Atlantans Jeff Polston and Angelo Ritz, who have packed their drag and played gay clubs from Florida to Philadelphia. You go girls.

The Week in Knox

Thursday: The Larry Keel Experience at Laurel Theatre. It's like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but with bluegrass-style jams.

Friday: Delbert McClinton at Tennessee Theatre. And once you've seen this roadhouse rocker, head to the Longbranch's new upstairs stage to catch Pegasi 51 with Sputnik.

Saturday: Luck with The Shine at Manhattan's. Luck is Matt Richardson's new band and it truly rocks.

Sunday: Sally Timms at Tomato Head. This Mekon is back in K-town and ready to capture the hearts of lonesome buckaroos.

Monday: DJ Strock at Lava Lounge. Shake your tush and start the work week.

Tuesday: Einstein Simplified at Manhattan's. A local Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Wednesday: Southern Fire at Barley's. Part of the WDVX "Behind the Barn" series. Come on down and get your applause on the radio.

—Zippy "Silence is Golden" McDuff