Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Local CD review

Exile in Knoxville
The Hazy Opry / Drunk & Depressed

On the song "A Strong One," Kim Koehler of the Hazy Opry moans to her lover, "Is there anything here to make you want to save my soul?"

There's quite a bit, not the least of which is the latest CD released by the Hazy Opry and Drunk & Depressed, a separate outfit headed by Koehler's boyfriend, Steve Pritchard (together, Pritchard and Koehler form the Lucy Opry, which is recording a CD due in about six weeks). These two low-fi honky-tonk groups take turns on the eponymous CD.

The playing is sloppy, and vocals slurred on these 4-track recordings. The songs were programmed wrong on the CD, so that a few minutes into a song, there's a three second pause and then the song continues.

Eschewing polished recording technology for a more authentic, raw sound can be a mixed bag. In some cases, it exposes the heart and soul behind the music—a la the Stones Exile on Main Street (the standard-bearer of all intentionally low-fi recordings). But the danger is this intentional rawness will come off as contrived as any Queen, Yes, or Jethro Tull record ever was.

The Hazy Opry and Drunk & Depressed definitely romanticize the down-and-out, boozy lifestyle so many other alt.country/honky-tonk rock 'n' rollers do. (On one track that left Zippy ambivalent, we hear a what sounds like an old man complaining that "I have lost everything, everything I ever had, I even lost my dog, lost my home, lost my family, lost my car, and now I'm sitting here in this room just like you are, lonely, tired, just ready to die." It's hard to know whether the monologue is real or meant as comedy, but it's too vague to take seriously, and you almost wonder if they're mocking some working class bloke.)

Ultimately, the beauty of these recordings is that they're extremely personal, without ever drifting into self-indulgence or whiny-ness. They pick and steal elements from their lives and influences with abandon and confidence.

Of the two, Zippy preferred the Hazy Opry, mainly because Koehler's voice sounds better, and her songwriting is more detailed. But the two groups balance each other quite nicely.

Koehler sings about Steve being in jail, and their reckless but genuine love. Before one track, she talks about how the two once lived in the basement of the Underground without the owner's permission, while they saved money to get a house. When they finally got one, right before Christmas, they had no money for presents, so she wrote him the achingly tender, "x-mas eve," singing "The desk girls with their cheap cologne are digging for Christmas bones."

Drunk & Depressed is more adventurous musically, occasionally drifting into jazz styles and giving the disc a bit more of an edge.

In the end, both groups manage quite effectively to turn their own little worlds into art. Go out and buy the CD. They sound like they could use the money.

Get Yourself Heard

Some of you may remember the days before 98.7 WXVO FM became the all-jazz, all-the-time station. Back in the day, "The X" was home to rock, mixed with some alt. rock, mixed with some young snots rock. While change happens and it's something we all have to cope with, this switch brought with it the cancellation of "Southeast Xports," the brainchild of DJ Mel. Well toss those hats in the air, since Mel and her showcase of local talent will be back, starting on Sunday, March 26, 10 p.m., on 94.3 FM.

The show will kick off with a visit from Dreve and continue every Sunday at the same extreme time, same extreme station. Future guests include Pegasi 51 on April 2 and Rachael's Mourning on April 16. If you're just itching to hear what the show will sound like, pick up a copy of Southeast Exports, The CD, which features tune-age from Galaxie, Still Life Opera, 30 Amp Fuse, Flesh Vehicle, and Zipper, to name but a few.

Big-Shot Critics?

Local men R.B. Morris and Hector Qirko played at Austin's monster music festival South by Southwest and, by several accounts, were the hit of the party. After wowing several big-shot critics at his sold-out show, Morris was invited to play with folk-rock legend Bob Neuwirth, a festival mainstay; Morris was back home just a few days this week before taking off for Chicago for another few shows up there.

Snack Attack

Update on Kid Snack, the pop-punksters led by Knoxville fixture (and MP contributor) John Sewell: the band's heading back to Chicago sometime this summer to record its first full-length album for Double Zero Records. The label recently issued Kid Snack's 1999 Jimbo EP in a limited-edition CD pressing (promo only, sorry kids), and is advertising the upcoming album in Alternative Press, Magnet, Punk Planet, and other outlets.

Meanwhile, the Snack gang is getting positive press in their windy home-away-from-home, most notably from the Chicago Reader, which raved about their rave-ups. As for the Reader's complimentary assessment that the band is "not revoltingly cute," Sewell deadpans, "We're cute enough. I am a serious artist and want to be known for my deep and meaningful music, not my devastating good looks."

Fast Forward

Thursday: CC String Band at Union Jack's.

Friday: The 30th Annual Jubilee Festival will kick off at the Laurel Theatre and at the Convention Center. The line-up is too impressive (and long) to list in this teeny space but you can call 522-5851. If old-timey and new-fangled playin' isn't your bag, Nearly Beloved at Manhattan's, Mustard at Prince Deli, or Jacqui and the Tumblekings at the Longbranch might rub you right.

Saturday: Christine Kane at Borders.

Sunday: Knoxville Chamber Orchestra at Bijou Theatre.

Monday: Contemplate phlegm.

Tuesday: Capt. Dee's Bandstand at Boogie's. There'll probably be young co-eds (of both the fe- and male persuasion) dancing to a snappy beat. You can join them. Or mock. Your choice.

Wednesday: Peter Kowald at Tomato Head West. A renowned jazz bassist heats up the 'head's new digs next to the Soup Kitchen.

—Zippy "Cheddar Head with a Johnny Walker chaser" McDuff