Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Editor's note: Zippy, my dears, is very, very, very tired, due to having spent the whole week out listening to bands rock out and in listening to writers moan about the annual "best of" issue. Therefore, the Zip has turned in some reviews of the shows he partook of in the last two weeks—the ones worth reviewing, anyway. It was a good time, he mumbled. And where in the hell are my pants?

Live Shot

Elaine at The Longbranch

Heck, you'll never have any problem talking the old Zipster into darkening the door at Knoxville's darkest and dearest dive, The Longbranch. Beer and smoke are like air and water to me, so I'm always ready to return to my native atmosphere at the Strip's most fabled bar and rock 'n' roll joint.

Last Friday, I managed to check out Johnson City's favorite sons, Elaine. Judging by their quotes in a recent issue of this very zine, and by their swagger-filled postings on MetroBlab, you can rest assured that these guys think highly of themselves. Well lo and behold, the guys really did manage to pull off a tight and inspired set.

The Britpop influence is readily apparent, but that's a nice contrast to the usual grunge, distortion, and screaming we know and love down at the 'Branch. Lead vocalist Matthew Kayser really does have a good set of pipes, not to mention plenty of stage presence and them fancy duds he was wearing that looked like they was shipped directly from Carnaby Street.

Really, all aspersions aside, the band sounded damn good. They're much tighter than they were back when they were called Shag. And, like Kayser said in the article, the group has indeed found true unity of focus. They actually do seem to have all the necessary ingredients for some kind of success, be it local or national.

As to the claims on MetroBlab that Elaine is "possibly the best band in the world," I think that's a bit much at this point. I daresay Elaine is probably the best band in Johnson City and as good as many Knoxville bands. I expect Kayser & Co. will turn some heads as they continue to play out, but I don't expect to see them on the cover of New Musical Express within the next few weeks. That said, I wish 'em well.

Live Shot II

Fiona Apple with The Eels at the Tennessee Theatre

Last weekend's concert by Fiona Apple and The Eels at the Tennessee Theatre provided the Zipster with an interesting break from the usual garage band chaos he's so used to. It was nice to turn down the volume a notch and hear some slightly different sounds for a change.

The Eels (Well, really it was just Eels auteur, E, performing solo) kicked off the festivities with a set that really didn't live up to the promise of the new album, Daisies of the Galaxy. Honestly, E just didn't have the musical chops to play on his own.

E's skills as a musician were adequate at best. So the accompaniment of a lone guitar or piano didn't really offer enough counterpoint to his somewhat hoarse vocals. The Eels would have been infinitely better as a full band, allowing the songs to find full flower with a greater range. As it was, the performance just seemed like crude and lacking renditions of the songs. And E's onstage raps weren't that funny either.

The lovely Fiona Apple delivered a more realized set to the delight of the mostly female, mostly teenage audience. Of course, Fiona looked fetching. And her adoring fans were won over from the moment she hit the stage—the mere presence of their idol was enough.

That said, Ms. Apple really did play a good set. Her dusky alto voice held up throughout the show: a big voice that was in juxtaposition to her diminutive size. Furthermore, Apple is an accomplished pianist who could have (unlike the Eels) easily played a good solo show. In short, Apple is much more than just a pretty face. She is a good musician and I have no doubt that she has a long, successful career in the making.

The show was really interesting from a sociological perspective. Apple's fan base in predominantly teenage girls in their late teens—the long, lacy skirt and midriff baring variety.

The concert was a non-stop scream fest. I think Fiona's fans probably were well rehearsed from cheering on the boy bands before they found (in the personage of Ms. Apple) something more mature to latch onto. Apple really has some musical substance to offer, and that's a damn sight better than most of the teen-oriented pop of today.

Live Shot III

Rude Street Peters at Patrick Sullivan's

Last weekend's Rude Street Peters show at Sullivan's Saloon attracted the predictable crowd of punks, hipsters, rednecks, and drunks for a unusually wild barnyard party. The band stormed through all their classics, never slowing down on their cheap beer intake or showing any signs of impending maturity in the process.

Lead vocalist Mike Mull was the most fashionable member of the band, sporting a dubious haircut (shaved head with occasional, asymmetrical patches of hair here and there) that just had to be seen to be believed. His mama could have had better results by just putting a bowl over his head and cutting around the sides. I bet you Mike will have shaved his head completely before returning to his job at Sam's Wholesale Club on Monday.

One of the many highlights of the evening was watching the odd mix of dancing styles among revelers at the show. The favored dance step of the evening was kind of a mix between Jed Clampett-style clogging and The Huntington Beach Strut (that's ancient jargon for the circle slam style that has been popular for at least 20 years now).

In keeping with the spirit of the show, I woke up on Saturday morning in a trailer park with a full-figured, hard-lovin' Southern woman. A real honkytonk angel, she didn't even get mad at me when I couldn't remember her name. Maybe I'll find her again at the next 'Peters show.

Get Moving

Thursday: Skeyebone with Zed, Alpha Zulu, and Shaken Babies at Moose's. Fast, heavy, and breathless.

Friday: Gran Torino at The Bijou. They swear that this is the official CD release.

Saturday: Chris Pelton and Cold Pony at Patrick Sullivan's. You never know who will show up onstage for this y'allternative show.

Sunday: CC String Band at Barley's. See this hot talent for no cover.

Monday: UT Symphony Orchestra at UT Music Hall. All of your favorite symphonic tunes make a filling afternoon.

Tuesday: Leftover Salmon at The Bijou. We love the smell of patchouli.

Wednesday: Jazz Liberation Quartet at Lucille's. It's hot jazz and nothing less.

—Zippy "Mama Tried" McDuff