Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Market Square Blues

Despite previous setbacks, detours, and roadblocks along the way, it looks like free, live music is on the menu once again for the Market Square Mall. A smattering of local businesses and organizations (including AC Entertainment, The Central Business Improvement District, and the wonderful folks here at Metro Pulse) have joined forces to present a series of monthly, free Thursday night concerts on the mall, which will begin tonight (July 13, beginning at 5 p.m.) with a concert by Bullseye Blues Recording artists Roomful of Blues, locals Cheryl Renee's Blues Band, and The Kim Baxter Band.

"This is something that we've really been needing on a consistent basis in downtown Knoxville: a free outdoor music series," says AC's Benny Smith. "In a nutshell, it's a way for us to show the folks who work downtown that you don't have to go straight home immediately after work. There's gonna be lots of food vendors from various downtown eateries, plenty of cold beverages." (And yes, Virginia, there will be spirits available.)

"We're not really sure who we'll have lined up for the coming months, but we're working with some exciting artists to bring a variety of music," Smith continues. "Whether it's some Americana music, traditional country, some jazz, or even some alternative rock—we just want to mix it up a little and provide a catalyst and a framework for what we hope will become a weekly series by next year."

Smith says that despite previous problems getting beer permits for downtown outdoor events, the paperwork and bureaucratic red tape came together relatively easy this time around. "We're working in conjunction with a lot of downtown organizations that want to bring attention to the area, so we went through the right channels and everything was handled correctly. I want to stress that this is a free event that is really as much for the family as it is for people 21 and over, and we're really excited about it. We want to make downtown Knoxville a 24/7 destination for people that live here."

Alive! It's Alive!

Some readers may think they've dropped off the face of the earth—simply because we haven't mentioned them in so long. But Knoxville's Superdrag is indeed alive, well, and awaiting the Sept. 26 release of its latest opus, a 12-song CD entitled In the Valley of the Dying Stars.

Drummer Don Coffey reports that the record is finished, set for release on New York indie Arena Rock Recording Company. "They're printing them up like pancakes right now," says Coffey, whose talents apparently don't extend to conjuring artful metaphors.

They do include production, however; half the CD's songs were tracked at Coffey's own D.I.Y. Stealth Studio in Knoxville (the other half came out of Nashville's Woodland) under the careful production oversight of the band and former Knoxvillian Nick Raskulinecz, now a rising Los Angeles studio talent.

This is the band's first effort since its mutual parting of ways last year with major label Elektra Records, but Coffey assures that no one is sweating the changeover. "In certain ways, Arena Rock has even better distribution than Elektra," he says. "You'll be able to purchase this one worldwide, which wasn't true of our last CD (1998's Head Trip in Every Key, on Elektra.)"

The band hopes to play a local CD release show, possibly Sept. 22.

Local CD Review
Judybats, Judybats '00

It's been a long time since the Judybats were Knoxville's major-label alternapop darlings. Gone are the high-profile deal with Sire Records, the MTV buzz, and the steady base of loyal fans who packed Cumberland Avenue clubs to see the band. In fact, about the only thing left from those heady days is frontman Jeff Heiskell—who's now supported by guitarists Reed Pendleton and Doug Harrell, bassist Rob Bell, and drummer Mike Harrell—and his hooks.

But, as they say, the more things change, blah, blah, blah. The first edition of the Judybats was cursed with bad timing; Heiskell's crafted, charming jangle-pop was out of step with what radio programmers wanted in the early '90s. By the time power pop made its way back to the airwaves a few years ago, the 'Bats were kaput. Now they're back, but just in time for the rise of prefabricated teen pop and rap metal.

The band's latest self-released disc, Judybats '00, covers the same ground as the Judybats Mach 1, albeit with slightly grainier production and a harder edge. It's classic power pop, from the opening anthem "Shine" to "California," mixed with slower tracks like the ballad "You're Too Much" (with the unfortunate lyric, "You're a penny in the tip jar of life") and the introspective "Hiding (From the Face of God)." There are crunchy hooks and vulnerable intimacy (some might say self-pity), and plenty of all that's in between.

It's all pretty good, just like the 'Bats always were, though, as usual, there's not a lot that stands out. In the right musical climate, the 'Bats could be big winners on the radio hit lottery. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen with Judybats '00.

If I Were You

Thursday: Misty River at Borders. Good 'grass, local style.

Friday: John Sausage Product at Barley's. Zippy's not sure what to make of the three-song, y'alternative-esque, demo—but it could be brilliant. Or the Product could just be irritating.

Saturday: Mustard with Apelife and Shaken Babies at Manhattan's. I wanna rock.

Sunday: Chihuly at KMA. You'll like the big, pretty glass. I promise.

Monday: Ponder. Then nap.

Tuesday: Einstein Simplified at Manhattan's. No script is a good thing.

Wednesday: My Cousin Healy at O'Charley's (UT). Same great rocky, folky taste as the T. Strickland Band (their former name) and equally as filling.

—Zippy "Rock Me Amadeus" McDuff