Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Pass the Hat

By nearly all accounts, Glenn Laney is a great guy, and a big reason that Knoxville has as lively a bluegrass scene as it has. Unfortunately, Laney, a founding member of Knoxville Grass (whose CD The Painted Lady was named one of the best local recordings of the '70s by Metro Pulse), has recently been diagnosed with throat cancer. Friends are holding a benefit concert on Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m. at the Faith Home Mission Church at 4312 Whittle Springs Road—that's the old WNOX auditorium—to raise money for Laney and his family. Performing will be former Knoxville Grass members Paul Brewster and Mark Newton, plus the Knoxville Bluegrass Band, Larry Cordle, Steve Kaufman and several others. Tickets for the show are $15, or $5 for children under 10. All proceeds will go to Laney and his family. Call Pick 'n' Grin for more information at 588-5361.

Art Notes

Got an urge to learn something this summer? Check out the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville's Summer Arts and Sciences Academy Catalog. It lists classes in almost everything, ranging from painting, dance, and theater to basket weaving, rocket building, and nature studying—all of which are being offered in the Knoxville area. Copies are available at all Knox County Schools, Food City Stores, First Tennessee Bank branches, and, of course, in the lobby of the Candy Factory. Learn a new skill while the sun shines.

Also on the good news art front, the McClung Museum has again be awarded accreditation by the American Association of Museums, which is the granddaddy of Museum accreditors. Of the 8,000 museums in this country, only 750 are recognized by the AAM, with only 12 of those located in Tennessee. The current exhibit at the museum, located on Circle Park Drive on the UT Campus is Archeology and the Native Peoples of East Tennessee. Great job, y'all!

Whiskey and the 'bone

Local groove-metal monsters Skeyebone have packed their bags for the City of Angels, where they'll play five dates this week and next, including a gig at the illustrious Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Strip (on a weekend, even). The Skeyebone itinerary in L.A.: Thursday, May 17 at the Garage; Friday, May 18 at the Whiskey; Sunday, May 20 at Goldfingers; Tuesday, May 22 at the Opium Den; and Wednesday, May 23 at the Dragonfly.

The dates are all showcases for unsigned bands, so the line-ups will vary, but at least one show, at the Whiskey, will be with My Ruin, featuring former Knoxville guitarist Mike Murphy, who booked the shows.

Skeyebone's new CD, Debbie Does Drugs, will be released soon after the band returns to Knoxville.

To Do:

Thursday: Pick up dry cleaning and check out the all-out rock of the Black Dice with the Dirty Unicorns at the Pilot Light—but only after I meet M. for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Hector Qirko (he's so dreamy) and the Carib Sounds Steel Band free Market Square Show.

Friday: As much as I'd like to examine my bluer side with the Christian Hastings Band at Sassy Ann's, M., the classical geek, wants to see the season finale KSO Masterworks show at the Tennessee Theatre.

Saturday: Return library books. Spend day at the Architectural Salvage Sale at Brownlow Elementary School looking for the perfect fireplace mantel with T & B, my historic homeowning friends. Stick around for the Ghosts at Manhattan's. Their homegrown rock 'n' roll does a body good.

Sunday: Ponder what to plant in the barren patch of dirt I call a yard. Steal ideas from the gorgeous gardens of the Secret Gardens Tour.

Monday: Back to work. Back to reality. But after the 8-hour grind, head to Phyllis Goforth, who'll be signing Country Girl at Barnes & Noble.

Tuesday: Buffy. And M. can just shut up about how silly it is.

Wednesday: Buy new drinking shoes. And check out The Groobees at Barley's. The chick in the band penned "Wide Open Spaces," which made me cry the first time I heard the Dixie Chicks do it. Of course, I also cry at wireless communications commercials...

—Emma "Notes from Aboveground" Poptart