Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Radio, Radio (Again.)

There's been another purge at WUTK, the University of Tennessee's college radio station.

Several shows have been cut, including perhaps the only Knoxville radio show devoted to local music, "It's Just Knoxville," which aired from 6-7 Friday nights. The show featured CD and record cuts from local bands, most of which aren't on rotation on WUTK or any other Knoxville station. Host Sarah Atkins also regularly brought local bands into the studio to talk about their music and play live. Guests have included the Ghosts, the Pink Sexies, RB Morris, Jodi Manross, Pegasi 51, Mustard, Subbluecollar, Mindlock, Shaken Babies, Cathedral and Vactionist League. She also interviewed out-of-town bands prior to local shows.

There are currently about 10 local music shows scheduled—two each week night, and none on the weekends. Atkins says the emphasis is on hard-rock and heavy metal. In the past, the station has had more than 20 local shows, generally airing from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and included electronica, hip hop, country, '80s, indie rock and others.

Atkins says a number of other shows have been axed, including hip-hop shows—a genre given scant attention anywhere on the dial.

At first Atkins was told the decision came from higher-ups who are concerned about after-hours security at the station and are limiting the number of students with access. Then operations manager Chad Harriss, told her the decision was made by Patrick Blankenship, UTK's program director, she says.

Blankenship was reluctant to talk about the changes, saying he's been told not to. "The department of broadcasting said we had to eliminate shows. There's just some shows we had to get rid of. It wasn't anything personal," he says.

He referred questions to Harriss, who could not immediately be reached for comment. WUTK has a history of sporadically purging DJs, usually targeting those who aren't students. Stay tuned for more on just what a college radio station should be.

Local CD Review
The Pink Sexies, The Pink Sexies

There are those who will tell you that Hamo—lead singer for the Pink Sexies and artist extraordinare—can't sing. They're right. He doesn't even try to sing really, just shouts, screeches, trills, chants, and mumbles depending on the mood that strikes him. But what these people miss is that Hamo has more spirit than just about any musician in Knoxville, and that's all that matters.

Their newly released eponymous EP (engineered by Todd Steed) is far more polished than the Pink Sexies are live; but it conveys perfectly the group's glee and energy.

The band is a tight three-piece punk outfit (driven fiercely by one of the best drummers in town). It's classic punk in structure, tone and attitude. But the music also evokes blues, rockabilly, British Invasion garage rock, and '70s era New York art rock (particularly the New York Dolls).

Whether you like this music or not depends on what you make of Hamo on lead vocals. (If you don't like this music, I'd have to say you don't have any taste.)

With the demeanor of an evangelical preacher speaking in tongues, he completely possesses the songs. "Oh, God my mind is blown/ Oh, God my mind is blown," he moans on "Speed Demon." Although the tone is mocking and ironic, the sheer pleasure that Hamo is having is deeply sincere.

There are some uneasy moments—"Frankenhooker," the mock lovesong written to a mentally ill homeless woman who lives in Knoxville seems more cruel than anything else—but this stuff isn't supposed to be soothing. Overall, the EP and the group exemplify all that is great about punk rock and DIY spirit. The CD release party/show will be on June 8 with The Makeout Room at The Pilot Light.

Moving On Up

South Gay Street fixture Theatre Central will be getting some new digs after their current show, Steambath, closes on July 7. Their next show, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, will open on July 28 at a new space on Market Square in a building formerly known as Watson's—more specifically, in the former men's department, where it hopes to be for the next couple of years.

"I think it will be cool," says Mark Moffett, the man who has more or less single-handedly kept Theatre Central producing for the last decade. "I thought it was time for a change."

Currently, the company produces in a building currently owned by David Dewhirst, who also owns the Watson's space. The move was prompted by discussions Dewhirst and Moffett had about other uses for the street-level retail storefront Theatre Central currently occupies.

To Do

Thursday: Acoustic Syndicate with Blueground Undergrass at Market Square. M. really goes in for these newgrass, jammy sorts of bands. Afterwards, we'll head down to Jump, Little Children at Blue Cats and continue the trend.

Friday: Miranda Louise at Sassy Ann's. Something blue, for a change.

Saturday: Must head out to the American Diabetes Association benefit show at The Spot with Short Bus, Floodwater, Slow Children Playing, Magpie Suite and Crave.

Sunday: Check out Hatching the Past at the McClung. Nothing like a good fossilized dinosaur egg to make the weekend complete.

Monday: Head down to the Disc Exchange South for the Scott Miller CD release party for Thus Always To Tyrants. Miller (that cutie-pie!) will be performing.

Tuesday: Pout until Buffy comes back from the dead.

Wednesday: Cowboy Mouth at Blue Cats. And a good time will be had by all.

—Emma "The word 'no' became like a village in Poland" Poptart