Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Tidbits From Hither and Yon

Writers, drunkards and downtown denizens spotted Pete Best and his band hanging out at Macleod's after his set at the Bijou June 26. Best, you may recall, kept rhythm for a fly-by-night outfit called The Beatles before they ousted him in favor of a short guy with a big nose. Pedro and his compadres listened to Left Foot Down's Trey Sansom play his regular Wednesday night set, which included a cover of the Fab Four's "A Day in the Life." Best reportedly gave Sansom a nod of approval.

The Tennessee Theatre reports folkabilly filly Nanci Griffith donated all $11,500 in ticket proceeds from her May 29 concert and DVD taping there to the theater's restoration project. In addition, County Commission voted to donate $3 million to the campaign over the next 18 months, bringing the Tennessee 65 percent of the way towards its $20 million campaign goal. Restoration, under the direction of Knoxville's McCarty Holsaple McCarty, could begin as early as June 2003.

Coming and going: The proprietors of Fiction plan to open a new club, Tonic, in the Old City courtyard space that has previously housed Neptune and (briefly) the Last Chance strip joint. The venue will offer international food, DJs playing "party hits," a Cabana Daiquiri Bar, "Wacko Bingo," live comedy, big screen TVs, pool, foosball, old-school video games and darts. Tonic opens July 12, and as long as everyone keeps their top on, it should last quite a while.

Apparently, the stage at Kiger's in Maryville suffered some fire damage from a lit cigarette, but staff there say musical acts will go on as scheduled.

Local CD Review

HiFiDriveBy
Life's Not This Book You've Been Sold (The New Beat Records)

After a handful of charmingly lo-fi releases, Morristown's HiFiDriveBy really get down to business with a real, honest-to-goodness studio effort. Life's Not This Book You've Been Sold finds the band in full flower, finally realizing theirpotential by properly recording their tunes.

The creation of top-notch pop music relies on studio craftsmanship, and said craftsmanship is the X-factor that bumps HFDB into top-notch status. Sure, it's all about the songs. But the presentation of the songs is all important (see Guided By Voices' early work as compared to their later, infinitely better recordings.)

And what great songs they are. Singer/songwriter Keith Carpenter has an ear for melody and a style that brings to mind pop masters past and present. Life's Not This Book finds Carpenter sounding somewhat more contemporary than on his earlier efforts, as if there's a bit of emo creeping in among the Beatles, Buddy Holly and Big Star influences he's had all along.

The band keeps it short and sweet, providing 10 servings of pop confection that will give even the most jaded listener a buzz of delight. HFDB's forte is mid-tempo to fastish rockers ("Stop & Stare," "Stars") but the crown jewel in this collection is the more subdued "Molly Jones." The contrast of sounds provides a nice dynamic for the album. Already a local institution, HFDB is obviously here to stay. The band provides a much needed service for Knoxville: purveyors of thoughtful, rockin' and fashionably unfashionable power pop. Life's Not This Book is a good read, available at cool local stores or online at www.TheNewBeat.net.

Go.

Thursday: If firecrackers scare you like the dickens, head to Bullfeathers, Choto Marina, where Rico the PanMan will soothe you with the music of Trinidad and Tobago.

Friday: Sorry to say, Blue Cats won't pack your pipe, but you can still enjoy seeing J Mascis there.

Saturday: Can you go a week without bluegrass? If not, check out County Farm at Barley's.

Sunday: Rest, bubeleh; you do too much!

Monday: They're so cuuuuute! Get your CD signed by Superdrag at Disc Exchange, Chapman Highway. We hear they'll be playing some rock and/or roll.

Tuesday: High-energy and somewhat scary indie act Milemarker plays the Pilot Light.

Wednesday: Keb' Mo' sings the kind of blues that somehow manage not to be so sad, at the Tennessee Theatre.

—Emma "Wonder Walker" Poptart with Tamar Wilner and John Sewell