Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

The Monsters of Japan vs. the Tennessee Valley Fair

Monsters of Japan is an Asheville group that formed to "make sure people get good rock." Its members go by the names Roast, Devilicious, Skeet.R, and Royal Feces. A three-piece (with Devilicious filling the role of "exotic props designer"), they create an amped-up metal that is phenomenal for its style, virtuosity, and surprising tunefulness.

But, what's best is they have a lot of fun doing it. Dressed in elaborate costumes and make-up, the band tries to make each show have a theme or tell a story. But, wait, wait—we're not talking heavy-handed Jethro Tull theatrics. No, think of an Alice Cooper who rocks harder and faster and has a sense of humor.

"It's good natured evil," says guitarist and singer Roast, whose real name is David Tallevast. "Sometimes we do some bizarre stuff that hits a nerve. We've killed Cupid. We played a Valentine's show and Cupid came out and tried to spread love and we killed it. We've had a pregnant nun come out and stabbed her. Sometimes we drink blood from a baby. We've hung Adolph Hitler." They also routinely pass out homebaked cookies to the audience.

The entertainment aspect of the shows developed as a reaction to apathetic or poseur crowds. It's apparently worked. "People have walked out before and that's great, I love it. But the people who like it, love it. You don't have people just there to waste time. It was kind of inspired by Andy Kaufman, when I saw [the movie] Man on the Moon and his attitude."

Monsters of Japan aren't so well understood in their hometown, known for its large hippie and artsy-fartsy scenes. "That's why we started in Asheville, because they needed the rock the most," Roast says.

But, when they heard about a Battle of the Bands being held at the Tennessee Valley Fair, they decided to bring their show to Knoxville. "I'll be honest, we did not think we'd win the thing," Roast says. "We were just going to have a good time and let people know who we were."

But they did win the thing, edging out local extreme rockers Straight Line Stitch and eight other bands. And here's where problems apparently arose. The prize was supposed to be an opening gig for Local H later in the week.

But shortly before the show, someone at Extreme 94.3 FM—the radio station that sponsors the Battle of the Bands contest—called to tell the band they wouldn't be able to play. They were never given an explanation. Monsters wonders whether the outrageousness of their act scared off fair organizers. "If [the winner] had been a band more like Local H, would they have been able to do it?" Roast says.

Dan Bozyk, program director for 94.3, blamed the cancellation on timing. He says the fair management couldn't get in touch with Local H's management to see if it was OK to put Monsters on the bill. "I wouldn't read too much into it," he says.

Judy Rone, a spokeswoman for the fair (and, for the record, a former Metro Pulse employee), says the prize of opening up for a national act was from last year's contest (which was won by Copper). Unfortunately, she says, the prize was not changed, even though the fair was never able to OK it with Local H. "We have to get permission from the entertainment in order for a band to open up," Rone says.

Will an opening gig at the fair be offered to the future Battle of the Bands' winners? "It's a year-to-year thing," Bozyk says. "If we can work it out, it'll happen."

"If it's something the bands are interested in, definitely we'll pursue it," Rone says.

Despite being denied the Local H opening gig, Monsters plan to play Knoxville a lot more. They were surprised by the reaction they got here. Not surprisingly, they've hooked up with the godfather of Knoxville's shock rock, Rus Harper of Evil Twin. The two bands (along with Lab Rats) are planning a Halloween night show at the Longbranch that should be, well...frightening. And not to be missed.

Go.

Thursday: This week is drenched with great music. So, here we go. Jump back and forth between Chuck Prophet at Blue Cats and the Beatings' fierce college rock at the Pilot Light.

Friday: Bounce back and forth between B.C. and P.L. once again, this time for Knoxville's most talented songwriter, Scott Miller, and some homegrown hip hop with Fluid Engineers.

Saturday: Check out Blue Mother Tupelo on Volunteer Landing, before watching a little football.

Sunday: Go buy a New York Times at Sam's Party Store. Drink coffee and lounge all day. Then, head over to Laurel Theatre for some great zydeco by Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie. End the evening with the legendary Dead Moon at the Pilot Light.

Monday: Read the remainder of that NYTimes. Rest.

Tuesday: How can you pass up a name like Alabama Thunderpussy? Go see them at the Pilot Light.

Wednesday: Sleep.

—Emma "What are we gonna do tonight?" Poptart with Joe Tarr