Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

This Isn't Spinal Tap

Maybe the most dramatic moment of the four-day extravaganza known as the Valleyfest Independent Film Festival—held this year at the former Terrace Theatre in Homberg Place—came Thursday night at the end of a two-hour-long documentary called Ambition Withdraw. It's a quirky, ambitious, technically impressive, and frequently bizarre film about the 15-year career of a Chattanooga goth-punk-metal-glam band, the Unsatisfied, and its charismatic lead singer, Eric Scealf. The band has an enthusiastic cult following, in Chattanooga at least, a large part of which followed them to Knoxville and loaded the theater (shaking their fists in the well-known two-horn gesture that indicated they were either Texas Longhorn fans or Satanists). The film, which is at turns startling and hilarious, nearly makes a rock 'n' roll legend of Scealf, a cross-dressing bodybuilder who's known for his manic energy and deliberately shocking stage show. More than one viewer wondered if the whole thing was a witty put-on, a la This Is Spinal Tap.

But it wasn't. The surprise came when we realized that among those watching the show in the theater with us in the dark was Scealf himself, in eyeliner and rock 'n' roll hair, who went up front with the director to take questions. A friendly, approachable guy, maybe a damning flaw for a shock-rocker, Scealf admits the Unsatisfied hasn't played Knoxville much lately, but recalls long-ago gigs at the lamented '80s dive, Vatican Pizza (with Teenage Love), and later shows at the equally lamented '90s dive, Mercury Theatre. True to their name, the Unsatisfied has never quite gotten where its members want it to be, which is one theme of the film—but along the way, they have released a couple of CDs, Real Gone Pale Face and 7 Inch Rock Scar. Their video, "Angels of Broken Rebellion," has gotten some national attention.

The film, the first feature-length movie by Chattanooga filmmaker Jason Eustice, won best of the entire festival in the audience-favorite category, plus honorable mention in the documentaries division.

And the other winners are:

Best Young Filmmaker: ...and everything nice... by Matt and Ross Duffer
Experimental Film: Tangled by Sarah Long and Amira Inas
Animation: Match Scratch Fever by Kristen Solid
Film Is A Four Letter Word: The Red Right Hand by Kurt St. Thomas and Mike Gioscia
Best Short Film: Francine St. Claire's Mail by Patrick Ford
Documentary: Greater Southbridge by Rod Murphy
Feature Film: Genius by Babar Ahmed
Most Valuable Person: Lana Carnel
Founder's Award of Excellence: Donna Maxwell.

Who Said Mondays Are Dreary?

The Preservation Pub on Market Square has scored a major coup in signing on Robinella and Cruz Contreras for a regular Monday evening gig.

The couple's band—Robinella and the CCstringband—is fresh off a tour opening for Kasey Chambers and is eagerly awaiting the release of its major label debut on Columbia Records in May. They are scheduled to play at the pub every Monday through the end of the summer.

The husband and wife Americana duo started the series last Monday (with CCstringband bassist Taylor Coker) to a sparse crowd of fewer than 30 people. The relaxed atmosphere was reminiscent of early CCstringband performances at Union Jack's, sans the lingering, smoky haze of the English pub. The intent is a variation of Robinella & the CCstringband with special guests and friends of the band on hand to occasionally sit in with the pair.

The CCstringband was arguably the most popular house band in Knoxville when it played every Sunday evening at Barley's Tap Room. But the group had to scrap that gig last year when it started opening for major acts around the country and attracted attention from record execs.

Thrilled with the new Monday night regulars, Preservation Pub owner Gregg White says "Robin and Cruz miss Knoxville's energy and are excited about playing to a hometown crowd."

Go.

Thursday: Checkout the Dempseys at Barley's.

Friday: A thing called Haggus at the Pilot Light. You must see it to believe it.

Saturday: Fiesta Ritmo Latin Dance Party at Fairbanks. The name says it all.

Sunday: Go take in an afternoon matinee.

Monday: Go hear Robinella and Cruz at the Pub. Enjoy them for free while you can.

Tuesday: They wanted to know why I did what I did/ Well sir I guess there's just a meanness in this world.

Wednesday: Sit around and wait for the next issue of Metro Pulse to go on line.

—Madame "I just sweep the yard and wait for the whole world to change" Georgie with Jack Neely and Clint Casey