Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

What's the future of Superdrag?

Like Ozzy Osbourne did before, Knoxville's Superdrag is "going through cha-anges." Drummer Don Coffey is getting married and moving (temporarily) to Washington, D.C., while bassist Sam Powers has decided that the life of a wandering musician no longer befits a married man. With singer-guitarist John Davis living in Nashville now, some whispered that the end was drawing nigh for the unit which ranks as perhaps the most successful rock 'n' roll band in Knoxville history.

But guitarist Mike Harrison says that he, Coffey and Davis aren't ready to call it quits just yet. Fresh off a road trip, the band will play a couple more shows before breaking for the summer. "That's the plan so far, anyway," Harrison says. "John needs some time to write songs; he can't write when we're out on the road."

Coffey plans to move back to Knoxville in the coming months, at which point he will begin working for Studio 613, an East Knoxville recording facility. And of course, the band will begin searching for a bass player to take Powers' seat in the van. "If you know anybody, give me a call," Harrison says with a laugh.

Yeah, but we've got the Pilot Light

Given the name, you'd expect a club called the Orange Peel to be a sports bar located somewhere around Cumberland Avenue or maybe in a godawful strip plaza on Kingston Pike. But you have to drive over the mountains to Asheville to get to it and there aren't any Peyton Manning pictures there.

Which is unfortunate for Knoxvillians, because the club has been getting a lot of great, mid-sized acts that aren't coming to Knoxville. In the past few months, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Neko Case, The Flaming Lips, Sparklehorse, Gomez and Wilco have all played there. (On the other hand, Madame is glad Knoxville wasn't subjected to the likes of Henry Rollins and Les Claypool—frauds, hacks and poseurs, I tell you!)

Opened last October, the Peel is a damn fine club. It's got a friendly staff, a large bar with wine, beer, coffee, and food (including Cajun dishes), a coat check, good sound and lighting, hardwood floors, and probably the cleanest club bathroom Madame Georgie has ever had the pleasure of urinating in. It's also non-smoking, although Madame got a whiff of both tobacco and pot smoke at the shows s/he's attended.

Built in the 1950s as a U.S.O. hall, the building has been many things over the years, including a roller rink. "Most people in Asheville remember it as a soul and R&B club in the '70s called the Orange Peel," says Lesley Groetsch, co-owner with her husband, Jack.

The couple ran a similar club in New Orleans for 12 years before moving to the mountains. She says that about 20 to 40 percent of audience comes from outside the Asheville area, with maybe 5 percent coming from Knoxville. The Orange Peel also draws a lot of patrons from east of Asheville.

The cruel irony for Knoxville music fans is that the club is booked by Knoxville's own AC Entertainment. "The Orange Peel is a great music room. And a considerable amount of knowledge and resources went into creating it into a great music room," says Ashley Capps, AC's owner. "And they've got a musical vision. They know the importance of reaching out to a diverse cross section of the population."

But why can't Knoxville get more of these shows? Capps says there are a lot of reasons. For one, the Orange Peel's size—its capacity is 1,000—fits a space niche not currently met by any venue in Knoxville. The capacity at Blue Cats is 500. The Bijou has a capacity of 750 but not many shows are being booked there. From there, you jump up to the Tennessee Theatre, which has a capacity of 1,460 and which will be closed for almost two years for renovation. (The Flaming Lips would have played the Tennessee, but Capps says he couldn't get the date.)

Asheville is also far more supportive of concerts than Knoxville is, Capps says. "Most of the time people in Asheville come to shows. Whereas in Knoxville, a lot of times it's like pulling teeth."

Capps theorizes that part of it is because there are a lot of private colleges close to Asheville. Students at private schools tend to have more cash and are more interested in music, he says.

Groetsch says that Knoxville's larger size also may sometimes make it difficult for shows. "There's probably more to do in Knoxville. It's a bigger city, it's got a college, it's got more cultural events—that's competition for a club," she says. "There were shows that didn't do well in New Orleans that do well in Asheville."

Upcoming acts playing at the Orange Peel that aren't (as of now) scheduled for Knoxville include Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks (Friday night), the Cramps (Saturday), Daniel Lanois (May 13) Suzanne Vega (May 24), the Sadies (May 30) Prince Paul and Aceyalone (June 5), and Sonic Youth (June 12).

Go.

Thursday: Head to the Old City for the great Knoxville at Night benefit. There's sure to be something you'll like.

Friday: Hmmm. Well, if the weather is nice, I recommend a little midnight hike with some friends. Bring along a guitar and some whiskey. When you get home, fix pancakes.

Saturday: Check out the great songs of Malcolm Holcomb at Barley's Tap Room.

Sunday: Uncover the mystery of Cynthia Dall at the Pilot Light.

Monday: Have you seen X2yet? What about the Matrix Reloaded? Or better yet, rent the Fast Runner and chill at home.

Tuesday: It's not often you get to hear opera singers and help the hungry at UT's Music Hall.

Wednesday: Go hear crazy jazz at the Pilot Light.

—Madame "give me some false hope I can take seriously" Georgie with Mike Gibson and Joe Tarr