Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Who Are Those Guys?

Most of the suits and ties on their lunch hour last Friday passed by them at the corner of Market and Union streets like they were just a few alcoholic buskers or career college students. But, in fact, they were arguably Knoxville's three best songwriters: R.B. Morris, Scott Miller and Todd Steed.

The idea (reportedly R.B.'s, natch) arose during a drunken celebration of Miller's birthday earlier in the week. Sitting in front of Macleods, the three kept their pledge, playing for about 40 minutes. The impromptu set included a couple of Dylan songs ("Isis" and "Oh, Sister") and a whole lot of Knoxville and Tennessee tunes, including "Knoxville Girl," the "Tennessee Waltz" as well as Steed's "New Knoxville Girl" and Miller's "Can't Shake Knoxville."

The group managed to get a few tips, including an I.O.U. for beer and about $10. "Boys, I believe we gots enough for a l'il bottle o' sumpin'," R.B. said.

It's the hippies

Blender bills itself as "the ultimate music magazine" and their May issue featured a story on the 20 "most rock & roll towns in the U.S.A." Madame was surprised and delighted to find that Knoxville ranked among them. But the reason we made the list—it was not the Pilot Light, Dixie Dirt, our great above mentioned song-writers, AC Entertainment, Mito Band, WDVX, KFAR, Barley's Taproom, Prince Deli, Sundown in the City, Mel, Straight Line Stitch, the Longbranch's jukebox, or anything else I could think of—surprised me. "In K-TOWN, musicians and wannabes flock to Macleods (501 Market) every other Wednesday—with guitars, harmonicas and bongos in tow—for Family Jam, a makeshift jam session where everyone in the bar is invited to play," Blender reports. "While that doesn't always lead to the tightest sets, there's still a lot of love in the room." The blurb then quotes UT student and Family Jam co-founder Holly Haworth (who could not be reached for comment) as saying, "There's fantastic vibe in Knoxville right now. It's a small pond, but there's still room for all the fish." Indeed. Madame has had the pleasure of drinking at Macleods many nights and loves the bar and sometimes is there when a group of hippies take the stage on Wednesday evenings. But s/he hadn't realized these jam sessions had a formal name or that they were worthy of international acclaim. But, we'll take whatever favorable press we can get.

Say Cheese

Billed as "the best way to remember what you forgot about last night," Shannon Campbell and Shane Chambers have started a website posting pictures from Knoxville area shows. Called Knox Pics, it features photos mostly from the Americana genre, and features shots (both of the band and crowd) from Barley's Tap Room, Blue Cats, last year's Sundown in the City series, and this year's WDVX Camperfest. Although there are no cutlines or info about who is in the pictures, you can still have a ball looking.

Go.

Thursday: Groove your moves to the Natti Love Joys at the Preservation Pub.

Friday: Cleveland is a gritty little city on Lake Erie not far from where Madame Georgie grew up, but Cobra Verde makes some glamorous rock. Go see them at the Pilot Light.

Saturday: Help the Steps House by enjoying some great music at the Festival Americana.

Sunday: I lay my head on the wheel and the horn begins a honkin'/ The whole neighborhood knows that I'm home drunk again/ And if drinkin' don't kill me, her memory will/ I can't hold out much longer, the way that I feel.

Monday: Go discover another slice of Americana at the Ritta Market and Grill, where Foxtail Bluegrass performs.

Tuesday: Drink cheap beer at home and play vinyl records with friends.

Wednesday: Check out the Family Jam at Macleods. Bring your bongos. And remember to share your herbs.

—Madame "I may have been just poor white trash but Fancy was my name" Georgie with Joe Tarr