Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

In the Valley of Still Rocking Stars

If Superdrag's June 20 show at Blue Cats turns out to be their last one in Knoxville, it will be a great way to go out. The show (and one in Nashville the next night) served as a going-away party for guitarist Sam Powers, who is leaving the band to spend more time with his family and pursue other projects. The house was packed with every scenester, past and present, that Knoxville has to offer, plus some out-of-town fans who apparently slept in Wal-Mart parking lots and showered with a garden hose—this according to lead singer John Davis who gave a shout-out to the devotees during the show and on the band's web site. In true rock star style, the band didn't take the stage until way past 11 p.m., long after the opening act, the Put Outs, retired for the evening. But once Superdrag finally started, the energy kept building. Practically everyone within spitting distance of the stage knew the words to every song on the set list, punctuating the hottest guitar licks and drum beats with a generous exhibition of rock fingers. The two-and-a-half hour gig featured songs from the band's four albums, pulling out some early favorites and plenty from their latest disc, Last Call for Vitriol. Overheard from two guys near the back: "Hey, these guys are really good. I've never seen them before." So, even first-timers got it: Superdrag rocks. Continuing the reunion theme, former guitarist Brandon Fisher joined the band on stage for an encore. The following night's show in Nashville rocked for three hours and featured a guest appearance by former member Tom Pappas, who currently leads Flesh Vehicle. While Superdrag takes an extended break from touring and recording together, fans can take solace in the fact that, regardless of line-up changes, marriages and extended vacations, Superdrag's ability to rock is as intact as ever.

Local Music Review

The Suburban Urchins
No (self-released CD)

Though they are indeed the target market of rockers of all ages, "the kids" rarely have the skills to knock a musical home run. But once again, Knoxville has produced a strain of mutants. You guessed it: our fair city has a new teenaged band that rocks hard and more.

The Suburban Urchins have beaten the odds with the release of their first full-length CD, No. Apparently these kids have been absorbing musical influences since the very day of their birth, 'cause these guys avoid genre affiliation and just produce interesting, multilayered music.

The brain child of the group is 18-year-old auteur (and the "old" guy in the band) Ryan Schaefer. The Urchins have condensed a wide spectrum of post-punk, post-alternative sounds, all the while putting an individual stamp on their output that doesn't deny their youth. And what's more, these guys can play their instruments like nobody's business.

I'll go the easy route and use critical algebra: the Suburban Urchins sound as if they were spoon-fed by The Pixies, taught to walk by David Bowie, and later tutored by Frank Zappa. Of course the band has the requisite teenage urgency, but their sound also teems with quirks and a Dadaist bent.

Sometimes, the band veers off course by throwing a few too many instruments or too many stylistic changes into the mix, thereby detracting from the overall punch of the songs. But that's just a minor distraction.

Yet another surprise: No was recorded at home with the aid of a computer and it actually sounds better than many studio recordings. These kids have definitely been doing their homework. When they hit a bonafide studio, which will surely happen soon, watch out world.

Sure, I usually try to keep it upbeat when dealing with the locals, but I'm sincerely floored by the Urchins. The band is currently building an avid fan base and playing out locally, so just check 'em out and see for yourself.

Go.

Thursday: Sundown in the City is back, temporarily located in the Old City Courtyard. Go celebrate and support it. Don't go home afterwards—there's plenty of other things happening, including Mary Alice Wood at Patrick Sullivan's, Abe Reid at Barley's and a movie at the new ThInQ Tank.

Friday: There's a lot going on. For something different, check out Favored Nations Acoustic Tour at Pellissippi State Performing Arts Center. On the way home, stop for sushi at Tomo and beg them to move back downtown.

Saturday: Go listen to the Westside Daredevils' brilliant pop rock at the Spot.

Sunday: Sleep in late to recover from last night's moonshine buzz. Then have friends over for a big pancake breakfast. Later that night, see what these fellers from the big city are up to at the Pilot Light.

Monday: Eric Johnson is a hotshot guitar player playing at Blue Cats.

Tuesday: send me books with happy endings, where the airplane lands without mishap, the surgeon leaves the operating room with a smile on his face, the blind boy's eyes are opened, the young man is saved from the firing squad, people are reunited, where there are parties and weddings.

Wednesday: How about a game of poker?

—Madame "I'll soon be silent, you'll soon hear nothing" Georgie with Paige Travis and John Sewell