Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Shall We Gather At The River?

Despite a dim outlook for 100.3 The River, whose last day on the air is expected to be July 31, a group of the station's supporters have united to send Citadel Broadcasting a message: they want the station's employees to keep their jobs, the music format to stay intact and the station's commitment to sponsoring local events to remain a priority.

The Don't Damn the River campaign's ringleader is Cat Wilt, whose passion stems from her role as co-chair of the EarthFest steering committee for three years. The River has sponsored the April event both years it's been on the air, and it's the support of local community events and organizations that Wilt hopes to maintain. "I'll miss the music, but that's almost secondary to the community support. That's a gap that can't be filled," she said. After the July 15 announcement of the River's imminent demise, Wilt made some calls and invited interested groups and individuals to come to the aid of The River. Representatives of AC Entertainment, Disc Exchange, ThInQ Tank and Blue Cats, plus music promoter Gretchen Paxton, local musician Jodie Manross and other concerned citizens met at Barley's on the afternoon of July 18 to plan their approach. As of July 22, the group has generated a web site (www.dontdamntheriver.com), an email campaign and a rally for the July 24 Sundown in the City. The group got 650 signatures on a petition circulated at the July 17 Sundown concert. According to Wilt, River employees, like Phil Williams, Frank Murphy and Benny Smith, are aware of efforts to save the station in some way, but they are only allowed to "accept support, but not be seen as a catalyst" for the campaign. Supporters at the meeting spoke of hitting Citadel "in the wallet" by boycotting the new station after its Aug. 1 debut and any advertisers that buy time with the new format.

According to an email sent by John King, regional president of Citadel, no employees have actually been fired nor has there been any decision to change the format. That contradicts what River employees say.

General manager of the River Aaron Snukals says the misunderstanding is a matter of terminology. Since Dick Broadcasting won't manage The River after July 31, they won't be employing anyone and gave their workers notice of such. But until Citadel takes over, they haven't officially fired, or hired, anyone.

"I'm so proud of what we put on here," says Snukals, who says he doesn't know what he'll do. The business plan for the River was based on a three-year plan, he says, which hasn't had a chance to play out completely. "Our third year was the year we were supposed to make more money."

In the meantime, Don't Damn the River campaigners hope to convince Citadel that local radio matters. "In keeping the format, they have a business opportunity, when they take over the station on Aug. 1, to have a dedicated listener base and a station that could only become more successful and profitable," Wilt says.

Even If You Rock and Roll

Dixie Dirt has aborted its plans to move to Athens, Ga. The group had been saving up to move there so they could focus on their music and be inspired by the competitive music scene.

But a trip to the city of their dreams a couple of weeks ago turned out to be not so dreamy. "We went down to Athens to try to find a place to live and failed miserably," says Kat Brock, guitarist and singer. "Everything is really expensive because the tuition [at the University of Georgia] is free."

Rent on a four-bedroom house was $2,000. "And there's no jobs," she adds.

But Brock says she's not discouraged about staying in the Scruffy City, and the group plans to dive right back into making music. They plan to record their rock opera, The Unending Perils of a Predestined Destiny, and also hope to have a new album out this fall. They plan to play the Pilot Light in September. Welcome them home.

Another reason Knoxville rules

Few cities are lucky enough to be the home of one letterpress, much less two. And, as of Aug. 1, both of Knoxville's letterpresses will be located on Gay Street. (Take that, Nashville!) Revolution Letterpress, the workshop of painter/graphic designer Chris McAdoo, is moving to 125 South Gay Street, a renovated, 1,200-foot building, joining veteran downtowners Yee-Haw Industries which resides at 413 South Gay. McAdoo plans to expand his services to focus on the entertainment industry with CD packaging and even more original letterpress posters. McAdoo's poster featuring the mug of Merle Haggard will appear in PRINT magazine's upcoming regional design annual.

To get on his mailing list and receive the occasional, super-cool letterpress postcard, go to www.revletterpress.com.

—Madame "and soon dawn will come creepin'" Georgie with Paige M. Travis and Joe Tarr