Metro Pulse/Music/Chase Pattison

What:
Jam For Cans 2003 with Beech Grove, Chase Pattison, Radio Cure, Ball Sisters Band, Landeo, Rob Russell & the Sore Losers, Perfect Mercy, See Through Human, and Blue Mother Tupelo

When:
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16

Where:
Volunteer Landing; free parking at the Dwight Kessel Garage at State Street and Hill Avenue

Cost:
Four cans of food requested

Knoxville songwriter follows his bliss

by Paige M. Travis

Chase Pattison's future flashed before his eyes the first time he saw Howie Day perform.

"It's the best concert I've ever seen," the 20-year-old says about the show he witnessed at Wordplayers in Birmingham, Ala. Day, a 22-year-old guitarist from the Boston coffee shop scene, took hold of his audience with one guitar and a bunch of effects pedals. Pattison was blown away by Day's stage persona and his way with technology. He has purchased Day's CD Australia and DVDs of his shows, but that first night in Day's presence was the clincher. "I was just hooked."

A few equipment purchases later, Pattison was honing his solo act.

"I somewhat modeled my show around [Day's]," Pattison says. He doesn't mimic Day as much as channel his energy and use the inspiration he gets from the performer. "I use different effects, but the basics are there."

Pattison creates a presence of his own, both on his 2003 debut album, Chicaghost, and in his live shows. With his thick red hair crushed down by a cap and a shell necklace nestled above his collarbone, Pattison evokes all the youthful emotion of Dave Matthews or John Mayer, his earnest, easy-on-the-ears voice singing about love and growing up. Alone on the stage, he's like a plugged-in folkie with foot pedals cabled to his guitar that allow him to play chords, record them, and play them back underneath more strumming. It's like layering tracks in a studio, only in front of an audience with no second take. Pattison's enthusiasm for playing began the first time he performed for people.

"Me and a buddy played an open mic my junior year of high school. And after that I was like, 'I've got to keep doing this.'" He continued playing guitar and writing songs until he had enough originals to fill a record. Using Knoxville's musical network, he hooked up with David Heyer, Dexter Murphy and Scott Pederson, formerly of Gran Torino, and producer/guitarist Travis Wyrick. With David Slack on bass, the chemistry was complete in the studio, Pattison says.

It was after the release of Chicaghost that Pattison saw Howie Day and reworked his songs for the pedals to be performed solo. Now, he's putting together a live band, but not to perform his songs.

The Big Tease, which includes Gavin Foster, Brent Moreland, and Shawn Allen, will play Hanna's in the Old City on Aug. 14. Working with three songs they've written together and a catalog of covers, The Big Tease is aiming for the college crowd.

"That's how you have to start making it around UT, by doing a lot of cover songs," Pattison says. Wait a second. Is he regressing? He has a CD of original material, a reputation as a solo performer, and he's opened up for the leader of St. Somewhere, Eliot Sloan of Blessid Union of Souls, and the Dave Matthews Cover Band at Blue Cats. Has someone hit the rewind button on Pattison's career?

Chalk it up to the exuberance of youth and the freedom to do what he wants. Pattison has earned the right to play songs made popular by Julio Iglesias, Tommy Tutone and O.A.R. at fraternity parties.

"The idea is to have enough original material so that we could open up for someone at Blue Cats but also have enough cover songs that we could play a Sigma Chi party or Pike party," Pattison says. "[Covers are] mainly what people want to hear first. Then they get used to your sound and remember your songs. You've got to get the fan count on your side, and then hit them with your own stuff."

Pattison will jump the line from bandmate to solo guy again when he plays Jam For Cans 2003, a musical fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank. Justin Parker, guitarist for Perfect Mercy and founder of the Mytis Welby Music record label, conceived the event to help the charity and "showcase the area's eclectic mix of music," Parker says.

"Second Harvest Food Bank reaches out to everyone, and we wanted everyone to be able to enjoy the event," Parker says. "Contrary to popular belief, there's more to East Tennessee's local music scene than just hard grunge rock."

The line-up is a smattering of gospel, bluegrass, and varying degrees of rock. Pattison fits the singer-songwriter niche. After opening a show for Perfect Mercy, Parker suggested he apply for the festival. "His solo act set him apart from the many acoustic acts that I've seen in the area," Parker says. "Armed with only his voice and a guitar, he incorporated the use of effects to build an imaginary band and back-up singers."

From the 300-plus acts who applied for Jam For Cans, Parker had to choose nine to volunteer their time.

"The elimination process was not unlike that of American Idol," Parker says. "There were some promos that went straight to the landfill. But overall, we received a lot of quality material from talented artists."

While Pattison pursues a degree in marketing and charms the college set, he can consider his next move. Maybe he'll move to Chicago, or join the circus. The sky's the limit.