Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Just Good Music

When a musician gets tired of—or fired from—the game that is the music business, ultimately all that's left is the songs. So what if veterans of the music biz forgot about all the touring and courting record labels and trying to "make it" and just made the records? That's what Stewart Pack and Paul Turpin have done—cut out the bullshit and written some great songs.

For the past couple of years, Pack (1-900s, Dinky Doo, etc.) and Turpin (Mustard) have been writing songs and recording them in Pack's studio at their own pace. The results are two full-length records—Paperbacks—School of Discovery and the new Red Radio, both available for free download from the Lynn Point Records web site (www.lynnpoint.com).

Red Radio has a low-fi pop sound that mixes fuzzy, bassy guitars with pop hooks. The songs are catchy and satisfying, but not too clean or saccharine. Stewart's easygoing voice is reminiscent of Dave Grohl's and mixed in the back like Michael Stipe's on R.E.M.'s early records. "I'm no Roger Daltrey," he says, downplaying his voice's endearing qualities. The disc has charming, strummy moments backed by lap steel ("Without Controlling") and sweet harmonies ("A Few Seconds"). This is definitely a rock record, but both Pack and Turpin take turns on mandolin, and bassist Gregg Dunn contributes harmonica.

The 14 songs on Red Radio are just a sampling of what Pack and Turpin are working on. For guys with day jobs, they are surprisingly prolific. Pack estimates that they have at least half of their next album written already. And except for a recent gig as guests of the Tim Lee Band on Wednesday night at the ThInQ Tank, there are no plans yet to take the act on the road. But Pack's open to the possibilities, especially if Matador comes calling.

Too Much Rockin'

The weekly Knoxville Music Night shows at the ThInQ Tank have been wildly successful, bringing some of Knoxville's best musicians together for a jam. Unfortunately they've also been draining the hosting Tim Lee Band. So starting this month, the shows will be held on the first Wednesday of every month instead of weekly. The shows start around 9 p.m. and finish before midnight. Tim Lee says future guests being scheduled include Mike Smithers of 30 Amp Fuse, Jacqui Alexander (formerly of the Tumble Kings) and Mr. Self-Reliant.

The Ghosts of Bob Hope

Jag Star—the band that toured Middle Eastern military bases before the recent war—is embarking on another USO tour next week, this one in the South Pacific. The band will travel Hawaii, Singapore, Guam, Diego Garcia, and Kwajalein. "We are thrilled to be invited back to do this again for our troops," says lead singer, songwriter Sarah Lewis. "I have to admit we have a lot less anxiety going into this one. We've heard how beautiful Singapore and Hawaii and all those places are. I think it's going to be a blast."

The band is working furiously on material for their next album but couldn't pass up this opportunity.

Do We Ever Cross Her Mind?

Dolly Parton is a goddess and inspiration to singers of all genres. Any singer would jump at the chance to record one of her songs for the Just Because I'm a Woman, Songs of Dolly Parton, recently released by Sugar Hill. Major players like Alison Krauss, Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris and Sinead O'Connor tracked some of Dolly's most famous songs, including "9 to 5" by Krauss, "Coat of Many Colors" by Shania Twain and "Jolene" by an unknown singer named Mindy Smith. Smith moved from Long Island, New York, to Knoxville in 1991, after the death of her mother. Local singer Jodie Manross recalls hanging out with Smith in her South Knoxville home, playing with other local musicians. Smith moved to Nashville in 1998. Her debut record is due out on Vanguard Records in January 2004.

Go.

Thursday: Well, this is the last Sundown of the year, with Susan Tedeschi. If you go, maybe the city will be more likely to fund it next year. If you're still antsy after the show swing by the Preservation Pub to see Dodd Ferrelle.

Friday: Tough call. The weirdest show is Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the Pilot Light. Or there's Knoxville's brainy pop rockers the Rockwells at Barley's.

Saturday: Gary Poteet at the Corner Lounge. Because he's got a cool name.

Sunday: How often do you get to hear jazz great Donald Brown? Well, quite a bit, since he lives in Knoxville. But that's no excuse not to go see him at the ThInQ Tank.

Monday: He needed sleep she went to sleep he needed 500 more. There were no eggs near the trains. He told the story the story without sleep the writer the writer the writer and the writer student writer reading and it was 500 more.

Tuesday: Easy pick: Anoushka Shankar (Ravi's daughter) plays Indian classical music on sitar at the University Center. Go, go, go.

Wednesday: Get stinking drunk and stab Madame Georgie with knitting needles until she bleeds to death then stand over her mangled body and giggle.

—Paige M. Travis, Joe Tarr