Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Buy Those Boys A Drink

Christmas came a bit early in the Old City Friday night, Dec. 5, when "The Last of the Full Grown Men" Webb Wilder played the ThInQ Tank for a U.S Marines Toys For Tots Benefit. Early was the operative word of the evening, as finally a club show started before 10 p.m. in a town notorious for late-starting shows. Mark Arnold, the show promoter and head honcho at Red Mountain Artists, pulled the benefit together with an early show time to accommodate Webb's legion of thirty- and forty-something fans and, also, so it wouldn't conflict with the Southern Culture On The Skids/Nug Jug show at Blue Cats later in the evening.

More than 200 people came out to see Webb and donate toys and money to the U.S. Marines, who were attired in their dress blues taking the toys just inside the door.

You could tell the crowd appreciated the early start time. The audience included some longtime Knox scenesters and musicians, most of whom said they're usually in bed by the time headline act hits the stage in these parts. The folks really enjoyed Webb's two sets of Swampadelia, and Webb enjoyed being back in the Sunsphere City, a town he has played way too few gigs in these past few years.

But the boys in blue may have had the most fun, and I ain't talking about Knoxville's finest. The 15 or so Marines there were having a great time gathering toys and money for the worthy charity—as well as enjoying Webb's tunes, cold beverages, and having their photos taken with the Bacardi Girls who were making the rounds that night. Some of the patrons were doing their patriotic duty by sending cold ones in the direction of the Leathernecks! Could that be the reason more and more Marines kept showing up as the night went along? The Marines collected three barrels of toys along with $1,000 in cash.

Because the show was such a success, Arnold promises to make the benefit an annual event, but was a bit nervous about the early start time. "It ended up being a win-win situation for everyone involved, thanks to all the sponsors, and especially all of the people who showed up for the earlier-than-usual start time," he says. "It proves that there is a crowd wanting earlier starting times for certain club shows. Now, how do I get me one of those fancy blue uniforms?"

Roddy Branch bluegrass band played after Webb finished up for those who stuck around and did not head to Blue Cats to see SCOTS keyboardist Cousin Crispy's last show in Knoxville. (His last show with the band will be on New Year's Eve at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC.) All in all, a great night in the Old City, and as my "talking" G.I. Joe used to say, "Mission accomplished...good work, men!"

Disgraceland Revitalized

Disgraceland Records—which recently moved from Nashville to Knoxville, where most of its artists live—has a new staff member, Eric Nowinski, who will work as Vice President of Artist Development and Legal Affairs. The indie-label now has four "staff members," including Paul Noe, Todd Steed and Mike Dunthorn.

"I met him after I got back to Knoxville, and he was talking about starting a label," says Paul Noe, one of the label's founders. "I said, 'Instead of starting your own label, why don't you just come on board and help revitalize Disgraceland?'"

Nowinski will be spending time trying to recruit new artists, local and regional. "We're looking for really anything that's not absolutely horrible. We've got a little bit of roots rock. We're pretty much open to anything. Obviously something down the line of pop rock, anything that can get in that vein would be good. We're pretty open."

The label—which has released CDs by the Opposable Thumbs, Stateside, the French Broads, The Cheeksters, Jag Star, et. al.—also hopes to release records by some of its current artists. Stateside should have an early '04 release, along with maybe the Ghosts and the Cheeksters.

Noe has tentatively joined the Cheeksters, playing bass for them. Catch the band Friday evening at the ThInQ Tank.

For more information about the label, check out its website, www.disgraceland.com. Noe and Nowinski (that has a nice ring) will be on West 105.3 this Thursday morning at 8 a.m., spinning Disgraceland CDs and talking about the label.

Ringing in 2004 with New Rock

Most of Knoxville knows about the big Scott Miller bash planned for New Year's Eve at the Marriott (with Trent Summar and the New Row Mob also on the bill). But this being New Year's Eve, of course, it won't be the only game in town. A more low-rent bash—but no less promising musically—is happening at Barley's with five bands on the bill, all for the price of $5. The line-up includes the Rockwells, the Cuts, Divorce, Dixie Dirt and Slick. Dixie Dirt will be on the stage at midnight; Slick will end the evening.

—Benny Smith, Joe Tarr