Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Sounds Beget Fans

The idea is so simple, it's hard to believe no one's thought of it or made it happen before. The Pilot Light has started compiling and circulating a sampler CD of songs by bands booked to play the little indie-club-that-could. Touring bands and local bands of all varieties get space on the near-80-minute disc. The disc covering the two-week span of Jan. 16-to-31 features tracks by Atropos, the Bloodiest Night of My Life, Intergalactic Faerie Funk, Dead Meadow, International Orange, Glossary, the Passport Again, Aaron Fenner, and Pleuroma, plus the hit single "Highwayman" by the American Plague. Bonus tracks at the end of the disc are by local bands Dark Inside the Sun, the Cuts, 7 Year Rabbit Cycle and the Rockwells—bands who frequent the Pilot Light and other local clubs. James Henry, who himself appears on the occasional Pilot Light bill as comedian Jazz-E, has spearheaded the promotional campaign concocted by PL co-owner Jason Boardman. Henry says the tangible CD ranks above, say, posting sound clips on the club's web site.

"I think it's always better to give someone what you want them to hear than wait for them to come to you," he says.

Currently, the hand-labeled disc comes with a list of the song titles and band names. In the future, "it will have even more reference info, and we might start giving them away at shows every now and then," Henry speculates.

The disc is available for the public's listening pleasure at Disc Exchange locations, plus it's being sent to local radio stations KFAR and WUTK, and to some print media outlets. "We'd love to send it out to more radio stations or papers," Henry says, alluding to the more-is-better attitude in regards to promoting music at the beloved Pilot Light. Bands who want their tunes on the disc—either to promote their upcoming Pilot Light gig or for bonus tracks—should drop off or mail a CD to the club at 106 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915.

Send Us A Postcard

Scott Miller boarded the Amtrak Crescent in New Orleans this week, embarking on the two-week long Mule Train MMIV tour. Miller and his band the Commonwealth will play 15 stops along the trip, traveling entirely by the Amtrak train. They finish up on Feb. 11 at the Tribeca Rock Club in the Big Apple. Then they'll ride the train back to New Orleans, taking time to reflect on America, music and trains. All of it will be filmed, and hopefully we'll get to watch a cool documentary, music film of the trip some day.

If you can't make any of the shows, you can at least read Miller's travelogue at scottmiller.blogspot.com.

Stirring Up Old Wounds

Evenings are one of the few times when you can hear live DJs on WUTK, the University of Tennessee's college radio station. It was during one of the station's specialty shows last week when an old WUTK DJ called in to voice a complaint familiar to Eye on the Scene readers—the station relies too heavily on the computer automation and has abandoned the role traditionally filled by college stations. The old DJ complained that he kept hearing the same old tired music over and over again on the station. The new DJ agreed the station needed to be fresher and get more new music into rotation. The old DJ asked for a request, perhaps some Modest Mouse.

The new DJ said they didn't have any. Instead, he played some Dave Matthews, a cover of Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer."

It sounded okay until the singing started.

Go.

Thursday: Jodie Manross is another of Knoxville's underappreciated musicians. Go appreciate her at the Rothrock Café, in a free show at Lawson McGhee Library, where she works.

Friday: Mic (pronounced "Mike") Harrison will be playing songs from his forthcoming LP at the Pilot Light, as he opens for International Orange. And who is that young fella on drums? Looks kind of familiar.

Saturday: What's more American than Elvis and helping veterans? Celebrate both in a benefit for Steps House at the Civic Auditorium. Then swing by the Pilot Light to see Glossary.

Sunday: Well, you can't go wrong on a winter Sunday evening with Robinella, whiskey and some pizza at Barley's.

Monday: So I'll stop when I can/ Find some fried eggs and country ham/ I'll find somewhere where/ they don't care who I am.

Tuesday: Head to the other side of the tracks for the Thud Rumble Q.F.O. Tour at Electric Ballroom.

Wednesday: Play hooky from work and go hiking. Or drive to Asheville and see how the hippies live. Or just stay in bed and read. You deserve a day off.

—Paige M. Travis, Joe Tarr