Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Jodie in Tinseltown

Despite its reputation for preferring plastic over substance, Los Angeles took a liking to our Jodie Manross. Of course, we’re not surprised and we’re willing to share (but not give).

After playing a few gigs in North Carolina at the end of February, Manross hopped a cross-country flight to the Left Coast for a date at Room 5 Lounge in Hollywood. The swanky little place atop an Italian eatery on La Brea hosts comedy and singer-songwriters in its intimate confines. Manross’ gig on Feb. 26 earned a glowing preview in Entertainment Today, and anyone who followed Brent Simon’s advice wasn’t disappointed by the show.

Industry professionals Marvin Etzioni and David Leach sat in with Manross throughout her set. Respected producer Etzioni, known as the “mandolin man,” played lead guitar and his signature instrument, which he has lent to Peter Case, Dog’s Eye View and the Counting Crows. Leach, a member of Ben Harper’s Innocent Criminals from 1997 to 2001, played percussion.

Two nights later, she sat in with Peter Stuart, a founding member of Dog’s Eye View.

Manross was blown away by the experience but hesitates to speculate on what doors the elbow-rubbing might open. In the meantime, she plans to record a new demo with local performer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Greg Horne and continue playing regular gigs locally and in North Carolina. Catch her March 19 (and every Friday in April) at Agave Azul.

Banana, Iguana, what not

A new entrepreneur is going to take a stab at the space most recently occupied by ThInQ Tank and Banana Joe’s, and years ago, Hoo-Ray’s Sports Bar. The place will be called The Red Iguana club. The new operator could not be reached for comment and details were a little sketchy, but the place has been painted red. The club will server beer, liquor and wine. The owner hopes to be open in late April or early May.

One of the building’s co-owners and the ThInQ Tank operator, Scott West, says “they’ve already painted the place red, so I assume there’s a dance floor. They were very excited about that outdoor stage. They have money, so that’s nice to know. You’re less likely to fail when you have the capital.”

Local Music Review

Christopher Scum
Invisible Tears

The recurring nightmare known as Christopher Scum (a.k.a. Chris Andrews) returns with yet another selection of oh-so-cheery tunes about alcohol abuse, addiction, jail sentences and general malaise. He’s back, he’s straightened up his act, and he’s angrier than ever.

A survivor of the ’80s Fort Sanders punk scene, Scum’s reputation precedes him. And furthermore, he’s more than happy to accept that legacy and wear it like a badge of honor, or a crown of thorns.

Invisible Tears mixes punk and country sounds, resulting in a jaw-dropping mélange of insanity that sounds something like Social Distortion’s Mike Ness with a serious head injury or Hank Williams with a really harsh hangover. If you’re expecting teenage shock tactics, you just might be surprised. This stuff is truly insane.

A standout track of the album is the hilarious “Don’t Know Me,” a tribute to Cumberland Avenue Revisited editor Jack Rentfro. It seems that Scum is more than a bit miffed because there wasn’t a chapter about any of his bands of olde, which included the Anal Daisies and Stop Daddy.

And then there’s the Knoxville classic, “Drinkin’ Beer With Jesus.” Anyone who attended a poetry reading at the Vatican Pizza back in the good old ’80s will surely remember this masterpiece, which Scum performed often at poetry readings. An extra, added treat: there’s a dance remix of the same song which is assisted by none other than the legendary musical madman, Carl Snow.

Invisible Tears runs the gamut from sick and insane to sicker and more insane to downright scary. Scum tells it like it is on the back cover: “Not for the easily offended or the extreme politically correct. I don’t give a DAMN!”

But if spending a night in the drunk tank of Chris’ mind seems like your kind of fun, you can find his CDs at hipper area music stores or by mailing to Scum Enterprises, PO Box 20454, Knoxville, TN 37940. Proceed with caution.

Go.

Thursday: Well, it’s a little expensive, but the most rocking show in town is the North Mississippi Allstars at Blue Cats.

Friday: The Jubilee Festival at Laurel Theater gives you the most bang for your buck.

Saturday: Get some moonshine then drive to the LaFollette Middle School for the third annual bluegrass breakdown. Enjoy the mountains before they’re all gone.

Sunday: Frolic in the sunshine with your lover!

Monday: Divorce rocks! So do the Rogers Sisters. Go see them open for the Fever (who must be good if they get to headline over those two bands) at the Pilot Light.

Tuesday: They say that’s what it’s like over there, where the red blaze dazzling the world comes from. So they say. I don’t know.

Wednesday: Jamie Hartford Band plays Americana at Barley’s.

—Paige M. Travis, John Sewell, Joe Tarr