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The Big Ticket

Todd Steed & the Sons of Phere, with Marshall Andy, Jennifer Niceley and other assorted guests.
Fall in love with Knoxville all over again. Thursday, Aug. 7, 6-10 p.m. Sundown in the City. Donations requested.

Caustic Resin with the Loners
Influential band from the indie rock hotbed of Boise, Idaho. Thursday, Aug. 7, 10 p.m. Pilot Light. $5.

Eighth of August Celebration
Step back in the history of Knoxville's African-American community. Friday, Aug. 8 thru Sunday, Aug. 10. Beck Cultural Center.

Jonathan Barnes
Alt-country rocker echoing the sounds of Uncle Tupelo and the Jayhawks. Friday, Aug. 8, 10 p.m. Preservation Pub. Free. And Saturday, Aug. 9, 8:30 p.m. New City Cafe.

Books Not Bars
A documentary narrated by Q-Tip shows how young people rallied for justice. Saturday, Aug. 9, 3-6 p.m. Pilot Light. Free.

BR549 with Jim Lauderdale and Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez
Some of the best hillbilly twang around. Thursday, Aug. 14, 6-10 p.m. Sundown in the City. Donation requested.

Rusted Root
Hippie roots rock with lots of drums. Friday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m. Blue Cats. $20.

Jam For Cans w/ Beech Grove, Chase Pattison, Radio Cure, Ball Sisters Band, Landeo, Rob Russell & the Sore Losers, Perfect Mercy, See Through Human and Blue Mother Tupelo
A buffet of Knoxville bands play for canned goods. Saturday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Volunteer Landing. Bring four cans of food for Second Harvest.

The Autonomadic Bookmobile and Medicine Show
Since I read Katherine Dunn's Geek Love, I've been fascinated by freak shows. This novel about a family of genetically malformed performers piqued my interest in what it's like to have your livelihood (and your ego) depend on people's interest in your difference. As portrayed in fiction, these characters are compelling but untouchable, seeming a bit unreal. But with touring productions of highly-skilled and daring players, you can experience the strange and bizarre up close and in person. The latest act of this nature to roll through Knoxville is the Autonomadic Roadshow, a duo of literate performers who blend their eagerness to defy the norm with their desire to spread the wisdom of small press publications. It's a combined effort of the Bindlestiff Family Circus (who performed at Blue Cats earlier this year) and Autonomedia, a publishing collective in New York. The bookmobile itself is a brightly painted U-Haul-sized truck containing a wide range of indie writings, from comics, zines and books on sideshow history. The performers who drive it across the country are Dr. Flummox and Professor Okra P. Dingle, purveyors of old-school circus feats like glass-walking, knife-throwing, fire-eating and more. A unique combination of mini circus with touring library, the Autonomadic Bookmobile will open your mind and give it something to chew on. (Paige M. Travis)
THE AUTONOMADIC BOOKMOBILE AND MEDICINE SHOW * SUNDAY, AUG. 10, 9 P.M. * PILOT LIGHT * $5

Adam Brodsky
Armed with a set of United States flashcards, anti-folkie Adam Brodsky embarked on a nationwide tour on Aug. 3. He's playing his folk-music/punk-rock blend at 50 shows, in 50 states, in 50 days, which will fulfill his childhood obsession of making the Guinness Book of World Records.
Brodsky's other obsession? The ladies. He says he fervently hopes there's an "apple-breasted hula girl" to greet him with a lei during his 38th gig at the Honolulu airport lounge. Five of the six mp3s available at www.adambrodsky.com are about females. In the fast-paced and danceable "Cubicle Girl," Brodsky sings, "Well, it's time I got a girl gets out of bed before noon/and maybe one who sometimes showers in between full moons."
But he seems particularly passionate for unattainable women. Songs like "Betrayal" and "Rejection" pepper his records, and on the twangy "Diesel Dyke" from his latest album, Dork, Brodsky sings "The girl I like is a diesel dyke / the chick I dig digs chicks /she don't want me or my swinging dick."
Fast-talking and self-deprecating, Brodsky says his philosophy of live music was influenced partly by Rod Stewart.
"I saw Rod Stewart in college at the Hershey Park Arena because I got a free ticket. And Rod Stewart put on a great fucking show, he had this great energy, he was kicking soccer balls into the crowd and stuff. When he sang "Maggie May" it was like he was singing it for the 20th time. It was this great show, even though he's a pompous rock star," he says.
Brodsky may be a smart-assed lyricist, but he is an earnest performer.
"It's important to find this mix, give people old songs they love, share new songs with them, which hopefully they'll love. Live music is my job. These people coming to the show work all day and I am grateful because they want to get off their asses and come see me, and I want to give them the best show possible."
So be a part of history, and get off your ass. If Brodsky doesn't make you dance, at least he'll make you laugh. (Cassie Moore)
ADAM BRODSKY WITH WILL FIST AND CORN DOG * TUESDAY, AUG. 12, 9 P.M. * PILOT LIGHT * $5

Davy Crockett's Birthday
If them dang Mexicans hadn't kilt him at the Alamo in 1836, Davy Crockett would turn 217 this month. The colorful frontiersman, soldier, Congressman, and teller of tall tales was perhaps America's first pop star. The East Tennessee Historical Society (which was founded in 1834, during Crockett's congressional tenure), will send Davy the word that we haven't forgotten him with a family-friendly wingding at the East Tennessee History Center (the old Custom House) this Saturday. The mid-day party will feature author Alberta Hunter on dulcimer, singer/songwriter Sarah Pirkle, and others, as well as storyteller Jim Claborn, who claims to be a friend of Mr. Crockett. Plus games, cake, dancing, and demonstrations of Appalachian crafts and skills, which will fold in well with the museum's current exhibit, "Mountain Hands," a show of photos and artifacts concerning mountain culture.
Tell your kids they may not get a chance to see Mr. Crockett himself, but they can see his favorite gun, a regular exhibit at the museum, which is celebrating its 200th birthday this year. (Jack Neely)
CELEBRATION OF DAVY CROCKETT'S BIRTHDAY * SATURDAY, AUG. 9, 10 A.M.-1 P.M. * EAST TENNESSEE HISTORY CENTER, 600 MARKET ST. (CORNER OF CLINCH) * FREE