Back to listings

The Big Ticket

The Animation Show
An animation festival of 14 shorts programmed by Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt. Wednesday, Nov. 26. Regal Cinema Downtown West 8. $5.50 before 6 p.m., $7.50 after 6 p.m.

The Prids
Brainy Kraut-rock with a New Wave groove. Wednesday, Nov. 26, 9 p.m. Pilot Light. $5.

Flipside Runner
Formerly known as Big Fish Funk Revival, but they're still funky. Nov 28, 8:30 p.m. New City Cafe. $5

Crash Test Dummies
Mmm Mmm Mmm. Saturday, Nov. 29, 9:30 p.m. ThInQ Tank.

Straight Line Stitch with Redwinterdying
Local hard core rockers. Saturday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m. Old City Java. $5

UT Choral Christmas
You know the songs. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. UT Alumni Memorial Building.

Cranberry Jam
As a pre-cursor to the Thanksgiving holiday and all its wonderful binging, Blue Cats in the Old City is playing host to the 2003 Cranberry Jam. Though the event is a worthwhile benefit for Community Shares at its core, the performers—The Rockwells, Todd Steed & the Suns, and Nug Jug—are a sampling of Knoxville's finest townie rock. The show is also being held in memory of Tom Rutledge, coordinator of the annual Brewer's Jam and lovable beer snob. Spend an evening of music with friends downtown, before succumbing to a day of yummy gluttony and tedious family interaction. (Clint Casey)
COMMUNITY SHARES 2003 CRANBERRY JAM BENEFIT * THE ROCKWELLS, TODD STEED & SUNS AND NUG JUG * WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26, 8 P.M. * BLUE CATS * $5 (18 AND UP).

Stewart Pack and Paul Turpin
The name may change, and it has more times than most any other this town has ever had the pleasure of witnessing, but leave it up to that Les Paul-totin' Stewart Pack to come up with a band/musical project that lays down some of the best rock & roll hooks ever heard in the Sunsphere City. The names may have been changed to protect the music's innocence (The 1-900s, PegClimber, Dinky Doo, Glowplug), but Pack and crew are guilty as charged for making it look and sound simple to create consistently good music. The latest musical endeavor by Pack and drummer Paul Turpin (along with help on the bass from longtime Pack collaborator Gregg Dunn) is in the form of one of 2003's best local releases titled Stewart Pack and Paul Turpin present: Red Radio. Fourteen pieces of neatly produced ear candy sure to satisfy anyone with an appetite for well-written and well-played rock 'n' roll. The comparisons to indie giant Guided By Voices are hard to ignore, but it's Pack's distinct guitar style that gives these tunes their identity. And the co-production team of Pack and Turpin shows another talent that could quite possibly make some serious dough on the side for these two if they choose that path. I always enjoy it when Stewart cranks his amp to 11 and plays live (which is a sad rarity in these parts for the last several years), but this show should prove to be another example of the incredible talent we have here in Knoxville...no matter what they choose to call themselves this time around! (Benny Smith)
STEWART PACK AND PAUL TURPIN * SATURDAY, NOV. 29, 9 P.M. * THE PILOT LIGHT * $5.

The Wizard of Oz
A classic film like The Wizard of Oz belongs to no particular season, but the inspirational message, "There's no place like home" does suit the holidays (unless, of course, there are lots of other places you'd rather be besides home).
In the post-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas season, the Oak Ridge Playhouse offers a great alternative to over-baked holiday reruns: a live version of L. Frank Baum's story of Dorothy's adventure in the Land of Oz. That she didn't clock her hapless cohorts known as the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion over the head with her picnic basket is a testament to Dorothy's true goodness. The Wizard saw it, and you'll see it too in the performance of angelic Erica Bundy, who was most recently seen as Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank. ORP veteran Reggie Law directs what is sure to be a fun and heartwarming musical adventure with the added bonus of flying monkeys. (Paige M. Travis)
THE WIZARD OF OZ * OPENING FRIDAY, NOV. 28, CONTINUING THURSDAYS THROUGH SUNDAYS UNTIL DEC. 7 * $18-$12 * CALL 482-9999 FOR SHOW TIMES & SPECIFIC TICKET PRICES.

Jazz for Tots
Now in its 14th year, this annual student jazz show offers a contemporary twist on traditional, while providing toys for poor children. The show features the UT Jazz Band, Tennessee Trombonery (an all-trombone group, natch), and 10 other small jazz ensembles, performing holiday music in their own style. "Each group will play one or two numbers, uniquely arranged by themselves," says Keith Brown, the show's director. "A lot of times the students are really creative in coming up with a unique arrangement on some of these Christmas Carols. You can really stretch them and do a lot of things with them because they are so commonly known." Admission for the show is a new, unwrapped children's toy, which will be donated to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. (Joe Tarr)
JAZZ FOR TOTS FEATURING UT JAZZ STUDENTS * MONDAY, DEC. 1, 7 P.M. * UT MUSIC HALL * ADMISSION IS AN UNWRAPPED CHILDREN'S TOY.