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The Big Ticket

The Rockwells
Our favorite band from the teeny-bopper mags. Thursday, March 4, 9:30 p.m. Barley’s. Free.

Big Gun
You know you want them to shake you all night long. Friday, March 5, 9 p.m. Blue Cats. $8 door, $6 w/ college ID.

Slow Blind Hill
Rootsy blues from great guys. Friday, March 5, 10 p.m. Preservation Pub. Free.

Michael Crawley & the MacDaddies
Local legends play your favorite rock tunes. Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6, 9:30 p.m. Corner Lounge. $3.

Blue Mother Tupelo
Always giving it 110 percent. Saturday, March 6, 10 p.m. Downtown Grill and Brewery. Free.

Chick Graning w/ Rus Harper
Old school guitar rock with angry old poetry. Saturday, March 6, 10 p.m. Urban Bar. Free.

Louise Mosrie
Inspired acoustic folk. Monday, March 8, 9:30 p.m. Barley’s. Free.

Nick Moss
Young blues guy from Chicago. Thursday, March 11, 9 p.m. Corner Lounge. $10.

Jesus Christ Superstar
The name of this musical is hardly an exaggeration considering the ferfervor surrounding the recent release of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Jesus is an intriguing and inspiring figure in both history and fiction, an archetype of faith and doubt. Eric Kunze plays Jesus in the Nederlander production coming to Knoxville March 5-7. Kunze, who has filled the shoes of the titular leading men Pippin, Tommy and Joseph (of Technicolor Dreamcoat fame), says Jesus is a tough act to follow. “Unfortunately there’s a lot attached to the name and the man. People don’t have as many expectations of Joseph or Tommy.” Kunze grew up Catholic so he’s familiar with the Biblical terrain. “I try to humanize the man as much as I can, to wipe away all the preconceived images.”
With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Superstar made its Broadway debut in 1973. This production is updated in its fashion, so don’t expect Old Testament robes or hippie clothes; jeans and T-shirts are the uniform in an urban setting evoking a freeway underpass streaked with graffiti. The update appeals to audience members who are familiar with the original production and are now bringing their children to the touring shows, says Kunze. Before he joined the show, Kunze was struck by the strength of the cast’s singers. “I was just blown away by the voices,” he says. “There’s not a weak link in there.” Kunze approaches his own song, an eight-minute ditty called “Gethsemane,” with caution. “You have to be careful that you don’t come off as a singing, screaming lunatic,” he says. (Paige M. Travis)
Jesus Christ Superstar • Nederlander’s Broadway in Knoxville • March 5, 8 p.m., March 6 & 7, 2 and 8 p.m. • Knoxville Civic Coliseum • $20-$58, call 656-4444 or 524-5311 for tickets.

March Music at the Black Box Theatre
One of the biggest complaints about the Knoxville music scene has always been that there are so few places for original musicians to play around town. The Actor’s Co-op is helping out this month by offering some great music at their Black Box Theatre in Homberg. The theater will host a mix of different music acts as well as some music theater. Tonight and this weekend will be Paul Robeson, a play about the actor featuring music by Horace E. Smith III. On Thursday, March 11, catch Evergreen Street, Lonetones, and Sean McCollough, who offer a mix of rock, pop and Americana. That Friday is the great, underappreciated duo of Sarah Pirkle and Jeff Barbra, who mix bluegrass, folk and old-time music. That Saturday, Sara Schwabe and Her Yankee Jass Band play a danceable jazz and vocal jazz standards. On March 24 through 26, the Co-op presents its annual La Cage Noir’s Springtime Cabaret, performing popular stage song and dance numbers. The theater closes out the month on March 27 with a lawn party and garden auction to raise money for its productions. All events are $10, except the auction, which costs $15. The other big complaint of local musicians is that Knoxvillians are fickle in their support of original, local music. So here’s a chance to help them out. (Joe Tarr)
Paul Robeson • A play with music by Horace E. Smith III • Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 4-6, 8 p.m. • Black Box Theatre • $10 • See calendar or call 909-9300 for details of future events.

The Art Guys
I know absolutely nothing about art in the traditional sense. Nothing. However, installations by the Art Guys combine comedy and creativity into media that require little experience to appreciate. Their multimedia performances incorporate audio and video into unconventional paintings and statues that puzzle, surprise and humor audiences: matchsticks arranged into an intricate design before being lit on fire; mannequins in suits with heads buried in the ground at a busy traffic intersection; carrot sculptures, pictures drawn by a yard broom with pencils instead of bristles.... The Art Guys have a bottomless well of imagination and inspiration, making each exhibit fresh, completely unique and altogether entertaining. (Clint Casey)
The Art Guys: More of the Same • Thursday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. • Room 109, Art & Architecture Building • UT Campus. • Free.