Local Music for Local People

We’re taking it to the streets for this edition of Sit n’ Spin, asking random locals their opinions on music born in the boroughs of Knoxville

Gloria Johnson

Royal Bangs
“Handcuffs Killa”
from We Breed Champions

Gloria: (listens for about a minute, takes headphones off) That’s all I can listen to of that.

KV: I take it you don’t know the band.

Gloria: I don’t know, I might, and I’m afraid I’ll say something about somebody I know and like! But yeah, that was hard for me to listen to.

KV: It’s Royal Bangs, a younger band in town.

Gloria: I like 1220, which are younger kids, but I couldn’t listen to that.

Daniel Cunningham

Royal Bangs
“Handcuffs Killa”
from We Breed Champions

Daniel: At first I thought it sounded like Art Vandelay, but then it got really different. I like it, though. I can’t understand the lyrics, but I like the energy. I’ve never heard this before.

KV: It’s Royal Bangs, a local band.

Daniel: It kind of sounds like the old Superdrag stuff, but different, too. I guess the big barrier for local bands is the whole originality thing, but I can’t directly relate this to anyone, it sounds pretty original. It seems like there’s always an instinct to compare lesser-known bands with somebody really famous, but I think this is pretty original. I like it a lot, actually.

Megan Maples

Army vs. Navy
“Gold and Glitter”
from Army vs. Navy II

Megan: It’s got a good little beat, it’s kind of hard to understand the lyrics. I like the flow of it. I’ve never really heard anything like it before, it’s got a different beat, which is what I like about it.

KV: It doesn’t really remind you of other bands?

Megan: Not really, no. The vocals — I can’t tell if they’re harmonizing or not — but they have a nice ring to them. It’s really cool.

KV: It’s a local guy who performs under the name Army vs. Navy. Would you go see this live or buy the CD?

Megan: I’d probably hear him live before I bought the CD, but I’d definitely go see this live.

KV: Do you go out to hear much live music?

Megan: No, I’d like to hear more but I don’t get to go out much. I live in Knoxville but I teach in Morristown, so I have to be up early to commute. If I had a chance to, I would.

Jennifer Hacker

Leslie Woods with RB Morris
“Cami”
from The Luxury of Sin

Jennifer: It kind of reminds me of something White Stripes-ish, or something in a movie. Definitely a band I’d go see live.

KV: What do you like about it?

Jennifer: I like the way they sing. I like the lyrics. It sounds like it would be a good live show, but not crazy or anything.

KV: It’s Leslie Woods, with RB Morris singing with her.

Jennifer: I don’t think I’ve ever heard any RB Morris I’m aware of, and I went to Laurel High School. I don’t know how that worked out.

KV: I think that’s more common than people realize. Everyone knows the name, but especially with younger people, a lot of people haven’t actually heard him.

Jennifer: I’m sure I’ve heard it, but didn’t realize it was him. This guy that comes into Java, [where I work], Eric Sublett, he always uses my cell phone a lot to call people and it’s usually RB, and he’ll call back — ‘This is RB.’ And I have to tell him Eric left already. Every time, Eric has left.

Chris Carter

The Rockwells
“Is Anything”
from ReDistilled

Chris: Kinda sounds familiar for some reason. Makes me think a lot of Superdrag. It definitely has that Knoxville sound. The harmonies are nice. I wonder if that’s a group of people, or one person doing multiple tracks. It has that Knoxville rock sound, and I don’t know how you would classify that, but I would put it in that Todd Steed, Superdrag category.