Local Music for Local People

KV: What is it about it that gives it a “Knoxville sound?”

Chris: The lead and the drumbeats. That classic late ’50s drum beat and that really high, kind of rock ‘n’ roll, edgy I’ve-had-a-few-beers-tonight lead guitar. The only thing that makes it stand out from that are the constant harmonies, even throughout the verse.

KV: It’s a Judybats song covered by the Rockwells, on the CD WUTK put out.

Chris: The Rockwells, OK.

KV: Do you know those guys?

Chris: I’ve heard the name many times, and I’ve heard this song on New Rock 90 or the Torch or whatever they’re called.

KV: You’ve not seen them live, though?

Chris: I can’t recall if I have or not. Something makes me think I may have seen them at the Pilot Light a few years ago. The reason I know them is because when I was in high school I always wanted to call my band the Rockwells, but the frontman wouldn’t go for it. Except we would have had a dash in ours: Rock-wells.

KV: Do you think you’ll buy the CD this is on?

Chris: I think you get it free when you go to that concert. I really want to go, do you know how much it is? Probably 20, 25 bucks?

KV: I think it’s 10 to get in and 10 more gets you a CD.

Chris: Well that’s worth it, totally. I’ll be saving up. If I save a dollar a day I’ll even have a little left over for a beer.

John Rule

Divorce
“Electric Centipede”
from Divorce CD-R

John: I wouldn’t know what this is. It sounds like the guy from the Strokes to me.

KV: You mean the singer or the guitarist or…?

John:  The singer.

KV: That’s a lady.

John: Singing here?! Jesus, that’s great! I would definitely watch them live if I knew it was a girl singing like that.

KV: It’s Divorce, a local band. Have you heard them?

John: No, no fucking clue. I’d go see them for like, $10 tops.

KV: They usually play for $5 or less.

John: Oh, that’s great. They sound great, I’d go see them.

KV: Their live shows are a lot of fun, they can get kind of crazy. Do you see many live shows around town?

John: Yeah, but I don’t like shows where the crowd is acting crazy and running into each other or running around and not really giving due attention to the entertainer… I really like Adam Ewing. He’s great.

Don

Mountains of Moss
“Page of Shame”
from Mountains of Moss/New Madrid 7”

Don: I like it so far … My impressions are generally favorable. Say one’s the lowest and 10’s the highest, I’d give it a 7.5 to 7.8.

KV: Does it remind you of anything you like or listen to?

Don: It reminds me of Sergio Mendes. Oh wait, now it sounds Celtic. Anyway, I like it.

KV: Would you see this live?

Don: Yes, I probably would.

KV: Would you buy the record?

Don: Probably not.

KV: You can’t see yourself hanging out at the house listening to this?

Don: Not really, no. But I don’t buy a lot of records.

Brian Jones

Bright Shuttle
“I.C. Texal”
from For the Kitchen