Crib Notes

By Omar Khalid

Why Knoxville? Why Knoxville? The question was asked and subsequently answered more than a few times during last weekend’s ambitious avant-garde/outer music festival dubbed “Big Ears.” Fennesz, Jon Hassell, Matmos, the Necks, Neil Hamburger, Antony & the Johnsons, Negativland, Philip Glass and many others. Would people really come to Knoxville from all over the country — all over the world — for a music festival with, yes, a wide variety of music, but all somewhat in the “weird music” vein? Would the community support it? The answer: A resounding yes.

Festival organizer Ashley Capps — whose company AC Entertainment is responsible for the success that has become Bonaroo — lives in Knoxville and apparently has roots in promoting free jazz and experimental music in the area.

If one thing stood out about the festival, it was how professional, yet easy the whole experience was. There were as many as 10 venues involved, all seeming to be just blocks from each other, with everything starting on or near on time. Go have a huge $2.50 bloody mary at the Bistro for a brunch performance from the Balkan-gypsy inspired Luminescent Orchestrii; walk down the street to catch some of the film Powaqqatsi at the beautiful Tennessee Theatre (Knoxville’s own version of Atlanta’s Fox Theatre); a few blocks over there’s a performance from NYC clarinet/saxophone circular-breathing virtuoso Ned Rothenberg; stroll back down to the Bijou for the Phillip Glass concert. It was a busy weekend, but everything was so well-planned and the acts were so thoughtfully scheduled. The fluke weather in the high 60s couldn’t have hurt either. The only hangup was probably when Saturday’s 10 p.m. show with the Baltimore combo Matmos had to suddenly be moved from the Square Room to “Old City’s” Catalyst. Apparently the proprietors of the Square Room were, uh, squares. Something in the video to be shown during the Matmos performance they found offensive (probably the naked dude getting into the hot tub). Regardless, that show at the Catalyst was one of the better experiences of the whole festival (no, not because of the naked hot tub video).

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Chad Radford: Hello Neil. How are you?

Neil Hamburger: Not so good. Someone sprayed cyanide gas on the audience last night, all over the front row. I think about 200 people died. It should be on the news today, but we’re going to do another show tonight, regardless.

I hadn’t heard about that. Was it a heckler that did it?

Yeah, it was one of those hecklers who went too far.

Where was the show?

It was in a little town, called Stolen Penny, Nebraska. It’s all over the news, look on Fox News and you will see it.

I grew up in Nebraska, or right next to it in Iowa anyway.

Oh, so then you know this town. It’s fantastic…

Are people mean to you in the press?

Well you do get your occasional sickee who likes to say something horrible in the press. They try to say that I’m not as funny as Carrot Top. That’s not a nice thing to say.

I don’t think Carrot Top is very funny at all.

I don’t either, that’s what makes it a rip off for what you pay to get into that show, but some of these journalists feel differently from us.

Carrot Top creeps me out. He’s all muscular and orange these days.

That’s what I’ve been trying to say, but people have an agenda before they even put pen to paper. I think some of them are even working for Carrot Top, like maybe even on his payroll.

They’re still getting that 10-10-3-2-1 money. Remember those Carrot Top Commercials where he said “It’s free for you and cheap for them…”

They will haunt us forever…

(more…)

Bookmark to: