Chattanooga’s Live Music Scene – Johnny And The Choo-Choo

Thursday, December 03, 2009 - by Bob Payne WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DAVRIK
Bob Payne
Bob Payne

Reminder Alert: Be sure and catch Robert T. Nash’s Live & Local show on WGOW 102.3 FM or WGOW.com this Friday during the 3 o’clock hour as he has guest Bud Lightning on the show. Tune in to find out why Bud Lightning was the Chattanoogan.com Party Band Of The Year and most recently voted best cover band in Chattanooga at the music awards show.

I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I didn’t see and hear Johnny Cash at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, performing on Friday and Saturday nights in the Victorian Lounge from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Yes, I realize that Mr. Cash is deceased, but his legacy lives on at the Choo-Choo. It’s uncanny, I tell you. Jason Thomas plays Johnny Cash, with Aaron Brown on guitar and Ivan Wilson on standup bass.

The Victorian Lounge is located just off the main rotunda of the Choo-Choo. People that were in the adjacent dining room could hear the band and would come and poke their heads in to see these talented guys do Johnny Cash. I can tell you this – it is a good show and a wonderful tribute to a great musician. I give it five stars and two thumbs up.

This weekend is the big MainX24 event on the Southside. This is the third annual event and features music from DJ Mix Master Mike and the Distribution. There will be all sorts of fun on Main Street and there is even a way to watch the National NCAA Championship Football game between Alabama and Florida while visiting Main Street for the festivities. (Well, it really should be for the Championship, as it is number 1 versus number 2) Roll Tide. For more information, point and click right here.

New Year’s Eve is shaping up to be a humdinger here in Chattanooga. Here Come The Mummies will haunt the Trade center in a big show from the boys in bandages. Tickets are available at Rhythm & Brews, Bone Appetite, Backstreet Betty’s, and Grumpy’s.

The Beaters will bring in New Years at the Choo-Choo again this year. I have been to several of the Beaters New Year’s Eve shows and they are an excellent way to spend the last night of the year.

Bud’s will feature Bud Lightning for their New Year’s Eve Bash. This should be one of the best parties in town, so make your plans now.

I will feature more New Year’s Eve events as we get closer to the date.

Bob’s pick-o-the-weekend is Sweet Georgia Sound and Uptown, both of which are playing at the Chattanooga Market on Sunday. This Saturday and Sunday is the Holiday Market at the pavilion, marking the end of a very successful year.

My pick-o-the week is whoever is playing poolside on the cruise ship Costa Atlantica the week. That’s right sports fans, Bob is going on a cruise Saturday, to Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, and the Turks & Caicos Islands. It’s tough duty, but someone has to do it.

Live In Chattanooga!


Thursday, December 3

Market Street Tavern – Open Mic

Rhythm & Brews – The Meat Puppets, Dexateens

Lindsay Street Hall – Dana Rogers @ 7 p.m.

The Mudpie – New Binkley Brothers, Tiffany Taylor

Bud’s – Channing Wilson

Ziggy’s – Metal Weekend Party
The Palms At Hamilton – Sweet N Lowdown


Friday, December 4


The Mudpie Lunch Special – Tim Cofield

Delta Queen Texas Lounge – Banjo Bob Edwards
T-Bones – Channing Wilson
Blues Train Café – Frankie’s Friends & Horns

Rhapsody Café – Husky Burnette
Rhythm & Brews – Downstroke

Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant – Overture For Rent
Buds – Downstream

JJ’s Bohemia – How I Became The Bomb, Moonlight Bride, Today Sun Tomorrow Moon

Tremont Tavern – Mike McDade, Slim Pickins, BJ Hightower, Billy Hopkins

Market Street Tavern – Roger Alan Wade
Ziggy’s – Metal Weekend Party

Bart’s Lakeshore – Bud Lightning


Saturday, December 5

Market Street Tavern – John Sutton Band

Paddy’s Hixson – Husky Burnette

JJ’s Bohemia – ADDC
Rhythm & Brews – The Whigs, The Features, Mean Creek

Blues Train Café Dalton – Jumpin’ Jukes

Delta Queen Orleans Room – Sallie Beckes & The Louisiana Social Club
Tremont Tavern – Jordan Hallquist, Gabe Newell, TJ Greever

Dalton Depot – Bounty Hunter

Hot Spot Dalton – Crossfire

The Mudpie – 11:30 a.m. Treva Blomquist, Rachel Pearl. 9 p.m. Open Mic
Ziggy’s – Metal Weekend Party


Sunday, December 6

Chattanooga Market – Live on stage: Sweet Georgia Sound, Uptown

Tremont Tavern – Irish Sessions Group

JJ’s Bohemia – Molly Maguires

The Mudpie – Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers 6:30 p.m.


Monday, December 7


Market Street Tavern – Old Time Music Jam

Tuesday, December 8

Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Tremont Tavern – Open Mic
Market Street Tavern – Billy Hopkins


Wednesday, December 9


Buds – Cody McCarver

Las Margaritas Riverview – Priscilla & Little Rickee

Market Street Tavern – Ben Friberg Trio

Rhythm & Brews – Slim Pickins, Gurle Haggard, New Binkley Bros.

The Palms At Hamilton – Fried Chicken Band

JJ’s Bohemia – Open Mic

Bob Payne
Davrik@aol.com


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