by Bob Payne WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DAVRIK
posted October 2, 2008
 Bob Payne |
Sunday, The Krystal Square Off Hamburger Championship featured an old favorite of mine, the Marshall Tucker Band. They played many of their big hits, but the vocals of lead sing Doug Gray were really bad. Gray is the last remaining original member, but it may be time to for him to retire. Pat said that maybe he performed late the night before the Chattanooga appearance at noon Sunday and his voice was just tired. I think she was just being very nice.
Since we stayed and watched the Krystal contest, we missed the big band performances at the Chattanooga Market. I really like the Sweet Georgia Sounds, but I did catch them earlier in the year at Rhythm and Noon.
Now, what is all this talk about being spoiled? Well, I’ll explain. It seems that Chattanooga has a reputation for not supporting many concerts that require a paid ticket for admission. Merle Haggard, John Hiatt, the Chattahippie music festival and many others had trouble selling tickets. Advance ticket sales are really tough here for most concerts.
Let us study the possible causes. Yeah, the economy and gas is a big factor, but that hasn’t always been the case. No there are many other factors in play. The fact that the bigger venues, such as the Tivoli or the Memorial Auditorium offer no alcohol sales, probably keeps some of the big concerts away, and a few concertgoers. Finley Stadium really should be turned into a ¼ mile dirt track, and then it would get some use by the racing community.
The First Tennessee Pavilion would be a great venue, but it simply isn’t near ready to be used for concerts. There is no stage, the building needs significant sound quality improvements, and the building needs a few improvements to make it viable. Food and beverage service is available there, as is good parking, but for now, the building just isn’t promoter friendly. A little investment may turn it into a great venue, though.
But, all of these reasons pale in comparison to what I feel is the real reason – we are spoiled. There is so much free high quality music in Chattanooga; I think it makes pay events a tough sell. Nightfall, Riverfront Nights, The Three Sisters Festival, The Chattanooga Market, Rhythm and Noon and many other quality events are all free. Buds, T-Bones and other venues offer free music. Even Riverbend is practically free at less than $30 for nine days. We even hear complaints about Riverbend being too expensive, despite offering big time artists like ZZ Top, Josh Turner, Little Big Town, etc.
The Chattahippie Music Festival was one of the best I have attended in many years, yet it had trouble selling tickets. Thirty bands, 3 nights, all for $30. Great weather, great concert site, great promoters, and fantastic music still didn’t sell. Yes, they were up against John Hiatt, Nightfall, Riverfront Nights and the Trail Of Tears Ride in the same weekend, but it was amazing they didn’t have at least a few thousand out there.
So, we are spoiled I supposed. Chattanooga loves a party and loves music. As long as it is free. I think the Pavilion is the answer. Fix up that venue and make it promoter friendly, and maybe that will solve the problem.
Speaking of concerts, the free Three Sisters Bluegrass Festival is this Friday and Saturday down on the riverfront. Fantastic quality music by local and national bluegrass bands will be featured.
Also, the Celtic Crossroads World Tour is coming to the Northwest Georgia Bank Amphitheatre in Ringgold on October 10. Tickets are available at the Memorial Auditorium ticket office, or by calling 423-642-TIXS.
Live! In Chattanooga
Thursday, October 2
The Palms at Hamilton – Convertibull
Rhythm & Brews – Boombox
Friday, October 3
Three Sisters Festival – Dismembered Tennesseans, Mike Cleveland, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rhonda Vincent
Blues Train Café Dalton – Buckner Brothers
Rhythm & Brews – Milele Roots
Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Blue Orleans Downtown – David Anthony Blues
Market Street Tavern – Local Strings, with Emily Grace
T-Bones – Jumbo Deluxe
Midtown Music Hall – Gary Pfaff and the Heartwells
Bushwood – Captain Soularcat
Buds – Chad Yates
Saturday, October 4
Three Sisters Festival – Lou Wamp & Swingshift, Lone Mountain Band, Dismembered Tennesseans, Chatham County Line, The Steel Drivers, Blue Highway, John Cowan Band, The Dan Tyminski Band
Blues Train Café Dalton – Hoo Doo Swaggard
Rhythm & Brews – Big Wooly Mammoth tribute to Panic
Midtown Music Hall – Behind The Sun (Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute)
Blue Orleans Creole Rest on Amnicola – Tim Hughes Quartet
Charles & Myrtles Coffeehouse – Kevin Gordon
Market Street Tavern - Soulfull
Fathom – Sadistic, The Miller Cinema Tragedy
Snowhill Bluegrass Jamboree – Snow Hill Rd & Mahan Gap Rd @ 6 p.m.
Wine Over Water – Ogya, John Lathim, Dan Landrum, Ben Friberg Trio, Lon Eldridge
Sunday, October 5
Hunter Art Museum – 2 p.m. – Lana Sutton Project Band
Chattanooga Market – Stephen Simmons, Sol’ Jibe, Kevin Gordon
Monday, October 6
Rhythm & Brews – Monday Night Big Band
Tuesday, October 6
Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Blue Orleans Downtown – Roddy Noll Jazz Trio
Wednesday, October 7
The Palms At Hamilton – Bud Lightning
Market Street Tavern – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Rhythm & Brews – Brad Passons, Leticia Wolfe
Buds – Nathan Farrow
To have your venue’s live event listed, just email us at davrik@aol.com
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