A Little Piano Music to Go with Your Biscuits: International Biscuit Festival Hits Knoxville this Weekend

Pianos in Public Places, Knoxville, 2012

This post represents a combination of ideas which are completely unrelated. I have these piano pictures from several weeks ago that I really wanted to have on the blog, but there isn’t really much to say about them except that I absolutely love the pianos in public places. I first heard about it several years ago on NPR when New York City placed pianos throughout Manhattan. I never imagined we would do such a cool thing. I’ve heard some very good music – and some not so good – but it’s all good fun.

Of course, this weekend is the International Biscuit Festivaland since I didn’t have any great pictures of biscuits, I decided to meld the pictures of pianos with the text about the biscuit festival. This is the first time I’ve actually been able to see the festival in person. I’ve been out of town the previous two times, so I’m pumped. The event has grown faster than anyone imagined, so come early and expect very large crowds. Last year’s crowds were estimated at 15,000 and this year organizers expect to top 20,000. I understand that the footprint of the event was expanded to ease the crowding problems.

Pianos in Public Places, Knoxville, 2012

Pianos in Public Places, Knoxville, 2012

The day starts with the biscuit breakfast at 9:00, but don’t let the start time fool you. Tickets go on sale at the door (Krutch Park) at 8:00 for a paltry $10 and this event will turn away dozens if not hundreds, so be there early. If you want something a bit more elegant, Blackberry Farms is presenting a biscuit brunch at 11:00 for $85.00 a pop. The Biscuit bake-off is at 12:00 and the Mr. and Miss Biscuit Pageant is at 3:00.

Pianos in Public Places, Knoxville, 2012

Other portions of the festival run all day, with a Biscuit Bazaar Vendor Area on Clinch Avenue from 9:00 – 5:00 and a Biscuit Boulevard Tasting area on Market Street from 9:00 to 3:00. It promises to be a full day of fun and lard for the entire family.

The Biscuit Festival will be the big event of the weekend, but there will certainly be other diversions if biscuits aren’t your thing. Here are a few highlights for you to consider:

  • Alive After Five featuring Milele Roots (described as “Reggaelicious Dub Funk for your soul”): 6:00 Friday at the KMA
  • Black Cadillacs CD Release Party: 9:00 Friday at the Square Room
  • Tim Lee 3: 10:00 Friday at Toots (Happy Holler)
  • Aftah Party: 10:00 Friday at Barley’s
  • Hudson K: 10:00 Friday at Preservation Pub
  • Children’s Festival of Reading: 10:00 – 3:00, World’s Fair Park, featuring an amazing array of children’s fun including many authors such as Newbery Honor Winner Gail Carson Levine
  • Biscuit Day at the Daylight Building: All Day Saturday – Vintage Aprons at Reruns, Biscuit Poetry, Food Writers and Jack Rentfro and the Apocalypso Quartet at Union Avenue Books, Great Biscuits at Just Ripe and 50% off a photo session at John Black Studio
  • Market Square Farmers’ Market 9:00 – 2:00
  • Downtown Walking Tour Launch: 11:00 and 2:00 from the Visitor’s Center – Designed to be self-guided, these two tours will be led by Kim Trent of Knox Heritage
  • Neon Trees with Twin Atlantic and the Active Set: 8:00 Saturday at the Bijou
  • Vance Thompson and Larry Vincent (jazz): 9:00 Bijou at the Bistro

Have a great weekend in Knoxville, everybody!

Pianos in Public Places, Knoxville, 2012

Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir Slips into Knoxville

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

I was fortunate enough recently to be offered a free ticket to see Bob Weir at the Bijou Theater. While I’d never seen him solo, I saw him with the Grateful Dead in the late 80s and with The Other Ones in the 90s after Jerry died. I was never the biggest Grateful Dead fan in the house, but I came to really love their music and the spirit of Jerry. Bob was always a bit overshadowed in my view, but I’m not sure devoted Deadheads would agree. Still, I was very excited to get to hear him and just catch a bit of the Dead vibe.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

The vibe was sort of happening outside the show. Where an entire city used to spring up outside Dead shows, there was a little smattering of tie-dyed business going on in the parking lot across from the theater. It was a modest gathering of aging fans. The show itself was sold out and had been reschedule from last fall. I saw no tickets for sale and several people who wanted them. No one said, “I need a miracle,” as far I heard.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

Inside, the crowd was well-behaved and pretty tame. Most of the people gathered carried a bit of age and a number of us could afford to lose a few pounds. The image I carry of skinny, young Dead fans didn’t seem to apply. I’ve always thought Grateful Dead fans were people with generous hearts and I didn’t see anything on this night to make me change my mind.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

Not being a fan of the first order, I didn’t know what to expect musically. I know Jerry’s guitar work and I’ve seen Phil Lesh and Friends, but my image of Bob was more a visual one. He always seemed to be a little preppy, a little cleaner-cut alternative to Jerry’s scruffiness. Well, not so much on this night.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

He’s aged, of course, and it’s hard to look into the face and catch a glimpse of that young man on the early Dead album covers. He’s also gotten quite ragged, as you can see from the pictures. The hair is unkempt and the beard is kind of crazy-wild. Somehow Jerry managed to look like a cuddly granddaddy as he aged, but Bob looks just a little out of control.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

Musically, it’s hard for me to say much about song selection. I’d heard some of the songs before for certain from the Grateful Dead, but many others I didn’t recognize or I was uncertain. He played “Ripple” which was at once moving and I was glad to hear it and also sad because it was Jerry’s song.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

I’d have to say most of the songs sounded very similar to each other, thanks in no small part to the limited guitar playing. I’m not sure if this reflects a deterioration or if it’s always been limited, but Bob certainly could have benefited from an ace instrumentalist/side-kick. I remembered when Bob Dylan was struggling on stage so much in 1988 and G.E. Smith took some of the pressure off by joining him for the acoustic sets.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

More disconcerting than the limited guitar skills was the fact that he often messed up what he was trying to do on guitar and forgot lyrics through the whole evening. While I’ve seen other aging artists do the same thing (BB King and Chuck Berry come to mind), the others didn’t let it fluster them. They made jokes about it and joined in when they remembered. Not so with Bob. He became visibly frustrated numerous times through the night. He seemed more together during the second set, but it had rough moments, as well.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

I thought the show probably ended earlier than it might when he left after a one-song encore and knocked his water bottle off the stage. He seemed angry and the sound system immediately cued recorded music effectively letting the crowd know it was over. There was an electric guitar left onstage, untouched the whole night as he strode off the stage.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

In the end, I was glad I saw him. There is something comforting about seeing the musicians I’ve enjoyed for decades and I appreciate that. At the same time, I left worried for Bob. Something was certainly not right for him on this night. I hope it was an anomaly and things are better on down the road.

Bob Weir, Bijou Theater, Knoxville, April 2012

Homelessness: Current Thoughts on an Old Issue

KARM Campout, World's Fair Park, Knoxville, April 2012

It's been quite I while since I wrote anything significant on homelessness. Two years ago a wrote a series on the topic starting here, then here, here, here and concluding here. Of course, I've focused on homeless individuals or had a partial post … [Continue reading]

In a New York Moment

Poetry Month, Knoxville, April 2012

There are different moments when I'm in downtown Knoxville that I'm reminded of other cities I love. Recently at the French Market sitting outside on a crisp day enjoying a crepe and watching people walk by, Urban Woman and I heard the sounds of … [Continue reading]

Spring Photos with Cannon T3 and Zoom Lens

Knoxville Skyline, March 2012 I'm very slowly experimenting with my camera. I've tried most of the pre-settings. I still lean on "automatic" a good bit, but I'm pretty fond of other settings, such as "flash off," "landscape," "portrait," and … [Continue reading]

Breaking News from 36 Market Square: And more business bits

400 Block of South Gay, Knoxville, May 2012

The word I'm getting is that we will definitely not be getting a vet at 36 Market Square as was previously discussed. While this may be disappointing news to downtown residents, I have interesting news for prospective downtown dwellers: How would you … [Continue reading]