Things are going to be on the up and up this weekend when it comes to what to do in Johnson City.
Of course there’s The Shazam on Thursday at Casbah. The cover is only a buck as they are taping for an episode of the very cool local music television show, Homemade Jam.
Friday will be a great night to be downtown as white trash lunatics The Arch Dukes of Hazard, with their tongues firmly in cheek, drop their bizarre brand of punk ethos infused bluegrass.
Across the street that same night at Gatsby’s a kinder, gentler alt-country will be heard from Rob Russell & The Sore Losers along with the southern fried funk of Yukon and the indie pop of The Drake Walsh Band.
However, the frosting on the beater comes Saturday at Hideaway with a first-class tag-team of two of Nashville’s most beloved groups, Verde and Hot Pipes.
Despite being at the comparative beginnings of what should prove to be a long and fruitful career, Verde has courteously nudged their way into the upper echelon of the ever fertile and competitive Nashville rock scene.
I recently caught my first proper Verde show at the legendary Exit-In, a venue with a musical history that rivals any other club in the United States. Verde’s jangly pop captivated the almost capacity crowd. Needless to say, many were converted as fans.
I knew the rock gods were smiling down when I learned of their upcoming Johnson City debut, which is the last in a leg of dates in the Eastern-time-zoned third of our state.
Singer and songwriter Andrea Dewese has a knack for writing catchy three-minute ditties that charm and perpetuate feelings of warm fuzziness. Her songs are like a soft handshake or, if you’re lucky, a long overdue plutonic hug.
Rounding out the Verde three are the impish rhythm section of drummer Brian Fuzzell and bassist Keith Lowen. Don’t let their height (or lack thereof) fool you; they can hang like John Stockton and Mookie Blalock with the six-foot plus coterie of musicians all day long.
Fuzzell kicks out solid boom-boom-clicks with damning precision; while Lowen, who was one-third of the much missed juggernauts Lifeboy, plays a solid low end that makes other bassists cast a tearfully jealous eye. On top of bass skills, his backing vocals juxtapose harmoniously with Dewese’s sweetly arresting voice.
The common musical comparisons casts by music journalists on Verde are accurate. Fans of Juliana Hatfield, Ivy, Belly or Mary Lou Lord’s more rocking moments will not be disappointed. Unlike these artists though, Verde bring a sense of left field chemistry on par with the like of Yo La Tengo, The Lemonheads or The Velvet Underground.
Verde is one of those bands you can crow about seeing long before they sold out to the masses. If you want evidence with your bragging rights, you can go to their web site, www.verde.cc, and order some choice swag. How about a coffee mug or pair of underwear emblazoned with the Verde logo? Too bad Valentine’s Day just passed.
In the past few months Verde has formed somewhat of a working relationship with upstart five piece Hot Pipes. Seeing these two bands billed together is as common in Nashville as meeting a burnt-out songwriter turned bellhop or Papa John’s delivery boy.
Surely Verde’s predilection towards Hot Pipes comes from this band’s knack for throwing down the good gospel of melodic rock, just like God meant it to be. Through Hot Pipes, his will be done. Drawing from a wide range influences including Guided By Voices, AC/DC, The Kinks, Cheap Trick and The Stooges, Hot Pipes cut a much-needed new line of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the sand. Those who attempt to transgress it be damned.
Hot Pipes’ thick-throated vocalist Jon Rogers, who channels bits and pieces of Chris Cornell’s grit and the melodious range of Jeff Buckley, has one of those rare, original vocal deliveries. His unique voice easily hooks any pair of unsuspecting ears.
Along with Rogers, the other Hot Pipes — Dave Lankford, Art Schoulties, Dave Mengerik and Justin Hall — deliver an electrifying musical base chock full of hard-on bass lines, tasty keys, vigorous drumming, nah-nah-nah backing vocals and crunchy guitars turned up to eleven. It’s evident that they spent most of their formative years honing their skills, as these guys all show tremendous musical talent.
Evidence of their aptitude is marked by Rogers’, Schoulties’, Mengerik’s and Hall’s habit of trading off guitars, organ and bass on almost every song (Dave Lankford wisely stays close to his drum kit as most guitar players should be ruthlessly flogged for trying to play drums).
Such musical wife-swapping is, well, frightening to most, as you’d be hard pressed to find a band that can pull this off without falling painfully short of tolerable. However, due to their individual musical gifts and mastery, Hot Pipes make such a practice seem the status quo.
Verde must be a brave bunch, if they’re comfortable following Hot Pipes on Saturday night. They’ll definitely have their work cut out.
This not-to-be-missed show at Hideaway should start a hair past 11 0p.m. The cover is just three bucks.
If you haven’t been properly acquainted with Hideaway, it’s located downtown at 232 Main St., across the street and one door east of Gatsby’s.
However, you’ll have to enter through the back door, which is located in the downtown parking lot off of State of Franklin. And to entice your early arrival and late departure, the staff will be more than happy to pour you a cold 16 oz. domestic draft and only charge you $1.
What a bunch of nice folks. They take care of their budgeted drinkers.
As a poor college student, is there anything else you could ask for? Good bands and cheap beer always equal good times.
See you Saturday night.

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