The Square Room, a venue located behind Café 4 on Market Square, will host two Tennessee native bands Friday at 9 p.m.
First on the list is Hightide Blues, a Nashville-based grass-roots rock band that will continue its extensive tour of the southeast by gracing the stage here in Knoxville. Although the band hails from nearby Middle Tennessee, it has only performed in Knoxville on a few occasions. However, the band will make this visit count, with an in-store performance taking place at Borders Books and Music at 5 p.m. Friday.
Sharing the Square Room’s ticket with Hightide Blues is local favorite the Dirty Guv’nahs, whose sound is “somewhere between the Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett and The Avett Brothers. You might wanna throw some of The Black Crowes in there too,” said James Trimble, The Dirty Guv’nahs’ guitarist.
Taking their inspiration from everyday people, unorthodox creativity, family members and their own experiences as a group, The Dirty Guv’nahs attempt to achieve a unique demeanor focused on reaching out to real people with the positivity of its music. Songs like “We’ll be The Light” and “Common People” on the band’s self-titled album exemplify this attribute.
“We’re excited to meet new people and see what all Knoxville has to offer,” said Paul McDonald, Hightide Blues’ vocalist and guitar player. “We’ve also never played with The Dirty Guv’nahs before and that is going to be a lot of fun.”
With subjects ranging from relationships to hard times, the nightlife of various cities and extraordinarily beautiful gas-station attendants, Hightide Blues thrives on variety. Raised on classic rock heroes like Eric Clapton and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, McDonald acknowledges inspiration from unrefined blues artists as well as contemporary artists such as Ryan Adams and The Kings of Leon.
Particularly excited for Hightide Blues’ performance are the members of The Dirty Guv’nahs.
“We met the guys in Hightide Blues at Bonnaroo, and they are great guys,” Trimble said. “They really bring it live.”
Moreover, The Guv’nahs anticipate a warm welcome home. “Playing in Knoxville is incredible,” Trimble said. “Every band that ever goes anywhere has to have a hometown that really gets behind them. We are so happy to have so many fans here in our hometown. When you’re out on the road all the time, it gets pretty tough. Coming home really refuels us and makes us feel like it’s all worthwhile.”
This will also be The Dirty Guv’nahs’ first official appearance at the Square Room. With a house full of young and zealous Tennessean musicians, the promise of an interesting show is definitely on the cards.
