Local bands Antadie, Vin Honey and Louisiana visitor Hey Thanks graced the stage of Fly By Night on Tuesday, Sept. 16, creating a night that reminded audiences why live music will never go out of style.
Nestled on a corner in South Knoxville, the local bar is a vintage 70s’ themed cocktail bar and music venue.
On any given day, customers are greeted by its warm atmosphere and soft lighting as well as an array of aptly named cocktail options, remaining true to the bar’s 70s inspiration. The dimly lit booths and eclectic wall decor paired well with the venue’s performance of the night.
Around 9 p.m., local band Antadie took the stage first, immediately filling the space with their indie-rock sound consisting of intense guitar riffs, compelling basslines and drums that made the room ring.
In between songs, lead singer and guitarist Galliano “Galli” Ghenov took a break from singing to say a few words to the audience, to which they responded with laughter, making the show as comedic as it was entertaining. Following the conclusion of the performance, Ghenov shared that he sometimes receives more compliments on his mid-performance commentary than on the actual music.
However, Ghenov and his bandmates are never deterred by this. Anyone in the space can observe that the audience is engaged by the music they create.
Whether they intended to or not, the band radiated an energy that is reminiscent of the ’70s rock stars that came before them. Their comfort level on stage and interactions with each other are something that can only exist between a group of seasoned players. A group so seasoned in fact, they were able to make up their setlist as the show went on.
Antadie’s set was followed by Louisiana band Hey Thanks. Although the band is not from the area, they were sure to share that this was not their first time in Knoxville, having played at another popular venue, Pilot Light, a few months earlier.
Hey Thanks graced the space with an electronic dance-pop sound, created with sound looping technology and musical tracks.
Similar to Antadie the band consisted of three members, but the untrained ear would assume there was an entire array of studio musicians behind them.
The sounds of the synth and steady guitar had the audience on their feet. The venue floor turned into a true nightclub as more and more people began to fill the small space. Arms swayed and people danced in pairs as they gave into the feeling the band offered.
Although Fly By Night is known for its 70s atmosphere, Hey Thanks had no trouble bringing in their mixture of modern and 80s dance pop sounds. For a second time, the Louisiana band made themselves at home in Knoxville.
The final performance of the night was local band Vin Honey. The crowd, still riding high off the energy of Hey Thanks, remained as attentive as ever when the band took to the stage.
Unlike their performing counterparts, Vin Honey played without a drum kit. However, there was no lack in the quality of the performance.
The band’s lack of drums and the replacement of a track made for a night of easy listening. It was a perfect environment for the audience to cool down and relax in the music. Listeners’ ears were graced by a steady synth that kept up the momentum from earlier in the night.
This was not the first time this lineup of musicians had played together. The three bands first played a previous show together at the Pilot Light back in May.
The indie-rock influence of Antadie, the electronic-pop sound of Hey Thanks and the indie-pop nature of Vin Honey may seem like an incompatible lineup, but for a second time they proved that statement to be wrong.
This lineup of performers consistently manages to take an intimate space and fill it with so much life that audience members can’t help but start to dance. Even the most timid wallflower would find themselves nodding their head or tapping their foot.
In an age where technology is more prominent than ever, it is easy to assume that nights like what occurred at Fly By Night don’t exist anymore. Nights where strangers can come together and have a shared experience.
These three bands and others like them are continuing to keep the feeling alive. Their music serves as a promise that people yearn for a connection and experience that can only be created with music.
Concert at Fly by Night in south Knoxville, Sep.16, 2025
