While many students spent last Wednesday catching another episode of “Laguna Beach,” others were blazing between bands through Market Square and the Old City at the annual Knoxville at Night cancer benefit.
The benefit celebrated four years of cancer support and awareness with more than 25 locally, nationally and even internationally known bands bringing down the house at 10 local venues. The event was centered on local guitarist Laith Keilany, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Many of the bands knew Laith personally and came down to support their dear friend the best way they knew how.
“There has been such an outpouring of love and support because of Laith,” said Jodie Manross, Keilany’s musical cohort of 10 years. “ He has such a big heart and giving spirit. Cancer couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Laith and I have participated in more benefits than I can count. Now is a chance we can give back to such a great and talented person.”
The Mitch Rutman Group was also very excited about supporting Keilany.
“… I’m so glad to be a part of this,” Mitch Rutman said. “Every one of us is going into the show because Laith is very near and dear to us. I would play for free if Laith had a hangnail.”
Yet, as dusk neared, Knoxville was ingrown musically. The early lineup started with bands like Gypsy Hands, Robinella and Ours to Alibi, who seared Preservation Pub with their vocal-less indie rock.
“This was our first concert in the Knoxville area, so we really didn’t know what to expect,” lead guitarist Corban Irby said after the set. “But there was a good crowd response and everyone was really nice. The atmosphere was really cool, and it was a little more intimate than most of the venues we play at.”
Meanwhile, Brandy Robinson was tearing up the microphone at the jam-packed World Grotto with her pick-less mix of soul and folk music. A Tennessean-turned-surfer girl, Robinson speaks her mind through her music.
“Well, my music is very socially conscious,” Robinson said. “I definitely try to think about personal experiences as well as issues from sex association, to temptation to politics. I try to write about a wide range of topics. Being on stage also gives me a sense of power and expression, and I hope people walk away from the show feeling like they got something out of it.”
As Robinson wound down, the Mitch Rutman Group took center stage back at Preservation Pub. Its set ran the musical gamut from Latin to rock and even jazz fusion.
“The project itself was to put a band together that was basically the cream of the crop,” Rutman said. “We play serious music with a comic twist but with enough groove that, even if you’re not a jazz or jam band fan, you’ll have a good time. We take a deliberate effort to reach people, and when I write I take this into account. If I make people think too much, I think I’m defeating my own purpose. I want people to say, ‘Wow, this is a really great tune’ and then ‘Dude, I’m going to dance.’”
And sure enough, 10 minutes into the set the floor was bumping.
As the night peaked, Mitch Rutman Group drummer Chad Melton hastened over to sit in with Dishwater Blonde as they overtook Blue Cats in a funky stride. Lead vocalist Davis Mitchell dazzled the crowd with his red disco cap and matching Fender Stratocaster, and Cozmo Hollaway burnt the crowd with his swift-fingered solos.
Also in the heat of the night, The Coveralls tore through the Downtown Grill and Brewery. At one point, during an especially brash cover of Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, guitarist Joe E. “Mayhem’s” amp fell over.
“The Coveralls have been together about five years and no one’s amp has ever fallen over,” drummer Dave “The Animal” Camp said. “Anyways, we have over 200 tunes. A lot of bands do nothing but ‘80s, but we go from the ‘60s to the ‘90s. Also, we usually have more time, but tonight I was just warming up.”
But unlike Camp, whether from drinking or dancing, Knoxville was winding down. As early morning approached, the crowd began to fade, and the city dazed with a content exhaustion, turning to another day with high hopes of next year’s Knoxville at Night glimmering in the distance.
