Since John Bruton helms two of the city's most popular venues—The Cannery Ballroom and adjoining Mercy Lounge—he sees so many bands they're bound to blur together. But that doesn't mean that he can't appreciate a good one when he sees it. In the past few months, his enthusiasm has materialized in the form of...a giant Gumby costume. Most recently, Gumby's awkward jive surprised a visibly off-guard Matt Pelham of The Features at the band's Next Big Nashville performance at the Cannery, and local luminaries such as Ghostfinger and How I Became the Bomb have been past recipients of Gumby's adoration. So if the next time your band plays the Cannery or Mercy you see a giant green Laffy Taffy log dancing poorly behind you, keep it cool. Probably means you're doing a good job. Bonus points to the first band that hands Gumby an instrument. —MATT SULLIVAN
