Last week, we here at the Scene told you what we thought about the year 2006 in local music, so this week we wanted to let some of the purveyors of that art speak for themselves. We turned to a smattering of folks in the local rock scene, because no matter how much press and buzz the city continues to attract, the bands that make up Nashville rock are still underdogs, proving themselves night after night. Here are some insights from them on the year that’s loading out and the one that’s just now lacing up its Chuck Taylors. What band will be ruling the world by January 2008? If there is any justice in the world, then the Carter Administration. But I think we can all agree that there is no justice in the world. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! Jensen Sportag. They have the technology for takeover. —DEREK PEARSON, UMBRELLA TREE The Captain Midnight Band. —TURNCOATS The Beatles. And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. —TOMMY WOMACK How I Became the Bomb. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL There’s an incredible band that moved to Nashville a while back called Der Bang Bang Bang. They are number one and the best. I think they’re from Germany. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB It seems like How I Became the Bomb is doing that now, but I’d like to see Turncoats—I can’t believe that they didn’t get to open for the NY Dolls. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY Weedeater. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER De Novo Dahl. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES & AARON HARTLEY, THEORY 8 RECORDS Ghostfinger. Duh. —DJ SEAN MALONEY Honestly, I think that Paramore’s next record is gonna be bigger than anything next year! I just have this feeling that Haley is gonna be the next Gwen Stefani! —JAREN JOHNSTON, BANG BANG BANG What’s your favorite local act that’s still under the radar? Right now it doesn’t get any better than rock team JEFF. They’re very awesome and weird, and I think everybody here in a band should see them. Their sheer lack of professionalism combined with their seemingly unintentional disregard for by-the-book “rock rules,” combined with their right-on teenage humor makes them by far the most interesting live group in Nashville. If more bands from here had their spirit, this town would get a lot of press coverage in England. —CHRIS SLACK, SLACK The Secret. —TOMMY WOMACK The Captain Midnight Band. —TURNCOATS Poet Named Revolver. The reason is on my external hard drive right now. —ZACHARY GRESHAM, UMBRELLA TREE This question is not fair—I have five to name besides Glossary: Velcro Stars, Slack, The Carter Administration, Hands Down Eugene and Lone Official. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY Hendry Dagz. He is basically the greatest Samoan singer-songwriter ever. Is Don Ho Samoan? Check on that for me. If Don Ho is Samoan, then Hendry Dagz is number 2. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB Well, I don’t know if they are under the radar, but we played with De Novo Dahl at CMJ and they were freakin’ great! They’re probably my favorite local band. —JAREN JOHNSTON, BANG BANG BANG Bad Friend. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL De Novo Dahl. Hands down. They have amazing songs, a crazy visual show and are awesome to hang with. —NEIL MASON, BANG BANG BANG The Darlins. Kelly “Rock & Roll Camp” Anderson finally has that all-girl band she’s been working on, and they kick serious ass. They play traditional country the way it was meant to be played, in the living room. And they have the best ukulele player in Bucket City. —DJ SEAN MALONEY Umbrella Tree. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES & AARON HARTLEY, THEORY 8 RECORDS Did I mention The Carter Administration? These boys have been writing the best pop songs in town since way back in the 20th century. There’s no reason that they should not be your favorite band. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! Hands Down Eugene. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER What’s your musical New Year’s resolution? Open for Timberlake. —JILLIAN LEIGH, UMBRELLA TREE I have not played tuba since moving to Murfreesboro from UT-Knoxville. I really want to score a tuba and play in a country band at Robert’s. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY I have three: 1. Make new record. 2. Learn to sing. 3. Kill all enemy. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB Buy some real gear. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL To write the best record I can for our major label release. —JAREN JOHNSTON, BANG BANG BANG I’m gonna arm wrestle Doug Morris at Universal. Ryan “Casa Burrito” Bruce taught me his old, family arm-wrestling trick—Morris is going down. —DJ SEAN MALONEY To stop borrowing Jeremy Ferguson’s gear to record at my house (thank you Fergie!) and buy my own. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES We plan to have no fewer than three records finished before the end of 2007. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! To rule the world, and gain more consciousness. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER To throw my distortion pedal in the Cumberland River and see what happens. —CHRIS SLACK, SLACK What’s your biggest musical regret of 2006? If you saw us at 8 off 8th, then you know... —TURNCOATS “Turpentine.” —DEREK PEARSON & ZACHARY GRESHAM, UMBRELLA TREE Missing Skyblazer entirely. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! That I didn’t get to play synthesizer for a dancy Movement Nashville band. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER Not finding a copy of Bob Seger’s “Heavy Music Pt. 1 & 2” 45 rpm sooner. Best record he ever made. —DJ SEAN MALONEY Tower’s bankruptcy. —AARON HARTLEY, THEORY 8 RECORDS Not being involved in the Rock ’n’ Roll Girls Camp this year. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES No Character reunion show. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL What was your favorite local release in 2006? Will Kimbrough’s Americanitis, Todd Snider’s The Devil You Know and Rockin’ in the Forest with Farmer Jason from Farmer Jason—three of my mainest men, incredibly talented. The fact that they let me onstage with them does immense things for me as an artist and as a human being. Also, Molly Thomas’ Shoot the Sky makes me feel really good when I hear it. —TOMMY WOMACK Glossary’s For What I Don’t Become. —TURNCOATS Forget Cassettes’ Salt. —JILLIAN LEIGH, UMBRELLA TREE Apollo Up!’s Chariots of Fire. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY Do Bawston Sean’s podcasts count? They are frightening and exciting. I guess I will go with Ocelots’ last record. It’s not as good as their live shows, but it’s pretty neat. If Snakerider or Velcro Stars had a record, then we’d be in business. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB JEFF’s Castle Storm. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL That’s easy. Kyle Andrews’ Amos in Ohio! Freakin’ genius man! —JAREN JOHNSTON, BANG BANG BANG Steve Lee’s What did you do today Stephen Scott Lee? —NEIL MASON, BANG BANG BANG The Dynamites “Come On In”/“Slinky” 45 rpm on Outta Sight Records. Three words: Funky, Funky, Funky. I’m dying for the full-length to come out. —DJ SEAN MALONEY Cortney Tidwell’s Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES Jeff’s Castle Storm. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! Tie: Pink Spiders’ “Little Razorblade” single or Hands Down Eugene’s Madison. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER What was your favorite local show of 2006? All We Seabees’ album release at The Basement. Their gear was stolen before they even loaded in. —ZACHARY GRESHAM, UMBRELLA TREE The Spider Virus reunion show at The End. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY The Mattoid at Casa Burrito. They played to fill our dreams. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB Skyblazer at Springwater. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL Pink Mountaintops and Catfish Haven show at The Basement in June. Not a local show, per se, but Jon “How I Became the Bomb” Burr’s head-butt to the doorman is legendary. Definitely the funniest thing I saw all year. —DJ BAWSTON SEAN Be Your Own Pet opening for Le Tigre. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES Weedeater at the Springwater. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER Power Load’s AC/DC cover set at the 3 Crow Bar on my 30th birthday. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! What musical trend would you like to see retired in 2007? Trash-talking successful bands. So Be Your Own PET were on Conan, or The Pink Spiders were on TRL? How does that affect you? It’s not like Geffen or Universal had a spot reserved for a Nashville band, and they cut in line. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! Dancy-ass ’80s music. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER The never-ending bashing of bands in this town. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES & AARON HARTLEY, THEORY 8 RECORDS I want everyone in a band to throw their distortion pedals in the Cumberland River and see what happens. —CHRIS SLACK, SLACK Modern rock radio. —TURNCOATS The four-band bill. —UMBRELLA TREE Mediocre bands getting major-label deals. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY Chris Cornell. The five-string bass. Tight jeans. I don’t know if the aforementioned things are musical, but I don’t understand them. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB Movement Nashville. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL Nu-metal. —JAREN JOHNSTON, BANG BANG BANG Guy-liner. —DJ SEAN MALONEY What does the Nashville music scene need in 2007? An audience would be great. —TOMMY WOMACK A swift kick in the ass. —TURNCOATS More cowbell. —JILLIAN LEIGH, UMBRELLA TREE (1) The Local Music Scene needs more fans. (2) Nashville needs its own Austin City Limits except you couldn’t call it that—“Nashville City Limits” sounds too...unoriginal. It would have to get broadcast outside on public access TV. We all know that people in Nashville won’t watch it. Wait, we already have that—it’s called the Grand Ole Opry. Nevermind, bad idea. (3) Actually what does the Nashville scene not have? Think about it: we are lucky people, we have great music of all kinds, great clubs, WRVU, Grimey’s, papers that actually write about the local scene, great studios and lots of awesome people that are making all of this happen. Maybe I’m just too old to complain now. Someone convince Rick Whetsel that it would be really cool if more local bands got opportunities to open up for all those huge national acts that play at his place. That would really help make more fans. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY More bands that can write songs that match their musicianship. Everyone in town can play, but not everyone can write. Again, we have a song called “Fat Girls Talkin’ ’Bout Cardio,” so feel free to discount everything I say. Other than that, the scene needs more Bubblegum Complex or, more specifically, Caldwell from the Bubblegum Complex. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB Fewer record deals. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL Velvet red curtains covering the walls of City Hall. I think that would make it the best venue in town (excluding the Ryman). —JAREN JOHNSTON, BANG BANG BANG 2006 was a great year because most of the bands were really looking to support each other in any way they could. If that continues in 2007, with all the momentum that Nashville bands have, then the world will finally see that Nashville has so much more to offer than just country music. —NEIL MASON, BANG BANG BANG More bands from Murfreesboro. We’re, like, the new Montreal or whatever… —DJ SEAN MALONEY A local booking agency. —AARON HARTLEY, THEORY 8 RECORDS More Duane Dennison. —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES More money and support given to the underground rock scene. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER A weekly outdoor concert event, like Uptown Mix. Nashville is the greatest music town in the world, and there’s nothing better than standing under the stars and watching Wilco or the Violent Femmes or some other fantastic band with 500 of your closest friends. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! What’s your favorite local club to play, and why? The Family Wash. I love the people who work there and I love the hominess about it. In my last two or three years of hibernation, I’ve pretty much played only there. The small stage made me strip my band down and we really found a new sound playing there a lot. —TOMMY WOMACK Grand Palace. —TURNCOATS Mercy Lounge: consistent sound checks, separate monitor mixers, great room. —UMBRELLA TREE The Basement, because Geoff and Mike are awesome, it sounds good, and it is very comfy. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY In Murfreesboro, it’s definitely the Grand Palace. The sound ranges from good to awesome, depending on Alex Norfleet’s level of inebriation. The place feels like an abandoned mental hospital taken over by gay tattoo artists. This is a good thing. In Nashville, The Basement is still the king. Although lotsa places are fun to play at, The Basement has the best staff and best sound. Plus, they have forgiveness in their hearts. —JON BURR, HOW I BECAME THE BOMB The Basement—Mike Grimes treats ya right. —ERIC WILLIAMS, LONE OFFICIAL Man, I love Mercy and Exit. Both have their flaws, but they are really vibey places to play. Not gonna lie though, the Ryman was something else! —JAREN JOHNSTON, BANG BANG BANG Exit/In. I was 12 years old and it was the only place I wanted to play, I just thought it seemed larger than life. I mean Tom Petty and Steve Martin have both had gigs there. That’s badass! —NEIL MASON, BANG BANG BANG Can I say Grand Palace? Is that against the rules? Technically it’s “not a venue”… —DJ SEAN MALONEY No favorites…my top 3: Exit/In (loading in and out is easy as pie), The End (Brad!!), Mercy Lounge (no one takes care of bands better than John Bruton). —BETH CAMERON, FORGET CASSETTES The Basement always feels like home, but Mercy Lounge usually has someone else’s beer left over from the night before backstage. Don’t ask me to choose. —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP! The Basement. It sounds good and Mike Grimes is a great club owner. Geoff and Dave Brown are totally the best bartenders in town. And people turn it out and get rowdy when the shit hits the fan. —MATT ROWLAND, GHOSTFINGER How old is Bruce Fitzpatrick? How old is rock ’n’ roll? —CHRIS SLACK, SLACK Funny you should ask because I met him at Cantrell’s in 1983 and he looked exactly the same then as he does now. Something Transylvanian going on there. —TOMMY WOMACK Older than age, younger than youth. —ZACHARY GRESHAM, UMBRELLA TREE Bruce is immortal. He has to be at least 5067 years old, but he still seems like he is 29. —BINGHAM BARNES, GLOSSARY I don’t really think he even knows.... —NEIL MASON, BANG BANG BANG I believe it was Eliphaz the Temanite who said, “Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou made before the hills?” So, like, 50? —MIKE SHEPARD, APOLLO UP!
