LISA DENTON: Barry, I figure that, as long as we're in the habit of getting off the couch every night of the week thanks to Riverbend, we should keep that trend going.
So this week, I'm thinking tonight we could hit the Best of Preps Banquet to see former Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones. On Tuesday, we could see Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros at Track 29. Then Wednesday, the Chattanooga Lookouts are back at AT&T Field after their Riverbend hiatus, and Thursday we could either catch Moonlight Bride in the All-American Summer concert series at the Hunter Museum of American Art, or do a good deed and go to the UTC Master Chorale concert at Second Presbyterian Church. Proceeds from that go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
And that brings us to the weekend for Nightfall at Miller Plaza, James Gregory at The Comedy Catch, Dancing With the Chattanooga Stars at the Tivoli Theatre and Chattanooga Market at First Tennessee Pavilion.
That's a lot on the plate, but you know how much I like a full plate.
BARRY COURTER: I actually didn't go every night of Riverbend, but I did stay up way past my bedtime every night of Bonnaroo.
Chipper Jones is a huge deal at Best of Preps. We don't brag on our co-workers, except to each other, very often, but kudos to the marketing department at the Times Free Press for signing the future hall-of-famer.
And I love Edward Sharpe. I especially love "Home": "Alabama Arkansas I do love my Ma and Pa/Not the way that I love you." I'm going to be singing that all day.
LISA: Friday's Nightfall concert is Amber Fults and the Ambivalent Lovers, who won the McKay's Road to Nightfall showdown. Dana Rogers will be opening. That's a cool opportunity for local talent.
BARRY: Amber can flat sing, and it's really cool that Nightfall gives locals the chance to headline. This lets folks see how talented our local musicians are.
LISA: And James Gregory, who's from the Atlanta area, almost feels like he belongs here. It's been a while since I've seen his show, so maybe this 30th anniversary tour would be a good time to judge if he can still lay claim to "The Funniest Man in America" title.
BARRY: Lawd, James is here enough to call it home. For sure we can claim him. There's no law against it.
LISA: You just summed up 30 years of comedy right there.
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Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.