Get Off The Couch: Goodbye, Lookouts; hello, live music

Thursday, August 29, 2013

LISA DENTON: Fall won't be here for another three weeks, Barry, but it sure feels like summer's over when Labor Day rolls around.

The Nightfall series is over, football season is heating up, and today is the last day to watch the Chattanooga Lookouts play. You can say so long to the boys of summer at 2:15 p.m. at AT&T Field. They're playing the Tennessee Smokies.

BARRY COURTER: I have a feeling the Looks as a team are not too unhappy to see this season go. The individual players maybe not so much, but the second half of the season was not good.

Anyway, this is a good week for live music. Scenic City Roots is back at Track 29 with the David Mayfield Parade, Rick Rushing and the Blues Strangers (fresh off opening for Ana Popovic at Riverfront Nights on Saturday), Sturgill Simpson and Mike Farris. And, if you like things a little old school, Wilson Phillips headlines StarNight on Saturday at the Chattanooga Convention Center. You'll remember them as Carnie and Wendy Wilson, daughters of Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and Chynna Phillips, daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas.

If you like real old school, Black Jacket Symphony returns to town to perform The Rolling Stones' "Some Girls" in its entirety at the Tivoli on Saturday. It wasn't my favorite when it came out, but songs like "Beast of Burden," "Miss You," "Shattered" and the title track all seem like classics now.

I also remember Garrett Morris did a funny commentary on the title track on "Saturday Night Live" after people complained about part of the lyrics.

LISA: Yeah, wasn't he wondering where he could get "Some Girls" like that?

BARRY: That's it.

LISA: Speaking of Riverfront Nights, Saturday's headliner is Seven Handle Circus, a bluegrass rock band. Music fans may remember that the band headlined Nightfall last summer. For that show, the Dismembered Tennesseans were the opening act, but the band has also shared the stage with rappers T-Pain and Yung Joc. I bet that's the first time the Dismembered Tennesseans have been mentioned in the same breath as T-Pain and Yung Joc.

BARRY: Well, I don't know, Fletcher Bright is pretty hip. ... Nah, you're probably right.

Keeping with the theme, if you want to go really, really old school, as in "the stench of 2,000 years," the funkiest group of undead, Here Come the Mummies, will be at Track 29 on Friday. These guys know how to party.

LISA: One Halloween, I dressed my kids up as monsters and wrapped some bandages around myself and went as their "mummy." But that was nothing like the mummified look these guys go for. Dressed as they are, though, I can't help but think they missed an opportunity to do rap. Tee hee.

BARRY: Insert mummy groan here at both puns. The videos of them performing "Carol of the Bells" are classic.

Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.