Get Off The Couch: Black Jacket Symphony tackles AC/DC big hits

Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
photo Lisa Denton and Barry Courter

BARRY COURTER: Lisa, I only know of a few rock albums that are pretty close to perfect from start to finish, but the guys in Black Jacket Symphony will be doing one of them Saturday at the Tivoli Theatre. As is their formula, BJS will do "Back in Black" in its entirety for the first set, then come back out with an AC/DC greatest hits collection in the second.

From the opening BONG, BONG, BONG of "Hell's Bells" to the closing notes of "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution," it's headbanging perfection.

LISA DENTON: It's powerful music with a powerful story behind it. "Back in Black," released in 1980, was the first album with lead singer Brian Johnson after the band lost former vocalist Bon Scott to alcohol poisoning. Band members said they made it as a tribute to Scott, who reportedly had completed some of the songs before he died. It's sold a gazillion copies (25.9 million in certified sales, actually, No. 6 all-time) and made all kinds of "best of" lists. But the the cool thing about Black Jacket Symphony is you can hear more favorite songs after the 10 tracks on "Back in Black." I've always liked "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (the song, too).

BARRY: It also marks one of the few times when a band replaced someone like Bon Scott and carried on with even greater success. Some would argue they got better.

For those unfamiliar, Black Jacket Symphony does wear black jackets, but they are not a symphony. For each classic-rock album they do live -- they've done 26 different ones so far -- they go out and find the best musicians they can for the musical parts needed. They don't try to look like the original band, but they do want to sound like the album, note-for-note. It's a great show.

Also this weekend, Kristin Key will appear at The Comedy Catch. She makes me laugh out loud. Her bit about children's fairy tales taking on an entirely different meaning when we are adults is good stuff. It's called "Drunk People Lose Shoes" and includes the idea that Cinderella was an ungrateful stepdaughter who wouldn't even clean for her room and board, and then gets invited to a party and goes after the hottest guy there.

Remind you of anyone? Me either.

LISA: She's very funny. And after she leaves Chattanooga, she goes to places like Kokomo, Ind., and Little Rock, Ark. Her jokes must write themselves.

Don't forget that the Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival is this weekend at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Birchwood. They'll have some events set up at Birchwood Community Center and run shuttles to the river to see the birds.

And the Southern Lit Alliance is starting a new literary program called South Bound. The first meeting, called Books & Brews, will be Tuesday night at Heaven & Ale on Cherokee Boulevard. The idea is that you bring a favorite read from home, leave a note inside for the future reader, then pick up a new-to-you book to take home. And maybe have a beer or two, if you're so inclined.

My problem would be picking out a book to take. I always want to keep my favorites and wouldn't want to inflict the less-than-satisfying ones on anyone else. I guess my note to the next reader could be a disclaimer: "I hated this book, but maybe you'll like it."

BARRY: That's a neat idea. You're right, though, I don't tend to hang onto books I don't like. We do have a few come through the office, however, that are worthy of passing on.

I kid. I imagine the idea is to promote reading, and this is a fun idea, especially the idea of the notes. You could really mess with some folks with things like "What a way to die" or "I couldn't believe he did that."

Get event information every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

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

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