LISA DENTON: Barry, the musicians of Black Jacket Symphony are coming back to the Tivoli Theatre this weekend, and this time the guitarists have a particular challenge. They always choose iconic albums, but for this one they'll be playing the song that readers of Guitarist Magazine voted as having the Top Guitar Solo of All Time: The Eagles' "Hotel California."
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
Joe Walsh and Don Felder were crowned kings of the hill in that 1998 survey, with Eddie Van Halen ("Eruption"), David Gilmour ("Comfortably Numb"), Eric Clapton ("Crossroads") and Jimi Hendrix ("Voodoo Chile") rounding out the Top 5.
BARRY COURTER: My write-in campaign for Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" never got any traction. They argued some technicality about his ukulele not being a proper guitar or some such.
LISA: A ridiculous rule. Air guitar doesn't qualify either, and I've got the chops for that. I usually play first thing in the morning when my hair looks like I could be in a metal band.
The BJS concert will play all the songs from that 1976 album and other hits from the band. These concerts are always well attended, but the "Hotel California" show has proved so popular that the Friday show sold out and a Saturday show was added.
BARRY: I know you and I talk about it before every show, but the BJS success has to qualify as one of the city's biggest music phenomena. It has been a success almost right out of the gate, and for it to not only sell out but sell so well a second show was added is remarkable. Obviously, it's because folks here like their classic rock, and the musicians are good.
LISA: There's also a community paddle scheduled Sunday called the Floatila. The people planning it say you can use a standup board, canoe, kayak or raft. I'm not sure how they feel about a SpongeBob SquarePants float, but that's what I have.
Anyway, you put in at Coolidge Park, float down the Tennessee River to Lookout Creek and leave the water at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center. There, you can explore the property and listen to music by Slim Pickins and Shabti. It all sounds very Huck Finn, which would be the right mindset for Hal Holbrook's Mark Twain Tonight show, coming up later this month at the Tivoli.
BARRY: And don't forget that Rosanne Cash will open Patten Performances: An inSight Series on Friday at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Johnny's daughter knows a thing or two about music herself, having recorded 11 No. 1 country hits, including "Ain't No Money," " I Wonder," "It Hasn't Happened Yet" and a cover of John Hiatt's "The Way We Make a Broken Heart."
LISA: My favorites are "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" and her cover of "Tennessee Flat Top Box," which was originally a hit for her dad. I've read that she didn't know it was Johnny's song when she went into the studio with it, but her recording helped heal their strained relationship. That's nice.
Speaking of country music royalty, though a little less known, Struggle Jennings will be at Track 29 on Tuesday supporting a new tour by Yelawolf. Not only is Jennings a rapper, he raps to granddaddy Waylon's songs. Part of me says that just ain't right, but I guess that's what an "outlaw" legacy is all about.
And you have to like the name, Struggle. Maybe it's the word that has defined his life. In that case, you can call me Chocolate Denton.
BARRY: That's just so wrong. Struggle is a good name. His uncle is Shooter Jennings. I wonder if they have an Oops or a Duck in the family. I think my life-defining name would be Eating.
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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.