BARRY COURTER: Lisa, we have devoted a lot of time and space in our newspaper in the last several years talking about the growth of the live music scene in our fair city, and rightfully so. It has felt like a virtual renaissance. But there is a show on Friday at Engel Stadium that screams old school on so many levels.
LISA DENTON: Old school, indeed. For this year's American Dream Concert, organizers have tapped into four local acts with staying power. The Power Players are the "babies" of the group, with close to a decade on the local music scene and experience in Detroit before that. The old-timers (if they'll pardon the expression) - Roger Alan Wade, Jimmy Tawater and Overland Express - have been playing music around here since the 1970s. But - fun fact - they have never shared a stage before.
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
BARRY: That seems kind of crazy, doesn't it? Overland has 43 years under their belts, and Jimmy and Roger have been playing for at least that long. What a great idea putting this lineup together was. The show is a fundraiser for the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program within the College of Business at UTC. This program helps veterans utilize their skills and knowledge in furthering their careers.
Throw in Engel Stadium, and you have a very cool event. I could sit in that place and watch it rain and be happy.
LISA: As Dale Berra, son of Yogi, once said, "Wet rain or dry rain?"
It's a shame the place doesn't get used more.
BARRY: And in case you don't get enough of Randy Clark on Friday with his Overland gig, his other iconic local institution, The Beaters, will be playing at Songbirds South on Saturday. That's the same night that The Mattress Police, which were a popular band around here in the late '80s, are getting back together for one night at The Honest Pint.
They featured three kids (at least at the time) from Notre Dame and one from Baylor. Opening for them will be Lennox Hills, which features a bunch of recent Notre Dame grads, so there is some nice symmetry there. It's a fundraiser for the school.
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.