IF YOU GOWhat: Nightfall concert featuring WTM Blues Band.When: 8 tonight. Cadillac Saints opens at 7 p.m.Where: Miller Plaza, corner of M.L. King Boulevard, Market and Cherry streets.Admission: Free.Phone: 265-0771.Website: www.chattanooganightfall.com.THE OPENERCadillac Saints is a local progressive blues/rock quartet consisting of Matthew Walley, Jeremy Walley, Jeff Copeland and Josh Kile. For more information about them, visit their Facebook profile at www.facebook.com/thecadillacsaints.
Although he beat out plenty of “serious” musicians to nab a headlining slot at Nightfall, Thorpe McKenzie is a pretty poor self-promoter.
“I consider my band members professional, but I consider myself a well-meaning amateur,” the 63-year-old blues frontman of the WTM Blues Band said, laughing. “What I can bring to the table that will make [tonight] fun is years of listening to this material … and new arrangements that make this sound like something that would be on the radio today.”
When WTM takes the stage at Miller Plaza tonight, McKenzie said, his band will perform a set of about 20 songs, primarily covers of blues artists he listened to growing up, from legends such as Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker to lesser-knowns such as Hound Dog Taylor and Dave “Snaker” Ray.
In April, WTM Blues Band earned its headlining slot by beating out 24 other local artists in McKay’s Road to Nightfall, a popular-vote battle of the bands.