When I was in New York after moving there and doing production for hip-hop emcees, I'd be making beats for them, and I'd have urges where I'd say, You know what would sound cool here? Some pedal steel guitar. That was always rejected, so I had to go off on my own and experiment on that.
If you go
› What: Nightfall concert series featuring Gangstagrass.› When: 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12; Mendingwall opens at 7 p.m.› Where: Miller Plaza, 850 Market St.› Admission: Free.› Phone: 423-265-0771.› Series’ website: nightfallchattanooga.com.› Artist website: gangstagrass.com.
Discography
2007: “Rench Presents: Gangstagrass”2010: “Lightning on the Strings, Thunder on the Mic”2012: “Rappalachia”2014: “Broken Hearts and Stolen Money”2015: “American Music”
The opener
Mendingwall is an Athens, Tenn.-based roots rock trio consisting of John Gordon (guitar/vocals), Joseph Gordon (bass/lead vocals) and John Knox (drums). For more information, visit www.mendingwallmusic.com.
If the Billboard charts were a high school, stereotypical musical wisdom would suggest bluegrass bands and hip-hop emcees sit on opposite sides of the cafeteria and glare daggers at each other in the halls.