Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
BARRY COURTER: Lisa, as you know, one of the best things about this job is getting to watch as people start a career almost from scratch and then do something great. Whether it’s opening a new business, chasing a dream in the arts or figuring out a way to do something good for other people, we sometimes get to be there in the beginning. Of course, we’ve watched some colossal flame-outs, too, but let’s give respect to those people for trying.
LISA DENTON: I thought the best thing about this job is the freedom to ask nosy questions, but, OK, that other thing, too.
BARRY: It’s only a rumor if non-professionals like us are asking about it.
Anyway, I bring this up because Kane Brown returns to town Friday for a birthday bash at Track 29. The young country singer was a relative unknown a couple of years ago and was pretty much being ignored by Nashville types until the number of people watching his videos on social media sites became too great to overlook. I’m talking millions. Today he is on nearly everyone’s “person to watch” list when it comes to rising new country singers.
LISA: He signed with RCA/Sony Music Nashville earlier this year, so he’s definitely on his way up. Friday, by the way, is his actual 23rd birthday. And getting to play a bona fide concert in your hometown is a big deal. At least that’s the impression I got when Lauren Alaina headlined Riverbend.
While we’re passing out kudos, let’s throw one her way. The Season 10 runner-up on “American Idol” is having a good year. Her latest single, “Road Less Traveled,” is her highest charting to date, and the song has spawned a feature-length film of the same name that’s already begun production in Knoxville. She’s co-starring with Charlene Tilton of “Dallas” fame.
BARRY: Lauren and Kane are good friends, by the way, and they were former classmates at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School. Good for them both.
Also on Friday, the Tivoli is hosting an evening with David Sedaris. He is one of the funniest writers working today with books like “Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls,” his latest, which happens to be up for a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. He also has a collection of fables called “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary.”
LISA: I’m still partial to “The Santaland Diaries” segments he did for NPR, relating his experiences playing Crumpet the Elf at Macy’s in New York. Hysterical stuff.
BARRY: On Thursday, the Public Library continues its 40th on Broad Movie Night with “Car Wash” for the adults and “Freaky Friday” for the kids. That would be the Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris version, not the Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis version.
If you want something scary, Heritage House in East Brainerd is showing “House on Haunted Hill.” It’s a Vincent Price classic in which he invites five people to stay in his house overnight. Last person still there wins $10,000. I’d pay that if they cleaned while they were there.
Get event details 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.