If you go
› What: Those Lavender Whales› Where: JJ’s Bohemia, 231 E. M.L. King Blvd.› When: 9 p.m. to midnight tonight, April 13› Admission: $5› For more information: 423-362-5695
Two days after Aaron Graves was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in March 2014, he wrote “Growing.”
“It talks about types of growth – the dichotomy of personal growth, the beauty of nature in spring and then the cancer cells growing inside my body trying to kill me. Songwriting became an outlet of emotion for me. I think writing songs was a good way to express frustration, little joys and keep myself positive. It was a good, creative outlet to hold onto while I was going through that time and the uncertainty it brought,” says Graves, founder of Those Lavender Whales.
“Growing” blossomed into “My Bones Are Singing,” the Whales’ new album that was released April 7 on South Carolina’s Fork & Spoon label. Chattanoogans will be among the first to hear it live when Those Lavender Whales play JJ’s Bohemia tonight, April 13. Golden Pelicans will open at 9 p.m.
Those Lavender Whales started as a dorm room project of Graves while he was a student at Belmont College in Nashville. He was writing and recording songs at the time as a solo effort. His friend Chris Gardner was a college student in Pennsylvania and would join Graves in performing when he was home.