Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
BARRY COURTER: Lisa, we made it through another holiday season, which means the entertainment calendar should start filling up again. And a quick look says I am right. One of the coolest shows might be Henry Rollins at the Walker Theatre on Thursday.
He might have more adjectives attached to his name than any artist who’s been here in a while. You know how folks like us like to write things like singer/songwriter/actor. He is those things plus spoken-word artist/author/motivational speaker/provocateur/humorist and sometimes rabble-rouser.
LISA DENTON: I like the last descriptions the best. Especially when you can combine motivational speaking with being a rabble-rouser. Like this little ditty I ran across the other day: Life is too short to be serious all the time. So if you can’t laugh at yourself, call me … and I’ll laugh at you.
That’s a keeper. I’m known for my little ditties.
BARRY: That’s on the same set of coffee mugs that includes “If you can’t say anything nice about someone, come sit next to me,” isn’t it? I hope to one day replace the string of adjectives after my name because the current ones – “doofus/goober” – just don’t sing on a business card like you might think.
LISA: “Doofus” may not get you in the door, but “Goober” sounds friendly enough, as long as you stay in the South. And there’s something to be said for name recognition. Frankly, all my people know it’s you I’m talking about when I tell them, “Goober says hey.”
BARRY: There is a new-to-us artist named Stelle Amor coming to Revelry Room on Thursday as well. She has a big powerful jazzy/blues voice. I also really like the video she did for her song “Get Right.” You can watch it at https://youtu.be/SGJBHIJd9ao.
Tinsley Ellis returns to town also for a show on Saturday at Songbirds Guitar Museum. He’s one of the better blues guitar players around, and you can’t beat Songbirds as a place to watch a really good axeman.
LISA: The place was practically built for such things.
And don’t forget that the Chattanooga Songwriters Association is moving its Songwriters Night from second Tuesdays to second Thursdays starting this month. This month’s performers are Jim Green, Jason Adams, Randy Finchum and host Bob DeYoung. It’s a free event that lets you hear the latest from four area songwriters for a couple of hours at Heritage House in East Brainerd. Music gets underway at 7 p.m., but you can show up a half-hour early to mingle. And maybe pitch your own little ditties.
Get event details every Thursday in Chattanooga Now 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.