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November 02, 2007
They can't get no satisfaction, but their audience can
A brief time-out from politics and elections ensues:
Leticia Wolf's latest Pulse column takes us to a place I haven't been for a few name changes — you know, that place on MLK that used to be Jacob's Ladder, and before that, Chameleon, and before that, something else...and in another sense, her article takes me to a place I haven't been since I first came to the Chattanooga area in 1989.
The year was — oh, right, I already said that. It was October, I think; Fall, anyway. Being new to town, I had no idea what went on around here musically. As I was just under 21, I hadn't yet discovered a place called "Yesterdays" and its legions of fraternity brothers and its mediocre cover bands. A friend had invited me to an outdoor, free concert of "alternative" music, which sounded good to me.
I think it was my first trip to downtown Chattanooga. Remember: back then, downtown was still in the early stages of its rebirth. This whole town seemed to be focused on Hamilton Place as a mecca of some sort. (What were y'all thinking?) Anyway, I found Miller Plaza to be an enticing urban feature, and the alternative mini-festival I attended on that drizzly, cool Saturday afternoon seemed to bode well for my (temporary, I thought) stay in this area. How often does one see a guy dressed exactly like Robert Smith walking around in broad daylight, in this region of the country?
Some of the bands were forgettable. In fact, as I wrack my brain trying to remember eighteen (gulp) years ago, I can't remember very many at all. There was a Living Colour-esque group of funk-rockers, an older folkie from Asheville who sang derogatorily about then-Senator Jesse Helms, and there were others.
But the one band I have never forgotten is The Unsatisfied. Their lineup has changed pretty extensively over the years, so we're really talking about frontman Eric Scealf. He was — and, according to Leticia, is — an electrifying showman. The other band members at that time? I wouldn't know where to begin, except that the lead guitarist was a woman. That stood out to me. And that she played blisteringly loud, fast punk-metal riffs, and was thus, in my young mind, amazingly hot based on that fact alone (and was not that hard on the eyes, either). (My friend, to whom I confided this instant micro-crush, told me to relax, that she wasn't into dudes. I have no idea whether or not he said so with any authority on the matter, lest someone thinks I am attempting any gossip or slander.)
But, yes. The Unsatisfied. They were the highlight of the evening, for sure. And, though I don't get out much these days, I'm glad they're still out there highlighting other evenings.
Here's a question, though: with all the tourist-friendly gentrification that's gone on downtown, how likely would it be that one could catch this band on a Saturday evening in Miller Plaza today? And another question: whatever happened to that festival?
Guitar Blogging | By joe lance | 02:16 PM