Back Down South

Music Monday – The Dirty Guv’nahs

“I remember the first time I saw them a few years ago at Barley’s Taproom in Knoxville. The band played for literally three hours, and I danced and danced and danced with all my friends, drinking Newcastle and sweating in my cowboy boots the night before we ran all over the Georgia Bulldogs.” – Jess Boyd, a follower of this blog.

Photographed by Ashley Haskins

It seems like everybody in these parts are talking about The Dirty Guvnah’s. I’ve had a handful of readers email and tweet to me asking if I’d heard of them, each one telling me how fun of a show they put on and how great of guys they are. After visiting their website and reading that the Knoxville community elected “The Guvs” as the “Best Band In Knoxville” for 4 years running, I’d had enough. It was time for a listen.

As it turns out, this band is more than just a group of guys with a really cool band name. I gave their most recently released album, Youth Is In Our Blood (available for a free download on Noise Trade), a listen. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting anything exciting, as I typically find the band that “everyone is talking about” to be overrated. I was wrong. This band is exciting! Their sound is described perfectly as “a passionate, jubilant slice of rock meets Americana, accomplished through a sturdy foundation of gritty guitar tones and tight rhythms, accented with smooth harmonies, crunchy Hammond organ, bluesy piano and vigorous lead guitar solos.” Nailed it.

Thanks to Jess (quoted up top), I was able to get in contact with James, the lead singer, for a few questions.

Where were you all raised?
Everyone was raised in Knoxville except myself. I was born and raised in the Franklin / Columbia, TN area. I went to high school at Franklin High. Go Rebels. We all met in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee. Get ’em Vols. The band started as a fun thing to do on weekends while in school, entertaining people with music and songs we’d written. Then, it quickly became our passion and started taking over our lives…and we are grateful for it and for the support of all the fans. It’s a crazy life that we now live…one that none of us expected to live.

Y’all live in Knoxville, correct?
Yes, we all currently live in Knoxville and love it. We might be smaller than a lot of other southern cities, but Knoxville has more heart.

Favorite southern city you’ve played in?
Knoxville is our favorite place to play. This is our hometown, and they are the ones that encouraged us from the beginning. We don’t plan on ever moving.

What’s y’alls favorite thing about being a part of the southern music scene?
The southern music scene is alive and kicking. If you’re willing to put in the hours and tour, then you gain immediate respect among your peers. Musicians all share a common bond because they each know how much work it takes to be heard. We love the south, probably as much or more than anyone else.

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I couldn’t choose between the first two songs on Youth Is In Our Blood so I’m sharing them both, as they are both equally my favorites. Happy Monday!

The Dirty Guv’nahs “Baby We Were Young”

The Dirty Guv’nahs “Wide Awake”

The Guv’s are currently touring the South, of course, so check ’em out if they’re stopping in your town.

Football Friday | Roll Bow Tied

Lifelong Alabama Fan

Raised in:
Dothan, Alabama and Kingsport, Tennessee

Lives in:
Kingsport, Tennessee

Favorite Alabama game memory:
The 2009 LSU game. It was a back and forth battle, the kind where you are physically sick and exhausted from watching. During the third quarter, Julio Jones caught a pass and ran seventy yards for the touchdown that finished it out.

Now would ya look at that:
Meet Ryan, the man behind Gentleman’s Journal, sporting a subtle houndstooth jacket and standing at the counter of Wm King Clothiers, the store where he bought  his first bow tie. After this photo we chatted over some frozen yogurt and I can confirm that Ryan is, in fact, a gentleman.

The Ginger Beard Man

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Raised in:
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite family tradition:
Fishing, drinking wine and beer, and eating Wheat Thins and palmetto cheese off my parents dock in Charleston…at sunset.

Now would ya look at that:
Clever title compliments of The Ginger Beard Man himself. Bow tie purchased at M. Dumas & Sons in Charleston, and of course wearing his “Washed Once” jeans. We shot this while sharing a six pack of Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan and having what we like to call a BPFSY – best photo friend session, y’all.

Football Friday | The Orange Pants

Tennessee Alum

Raised in:
Cottontown, Tennessee

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite game day memory:
Many of my favorite game day memories come from hitting the road for away games, especially those within the SEC. I spent 7 years as a student at Tennessee – 4 as an undergrad and 3 as a grad student. During that time, I visited a variety of college towns and stadiums. While the weekends are always sure to be a good time, no matter what team, the game is a huge gamble. Everything could go terribly wrong and you’ll be forced to hear “Rammer Jammer” at a ridiculous decibel being yelled at you while sitting on the very last row, eventually sulking away with a coon-eye sunburn as your souvenir. Or, you could end up front row at Samford while your team rolls up 50+ and the other team’s student section is forced to walk directly in front of you to exit the stadium throughout the 4th quarter. Either way though, if you can keep your mouth shut if you win or take a couple of snide remarks if you lose, you can always head back and continue tailgating with the locals after its all said and done.

Now would ya look at that:
Ben Silver bow tie and Brooks Brothers pants purchased in the Knoxville store for a mere $19. They told Mason that they collected them from all the big locations (who couldn’t seem to sell any) and were just trying to get rid of them. He quickly emailed around 20 friends and the pants became a staple in his group. “They are a bit too peach but the check makes them original…and the material has held up well through muddy days and one bad loss to Vandy.”

Drew

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Raised in:
Memphis, Tennessee

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite song(s) about the south:
“Lets Stay Together” by the Memphis Rev. Al Green from my hometown and “The Weight of Lies” by the Avett Brothers. I have family in western North Carolina and the first time I heard the Avett Brothers Emotionalism album I was transported to childhood thanksgivings in the southern Appalachian mountains where I road around in a 1942 Army jeep with my great uncle jerry, who had one leg shorter than the other and carried a pistol in his jeans to scare of the “bares.”

Now would ya look at that:
The man behind Drew Holcomb & The Neigbors and his grandfather’s pocket watch. Also, the tattoo he got in Scotland to commemorate his time pursuing his crazy dream of songwriting (which began while living abroad in Scotland). The Scottish lion was a way to remember where he came from as a songwriter.

Football Friday | Go Rebs

University of Memphis grad, converted Ole Miss fan thanks to his girlfriend.

Raised in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

What have you come to love about Ole Miss:
I lived in Oxford for two years and loved how everything was within walking distance. I also love that Ole Miss football is about more than the game, but rather, it’s an entire social event.

Now would ya look at that:
Blue and red plaid pants from Nielson’s, the oldest store in the South, founded in Oxford in 1839.

Blueless

Photographed in Washington DC

Raised in:
Rockville, Maryland

Lives in:
Rockville, Maryland

Southern city you most want to visit:
I would really love to see a tumbleweed roll across a Texas highway someday. Take me to whatever city that happens in.

Now would ya look at that:
Boots and purse found in North Carolina. Never goes anywhere without her Blublocker sunglasses and in her words, “you’d never know how beautiful the world looks without the color blue, everything looks like a vintage postcard.”

Nick

Photographed in Nashville, TN

Raised in:
Hendersonville, Tennessee

Lives in:
Nashville, Tennessee

Favorite thing about the south:
Southern music – the unique traditions of southern music that proliferate worldwide – such as all the different brands of country in Nashville, rockabilly country, country swing, blues tradition in the Delta, and the jazz and jazz funk scene in New Orleans, particular to Frenchman’s Street. These musical traditions are unique to the southern US and influence musicians and musical culture worldwide.

Now would ya look at that:
Meet Nick, half of Brier & Moss, a bow tie company launching mid to late Fall. Nick and his fraternity brother Jonathan are creating a line of high quality collegiate bows and are “working hard to ensure that our first production run will be up to the high standards of gentlemen everywhere.” The bows are designed with official school colors, stripe prep patterns, and 100% silk. The first line is for fans of Samford (worn by Nick), Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. It was such a pleasure to chat over coffee with Nick in Nashville last week, to hear the dreams of a company who is getting very close to launching, and to jot down phrases like “bow tie wearers are a certain breed. They want to set themselves apart.” Add the Brier & Moss blog to your readers to stay up to date!

Football Friday | Go Dawgs

UGA Alum

Raised in:
Roswell, Georgia

Lives in:
Charlottesville, Virginia

Favorite game day memory:
The 2007 blackout game vs Auburn. Georgia came out in black uniforms, the whole stadium was blacked out, and the players kept dancing to “Crank That.” It was a huge win for UGA and also the day I realized how big of a Georgia fan I’d become after being raised in a Florida family.

Now would ya look at that:
The scarf was a gift from her grandmother and the dress is a bridesmaid dress, the kind you actually will wear again.

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