New venue The Signal opens with Memphis band
SATURDAY
After months of cleaning, painting, stocking the bars, installing stage lighting and sound equipment, The Signal is set to open Saturday night, Feb. 24, with Lucero, a country-punk-rock band from Memphis.
It will follow that on Sunday, Feb. 25, with a synth-pop show by Washed Out, the stage name of Ernest Greene, a would-be librarian-turned singer/songwriter/producer. Gramatik — Slovenian musician Denis Jasarevic turned electro/hip-hop producer — brings his Re:Coil tour to The Signal on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
The nearly 20,000-square-foot venue is located on Chestnut Street in the former The Jump Park across from Finley Stadium. It has a seating capacity of about 1,500, and will present most of its shows as standing only, according to venue manager Tara Viland.
The venue is owned by Chris Cobb and Josh Billue, who also own The Exit/In, Marathon Music and Hurry Back in Nashville, as well as The Truman in Kansas City.
Patrons will find a large, open, rectangular room that is wider than it is deep. The large stage nearly spans the width of the room and 40-foot bars grace each side. Opposite the stage is a wall-to-wall mezzanine.
“We will figure out exactly how the mezzanine will be used, whether for VIP or first-come, first-served,” Viland said. “It might vary from show to show.”
LUCERO
8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Tickets: $22-$25 All-ages show; minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian. Lucero began life as a hard-working country-punk band in Memphis in 1998 and they haven’t slowed much since. The current lineup includes Ben Nichols, Brian Veneble, John C. Subblefield, Roy Berry and Rick Steff.
“Walking Dead” fans might know that the song “The Last Pale Light in the West” from Nichols’ solo album of the same name was featured in the episode “Live Bait” in 2013.
Most of the band members have done a number of outside projects, as well. Stubblefield recorded with the North Mississippi Allstars and Jim Dininson, for example, and Steff has worked with Cat Power, Hank Williams Jr. and Dexys Midnight Runners.
Watch them perform a live version of “I’ll Just Fall” at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=0tSWpOSbY-M
WASHED OUT
8:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 Tickets: $22-$25 All-ages show; minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian.
Washed Out is Georgia native Ernest Greene, who attended the University of Georgia at Athens. After getting his Master of Library and Information Science degree, but failing to find work in the field, he moved back in with his parents and started making music.
He owes some of his music career to bloggers who found his music on his Myspace page. He released his first two EPs in 2009. Fans of the TV show “Portlandia” should recognize his song “Feel it All Around,” which is the opening theme for the show. While Washed Out fits into the electronic music category, the sound is often described as “chillwave” of easy, almost hypnotic quality.
Watch Washed Out during a live performance at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=vNnVHOC3FYo
GRAMATIK 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 Tickets: $15-$20
Show is ages 18 and older only.
Gramatik’s Re:Coil tour stops in The Signal, where the electro/hip-hop musician will be joined by Haywyre and trumpet player Balkan Bump.
Balkan Bump joined Gramatik on a single from the “Re:Coil Part I” EP, tilates tled “Aymo,” which transto “let’s go” in the majority of ex-Yugoslavian countries, including Slovenia.
Watch “Aymo” with Gramatik, Balkan Bump and Talib Kwell at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=wwuanQVfkEY.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.