A Different Kind of Nerd and more

BIG TIME
It’s an exciting time for live music in Knoxville, with some bigger than usual names heading to town. After Fiery Furnaces packed the house at Pilot Light recently, the venue will see other big shows with Matador Records’ psychsters Dead Meadow on Feb. 22, Jagjaguwar’s retro-riffers Black Mountain on March 9, and holy cow! – art-punk luminaries Pere Ubu on Match 23. Knoxville is one of only four dates the London-based band is playing on a Southern U.S. mini-tour. Not only that, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo’s rockist project N.E.R.D. will be warming up for their upcoming tour with Kanye West at the Valarium on March 26. Hopefully checks from our benevolent president, merciful Congress and all-powerful Treasury will be here soon and we can start stimulating the local economy at da club.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF NERD
An all-in-one new gaming center, art gallery and all ages music venue is opening downtown, at 119 S. Gay St. Versus will offer individual or group play on Xbox, Wii, PS3, Mac and various old school game systems, and boasts late night weekend hours (3 a.m.) for the insomniacal and the obsessed. Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for private parties for now, and the space hopes to soon get underway as a weekend all-ages venue, as soon as their basement is up to code. Bryan James, who formerly held court at Old City Java’s all-ages venue, is handling the booking. Gurp it up, kids!

AYE YI YI YI!
No, they’re not under new management, but Senor Taco has certainly undergone a lot of changes lately. Not only has the décor changed ¬ ¬– with some faux brick walls replacing many of the murals – but they’ve changed the combination dinners around and gone up on the prices! An employee we spoke with said food costs are increasing so much, it’s the only way the restaurant can stay open. Not to worry – though you may not be able to walk out with a full belly and good buzz for under 10 bucks, it will probably remain an inexpensive eatery and hang-out for North Knox denizens, and we’re told the salsa bar isn’t going anywhere.