Knoxville: Static, Sweat, and Seriously Strange Vibes
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. 4509884 and 1840034249 - don’t ask. it’s a thing. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the air here is thick, like a damp wool blanket, and the humidity is clinging to everything. 1033 pressure, 78% humidity, sea level 1033, ground level 997. it’s… unsettling. i’m a touring session drummer, so my usual is chaos and amp stacks, but this is a different kind of chaotic. it’s like the city itself is breathing heavy.
I landed in Knoxville yesterday, and honestly, it felt like stepping into a forgotten corner of the world. The downtown area is a weird mix of crumbling brick buildings and aggressively cheerful murals. It’s not bad, just…off. I’m staying at this Airbnb - seriously, the host left me a bag of pickled okra. a bag. I’m not judging, but it’s a lot. I found a decent taco place on Yelp - “El Corazon” - and it was solid, but the guy behind the counter kept staring at me like i owed him money.
Spent the afternoon wandering around Market Square. It’s got a farmer’s market, which was…interesting. Mostly people selling jams and hand-knitted scarves. I snagged a jar of blackberry preserves - might need it to survive the okra.
I overheard gossip at the bar last night - someone told me that the old textile mill down by the river is haunted by the ghost of a disgruntled loom operator. Apparently, he still tries to jam the machinery at night. Creepy, right? I’m a ghost hunter, so naturally, I’m intrigued. I’m checking out the Tennessee Theatre later this week - TripAdvisor says it’s a must-see.
Here’s the gear list, because someone always asks:
My sticks (obviously)
A ridiculously oversized backpack (for all the pickled okra)
Noise-canceling headphones (for when the loom operator starts rattling)
A portable charger (because i’m perpetually out of battery)
A notebook and pen (for documenting the weirdness)
A small, slightly chipped ceramic frog (don’t ask)
I also stumbled across a street art collective - they’re working on a massive mural depicting a giant, melancholic banjo. It’s… intense. I took some photos, but they don’t really do it justice. I’m thinking of trying to collaborate with them - maybe a drum solo incorporated into the mural? It’s a long shot, but hey, why not?
If you get bored, Asheville is just a short drive away. Seriously, it’s a solid 45 minutes, and they have better breweries. I heard that the local diner, “Mama Jo’s,” serves the best biscuits in East Tennessee. I’m going to check that out tomorrow.
Speaking of locals, I met this guy named Silas at the coffee shop. He was wearing a fedora and a tweed jacket, and he kept talking about the “resonance of the mountains.” He seemed…eccentric. But he also had a surprisingly good knowledge of obscure bluegrass artists. I’m adding him to my list of people to track down.
I’m starting to think Knoxville is a place where the past refuses to let go. It’s got a certain…weight to it. Like it’s holding onto something. I’m not sure what, but I’m going to find out.
I’m heading to the Old City next - apparently, there’s a speakeasy hidden behind a bookstore. I’m hoping for some good music and maybe a glimpse of that loom operator’s ghost. Wish me luck. And send coffee. Seriously, send a lot of coffee.
Tennessee Theatre, El Corazon Tacos, Market Square
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