The Chillbillies started in Knoxville, Tenn. with original members Tim Irwin, Teddy Phillips and George Massengill at the helm. This group quickly turned into a local favorite and is now comprised of six seasoned professionals. For the last 10 years the band which also includes Don Taylor, Lewell Molen and Larry Patton has shaken floors at venues ranging from the Catholic Diocese to the finer beer halls like Kingston Alley or the Doghouse in West Knoxville. They play a handful of original songs from two of their own Chillbillies Cds as well as a lumpy mix of cover songs-the likes of which include "Man of Constant Sorrow", the Allman Brothers' "Statesboro Blues", the Commodores funk nugget "Brick House" and even the Eagles "Life In The Fast Lane". These guys are a strange hybrid of Honky Tonk / Party Band / White Boy R&B and throwback Rock"n"Roll. The band has even been known to desecrate Hip Hop or something that crudely resembles it on a tune called "The Farmer's Rap" the refrain to which includes a shout out to the virtues of "diggin' taters/pickin' maters/baccer cuttin'/corn shuckin' all of which adds up to big fun. Like the night some one knocked the stage lights into the swimming pool at a Catholic Diocese function or at a recent show when sundry pieces of musical equipment, lost in a crowd of dancers, were found crushed in the ponderous wake of a abundantly proportioned female reveler.
Slow songs are by request only, but occasionally they do get a slow crowd. They played a blue hair night a while back at a funeral director's convention in Gatlinburg, Tn. That party was real slow.
The Chillbillies are fast becoming a staple at football and U.T. related functions. They played a singularly loud show at a birthday party for U.T. men's basketball coach Buzz Peterson, held at the home of Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, they also rang in a Phillip Fulmer Golf Tournament and a couple of Peyton Manning birthday parties as well. The Chillbillies also have the distinction of being one of only a very few groups to have ever played inside the U.T. Stadium. Some of the others being Billy Graham, Michael Jackson, Kenny Chesney and one more (to be named later).
Besides the basic seven members of the band there are always a few surprise guests at a Chillbillies concert like good friends such as actor David Keith, singer Con Hunley, M.V.P. Peyton Manning and even state Sen. Tim Burchett (who's alter ego is a band roadie named Skip Wilson).
The one thing the band does not do is "Elvis" songs. They don't play any "Elvis" because they don't want to be disrespectful. They think he is still alive and possibly inhabiting the body of David Keith or some one else they know. |
