Stacey Campfield's biggest problem is that we keep electing him to office. 

His constituency had every reason to believe he was a loose cannon when they elected him to state senate. So if we're going to censure him, maybe we should censure the people who keep voting for him. There are surprisingly few, by the way. The overwhelming majority of adults in his district don't vote in state races at all. Maybe they deserve a slap, too. 

A point of information: Wikipedia describes Campfield's District 7  as "encompassing" Knoxville. It does not, though the inconsistently detailed maps on the state senate's website could give you that impression. His district does include a big chunk of Knoxville, but thousands of Knoxville voters have never seen Stacey Campfield on their ballots. 

Knox County's divided among three senate districts, District 5 included Anderson County, but also some pretty large swaths of northwestern Knox County. District 6 and 7 split the rest of Knox County, both of them with large parts of Knoxville proper. (Newcomer Becky Duncan Massey represents the 6th District, which wraps around the city on the east side, including large parts of the south and west.) 

Campfield's 7th District forms a big blunt wedge, most of it in the suburban western part of the county, but not the southern fringe, the neighborhoods along Northshore. It does include the heart of Knoxville and neighborhoods on the near north side, but not South Knoxville, Sequoyah Hills, Rocky Hill, most of Fountain City, or large parts of East and Northeast Knoxville. 

He's cited in the national media as representing Knoxville. It's easy shorthand, but among disticts where he does appear, his support in 2010 was weakest in Knoxville proper. His strength is in the suburbs.

But take a look at the whole. The total number of Knox Countians who have ever voted for Stacey Campfield amounts to about 6 percent of Knox County's population. 

That's not his fault. Most people don't vote in state races, and that probably includes most people who say they're embarrassed of Stacey Campfield. 

FRIDAY

On My Honor with Your Favorite Hero, A Hero Remains, the Bad Dudes, and 2-15

Local pop-punk quintet celebrates the release of its latest EP on vinyl. 

The Valarium (112 Ramsey St.) • 6 p.m. • $5-$7 • All ages

Pistol Creek Catch of the Day

Goofy (in the best way) string band music from Blount County. 

Alive After Five at Knoxville Museum of Art (1050 World's Fair Park Drive) • 6 p.m. • $4-$8

XFC 16: High Stakes

Slake your bloodthirst with a night of MMA action. 

Knoxville Coliseum • 7 p.m. • $20-$66

Clarence Brown Theatre: Fuddy Meers

Davis Lindsay-Abaire's 1999 comedy about a woman who wakes up with amnesia every morning. Shows on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. (Read Jack Neely's column on the Carousel Theatre here.)

Carousel Theatre (1714 Andy Holt Ave.) • 7:30 p.m. • $5-$40

Guys That Give Bachelor Auction

Raise money for Friends of Literacy by bidding on a date with some of Knoxville's most eligible bachelors.

Rothchild's (8807 Kingston Pike) • 7:30 p.m. • $30-$60

Wallace Coleman

The Morristown native, who played for 10 years with blues legend Robert Jr. Lockwood and now fronts his own band based out of Cleveland, brings his blues harmonica back to East Tennessee.

Laurel Theater (1538 Laurel Ave.) • 8 p.m. • $12

Kristen Cothron and the Dark Side

Sexy indie folk from Nashville. 

Preservation Pub (28 Market Square) • 8 p.m. • Free • 21 and up

Knoxville Opera: Romeo et Juliette

Knoxville Opera stages a Valentine's weekend production of Charles Gounod's 1867 opera adaptation of the classic tragedy. A 2:30 p.m. matinee will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12. 

Tennessee Theatre (604 S. Gay St.) • 8 p.m. • $13-$92

Midnight Voyage Live

This week at the regular Friday night dance night: Archnemesis, Kidsmeal, KRRS24, and Master of Raptors.

The Cider House (112 Ramsey St.) • 9 p.m. • $8-$13 • 18 and up

SATURDAY

Mama's Market

Community space available for women to buy, sell, trade, and build with each other. If you've got arts and crafts you'd like to sell, just show up around 10:30 a.m. and set up.

The Neighborhood Center (800 N. Fourth Ave.) • 11 a.m. • Free

The South Carolina Broadcasters with the Galt Line

Old-time string music, not the association of radio and TV professionals. Check the Broadcasters later at the Laurel Theater. 

Blue Plate Special at WDVX • Noon • Free

Tennessee Stage Company: Shakespeare Out Loud

A series of staged readings froM Shakespeare. This month: All's Well That Ends Well. 

Lawson McGhee Library (500 W. Church Ave.) • 2 p.m. • Free

Urban Land Scot Workshop

Learn gardening, mapping, and other skills while earning badges at this series of 10 biweekly meetings sponsored by Three Rivers Market. E-mail passage@urbanlandscouts.com.

Three Rivers Market (1100 N. Central St.) • 3-5 p.m. • $4-$5 

GO! Contemporary Dance Works: Alice

An original dance adaptation of Lewis Carroll's children's fantasy. 

Bijou Theatre (803 S. Gay St.) • 8 p.m. • $16.50-$26.50

Ray Wylie Hubbard with the Barstool Romeos

The redneck mother returns!

The Shed (1820 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville) • 8 p.m. • $25

The Sound Company: Brundibar

The Oak Ridge children's performing choir pays tribute to Hans Krasa's children's opera, written as a protest to the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. 

Oak Ridge High School • 8 p.m. • $12-$25

Michael Davis and the Teleplows with the Galt Line and Dixie Ghost

Ex-Medford's Black Record Collection singer/songwriter Michael Davis debuts his new roots-rock band. 

The Well (4620 Kingston Pike) • 10 p.m. • $5 • 21 and up

Wrong Way: A Tribute to Sublime

They don't practice santeria. 

The Cider House (112 Ramsey St.) • 9 p.m. • $8-$10 • 18 and up

Mac Comer and the Coo Cool Kidders

Hippie singer/songwriter Mac Comer celebrates the release of his new album, Hyperbolic Length. 

The Square Room (4 Market Square) • 9 p.m. • $10-$12 • All ages

SUNDAY

Shake, Rattle, and Role: Stage Combat Training

Embrace your inner drama nerd and learn all the tricks of fake swordfighting. 

St. Thomas Episcopal Church (5401 Tiffany Road) • 3 p.m. • Free

Slow Food Knoxville Wine and Chocolate Social

A slow food Valentine's Day celebration featuring live music, local wine, and organic chocolate.

Blue Slip Winery (105 W. Jackson Ave.) • 3 p.m. • $10

Rationalists of East Tennessee Book Club

A level-headed discussion of Dan Ariely's 2008 book, Predictably Irrational. 

Barnes & Noble (8029 Kingston Pike) • 4 p.m. • Free

CIVICS

Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission

What's that smell? MPC considers "appropriate zoning for crematoria in Knoxville."  

City County Building • 1:30 p.m.

MUSIC AND CULTURE

Ted Russell Kamp with Rupert Yates

Shooter Jennings' bass player released a solo album of "California country soul" in 2011. 

Blue Plate Special at WDVX (301 S. Gay St.) • Noon • Free

Black Expo Poetry Night

Maryville College's Black Student Association presents spoken word artists Sarah Kay and Rudy Francisco as part of the school's commemoration of Black History Month.

Clayton Center for the Arts (502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway) • 6 p.m. • Free

Clarence Brown Theatre: Fuddy Meers

Davis Lindsay-Abaire's 1999 comedy about a woman who wakes up with amnesia every morning. (Read Jack Neely's column on the Carousel Theatre here.)

Carousel Theatre (1714 Andy Holt Ave.) • 7:30 p.m. • $5-$40

Knoxville Square Dance Traditional Appalachian Dance

Kick your feet up old-timey-style. Live music by local string band the Helgrammites. Beginner lessons start at 7:30 p.m.

Laurel Theater (1538 Laurel Ave.) • 8 p.m. • $7

ETC.

Spanky Brown

Local stand-up/radio personality Spanky Brown headlines Knoxville's only comedy club. See if he has any new material about Stacey Campfield getting booted from the Bistro (Brown was in Campfield's party that afternoon).  

Sidesplitters Comedy Club (9246 Park West Boulevard) • 8 p.m. • $10 • 18 and up

MUSIC AND CULTURE

Crispy Watkins

Folkie Chris Watkins has just released a new CD, And It Will Move, with his band the Baby Heart Experience. 

Blue Plate Special at WDVX (301 S. Gay St.) • Noon • Free

Jessie Van Der Laan

Fine artist Jessie Van der Laan will discuss her work, which includes fiber, print, and installation work.

17th Street Studios at Redeemer Church (1642 Highland Ave.) • 6 p.m. • Free

Erick Baker

Big-ass pop-funk. 

The Cider House (112 Ramsey St.) • 9 p.m. • $10-$15 • 18 and up

ETC.

UT Print Club Valentine's Day Sale

Pick up handmade Valentine's Day cards and gifts.

UT Art & Architecture Building (1715 Volunteer Boulevard) • 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Healthy Pelli Health Fair

Local businesses and health-care providers offer free screenings and information.

Pellissippi State Community College (1610 Magnolia Ave.) • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free

An update on recent concert announcements: 

• Grammy-winning blues guitarist/singer Bonnie Raitt (above) will perform at the Tennessee Theatre on Monday, May 14, at 8 p.m. Marc Cohn will open the show. Tickets are $60 and go on sale Friday, Feb. 10. 

• Troubled alt-country scion Justin Townes Earle (above) makes another stop in town at the Square Room on Thursday, May 24, in support of his acclaimed 2010 disc Harlem River Blues, with Nashville singer/songwriter Tristen in town as his opening act. Tickets are $17/$20 at the door. Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins.

• Josh Turner, hailed as a successor to Johnny Cash a few years ago for his deep, craggy voice and chugging gospel debut hit "Long Black Train," has turned out to be a more mainstream country crooner. He's coming to the Tennessee Theatre on Thursday, April 12, at 8 p.m., with local honky-tonk singer/songwriter Brendon James Wright opening. Tickets are $39.50 and $57 and go on sale Friday, Feb. 10. 

• Jefferson Airplane spinoff/heavy blooze merchants/folk-blues revivalists Hot Tuna, featuring founding members Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Kasaday, will play at the Bijou Theatre on Tuesday, July 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29 and go on sale Friday, Feb. 10. 

• Kid Millions, drummer for Brooklyn art-rockers Oneida, brings his avant-percussion-heavy side project Man Forever (above) to Pilot Light on Wednesday, Feb. 22, in advance of his upcoming, as-yet-untitled 2012 album. Plasma Expander opens the show. Admission is $5 at the door; 18 and up. Photo by Joshua Bright. 

• Fortysomething folk-soul singer/songwriter/John Mayer pal Martin Sexton comes to the Bijou Theatre on Saturday, April 7, at 8 p.m. Georganne Calyanis opens the show. Tickets are $21.50/$25 the day of the show and go on sale Friday, Feb. 10. 

CIVICS

Knoxville City Council

City Council takes its first look at the rezoning request for the University Commons Walmart/Publix development on Cumberland Avenue.

City County Building (400 Main St.) • 7 p.m. 

MUSIC AND CULTURE

Derek Webb

Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Derek Webb is preparing his seventh solo album for release later this year. 

Clayton Center for the Arts (502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville) • 7 p.m. • Free • All ages

Kukuly and the Gypsy Fuego

Swingin' string jazz on Market Square. Check them out later at Preservation Pub. 

Blue Coast Burrito (37 Market Square) • 7 p.m. • Free

Marc Broussard with Sugar and the Hi-Lows

Footloose (and often barefoot) folk-soul singer Marc Broussard's New Orleans roots run deep. 

Bijou Theatre (803 S. Gay St.) • 8 p.m. • $21.50-$23.50

Celtic Woman: Believe

The roving band of Celtic musicians and singers shows off its latest state-of-the-art, high-gloss, high-concept concert experience extravaganza. 

Knoxville Civic Auditorium • 7:30 p.m. • $43-$70 

MUSIC AND CULTURE

David Ramirez

"Folk-brewed pop" is what he calls it. From Austin, Texas. 

Blue Plate Special at WDVX (301 S. Gay St.) • Noon • Free

Writers in the Library: Sabina Murray

Award-winning screenwriter/novelist Sabina Murray will discuss her books, which include Forgery and A Carnivore's Inquiry. 

UT Hodges Library (1015 Volunteer Boulevard) • 7 p.m. • Free

Marina Orchestra with 3 Tree

Marina Orchestra specializes in tropical-flavored indie funk--more like Afropop or worldbeat than like Vampire Weekend. 

Preservation Pub (28 Market Square) • 10 p.m. • $3 • 21 and up

Cuddle Magic with Shortwave Society

Philly/Brooklyn dreampop newcomers Cuddle Magic will release their new CD, Info Nympho, on March 6. Get an advance preview tonight. With Knoxville electronic chamber-pop ensemble Shortwave Society. 

Pilot Light (106 E. Jackson Ave.) • 10 p.m. • $5 • 18 and up

One, a survey of the 50 largest metro areas in America, recently posted by WATE, holds that we're "the worst city in the U.S for aging too fast." They cite drinking, smoking, stresss, unemployment, low income, and lack of optimism.

It quoted its own medical officer, Dr. Keith Roach: "You can be just as healthy in Knoxville as you can in Denver. You just have to work a little harder at it."

They even offered us some helpful suggestions. "When money is tight," it suggests, not glibly at all, "an inexpensive hike in the Great Smoky Mountains or a avisit to the Market Square Farmer's Market could do wonders." It's easy to like the farmer's market, though it won't be open again until spring. But a hike in the Smokies may look "inexpensive" mostly from a distance. There's no admission fee, but for some of us, one round-trip to the Smokies can easily entail four or five gallons of gas, not counting wear and tear on suspension and brakes. I suspect I've spent thousands on hiking in the Smokies. 

Some of their assessment sounds familiar: we certainly smoke more than the nation at large, and it's easy to believe, walking around downtown at happy hour, that we drink more. And the dour Scots-Irish temperament doesn't always allow for much optimism. Except where the Vols are concerned, optimism is not a local tradition.

But RealAge.com does have some points, and it wouldn't be surprising to learn that Knoxvillians do have shorter lives than the average American. It seems as if that fact would be easier to prove via simple actuarial tables than by guessing at prospective contributing factors. 

What's most annoying about the study is a sort of statistical trick: like several others lately, it puts Knoxville at the bottom of an arbitrary sample of top cities. We're at the bottom of the "50 largest metropolitan areas." So what? There are more than 350 metropolitan areas in the U.S. Some factors, like poverty, smoking, and unemployment, are more common in smaller communities. Even if Knoxville's the worst of the top 50, it's still possible that Knoxville is in the top seventh nationally. I doubt it's that high, but it's possible. 

Once again, as was the case in a public-transit "study" a couple of years ago, we're at the bottom of the top. 

Close on its heels came another study by the Urban Institute assessing America's top 100 metro areas in terms of "black-white equity." 

Factors considered were residential segregation, neighborhood affluence, public school quality, employment, and homeownership. Once again, Knoxville was very near the bottom, at number 97. 

Knoxville's vulnerable in that category; some blacks do well here, but Knoxville hasn't recently hosted a very large professional black middle class anywhere comparable to, say, Atlanta's. 

But again, there seemed something a little wonky about the listings, in several respects. 

The "10 Worst" included Chicago, New York--and Knoxville. And, as in other studies, they're called the "10 Worst" even though they may be better than the 250 smaller metro areas not included in the study. 

And some of the cities that showed "best" are cities with pretty tiny black populations: Albuquerque, which is only 3.3 percent black, was at the very top, then El Paso. Tucson and Honolulu  (which is 1.5 percent black) were on the top 10. 

There are reasons why that might be. Minorities may do especially well, financially, in cities where minorities are tiny, because the minorities who are willing to move there do so only after a major inducement, that is, a big salary. 

A few hours later, there came a correction. Without explanation, Knoxville was exonerated, removed from the "Worst 10." It turns out we're not #97 at all. We're #56. 

If we're better than other cities in terms of economic equity, our ironic saving grace, in terms of equity, may be that we have so many poor whites. It's a comparative study. 

Hm.

The Matt Flinner Trio with Senryu

Local indie-pop weirdos Senryu join Nashville mandolin whiz Matt Flinner for an eclectic hour of music. 

Blue Plate Special at WDVX (301 S. Gay St.) • Noon • Free

First Friday

Art! Box wine! More art! Visit galleries and boutiques all over downtown. Of particular interest: Downtown Gallery's opening reception for Redefining the Multiple: 13 Japanese Printmakers; If Not Now, When? featuring work by Jake Livesay and Victor Schmidt at the Emporium Center; and 2 Many Pixels' 2011 retrospective.

Downtown • 5 p.m.

KCDP First Friday Open House with Mayor Madeline Rogero

The Knox County Democratic Party's February open house features Mayor Madeline Rogero; perhaps she'll have some tips on how other Democrats can get elected around here.

Knox County Democratic Party Headquarters (311 Morgan St.) • 6 p.m. 

Eric Church with Brantley Gilbert and Sonia Leigh

The rising country outlaw brings his Blood, Sweat, and Beers Tour to the intimate confines of Thompson-Boling Arena. Photo by John Peets.

Thompson-Boling Arena • 7:30 p.m. • $34.75-$42.50

Waynestock 2: For the Love of Phil

The second of three nights of local music in memory of Phil Pollard. 

Relix Variety Theatre (1208 N. Central St.) • 8 p.m. • $5 • 18 and up

Gaelic Storm

Good-time Celtic rock, as evidenced by song titles like "The Night I Punched Russell Crowe" and "Raised on Black and Tans."

The Square Room (4 Market Square) • 8 p.m. • $18-$20 • All ages

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

Knoxville City Council Visioning Workshop

Between PlanET and Envision Knoxville, we've got a lot of regional visioning going on these days--and now City Council is horning in? Whose vision will reign supreme?! 

United Way (1301 Hannah Ave.) • 8:45 a.m.

Easy Riders 2012 Bike Show

No, these are not the bikes you pedal--at the Easy Riders show you'll find hundreds of custom V-twin motorcycles that define the art of the cruiser. Plus, there will be stars from the Sons of Anarchy cable show: Tommy Flanagan and Winter Zoli.

Knoxville Convention Center • 10 a.m. • $10-$20

Mac Comer and the Coo Cool Kidders

Hippie-about-town Mac Comer celebrates the release of his new CD, Hyperbolic Length.

Blue Plate Special at WDVX (301 S. Gay St.) • Noon • Free

Tennessee Stage Company New Play Festival 

The Tennessee Stage Company will hold a staged reading of Jean Battlo's The Chinese Cook.

Remedy Coffee (125 W. Jackson Ave.) • 2 p.m. • Free

Chili Fest

Area businesses face off in this ninth annual fund-raiser for Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension. 

Stovall Family Life Center (1608 E. Broadway, Maryville) • 4 p.m. • $7

Waynestock 2: For the Love of Phil

The last of three nights of local music in memory of Phil Pollard. 

Relix Variety Theatre (1208 N. Central St.) • 8 p.m. • $5 • 18 and up

Coolrunnings with Mutations, Yung Life, and Daddy Don't

Local New Wave rockers Coolrunnings celebrate the release of their new album, Dracula Is Only the Beginning (on their own Dracula Horse label, no less). Photo by Rebecca Kaufman.

Pilot Light (106 E. Jackson Ave.) • 10 p.m. • $5 • 18 and up

Partners in Grime 2

Local and regional bass DJs GiZm0, Maine and Tale, Maitreya, Boogaloo, and Dai/Break.

The Hill (1105 Forest Ave.) • 10 p.m. • Free-$5 • 18 and up

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

Eco Make and Take Workshop

Learn how to upcycle all that crap filling up your drawers into brand-new crafts and gifts. 

Ijams Nature Center (2915 Island Home Boulevard) • Noon • $10

Tennessee Stage Company New Play Festival

The Tennessee Stage Company will hold a staged reading of Harrison Young's On Line Fighting.

Remedy Coffee (125 W. Jackson Ave.) • 2 p.m. • Free

"I appreciate everyone coming because it is easier to answer all of your questions at once than do individual interviews. 

The recent revelations about Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation have raised questions about the organization and its role with the City. 

Let me start by saying that tourism is an important economic driver for our city and KTSC has been an integral partner in that effort. KTSC has an existing contract with the City under which they have delivered valuable work. I know many of the good people there - both on the board and on staff. They work very hard and are committed to promoting the City and all of its assets. Let's not lose sight of this as we move forward. 

However, in focusing on the stewardship of taxpayer dollars, I have many concerns. I have already stated that the pay and compensation package for President and CEO Gloria Ray is excessive. 

In light of recent documents, I believe that the compensation is not consistent with what this community expects for an organization heavily-funded by taxpayer dollars. 

To restore confidence in this critically-important organization and its mission, I recommend that Gloria Ray resign; and I am asking that the executive committee, who had oversight of Ms. Ray's compensation, also step aside and that the board take appropriate action to review all issues that have been raised."

Mayor: Ray, KTSC Board leadership, executive committee should resign 

 

Knoxville, Tenn. --  Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett issued the following statement this morning asking Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation CEO Gloria Ray, as well as the KTSC Board leadership and executive committee, to resign. 

 

"It is now obvious that a serious change is needed in the leadership of the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation.  The KTSC is an organization that receives millions each year in Knox County tax dollars, and I have lost confidence in the organization's leaders.  Worse, they have lost the public's trust.  Gloria Ray should resign.  The KTSC Board leadership, as well as the KTSC Executive Committee should do the same.  

 

"Additionally, I am asking the state comptroller to review KTSC's financial books.  With the amount of taxpayer dollars KTSC receives, and in light of recent revelations, this is the appropriate action. 

 

"Too many times those who cause problems are the ones who are expected to fix them, but that is not how things should work.  The problem must be eliminated, and you have to be willing to clean house, if you truly want to move forward.  We are at that point now, and it is time for these individuals to step down and begin the process of restoring transparency and, ultimately, public trust. 

 

"In order to help move this process in the right direction, I will be appointing Knox County Commission Chairman Mike Hammond and local business woman Susan Rothchild to the KTSC Board to fill two vacant seats. 

 

"There are many good people on the KTSC Board who have been kept in the dark, and they need to be given the chance to do their job.  At the end of the day, though, public confidence must be restored."