Tell the readers a little bit about yourself.

I'm Craig Kandel, I've been in Knoxville for about 3
years. I'm from the north. I'm part of Host Clothing.
The other half of Host Clothing is Adam Deal, he's
from the North as well but he's lived here since the
early high school days.
As far as all the other aspects of Host goes. I do all
the organizing but I merely act as a producer, a
facilitator, and contributor. The other local artists
that participate in what we do are what makes our event
special. Mitchel Garza (divorce, lobster3, hometown
slackers). Ian Lawrence(the cheat, the malignmen),
Pete Hoffecker(army vs. navy. megalon esquire), Andy
kohler(sadville, imp)all the people from whisk-hutzel,
they've helped with the music here since the beginning
and their role has been integral.
Visual Artists like Karley Sullivan, Gaby Horne, Brian
Baker, all the locals who have contributed to group
shows and workshops. They make Host what it is. I know
that’s allot of name dropping but it's important to
note that Host is a community effort. I sacrifice time
and money but these people actually care without
having any vested interest.

I'm always working on lots of projects, some of my
favorites are: A mythology and creature art exhibit
showing at Host starting Sept 7th. A fable I’m writing
with local artist Karley Sullivan (she's illustrating,
I’m writing), A play I’m writing with Mitch Garza to
be shown upon completion at Host, A Halloween Film
festival and art show for October, and of course Adam
and I are always tryn to expand the silk screened
clothing and apparel.

I feel kind of weird about talking for Adam he's not
here as I fill this out. Most of his projects are top
secret until completed. I will tell you that they are
of epic proportions and he's one of the best
illustrators I’ve ever seen. He's working on an auto
biography (hahaha), and he's involved in the creature
show and Halloween festival and he's always, always
drawing.

How long have you been operating Host?

I've had Host open for a little over a year, this past
April made one year. Somewhere in the bible, exodus I
think. It says after you keep a servant for seven
years you have to set them free. huh, I wonder if
that’s what they based the statue of limitations on.
anyway, I figure I’m free in a handful of years. I
hope host will have its own feet by then.

How do you feel about Knoxville and its music / art scene, what do you feel you all represent (if anything)?

hmmm I’m gonna go stream
of conscience here: masturbatory, hillers, farmers,
outpost, borderland, year of the golden pig, drunk
even when sober, happy accident.

The times that I’ve been to Knoxville to see a show, gone to the parties, or just visit, it’s always seemed like the people involved in the independent music and art scene in Knoxville are all really tight knit and supportive of one another despite variance of styles and the strong sense of individuality that each person represents in this community.

- Why do you think this is?
- Is there a common thread that ties you all together despite your different agendas?

I'm getting tired but I’ll try to answer this the way
I really feel. I know nobody in Knoxville likes to
miss a party. It's a small town and the people that
make things(artists/musicians) are surrounded,
bombarded, with football and bible belt christianity.
We’re a borderland, reactionary and folky and drunk,
over educated and under educated. There’s allot of
currents here coming up from the ground. I don't
think anyone likes each other here more than they do
in any other town but I have met more than a handful
of people that I’d call friends and allot of people
that support what I do even if they don't like me as a
person. I'm not sure why. My reasoning is probably
allot more self indulgent than the truth.

How are the shows in Knoxville?

I've seen allot of good shows here. Mostly by
accident and mostly at the pilot light. Jason that
runs the pilot light also does it by funding from his
own 9 to 5. I know he'd like to do more as well but
he's taxed like the rest of us. Sorry, I think my lack
of sleep is coming across.

Where do you see Knoxville’s music / art scene going in the next few years?
That's tough. There's allot of things waiting to
happen here. Allot of people trying. The down town is
trying to revitalize. They can do this by encouraging
the diy artists, the real culture or they could turn
the whole place into a strip mall. I know there will
always be an outpost in Knoxville. a reactionary.
Someone trying to unify and express the thoughts and
feeling they get from the things around them here.
It’s hard to describe but certain places have an
energy, this one defiantly eminates from the soil. I
may have eaten to much acid when I was younger.

Where do you see host going?

Host will go wherever I take it. There are other places like it and
they are not rooted to one spot. I'm a firm believer
if a venue does not exist for you to do the things you
want to you need to make one.

Top 5 places to see a show in Knoxville?

Pilot light
Host
the longbranch (solely for the fights)
Old city Java
Bijou
the bird house (I’ve never seen a show there but I
suspect they can't all be bad)

Top 5 artists in Knoxville?
Karley Sullivan
Adam Deal
Ian Lawrence
Rolo
Brian Baker/Jessica Myer

Top 5 bands in Knoxville?

Mitch Garza
the Cheat
Pete Hoffecker
the Dirty Knees
Whisk Hutzel (to many to choose)
imp
I don't really enjoy making this list. I know there's
allot here I haven't heard.

Further Comments About Host:

About Host: It's hard to say exactly what Host is.
It's a Myriad of things. A clothing line, a music and
performance venue, a gallery, an alternative learning
space, a studio, a shelter, it's ever changing, a
place to do whatever comes to mind.

We started as a studio, to make screen printed
apparel. Then we started doing workshops once a month
and gallery events. Then we opened our doors to the
public to sell the things we make, do custom design,
have music shows and performances, co-operate with
other local venues in putting on events, etc. We've
had workshops in screen printing, painting, sewing,
circuit bending, gambling, even a work shop for four
to twelve year olds (it was based on if they had to
contend with a war on American soil, we gave them the
themes and they created artwork based on it). We have
workshops planned for voodoo doll making, book making,
grant writing, etc. We try to keep our doors open to
people, so they can come in, get involved, use our
equipment, run idea's by us, show their work, buy
things, look at things. It's hard to do all the things
we want to do, Host is funded all from my 9 to 5 job
with no outside funding. It liberates the space from
your regular restrictions but it takes an insomniacs
dedication. The more people that get involved the
smoother things can run. We've been open for over a
year now but every day is a struggle. It's a labor of
love, obsession, and alcoholism. I really wanted to
make the space more like an alternative art education
source, due to my frustration with art schools,
college's and gallery elitism and red tape but I have
a hard time reaching the people that can really
benefit from what I want to offer. I just don't have
enough resources or time to find them. So, for now
Host, on a very very small level is a continually
morphing space, attempting to cut out the pretension
and formality of the "art" world, and plasticized pop
culture mess that surrounds us.