Reed: 'Reinvented' venue reveals more than first meets the eye

Photo by Keven Reed

Cindy Dean and Kelly Dennae soak in the rock 'n' roll atmosphere at 4620 Reinvented.

Photo by Keven Reed

Cindy Dean and Kelly Dennae soak in the rock 'n' roll atmosphere at 4620 Reinvented.

Photo by Keven Reed

Maurice Maultsby and Ashley Cox enjoy the show at 4620 Reinvented.

KNOXVILLE — In an attempt to unwind after finishing up one of the busiest weeks I've had in quite some time, fellow nightlifer Greg Wood and I decided to double-team the Knoxville scene for a Saturday night at 4620 Reinvented before heading over to The Chrome Pony.

4620 has been the type of bar that I always talked about going to, but could never actually organize a group of people to get there together.

For those who are unaware, 4620 used to be one of the few jazz clubs in Knoxville. Playing to a slightly more casual crowd than Baker-Peters Jazz Club further West, I had heard nothing but great things about it.

Fast-forward to the present and the 4620 of old is no more. While the sign outside still says 4620, it is obvious that the added name "Reinvented" is truer than I originally expected. Whatever jazz-club feel that 4620 had was not present when we visited Saturday night. This isn't to say that it was a bad experience, but my perception of jazzy charm and atmosphere dissipated when I heard the band playing begin to hit the first few notes of Korn's first single, "Blind."

Despite this, I can say that 4620 Reinvented still has a lot of potential to provide a unique venue and club experience to the Bearden crowd who might not usually venture downtown.

The bar sits directly across from the entrance with several tables littered around the room, as well as booths lining the walls. The crowd was fairly light and seating was anything but a problem. The bar, with its fluorescent blue glow, gave the entire room a very soft feel, causing me to wish even more that I was about to hear an evening of jazz.

Off to the side is a small room with a large TV and a few sofas and tables for those looking to get away from the music for a bit. It doesn't do much to dampen out the sound, but it did keep us from yelling at one another over the music.

4620 is a 21-and-up club, so smoking was allowed throughout the bar. This particular evening's cover charge was $5.

The drinks at 4620 were about on par with what I expected. Noticing that 4620 didn't have any beer on draft, we decided to stay away from bottled beers for the evening and stick with various cocktails. I had a gin and tonic while my friends ordered a martini and a "Sex on the Beach," all for $5.

4620 also serves a limited tapas menu, ranging from $5 for Bruschetta Margherita to $12 for their fairly hefty Bistro pizza. We went with the bruschetta and it was worth the $5.

Although the band playing Saturday night was catering to a style of music that I don't listen to anymore, 4620 does offer a fairly eclectic mix of music. Tuesday night guests can check out "Locals Only" with the ubiquitous Jon Worley for free. Throughout the week you can also check out various rock, country and electronic acts, usually for a modest $5.

4620 Reinvented might not have been what I expected, but it still provided a great evening at a new locale. Be sure to check out 4620's concert calendar on their MySpace page for upcoming shows. There is always plenty to choose from.

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