Reed: The Catalyst sparks new life for Old City venue

Music fans Ryan Meadows and Ward Houston enjoy a pre-Grand Opening show at The Catalyst.

Musicians fill the stage at The Catalyst on a recent evening for Jon Worley's Super Jam.

Music fans Ryan Meadows and Ward Houston enjoy a pre-Grand Opening show at The Catalyst.

Before living in Knoxville, when I was but a Chattanooga high-school hooligan, there were three places I really knew about in Knoxville: Neyland Stadium, Thompson Boling Arena and Blue Cats.

There were numerous occasions where I made my way up to Knoxville to see one of the many acts that often came through the city, especially since Chattanooga has never been known for attracting the same quality music Knoxville has drawn over the years. Since coming to Knoxville, many of my most memorable outings came from Blue Cats shows and events, until it closed down last year in favor of the larger Valarium.

I was excited to hear last fall that the space formally used for Blue Cats was reopening as a venue and restaurant. However, the life of said venue was short-lived and it seemed that it closed again before ever taking off. Thankfully, the powers-that-be did not let this wonderful venue simply slide off into never-never land, but are now reopening as The Catalyst.

Truth be told, it doesn't seem much has changed in the way The Catalyst is set up from its previous iterations. While the official "Grand Opening" event doesn't occur until March 27, much of what The Catalyst hopes to become is already in place. The outside patio is still intact, with chairs and tables waiting to for fans to populate the area. The Catalyst plans to turn the patio into an outdoor Cabana bar once the weather warms up a bit.

Inside, there are a couple of places to sit just behind the soundboard as well as at the bar. Comfy lounge seating and a few cocktail tables line the walls of the floor area, giving you plenty of space to sit down and take a breather if you need to. The sound at The Catalyst is top notch, with it being some of the loudest and clearest Knoxville has to offer. The giant screen often used for visualizations and backdrops is still above the stage, although it wasn't being used for anything the night I attended.

The Catalyst's prices stay fairly within reach of the Knoxville norm. The cheap can still get a PBR for $2.50, regular domestics run $3 and for some reason, Rolling Rock, and an assortment of imports and specialty beers will cost you $4. While The Catalyst was still awaiting its liquor license, I was told it will be in place in the next couple of weeks.

Food will also be served during most events. The menu, while limited in selection (sandwich or pizza), sounds pretty tasty. There were quite a few sandwiches to choose from, including the $4.95 gourmet grilled cheese and the $5.95 turkey pesto sandwich. If pizza is more your thing, you can grab a small cheese or pepperoni pizza for $4.95 and $5.95.

There are a number of events coming up at The Catalyst, including the First Friday Artist Convergence on March 6, experimental rock group Health on March 24 and the grand opening event on March 27. The venue also offers booking for private parties and special events.

If the feeling I got from The Catalyst this past weekend was any indication, there are good things to come in the Old City. I'm glad that the space is no longer going to waste and look forward to seeing all that the club has to offer in the coming months.

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