Shallowpoint is, from left, Robert Smith, Chucky Roberts, Heather Roberts and Ray Roberts.

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Lenoir City's Shallowpoint is more than a band, it is literally a family. Vocalist Chucky Roberts and his bassist/wife Heather Roberts began performing with drummer/cousin Ray Roberts and guitarist/best friend Robert Smith five years ago, and have pressed on despite the real life-challenges from which the band draws its name. With the majority of local metal being dominated by high school acts, the life experience of Shallowpoint allows its music to touch on more mature issues that hit home for fans of all ages, as opposed to the angst-driven music of its younger peers.

The members of Shallowpoint have felt the effects of the economy through financial slumps and furloughs, not to mention a number of physical injuries - including broken bones and torn tendons - but the band has not missed a gig. With a scant scene in Lenoir City, the band has played everything from bonfire parties to last month's Twisted Hillbilly Festival at The Catalyst. This hard-nosed attitude gives the band's music a genuine, gritty element missing from other metal acts, while offering a wider range of emotions than simple frustration. While Shallowpoint's hard times have provided a bounty of inspiration, the members point out that financial blows have delayed the recording of a debut release.

"We take it as a business," says Ray Roberts. "Playing music is a job. We get paid to play. We all have families and jobs outside of this. Our music reflects our lives, but it's another job, too. I think a lot of young kids get more in tune with the whole scene part and identify with an image more than a sound. They pigeonhole themselves. That's why our music varies from song to song. We try to include all the emotions."

"I don't think there are too many bands that can say they've been together for five years out on the street right now," adds Chucky Roberts. "A lot of your young bands will get girlfriends and cars and lose interest. It's all about finding the right combination of people to move forward, and that's the main thing as far as making a band work. That's what we're trying to do."

In an effort to include as many influences as possible, Shallowpoint's songwriting style comes off as somewhat schizophrenic. Varying from song to song, the group's output switches from growling metal to modern-rock ballads. Throw in the band's use of cover tunes, and you're left with an accessible yet scattered show. However, the grouping of songs on Shallowpoint's set-list makes its drastic style changes more subtle as the band progresses through the set from soft to hard, starting with covers and slow songs before concluding with its grinding heavy metal side.

"It's got a melodic feel," says Chucky Roberts of Shallowpoint's range. "It's kind of laid back, but it's heavy. It's a little of both worlds. We try to touch both boundaries and experiment from soft to heavy. "

"With the local music scene, if you want to play out, you have to play something people already know," adds Heather Roberts of the group's cover tunes. "We try to be versatile and have something for everyone."

Tonight Shallowpoint is slated to perform at the new Level 10 bar and music venue along with The Kevin Abernathy Band. Level 10 is the new offering of Bring It! Productions, whose aim is to diversify the Knoxville music scene, offering shows for all age groups. Following the closing of Bring It's all-ages Boneyard venue, owner David Butler opened Level 10 as a sports bar/live music venue hybrid directed at more mature, "middle-age" audiences. The venue is at 4525 Kingston Pike SW, in Western Plaza. Tonight's show starts at 9 p.m. and costs $5. Shallowpoint will also appear at The Prince Deli on Sept. 19.

ON TAP: TAP (The American Plague) joins Soundtracks Black Saturday night at 4620 Reinvented. Doors open at 9pm.

GETTING CAMPY: Pilot Light hosts the Rock Camp Benefit Show, featuring Chore Boys, Wyld Stallyns, Three Man Band, Milo, The Buddy System, Flak Jacket, Nimoids and Salvation Cowboy. The benefit kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday and costs $5.