The Hill fills a hole in Knox bar scene

photo by Greg Wood/Special to Knoxville.com Ryan Patterson, from left, Eric Patterson and T. Gregory Knox of the Kvillains take a break at The Hill.

The Hill, a bar in the back of the massive grid that is Fort Sanders, has a lot of potential.

On a recent Friday night, after spending a good 20 minutes trying to find somewhere to park (the venue’s parking lot is miniscule), I walked up to the front door to hear pounding bass lines ripping through the venue’s walls, which reminded me I hadn’t been to a local rock show in quite some time.

Then I was immediately informed by one of the bouncers that they had a special where you could buy a $5 cup and get free PBR all night until the keg blew.

Walking into the bar as excited as I’ve ever been, I was disappointed to see a lacking crowd. The booths against the windows were empty and two people sat at the lengthy bar to the left. I decided everyone must be upstairs watching the live music, took advantage of the $5 PBR special, and headed upstairs.

Whereas the upstairs area was generally empty, there were at least a few people watching the band play on the highly elevated stage in the back.

With the venue exuding energy I thought for sure I was in store for the party of the century. And, given the Hill’s set up, I feel a more rocking evening should have been in order.

First of all, I’ve wanted another bar in the Fort for years, even though I don’t live there. When I did, I frequently wished there was some other place within walking distance that wasn’t on the Strip, just for some variety. (The Hill’s lack of parking lot suggests to me most of the club’s crowd is on foot, anyway.)

On top of that, the Hill’s upstairs is the perfect set up for live music. The stage is lined with speakers, there’s a small bar immediately to the right and there’s an open floor that could fit about 100 people. If you don’t feel like dancing, there are several high tables against the back wall which provide views of the stage.

To the back of the upstairs area there are two pool tables in a dimly lit room. Interestingly, one of the pool tables is free and the other one costs $1, which I found as a charming quirk (but it might not be so charming if someone’s occupying the free table). The stage is visible from this room and the sound still blares through, with raw drum beats and crash cymbals, vibrating bass lines and ripping guitar riffs bouncing off the walls. The mix isn’t perfect, but it’s got the low-fi production value that works for live rock music.

The few supporters of live music who managed to make it out showed their enthusiasm, with two girls dancing next to the stage during most of the Kvillains set. A group in their 40s sat at the adjacent tables, drinking PBR out of orange cups and watching the show, while several people in their 20s and 30s took to the bar. Overall, for a spot surrounded by college student housing, the Hill brought in a diverse crowd.

All the elements were in place, but something lacked. I stuck around until after 1 a.m. (which I never do anymore) hoping to see the college crowd pour in, but it just didn’t happen. The downstairs bar picked up after midnight, as many people suggested it would, but it was mostly guys watching TV and ordering up the $1 Natty Light cans or the $5 PBR special (which caused the keg to blow around 12:30, but fortunately they installed a new one and continued the special).

The Hill fills some void that I hadn’t even been aware of: It showcases live music well (even if the sound was off) and gives acts another potential stop in town. It’s got unbeatable specials and I can safely say I’ve never seen beer so cheap on a Friday night. And even if you don’t live in the immediate area, it’s located at a popular crossroads near the interstate.

I enjoyed playing some pool and rocking out to the pop-punk style of Kvillains and have no reservations about heading back to the Hill. The crowds for college bars fluctuate, so I hope next time it’s more lively.

© 2010 Knoxville.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.