will play tonight at 12th & Porter, 114 12th Avenue South, starting at 9 p.m. Check with the venue for cover charge information.
Singer/songwriter Chris Knight doesn’t construct flowery, lightweight or disposable tunes. His characters and situations reflect his small town background, his preference for simplicity in public dealings and honesty in relationships, and the disappointment he feels when he encounters duplicity and deceit. Knight’s current release The Jealous Kind (Dualtone) features several graphic, lyrically elegant and striking tunes, most notably “Broken Plow.”

But Knight, who’ll appear tonight at 12th and Porter, isn’t overly enamored with either himself or his craft. He answers questions quickly, and downplays any notion he belongs in the upper echelon of performers in his generation. “I come from a rural background,” Knight said in responding to the source of his material and inspiration. “I’m used to big families and small towns, and that’s the basis for my ideas and the people in my songs. I try to get their stories across, and when I’m singing, those emotions are my way of expressing those things I’ve heard them say, or heard other people say.”

While he’d probably be the first to deny the link, it’s not that much of a stretch to view Knight’s compositions as country-tinged versions of what more literate and articulate rock composers such as Springsteen have created for their concept albums. The Jealous Kind addresses isolation, betrayal and alienation, while spotlighting families and personalities uneasy about the onslaught of technology and far more comfortable away from the city. Knight’s vocal leads are alternately tender, agonized and intense, while the musical backing is a spirited blend of country and folk elements, with occasional hints of bluegrass underneath.

Knight’s musical consciousness was shaped during his youth in Kentucky by the classic country songs he heard on radio. It was further altered as a teen by the music of such artists as John Prine (whom he still considers a prime source) and J.J. Cale, but he also admits hearing and enjoying some sounds that aren’t reflected in many of his songs. “I really liked people like ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd,” Knight said. “That’s probably had some impact on me, but I’m not doing southern boogie or rock. The bluegrass thing can kind of creep up on me sometimes, although I think it’s more what I’d call progressive country.”

A family man, Knight professed he doesn’t spend a lot of time offstage trying to keep up with the latest musical trends. “I’ve been playing a lot of Lucinda Williams lately in the car for my four-year-old daughter, and she loves it, so that’s what I’m hearing right now. I’m not the kind of guy who spends $50 or $100 a month on new music. I write all the time, so if I’m getting music for other purposes, it’s probably something I’ve had for a long time.”

Still, Knight’s music has a fresh, lively feel and contemporary focus. An experienced writer who’s been working with various Nashville scribes over the last nine years as well as doing his own material, he’s doing work that’s extremely distinctive and original. Though he might not pay attention to many trendy things, in its own way, Knight’s work is enjoying significant impact among fans of undiluted, traditional country and Americana music.