Rockabilly Revival: Reverend Horton Heat in Chattanooga
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
24 Hours of Mountain Views, Railroad History, and Gourmet Breakfast in the Scenic City
Story and Photos by Casey Nicholson
By the time I-75 curved into downtown Chattanooga, the skyline was glowing in the last light of day. Glass and brick towers caught the golden hour as traffic thinned and the Tennessee River shimmered just beyond the buildings. We had only 24 hours in the Scenic City, but it didn’t take long to see that this southern Appalachian hub carries itself with confidence — equal parts mountain town and urban center.
An Evening with Reverend Horton Heat
Rush hour gave way to open streets as we made our way to the hotel, passing restaurants filling for the night and sidewalks buzzing with pedestrian traffic. After a quick check-in, we headed across town toward The Signal, a relatively new music venue situated near the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo district, where restored rail architecture meets modern development.
The Signal houses two distinct performance spaces. The larger hall was alive with a DJ and a packed dance floor, while concertgoers slowly began to gather at The Parlour — the more intimate of the two halls, which would fill to near capacity by the time the main act went on for the evening.
Local Chattanooga band Behold The Brave opened the night with a strong set of originals and a spirited rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” setting the tone for the night’s main event: Reverend Horton Heat.
For nearly four decades, Jim Heath has carried the torch for psychobilly — a turbocharged blend of rockabilly, punk energy, and sly humor. From early in the set, it was clear the band hadn’t lost a step. Upright bassist Jimbo Wallace, equal parts musician and showman, thumped and slapped his instrument with acrobatic flair, while drummer Jonathan Jeter drove the rhythm with precision.
At one point, Heath climbed atop Wallace’s upright bass as Wallace continued playing, the crowd roaring as the two balanced spectacle with tight musicianship. Songs like “Psychobilly Freakout” and “Big Red Rocket of Love” kept the energy high, the twang of Heath’s guitar cutting cleanly through the room. By the time the encore ended, The Parlour felt less like a venue and more like a pressure cooker of guitar riffs and upright bass thunder — a fitting kickoff to our whirlwind visit.
Starting the Day Off Right: Sightseeing and Breakfast at Aretha Frankenstein’s
Saturday morning came quickly. Our first stop was Aretha Frankenstein’s, a beloved local breakfast spot tucked into a residential neighborhood just north of downtown. Established in 2003, the small, eclectic restaurant pairs gourmet twists on classic breakfast fare with décor that includes framed cereal boxes and nostalgic video game memorabilia.
On this chilly February morning, the 45-minute wait for an indoor table gave us time to explore. We drove back toward the Chattanooga Choo Choo, the former Union Station that once funneled Midwestern travelers into the Deep South. The grand terminal inspired Glenn Miller’s 1941 hit “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and, after passenger rail service ended in 1970, the building was reimagined as a hotel complex. Today, the restored site anchors a lively district of shops, restaurants, and the recently rebranded Hotel Chalet, with a vintage railcar display celebrating the city’s railroad heritage.
The transformation of the terminal from transportation hub to entertainment district mirrors Chattanooga’s broader evolution — from industrial crossroads to tourism-driven Appalachian city — while still honoring the history that built it.
A quick stop at nearby Coolidge Park offered sweeping views of the Tennessee River. Morning runners traced the riverwalk as sunlight filtered through a light haze rising off the water, revealing the bridges and hills that frame the city.
Back at Aretha Frankenstein’s, we secured seats at the bar and ordered generously: a feta-and-spinach omelette, spicy grits, thick-cut bacon, and the restaurant’s signature pancakes — dense, nearly an inch thick, and closer in appearance to cornbread than a traditional flapjack. The pancakes arrived with blueberry-infused butter blended with cream cheese, adding a tangy sweetness that balanced the savory dishes. It was the kind of breakfast that justifies both the wait and the detour.
Life in the Clouds: A View from Lookout Mountain
With breakfast behind us, we climbed Lookout Mountain to Point Park, the National Park Service site commemorating the Civil War’s Battle of Lookout Mountain. Cannons and monuments dot the grounds, reminders of the mountain’s strategic importance in 1863. Yet history shares the stage here with geography.
From the upper overlooks, Chattanooga spreads out below, the Tennessee River bending sharply around the peninsula known as Moccasin Bend. One popular vantage point frames the city skyline between two historic cannons, but the most expansive view lies a short walk downhill at Sunset Rock, aka Point Lookout. From there, a broad 180-degree panorama reveals the river’s curve, the valley floor, and the rolling foothills of the southern Appalachians stretching toward the horizon.
After a night of amplified guitars and a morning of bustling sidewalks, the quiet altitude of Lookout Mountain offered perspective — a reminder that Chattanooga’s energy is rooted in the landscape that surrounds it.
Chattanooga Is Worth the Drive
By early afternoon, it was time to head south toward our next stop. As we crossed the state line, Lookout Mountain receded in the rearview mirror, but the impression lingered. In the span of a single day, Chattanooga delivered upright bass theatrics, railroad history, riverfront serenity, and a breakfast substantial enough to fuel a hike.
For a city perched at the edge of the southern Appalachians, Chattanooga manages to balance motion and memory — where rockabilly riffs echo beneath Civil War cannons and historic rail terminals anchor modern nightlife.
We’re already compiling a list for the next visit: Rock City, Ruby Falls, the Tennessee Aquarium, and a Chattanooga Lookouts game. What else should we add?
Tell Us What We Missed
Join the conversation on social media and let us know what we missed — we’ll be back in the Scenic City soon.
Further Reading to Plan Your Visit
If you’re planning your own trip to Chattanooga — or simply want to learn more about the places featured in this story — here are a few helpful links:
