The Samford Crimson

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Expressions

Media Credit: Lindsey Fine

The famous playwright William Shakespeare once said, “If music is the food of love, play on.”

Since opening The Bottle Tree in November 2006, owners Merrilee and Brad Challiss have witnessed music’s ability to unleash their passions for film, the culinary arts and more while sharing these passions with the Birmingham community. This sister-brother team initially opened The Bottle Tree as a music venue in hopes of bringing more varieties of music to the Birmingham area.

“Many times good bands and musicians visit Atlanta and New Orleans while completely bypassing Birmingham,” Merrilee Challiss said. “We wanted to change that.”

Over the past year The Bottle Tree has featured artists from almost every genre of music such as rock, jazz, alternative, indie, blues and country.

“We are always bringing in bands and musicians from varying genres of music. It’s something we’re very proud of,” Merrilee Challiss said.

Some of the artists are from other countries. Recently, the indie-rock band The Duke Spirit traveled all the way from England to perform. Past performers of The Bottle Tree include The Donnas, Nada Surf, Of Montreal, The Hold Steady and Gravy Train.

“The Bottle Tree does a great job of getting good musicians and bands,” senior graphic design major Bob Miller said.

Two upcoming performances include Demolition String Band and State Radio.

Demolition String Band will take the stage along with Southern Culture on the Skids this Saturday, March 1. Demolition String Band has opened for artists such as Patti Smith, Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie Spector and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Two of the band’s members have appeared on Comedy Central and “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” as part of the Upright Citizens Brigade.

On March 4, former Dispatch band member Chad Urmston and his band, State Radio, will jam the night away with their reggae rhythms and socially conscious lyrics.

While accomplishing their goal of drawing more varieties of music to the Birmingham area, the Challisses have expanded their nightly line-ups to include poetry readings, dance parties, karaoke, independent movie nights, board-game nights and stand-up comedy.

“Surprisingly, the dance parties have been a huge hit. Tons of people come,” Merrilee Challiss said. “Sometimes we have reggae nights, and the DJs spin old LP records.”

Several times a month The Bottle Tree shows independent films free of charge. One of the featured films from last month, “Once,” won an Oscar for Best Song this year.

Bottle Tree’s next film, “Control,” is Anton Corbijn’s 2007 black-and-white biopic about the late Ian Curtis, lead singer of post-punk band Joy Division. The screenplay, which is based on the book “Touching from a Distance” by Deborah Curtis, is written by Matt Greenhalgh. The film will be presented tonight at 8.

Merrilee Challiss said that she wants to continue broadening their nightly themes. The Bottle Tree will host their first YouTube night on March 27.

“YouTube night should be a lot of fun. Just bring the URL of all your favorite YouTube videos, and we’ll play funny videos all night long,” she said.

The Bottle Tree’s medley of music, film and theme nights creates a one-of-a-kind hangout that is complimented by the laid-back, artistic atmosphere and vegetarian-based cuisine.

Earning a B.A. in Studio Arts and a M.F.A. in Sculpture, Merrilee Challiss said that she sees The Bottle Tree as a “giant installation.” Decorated with an abundance of string lighting and figurines, The Bottle Tree’s interior is Merrilee Challiss’ creation of a “funky atmosphere.”

“Inside it’s really cool,” Allie Beatty, sophomore nursing major, said. “It’s gaudy, but it’s gaudy on purpose. You don’t walk in and think, ‘Oh man, they messed up.’ It’s supposed to be like that.”

In addition to creating a unique atmosphere, Merrilee Challiss has developed an alternative menu. Being a vegetarian herself, she wanted to open a café that was vegetarian-friendly. However, the cafe is not strictly vegetarian.

“If you are a vegetarian we have something for you; if you eat meat we have something for you too,” she said.

However, even non-vegetarians may want to try Bottle Tree’s vegetarian chili. In 2007 it won the Birmingham News’ Chili Competition. The hummus is another vegetarian dish worth trying.

“The hummus is amazing,” Matt Godfrey, senior theatre major, said. “I didn’t even like hummus until I had Bottle Tree’s. That says something.”

Over the past year the Challisses’ love for music and their desire to expand upon their passions have fed Birmingham with a captivating atmosphere that stimulates all the senses and has people coming back for seconds.

Play on, Bottle Tree, play on.

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