I’ve been stuck on this moment from last week. Dave Cousar jammin’ with John Paul Keith at the Buccaneer. I think I heard JPK at DKDC last season. I really heard him last week. The vibe there was palpable. A room of talent pulsating with the passion of creation and all you have is my word for it. 
I want to go sit cross-legged in the middle of the music.
Capture the brilliance with a thousand words.
A thing observed, changes.
Women are taught to observe themselves monthly.
Men don’t look until something goes wrong.
Yoga helps no matter what.
I published a poem in the school literature book in 3rd grade.
I jotted it on a piece of paper during lunch hour. It describes the way someone feels when they are getting stared at. I used the same free form bullshit I’m spewing now but I’m pretty sure it rhymed. As with all my work, the title introduces the piece so we don’t have to waste time with context.
In the final printing of the book my poem The Stare is titled The Stove. It still kinda worked. At least, everyone said they got it. Whatever. I wish that boy would just talk to me.
I’m at the P&H enjoying the unwitting company of strangers. Mosquitoes finding me inside the bar. Shadows walking up on my left. Passing me by, most every time. Nothing can really phase me once I’m sliced open. The shock alone grants me an amiable demeanor.
Music has a way of smoothing over every situation. Next stop, Dave Cousar at the Buccaneer.
The first day of Memphis Punk Fest was rocktacular. I reserve a special place in my heart for metal bands. I love the energy and passion pouring out of these bands. The fans take that and serve it right back up so there’s a continuous loop of loud fun and reckless abandon.
At age 14, I was a punk. I don’t remember all the details, but the major signs were there. I frequented the Coffee Cellar, read zines and put RAPE stickers on stop signs all over East Memphis. I got my ear cartilage pierced at a mall kiosk on a 9th grade field trip and I threw a punk-tacular fit when my parents held me down to rip it out. According to the millenial punk rating system, the music I like from that era qualifies me as a fifth level punk. So you can trust me when I say the 3rd annual Memphis Punk Festival is worth your attention. Continue reading Punk Fest 2015
Hail to all the ice storm survivors. As a city, we get the Oscar for most-improved performance in the event of frozen water. Compared to ’94, I’m proud of Memphis and our little-salt-truck-that-could. And after that freeze, everything from here on out is practically spring. In that spirit, it’s time to knock the dust off and get out into the brisk air. A good time to scout for new hangouts, there’s no reason to break the budget before spring official kicks off. Here are my favorite places to find free-ish things happening in Memphis. Continue reading An Unspecified Number of Things To Do In March
Hooray. It’s a holiday week! That means everyone’s got all kinds of time off work and special plans for the week. How fun. For those of us not in that category, here’s a quick glance at some things to do while the masses sleep off turkey dinner. Continue reading The Running of the Birds
In case you haven’t heard, Marcella & Her Lovers are in the midst of an IndieGoGo campaign. Thanks to overwhelming support from fans in the Memphis community they have raised 75% of the $5000 needed to release their debut EP The Bronze Age. Response from fans has been overwhelming and with 15 days left in the crowd-funding push I feel confident they will reach the goal. Marcella emailed me a sneak peek of the music last week and I can assure you this release is well worth your support. Continue reading The Bronze Age Is Upon Us
I think I’m a groupie. I went to see Marcella Simien perform three times in a row and I was fully entertained the entire time. Generally, my attention span for any type of show is limited to once a week at best. Rarely do I want to follow any particular group or artist from one venue to another, let alone record the experience each time. The last time I did that was the Yojimbo double feature earlier this summer. That pair of shows was entertaining not only because Yojimbo has amazing stage presence, but also because of the contrast in the venues. From a Midtown Memphis pirate bar to a Tupelo highway honky-tonk shack. Yojimbo performed with gusto each time and it’s encouraging to see people from all walks of life enjoy the same music, even if they don’t all do it in the same place. The places where Marcella performs aren’t quite so disparate, but it wouldn’t matter because her stage presence could make a TJ Mulligan’s swanky. Continue reading Best 3-way Ever.