That’s about as far into my post on the Fitz’s Ultimate Cookin’ Hookers (FUCH) I got when the power went out last night.

Zap.

So I went to the P&H to wait it out.  It’s a great thing I did – there was no shortage of good people and fun awaiting me there.  But first, let me tell you about Sunday at The Buccaneer Lounge.

This is a musical experience I can virtually guarantee you haven’t had before.  Only in the South will you find a band that literally feeds you the music. Belting out covers of classic rock, mostly from the sixties and seventies, the group draws a crowd just by having a good time on stage.  Their individual talents meld into something special and you can’t help but want to groove along to the beat.  And that’s just the beginning.

The experience becomes truly unique when John Fitzpatrick, food pimp, serves up deliciousness right on stage with his troupe of hookers.  He takes the essence of rock and roll and translates it into various types of soul-warming dishes to please your palate.  From a humble station equipped with two pans and Tupperware-prepped ingredients he takes his time, feeling the vibe, and infusing that into yummy.  It makes me wonder if we’d get creole flavors from a zydeco set?

Fortunately, there’s little chance the music is going to change.  The lineup of talent is just too damn impressive to mess with.  Jay Reynolds on vocals is an amazing mix of Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin packaged up with adorableness.  Erik Flettrich anchors the beats throughout whatever song the crowd asks for – and does it with style.  Shane Kirkpatrick on guitar is  what you’d expect from a musician born in Memphis but (surprise) he’s from New York!  Slightly hidden behind the cooking, Dylan Cranmer (guitar) and Hugh Foote (bass) are the backbone of everything, jamming out like they were born to be there.  I don’t often get to witness such a cohesive group of skilled artists on a Sunday evening.  I’d pay to see this band even without the amazing food.

Don’t think that Fitz is just there for the cooking, btw.  He helps out his group with well-timed light shows and sometimes even sits in as a guest percussionist with his bizarrely-shaped cowbell.  On top of that, I saw him take special care to meet the dietary restrictions one of the patrons required.  All that and he serves the food too!  Granted, it tends to dissappear as quickly as he can dish it out.  There were empty bowls everywhere that attested to the savory flavor if his rice and stir fry.

Fitz and his hookers put on their shows only a handful of times in the year.  It’s usually whenever they feel like having fun, so notice can be short if you want to catch the show.  That’s part of what makes it so special.  There are donation buckets out for the band and the food, but they put on the show for free.  Fitz provides the food and the musicians provide the entertainment.  Considering most shows in Memphis cost at least $5-$10 (and they don’t provide dinner) a good majority of FUCH fans are generous with their donations.  They know that this is a group worth funding because it will be a great time, every time.

An added treat on Sunday was when Jay Reynolds serenaded us all with her special improv piece – Happy Birthday to Hugh.  The weather out on the patio topped off the evening.  It was just muggy enough to feel like a warm hug when you stepped out of the cool interior of the Bucc.  It was a relaxing day of food, fun, and friends.  I hope you can make it out for the next show.