Month: November 2004

How will Memphis top its artificially flavored & much ballyhooed 50 years of rock Ôn roll campaign? Perhaps with a great 51st year of rock Ôn roll! MemphisÕ most famous studios are cranking up for a bountiful year in 2005. LetÕs see who is playing that tuneÉ

If Boston can win the World Series, then Big Star can release their first studio record in 30 (!) years. MemphisÕ most influential, beloved, and long-running cult band came together at Ardent Studios for sessions in March and April (with now-permanent members Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer of the Posies) to create twelve new songs for an August, 2005, release on Rykodisc. Drummer Jody Stephens said, ÒAlex (Chilton) was way into it. He was there for the whole thing. We recorded 15 songs and came back a month later, picked the best 12, and overdubbed those.Ó

Each of the current members of Big Star brought their own tunes to the studio, which they quickly formed into songs by the whole band. The record leans toward a return to a Ô60s pop sound with amazing background vocals (the kind you just donÕt hear any more) and generally very short ditties. The sampling I tasted sounds closer to ChiltonÕs Box Tops then Big Star, but, then again, expectations are something Chilton relishes in obliterating. In fact one track very different from others on the record strolls down ÒShakedown StreetÓ with fantastic Memphis horns from stalwarts Nokie Taylor and Jim Spake.

Jeff Powell, who engineered the sessions, took the record to Los Angeles to master at Ocean Way. The buzz created by various musicians coming in and out of the mastering session peaked the curiosity of Beatle Paul McCartney, who popped in for a moment to bless the record, completing the full-circle for the Ô60s Anglo-rock inspired Memphians. Indeed, Chris Bell would have been proud.

2005 should be a huge year for Big Star and Big Star fans, who include amongst the most popular of the rock cognescenti from REM to Belle and Sebastian. In addition to the current release of the biography Big Star, The Story of RockÕs Forgotten Band (out in the U.K. on Harper Collins), the band will be playing festivals in Europe in August with a few other dates in the U.S. Tentatively scheduled to headline a Memphis Music festival at Barbican in London in early April, Big Star has been offered an ÒArdent NightÓ with the North Mississippi All-Stars as well as a host of other Memphis talent.

Not to be topped, Sam Phillips Recording saw the recent return of The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, along with top-shelf mega-superstar caliber talent helping him along for the rideÑKeith Richards, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, and last but not least Kid Rock himself! The Killer meets the KidÑonly in Memphis! Produced by guitarist Jimmy Ripp, this one should be out in early 2005.

The Soulsville sound is also back by popular demand as Al Green revisited Willie MitchellÕs Royal Recording on the recently re-christened Willie Mitchell Blvd. this summer. The follow-up to last yearÕs well-received I CanÕt Stop will come out March of next year on Blue Note again and will be titled EverythingÕs OK. Engineer Boo Mitchell says to watch out for this one as it has more of Òthe old feel but with a modern sound taking it up a notch.Ó The record features eleven more Pops Mitchell/Al Green collaborations plus a cover of ÒYou Are So Beautiful.Ó

Archer Records will release a Sid Selvidge DVD(winner of last yearÕs Best Memphis Record, according to Bill Ellis) called Live at Otherlands as well as a new Gamble Brothers record. MemphisÕ hottest country punks Lucero, who recorded in North Mississippi with Jim Dickinson this summer, also plans to release their new batch in early spring 2005 on an as yet undetermined label. The North Mississippi All-Stars just finished a new record at Ardent as well. And the Glass, currently at Easley-McCain, will follow-up Concorde with a new record, possibly on Makeshift. Memphis continues to be a recording capital of the South, making things sound bright for the next 50 years of Memphis musicÉ.

THE NEW COLD WAR

Fifteen years ago, the Berlin Wall fell, marking the official end of the Cold War. It was a high-water mark in American history, a victory of freedom over oppression. ItÕs now generally agreed that America won the battle of ideologies by using a powerful one-two punch: Ronald ReaganÕs aggressive foreign policy, and the brilliant marketing and distribution of American consumer products. Those holding the reins of power behind the Iron Curtain couldnÕt outspend America on weapons programs. Meanwhile, their young people were seduced by LeviÕs and Coke and Bruce Springsteen and Madonna Ñ American pop culture.

Once Gorbachev figured it out, it was game, set, and match. Suddenly America was the worldÕs only superpower.

Yes, we won because we were rich and powerful, but we also won because in the eyes of those young people trapped behind the old gray wall, America seemed to be having more fun. We had cool stuff and great music. They wanted to be like us.

Why do I bring this up? Because in the wake of President BushÕs recent electoral victory, Americans find themselves engaged in a new ideological war, only this time itÕs internal, between the red thinkers and the blue ones. The ÒenemyÓ lives in your neighborhood and you live in his. The war is about ÒvaluesÓ in one respect, but itÕs really about the future of America.

ItÕs about whether we will we move forward into the new century with courage and openness, or return to the 1950s; whether science will be displaced by religion; whether thoughtful political discourse will be displaced by slogans and name-calling; whether tolerance can dispel homophobia; whether our air and water will be sacrificed to greed; and whether the great unholy horror of war will become just another political tool.

The stakes are high and the forces of superstition and ignorance are formidable. They have money and power and they keep their minions imprisoned behind a wall of fear and ignorance. But we have ideas Ñ and freedom.

The way to win is not, as many have suggested, for progressive thinkers to try and convince conservatives that we are like them. John Kerry tried that with his goose hunting adventure and talk of his faith and nuanced positions that tried to split the difference between progressive and conservative. Telling voters you Òhave a planÓ for every issue and for them to go to your Web site wonÕt convince anyone to jump the wall.

The answer is not to bend ourselves into pretzels of accommodation, but to be, openly, who we are. Remember when every politician in America had to answer the ÒDid you smoke potÓ question? ItÕs no longer an issue, because thereÕs no political advantage to raising the question anymore. Everybody, conservative or liberal, has either smoked pot or is related to someone who has Ñ or does. You canÕt condemn a candidate for doing something thatÕs Ònormal.Ó

Likewise, when both candidates were asked during the final presidential debate to say whether or not they thought homosexuality was a Òchoice,Ó Bush, pled ignorance (quite believably, I might add). Kerry chose to finesse the question and divert attention to Dick CheneyÕs gay daughter. It was awkward and unappealing. But what would have been wrong with forthrightly saying, ÒOf course, itÕs not a choice. Science has shown very clearly that itÕs a genetic predisposition. I have gay friends and family and coworkers, as do most Americans. We need to bring this issue out of the closet. Civil unions are fine with me and I think the question of gay marriages should be left up to the states.Ó

If Kerry had said this, he probably wouldnÕt have lost a single vote. Those who are homophobic werenÕt going to vote for him anyway. Those who were undecided might have been impressed with his honesty. Courage is appealing. Nuance is not.

One reason liberals arenÕt scared of gays is that most of us know many of them and itÕs no longer a big deal. ItÕs a fact that some of the most virulent racists live in rural areas where there isnÕt a black person within 200 miles. They fear what they donÕt know. If you work with a black guy, you might go out and have a beer after work, which makes it a lot harder to be a racist. So another element of this Òcold warÓ strategy is for gays to come out fearlessly and for progressives to support them when they do. It will eventually defuse the issue.

Honesty trumps pandering every time. Freedom displaces fear. We need to stop trying to be like right-wingers and start demonstrating to them how much cooler it is to be free. The ideology of the right is based on fear Ñ of gays, of racial mixing, of liberals taking away guns, of retribution by a vengeful god (or a judgmental preacher). So, practice fearless acts. Invite a conservative couple to dinner and bring along a gay couple. DonÕt tolerate racist talk when you hear it. Proudly call yourself a progressive. Proudly call yourself an American. DonÕt back down to fear and ignorance and hate. Be open about your beliefs, not defensive. Laugh. Have fun. Freedom is power. Exercise it. Remember, 49 percent of America made the more enlightened choice in the last election. The force of history is behind us.

Next time, the wall comes tumbling down.

(Bruce van Wyngarden is editor of the Flyer.)

HOOP DREAMING

SETTING: The Larry O. Finch Center, U of M campus. Late evening. A dimly lit court, silent but for the rhythmic collision of basketball to hardwood . . . and the slap of ball meeting twine. A REPORTER enters, stage right, and proceeds to baseline, underneath basket where a Tiger player — wearing his number-2 practice jersey — works on his free throws.

REPORTER: Hey, Dajuan. I thought two-time conference scoring champions were allowed to skip free-throw drills after practice.

WAGNER: Never too many free throws, baby. I’m going to the line this year, you wait and see. Like never before. This team came so close last year . . . no way will a foul shot get between me and that trophy.

REPORTER: You gotta be excited about the scoring record, no? Less than 100 points — so, say, four games at the most — and you move ahead of Keith Lee in the Tiger record book. That’ll be worth a party.

WAGNER: You know, I haven’t thought about the scoring record as much as my dad has. He’s fifth alltime at Louisville, so to have a chance at the record here in Memphis — Louisville’s biggest rival — that’s kinda special to both of us. But let’s be realistic . . . there’s no way I have the points I do if it weren’t for Coach Cal pushing this offense, and for all those passes Antonio delivered.

REPORTER: How much will Mr. Burks be missed?

WAGNER: Not much . . . we’ll be sharing the same building! [laughs . . . and misses first free throw since reporter entered] Nah, seriously . . . Antonio was the engine. We’re all happy that he wound up with the Grizzlies. But you know, Darius Washington can ball, man. And with the experience we have on this team, I think we’ll be all right.

[Enter from weight room, stage left, AMARE STOUDEMIRE.]

REPORTER: What is this, BMOC night at the Finch Center?

[Stoudemire slings sweat-soaked towel at reporter, before picking up ball under side hoop.]

STOUDEMIRE: What do y’all expect? You don’t get to Final Fours by splitting pizzas and playing on your Game Boy all night. UConn was stronger than us in the championship game. I’m making sure ain’t nobody stronger than Stoudemire in St. Louis.

REPORTER: You two have surprised a lot of people by playing in college as long as you have. So for the 1,800th time . . . why?

WAGNER: It’s kinda funny. Believe it or not, I had a dream during my freshman year that made my decision for me. Remember when LeBron James made the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior in high school? Man, that told me there will always be a “next big thing.” In my dream, I was a top-ten pick in the draft . . . but the next season, my team picked LeBron! I don’t know all that much about business — I’m getting my degree in communications, by the way — but I know something about market value. And the minute LeBron became my teammate — in my dream, I mean — my wallet shrunk like those shorts Dr. J and them used to wear. And I knew, hey, if I can take Memphis to the Final Four I’d be rig ht back in the spotlight.

STOUDEMIRE: Boy loves his spotlight!

WAGNER: Look who’s grinnin’! Mr. Twelve-Rebounds-a-Game!!

STOUDEMIRE: You score your points, Juanny. When you miss . . . those points are mine.

WAGNER: You mean, if Banks doesn’t take ’em.

STOUDEMIRE: Da-umn . . . can’t that kid play?

REPORTER: How has Coach Cal managed to find the right rotation with so many stars on this squad?

STOUDEMIRE: Buddy, you need to read up on your hoop history. North Carolina won a national title — 1982, I think — with Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, and James Worthy. Two Hall of Famers and a guy who played in the League for, like, 20 years! If Dean Smith could do it with those three, I think Coach Cal can handle us.

REPORTER: What about the role players, guys like Rodney Carney and Anthony Rice?

WAGNER: They’re just as important. Dude, you’re the one who’s always writing how it takes a TEAM to win championships. Well, that’s what we’ve got here. If one of us has a bad night [STOUDEMIRE breaks out in laughter], Rodney or Anthony, or Sean Banks picks us up. We’re relentless. Conference USA knows it, and last March, the rest of the country found out. If it weren’t for that Okafor, we’d have a championship banner to hang in FedExForum.

REPORTER: Is that the motivation for the season ahead? One more win, in April?

STOUDEMIRE: You got it. Nothing less than the 2005 national championship. Oh, and I’ve got one personal goal. I’m gonna make sure Qyntel Woods knows who’s the best dunker on this team!

The U of M men’s basketball team — their real team — opens the 2004-05 season this Thursday night at FedExForum against Savannah State in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

COMMENTARY: A LESSON FOR DEMOCRATS

The conservative media is arguing, as usual, that the Democrats lost the

Presidential election because they were too liberal and too far to the left.

So-called “moderate” democrats are going to make the same worn-out argument.

The argument is fallacious for many reasons. First, John Kerry did not run

as a liberal; he tried to run as a “moderate,” and in some cases he tried to

go to the right of George W. Bush. Like every Democrat since LBJ, the

Democrats have tried to distance themselves from liberalism and endorsed

many conservative Republican positions.

There is much talk about “moral” issues, particularly gay marriage, as a

reason for the Democratic defeats. However, neither Kerry nor the

Democratic Party endorsed “gay marriage.” In fact, Kerry emphasized that he

agreed with Bush that gays should NOT be allowed to marry. (Another example

of Democrats trying to blur the differences with Republicans.)

While the Republicans may have successfully used gay marriage as a wedge

issue to motivate their conservative Christian Right base, it is not so

clear that it was the main reason most voters supported Bush. Exit polls

show that while a majority of voters opposed gay marriage, almost half

supported “civil unions” for gay couples, a position endorsed by George W.

Bush just before the election.

(I might point out that the Republican Party has attacked every Democrat who

supports “civil unions” as enemies of marriage and family values. RNC Chair

Ed Gillespie has said that civil unions are just another name for gay

marriage.)

The real lesson of this election is that the Democratic Party has no clear

identity. Most voters, like the Democratic Party itself, have no clue what

they stand for. The lesson should be that when Democrats try to look and

sound like Republicans, they usually lose. When people have a choice

between an imitation and the real thing, they usually pick the real thing.

Two examples prove my point. Tom Daschle, former Democratic minority leader

from South Dakota, distanced himself from liberals and Kerry and emphasized his

affinity for President Bush. Daschle was a weak candidate and an extremely

weak minority leader in congress. He lost. On the other hand, Illinois

Senator-elect Barack Obama ran in Illinois as a progressive, with a vision and message

that voters could embrace, against a right-wing conservative Republican,

Alan Keyes. He won.

Here’s another example of what is wrong with the Democratic Party–our own

Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. What does he stand for? Does anyone know? I watch

him speak and never can tell exactly. Before the election he took the same

position as John Kerry that while he opposed gay marriage, he also opposed

amending the Constitution to write discrimination into our sacred document.

Then he switched his position and voted for the anti-gay Federal Marriage

Amendment. In doing so, he went across party lines to vote with the radical

right Republicans in congress! He took a position at odds with the

Democratic Party platform and its Presidential candidate!

Perhaps the Democratic Party should follow the example of progressives like

Barak Obama instead of the losing example of Republicrats like Tom Daschle.

(Jim Maynard is a Memphis gay activist who recently ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign against 9th District U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr.)

Harold Ford Jr.:

November 3, 2004

Dear Congressman Ford:

Perhaps you have already seen William Safire’s column in today’s New York Times….

Actually, we at the Flyer were flattered that Mr. Safire endorsed our own Kerry as Senate Minority Leader idea, perhaps without even reading our current editorial.(www.memphisflyer.com/content.asp?ID=3060&onthefly=1 )

But seriously: I hope you will endorse the Flyer‘s and Mr. Safire’s idea. Ask your Democratic senatorial colleagues to draft John Kerry as Senate Minority Leader.

Senator Kerry is now a proven and widely-admired national leader. If the Democrats fail to make this patently-obvious choice, they deserve the possibly adverse consequences that will follow.

With all due respect to Senator Reid, appointing a relative unknown to that position will squander valuable momentum generated by this presidential campaign. Perhaps the congressional leadership doesn’t realize how close the national Democratic Party is to oblivion.

Business-as-usual in the Senate, Congressman, just won’t do. I know I speak for many committed Democrats — Democrats who donated blood, sweat, tears and dollars to the recent campaign — when I say that IT IS TIME FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. Continuity is essential if we are ever to get out of this pickle we presently find ourselves.

I am not suggesting for a moment that Senator Kerry should be the party’s standard-bearer in 2008; that decision is light years away at this point, and a thousand events will occur in the meantime. What we cannot afford, however, is to squander all the good work that has been accomplished during this recent campaign, in terms of organization, grass-roots involvment, and sheer enthusiasm, and return to business as usual within the halls of Congress.

Senator Kerry can and will be a powerful “leader of the opposition”; after today’s magnaminous concession speech, he is perhaps the most well-respected defeated presidential candidate of modern times. Give him the chance to maintain his position as de facto leader of our party during the challenging two years ahead of us.

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone who might find the contents of interest. Thanks.

Good to see you at the game tonight; go Griz! All the best, Ken

Kenneth Neill

Publisher/CEO

THE MEMPHIS FLYER, Memphis, TN