Month: May 2015

Categories
Film/TV Film/TV/Etc. Blog

Music Video Monday: Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

Today’s Music Video Monday also happens to be one of the biggest hits of the decade. 

In the six months since “Uptown Funk” was released by British mega-producer Mark Ronson and Hawaiian sensation Bruno Mars, it has spent 14 weeks as number one on the American Billboard sales charts, 7 weeks atop the British charts, has set records for the number of streams in a week, and has won Single Of The Year at the Brit Awards. It’s one of those seemingly rare moments when market success and artistic success converge. You can read all about its recording at Royal Studios with Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell in this Flyer story from February. The video is simple, energetic, and awesome. 

Music Video Monday: Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

It was also the first song recorded in Memphis to hit number one since Memphis disc jockey Rick Dees’ novelty record “Disco Duck” topped the charts for one week in October, 1976. So as an added Music Video Monday bonus, here’s Dees and Duck live on The Midnight Special. 

Music Video Monday: Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars (2)

If you want to see your video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com. 

Categories
From My Seat Sports

Grizzlies, Cavs, Cardinals: Wounded Hopes

Injuries in teams sports are like pages ripped from a book you haven’t yet finished. The more significant the player, the more pages are shredded. The later in the season a player goes down, the closer to the book’s end you discover the missing pages. It’s maddening, disappointing, vexing . . . as many negative descriptors as you choose. Bottom line: When players are sidelined by injury, the story we read — the one that enters the history books — is altered permanently.

Maybe the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, or St. Louis Cardinals (or a combination involving one of the NBA teams) wins a championship in 2015. More than likely, though, these three teams will fall short of the goal every pro team lists above all others. Fan bases for each franchise will find significant pages missing from this year’s metaphorical book.

The Grizzlies seemed to be peaking at precisely the right time after a lackluster conclusion to their regular season. On their way to a 3-0 lead against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Griz had the 67-win Golden State Warriors in their sights for a second-round battle that would test the entire concept of “grit and grind” basketball. Then C.J. McCollum’s elbow met Mike Conley’s face. The Memphis point guard left Game 3 in the third quarter and underwent surgery to repair facial fractures last Monday.

The Griz finished off the Blazers in five games to land that slot opposite Golden State in the bracket. With Conley in street clothes (swelling still visible on his face), Memphis traveled to Oakland and took a beating in Game 1 of it series with the Warriors Sunday afternoon. It’s hard to imagine one player — not named Jordan or Bird — erasing the Grizzlies’ 15-point margin of defeat, but the story would have read differently. It would have been the story as intended.

The Grizzlies aren’t alone. With Kevin Love sidelined by a shoulder injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers will find what amounts to a chapter missing from their 2014-15 book. And turning to baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals will tear out every fifth page this season with ace Adam Wainwright shelved by a torn Achilles’ tendon. Maybe LeBron James is enough for the Cavs to reach the NBA Finals anyway. And the Cardinals have a precedent for winning the World Series without Wainwright (2011). Missing pages don’t necessarily mean a book ends sadly.

Here’s hoping Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger concocts a scheme to steal a win when Game 2 is played Tuesday night. (Anyone seen Jordan Adams recently?) His team’s fate rests on how those missing pages are replaced.

• In evaluating the eight remaining teams in the NBA playoffs, remember the Superstar Rule. Since 1980, every champion except the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons has featured a player with multiple first-team All-NBA selections on his resume. Only three teams vying for this year’s title qualify: the Cavaliers (James), the Clippers (Chris Paul), and the Rockets (Dwight Howard). The Warriors’ Steph Curry has multiple first-team selections in his future, but this year’s will be his first.

• With San Antonio and Dallas eliminated, the Western Conference will be represented in the Finals by a team that hasn’t been that far in at least 20 years, if ever. (Houston won the 1995 title.) This is healthy for a sport dominated in June by a precious few brands.

Categories
Fly On The Wall Blog Opinion

The Howling Monkey Reads The Comics: 5/3/15

The Howling Monkey Reads The Comics is a public service to you, in which we explain why the Sunday funnies are, well, funny.  This thrilling edition of The Howling Monkey Reads The Comics includes bags of milk, jigsaw puzzles, mythology and a man who smells bad!  Enjoy it, won’t you?  (You won’t).

[audio-1]
Joey Hack is a regular contributor to Fly On The Wall, and is a member of The Wiseguys improv troupe.

Categories
Opinion Viewpoint

Myopia in Nashville

Tennessee had the opportunity, on April 22nd, to join 22 forward-looking states by passing tuition equity, which would have benefited thousands of young people across the state. But a mysterious outbreak of myopia in the House chamber, moments before the bill came up for vote, defeated a nicely crafted Senate-passed bill that had strong support from Tennessee youth, educators, and immigrant-rights advocates.

The legislative push to secure tuition equity — which would have allowed in-state university tuition for undocumented youth — has been arduous. Legislators in Nashville have struggled to understand the ramifications of tuition equity in the context of stalled national immigration reform.

Ironically, the bill’s origin and defeat can be traced indirectly to persistent federal inaction on immigration policy.

Five years ago, the U.S. Senate voted down the “Dream Act,” a bill that would have created a path to residency and citizenship for undocumented youth in the U.S. The Senate’s failure to act essentially denied hundreds of thousands of teenagers the chance to pursue education beyond 12th grade. These youths were effectively assigned to the class of low-wage workers living in the U.S.A.

In response to congressional failure, President Obama signed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order in 2012. The order allows childhood arrivals who are pursuing or who have obtained a high school diploma to earn a temporary, renewable two-year immigration status. This frees these folks from fear of deportation and allows them to work and study legally in the U.S.

Some states, as a result of congressional inaction, have cobbled together legislation — sometimes called tuition equity — designed to support young people who hope to earn college degrees and embrace the American dream. Tuition equity can come in a variety of forms but generally means offering in-state tuition rates for undocumented youth who reside in the state and have graduated from the state’s high schools.

The Republican-controlled Tennessee state legislature came close to passing tuition equity in last week’s general session. The Senate recently passed it by a vote of 21-12. The House vote, 49-47, fell one vote short of a constitutional majority (50 votes) needed for passage. This vote divided the Republican ranks. For example, Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) did not vote but claims she would have voted against the bill because, to her, the bill represents a “slippery slope.”

We’re not sure which slope she’s sliding down, but opening up opportunity for more young people, as many as 25,000, to study at our state-supported universities seems more like a step-up. Her lack of leadership on this important initiative is worse than her uninspiring metaphors.

Others have led with conviction and grace: Carla Chávez spoke on April 7th before the Education Administration and Planning Committee. The young woman told of arriving in the U.S. at 5 years old with her parents. She never knew she was “undocumented” until it came time to apply to college. Carla graduated from McGavock High School in Nashville and gained eligibility to work with a work permit, as authorized through DACA. She worked at internships and studied on the side, preparing for college during her free time in the hopes that tuition equity would, one day, pass in Tennessee.

Chávez’s powerful statement had a therapeutic effect on some of our representatives. Kent Calfee (R-Kingston) described the moment as “an epiphany” because he was set to vote against the bill, but was swayed by Chávez.

Representative Johnnie Turner (D-Memphis) invoked the civil rights struggle during a moving, passionate speech.

Representative Mark White (R- Memphis) sponsored and shepherded the bill that ultimately fell short. He deserves credit for recognizing the moral imperative behind this legislation and the positive impact it would have in Tennessee. Last year, this same bill bitterly divided the state legislature and never made it out of committee. This year, a broad coalition led by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), Latino Memphis, Inc., and hundreds of students organized a bold campaign that, while not managing to provoke new legislation, still made significant progress.

In these times of seemingly interminable partisan bickering, we need a state legislature that leads and helps us all look to our better angels. Offering young people the opportunity to take command of their lives through education, dedication, and focused work is the right policy option for Tennessee. We hope the myopia recedes, just a little bit, in the next legislative session.

Categories
News The Fly-By

Big Moves Ahead for Memphis Police Department Facilities

CREDIT: Toby Sells

Some big moves are planned for the Memphis Police Department (MPD) headquarters at 201 Poplar and for the department’s South Main precinct.

The MPD wants to move its headquarters from the Shelby County Criminal Justice Complex to the former Donnelly J. Hill State Office Building on Civic Center Plaza. The state vacated the building last year, and its offices are now housed down Main Street at One Commerce Square.

Toby Sells

Donnelly J. Hill State Office Building

Robert Lipscomb, the city’s director of Housing and Community Development (HCD), wants the city to buy the building from the state for $1.5 million. The goal is to relocate MPD headquarters and a few other city offices from spaces leased around the city into the 12-story office building.

“If we’re going to fight crime, we need to show the public that we’re serious about fighting crime,” Lipscomb said. “We want to give the police department a visible presence, and I think this building does that.”

The MPD’s rent at 201 Poplar is $85,000 per month, according to MPD Director Toney Armstrong. All told, rent and other expenses there cost the city about $1.4 million per year. Vacating 201 Poplar would save the MPD about 75 percent of that rent cost.

Some city council members were skeptical of the deal and not in favor of raising the city’s debt in the current budget year.

Lipscomb said HCD would also move into the former state office building as well as the Memphis Housing Authority, human resources, legal, and a few other departments. Lipscomb discussed his plans with the Memphis City Council last week, but the project is not yet ready for a formal council vote, he said.

But Lipscomb said a more pressing matter was the move of the MPD’s South Main precinct from Central Station to the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s North End Terminal at 444 North Main.

The move was precipitated by the planned, $55 million redevelopment of Central Station into a hotel, restaurant, and apartments. The council approved the $1.3 million reallocation of funds in this year’s budget to begin the planning and design phase, which is expected to be completed by September.

The price tag drew fire from councilmember Berlin Boyd. After being told that the move was necessary, Boyd chided administration officials for asking for the emergency funds.

“No offense, but with everything [from the administration], there’s a sense of urgency,” Boyd said. “We can find money to do certain things, but when it comes to helping people, we can’t do that.”

Armstrong explained that the move would allow him to have the entirety of his downtown precinct “under one roof” and that the department didn’t ask to move.

“One of the things we have to understand here is we’ve been asked to relocate; we’ve been asked to vacate the premises,” Armstrong said. “So, it’s more than necessary that we move.”

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Postgame Notes, Game 1: Warriors 101, Grizzlies 86

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Larry Kuzniewski

The Grizzlies lost a tough Game 1 to the Golden State Warriors, 101-86, and I honestly don’t know how I feel about it.

On one hand, without Mike Conley, the Grizzlies were never supposed to win this game and no clear-eyed observer honestly expected them to. A Game 1 win on the road against a team that’s only lost two home games all year, without Conley, would’ve been an upset of epic proportions, and instead, the Grizzlies looked about like I expected they would: the defense was okay but not great—Tony Allen and Nick Calathes did a good job on Golden State’s killer backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but Zach Randolph had issues—and the offense struggled to get anything done at all.

On the other hand, some of the ways the Warriors killed the Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon had nothing at all to do with Mike Conley. Zach Randolph surrendered open 3-point shots to Draymond Green, who hit 50% of his 8 attempts from long range, and then Randolph also got punished for his poor pick and roll defense by Curry the same way he did in the 2013 Western Conference Finals by Tony Parker. Jeff Green and Vince Carter—the Grizzlies’ two best bets to come in off the bench and generate some scoring—did nothing of the sort. Nick Calathes started at point guard and struggled on offense; Golden State dared him to make tricky/risky passes and he fell for it every time. At the same time, Beno Udrih didn’t have a great shooting day and got torched on defense, struggling to stay in front of any and every Warriors player he ended up guarding.

What ended up being a 15-point loss felt like it could’ve been a lot worse, and yet the Grizzlies were never really completely out of the game until the last three or four minutes, making little runs as best they could.

Ultimately all Sunday’s Game 1 did was put the Grizzlies in an 0-1 hole in the series and prove that unless Conley can return to action sooner rather than later—I would assume he’s targeting a return in Game 3 on Saturday to help the Griz try to win at home—this series is going to be shorter than any Griz fan would like to admit.

[jump]

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Among the signs of struggle are things the Griz can build on as the series progresses:

Larry Kuzniewski

➭ Calathes and Allen really did do a good job defending Curry and Thompson and preventing them from getting hot the way they so often do. Holding them to a combined 40 points without Mike Conley contributing on the defensive end is a real achievement for this Griz team, as much as that feels like the short, pedestrian trophy elementary school kids get for “participating” in soccer. If that’s a trend that can continue—and it should; we know Tony Allen is Tony Allen and Calathes proved himself to be an excellent defender this season—that’s one part of the Grizzlies’ game plan that is effective.

➭ The “no point guard” lineup with Courtney Lee as the primary ball handler isn’t great, but it (mostly) works, and it helps the Grizzlies counteract some of the mismatches created by Conley’s absence in a way that they really can’t with Udrih’s poor defense or Calathes’ poor shooting. The problem with playing Calathes and Allen at the same time is the same problem the Griz used to have when Allen and Tayshaun Prince played together: by the time you make it to the second round of the playoffs, going 3-on-5 on offense doesn’t work. Lee as the point guard (with Allen as the 2 for defense or Vince Carter and Jeff Green as the 2 and 3 for “offense,” assuming they’re actually scoring) allows the Griz to at least try to score some points while not sacrificing too much defense. I don’t think it’s the answer to all of the Grizzlies’ problems—”healthy Mike Conley and the platonic ideal of Vince Carter and Jeff Green” isn’t walking through that door—but it is better than nothing.

➭ Jordan Adams played 35 seconds and in that time managed to have a nice catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. Adams also was part of that crazy Grizzlies bench unit that hung a 41-point quarter on the Warriors’ scrubs back in April. Maybe play him three or five minutes in Game 2 and see if he gets killed. If he doesn’t, maybe let him play 8 (gasp) whole minutes. Just see if he can handle it. Anyone who can provide offense and play credible defense is going to be worth putting on the floor in this series.

Larry Kuzniewski

➭ Kosta Koufos only played 5 minutes. The Grizzlies and Warriors scored the same number of points in the paint (44). If the Griz can’t outscore the Warriors in the paint, they aren’t going to win a single game in this series. Those three facts seem to be related to each other. Use Koufos more, and use Jeff Green as a big less.

➭ After the game, Marc Gasol said he didn’t believe that the game was physical enough, and Draymond Green said he didn’t think the game was as physical as he had expected it to be. That indicates to me that there’s another level of “mud” into which the Grizzlies could drag the series, and that it would be in their best interests to do so starting in Game 2. Force the issue in the paint. Get Green and Andrew Bogut into foul trouble. Slow it down even more. It won’t be pretty, and it may not even work, but it’s definitely a tactic on the table, and it’s how the Grizzlies have beaten the Warriors so many times over the past three seasons. Without Conley, reverting to uglyball isn’t the worst idea I’ve heard.

Tweet(s) of the Night Afternoon

First things first:

Mike Conley did a sideline interview with Doris Burke and his eye, while clearly better than it was on Wednesday when he made an appearance at Grizzlies/Blazers Game 5, still looks rough:

Up Next

Game 2 is Tuesday night at 9:30 Memphis time. The Grizzlies clearly have their work cut out for them; with any luck, Game 2 will see them make the adjustments they can and make one more attempt to steal a game from the Warriors on their home floor. It’s going to take luck—luck, along with nearly flawless execution and an increase in physicality—at this point, barring a miraculous return from Conley before the series shifts back to Memphis.

Categories
Music Music Features

Beale Street Music Festival 2015 – Lineup and Schedule for Sunday, May 3rd

SUNDAY, MAY 3

Bud Light Stage (South) …

Elle King 2:20 p.m.

Myslovitz (Poland) 3:50 p.m.

Kasier Chiefs 5:20 p.m.
Hozier 7:00 p.m.

Ed Sheeran 8:40 p.m.

FedEx Stage (Middle) …

Star and Micey 2:40 P.M.

Shovels and Rope 4:15 P.M.

Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn 5:50 P.M.

St. Vincent 7:30 P.M.

Wilco 9:10 P.M.

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage (North) …

Prosevere 2:10 P.M.

Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts 3:40 P.M.

Of Mice & Men 5:20 P.M.

Rise Against 7:00 P.M.

Cage the Elephant 8:40 P.M.

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent …

Jarekus Singleton 2:15 P.M.

Indigenous 3:50 P.M.

Will Tucker 5:25 P.M.

Tinsley Ellis 7:05 P.M.

Bettye LaVette 8:45 P.M.

MetroPCS Blues Shack …

Deak Harp-n-Lee Williams Times Vary

Blind Mississippi Morris Times Vary

THE BANDS:

Blind Mississippi Morris

MetroPCS Blues Shack (Times Vary)

Don’t miss Blind Mississippi Morris at the Blues Shack on Sunday, an artist known locally as “The Real Deal on Beale.”

Deak Harp-N-Lee Williams

MetroPCS Blues Shack (Times Vary)

Deak Harp has been playing the harmonica since he was 12 years old, and he knows all the hits from genres ranging from Chicago blues to Mississippi hill country blues. He’s also the owner of Deak’s Mississippi Saxophones and Blues Emporium in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Prosevere

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 2:10 p.m.

Hard rockers, rejoice! Prosevere will be bringing the house down early when they play their blistering set of modern Memphis metal.

Jarekus Singleton

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 2:15 p.m.

Like the Ghost Town Blues Band, Jarekus Singleton has been nominated for multiple awards by the International Blues Foundation. Everyone from USA Today to Downbeat Magazine has heralded his latest album, Refuse to Lose.

Elle King

Bud Light Stage • 2:20 p.m.

Elle King sings about past loves in her song “Ex’s and Oh’s” and with a voice as mesmerizing as hers, it’s no surprise she’s breaking hearts across the globe. Fun fact: Elle King is the daughter of Rob Schneider.

Star and Micey

FedEx Stage • 2:40 p.m.

Another local act performing on Sunday, Star and Micey are familiar with the bright lights of Beale Street Music Fest. Hometown favorites for quite some time, Star and Micey represent the vastly talented indie rock scene in Memphis.

Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 3:40 p.m.

Formerly of the Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland is another rocker on the Beale Street Music Fest lineup who needs little introduction. With the Wildabouts, Scott Weiland sings over crunchy blues rock and his vocals are as rough around the edges as ever. It might be 2015, but one listen to the Wildabouts and you’d swear the ‘90s never ended.

Indigenous

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 3:50 p.m.

Indigenous is the project of Mato Nanji, a blues rock veteran of the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Nanji has toured with B.B. King and his songs have been featured on shows like Sons of Anarchy and The Deadliest Catch.

Shovels and Rope

FedEx Stage • 4:15 p.m.

Don’t miss this “sloppy tonk” duo from Charleston, South Carolina, featuring husband and wife team Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst.

Of Mice & Men

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 5:20 p.m.

Heavy metal band Of Mice & Men provide another chance to bang your head when they take the stage on Sunday evening. Fans of Linkin Park should be sure to catch these Rise Recording artists.

Kaiser Chiefs

Bud Light Stage • 5:20 p.m.

Indie-pop masterminds Kasier Chiefs found stardom behind hits like “We’re Coming Home” and “Ruby.” Taking cues from bands like the Strokes and Oasis, Kasier Chiefs should be on the radar of any fan of radio-friendly rock.

Will Tucker

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 5:25 p.m.

Another local who’s played the Beale Street Music Festival, Tucker can regularly be found playing one of many clubs on Beale Street. Don’t let his baby face fool you, this seasoned guitarist can shred with the best of them.

Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn

FedEx Stage • 5:50 p.m.

Husband and wife duo Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn will both showcase their banjo skills when the two perform Sunday. On their self-titled debut, Fleck‘s and Washburn’s different playing techniques made for a memorable album that NPR called “welcoming and calm.”

Hozier

Bud Light Stage • 7:00 p.m.

Don’t miss Hozier. End of story.

Rise Against

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 7:00 p.m.

Seven albums into a hiatus-free career, Tim McIlrath and company (including founding bassist Joe Principe) have used the template of melodic hardcore (in this case, a somewhat rougher cousin to pop-punk) to gain a massive following and the band’s strongly held concerns (animal rights and PETA being foremost among them) haven’t seemed to waver over time or due to fame. Rise Against’s last four full-lengths have been produced by Bill Stevenson of the Descendents and ALL, the most recent being last year’s The Black Market.

Tinsley Ellis

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 7:05 p.m.

Blues rocker Tinsley Ellis has thousands of live shows under his belt and has shared the stage with everyone from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Widespread Panic. His latest album, Tough Love, was released earlier this year.

St. Vincent

FedEx Stage • 7:30 p.m.

Anytime a Grammy Award-winning guitarist comes through town, you should make plans to be there. St. Vincent has become a household name behind the tireless work ethic of Annie Clark, who‘s made an album with David Byrne and toured with everyone from the Black Keys to Death Cab for Cutie before blasting off to superstardom.

Ed Sheeran

Bud Light Stage • 8:40 p.m.

British mega-star Ed Sheeran brings his collection of pop hits to Tom Lee Park Sunday. Sheeran’s been a star abroad for years but recently picked up momentum in the United States after appearing on Taylor Swift’s album Red. Simply put, Sheeran might be the biggest rising star at Beale Street Music Fest this year.

Cage The Elephant

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 8:40 p.m.

Cage the Elephant have some major hits under their belt including “Cigarette Daydream” and “Shake Me Down.” Their 2014 album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200, and they’ve toured with everyone from the Black Keys to the Foo Fighters.

Bettye Lavette

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 8:45 p.m.

The Detroit soul scene was just beginning to percolate in the early 1960s, when 16-year-old Bettye LaVette made her first recordings for Atlantic. “So many people have asked me, ‘What was it like to cut a record when you were only 16?‘And I tell them that in 1962 in Detroit that‘s just what you did,” LaVette told the Memphis Flyer in advance of her first appearance at the Beale Street Music Festival. “Everybody had a record or was cutting a record.” LaVette’s most recent recordings have found her experimenting with classic British rock and folk songs à la Marlene Dietrich. Critical accolades and a revived popularity following the release of Scene of the Crime contradict the old saw about the absence of second acts in America.

Wilco

FedEx Stage • 9:10 p.m.

These Grammy Award-winning alt-rockers are no strangers to headlining music festivals. Fresh off a 20th anniversary tour, Wilco should be primed and ready to close out the 2015 Beale Street Music Festival with a career-spanning performance.

Categories
Music Music Features

Beale Street Music Festival 2015 – Lineup and Schedule for Saturday May 2nd

SATURDAY MAY 2nd

Bud Light Stage (South) …

The Vespers 2:15 P.M.

Soul Asylum 3:45 P.M.

Big Head Todd & the Monsters 5:25 P.M.

Flogging Molly 7:05 P.M.

Band of Horses 8:45 P.M.

The Avett Brothers 10:30 P.M.

FedEx Stage (Middle) …

Copeland 2:10 P.M.

Devon Baldwin 3:30 P.M.

LeCrae 4:15 P.M.

G-Eazy 5:45 P.M.

Lindsey Stirling 7:20 P.M.

Bleachers 9:00 P.M.

Paramore 10:40 P.M.

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage (North) …

Dead Soldiers 2:10 P.M.

Diarrhea Planet 3:35 P.M.

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic 5:10 P.M.

Wale 6:55 P.M.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band 8:30 P.M.

John Fogerty 10:15 P.M.

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent …

Ghost Town Blues Band 2:00 P.M.

Kelley Hunt 3:20 P.M.

Kenny Brown Band 4:45 P.M.

Lurrie Bell 6:10 P.M.

Matthew Curry 7:40 P.M.

Ana Popovic 9:05 P.M.

Kim Simmonds & Savoy Brown 10:45 P.M.

MetroPCS Blues Shack …

Terry “Big T” Williams Times Vary

Leo Bud Welch Times Vary

THE BANDS:

Leo Bud Welch

MetroPCS Blues Shack (Times Vary)

Age is nothing but a number – just ask 82-year-old guitarist Leo Bud Welch. Welch apparently once missed an audition to join B.B. King’s band because he didn’t have the bus fare, but he’s done all right since then, touring the States and Europe many times over with his sparkle-covered guitar.

Terry “Big T“ Williams

MetroPCS Blues Shack (Times Vary)

Another Mississippi bluesman that should not be missed this weekend. Williams grew up hearing stories about the blues from his grandmother, who saw legends like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.

Ghost Town Blues Band

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 2:00 p.m.

We already gave you the lowdown on Ghost Town Blues Band as part of our cover feature (p. 14), so make sure you get to the Blues Tent early to hear songs off the band’s latest album, Hard Road to Hoe.

Dead Soldiers

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 2:10 p.m.

Another band of Memphis boys, Dead Soldiers should definitely be shown some local love when they play on Saturday. Made up of members of old Memphis metal bands, Dead Soldiers put on an entertaining live show fueled by Tennessee whiskey and good times, both of which should be on hand all weekend long.

Copeland

FedEx Stage • 2:10 p.m.

This Lakeland rock band (that’s Lakeland, Florida, not Lakeland, Tennessee) has been around since 2001 and has made it clear that they are not a “Christian band” despite being associated with the Christian rock label Tooth and Nail. Their latest album, Ixora, was released last year and was the band’s first new album in six years.

The Vespers

Bud Light Stage • 2:15 p.m.

The Vespers reside just 200 miles east of Memphis in Nashville, but we won’t hold that against them. This Americana act is a family affair, with two brothers (Taylor and Bruno Jones) and two sisters (Callie and Phoebe Cryar) rounding out the lineup.

Kelley Hunt

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 3:20 p.m.

This Lawrence, Kansas-based piano player has been at it for a while, releasing influential albums since 1995.

Devon Baldwin

FedEx Stage • 3:30 p.m.

This former American Idol contestant and Bay Area native crafts modern pop songs that R&B fans would also find appealing. Baldwin has collaborated with G-Eazy (also playing Music Fest) on multiple occasions, including the YouTube hit “Let’s Get Lost.”

Diarrhea Planet

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 3:35 p.m.

Diarrhea Planet (DP) pack a punch with their live show that includes four electric guitarists. Hailing from Nashville, DP had a monster 2014, which included being named the best live act of the year by Paste Magazine. Musically, they fall somewhere in between pop-punk and indie rock, with enough on-stage energy to get the crowd moving no matter when they are billed.

Soul Asylum

Bud Light Stage • 3:45 p.m.

Remember that Soul Asylum video where Claire Danes has the freaky-looking shoulder blades, and all the kids at the school dance point and laugh at her, and then mid-dance, she grows angel wings? And then she’s all “take that, bullies!” as she flies away. Yea, that was awesome.

Lecrae

FedEx Stage • 4:15 p.m.

More like cray cray. Okay, sorry. This Christian rapper has been around since 2004 and is the co-founder of Reach Records. While there probably won’t be an offering plate passed around, LeCrae should provide a spiritual experience when he takes the stage on Saturday.

Kenny Brown Band

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 4:45 p.m.

Mentored by R. L. Burnside, Kenny Brown is an amazing guitarist from Nesbit, Mississippi. Brown’s guitar work was used in Black Snake Moan, and his Memphis ties run deep.

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 5:10 p.m.

We want the funk! And these guys are sure to bring it. Fronted by George Clinton, who revolutionized R&B in the ’70s by morphing psychedelic rock, soul, and funk into a unique sound — dubbed P-Funk — this group knows how to throw down. If you’ve yet to see them in action, picture this: a big crew partying on stage, lots of dancing, wailing guitars, funky bass lines, and a little jazz horn. And did I mention a party on stage? They might just tear the roof off the sucker.

Big Head Todd & the Monsters

Bud Light Stage • 5:25 p.m.

Okay, so we already gave out the best name award, but Big Head Todd & the Monsters are putting up a serious fight for second place. Since forming in 1986, the band has released a plethora of albums, including the classic Midnight Radio album released in 1980, which featured artwork by Chris Mars, formerly of the Replacements.

G-Eazy

FedEx Stage • 5:45 p.m.

Formerly of the “Bay Boyz,” G-Eazy is a Northern California hip-hop artist who was chosen to open for Drake after going viral on sites like MySpace and YouTube. G-Eazy has also played Warped Tour and released the critically acclaimed album, These Things Happen, last summer. Don’t miss the “James Dean of Rap” on Saturday evening.

Lurrie Bell

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 6:10 p.m.

Lurrie Bell has been playing since the ’70s, cranking out more than 10 solo records and almost twice as many collaboration albums with his father Carey Bell and other acts like the Doobie Twisters.

Wale

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 6:55 p.m.

Wale is one of the only hip-hop artists performing this year, but that shouldn’t deter you from checking out his performance on Saturday night. The Washington, D.C., native has solid hits like “Pretty Girl” and “Chillin” under his belt, in addition to songs on video games like Saints Row.

Flogging Molly

Bud Light Stage • 7:05 p.m.

In the early ’90s, some of the early members of this seven-piece Irish punk band played an L.A. bar called Molly Malone’s every week. Irish-born lead singer Dave King has said that they felt like they were “flogging it to death” at Molly Malone’s, and hence the band’s name was born. They’re best known for 2002’s Drunken Lullabies, which was filled with fast-paced Irish ditties (“Swagger,” “What’s Left of the Flag”) that make you want to dance a jig and slam-dance at the same time.

Lindsey Stirling

FedEx Stage • 7:20 p.m.

What do you get when you combine classical violin with dubstep? Lindsey Stirling, that’s what. Dubbed the hip-hop violinist, Stirling has forged her own path and basically created a genre that combines a soothing and sophisticated string sound with dirty dubstep bass drops. Stirling’s expert delivery somehow softens EDM’s often-jarring edge, resulting in music that would be equally appealing to a bro at a Skrillex show and your grandmother.

Matthew Curry

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 7:40 p.m.

Hailing from Normal, Illinois, there’s nothing that’s ordinary about Curry’s music. He’s only been around since last year, but his live show already has the approval of Steve Miller.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 8:30 p.m.

A self-taught guitarist, Kenny Wayne Shepherd achieved success in the ’90s behind the hit “Blue on Black,” sung by Noah Hunt. Shepherd has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and has released seven studio albums.

Band of Horses

Bud Light Stage • 8:45 p.m.

Briefly known as Horses, Band of Horses formed in 2004. The Seattle, Washington, band features Ben Birdwell, formerly of Carissa’s Weird. Band of Horses have worked with some of the biggest labels in indie rock, including Sub Pop and Fat Possum Records.

Bleachers

FedEx Stage • 9:00 p.m.

This New York City band features Jack Antonoff of Steel Train and Fun. Relatively new in comparison to some of the other bands on the Music Fest lineup, Bleachers started out as a secret side project of Antonoff’s, until he debuted the critically acclaimed single “I Wanna Get Better” in February of last year.

Ana Popovic

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 9:05 p.m.

Shout out to all the Memphis, Tennessee-based Serbians who will be at Music Fest this weekend, including Ana Popovic. With six albums under her belt and no signs of slowing down, Popovic is a great example of the diverse talent the Memphis music scene has to offer.

John Fogerty

Rockstar Energy Drink Stage • 10:15 p.m.

The legendary king of the bayou should never be missed. Even the most casual fans will immediately recognize Fogerty as the voice behind the legendary classic rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, but the California native has also had an impressive solo career including the Grammy-nominated song “Change in the Weather,” among other songs that convey his classic sound. This will be Fogerty’s first Memphis concert in 20 years.

The Avett Brothers

Bud Light Stage • 10:30 p.m.

If you’ve detected a trend of alt-country punk bands playing this year’s Beale Street Music Fest, you might be on to something. The Avett Brothers represent the genre well and have had studio time with Rick Rubin to prove it.


Paramore

FedEx Stage • 10:40 p.m.

The original members of this emo-pop band hail from just down the road in Franklin, Tennessee. And though some of those members have left, the band is still fronted by the spunky Hayley Williams, whose fiery orange (or sometimes teal blue) locks and tiny stature give her an elfin appearance. Paramore are best known for their works from emo’s mid-oughts heyday — “Misery Business,” “That’s What You Get,” “Crushcrushcrush.” And although the band clearly falls into the emo genre, there’s something about their delivery that feels less obnoxious than that of their emo-pop contemporaries (like Avril Lavigne or Panic at the Disco!).

Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown

Pearl River Resort Blues Tent • 10:45 p.m.

In case you didn’t know, Kim Simmonds is widely considered to be one of the fathers of British blues. That means he and Savoy Brown are a pretty big deal. You don’t want to disrespect British blues while you’re in the home of the blues this weekend, do you? Didn’t think so.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Beyond the Arc Podcast, Episode 12: Blazers, Warriors, and (Grizzly) Bears

This week on the show, Kevin and Phil talk about:

  • The Grizzlies’ first round win over the Portland Trail Blazers
  • A listener’s question: were we disappointed with Zach Randolph’s play against Portland?
  • The matchup between the Grizzlies and Warriors: Frontcourts vs. backcourts
  • Another listener question: How do we grade Jeff Green after the Portland series?
  • Do the Griz really have no chance at all against the Warriors? Did the Pelicans give the Grizzlies some pointers?
  • Predictions for how the second round will go

The Beyond the Arc podcast is on iTunes, so you can subscribe there! It’d be great if you could rate and review the show while you’re there. You can also find and listen to the show on Stitcher.

You can download the show here or listen below:



You can call our Google Voice number and leave us a voicemail, and we might talk about your question on the next show: 234–738–3394

Categories
News News Blog

Animal Shelter Mistakenly Euthanizes Dog Being Held for Magazine Feature

This dog was mistakenly euthanized by Memphis Animal Services.

A dog that was supposed to be featured in a May Click Magazine article on adoptable pets from Memphis Animal Services (MAS) was mistakenly euthanized before the issue even hit stands.

The dog, a five-year-old Rottweiler, was one of 12 pets from MAS to be featured in the magazine’s May issue. MAS had agreed not to euthanize the animals that were photographed for that story. But a few days after the dog’s photos were taken for the feature, MAS staff overlooked the memo instructing them to hold the dog and he was put to sleep.

“It was a terrible mistake,” said MAS Administrator James Rogers.

Beth Spencer, a local animal advocate, contacted Rogers on April 2nd about featuring the cats and dogs in the May issue of Click, where her friend works as editor-in-chief. 

“I asked if we could keep these animals alive until May 1st because of the publication date,” Spencer said. “He offered to get them ready for adoption and have them ready in case someone saw the magazine and wanted to adopt them.”

MAS typically euthanizes strays after 72 hours. But in this case, Rogers agreed to hold these 12 animals for 21 days.

“We were glad to oblige, but holding pets for 21 days is not something that we do at MAS,” Rogers said. “In the future, this is something that we’ll take a close look at to see if it’s something we can manage and do correctly. We don’t want to make promises we can’t keep.”

On April 21st, Rogers sent Spencer an email informing her that the Rottweiler had been euthanized. He said he was investigating what went wrong. The next day, Rogers sent Spencer another email that said there were “extenuating circumstances identified by our staff concerning this pet that we should have communicated with you,” and he offered an apology.

In an interview with the Flyer, Rogers indicated that the dog was put to sleep because it was underweight, had to be muzzled when handled by the vet clinic, and because it was heartworm positive. 

“Heartworms and being underweight are easily treatable and are not reasons to euthanize. His statement about the dog being underweight is a big stretch,” Spencer said.

She also said that many dogs have to be muzzled during certain vet treatments and that growling at the vet shouldn’t be considered an indicator of dog aggression.

Spencer requested the dog’s file from the city using the Freedom of Information Act. She shared that file with the Flyer. In the file, there is a note filed under “kennel comments” that reads “To be featured in Click Magazine DO NOT EUTH,” and just above that note, there’s another memo from April 19th that says “Animal time has expired. No hold memos at time of ER [euthanasia room] entry. No rescue response as of 4/19/2015.”

“Our staff missed the note that was put in there,” Rogers said.

Spencer pointed out that such mistakes happen all too often at MAS. Back in January, the Flyer reported that there had been at least six dogs mistakenly euthanized in the past year. In December, Memphis resident Vickie Carter took a stray pit bull to MAS after rescuing him from an attack by other dogs. She told the intake clerk and Rogers that, if no one claimed the dog before his review date (the day they’re either euthanized or placed up for adoption), she would adopt the dog. But on that day, when Carter came to the shelter to pick up the dog, he’d already been euthanized.

“I’ve been involved with rescue for about a year now, and this happens about twice a month,” Spencer said. “The people who are making these mistakes are not terminated, and that’s what needs to happen.”

Rogers said, if they agree to hold animals while awaiting a publication date in the future, that MAS will take extra steps to prevent the animals from being euthanized. Those steps include checking on the status of these pets daily and informing the customer of any change in status. He also said that he would have MAS staff make recommendations on which pets should be included in such features rather than allowing the outside group to pick out the pets.