It’s been a middling year for Memphis music locally—several
good shows and a decent flow of Memphis bands playing with a few records
released. Nationally, it’s been a banner year: a year ago Craig Brewer had not
even finished editing his just filmed Hustle and Flow. Since then, he
has won awards with H&F, picked up national distribution through MTV
Paramount, and filmed another one with Memphis area music inextricably linked
throughout the movie. There’s even a modicum of a buzz around the Memphis film
world, primarily due to Brewer’s insistence on filming in Memphis. Those films
are the most exciting and impacting on the future of Memphis music
Here are the best things to happen to Memphis Music in the
last year:
1) Memphis Music in the Movies
Current Memphis music playing on film soundtracks is
undeniably the best thing to happen to Memphis music this year. Memphis music
is in the films, on the film’s tv commercials and websites, on MTV, and being
played outside of Memphis. Hustle and Flow was a grand slam and Ira
Sachs’ understated Forty Shades of Blue, to a lesser extent, take the
Memphis music out of town and into the ears of people all over the world. Next
week’s Walk the Line should continue the emphasis on Memphis
music–albeit Joaquin Phoenix’ version of Johnny Cash is…well, don’t ask me why
they would use margarine when they already had pure cream butter.
2) Diversity of Live Music and the Use of Multiple Live
Music Sites
Every available live space in town has been used for every
kind of music imaginable. Music is constantly flowing here…from Autozone Park
with Willie Nelson to Mud Island to the Hi Tone as well as the suburban
performing arts theaters. Even Fedex Forum has chilled out on its non-compete
clause, cleaned house, and brought in the Rolling Stones & Elton John (does
anyone attend things like “Trans-Siberian Orchestra”?). Handy Park and its
overdone Pepsi sign pavilion was finally used for music of prominence during the
Voodoo Fest. And word is that the Shell will eventually be back in action,
ready for the Elvis of the future.
3) WEVL is Back Online
If a Memphis record falls in the forest, who hears it?
WEVL is easily Memphis’ finest radio station supporting local music. Having the
signal stop at the city line has been a disservice to the fans of Memphis music
all over the world and prevents the spread of new Memphis music. WEVL’s return
to internet broadcasting is a welcome relief and a boost for the Memphis
musicians working hard to get their music heard beyond Memphis.
4) Cleveland Throws in the Towel
Although, as Yogi said, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over with
Gibson Guitars, the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame’s announcement that they would be
opening a “satellite” exhibit in Memphis should be the final word on the mistake
by the lake. It is a sad understatement, to say the least, that Cleveland was
the wrong place to build the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame. (Give them their props,
though…while Mayor Hackett was getting rid of Mid-Town hookers, Cleveland put
together a very nice incentive package.) It is a small reward that Cleveland
has decided to share their museum’s exhibits with the real rock ‘n roll hall of
fame — Memphis, Tennessee. As Memphis already has the music traveler wrapped
up with Sun Studio, Beale St., Stax Museum, Rock n Soul Museum, and Graceland,
this obviously means more for the Rock Hall than it does for Memphis, but we
will take the compliment anyway we can get it. Even from Cleveland.
5) Folk Alliance World Headquarters Settles in on South
Main
Until this summer, the words Folk Alliance previously meant
only one thing to Memphians: big bucks and registers ringing when their
convention came to town in 1998. However, this August, the Folk Alliance set up
shop in the South Main Arts District. Along with the Blues Foundation, Beale
St. Caravan, and LivefromMemphis.com, the Folk Alliance is the kind of
genre-specific, grassroots music business that continue to take Memphis to a
higher profile in the national industry as well as bringing future music events
to town. Welcome, Folksters! We look forward to your conventioneers coming to
town in 2007!
6) Goner Records Saves the World
This teeny-tiny establishment in Cooper-Young (& its more
influential web site) raised over $14,000 through its various customers and
users donations for New Orleans hurricane survivors. That’s incredible!
7) Memphis’ Soul Still on Fire
Memphix djs have been the centrifugal force for a new
generation of Memphis soul fans, and their soul nights at the Hi Tone over the
last few years have been inspirational and an exciting way to celebrate Memphis’
music roots. Next top-shelf action is November 26 at the Hi Tone.