Author: E.J. Friedman

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Music Music Blog

Beale Street Music Festival 2017 Day 3: Sunday Funday

CREDIT: Brian Anderson

It’s Monday, and we’ve managed to make it through three glorious days of the 2017 Beale Street Music Festival. Four stages hosted 60 acts under the most beautiful late spring weather Memphis could ever imagine. Few hiccups, a bevy of tremendous performances and tens of thousands of visitors to the park made for the perfect kick-off to Memphis in May’s annual festivities.

Brian Anderson

Ani DiFranco

Before I start talking about the music, I’ve learned Memphis in May has gone out of its way this year to become a bike-friendly event and, according to Memphis in May Director of Marketing Robert Griffin, is working to encourage bikes as a preferred method of transportation to and from the park. I’m an avid bicyclist who loves the freedom riding a bike provides in Memphis. Next year, try riding your bikes in a group to the festival to cut down travel time and traffic congestion. I rode from Cooper-Young to the south entrance of Tom Lee Park in a mere 30 minutes, and the same was true going back.

E.J. Friedman

Memphis Police Department spent much of Sunday shooing boats away from the festival grounds.

Ok, let’s talk about some music! Sunday had, what I’d consider, the best lineup of all three days in terms of quality and diversity.

Louisiana-born Memphian Marcella & Her Lovers is coming into her own as a performer. As she and her band become more distinguished, a meaningful passion breathes life into her cajun-influenced brand of soul-driven music. Replete with a newly-minted horn section, Marcella Simien’s wide range and musical dexterity seem destined to propel her towards a wider audience.

A million-selling mother of two who is currently penning her memoir, folk artist Ani DiFranco stopped in Memphis to deliver a politically energized set. In addition to many well-known songs, fans past and present got a glimpse into material from DiFranco’s forthcoming album Binary (due out June 9th). With fellow New Orleanian Terrence Higgins on percussion, DiFranco demonstrated why she is an archetypal music veteran & one of the most successful fully-independent recording artists of all time.

Brian Anderson

Super Chikan in the Blues Tent at BSMF ’17

Meanwhile, in the Blues Tent, Clarksdale-native James “Super Chikan” Johnson and his band served up a taste of his signature electrified Delta blues music prompting many in the crowd to get up and dance.

Funky Los Angelino by-way-of Detroit Mayer Hawthorne and his band came to Memphis determined to get on the good foot. Hennessy in tow, Hawthorne grooved his way through several of his most-well known songs, including “Backseat Lover”, “Time For Love”, “Breakfast in Bed” and “Her Favorite Song” to a crowd clearly ready to party.

E.J. Friedman

Mayer Hawthorne

Despite nearly 45 years together, Australia’s Midnight Oil have lost none of their punch. Currently on an American tour, songs like “Dreamworld”, “Power and the Passion”, “Blue Sky Mine” and “Beds Are Burning” have never sounded as politically current or puissant as they did through the voice of lead singer Peter Garrett.

“I would like to thank the organizers of the Beale Street Music Festival,” rang out Ben Harper’s voice, “which is the best music festival in America.” And to show his love, Harper and his Innocent Criminals tore through 1.5 hours of their extensive musical canon as the sun set over the Mississippi River to an absolute capacity early-evening audience. If you came to the festival a fan of the band Bush, then I think you probably walked away more than satisfied. The band delivered their hit songs with nary a hitch to a sea of devout listeners.

E.J. Friedman

Jill Scott

One of the real highlights of this year’s festival was the ambitious soul of Jill Scott. A consummate performer and consistent favorite of the Memphis crowd, she delighted the audience with a vocal tour-de-force, interspersing classics like “Getting In The Way” and “Golden” with songs from her 2016 album Beautifully Human: Words & Sound Vol. 2.

E.J. Friedman

In the crowd at the River Stage, Nashun Wright sings along to Jill Scott.

On the other side of the festival, those in the Blues Tent had the opportunity to experience Memphis soul music legend Booker T. Jones. Playing as part of a four-piece with his signature Hammond B-3 organ, he played some classic Booker T. & The M.G.’s songs, more recent solo material & even picked up the guitar to deliver a moving version of Prince’s “Purple Rain”.

E.J. Friedman

Booker T. Jones on the Hammond B3 organ in the Blues Tent.

Ending this year’s festival, no act could have been more anticipated than the reunited Soundgarden. For this Memphis audience—most of whom would have been unable to see them in over 20 years—hearing them perform songs like “Spoonman”, “Outshined” and “Black Hole Sun” provided a heady bookend to an already phenomenal Beale Street Music Festival.

E.J. Friedman

Soundgarden closing out the festival.

As a long-time fan, I discovered moments that may have veered towards the self-indulgent—Chris Cornell’s vitriolic explanation of the meaning behind the semi-obscure “Kyle Petty (Son of Richard)” before it was played. For the briefest moment, time seemed to stand still over Tom Lee Park as the sonic echoes of familiar refrains brought the festival to a memorable close.

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Music Music Blog

Beale Street Music Festival Friday: Whether Through Soul, Rock, Blues or Hip-Hop, the 2017 BSMF Delivers.

CREDIT: Brian Anderson

Brian Anderson

Charles Bradley exhorting the Friday crowd at Beale Street Music Festival 2017.

By the time it’s 5pm on Friday the first weekend in May, both ends of Riverside Drive are filled in with people clamoring to attend the annual Beale Street Music Festival. This year’s festival is expected to attract something around 100,000 people over the course of three days & the weather looks like it’s going to hold out for a change. Traditionally, “Memphis in Mud” notoriously produces unpredictable weather events. Although remnants of a Thursday and early Friday cold/wet front remain in the form of mud tracts throughout Tom Lee Park, it’s not nearly as bad as it could’ve been. Based on the mud levels throughout the park on Friday night, you may still want to wear your mudding clothes for Saturday. But as for the rain? This year, it appears the weather will favor us.

Things you should remember when hitting the park:

  1. Bring Cash Yes, there are ATMs, but you can expect long lines and ATM fees that can start to get a bit expensive.
  2. Wear Sunscreen Do I have to explain this? Just do it.
  3. Hydrate You’re gonna wish you’d consumed a bit more water before you leave the house if you don’t.
  4. Bring Earplugs Look, I know music is loud, but you want your hearing later. Wear some earplugs?
  5. Bring your ID No ID, no drinkie-poo for you.
  6. Wear Something You Don’t Mind Getting Muddy You’re not leaving clean, pal.
  7. Surge Pricing Takes A Toll Unless you’re independently wealthy, don’t bother taking Uber or Lyft. The word is out that ridesharing services can get you there safely. But leaving the park last night at 1am, I found the surging costs of Uber and Lyft between Downtown and Midtown began at $53.00 and went up from there.
  8. If You Don’t Want To Pay $53 For A Rideshare, Don’t Catch a Ride With a Random Stranger Just trust me on this one.

So, how was the music on the first night? There was so much that needed to be seen and heard, I had to trudge from one end of the park to the other and pace myself.
Brian Anderson

Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires

For the critically-lauded and fan-loved soul singer Charles Bradley, pacing yourself doesn’t seem to be something he’s familiar with. Despite a diagnosis of stomach cancer in October of 2016, Charles and his band,The Extraordinaires, maintained a grueling touring schedule. And to look at Charles’s commanding presence and vocal acrobatics on the River Stage tonight, the average spectator might not know anything was even wrong.

Belting out nearly a dozen songs from his collected works, Charles delivered the kind of performance he has become known for, one as stirring as any soul music legend that ever made a record or graced a stage in this town. Sincere, honest, emotional and filled with love, Bradley and his band mesmerized an eager early-evening crowd.

“We’re Jimmy Eat World,” the voice cried out, “a professional rock band from Mesa, Arizona, and this one’s for all-a y’all.” Making themselves at home here in Memphis, the band ran through a litany of their most popular songs & also came with a few from their 2016 offering, the consistently well-reviewed Integrity Blues. Twenty-five years into their music career, the group, led by vocalist & guitarist Jim Adkins, have not lost their boyish charm, their good looks or their musicianship. Tonight’s performance offered attendees an opportunity to experience the breadth of their songcraft in all its nuanced glory.

Though undoubtedly the biggest drawing act of the night was Snoop Dogg, I opted to stick with MGMT to close out the night. Music fans, including me, have witnessed the many incarnations of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden’s id through meteoric success and experimentation. Though at times dogged by the grandeur of their imperfections, each segment of MGMT’s musical evolution seems to prove as fascinating as the last.

E. J. Friedman

MGMT debuted new songs at Beale Street Music Festival 2017.

And tonight, performing together as a five-piece for the first time in 2.5 years in front of an adoring Memphis crowd, you could not tell that any time had passed. With equal parts shock and surprise, the band opened their set with one of their most well-known songs, “Time To Pretend”, perhaps alluding (in this setting) to that thinnest veil behind which rock superstardom hides. Inching towards a tenth anniversary, the band’s album Oracular Spectacular remains an influential stalwart classic of modern psychedelic pop-rock. To the delight of the crowd, their expansive set included 7 songs from that collection. But of particular interest and note, MGMT also treated us to a total of five new songs from a yet-to-be-completed album, including a well-received cover of the song “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus from the Silence of the Lambs movie soundtrack.

E. J. Friedman

Nashville visitors Andrew Gonzalez and Drew Thomas hug it out.

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Music Music Features

Redd Kross

At just 11 and 14, brothers Steven and Jeff McDonald began to morph their middle-school band into the stuff of punk, pop, and glam/indie-rock legend. In the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne where they were born and raised, the band’s first show — an eighth-grade graduation house party — was played with their friends in the punk band Black Flag. In the years that followed, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and Melvins would all cite Redd Kross as a core sonic and visual inspiration.

Now in their fourth decade, Redd Kross have released a total of nine full-length albums and over two dozen EPs and singles. After joining seminal hardcore band Melvins as their bassist in 2015, Steven is currently playing bass on three projects — Redd Kross, Melvins, and OFF! — all while being a devoted husband and father.

The band stops in Memphis on Friday, April 22nd, for a show at Growlers. I talked with Steven about the tour, teaming with Dale Crover, dad life, and Goner Fest.

I understand you were at Goner Fest a few years back.

Yeah, I worked for a bunch of record labels over the years, and in 2009, I went to Goner Fest to see some bands. There’s this phenomenal band from Omaha called Box Elders. When they found out the dude from Redd Kross was there, they invited me on stage to play, and we played pretty much all the songs off our first EP. When I think of Memphis, I still think fondly of Jay Reatard, who we were friends with. And Jeffrey Novak, too.

It’s been five years since you released Researching the Blues, and yet you have a mammoth tour schedule ahead.

It’s just one of those things where everyone was available and could do it, so I seized the opportunity. It seems like it could be the beginning
of something.

Your relationship with Melvins goes way back.

Well, Dale and Buzz were early supporters. They were excited that there was another band coming from the punk world referencing all this other music that they loved, too, like KISS. And unapologetically doing so.

Is there a new Redd Kross album coming?

Well, there’s Octavia. … That got started because the Melvins put me to task to make a solo record, and they had their solo records in the 1990s. They were inspired by the KISS solo records. And they very graciously asked me if I’d be interested in participating in that reissue and doing a solo record of my own for the Melvins.

They used the KISS solo records as their templates — and they never did the blue one, which was the Ace Frehley. They kind of saved that for me.

I know you and Anna (Waronker) have been busy being parents. …

Dad life is great. I love it, and it’s definitely a hard trade-off about making the decision to do more road work, because I miss out on some stuff. It’s daunting, because these human beings, they’re not simple creatures. And from day one, you’re responsible for them. Crazy details like, “Should you circumcise their penis?” From that point on, it only gets more complex.

Andrew Earles lists your 1982 album, Born Innocent, in his book Gimme Indie Rock as one of the 500 essential underground rock albums of punk/indie rock. But I read that you picked your 2012 album Researching the Blues as Redd Kross’ best album.

[K Records founder] Calvin Johnson told me I peaked at age 12. The fact that any of this is notable in the annals of rock history is cool and fun. I can’t take it very seriously. But in terms of some things being dismissed and others being infantilized, you can’t please everybody. That’s been a learning experience for me, to realize that I don’t necessarily know how this is gonna turn out.

Redd Kross (with Viva L’American Death Ray Music) play Growlers Friday, April 22nd.

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Music Music Blog

Bruce Sudano at Minglewood and Stax

You might not know Bruce Sudano by name, but chances are you’ve heard his songs. Having featured as a writer for platinum-selling songs by Jermaine & Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, and several for his late wife, Donna Summer, Sudano will be performing material from his solo albums on Friday Night, March 31st at Minglewood Hall opening for popular folk duo Johnnyswim.

Of particular interest to musicians and songwriters, Mr. Sudano will be leading a songwriting master class the following day, Saturday April 1st at 12 Noon. In this workshop, which is open to the public, Memphians have a rare opportunity to learn technique directly from Mr. Sudano which will allow attendees to delve deeper into the art behind song craft. Saturday’s workshop takes place at the Memphis Slim Collboratory, 115 College Street, directly adjacent to the Stax Museum. The workshop is free to members and $10 for the general public.

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Music Music Features

Big River Block Party

The vision Mark Parsell has planted in Memphis for songwriters is taking bloom. After stepping into leadership roles with Memphis Farmers Market and South Main Trolley Night many years ago, Parsell partnered with Brad Matherne in 2015 to create a new venue and record store on South Main that songwriters could call home.

“That’s what South Main Sounds is,” Parsell explained. “That’s how we really put an imprint on the music scene — giving songwriters a place to present original music in Memphis.”

This weekend’s first annual Big River Block Party is the culmination of Parsell’s long-running determination to make Memphis the primary gateway stop for Americana acts, folk performers, and songwriters on the road to the annual SXSW Festival in Austin. 

Parsell and festival co-founder John Dillard had been talking for a couple of years about starting a songwriter festival of some kind downtown. “When Folk Alliance moved away from Memphis,” Parsell said, “nothing and nobody really came along to replace it.” It is estimated that the absence of the Folk Alliance meeting has cost the city of Memphis $2.5M in annual tourism dollars. 

While Parsell was in talks with radio station 94.1 The Wolf about possibly expanding their one-night songwriter showcase at the Halloran Centre, he had a chance encounter with Friday night festival headliners The Accidentals, an acclaimed indie-Americana act that was named one of Yahoo Music’s 10 Artists to Watch in 2017. Parsell recognized a golden opportunity. The trio adjusted their schedule to make an appearance in Memphis on March 10th, and the festival took root. “Once we had that commitment, we just decided the time was right to take a leap of faith,” he said. 

The Accidentals will perform at the Big River Block Party, March 10th.

Parsell and Dillard then garnered support from a wide base of influencers, including the Downtown Memphis Commission and developer Henry Turley. With their headliner booked and a weekend of activities to round things out, Big River Block Party was born.

While this year’s event won’t actually operate in the traditional sense of a “block party,” it will be a series of mostly ticketed events that will take place inside of various venues, allowing events to operate rain or shine. “Think Trolley Night but on a larger scale,” Parsell said. 

The weekend will kick off at the 5 Spot Friday night with music from The Accidentals, Jake Allen, and Talia Keys from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Afterward, the block party’s activities will shift to the Dirty Crow Inn, where Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils from Detroit will take the stage at 10 p.m.

The next morning, Saturday, March 11th, from 10 a.m. until noon, South Main Sounds will hold an admission-free family variety show hosted by Bill Shipper and featuring music from teen songwriters Bailey Bigger and Merit Koch.

That afternoon, there will be a crawfish boil and beer garden in the courtyard behind 550 South Main, featuring music from South Side Supper Club, Tony Manard, Rice Drewry, and 3 Degrees. Throughout the afternoon, there will be a variety of musicians busking along South Main. At Guidingpoint Financial, directly across from the South Main fire station, Shufflegrit will showcase their ability to translate well-known songs into rockabilly stompers.

The Halloran Centre at the Orpheum will cap off Saturday’s activities at  7 p.m. when the 94.1 The Wolf Songwriter Fest presents live performances from Sarah Buxton, Casey Beathard, and Barry Dean.

Finally, on Sunday, March 12th, the Block Party will co-sponsor “Turn Up for Tilly,” a celebration supporting the charitable efforts of ALIVE Rescue Memphis to help defray the medical costs for Tilly and other rescue dogs. For each $6 donation, guests will be treated to a complimentary Yazoo beer and a raffle entry for special prizes.

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Music Music Features

Pyramid $cheme

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Long-time Memphis residents have seen the space at 1911 Poplar change names, ownership, and focus a number of times. What was once Kang Rhee Karate Studio (best known as Elvis Presley’s dojo) and the Hi-Tone Cafe became a hookah lounge and sports bar, Sports Junction, for a time. But in October, new ownership came in and decided to un-break what was never really broken.

Rebranding the space as Growlers, the renovated restaurant and music venue shifted gears in late December. With former owner and booker Jonathan Kiersky now scheduling concert events, Growlers fills the void left in the Memphis College of Art/Overton Park neighborhood when the Hi-Tone moved to Crosstown. 

With a new high-end sound system in place and a series of desperately needed technical upgrades, vibrancy and energy is returning to a space that once served as home to an entire generation of musicians. 

People who may not have been to the venue since it was the Hi-Tone may need a second to get their bearings. “It’s … extremely nice,” Kiersky says. “The new owners did things I’d really wanted to do with the space when the Hi-Tone was there but wouldn’t because I was renting. It’s cleaner, nicer, and has everything people always asked for. We even have real air conditioning,” he says.

There are visible remnants of Growlers’ life as Sports Junction, like widescreen TVs showing sporting events, but, Kiersky says, “when musicians are on, the TVs go off. Occasionally we may invite touring acts, but our focus is local musicians, performing artists, and DJs.”

With that vision in mind, Pyramid $cheme will take over Growlers Saturday night. The 18-and-older event features a cross-section of local music and arts performers, and was created by Memphian Luke Sexton, known in the music world by his dueling alter-ego: DJ Red Eye Jedi and Glitch Dr.

“Pyramid $cheme is my tribute to the creatives in Memphis who are out there on their hustle,” Sexton says. “There are a lot of talented people, but to keep it fresh, you have to go in new creative directions.” 

The ambitious undertaking, Sexton says, echoes the spirit of the long-running, internationally recognized Los Angeles show, Low End Theory. And, like Low End Theory, Pyramid $cheme’s artistic avenues aren’t overly manicured or narrowly defined.  

“This night is a safe place for DJs and musicians to try new things,” Sexton notes. “I know that probably sounds super corny, but we want to go out and perform different kinds of stuff. Be open-minded. Come expecting to hear something different.” 

Up-and-coming hip-hop artist PreauXX, who has been splitting his time between Atlanta and Memphis, clicks with that notion. “Even though this set is actually gonna be a mix of a lot of fan favorites and songs that I regularly perform, I’m also performing about six or seven songs from my upcoming project with IMAKEMADBEATS. “Instead of having a DJ, it’s just going to be me and [IMAKEMADBEATS] doing a live show and really showcasing these new joints.”

Headlining will be DJ sets from New Orleans bounce artist Quickie Mart and St. Louis turntablist Hal Greens. There will be live performances and DJ sets from Memphis natives Bored Lord and Minivan Marcus, who run the Rare Nnudes Collective. Memphix co-founder Chase One will spin tracks and there will be a performance by vocalist Nya Sanders.

Local mural artist Codak of the UH Collective will be painting a new work (weather permitting). Expect dazzling jookin performances from G-Force, and Sexton says, “You can expect some surprises that will be worth the wait.”

Pyramid $cheme; Growlers, 1911 Poplar, February 18th, 9 p.m.