Author: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue began his career in 1975 at the now-defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar and moved to The Commercial Appeal in 1984, where he wrote about food and dining, music, and covered social events until early 2017, when he joined Contemporary Media.

We Recommend We Saw You

Mustache Bash, Howl at the Moon, Babbie Lovett, Bari Ristorante

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 14, 2017

CREDIT: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Mustaches were the thing at Mustache Bash.

Firefighters gathered for the sixth annual Mustache Bash, which was held Nov. 11 at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Cordova.

Memphis Fire Department and Bartlett Fire Department firefighters grow mustaches for the event, which raises money for charity. This year, it was the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. The silent auction raised money specifically for John Foote, a Memphis firefighter whose leukemia now is in remission.

Awards included Best Firefighter Mustache, Creepiest and Best Overall.

Stephen Zachar, a firefighter/paramedic with the Memphis Fire Department, and Jensen Pilant, a firefighter with the Bartlett Fire Department, celebrated their sixth anniversary as event co-chairs.

Asked what was special to them about the event, Zachar said, “It brings the tradition of the firefighter’s mustache. But it also brings the tradition of firefighters helping each other.”

Long before they wore air tanks on their backs, firefighters relied on their facial hair. “Men would grow very long beards and mustaches and dip them in water and roll them up to filter out the smoke as they fought fires.”

Jensen said, “We can choose where the money is going and what charity we want to do. And we get together and have a big party and grow ridiculous mustaches that the wives hate to see.”

Jensen began growing his mustache in October. Asked when he was going to shave, he said, “Well, I got up this morning and my wife had the razor already laid out for me. But i still have it. I’m kind of getting attached to it. Every time I went to the mirror, I was like, ‘Man. It kind of looks good.’ I still have it. I don’t know how long I’m going to have it.”

Zachar said he’s not shaving his off until the end of November. Memphis Fire Department director Gina Sweat “has dropped all mustache regulations per our uniform protocol and we’re having a fundraiser within the department,” he said. “They’re raising money for WINGS of Memphis.

“Normally we’re not allowed to have mustaches. They can come down to the crest of our lip and can’t be big. But she’s dropped that for the month of November. We can grow any kind of mustache. People donate money to the individual firefighters who grow their mustache and then the Memphis Fire Department will give it to the WINGS of Memphis.”

Clint Wooten, a Bartlett Fire Department firefighter who attended with his wife, Meradith, was clean shaven at the event. He had a mustache that he grew for Mustache Bash, but, he said, “I just shaved it yesterday.’

He shaved it for his family pictures, but he got his dates wrong. “We thought they were today. They’re tomorrow.”

And his wife actually liked his mustache.

Note: On Dec. 16, Memphis and Bartlett firefighters will be doing a Leukemia Lymphoma fundraiser for the Buffalo Wild Wings at Wolfchase. “If you go eat there at lunch and dinner, a portion of your tab will go to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society,” Zachar said.

And Memphis and Bartlett firefighters will take part in Scott Firefighter Stairclimb March 11 in Seattle. They’ll compete against 2,000 firefighters from around the world as they race wearing all their gear up 69 flights to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

……

Michael Donahue

Babbie Lovett tribute.

Babbie Lovett was honored with a fashion show and reception, which was held Nov. 11 at Church Health, the event’s beneficiary.

Lovett, who owned two boutiques – Collectibles and Mine – said she was a “daughter, wife, mother, model, store keeper. And as my daddy used to say – crazy. And now I’m a great-grandmother.”

The fashion show – with models wearing their hair in Lovett’s signature ponytail style – featured many outfits from Lovett’s personal collection.

As she has done at countless fashion events, Lovett emceed the show. She urged her audience members not to be so serious about what they’re wearing. “Have fun with it,” she said. “I dare you to wear a feather boa to Kroger.”

Mayor Jim Strickland declared Nov. 12 “Babbie Lovett Day.”

“Babbie” red and white wine with a photo of Lovett and her ponytail on the label were served at the reception.

Sheila Wilson came up with the idea to do the event. “Originally, Babbie said, ‘Let’s do a fashion show for Church Health.’”

Wilson talked it over with a committee and said, “Let’s do this in honor of Babbie. We just need to honor Babbie. It’s time.”

In addition to Lovett’s outfits, the fashion show feature five from Kitty Kyle Collection and two from Joseph.

Outfits from the 1980s resembled the newer outfits. Fashion, she said, is “always moving. But almost always the same. A classic look is a classic look. It never changes.”

What did Lovett think of her tribute? “They were mighty generous to me in every respect,” she said. “I was totally and completely blown away.”

And Church Health in the Crosstown Concourse is “just an increcible place to have an event. And everyone could not have been more gracious to me.”

So, when did Lovett start wearing her hair in a ponytail? “Probably 35 years ago. When I was modeling I had every hairdo that could be had. And I got tired of having to fool with it. So, I just decided to let it go. My husband was ill and things sort of changed in my life. And it just became an easier thing to do.”

……

Michael Donahue

Melanie Daniel Pafford and Kent Pafford at Howl at the Moon.

“Howl at the Moon,” the annual fundraiser for Streetdog Foundation, held Nov. 11 at the Warehouse in the South Main district, was a success, said Melanie Daniel Pafford, who, along with her husband, Kent, founded Streetdog.

Between 1,100 and 1,200 attended the event, which was a record. “It’s important that the fundraiser be successful and well attended and people bid,” Melanie said. “And it was. We started out with 500 people in 2013 and every year we go up about 100 people. Last year, we were right under 800.

“The funds raised from this provides 70 to 80 percent of our money that is used to pay for the rest of the year for all these dogs that we rescue. Even though we get donations throughout the year and some people donate through things they see on our Website our our Facebook, this is our one big fund raiser.”

Asked what makes the event successful, Melanie said, “The venue itself is so much fun. It’s a ‘come as your fun self.’ Grassroots. People just come and just enjoy each other. It’s casual. It’s fun and they know they’re doing it for the dogs. ‘Cause we’re 100 percent volunteer and 100 percent of what we make at the event goes to the dogs.”

Kris Kourdouvelis and Sharon Gray hosted the event, which featured live and silent auctions and music from Shufflegrit, South Side Supper Club, Grape, Bobbie and Tasha and DJ Tree.

…….

Michael Donahue

Jason and Rebecca Severs celebrated their Bari Ristorante e Enoteca with a 15th anniversary party.

Has it really been 15 years since Bari Ristorante e Enoteca opened in Overton Square?

Owners Jason and Rebecca Severs held a reception Nov. 12 at the restaurant.

“Just to celebrate our 15 years in business with regulars and employees,” Jason said. “And giving our employees a chance to hang out with the regulars in a non-work atmosphere.”

Asked what sets Bari apart, Jason said, “It’s unique. No one else in town is doing what we’re doing. No one in town has done anything we did. Southern Italian cuisine. Very fresh and light ingredients. Letting the ingredients speak for themselves and not overdoing the food.

“No one still does an all Italian wine list and cheese program like we do. Southeastern. This isn’t about, ‘Let’s do an Italian restaurant, but it’s Italian and barbecue.’ It’s regional Italian.”

[slideshow-1]

Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Best Bets: Cheesecakesicles

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 13, 2017

CREDIT: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Cheesecakesicle at Strano! Sicilian Kitchen & Bar

Santa Claus is making it down Santa Claus Lane at a pretty fast clip, but that doesn’t mean you have to start eating candy canes and fruit cake right away.

Vestiges of summer still are around. Most of my flowers haven’t yet frozen at my home. I still have leaves on some of the trees. And I still can get a “cheesecakesicle’ at Strano! Sicilian Kitchen & Bar.

Strano chef/owner Josh Steiner first sold these concoctions on the street a few months ago at the Cooper-Young Festival. I tried one. It was delicious.

I asked Steiner recently how he came up with the idea of cheesecakes on a stick. “We wanted to sell more than pizza and sodas,” he said. “We wanted to feature our cheesecake.”

But, he said, “I checked the weather outside and saw that it would be impossible to sell 90 slices of cheesecake when the weather is 90 degrees.”

He came with the idea of flash freezing to turn the cheesecake into whatever you choose to call it: a cheesecakesicle, cheese pop or cheesecake on a stick. “So, we flash froze them and they were delicious. We enrobed them in chocolate, caramel and candied nuts. They weren’t hard like a Popsicle, but they were pretty firm.”

How did they do? “We sold every slice.”

I love Strano’s cheesecake, which is made from Steiner’s recipe. “It’s actually homemade and you can taste it.”

When I was at the Cooper-Young Festival, I removed the stick from my cheesecake and ate it with a fork, but he saw people eat the cheescakesicles like they were supposed to, Steiner said. “People ate it on the stick right in front of me,” he said.

Cheesecakesicles are being offered this week as a dessert item at Strano. You’re welcome to eat them stickless or hold onto the stick.

I asked Steiner what else he might one day put on a stick. “Now the creative juices are starting to flow with that question,” he said. “Actually, a baked candy apple on a stick. I don’t know how I’m going to pull that off.”

Strano! Sicilian Kitchen & Bar is at 948 Cooper; (901) 275-8986

Cheesecakesicle from Michael Donahue on Vimeo.

Best Bets: Cheesecakesicles

Tags Strano's Cheesecakesicles

We Recommend We Saw You

Cameron Bethany, Day of the Dead and RiverArts

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 10, 2017

CREDIT: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Cameron Bethany at his ‘You Make Me Nervous’ listening party at Dirty Socks Studio.

Cameron Bethany will release his new EP, “You Make Me Nervous,” at 8 p.m. Saturday Nov. 11 at Loflin Yard.

Bethany might have been a little nervous at the listening party for the EP, which was recently held at Dirty Socks Studio, where it was recorded.

He and the EP’s producer, IMAKEMADBEATS, invited about 20 people. “Just wanting to have some people come out and take a listen and give their opinions,” Bethany said. “But I didn’t want people to feel biased or feel like they had to appease my feelings with me being in the room. So, I came up with the idea of doing it anonymously.

“We produced a list of people we respected. People who had been supportive through the years and genuinely interested in what we were doing. We wanted them to give their opinions first.”

Two groups were admitted to the studio at different times. They were given lined paper with the name of each song on the EP on each sheet. They listened to each song and wrote their comments about the song on the paper.

Later, Bethany read the comments and discovered “a few suggestions for things that may only add to the production that we have actually considered.”

But, he said, the EP “ultimately is in a place I’m proud of.”

The premise of the EP is “dealing with different things that contribute to feelings of anxiety or not being able to succeed wherever you are. Not feeling like yourself.”

……..

Michael Donahue

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead fiesta was held at The Columns.

Guests were told not to wear Halloween masks to the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) fiesta, but they could paint their faces to look like skulls. Instead of costumes, guests were asked to dress in black and white.

The Latino Memphis fundraiser, held Oct. 27 at The Columns, celebrates loved ones who passed away. Altars are decorated with paschal marigolds, sugar skulls and candles.

This year’s fiesta featured the Herencia Hispana folkloric dance group, Aztec dancers, New Ballet Ensemble, Salsa Memphis, Mariachi Guadalajara and music by DJ Moi and Catrinas by Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group.

…………..

Michael Donahue

Lijah and Gabby Hanley at RiverArtsFest

On a chilly night in Downtown Memphis, Viewing Lijah Hanley’s photo, “Spring Breeze” probably made RiverArtsFest goers feel a little warmer than his “Smiling Back” snow scene.

Hanley was one of the art dealers at the outdoor festival. He and his wife, Gabby, chatted a bit as RiverArts was about to end for the night on Oct. 28.

“This is actually our first time here,” said Lijah “We’re driving all over the country.”

The colder-than-usual Memphis temps during the weekend of the festival probably were a little surprising to the couple. “We’re freezing,” he said.

Elisha Gold, who was demonstrating blacksmithing at the National Ornamental Metal Museum booth, called
it quits for the night. “It’s hard to weld when your hand is shaking,” he said.

But, as Ken Hall, said, “All the cool people are still here. In fact, they’re cold.”

[slideshow-1]

Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Carolina Watershed to open in South Main district

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 9, 2017

CREDIT: MIchael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Making Carolina Watershed happen are, from left, executive chef Andy Knight, owner Mac Hopper, bar manager Stacy Kiehl and owner Brad Barnett.

MIchael Donahue

Carolina Watershed, a new outdoor/indoor restaurant, is slated to open at 141 East Carolina in December.

Downtown keeps getting cooler.

Carolina Watershed, a new outdoor/indoor restaurant on half an acre at 141 East Carolina, is slated to open in December.

The restaurant complex owned by Mac Hopper and Brad Barnett includes four converted corrugated steel grain bins. The main bin will house the restaurant with an indoor circular bar. The concrete band interior with a metal studded wall was added.

Another bin will house the kitchen.

A separate bin will be used for the outdoor bar, which will have seating around it. Stacy Kiehl is bar manager.

Other bins will house the restrooms.

Food will be “Southern deli,” said Hopper. You can order a Reuben sandwich, but add a side of mustard greens, buttermilk cornbread or black-eyed peas. “Kind of Southernized a little bit,” he said.

The signature item will be “The Watershed Burger” with locally-grown meat, said executive chef Andy Knight.

Outdoor seating will be picnic tables.

Live music will be featured on an outdoor stage. Hopper described the music as “ambient, acoustic, unplugged.”

“Carolina Watershed” is a combination of the street name and because the property is “gullied out,” which creates a watershed, Hopper said.

In the 1930s, a house that stood on the property was razed. In the ‘40s, the dirt on the property was sold, which is why it’s gullied. “It sat for 70 years,” Hopper said.

Carolina Watershed is just a short distance from Main Street.

“The uniqueness is the style of architecture and the rural feel of it,” Hopper said.

Hopper calls Carolina Watershed “a destination point for people who want to have an experience. Millennials go out and want to have an experience. We’re going to give them one.”

Michael Donahue

A waterfall adds to the rural ambience of Carolina Watershed

Michael Donahue

Carolina Watershed is slated for a December opening.

News News Blog

The Windjammer to Close

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 8, 2017

Michael Donahue

Ruthell Reynolds with some trophies won for dart-related activities at The Windjammer.

After 51 years, the Windjammer Restaurant and Lounge is furling its sails.

The popular karaoke bar at 786 Brookhaven Circle East will close Nov. 25.

Owners Ruthell and Bill Reynolds said it’s time. Ruthell is 84 and Bill is 85.

“It’s time for us to retire and do something else,” Bill said.

“I feel there’s a time in life you have to move on,” Ruthell said.

“Have to give it up,” Bill said.

“Bittersweet” is how Ruthell described her feeling about closing. “We’ve seen five generations come in here.”

And, she added, “I love people. I love to be around people.”

Along with Christmas lights, which are left up all year, license plates from around the country, including Alaska, adorn the Windjammer. Customers bring them in. “We’ve had Alaska and Hawaii and everything,” Bill said.

Customers included members of the old Memphis Showboats football team. Ruthell is proud of a framed poster of the 1984 team that was given to her. A customer wanted it, but Ruthell said, “I can’t give my memories away like that.”

Pau Gasol was another patron when he played for the Memphis Grizzlies. He “used to bring people in all the time,” Ruthell said.

Bill describes the Windjammer as “the oldest place on the Circle. And probably the ugliest.”

The bar is open from 4:30 p.m. until 2:45 a.m. six days a week. It’s closed Sunday.

The Windjammer originally opened at 688 South Mendenhall, where Half Shell now is located. They served steaks, but they primarily were known for their seafood. Hence the name “Windjammer.”

The restaurant housed a large lobster tank. “I’d go to the airport and pick the lobsters up twice a month,” Bill said.

They weren’t “big into the bar” back then, Ruthell said.

But, Bill said, “We were one of the first bars in town to offer liquor by the drink.”

They didn’t own that property, so 17 years later they moved to the Brookhaven Circle address. ”We owned this,” Bill said.

They brought in karaoke about 11 years ago. Ruthell said she can’t sing, but, she said, “I like love songs. Johnny Cash and all that kind of stuff.”

“Summer Wind” is her favorite song, she said.

The Windjammer also is home to dart leagues and tournaments. “We had a $10,000 tournament here one time,” Ruthell said.

Bill and Ruthell were highschool sweethearts. “We went all through high school together,” Bill said. “When we got out, we got married.”

The jokester of the two, Bill said his wife should have been a politician. “You ask her what time it is and she’ll give you the history of the clock.”

Bill owned Bill’s Garage for 55 years. It originally opened on Union and then moved to 2518 Lamar.

As for the business that’s moving in after they leave, Ruthell said they just know it’s a restaurant that will serve breakfast and lunch. “I couldn’t tell you to save my soul.”

“It’s a done deal,” Bill said.

Customers have been “actually crying” when they heard the Windjammer was closing, Ruthell said. She told one man, “Look. Don’t cry or I’m going to start crying, too.”

She tells her customers, “I love each and every one of you as if there was only one of you to love,” she said.

Future plans? “We’re playing it by ear,” Bill said. “I’ve been looking for another job, but I don’t see anything listed in the paper looking for a professional rester.”

Ruthell wants to “open up a store on eBay. My granddaughter wants to help me. Jewelry. A variety of things.”

Two men came up to her and said, “I guess this is the final goodbye,” Ruthell said.

She responded: “I’ll find you.”

“And she would, too,” Bill said.

Michael Donahue

Pau Gasol was a Windjammer customer when he played for the Memphis Grizzlies.

We Recommend We Saw You

Chris Phillips benefit, Kosher BBQ, VOX Awards and more!

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 6, 2017

CREDIT: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Racquets at ChrisCrosswalk Benefit.

"Chowder" from Michael Donahue on Vimeo.

Chris Phillips benefit, Kosher BBQ, VOX Awards and more!

Thanks to friends and family of the late Chris Phillips, three crossways will be constructed on Madison and, hopefully, may save lives.

Phillips, a server at Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, was killed while trying to cross Madison Feb. 22.

Molly’s La Casita restaurant owner Jamie Chapman got the ball rolling to do a crosswalk near the restaurant, said Phillips’s mom, Lauri Phillips. Lauri emailed Mayor Jim Strickland’s office to get connected with the traffic engineer. She was told a crosswalk was waiting to get approved.

The city approved three crosswalks on Madison. “They wrapped it up pretty quickly and approved them,” Lauri said. “I wanted it to be an artistic crosswalk in Christopher’s memory. So, the official project name is the ‘Christopher Phillips Memorial Crosswalk’ – ‘ChrisCrosswalk’ for short.”

Chris’s good buddy, Vincent Hale, a bartender at Bari Ristorante, planted the seed for the crosswalk to be constructed in Chris’s memory.

Nashville artist Pam Haile, Lauri’s sister-in-law, is designing the crosswalks. “The inspiration for the art is the ‘Golden Slumbers’ trilogy from the Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ album,” Lauri said. “Christopher loved that song, especially ‘Golden Slumbers.’ So, some of the lyrics from ‘Golden Slumbers’ and ‘The End,’ the third song in the trilogy, will be incorporated into the art.”

Shortly after Chris was killed, Richard Cushing from FreeWorld contacted Lauri. “Richard sent me a message expressing his condolences. He said, ‘Hey, at some point if you’re interested, we would love to play a memorial show in honor of Chris.’”

Lauri wanted the event to be a community-wide memorial benefit to fund the crosswalk project.

That’s where David Hacking came in. Hacking, lead singer and rhythm guitarist in Racquets, came up with two more performers – The Sheiks and the pop ritual – to play at the benefit.

The goal, Hacking said, was “to bring (Chris’s) favorite bands together to play a show for him.”

They raised $3,400 in cash and checks at the show, held Oct. 23 at The Blue Monkey on Madison, Laurie said. To date, including on-line donations, they’ve raised $6,951, she said.

Installation date is slated for mid November, Lauri said.

“The crosswalk is a memorial to Christopher, but it’s also a memorial to all pedestrian fatality victims in Memphis,” Lauri said. “We’re trying to create some awareness to what is an issue here in our city.

“In 2016, Memphis was No. 9 on what’s called the ‘Pedestrian Danger Index.’ It was No. 9 in the top 104 metro areas in the United States for pedestrian deaths. And the number of pedestrian deaths is outpacing last year. Through Sept. 5 we had 25 pedestrian fatalities. Christopher was No. 6.”

………

Michael Donahue

De’Andre Brown, Lucia Heros, and LaSalle and Phyllis Pratt were at the Playback Memphis party.

Lucia and Ricky Heros and Angie and Will Deupree hosted an event Oct. 19 for Playback Memphis at the Heros home.

“We wanted to expose a whole bunch of our friends to the world of Playback Memphis,” Lucia said. “And just bring awareness to the organization, explain what they do and present and celebrate some of the artists that are part of the Playback Memphis company. They’re so talented and so amazing.”

Playback Memphis is “basically an improv company. But it is a nonprofit. What they ask of the audience is to tell stories. To share with them.”

When the company members hear an audience member’s story, they “play it back to the audience.”

Maybe the person is being mistreated at work. “The company does this amazing sort of improv show based on this issue of being mistreated at work and plays it back. Helps the audience feel and understand what this person is feeling and living through. It really is so powerful.”

Playback Memphis’s performances are a creative way “people can share in that feeling of helping and understanding and healing.”

Michael Donahue

Rabbi Joel Finkelstein was at the ASBEE World Kosher BBQ Competition and Festival.

Michael Donahue

ASBEE World Kosher BBQ Competition and Festival.

…….

Rain held off at the ASBEE World Kosher BBQ Competition and Festival, held Oct. 22 at Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth.

“I have my people working on the weather right now,” said emcee Ron Childers, who is WMC Action News 5 chief meteorolgist.

The event, which includes a barbecue contest, a basketball tournament, a pickle-eating contest and children’s activities, celebrated is 29th anniversary this year.

First place winners were:

Ribs: Adam’s Rib

Chicken: License to Grill

Brisket: Beth Sholom

Beans: Temple Israel Brotherhood

Showmanship: BBQ Wars: Return of the Rabbi

Michael Donahue

CBU president Dr. John Smarrelli Jr. and Brother Chris Englert were at the CBU Crosstown Concourse opening celebration.

…….

Christian Brothers University now is part of the Crosstown Concourse.

The new space will serve as the home of the CBU’s Healthcare MBA instruction.

About 200 people attended the opening event, held Oct. 23.

Michael Donahue

Thomas Carlisle and William Franklin were at the Chefs’ Celebrity Gala.

…….

An actual server was on hand to step in if a celebrity server suddenly turned into a butter finger at Memphis Child Advocacy Center’s Chefs’ Celebrity Gala.

Around 100 celebrity servers in white aprons took care of 500 guests, who dined on a gourmet dinner at the event, held Oct. 26 at Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis.

Andy Childs and his band returned for guests to trip the light fantastic on the dance floor.

The teddy bears were back, too. Guests could purchase the bears, which contained “surprises” on the order of jewelry, weekend vacations and gift certificates.

“We raised $260,000,” said a delighted Beryl Wight, the center’s communications and grants manager.

Michael Donahue

Peggy Reisser, Mark Winburne, Jennifer Biggs, James Dowd and Lela Garlington were at the VOX Awards

…….

Seventeen VOX awards and nine gold certificates were presented at the 2017 VOX Awards ceremony, held Oct. 19 at Sara’s Place at Memphis Botanic Garden.

The Memphis Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America annually recognizes the best in PR campaigns and tactics conceived, developed and implemented by Mid-South’s communications professionals during the past year.

The VOX awards are for the highest-scoring entries in each category and the gold certificates are for the second highest scoring entries.

Star awards were given to Beth Wilson, who received the PR Executive of the Year award, and Jennifer L. Sharp, who received the Rising Star award. The awards were presented to professionals representing the highest standard of excellence at different stages in their career.

Peggy Reisser of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center was VOX chairperson. David Brown of KQ Communications was co-chair.

WREG-TV anchor/reporter April Thompson was emcee. Me & Leah provided the music.

James Dowd of First Tennessee Bank is chapter president.

……..

Michael Donahue

Eula Horrell, Robert Moody, Billie Jean Graham and Peter Abell were at the Memphis Symphony League luncheon.

“Music-Music-Music” was the theme of the Memphis Symphony League Luncheon, held Oct. 27 at the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club.

Memphis Symphony Orchestra artistic director Robert Moody sang. He was accompanied by Tom Bryant.

Lura Turner sang “God Bless America.” She was accompanied by Marie DeBacco.

Symphony CEO/president Peter Abell welcomed guests. About 120 attended, said Billie Jean Graham, chair.

Eula Horrell is Memphis Symphony League president.

[slideshow-1]

Music Music Features

Drew Erwin is Keeping It Simple

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date November 2, 2017

There was a time when Drew Erwin performed his original songs on an electric guitar, with a lead guitarist, keyboard player, bass player, and drummer behind him.

Times have changed. Simplicity is key.

“Normally, it’s just me and a guitar,” Erwin says. “A microphone. Most of the time I’m playing acoustic.”

He likes it that way. “I don’t have to rely on anybody else. I’m just kind of doing my own thing.”

He’s learned to savor his independence. Erwin, 21, first appeared on the music scene in 2012, when he was a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent. The experience isn’t one of his favorite memories. He was told what to wear and what song to sing. He didn’t win. But he didn’t stop singing.

Erwin scaled things down when he began playing a weekly gig at Silly Goose, downtown. The owner saw one of his videos on YouTube and invited him to play. It turned into a regular Friday gig. “It’s been, seriously, probably the best thing for me as far as getting better and working at stuff,” Erwin says. “My ear has gotten so much better. I’ve really conditioned my voice, because I’m playing for three hours down there.”

Erwin also credits the University of Memphis music department, where he will graduate with a music business degree this spring. On November 5th, as the headliner at the fourth annual This Is Memphis festival at Clayborn Temple, he’ll perform selections from his new EP, Covers in a Bar, with a 16-piece string ensemble. The event, which showcases members of U of M music department, is produced by the university’s Blue Tom Records.

An old upright piano was the impetus for his new EP. “I had just purchased a 1960s Wurlitzer upright piano. I really liked the way that it was all beat up and banged up.”

“Covers in a Bar,” the title track, was the first song Erwin wrote for the EP. “I was teaching guitar lessons out in Collierville. I got home, made a cup of coffee, and just sat down at that piano. That was the first thing I came up with.” The autobiographical song alludes to his America’s Got Talent experience and is “about not wanting to die in Memphis playing covers in a bar.”

He liked the simplicity of his voice backed by one musical instrument and wanted to replicate that on the EP. “Instead of really geeking out, trying to make some big production, I just went on the floor live. Me and my guitar. I did the guitar and vocal live. No click track or anything like that. Then just overdubbed little stuff. But for the most part, it’s just acoustic guitar and a vocal, then some piano overdub and some electric guitar overdub on some of the songs.”

Erwin began “learning different chord progressions and what works melodically. I just kind of got a clearer, ‘Hey. I can do this. Just me. I don’t need a band.’ And honestly, I feel like I can rope people in better if it’s just me. When I take away all the distractions.”

The recordings are “all incredibly personal,” he says. “Like if a song’s about somebody, they know that that song’s about them. I wanted you to feel like you were in the room listening to the record. It was a live take, and instead of worrying about the production and stuff, it was more about the delivery and how I was saying things — even if I was flat on the note. If the note was emotional, I was like, ‘I’ll just keep that there.'”

Songwriting is more comfortable these days, he says. “When I was writing songs, I was trying to write a hit song or something. I just got out of the whole ‘I want to write catchy hooks’ and just switched to, ‘I want to write real things that I’m emotionally invested in and can be passionate about when I’m singing about them.’ I just want to do away with all the bullshit and just write things that mean stuff to me.”

Football took precedence over music when Erwin was growing up in Arlington, Tenn. He began playing the game when he was 5 years old.

He also loved music. “I think my favorite thing in elementary school was going to music class. Sports was always after school, but while I was at school I’d rather be hanging out doing that kind of stuff.”

Lisa Smith, his elementary school teacher at Macon-Hall Elementary School in Cordova, was an influence. “She made music so much fun. We had the little xylophone and glockenspiels and stuff. I remember in elementary school we had weeks that would be dedicated to the Beach Boys. And weeks that would be dedicated to the Beatles.”

Erwin was in a talent show when he was in the fifth grade. “I sang a song by The Fray. It might have been ‘Cable Car.’ But I remember everybody went nuts because nobody even knew that I liked to sing.
“I was always aware that I could carry a tune. But I never imagined that, literally, my daily life would revolve around it 24-7.”

The King figured into his musical life at one point. “I remember in the fifth grade we did a live wax museum. The little card I drew was Elvis. So, I had to dress up like Elvis and learn all about Elvis.”
In sixth grade, Erwin and other students wrote songs on their laptops. “They would pull up GarageBand and Apple loops and we would make songs: ‘Everybody make a song and we’ll play it at the end of class and we can see whose song we like best.’”

Erwin continued to play football at Arlington HIgh School. He played strong safety. But music wasn’t far away. “I always had software on a laptop and I would record and make little raps, make songs for fun. That’s when I realized I had a passion for the production side of things. That’s where I got a lot of my first exposure to recording.”

During a football game his sophomore year, Erwin shattered his hand and had to have a metal plate put in. Since he couldn’t play football, he picked up his guitar and began singing and writing songs.
He put a video he made of himself singing John Mayer’s “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” on YouTube. Without telling him, his parents sent the video to “America’s Got Talent.” Erwin was chosen to appear on the show.

He wanted to play guitar and sing the song he put on the video, but one of the show’s producers said they wanted him to play piano – because they already had a guitarist on the show – and sing “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia. In keeping with the boy band image Erwin felt they were going for, someone with the show even selected his outfit, which included a tight red shirt – something Erwin never would wear.

Judges included Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel.

Erwin lost to a bird act.

Back in Arlington, Erwin continued to play football. His dream was to play for Holy Cross or Harvard, but during summer workouts going into his senior year, he tore his hamstring while overworking himself running the 40-yard dash. He wasn’t able to attend the key camps he wanted to attend. He gave up football.

Erwin enrolled at University of Mississippi at Oxford. “ In high school a lot of my identity was rooted in the fact that I was the captain of the football team. I was that guy. I was good at sports. I was one person. Just the sports guy. I was just all about sports and being competitive. Then I got to college and realized none of that matters anymore. I wasn’t on the football team. That’s such a big school nobody cares who you are. It was kind of a struggle to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be.

“I didn’t have football to do. I tried to do the whole partying, fraternity. Make friends that way. And I couldn’t. The thing that I fell back on was I still had a guitar. The only thing that I did was sing in my dorm at night and play guitar. I had a Yamaha keyboard.”

Erwin called up singer/songwriter/musician Ben Callicott. “I knew that he was at Memphis. I didn’t really know him, but I had his phone number. He was like, ‘Yeah, dude. I started my first semester. It’s kind of cool so far. You should think about it.’ And the next thing I knew Ben Yonas called me on the phone.”
Yonas, a U of M music business professor, persuaded Erwin to transfer to U of M.

Fitting in with the other music students wasn’t easy at first. “I was so new to the music crowd. I had come from a completely different world in high school. Trying to figure out what was cool or what kind of guitar do I need to play to fit in. Or what clothes should I wear. And this and that.

“I was trying to impress people for an amount of time. I just kind of realized I’m not this crazy good guitarist. I’m not this bluesy guy. I like to tell stories when I write. I just happen to have a guitar and sing on top of them.”

And, he said, “I was never really truly confident in my abilities as a musician and a songwriter because I never felt like it was truly who I was. I always felt like this football guy trying to pretend he knew what he was doing. Now, I’ve been doing it long enough and put in the hours and I’m just confident who I am. This is what I’m going to do with my life. There’s no doubt in my mind.

“I think I’m just a lot more comfortable now with who I am. Just because of the experiences. I’ve pretty much found myself over the course of my college career. I’m not pretending to be anybody anymore.”
That’s a testament to U of M. “If it weren’t for University of Memphis I wouldn’t speak the language. Because in high school i was never in choir. I was never in a band. I was always doing football. Now I don’t go a day without doing something with it. That’s what’s so cool.

“I’m not timid anymore. I’m not nervous of what somebody who is musically superior to me is going to think. Because it’s like, ‘OK. That’s just your opinion. There are other people who really enjoy what I’m trying to do right now.’”

The weekly Silly Goose gig also helped him, Erwin said. “I feel like a lot of this falls back on playing somewhere Friday night. Because there are nights when it’s not super fun or rewarding and people aren’t into it. But then there are nights when people can’t get enough of it.”

Being on “America’s Got Talent” doesn’t come up as much, Erwin said. “But I still feel like it follows me around.”

He cringes when he sees the video of the show. “Just because I was so not good. It’s just so green and so cheesy and so corny. But then part of me is like, ‘Yeah, but it was also five or six years ago. And that was my first time performing. And, yeah, I can cringe when I look at it.’ But I’m also like, ‘I’m confident in myself now that it’s like that video doesn’t define me.’”

Does Erwin ever wish he was never on “America’s Got Talent”? “All the time. I really do. But it’s one of those things. I met cool people through that. And it’s just a good way to get your foot through the door. But I also at the same time I just hate that if you Google my name it’s inevitable you’re going to find that video.”

If he could turn back the time, Erwin would do things differently on “America’s Got Talent.” “I would get up there and do what I wanted. I wouldn’t let them manipulate me. And then five years down, if it still gave me that clout and star quality, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it because it was authentically me. Even if Howard Stern trash talked me on live TV I wouldn’t care because it would be truly who I am.”

But, he said, “If it weren’t for that show, I don’t think Ben Yonas at the University of Memphis would have ever known about me and called me up on the phone while I was at Ole Miss asking what I was interested in. You know what I’m saying? Everything happens for a reason.”

Erwin will graduate with a degree in music business this spring. “I plan on pursuing my solo career the rest of my life. Writing songs. But, also, I’ve probably sunk – at least right now just in my college years – at least 30 grand into my own studio equipment and microphones. I probably have 13 guitars. I’m just really into the whole recording side of things. I’m already working on a couple of different records for people. I want to be a producer. I want to work with people who are just themselves and back it up with the songs that they write.”
Erwin wants to stay in Memphis. “Memphis is cool. Especially with local music. Really. There’s a lot of buzz that’s going on and people are getting excited in the community. I don’t want to be one of those guys who, as soon as I get done, goes to try to work for some office in Nashville. Or try to go up there and write songs. I like this city. And I’ve made my living in this city. I’m invested in it. I’m here.”

"Covers in a Bar" from Michael Donahue on Vimeo.

Drew Erwin is Keeping It Simple

Tags America's Got Talent, Drew Irwin, Silly Goose

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MoonPie Eating Contest, Nick Black

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date October 27, 2017

CREDIT: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Brett ‘The Brranimal’ Healey participated in the MoonPie Eating Contest at Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid.

With recent meatball and slider eating contests under his championship belt, Brett “The Brranimal” Healey tried his hand – and choppers – in The Bass Pro Shops World MoonPie Eating Championship, held Oct. 14 at Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid.

Healey went for the gold – as in golden graham crackers – as well as the marshmallow and chocolate.

He didn’t win; he came in seventh place out of 11 contestants, eating 24.5 MoonPies in eight minutes.

Healey, who ate his first MoonPie ever a week before the contest, said, “This was tough because you’ve just got eight minutes to go with as much as you can. This is the longest contest I’ve been in. The first time I’ve done it with sweets. It was pretty much just the people around me. Just keep pace with them. Go as fast as you can. And try to stay cool. It was a little hot out today.”

As in 88 degrees. As emcee Mike Sullivan said, “MoonPies with a chocolate covered shell, a marshmallow filling, I don’t know how well it’s going to go with the heat, so it’s going to make it that much tougher for the competitors out there. So, they have to have an iron will and a stomach capacity to match.”

Matt Stonie, whose record is 85 MoonPies in eight minutes, was the winner of $4,000. It was the third consecutive MoonPie Eating Contest for Stonie. This go-round he ate 73 MoonPies in eight minutes.

Asked after the contest if he could eat one more MoonPie, Stonie said, “I could. But I don’t have to. So, I’m good for now.”

Healey won the meatball eating contest Aug. 20 at the Monroe Ave. Festival in front of Bardog Tavern. He won the slider eating contest Oct. 7 at the Best Memphis Burger Fest in Tiger Lane.

As for MoonPie eating competitions, The Brranimal’s dad, Jim Healey from Jackson, New Jersey said, “I don’t think I’ve eaten 85 in my lifetime.”

Michael Donahue

Nick Black held a listening party for his album, ‘Summer and Spring,’ at Theatre Memphis.

…………

Not everyone has their album release party at Theatre Memphis. In fact, has anyone ever had an album release party there?

“Not that I know of,” said Nick Black, who held what he calls “a mix between a concert and a cabaret show” Oct. 11 at the theater.

He was backed by 11 musicians throughout the evening. “All the music I played save for a few songs were from my new album, ‘Summer and Spring,’” he said.

His originals, he said, are “a mix between Justin Timberlake and Michael Buble. It’s soul music, but I can’t say it’s neo soul. That’s a genre from the late ‘90s, early 2000s. If I would put a genre, I would probably say ‘retro soul’ or something like that.”

So, how did he get an album release show at Theatre Memphis? “I’ve been going to Theatre Memphis for shows for a long time. My wife works there. It was just kind of a confluence of all the right factors falling in place.”

His show was held on a Wednesday night. “They had a show running. We had to find the correct spot in the middle of the week.”

And, he said, “I had a lot of help from the staff. They were excited to put on the show.”

MoonPie Eating Contest from Michael Donahue on Vimeo.

MoonPie Eating Contest, Nick Black

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Art Art Feature

Artistry on Campus unites artists.

Post author By Michael Donahue
Post date October 26, 2017

If Jarvis Howard hadn’t run away from home, Artistry on Campus might not be a reality.

Howard, 23, is one of the founders of the organization, which was designed to unite artists, writers, dancers, and other creative types at University of Memphis by promoting their talent and giving them exposure through events on and off campus.

Howard, who began drawing as a child, ran away when he was in the fifth grade. “I was trying to fit in with my friends,” he says. “I was hard on my mom because she couldn’t afford the stuff my friends had. Shoes and clothes. Like Jordans. Nike’s were popping at the time.

“I took my sketchbook outside, and I ripped my sketches into pieces. I walked down the street. Then I came back home. My sketchbook was back in the house. My grandfather went outside and he taped every piece together.”

That’s the point when Howard began to take pride in his work. And, he says, “As I got older, I apologized to my mom.”

Artistry on Campus was born after Howard, Johnathan Russell, and Sumojaih Archer got together at the student center. Howard painted a ’90s-type cartoon character on a jacket, Archer customized a hat, and Russell worked on a picture of a lion. “We were just sitting up there drawing and painting and sketching,” Howard says. “Next thing you know in my head I was thinking, ‘We need to start an art club.'”

and Jarvis Howard

“We all just showed each other our art work, [the] different styles, different things that we’re interested in, and decided to have an organization,” Russell says.

They wanted to “find others who are also interested in the arts and just continue to grow and connect,” he says.

“We were just trying to come in contact with and make a family of a lot of visual artists,” Russell says. “People who did photography, people who did journalism, people who were interested in music. We wanted to include as many different crafts and forms of art as we could because we know we all draw inspiration from all those areas of life. So, we didn’t want to exclude anybody from the opportunity.”

“I love the idea,” says their advisor, Devon Thompson, administrative assistant in U of M’s student leadership and involvement department. “I’m always willing to support students who have ideas to broaden their talent.”

Artistry on Campus in particular? “Their love for wanting to give back. They don’t do it for the accolades or recognition for themselves. They want to take their talent and give back to their institution — the university — and the community as well.”

“Sip and Paint,” where Kool-Aid combined with creativity, was Artistry on Campus’ first event.

They then held an art event at a nearby community center. “We were able to work with a good number of kids,” Russell says. “We would walk around and help them draw little Halloween symbols.”

The next planned event was to join forces with Tiger Records, a student-led record label, and host a showcase of art and music in front of the student center.

A group arts project — a mural at a McDonald’s — hopefully will become a reality. “They need a mural, so our job is to provide a sketch,” Howard says. “Basically, just get everyone’s idea. Then we just come up with one sketch.”

Long range plans? “Have a pretty big presence in the community and continue our work with community centers and just working with kids,” Russell says. “We want to work at elderly homes. And just get a chance to do artwork for elderly citizens.

“A lot of us came up being told, ‘Yeah, art is cool. Yeah, whatever your craft is, it’s cool, but you can’t live off of that. You can’t make a career out of that.’ I want us to disprove that and just be passionate and work on our art. And take it as far as we can. And prove that this is who we are. This is part of what we do.

“Since it’s something that we were blessed with, it’s ours to say how far we want to go with it.”

Tags Artistry on Campus