You might recognize Theresa Caputo because of her big personality and bigger hair, but you’re most likely to recognize her for her ability to communicate with the dead with a sixth sense she calls Spirit. She is, after all, the Long Island Medium, star of the eponymous TLC series and now the star of her new Lifetime series Raising Spirits. While most of us have interacted with Caputo via our screens, Memphians will now get a chance to see her live and maybe have their own reading done at “Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience.”
Ahead of the show, the Flyer asked Caputo about her work and about the live show. See some of her answers below.
Memphis Flyer: Why did you decide to bring your work to a live audience?
Theresa Caputo: The live experience is amazing and why I do them is because there’s something about being in a room with thousands of people and witnessing healing — it’s something truly special.
How is “Live: The Experience” different from private readings, or even your TV show?
The live experience sometimes I think is more intense because you have thousands of people in a theater, and you’re listening to these healing messages and a lot of them you’ll be able to relate to and people will say all the time, … ‘I personally didn’t get read but what I witnessed was life-changing, and then I realized that there were so many other people in that theater that night that truly needed to hear from their loved ones more than I did.’ That just shows how powerful the experience truly is.
How would you describe what you do? How does Spirit work in this experience?
I have the ability to communicate with people that have died, to be able to deliver messages of faith, hope, and peace. What happens is, I give a little speech on how I read and communicate with the souls of the departed, and once I start sensing and feeling signs and symbols from Spirit, I allow them to guide me around the space and I will just randomly stop in front of someone and start saying things that mean absolutely nothing to me but life-changing to the person I’m standing in front of. I never know who’s gonna get read or what Spirit is going to have me say. I think that’s the most amazing thing about the experience.
(Photo: Adams Travel Photography)
What do you hope people will gain from the show, especially those who might not get a reading?
I want people to know that there truly is an afterlife, that our departed loved ones are still with us, just in a different way. I want people to know that all those things that go on around them that they might think are odd or weird or might just remind them of their loved one that has died, to know that that it is their soul reminding them that they are still with them just in a different way, and living life through their eyes, this is a soul bond that can never and will never be broken.
What made you want to be a medium? I’m sure there are critics and skeptics out there, so what keeps you going?
I use my gift for healing purposes. When I found out that I had this ability to connect with everyone’s loved ones, not only mine, and that unfortunately people are left with burdens and guilts that do not give them the ability to heal, I put my gift in God’s hands and said if this is my soul journey, then I want to be able to deliver messages to help people heal and move on with their life with as much happiness and joy as they possibly can after the loss of their loved one and that is why I do what I do.
Is Spirit stronger in some places than others, like from city to city?
Honestly, you know there are stronger souls in some places than others. I think it has to do with the history of the city that I might be in but mostly it has to do with how well the soul can communicate and also how open we are to receiving these messages from our departed loved ones.
Is there any moment, so far, from the “Live: The Experience” tour that has stood out to you?
Every moment in a live experience stands out because it’s changing someone’s life in a positive way, but the things that really stick with me are when family members aren’t speaking to one another and they didn’t even know that they were going to be at the show and they’re seated rows apart from each other, and then the families are reunited. Those are the moments that really stand out because it really shows that what I do is so much more than communicating with people that have died. It restores people’s faith in themselves, relationships, and really gives them the gift and permission to embrace life.
Grind City Music Festival (Photo: Courtesy Grind City Brewing Company)
Hello there, spring! We’ve been sorely missing you, and thank goodness you’re here because that means it’s time for the Flyer’s “Spring Fairs & Festivals” issue. From April all the way through the summer, you won’t want to miss any of these events.
APRIL
Cooper Young Night Out Restaurants, bars, retail, and service businesses will stay open late to offer live music, discounts on food and drink, sidewalk sales, trivia games, shuffleboard, and more. Cooper-Young, first Thursday of the month
First Fridays on Broad Shop from your favorite Broad Avenue businesses after hours, and enjoy discounts and special activities, often with a theme. Broad Ave. Arts District, first Friday of the month
South Main Trolley Night The longest-running street festival in the city has returned this spring for its 24th season. Catch it on the last Friday of every month through September. South Main, last Friday of the month
Grind City Music Festival Are you a little bit country? A little bit rock-and-roll? Well, this two-day festival of Americana, alternative country, and rock-and-roll music will hit that sweet spot. Grind City Brewing Co., April 5-6
Memphis Tattoo Festival Some tattoos aren’t meant to be seen, but at the Memphis Tattoo Festival you’re gonna see them all, whether or not you like it. The three-day tattoo spectacle will have live tattooing from over 200 of the world’s best artists, plus merchandise, tattoo contests, and art-making. Renasant Convention Center, April 5-7
Bookstock (Photo: Courtesy Memphis Public Libraries)
Bookstock This fest is one for the books. Literally. Bookstock is the largest annual local authors festival in Memphis. Expect local author exhibits, cultural performances, book giveaways, keynote speakers (this year’s are Avery Cunningham and Sidney Thompson), and so much more. Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, April 6
Delta Groove Yoga Festival (Photo: Courtesy Delta Groove Yoga)
Delta Groove Yoga Festival It’s not that big of a stretch to say that this festival is for posers — yoga posers, of course. The day will feature lots of — you guessed it — yoga, plus live music. Overton Square, April 6
Central to the Arts Festival For this artsy fest, the University of Memphis campus along Central Avenue will be filled with live performances, film showings, fashion shows, and interactive arts booths. University of Memphis, April 6
Art in the Loop (Photo: Courtesy Art in the Loop)
Art in the Loop Let me loop you in on this arts festival in East Memphis. It’s got an artists market, it’s got live music, it’s got food trucks, and it’s got demonstrations. What doesn’t it have? Beats me. Ridgeway Loop Road, April 12-14
Mid-South Poets & Writers Festival This literary-focused two-day extravaganza will have a neighborhood barbecue, workshops, mixers, showcases, and more. Various locations, April 13-14
Terry Bean at Juke Joint Festival (Photo: Lou Bopp)
Juke Joint Festival Be a juke joint hero, with stars in your eyes, at this fest that’ll keep on rockin’ (just can’t stop) with more than 100 blues performances and real-deal juke joints. Clarksdale, MS, April 13
Shelby Forest Spring Fest This year’s Shelby Forest Spring Fest goes back to the wildest decade — the ’70s — for the wildlife-forward day that has live music, food, arts and crafts vendors, wildlife and cultural exhibits, and more. It’s gonna be a hoot. Meeman Shelby Forest, April 13
Bluff City Fest This music fest presented by the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music will bring some of the best music in Memphis: rap, contemporary rock and pop, blues, jazz, and classic rock. The Bluff, April 17
The Memphis Uke-N-Roll Jamboree, a ukulele festival put on by the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob. Festival was at the convention center on April 24, 2022. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht)
Ukulele Festival Uke can expect all things ukulele at this festival — open mics, workshops, sing-alongs, vendors, and more. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at memphisukenroll.com. Renasant Convention Center, April 18-21
Africa in April Africa in April has chosen to salute the Republic of Gambia for its family-friendly festival, filled with live performances, food and merchandise vendors, and the International Diversity Parade. Robert R. Church Park, April 19-21
Good Vibes Comedy Festival The vibes will be just right, good even, when Memphis’ largest comedy festival brings you talent from all over the country to participate in podcasts, roast battles, themed shows, and stand-up comedy. The 2024 headliners are Renard Hirsch, Jayson Acevedo, Hannah Belmont, and Night Classy podcast’s Kat Barnhart and Hayley Madden. Hi Tone, April 19-20
Shell Daze You’ll be dazed but not confused by this lineup of musical acts, headlined by JJ Grey & Mofro and Oteil & Friends. Overton Park Shell, April 19-20
Cooper-Young Porchfest Porches were made for more than Amazon deliveries and spying on your neighbors. They can be stages, too — at least that’s the case for this unique music festival of free concerts on, yes, the front porches of the homes in Cooper-Young. Cooper-Young Historic District, April 20
Earth Day Festival The way the Earth rotates makes my day, and it oughta make yours, too. So celebrate the Earth on its special day (Earth Day, duh) at Shelby Farms Park, where adults and kids alike will have opportunities to experience, explore, and learn different ways of going green in Memphis. Shelby Farms Park, April 20
Knowledge Is Flower Festival This festival’s mission is to promote local farmers, herbalists, artists, and entrepreneurs. The day will have workshops, installations, community engagement opportunities, and local vendors. Arkwings, April 20
Regen Farm Festival Join Riley Family Farms for an afternoon of music and local farm-raised food, and celebrate farms helping build a better Mid-South through regenerative agriculture. Wiseacre Brewery, April 20
Spirit Fest Holistic, Metaphysical, & Crystal Expo Get physical … er, I mean, metaphysical at this holistic, metaphysical, crystal expo with vendors, readers, and healers from across the country. Agricenter International, April 20-21
World Championship Hot Wing Contest & Fest Wing, wing, wing, we have a winner. A winner, winner chicken-dinner. That’s what you’ll be hearing at this contest for the best wing. Oh, and it’s supporting The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. River Garden Park, April 20
Mimosa Festival Feeling mimosional? It’s okay. You’re in a safe space where you can indulge in all the mimosas. Tom Lee Park, April 21
Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival Let’s get cray. What’s the o-cajun, you ask? The Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival, supporting Porter-Leath. It’s a day of crawfish bobbing, eating, and racing, plus music, vendors, and more. Riverside Drive, April 21
Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival Prepare your tastebuds for this annual festival, whose flagship event features all things wine and food — wine vendors, classes, chef demonstrations, and more. The Medicine Factory, FedEx Event Center, Sunday 20-21
Double Decker Arts Festival Take part in this two-day celebration of food, music, and the arts. Oxford Courthouse Square, April 26-27
Overton Square Crawfish Festival Heads, you suck. Tails, you pinch. But the Overton Square Crawfish Festival doesn’t leave anything up to a coin toss when it comes to serving good crawfish. Overton Square, April 27
OttoFest Enjoy artists, bands, food trucks, and a playground at this arts and music fest. Peabody Park, April 27-28
Taste the Rarity Beer gets weird at this event that features breweries from all over the country. Wiseacre Brewing Company, April 27
MAY
Memphis in May International Festival For the month of May, this festival every year brings the world to Memphis and Memphis to the world, and this year it is saluting France through cultural events and performances, educational experiences, museum and gallery exhibits, films, luncheons, and the Memphis in May International Festival Gala. Memphis, May 1-31
River Beat Music Festival We got the beat. We got the beat. Yeah, the River Beat! The inaugural lineup has the Fugees, Odesza, and Jelly Roll, plus a bunch more. Tom Lee Park, May 3-5
Cigar & Whiskey BBQ Festival Talk about a smoke show. Cigars, whiskey, and barbecue come together for this celebration of flavor and fun. Meddlesome Brewing Company, May 4
Ruby Bridges Reading Festival Children pre-K through elementary school can receive free books at the festival, and they’ll enjoy storytelling and entertainment, including a reading and signing with Ruby Bridges herself. National Civil Rights Museum, May 4
Sunset Jazz Jazz up your summer plans with this free family-friendly jazz concert series. Court Square, May 12, June 9, July 14,August 11, September 8, October 13
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (Photo: Courtesy Memphis in May)
SmokeSlam Cue another barbecue contest. The inaugural SmokeSlam will include a carnival with games and rides, a marketplace, and an interactive area where fans will be able to sample food and participate in fun food-related events. Tom Lee Park, May 16-18
Memphis Vegfest This is one of the few events where you can truly veg out in a family-friendly environment full of vegan food options and sustainable and cruelty-free products. Agricenter International, May 19
Bluff City Fair We aren’t bluffin’ when we say the Bluff City Fair is a quintessential fair. It’s got attractions and shows, all your favorite fair fare, carnival rides, and kiddie rides, and it’s just plain fun. Liberty Bowl Stadium, May 24-June 2
Memphis Italian Festival When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore. When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine, that’s just the Memphis Italian Festival, “where everyone is Italian.” Marquette Park, May 30-June 1
Memphis Pride Fest Weekend (Photo: Kevin Reed Photography)
Memphis Pride Fest Weekend June is the time for Pride, and Memphis Pride Fest does it best. Spanning four days, the celebration includes a Drag N Drive, complete with a movie screening and drag show; a dance party; the signature parade and festival with two stages, over 150 vendors, food trucks, and so much more; and a delightful brunch crawl. Various locations, May 30-June 2
JUNE
Memphis Margarita Festival Wasting away again in Margaritaville? Searching for a lost shaker of salt? The Memphis Margarita Festival, where you can sample from the city’s best margarita-makers, might be to blame. Overton Square, June 1
Memphis Dragon Boat Festival (Photo: Courtesy Memphis Dragon Boat Festival)
Memphis Dragon Boat Festival Dragon boat races, stage performances, arts and crafts, Asian street food — what more could you ask for? Hyde Lake at Shelby Farms Park, June 1
TriState Black Pride TriState Black Pride presents four days of fun, education, and community, with workshops, lectures, a drag show, stand-up comedy, and a free Community Appreciation Day to cap off the weekend with musical performances by national and local artists. Various locations, June 13-16
Memphis Juneteenth Festival The annual Memphis Juneteenth Festival celebrates African-American culture, food, entertainment, and the overall significance of the holiday. Health Sciences Park, June 14-15
Memphis Crafts & Drafts This event is no rough draft. It was perfectly crafted to fit all your summer market’s needs. Crosstown Concourse, June 15
Memphis Vegan Festival On the veg (of glory)? This festival is for you. It’s a day full of vegan food, live entertainment, and a marketplace featuring local businesses, plant-based health and beauty products, clothing, and accessories. Fourth Bluff Park, June 16
Memphis Summer Cocktail Festival Get your drink on at the hottest festival of the summer featuring seasonal sips, tasty eats, and throwback vibes. The Kent, July 12
Asian Night Market Enjoy authentic Asian street foods at this unique festival. Tiger Lane, July 20
AUGUST
Elvis Week Feel your temperature rising? Higher and higher? It’s not just the August heat. It’s your spidey (Elvis?) senses tingling, burning through to your soul ’cause here in Memphis we know that August means more than hot weather: It means Elvis Week. Graceland, August 9-17
Memphis Chicken & Beer Festival If you appreciate your chicken friend, a cold beer on a Saturday night, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up, you’ll appreciate the Memphis Chicken & Beer Fest where you can get all that — except the jeans, you’ll have to figure that out yourself. Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium Field, August 17
Shop Black Fest Connect with and shop from Black-owned small businesses at the Shop Black Fest. Riverside Dr., August 17
SEPTEMBER
Oxford Blues Festival This year’s Oxford Blues Festival promises unforgettable experiences with a lineup featuring Lurrie Bell, Libby Rae Watson, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod, Ra’Shad the Blues Kid, Randy Ferguson, Cricket and the Brim Hooks, Kenny Kimbrough & Davis Coen Duo, and DuWayne Burnside. A portion of profits will be donated to furthering the music education of Mississippi youths. Oxford, MS, September 13-14
Cooper-Young Festival There’s no need to stay cooped up in your house when you can join in on the fun at the Cooper-Young Festival, where art, music, and crafts come together to celebrate Memphis’ culture and heritage. Cooper Young Historic District, September 14
Gonerfest 21 Going, going, gone — that’s what they’re gonna say about Gonerfest tickets as soon as the lineup is announced. Already, the first batch of Gonerfest tickets have sold out, so keep your eyes peeled for when more tickets go on sale. Railgarten, September 26-29
I went with “wazoo” on my fourth guess. I should have gone with “taboo,” and because of that little miscalculation, it took me five tries to get Sunday’s Wordle instead of four. Dang.
A group of friends and I play TheNew York Times’ popular word game every day and share our scores with accompanying visuals. There are five of us, in different cities, connected mostly by school and family ties and a sense of humor. Our gimmick is that we take turns picking a different starter word every day, and quite often those words are, well, let’s just say, not geared to an easy solution.
Wordle aficionados know that you should start with a word like “arise” or “audio,” something with lots of vowels and/or often-used consonants. Our group doesn’t go that route (a decent starter word, by the way). For instance, “grams” is a terrible starter, but when one of our members announces she’s going to become a grandmother, that kind of stuff happens, and we roll with it. Nobody has suggested “zyxin” or “geese” yet, but it’s probably just a matter of time.
We humans love puzzles, and there is some evidence that the recent pandemic that kept us all mostly homebound for months just exacerbated those tendencies, not that we needed a push. Think of the great variety of such activities we engage in: crosswords, crypto-quotes, sudoku, mazes, find the difference between pictures, jigsaw puzzles, Scrabble, Jumbo. We watch television game shows like Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? We play zillions of games on our phones — at least everyone in my doctor’s office does.
These little self-imposed challenges give us the thrill of the chase and the endorphin lift of success that follows overcoming an obstacle — attaining that “aha” moment. It’s no accident, I think, that most of the games we pursue are solitary endeavors. We’re testing ourselves, our brains, our thought processes, and finally, if we succeed, enjoying the dopamine of success. It’s addictive.
My morning routine goes as follows: Feed the dogs, make coffee, then sit down on the couch with my phone and do — in order — the Times’ Wordle puzzle, Mini-Crossword, Connections, Spelling Bee, and Letter Boxed. Then I hit TheWashington Post website and do their Mini-Crossword and Keyword (one word to spell ’em all!). I’m done in 30 minutes or less, but if I miss a morning I feel incomplete. Some of you can relate, I’m sure.
It may make you feel better about your own gaming rituals to learn that human beings’ love for puzzles is rooted in more than just finding a diversion. It’s bred into our genes. Psychologists say that the urge to solve puzzles comes from human beings’ instinctual proclivity for pattern-finding, and for using those patterns to try to find solutions to problems.
And it goes even deeper than that. Humans have historically used the patterns they’ve observed in nature to search for the very meaning of life itself, to plumb its mysteries and magic. Our ancestors saw patterns in the stars and planets of the night sky, in the phases of the moon, in the duration of the sun’s rise and fall. They observed the rhythm of the seasons, the greening of the spring and the brown fade to winter, the solstices, the yearly cycle of life on Earth. They discovered the big picture, created calendars, clocks, began to measure the passage of time.
The discovery of these patterns led to the creation of gods, legends, and myths, as humans strove to understand their world and to give it meaning beyond the simple arc of life and death. Our coming to understand the seasons of the earth and the patterns in the night sky is why we have recurring annual celebrations, and why most of them are spiritual or religious in nature.
Seeing the patterns in life — whether it’s in a sunset of cirrus clouds, in the rings of a fallen oak, or the nebula of a sunflower blossom — can bring a sense of balance, a respite, a reassurance that all is not chaos and disorder. There is beauty and symmetry to be found in the course of every day that we’re alive and breathing, if we pause long enough to look for it. It can even be found in the simplest of puzzles. Today’s word is “pause.”
Tim Vissia, Kelsi Ikeda, Taylor Whipple, and Brendan Sandefe heped kick off the 2024 Trolley Night Memphis season (Credit: Michael Donahue)
South Main Association’s Trolley Night began its 2024 season on March 29th with a taste of what’s in store for the monthly South Main district street party. Part of that taste was the free hamburgers from Earnestine & Hazel’s.
“This month was just a start of bringing everything together,” says South Main Association president Cori McCleskey. “Going forward we we will have themes as well as strategic partners.”
The Memphis Grizzlies and MATA will be the sponsors of April trolley night, which will be held April 26th. As always, Trolley Night is held the last Friday of the month. Trolleys will be decorated in Grizzlies gear “to connect with the theme.”
And, McCleskey adds, “We will have more music than we ever have had. Music will be played on the trolleys.”
Alessandra Daniele and Justin Soffer at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Charles Thomas at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Milton Howery and Kirby Boyd at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Erica Smith at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Sean Powers and Beans at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)
South Main Association will also be activating its VIP area, next to Crave Cheesecake on South Main. The VIP area was open to the public with free Earnestine & Hazel’s hamburgers and music by DJ Tree Riehl during the March Trolley Night. “We’re still working on implementing the VIP area with new decor,” says McCleskey. “So it’s a bit welcoming. And using some lighting and, not just murals, but kind of artistic expression on the walls and grounds.”
In the future, McCleskey says, “We’ll have a different business cater each time. And there will be free beer and wine.”
To get into the VIP area, people must become a South Main Association member. “For an individual membership, it’s as low as $5 a month or $50 for the year,” says McCleskey. “And that gets you free access to the VIP area and the South Main Socials that are on the second Tuesday of the month. They always take place at some South Main hot spot.” And, she says, “New businesses are invited to speak and share the good news.”
The next South Main Social, on April 9th, will be held at Wiseacre Brewing Company at 398 South B. B. King Boulevard. The socials are from 6 to 8 p.m.-ish, McCleskey says.
The organization didn’t partner with anybody at the March Trolley Night because, McCleskey says, they wanted to “get in gear and work out the kinks. I think it was a great start, but we’re going to continue to make it bigger and better.”
Rachel Quinn, Jacob Woloshin, and Jeff Haas at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Alessandra Daniele, Morgan Gaines, Jon Gaines, Nikhil Yedulla, Justin Soffer at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Stephanie Elzey and Paul Shea at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)Me and my buddy, D.J Tree Riehl at Trolley Night (Credit: Kathy McLallen)We Saw You
Tennesseans could soon be required to provide a form of ID to access certain websites as a new bill moves through the legislature.
The bill titled the “Protect Tennessee Minors Act,” was recommended for passage from the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee with 10 ayes and zero nays Tuesday morning.
According to Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), who introduced the bill, the legislation looks at material that is “sexually explicit and harmful to minors,” or appeals to prurient interest. While it is not spelled out in the bill’s summary, this includes pornography.
“The Protect Tennessee Minors Act requires an individual or commercial entity that publishes or distributes in this state a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors perform reasonable age-verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material,” the bill reads.
Such entities would also be required to “retain at least seven years of historical anonymized age-verification data.” However, they are not allowed to store any personally identifying information.
Those who violate the act would face a Class C felony.
“The number of Class C felony convictions that may result from violations of the legislation’s requirements is unknown,” the fiscal memorandum reads. “Given the widespread nature of such content on the internet and the number of sites that distribute it, it is assumed that the increase in such convictions could be significant.”
Massey went on to say that this bill would have a similar process that alcohol sites use when asking users to confirm their age before entering the site, but with “higher standards.”
“You can enter a picture of a state-issued ID or an acceptable ID then you can be on this site for up to 60 minutes, and then you’d have to go off of the site if you’re not still actively using it,” Massey said.
Megan Moore, committee attorney, said that users would have to “match a photo of themselves,” that is “matched with a valid ID that is ‘a valid form of identification issued by the United States of America.’”
Moore added that if users do not have an ID there is a second method that can be used to verify age. This alternative is defined as “a commercially reasonable method relying on public or private transactional data to verify that the age of the person attempting to access the information is at least 18 or old.”
When asked by Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) what this information would be, Moore said they were unsure.
Since Alex Chilton’s death in 2010, one revelation of the continuing Big Star revivals has been the enduring charm and power of Jody Stephens’ voice. As the only continuous member besides Chilton since the group’s founding, Stephens primarily distinguished himself as the powerful drummer behind their sound, yet also contributed the occasional vocal to their original three albums. His singing then always conveyed a tone of youthful naivete perfectly suited to Big Star’s original aesthetic, as defined by founder Chris Bell.
That aesthetic was acknowledged grudgingly by Chilton at times, as he described the Big Star fans as “nice little guys who are usually in college, and they’re kind of lonely and misunderstood, learning to play guitar.” It was a wistful, yearning sound that Chilton himself conveyed beautifully when he wanted to. But so did Stephens.
Now that he alone is left to carry the torch, Stephens has taken a crack version of Big Star on the road, sharing vocal duties with Chris Stamey, Jon Auer, Pat Sansone, and Mike Mills, with Stephens leaning into the songs that most convey that wistful feeling, as in recent celebrations of the group’s debut album (chronicled by The Memphis Flyerhere). But over the past decade, he’s had another, less celebrated platform for the disarming innocence of his voice: Those Pretty Wrongs.
Ostensibly a duet featuring Stephens and multi instrumentalist Luther Russell, their sound has grown more ambitious over the decade since they formed, until, by the time of last year’s Holiday Camp album, they had taken on the power of a full-fledged power pop group through the magic of overdubs. With Stephens’ vocals front and center, rich harmonies, acoustic strums, and electric guitar riffs flow over the listener like some of the most delicate Big Star tunes, yet with a personality all their own. While all of the duo’s songs are grounded by Stephens’ reliable beat, they’ve also become showcases for Russell’s imaginative guitar work and other instrumental flourishes.
Those elements have always been present, but have ramped up on all fronts as time has passed. “We have more experience with each other,” says Stephens. “It’s evolved into, I think, richer embellishments with the production and songs, and maybe lyrically too. There’s a certain ease that we have now when we get in to record, and more focus. We don’t have to spend much time on trying to figure out where to go. Things just came together naturally for this record.”
Holiday Camp is also notable for the contributions of other players who’ve long been in the Big Star orbit. “On the new album,” says Stephens, “Pat Sansone plays Moog and Mellotron on ‘Always the Rainbow’ and he plays Mellotron on ‘Scream.’ And then Chris Stamey did a string arrangement with flute and clarinet on ‘Brother, My Brother.'”
Stephens and Russell typically tour as only a duo, even mounting a minimalist tour of the the U.K. last year using only train travel, but this week’s show will show off their sonic evolution like no other. “We’ll actually have a string section at the Green Room,” says Stephens. “One of the nice things about Crosstown Arts is that at each one of our shows — and this is our third, I believe — they’ve provided a string quartet. So we’ll have Rebeca Rathlef and Michael Brennan on violin, Katie Brown on viola, and Jonathan Kirkscey on cello. It’s a special show because it’s the only time we ever get to have strings, and there will even be a flutist for this performance.”
There will also be a chance to hear the stripped-down version of Those Pretty Wrongs this week. “We’re also gonna play on Jim Spake’s show on WYXR [Cabbages & Kings, Thursday, April 4th, 2-4 p.m.],” Stephens says. “I’m excited about that.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. dribbles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 1, 2024, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.
Down by as many as 15 at one point, the Memphis Grizzlies powered through in the second half on the shoulders of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Luke Kennard to come away with a win against the Detroit Pistons.
This wounded Grizzlies team has been limping toward the end of the season, patched together with two-way players and 10-day contracts. Despite those handicaps, they managed to come away from Monday night’s matchup with a win. Never mind that Detroit holds the worst record in the league, a win is a win, especially during a season where wins have been hard to come by for Memphis.
A tale of two halves.
Memphis struggled mightily in the first half, with the Pistons taking a 13-point lead into the second half.
I’m not sure what head coach Taylor Jenkins said to the team during halftime, but whatever it was, it lit a fire under them, because they stormed took over the third quarter to the tune of 41 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. played all 12 minutes and put up 21 of his 40 points in the third on six of seven shooting overall, and one of one from beyond the arc.
We saw Brandon Clarke looking very much like his old self in his third game back after spending a year rehabbing an Achilles injury, particularly in the fourth quarter, where he racked up seven of his 15 points, including a rare for Clarke three-point attempt and make. (For reference, Clarke only had six three-point attempts in 58 games last season.)
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 2, 2024
Brandon Clarke with the block and a bucket on the other end.
Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey led the Pistons in scoring, with 36 and 20 points, respectively. Ivey, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft, is the son of Niele Ivey, the current head coach of the women’s basketball team at Notre Dame and a former assistant coach for the Grizzlies.
Detroit also got a 10-point contribution from small forward Tosan Evbuomwan. Evbuomwan, currently on a two-way contract with the Piston’s G-League affiliate the Motor City Cruise, previously signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on January 30th, 2024, and played four games for Memphis in early February.
By The Numbers:
Jaren Jackson Jr. led all scorers with 40 points, and added seven rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks while shooting 13 of 23 overall and two of three from three-point range.
It’s been a tough few years for the cause of peace. The Russian invasion of Ukraine just hit its two-year anniversary, with no end in sight. After the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, Israel responded with the most deadly military operation of the 21st century, which has devolved into a quagmire of violence and famine in Gaza, where two million people face hunger in a bombed-out landscape that used to be their home.
These high-profile conflicts have drawn attention from Sudan, where a civil war has displaced eight million people, and millions more are entering into famine while both sides try to starve the other one out. Meanwhile, in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is slipping into warlordism as Port Au Prince gangs conduct running battles with what’s left of the government. It’s enough to drive you to despair if you’re paying attention.
The antidote to despair is music. Italian (by way of Memphis) musician Mario Monterosso organized the Memphis Freedom Band to put out a message of peace. Last December, he invited a who’s who of Memphis musicians to record with producer Scott Bomar at Sam Phillips Recording, including Kallen Esperian, Rev. Charles Hodges, Dr. Gary Beard, Dr. Keith Norman of First Baptist Church Broad, The Bar-Kays’ Larry Dodson, Priscilla Presley, and a rare appearance by the queen of Memphis soul Carla Thomas. Filmmaker Billie Worley was on hand with a camera to capture the historic moment in the studio, as the big band sang “Simple Song of Freedom,” a 1969 hit by Bobbi Darin.
“Since the middle of the 20th century, Memphis music has been the strongest musical bridge across the world,” says Monterosso. “And now we come together in solidarity as one voice to create a bridge of hope and freedom for the people and children of Ukraine and all those countries hit by wars.”
If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.
The Memphis Redbirds opened their 26th season Friday at AutoZone Park with a 6-5 comeback victory over the Charlotte Knights (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox). The 3 p.m. first pitch allowed the entire game to be played under immaculate sunshine and in front of a larger-than-typical crowd for a Redbirds lid-lifter. The Memphis lineup was notable both for a player absent and another present, perhaps a hint that as timeless as baseball may feel to those who love the sport, it’s rarely predictable.
Let’s start with the missing player. Victor Scott II is an outfielder with the kind of electricity — speed and glovework — that calls to mind the hallowed St. Louis Cardinals teams of the 1980s. Last season, Scott stole a jaw-dropping 94 bases (50 at Class-A Peoria and 44 at Double-A Springfield) and earned a minor-league Gold Glove for his skills in center field. Scheduled to make his Triple-A debut this year with the Redbirds, Scott instead opened the season in center for the parent Cardinals after no fewer than three St. Louis outfielders (Tommy Edman, Lars Nootbaar, and Dylan Carlson) were sidelined with injuries. The fourth-ranked prospect in the Cardinals’ system, Scott is only 23 years old and will likely see some action in Memphis. Unless, like Vince Coleman four decades ago, he plays too well with the Cards to be demoted. (Scott had two hits in 14 at-bats in the Cardinals’ opening series in Los Angeles. He also stole his first big-league base.)
While Scott’s absence feels significant, Luken Baker’s return to AutoZone Park feels somewhat astounding. The big first baseman mastered Triple-A pitching in 2023, slamming 33 home runs and driving in 98 runs in only 84 games. Baker posted a slash line of .334/.439/.720 and an OPS of 1.159, enough to earn him International League MVP honors despite playing just over half the season with Memphis.
So how is the 27-year-old Baker not slugging in big-league stadiums now? That’s a question for John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations. It’s hard to imagine Baker’s trade value being higher than it was over the winter, even with his struggles (.209/.313/.314) in 33 games (99 at-bats) with St. Louis last season. He homered Friday to spark the Redbirds’ comeback and is now merely 19 shy of Nick Stavinoha’s franchise record of 74. If the long ball sells tickets, Memphis has a 285-pound cash register at first base. And as long as Paul Goldschmidt still occupies the same position for St. Louis, Baker will be selling Triple-A tickets.
• Germantown native Ben Johnson is starting his fifth season as Redbirds manager, the longest tenure for a Memphis skipper since Chris Maloney held the job from 2007 to 2011. The Redbirds have yet to have a winning season under Johnson, but they’ve yet to be dreadful on his watch, either. (Best record under Johnson: 73-77 in 2022. Worst: 71-78 in 2023.) The pre-pandemic Pacific Coast League championships of 2017 and 2018 seem longer than six or seven years ago. Does winning at the Triple-A level matter? Perhaps not to the fortunes of the big-league club, but for casual fans considering entertainment options for their evening? It can’t hurt.
• How about some perspective on the Redbirds’ affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals, a bond that dates back to 1998 when the Triple-A franchise moved from Louisville to Memphis? Only four Triple-A franchises (among 30) have longer affiliations with their parent club: Iowa (Chicago Cubs), Omaha (Kansas City Royals), Toledo (Detroit Tigers), and Tacoma (Seattle Mariners). As for professional baseball in Memphis, no previous affiliation comes close to the 27-year marriage with the Cardinals. The second-longest is 11 years, from 1984 to 1994 when the Double-A Memphis Chicks fielded prospects for the Royals.
Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic on March 30, 2024. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
On Saturday night at KIA Center, the Orlando Magic thrashed the Memphis Grizzlies 118-88.
The first quarter came to a close with Memphis already down 20 points. Orlando put up 33 points, while the Grizzlies managed just 13, shooting a dismal 21.7 percent from the field.
The victory snapped the Magic’s three-game losing streak. Earlier in the week, they lost close games against the Sacramento Kings, the Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Orlando ended a five-game losing streak against the Grizzlies. The previous meeting ended in a nail-biter at FedExForum, 107-106, with a Grizzlies win on January 26th.
Memphis dropped to 24-50 for the season, with eight games remaining, a mark they’ll want to forget. It appeared early on in Saturday night’s contest that Memphis’ players were focused on something other than basketball, and it showed.
Reserve Jordan Goodwin led the Grizzlies with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double.
In his second game back from injury, Brandon Clarke had a solid showing, with 13 points and four rebounds off the bench.
“It was already out of hand — they won every single quarter,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins after the game. “You have to give the Magic tons of credit. They played with a lot of physicality; their defense was phenomenal tonight. Couldn’t get in the paint — couldn’t knock down an open shot. They played beautiful basketball, shared the rock.”
Jenkins added, “So you know we just kept trying to fight. I thought we had a chance to win that second quarter — have some momentum, but the Magic had an answer for everything; so many different guys stepped up and played well.”
“I thought BC [Clarke] did a really good job; liked seeing Jordan [Goodwin] have kind of a bounce-back game. I thought he did some good things. Well, obviously Luke [Kennard]’s been out for a couple of weeks now, just seeing him have some pop with his conditioning and stuff. And we’re just trying to find every way possible to have some positives and move forward. And obviously we’ve got to respond on Monday against Detroit.”
“Keep fighting, keep making something out of each every day,” Jenkins said about his message to his players as the season is winding down. “That’s what we’ve done all season long. Every year that I’ve been here we got different guys that are gonna hear that message for the very first time. Over and over again. Obviously we haven’t been in this situation since I’ve been here, but you gotta make the most of every day. That’s what we stand for.”
Memphis travels to Detroit to take on the Pistons, Monday, April 1st, at Little Caesars Arena at 6 p.m. CT.
