Tag: Elvis 7s

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WE SAW YOU: Elvis 7s

If I played rugby and had been on the winning team at the Elvis 7s, I would have won a guitar bearing a Troy McCall drawing of the King wearing a beret.

The tournament, presented by the Memphis Blues Rugby Club, was August 5th at McBride Field in Tobey Park.

I asked tournament director Harrison Lampley to tell me who came up with the guitar idea. “It was one of our colleagues, Dan Brewer,” Harrison says. “He found the guitars I think in a pawn shop. We changed trophies a few times over the years. This year, the first place trophies were the guitars and the little busts of Elvis were the second place trophies.”

Harrison says that, “Troy did the art and we printed those wraps at Van Wraps (Gallery) on Madison. They gave me a little tutorial on how to wrap them. I did one the night before at my kitchen table and one the morning of the event.”

Kudos to Harrison’s wife, Taylor, by the way. “My wife is pregnant and we had a baby shower (last) weekend. And somehow we fit it all in.”

They used vinyl material like what they use to wrap vehicles. But next year, he said, “we’re going to go with acoustic guitars, ’cause the electrics were a little too difficult.”

Acoustics, he says, “have those flat faces and electric guitars are just hard to wrap. The ones this year are cool ’cause they look like knockoff Stratocasters. But we’ll go with acoustic. That will be more authentic to Elvis anyway.”

Why is Elvis wearing a beret in his drawing? “The Rugby World Cup, which is contested every four years, takes place in France next month,” McCall says. “Since 2011, when the RWC was in New Zealand, I’ve always tried to connect the Elvis 7s graphic theme to the country where that year’s World Cup competition was being held. (In) 2015 it was in England. And Japan in 2019. And, of course, this year, France. Vive Le Memphis!”

That slogan is also on the guitars as well as the 2023 Elvis 7s T-shirts, which feature McCall’s drawing.

Ron McGhee at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Kyle Wilson at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Tezzyo Mosley, Javon Chapman, Dre Thomas, Christopher Lemon at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Bidders Butters at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Maranda McLemore, Cadi Morrison, Cassidy Clayton, Theresa Garcia, Claire Thompson , Christa Griffith at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)

The Arkansas Griffins won the men’s division and the Little Rock Women’s Rugby Club won the women’s division. It was the latest competition for the Elvis 7s, which I’ve covered for decades, and it’s uniquely Memphis.

Ruggers play to a soundtrack of Elvis music heard over a loudspeaker. In previous years, players with shaggy side whiskers competed for prizes in the Mr. Sideburns Contest. They had to sing a snippet of an Elvis song. Even if they couldn’t sing.

There were a lot of former players who I’d photographed over the years, including Matthew Wrage, Kyle Baker, and Devin Faletto. It was like a “This is Your Life Covering Elvis 7s.”

Gibs Kell of the USA South Panthers, 19, wore bushy sideburns, but they were artificial and removable. Not like veteran rugger Chris Claude, whose chops were real.

Gibs Kell at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Cayden and Chris Claude at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)

But it’s great to see players like Kell continue the tradition of celebrating Elvis through rugby. He’s 19 years old. 

The hits keep on coming.

Johnny Holloway, Annabell Joyner, Jimmy Holloway, Jalen Jones at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Kameron Walker and Harvey Taylor at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Jennae Ramey, Alex Easley, Kayla Davis at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Bennett Murphy and Jace Phillips at at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Gabbi Jennings and Cameron Jennings at Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Elvis 7s 2023 rugby tournament (Credit: Michael Donahue)
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We Saw You: Elvis is Everywhere at Elvis 7s Rugby

This is who you do not want on your rugby team. He doesn't know how to play rugby. But he's covered the Elvis 7s for decades. (Credit: C. M. Stevens)

One of my all-time favorite events to cover is the Elvis 7s, the annual rugby tournament honoring Elvis presented by the Memphis Blues Rugby Club. I’ve covered it for decades. It’s such a uniquely Memphis thing.

Games are played against the soundtrack of Elvis recordings, including, appropriately, All Shook Up and Suspicious Minds, the latter with its words “Caught in a trap.” (Or, more fittingly for the occasion, a “maul,” which means being physically detained by the opposing team). An Elvis trivia game is played and, there’s a “Mister Sideburns” contest, in which players with various sizes and shapes of sideburns compete against one another as they sing a snippet from an Elvis song. The winner is usually given some kind of an Elvis memento.

Elvis 7s, which celebrated its 35th anniversary this year, was held August 6th (the event is traditionally held the first Saturday of August). The tournament, which for some years was held at USA Stadium in Millington, was back at its old stomping (literally) ground at McBride Field in Toby Park.

Pablo Sierra at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Julie Sandridge and Shaniah Jones at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Billy Dyer and Sally Kissinger at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Ricky Speed at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)

In years past, the late Bill “Dollar Bill” Walker dressed as Elvis and his wife, now Sophie Duffel, dressed as Priscilla Presley. They were driven onto the field in a pink Cadillac. There also were Priscilla contests with competing women rugby team members in beehive hairdos.

The T-shirts are always great. This year’s shirt featured a drawing of Elvis in a rugby uniform with long socks. Troy McCall, a Memphis Blues Club alumnus came up with the image, which he’d used on previous T-shirts. McCall, a former Elvis 7s tournament director, has designed the Elvis 7s T-shirts for “at least 20 years,” he says.

Troy McCall and Alex Beckett at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Michael Donahue and rugby player John Elmore have a sideburns face off at Elvis 7s (Credit: Caleb Johnson)
Gerald Williams, Christian Flynn, and Reagan Rukstad (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Blink and Emac at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Watching the action at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Wally Dyke, who founded the event, wore one of McCall’s 2011 Elvis 7s T-shirts, which featured an image of Elvis’s face with a Maori tattoo. “That year the Elvis 7s T-shirts were based on the fact that Rugby World Cup was being hosted in New Zealand,” McCall says. “Maoris are indigenous to New Zealand and are part of the culture.”

Wally Dyke at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)

McCall attended the World Cup that year, and was wearing the shirt at a bar in New Zealand. McCall saw a Maori man with a tattooed face on the other side “staring daggers at us,” he says. He wondered if the man was disturbed by the shirt. McCall walked over and said, “Hey, man. We’re from the states and we’re here for the Rugby World Cup. I wanted to know, do you find this offensive?”

“He said, ‘Nah. That’s one of the best shirts I’ve ever seen. I’d love to have one.’ I literally took off the shirt I was wearing and gave it to him. And he gave me the shirt he was wearing.”

Another tidbit about that shirt: “If you look at the bottom left part of his face, the left cheek and jaw, it actually says ‘Elvis’ within the design.”

The first Elvis 7s event was in 1987. “It had four teams and he (Dyke) brought his stereo from home and hung his speakers from a tree,” McCall says.

“A cassette player,” Dyke says.

And, he added, “After that first year I think we had 12 teams. Then we got to our maximum of 16, the most we can do in a day.”

Taylor Osment at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Noelle Equi and Gerald Williams at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Ladarius Holt, Majors, D’untae Barner at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Lacey Magee and William Blake at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Tournament director Rob Reetz says 16 teams from the Mid-South (Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama) took part in this year’s Elvis 7’s.

Rob Reetz and Troy McCall at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Chris Lemons, Jonathan Brewi, Ian Rasmussen, Spencer Hansen at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Kathy Camire, Jen Johnson, Hayley Wood, Savannah Austin, Jessica Willis, Katie McCord at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Collin Kita at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)

“It went great,” Reetz says.”We had absolutely no issues at all.”

And no rain. I actually covered the event one year when it poured. I stood in muddy water in a tent with a bunch of soggy players while rain pelted the roof. I can’t recall if Kentucky Rain was playing.

“I’ve actually never been to an Elvis (7s) where it rained,” Reetz says.

Knock on wood. 

Or, as the King says, “If you can’t find a partner use a wooden chair.”

Oskar Recio at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Fara Captain and Cayden Michael Captain Claude at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Michael Donahue and August Moon Stevens at Elvis 7s (Credit: August Moon Stevens)
Jordan White at Elvis 7s (Credit: Michael Donahue)
Elvis 7s
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We Saw You: All Shook Up at Elvis 7s

Larry Magdovitz portrayed The King at the Elvis 7s rugby touranment (Credit: Spencer Hansen)

Wearing a tropical-patterned shirt, bushy-chopped Kevin Hayes could have sung Blue Hawaii in the Mr. Sideburns contest at the Elvis 7s rugby tournament.

Instead, he sang Hound Dog.

And Hayes, a graduate student at the University of Memphis, won. Which also made him “The King.” For a day, at least.

Kevin Hayes was voted “Mr. SIdeburns” at the Elvis 7s rugby tournament (Credit: Spencer Hansen)

The Mr. Sideburns contest is part of the annual Elvis-themed rugby tournament, during which ruggers play the game while Elvis recordings play in the background. They also take part in Elvis trivia during the day. As part of the sideburns contest, they are required to sing part of an Elvis song.

Elvis 7s, which was held August 7th, went back to its roots. In recent years, the event was held at the USA Stadium in Millington. This year, the tournament, hosted and organized by the Memphis Blues Rugby Club, was back at McBride Rugby Field in Tobey Park.

Elvis 7s 2021 (Credit: Spencer Hansen)
Elvis 7s 2021 (Credit: Spencer Hansen)
Rugby player Kyle Baker and his mom, Kim Hodge at Elvis 7s (Credit: Spencer Hansen)

Ten teams from Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas as well as Tennessee participated in the tournament, which drew around 150 people, says Larry Magdovitz, a Memphis attorney and rugby player.

Each year, Magdovitz portrays the King at Elvis 7s. “I think I started doing it 2003 or ’04,” Magdovitz says.

He became emcee that first year because he was the one who “volunteered to pick up the sound equipment” and “was the one who was told how to put it together.”

Magdovitz began dressing as The King the next year. “They needed to have an Elvis and I cannot pass up an unattended microphone. If there’s an unattended microphone around, I’ll find it.”

Kevin Blackwell — now a state senator in North Mississippi for DeSoto County — was his original co-host.

Even in sweltering heat, Magdovitz has donned the Elvis jumpsuit, complete with cape. “I am on my fourth jumpsuit.”

His wife, Nouth, “still makes the Mr. Sideburns sash for the winner, including this year,” Magdovitz says.

Everyone had a good time at this year’s Elvis 7s, Magdovitz says. People came up to him and said it was “so nice to be back in Tobey field instead of Millington.”

And, Magdovitz says, “It was a great day. The weather was cooperative. We had two food trucks out there. It was a nice time.”

Elvis 7s 2021 (Credit: Spencer Hansen)
Rugby player Spencer Hansen (in a photo taken earlier this year) took the Elvis 7s We Saw You photos.
Spencer Hansen shoots the action at the 2021 Elvis 7s rugby tournament. (Credit: Kim Hodge)
Elvis 7s 2021 (Credit: Spencer Hansen)
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Elvis 7s, Kevin Brooks, Cole O’Keeffe, Summer Cocktail Festival, Rooms & Relics

CREDIT: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

I’m getting a lot of mileage out of my ‘We Saw You’ business cards. This is the Nashville Rugby team at the Elvis 7s rugby tournament in Millington. This is not a new addition to the team’s uniform.

Instead of giving him the shirt – or the cape – off his back, Larry Magdovitz, dressed as The King, gave the patent leather belt that accessorized his white jumpsuit to John Elmore. That was after Elmore won first prize in the Mr. Sideburns contest at the Elvis 7s rugby tournament.

The rugby event, which has been called the unofficial start of Elvis Week, is when ruggers grow sideburns just for the tournament. They play rugby against a background of Elvis songs. This year’s tournament was held August 3rd at USA Stadium in Millington.

Players taking part in the Mr. Sideburns contest competed for the best sideburns and sang an Elvis song of their choice.

Elmore, a member of Memphis Blues Rugby Club, was the first place winner with his  burns and his rendition of “Stuck on You.”


Michael Donahue

John Elmore and Larry Magdovitz at Elvis 7s.

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Justin Alden of the Memphis Blues Rugby Club came in second place in the Mr. Sideburns contest.

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Michael Donahue

My business card was a hit with Jay Etkin, but he didn’t hang it on the wall at his gallery, Jay Etkin Gallery. This was the night of the opening of Cole O’Keeffe’s art show.

Michael Donahue

Cole O’Keeffe

Jay Etkin Gallery at 942 South Cooper was packed for the August 7th opening of Cole O’Keeffe’s exhibition of works, which he titled “God is Real and Other Perceptions.”

About 120 people attended the event, where Cole also did a reading of some of his writings.

Jay says he told the audience, “What you have here in front of you is a youthful visionary.”

“What he’s doing,” Jay says, “is coming to the public – in this case – without any pretension, without any agenda. The work is raw – in a good way. It’s not fussy. It’s just what he’s in the moment of, whether written word or making a painting. There is no forethought of ‘I have to make this one way or the other.’ It’s just spontaneous and intuitive. But his value is the rawness of it.

“This is not commercial fine art. This is very raw fine art. And I’m saying this as a compliment because I’ve seen too many people who think about the market when they’re making art.”

Cole, Etkin says, puts his heart on his sleeve, which he also demonstrated in his readings. Cole “read very intimate things in front of all these people that night.”

Etklin describes Cole’s writing as “very open and very revealing and very honest.”

“God is Real and Other Perceptions” is on view through August 10th.


…………
Michael Donahue

Kevin Brooks on the eve of his big ‘Memphis Film Prize’ win.

So, how does Kevin Brooks feel about his second consecutive Memphis Film Prize win? A Night Out, which he co-directed with Abby Meyers, was the 2019 Memphis Film Prize winner. The $10,000 award was announced August 4th.

“I did not know it was going to come,” Brooks says. “I was surprised. I was ecstatic. I was very grateful.”

He wanted the exposure for the film. “It’s such a powerful story. And collaborating with Abby Meyers was such a beautiful thing.”

A Night Out, which stars Rosalyn R. Ross, is about a woman who goes to a nightclub to cheer herself up after a bad breakup. All the action takes place in one continuous 10-minute shot in and around Mollie Fontaine Lounge.

What’s next? “I have a feature film I’m hoping to get funding for next year. That’s my goal.

I really want to do a big film. My goal since I was six years old. Now is the time to take advantage of the resources I have in my life and the people who supported me to make this happen.”

What’s he going to do with his share of the prize money?  “Put it towards the feature, hopefully.”

And, Brooks says with a laugh, “Try not to party too hard.”

……………
Michael Donahue

Summer Cocktail Festival

The inaugural Summer Cocktail Festival, which was held August 2nd in Overton Square, was a success.

The event, hosted by the Memphis Flyer and Captain Morgan, was an advance sellout with 750 guests.

More than 30 spirit brands were featured along with a wide variety of custom cocktails.

Eats were provided by Second Line, Laura’s Kitchen, and Trap Fusion.

The danceable music was provided by DJ Jordan Rogers.


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Patrick Kelly and Chloe Serca at Summer Cocktail Festival

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Raen Browder and Jenn Tinnell at Summer Cocktails

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Summer Cocktail Festival

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Hotel Indigo grand opening

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“Rooms and Relics” was the theme of Hotel Indigo’s grand opening celebration, which was held August 1st. Visitors toured the hotel and its 3rd & Court diner. About 125 people, including Mayor Jim Strickland and other dignitaries, attended.

Guests dined on hors d’oeuvres from chef Ryan Trimm and listened to the music of the Stax Academy Ensemble.

Guests also took part in a “scavenger hunt;” they were asked to answer questions, including:

1. Jukebox: Name the musician on record /CD 07 on the jukebox.

2. Lobby: What year was the blue cement wall built, and what was it originally a wall for?

3. Which photographer is featured near the front desk, and what is significant about this photo gallery?

4. What is unique about rooms 834, 934, and 1034?

5. What style of restaurant is 3rd & Court?

6. What is the name of the meeting space at Hotel Indigo?

7. Which nonprofit will receive funds from this room’s reservation?

Here are the answers:

1. Otis Redding.

2. Original hotel lobby – 1963.

3. Jack Robinson. Photos from a benefit concert that took place after Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated.

4. Amazing view of AutoZone park.

5. American diner.

6. “Court Room” because it faces Court Avenue and the hotel is near law offices.

7. Stax. Room No. 813 is dedicated to Stax and is decorated in Stax decor and posters. If someone stays in this room, the hotel will give Stax 10 percent of the revenue. A check will be presented at the end of each year.

Michael Donahue

Kevin Kane and Peter Newton Hall at ‘Rooms and Relics’

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Hotel Indigo grand opening.

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‘Rooms and Relics’

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Rooms & Relics

                                          WE SAW YOU AROUND TOWN

Michael Donahue

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Brian Taylor from Austin, Texas tries his first Rendezvous ribs on his first trip to Memphis.

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Allyson Blair and Paulette Regan at Global Cafe.

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Elvis 7’s, Downtown National Night Out, Memphis Film Prize, Summerween, Fam Jam

CREDIT: Michael Donahue

Michael Donahue

Mr. Sideburns 2017 contest winner Hal Struckman at Elvis 7s rugby tournament.

“All Shook Up” played in the background as rugby players competed in the Elvis 7s tournament Aug. 5 at USA Stadium in Millington.

Some players grew sideburns for the occasion. A few of them entered the Mr. Sideburns contest, where they showed off their chops and sang a bit of an Elvis song.

“This is the unofficial start to Elvis Week in Memphis,” said emcee Larry Magdovitz, who was dressed in a white jumpsuit and wore a pair of sunglasses the King would have envied.

Magdovitz described the event as “an all-day 32-team sevens rugby tournament we’ve been doing for several decades now.

“What makes it Elvis is the sheer love of Elvis that everyone shows. It requires you to grow sideburns if you want to compete in the sideburns contest.”

And, he said, “We listen to Elvis music all day long – from 8:00 until 7:00. And we just enjoy good camaraderie and a love of a nice man from Tupelo who touched all of our hearts.”

Out-of-town teams participated in the event, but player Chris Cobb probably traveled the farthest. A former Memphian, Chris now lives in Shenzhen, China. He said he traveled 1,200 miles – 16 hours on a plane – from China to Memphis.

Why? “It’s the best, most social rugby tournament in North America,” he said. “This is my first time back in two years. (I’ve been) living in China two years.”

He doesn’t have to worry about getting a group together to play rugby in China. “There’s over 1,000 rugby teams in Hong Kong. I play rugby in China. I play for the Shenzhen Dragons and the Hong Kong Valley.”

Hal Struckman won his second Mr. Sideburns title at the Elvis 7s. He sang “Suspicious Minds.” And, in a runoff with competitor Jason Mapp, he sang “Hound Dog.”

Struckman’s nickname is “Halvis.”

Michael Donahue

Greg Todd and Bridget Lee at Summerween.

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Halloween is about three months away, but guests celebrated a similar event Aug. 5 at The Bluff.

Summerween.

“Basically, it’s a concept for people to have fun in the summer,” said promoter/organizer Jack Simon. “And give them a reason to dress up. Everyone wants Halloween to be twice a year, so why not help them out with that?”

Costumes ranged from “rabbits to skeletons to just funny outfits in general,” Simon said. “I don’t think we had any Trumps this year.”

Entertainment was provided by DJ Ben Murray with drummer Zach Logan. Dude Called Rob also performed.

Summerween isn’t a new concept, said Simon. “We had it three years from 2012 to 2014.”

Why did he bring it back? “People just kept asking for it.”

Michael Donahue

Paul Morquecho, Shirley Morquecho, Rebecca Garcia and Kera Shane at Downtown National Night Out.

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People dined on Memphis cuisine, including Jack Pirtle’s fried chicken, Aldo’s pizza and Hog Wild barbecue, at Downtown National Night Out Aug. 1 at the Memphis Farmers Market pavilion at Central Station. About a dozen food services provided the fare for the event, said Marcy Siebert, president of Downtown

Neighborhood Association, which hosted the event along with the South Main Association, Blue Suede Brigade and the Memphis Police Department.

“National Night Out is sponsored by Neighborhood Watch,” Siebert said. “All Neighborhood Watches can have one. We choose to have a celebration for our Memphis Police Department and thank them for the job well done.”

They raised $615 for Police officer L. McCoy, whose apartment burned “a few nights before Downtown Night Out. We donated our proceeds to her.”

Michael Donahue

Gregory and Heidi Kallenberg at Memphis Film Prize after party.

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Filmmakers didn’t show any nerves at the Memphis Film Prize 2017 after party, held Aug. 5 at Mollie Fontaine Lounge. The party was held after their movies were shown, but the evening before the winner of $10,000 cash was announced.

“We Go On,” directed by Matteo Servente, won the top award. The other winners were “The Game,” directed by Robb Rokk, and “Favorites,” directed by Tracy Facelli. The winners were announced at a brunch at The Arcade Restaurant.

The top three films will be screened at the Indie Memphis Film Festival, which will be held Nov. 1 through 6. Memphis Film Prize is not affiliated with the Indie Memphis Film Festival.

The Memphis Film Prize invites filmmakers from around the world to create a five to 15 minute short film. The only rule is that the film must be shot in Shelby County.

Gregory Kallenberg is founder and executive director of the Film Prize Foundation.

Michael Donahue

Julia Berger watches Jessi Dalton perform at Fam Jam

…..

Tuesday isn’t even hump day, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Railgarten at 2166 Central is holding its “Fam Jam” between 6 and 9 p.m. on Tuesdays. Live music will be featured each week.

“The idea behind it is to create a weekly event that has live music, but that also appeals to people’s kids,” said Martha Hample with Railgarten. “So, there’s stuff to do for the kids.”

They plan to feature bands that are “more kid centric,” she said. “And doing virgin drinks in the tiki bar. “Just a night adults can come and get out of the house and bring the kids.”

The Rusty Pieces played Aug. 1. The duo even captivated Julia Berger, 3, whose dad, Taylor Berger is one of the Railgarten partners. Taylor and his son, Andrew, 6, sat in the audience and watched an entranced Julia as she stood on stage and watched Jessi Dalton play guitar.

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Elvis 7s from Michael Donahue on Vimeo.

Elvis 7’s, Downtown National Night Out, Memphis Film Prize, Summerween, Fam Jam