The author with a goat companion at the Overton Park Shell. (Photo: Patricia Lockhart)
It was Thursday morning, and I was counting down the hours until I would be off work and relaxing at the Overton Park Shell.
In seven hours, 32 minutes, and 19 seconds, I would be off work and headed to Overton Park for the Free Concert Series. I like to read and relax while they set everything up. I also engage in a little people-watching before grabbing some food, a Mempop, and a beer.
But I was 28 minutes into my workday. (Twenty-eight minutes too long if you ask me.) Then, a co-worker trotted in my office and started talking about … work.
After discussing with them the things I “planned” to accomplish that day, I felt that I really needed to focus on something positive. So I wondered, “Who’s playing at the Shell tonight?” Not that it mattered, I was going regardless. But I got on the Overton Park Shell website and noticed something amiss. There was an odd event. Goat yoga.
So, I called my sister. Even though she had plenty of odd scenarios that involved feces and such, she continued to ask me questions. After not being able to answer a single question, other than when and where, she finally agreed. Yes! I was going to be doing yoga with goats this Sunday evening.
I thought about all the baby goats I was going to catch, and pet, and cuddle. I wondered what sound a goat makes when you tickle them? Do they go “baaaaahahahahahah”? Or, maybe “baaaabaaahaha”? Or, they could sound like, “bleaaahehehe.” I had no idea how a goat sounded when they were tickled, but I was definitely going to find out.
Fast-forward a few days. I arrived at the Overton Park Shell and I saw about 28 goats in a huge pen, and several people with yoga mats. I giddily set up my yoga mat and reached for the goat nearest me. I gave its belly a little tickle. Nothing. Not to let this mission fail, I reached for another goat and gave her furry little belly a tickle. Nothing again.
I wanted to continue my scientific exploration, but class had started. The owner, Lindsey Champagne, introduced herself and the goats. Yes, all of the goats have names and they respond to their names just like dogs. The goat near me was named Buttons. She was cute and fun. Plus, she was a mom just like me. The only difference, besides being a different species, is that she’s not ticklish. Yes, I tried for a second and third time. I thought maybe I should try on a few more goats to be sure. But first, a little yoga.
Lindsey came around and passed out crackers that we could give to the goats. We were supposed to treat them throughout the class, but the goats did not understand the words “wait,” “hold on,” or “share.” Needless to say, my crackers were gone within 10 seconds.
The yoga was very relaxing. Although the heat had been blistering all day, we were in the shade and had a really nice breeze. A couple of participants got sprinkled by the goats and some had a few dingleberries dropped on their mats. But not me!
During the class, the goats nibbled on the grass and napped. They were the epitome of chill. Once, during warrior II pose, I could have sworn I heard someone yell, “Momma.” It was just one of the baby goats. That let me know that these goats do make sounds, they just aren’t ticklish.
During child’s pose, a goat was instructed to hop on top of my back. Yes, the goat was instructed because they are just as trainable as dogs. And just as intelligent. The first goat to get on my back just laid there, attempting to take a nap. The second goat stood and posed for a picture. It was fantastic.
I highly recommend everyone trying goat yoga. I will definitely do it again. 901Goats has only been in business one year. They had everything set up and the session flowed smoothly. If you don’t own a yoga mat, no worries. They have yoga mats for you to use. Worried about dingleberries and such? No need to worry about that either. 901Goats supplies plenty of wipes and hand sanitizer for you to clean your mat and your hands.
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s a school librarian and a writer, but bynight … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend
(Photo: Frank Chin) DreamFest 11 celebrates all music.
“I’m just a super fan,” says Cat Evans, and she has indeed attended hundreds, if not thousands, of local live performances over the past decade. But unlike many of us, she’s a fan who was determined to give her favorite artists more exposure — to both a wider audience and to one another. “I noticed that the music scene is so segregated,” she reflects. “I would see poets and acoustic singers Downtown; then I’d see backpack rappers off the highway, near the University of Memphis. Then I’d see trap rappers off of Summer Avenue. And I would bring up the names of my favorites to the other circles, so if I met a trap rapper and then went down to the poetry scene, I’d say, ‘Have you ever met such and such?’ I realized they were all in their own individual silos.”
That realization planted the seed of DreamFest, a music festival that’s now beginning its second decade. Next week, anyone attending DreamFest Weekend 11 at the Overton Park Shell will take part in Evans’ vision of mixing up the divided scenes of the city into one big melting pot. “It’s intentionally diverse,” Evans says. “So this year we have everything from a string quartet to a gospel rapper.”
While the Shell often brings in heavyweights for their Orion Free Concert Series and Shell Yeah! events, don’t expect any household names on the roster for DreamFest — that would be missing the point. “We don’t really consider anyone to be a headliner,” Evans continues. “We make sure that the lineup for DreamFest has folks that you may have not seen before and who have probably not met each other before. And we try to give everybody the same spotlight.”
Shahidah Jones, Evans’ partner in staging DreamFest, agrees. “We don’t bring big names to draw a crowd,” she says. “Memphis has a prolific music scene. You’ll see a variety of artists that you won’t see in other places. And even if you have seen the performer before, this is a new way to see them. We give the performer complete artistic freedom. They’re using this time to do their own music in a new way.”
Indeed, DreamFest may be the first time some of the artists have had a chance to perform with a live, world-class band backing them. “It’s a three-day weekend, and each night has a house band and a DJ, and then the performers,” Evans says. “As far as the house band is concerned, we normally reach out to someone who we consider the musical director, and then they put together the band.” This year’s musical directors are Antonio Motley, Friday and Saturday, and Calvin Barnes, Sunday. “The house band then learns the artists’ music, so the artists can perform their originals with the band.”
This can be especially invaluable to rappers. Evans points out that “some of the rappers are used to just performing with their [pre-recorded] tracks. So we provide a band.” Jones concurs, adding that simply showcasing these rap acts in a large venue is a big step for many of them.
“One reason we push hip-hop is because, in Memphis, there are not a lot of venues for it,” says Jones. “You may see performers of color doing covers, but you will not see many independent music folks and definitely not much hip-hop that falls outside of street trap rap. And even street trap rappers are relegated to only certain venues. Some people think if you have these folks in your lineup, you’re inviting crime or violence. Each year, we have proven that that’s not the case. If you treat folks with honesty, give them a safe space, and provide an environment that’s open and welcoming, folks return the favor.”
DreamFest Weekend 11 is sponsored by Official Black Lives Matter Memphis Chapter, Memphis Artists For Change, SisterReach, and Memphis United for Fairness and Justice, and takes place at the Overton Park Shell, with each day organized around a theme: “DreamFest: The Concert” takes place Friday, July 22nd; “Girl Power” is on Saturday, July 23rd; and “Loungin’ in the Park” is on Sunday, July 24th. Live music begins at 5 p.m. each day. Free. Visit dreamfestweekend.com for details.
Reigning Sound play to a 2,800-person crowd at the Overton Park Shell. (Credit: @disciplephoto)
The Orion Free Music concert at the Overton Park Shell on Friday, June 10th, was an especially emotional one for many. Only two days before the show, Greg Cartwright, the Memphis-born singer and songwriter behind Reigning Sound, made it clear on the band’s Instagram page that last Friday’s show was to be the band’s last. For some time, rumors had circulated that Cartwright intended A Little More Time with Reigning Sound, the 2021 studio album on Merge Records, to be the band’s swan song, for reasons unknown. This was confirmed when he noted in his June 8th announcement, “It was my intention with A Little More Time to come full circle, reunite the original lineup of the band, and finish where we started.”
Still, it was hard to put an actual end point on the band’s life until, in the very same announcement, Cartwright wrote that “we are announcing the cancellation of Reigning Sound’s upcoming July European tour” because “Covid has proven to be a long-lasting concern and more difficult to navigate than anyone could have anticipated.” This alone caused a minor outcry across the pond, as European fans pointed out the many Covid-free tours now being conducted by other American bands. Soon thereafter, the outcry rippled into Memphis, as it became clear that the band’s Shell appearance would be its final show by default.
Though not planned as such, the Overton Park Shell turned out to be a perfect venue for the swan song of a band dear to Memphians’ hearts for the past 22 years. While Cartwright has lived in Asheville, North Carolina, since 2004, using personnel from both that city and Brooklyn in ever-evolving versions of Reigning Sound, the heart of the band has always seemed to beat in Memphis. This was only confirmed when Cartwright reconvened the original lineup, albeit with some added Memphis players, to record both A Little More Time in 2020 and its follow-up, Memphis in June, a live album from the band’s show at the Harbor Town Amphitheater, last year.
As it turned out, the band’s followers turned out in droves on June 10th. Natalie Wilson, executive director of the Overton Park Shell, noted that “we had 2,800 people in attendance. What an incredible night!” And indeed it was, as fans — singing along and dancing with abandon — bade farewell to a band whose whole was always greater than the sum of its parts. And, perhaps only humoring the fans’ many expressions of love throughout the night, Cartwright quipped teasingly that “I said our final show would be at the Shell. So we can come back to play here again and that will technically be true.” With that, the band, now including Cartwright, Flyer music editor Alex Greene, Seth Moody, Greg Roberson, Graham Winchester, and John Whittemore (with Krista Lynne Wroten lending violin and Marcella Simien lending vocals at times), took their final bow.
See the photo gallery below for a handful of images from the band’s farewell performance. All photos courtesy @disciplephoto.
With the end of the Memphis in May celebrations and the beginning of June, summer is well and truly underway in Memphis.
Okay, the first day of summer isn’t technically for another couple of weeks, but let’s be honest — it feels like summer. It’s hot, humid, and summer thunderstorms have already begun rolling through town. So if it’s time to break out the sunscreen for the season, then we may as well party like it’s officially summer. But how to get your seasonal groove on? Worry not, dear reader, your faithful Flyer staff is here to help.
In this issue, we’ve got a list of happenings we hope will keep you cool — festivals, movie nights, Elvis Week, anniversaries, book launches, and more. Our advice? Circle everything that sounds fun, slap on some sunblock, swig a seltzer, and go out and enjoy the Memphis heat.
Summer Fest: Memphis Pride Fest Memphis Pride Fest is back, louder and prouder because it’s IRL this year after two years of online events.
The weekend of events is billed as the single largest gathering for the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Memphis and the Mid-South. Organizers expect more than 35,000 attendees “to celebrate the most colorful weekend of the year.”
Pride kicks off Thursday at the Malco Summer Drive-In. Gates open at 7 p.m. for a viewing of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything!Julie Newmar at 8 p.m. A drag show featuring Brenda Newport, Kaiyla JonVier Dickerson, Zoey Adams, and more starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $35 per vehicle.
On Friday, the Big Gay Dance Party returns, this time at Crosstown Theater at 8 p.m. The event features DJ A.D. “and a safe, inclusive environment to be their true selves.” Tickets range from $15-$150. After-parties start after midnight at Dru’s Bar and The Pumping Station.
Saturday will find Robert R. Church Park awash in rainbows as the festival gets under way at 10 a.m. It features two stages, more than 150 vendors, food trucks, a car show, a kids area, an adult area, a VIP lounge, free and discreet HIV testing, and more. The festival ends at 5 p.m. Tickets are $1.
“What would Pride be without a big, bold colorful parade?” ask the organizers. We won’t have to find out this year. The Memphis Pride Parade steps off at 1 p.m. from 4th and Beale and makes its way through the Beale Street Entertainment District. It will feature 100 different floats, performers, and more with more than 3,000 people participating.
Head back to Beale Sunday at 11 a.m. for the Grand Marshal’s Drag Brunch at the Jerry Lee Lewis Cafe. — Toby Sells Memphis Pride Fest, various locations, June 2nd-5th. Event tickets range from $1-$150. Check midsouthpride.org for more information.
Mike Kerr Memphis Botanic Garden
Summer Sounds: Music in the Open Air Hearing live music outside as the day cools to dusk is one of the great joys of summer in Memphis. With Covid concerns having lapsed over the past year and outdoor gatherings being among the safest anyway, there is sure to be an outdoor music event happening nearly any weekend you care to find one.
We’ve recently covered some of the ongoing series offering such delights, venerable local traditions such as the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Live at the Garden series (kicking off on June 11th with Steely Dan) and the Overton Park Shell’s Orion Free Concert Series (which launched Sunday with the Sunset Symphony concert, followed by Jackie Venson on Thursday, June 2nd). Farther east, yet with a more local flair, there’s always the Germantown Performing Arts Center’s Bluebird Concerts at The Grove. All of them offer green spaces for lounging under the trees as the summer breeze rises — not to mention food and drink vendors.
Some summer series actually began in the spring. The River Series at Harbor Town offers the prime acoustics of an amphitheater on the eastern banks of Mud Island, in full view of the Memphis skyline, and their final spring concert, featuring MouseRocket and Ibex Clone, goes down this Saturday, June 4th. Trolley Night has been livening up the last Friday of every month since March, and will carry on through October, bringing plenty of casual live music to the South Main area. And the Sunset Jazz series has already begun gracing the second Sunday of each month down in Court Square. If Thursday is more your thing, consider the Rooftop Parties atop the Peabody Hotel, which have been featuring a mix of live bands and DJs since April.
Finally, don’t forget the many private venues that specialize in outdoor shows, like Railgarten, Loflin Yard, Carolina Watershed, and Slider Inn Downtown. Thanks to them, you can find live music in the open air nearly every night of the week. — Alex Greene
Summer in the Garden: Twilight Thursdays Every week between now and October 27th, the Memphis Botanic Garden is featuring a “Twilight Thursday” from 5 till 8 p.m. What is a Twilight Thursday? Glad you asked, because there’s a lot happening at these events, not to mention the fabulous Alice in Wonderland topiary exhibit going on right now.
Hungry? Twilight Thursdays offer a rotating array of food trucks each week with a variety of culinary options so you can create your own picnic dinner. There are picnic tables in a nearby grove of trees. If you like getting your drink on, there’s also a “Curious Cocktails” cash bar, which could potentially help you better appreciate the Cheshire Cat’s looming grin. More of a beer person? MBG has got you covered with a special selection of “Alice’s Ales” from Memphis Made Brewing Company.
Memphis Botanic Garden promises there will be additional surprises each week, including vendors, performers, and other special guests, plus presentations from various community partners and groups.
And here’s another bonus: You can bring your favorite pupper to Twilight Thursdays. You know they’d like nothing more than a hike around the grounds on a summer’s eve. Just don’t forget to keep them on leash at all times.
For advance information on food and drink options and performers and other special activities, check with the garden’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. Nonmembers are required to purchase time-entry advance tickets for Twilight Thursdays. — Bruce VanWyngarden
Michael Donahue Team Mama Biondini at Italian Fest
Summer Spaghetti Gravy: Italian Fest On cross-country European railways, there’s always that one train car that sticks out. Rather than a collective of quiet, mild-mannered passengers elsewhere, this car opens its door to release a noisy deluge of yelling, partying, dancing, card-playing, drinking, general hoopla, and hand gestures, dio mio, the hand gestures. Yes, that’s right: It’s the one and only Italian car.
But fear not: The exhilarating merriment of such an encounter doesn’t have to require a transcontinental trip — Memphis’ very own Italian Fest is back in full force this summer, shedding the private, Covid-enforced subdued environments of recent years to embrace its former glory. We’re talking large cooking pots from which the red sauce endlessly floweth, throngs of jubilant festival-goers dancing the tarantella in large fields at Marquette Park, and thrilling clashes of perhaps one of the world’s most intense sports: bocce.
It’s a list of festivities that would make Chef Hector Boyardee himself proud, bringing together many fine staples of Italian-American culture into one place. The festival, running from Thursday, June 2nd, to Saturday, June 4th, is a wild three-day party; it’s a Mediterranean-style version of barbecue fest, where instead of pork there are enough noodles to make a bridge across the Mississippi. It’s fine enough to hang out, listen to some music, and peruse the festivities. But the real fun is in the cook-off, where various teams pack into their tents as they attempt to create the best spaghetti gravy on site or other Italian entrees and desserts. (Pro tip: try to link up with someone who has an invite to one of the cooking tents. The experience is far superior that way.)
If you need an extra glass of wine, toss the kids over to the carnival rides at Luigi Land before popping open another bottle. There’s fun aplenty, and while we may not be in Rome, well, … do as the Romans do anyway. — Samuel X. Cicci Learn more about Italian Fest dates and tickets at memphisitalianfestival.org.
Jesse Davis 901 Comics
Summer Reading This issue is jam-packed with ways to get out and experience hot fun in the Memphis summertime. But this one’s for the fans of air-conditioning.
There are no end of book events in the Bluff City this summer. First on our list is the 36th anniversary celebration at Comics & Collectibles Saturday, June 4th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General manager Donny Juengling says the store opened in 1986 and, “We’re really just thankful that we’ve been in business that long.” There is a 20 percent off sale, and illustrator Scott Kolins will be on site for the event.
Next up, 901 Comics is celebrating the store’s sixth anniversary on Saturday, June 4th. Writer and illustrator Al Milgrom will be there signing books. “You can walk back in the back room and pick up a book from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and he probably worked on it,” says Shannon Merritt, who co-founded the store with Jaime Wright. “When we opened this thing, we weren’t sure if it was going to last a year,” Merritt says.
Why not make Saturday a book-stravaganza? Hit two comic shop anniversary parties, then stop by Novel at 6 p.m. for the launch of Finding Jupiter, the new novel by former Memphian Kelis Rowe. “Kelis grew up in Memphis, where she had her first big love as a teenager,” the event announcement says. “She did not see herself or her big love reflected in the pages of a YA novel at the time and now writes contemporary YA to give Black young people more reflections of themselves and their love to enjoy.”
For less time-sensitive book needs, consider going to Burke’s Book Store or DeMoir Books & Things, perhaps to scope out a new novel, short story collection, or poetry book from a local author. Jeremee DeMoir just restocked copies of Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow — for the fourth time — and Burke’s has signed copies, as does Novel. Memphis made the list of The Bitter Southerner’s “2022 Summer Reading Roundup,” so it’s not just me begging you to read the beautiful debut.
However you get your fiction fix, there’s no better time than summer to kick back with a good book. — Jesse Davis
Courtesy Elvis Presley Enterprises Elvis Week
Summer Kisses, Winter Tears: Elvis Week Some of you out there have never been to Graceland — you know who you are. But this is as good a year as any to immerse yourself in our very own pop culture phenomenon, and get it on with Elvis. It’s now or never, baby.
The 2022 Elvis Week 45th anniversary celebration happens from August 9th through the 17th, rain or shine, with or without hound dogs. Just bring your burning love. And you’d better snap to it since some of the Elvis 45 packages and events are already sold out.
But there’s still plenty in store. There will be special guests, notably Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling (among the few living Memphis Mafia members). They’ll be at several events and will even lead tours of the mansion.
There will be plenty of music, much of it provided by Elvis Tribute Artists past and present. The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest runs through the week with hopeful Elvii turning on the tunes and the charm. And winners of past contests will be livening things up as well. For one, the 2011 winner Cody Ray Slaughter (who portrayed Elvis in the traveling production of the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet) will headline a concert at the Graceland Soundstage. And for another, Dean Z (he won in 2013) will be hosting several events during the week.
Meanwhile, musicians Terry Mike Jeffrey and Andy Childs will host a tuneful reminiscence that includes TCB band members. And there’s a concert experience at Graceland Soundstage with Elvis’ image backed by live musicians. Pretty much everywhere you turn, you’ll see and hear the King of Rock-and-Roll.
For fans who need more than music and celebrity, there will be live tour guides throughout Graceland Mansion celebrating the 40th year of it being opened to the public. (And even a “Hidden Graceland Tour” to see what most mortals cannot.) Go farther afield if you want and take an excursion to Tupelo to see Elvis’ birthplace and other landmarks.
There are themed dance parties throughout, plenty of Elvis art, an Elvis karaoke for the brave, and even a bingo contest. That’s alright mama, any way you do. Not enough of a mix for ya? Keep in mind that there will be plenty of gospel music as well as Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. Not kidding.
The big draw, of course, is the Candlelight Vigil on August 15th. Get your candle and walk on the grounds of Graceland to the gravesite along with thousands of fans.
Elvis really is everywhere, so follow that dream. — Jon W. Sparks Best to get tickets sooner rather than later at graceland.com/elvis-week-tickets. For ticket questions, call Graceland Reservations at 800-238-2000 or 332-3322, or email reservations@graceland.com.
Thor: Love and Thunder with Natalie Portman
Summer at the Movies Memorial Day weekend began the summer blockbuster season with the strong pairing of Top Gun: Maverick and The Bob’s Burgers Movie.
This week, David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future marks the legendary Canadian auteur’s return to the body horror genre he pioneered. On June 10th, the dinosaurs are back, they’re mad, and they’re going to the mall in Jurassic World Dominion. Chris Evans provides the voice for the Toy Story astronaut in Pixar’s Lightyear, due June 17th. The next week, Memphis’ favorite son gets a blown-up biopic from Baz Luhrmann. Elvis stars Austin Butler as the man who would be king, and Tom Hanks as his Machiavellian manager Col. Tom Parker.
On July 8th, Marvel comes roaring back with Thor: Love and Thunder, with Chris Hemsworth coming out of semi-retirement to thwart the God Butcher (Christian Bale, in his Marvel debut), only to find that his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is now wielding the magic hammer. July 15th offers something completely different in Where the Crawdads Sing, a Southern Gothic whodunit produced by Reese Witherspoon. One of the most hotly anticipated releases of the summer is Nope, director Jordan Peele’s third sci-fi/horror outing. The trailer for this one, coming July 22nd, looks spectacular. Then on July 29th, the DC Legion of Super-Pets boasts an all-star voice cast including Dwayne Johnson as Krypto the Superdog.
August 5th weekend is crowded with new titles, including the slasher comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies, a new entry in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, and the Brad Pitt action comedy Bullet Train. Finally, the summer season closes magically with Mad Max director George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing starring Tilda Swinton as a shy professor who is offered three wishes by a djinn, played by Idris Elba. — Chris McCoy
Kim Bearden Cemetery Cinema at Elmwood
Summer Classics: Cemetery Cinema
That’s not exactly what Rick, aka Humphrey Bogart, says to Ilsa, aka Ingrid Bergman, in the 1942 classic, Casablanca, but if the plot involved Elmwood Cemetery’s “Cemetery Cinema,” everyone’s favorite nightclub owner (Rick’s Cafe, remember?) might say something like that.
“We show classics or very popular films in the cemetery on specific nights,” says Elmwood executive director Kim Bearden.
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into my cemetery to watch a movie.”
Casablanca will be the featured movie at 8:15ish (depends on when the sun goes down) Friday, June 3rd. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.
The movie showings are fundraisers for the cemetery, Bearden says. “Event goers bring lawn chairs and they set up on the driveway in front of the cottage.”
Elmwood provides a food truck, but moviegoers are invited to bring their own food. As for adult beverages, Bearden says, “We say coolers are allowed.”
Movies are shown on the roof of the 1866 cottage used for offices at Elmwood, she says. The circa 1886 cottage, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is the only example of “Victorian Gothic carpenter cottage architecture” in Shelby County. “So, the roof on the cottage is in the Gothic style and has a very high pitch. Because of the high pitch we were able to project films on the roof and people can see them from the drive.”
Cemetery Cinema isn’t a scary movie series; Elmwood, which began the movie showings in 2016, recently aired the 1961 Walt Disney film, The Parent Trap, starring Hayley Mills as twin sisters. They will show the 1964 film, My Fair Lady, on June 17th.
Elmwood has shown “some of the old classic black-and-white” horror movies, including the 1931 movie, Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff.
But there are some types of horror movies they would not show. “Probably slasher flicks,” Bearden says.
Tickets to Casablanca, which are $15, must be purchased in advance at elmwoodcemetery.org. — Michael Donahue
Summer History: A Pugilistic Milestone On Saturday, June 8, 2002, a full generation ago, the Pyramid on the Memphis riverfront was the site for the kind of spectacle it might have been created for: the heavyweight championship fight between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.
The Pyramid was already on the way out as a showcase arena after the NBA’s recently arrived Grizzlies had turned it down as outmoded for their purposes and forced the city and county to go on the hook for a new facility, the soon-to-be FedExForum.
The Big Fight was a sort of Last Hurrah for the place, arranged by then Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton in an inspired act of personal diplomacy that may rank, historically, as his greatest single achievement. The fight was intended to resolve lingering doubts about the rightful ownership of boxing’s most prestigious title. And landing it in Memphis bailed out the promoters who had seen all the big traditional venues shun the opportunity to host the event after Tyson, already a pariah for biting off a chunk of a previous opponent’s ear, brawled with Lewis at the fighters’ signing.
Orphan event though it was, the fight was a genuine extravaganza. Co-produced for television by long-standing rivals HBO and Showtime, it was then, as Wikipedia notes, “the highest-grossing event in pay-per-view history, generating U.S. $106.9 million from 1.95 million buys in the U.S.”
On hand to help fill the Pyramid were such celebrities as Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Britney Spears, Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck, Hugh Hefner, Halle Berry, Richard Gere, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Vince McMahon, The Undertaker, LL Cool J, Tyra Banks, Wesley Snipes, Kevin Bacon, Chris Webber, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Morgan Freeman, Alec Baldwin, and heavyweight fighter Evander Holyfield — the latter having been the victim of the aforementioned ear-biting.
And I was there, at ringside, covering the fight in what was my all-time plum assignment from Time magazine, for whom I worked as a part-time associate or “stringer.” (Curious readers may consult the magazine’s files for “Who Gets the Black Eye?” — published online on the day of the fight.)
Given the ferocity of Tyson’s style, the fight had more than its share of excitement, but the rangy Lewis was the superior boxer and outlasted Iron Mike, knocking him out in the 8th round, ending all doubt as to who was champ and closing out the Tyson era of big-time boxing. — Jackson Baker
The Shell’s classes free the body and mind, sometimes the bladder. (Photo: Courtesy Patricia Lockhart)
I’m all for trying new experiences. My friends will tell you that I’m quick to happily drag them to some place or event without having the slightest clue of all of the details. Like that time I convinced my friends to go walking through the woods because it seemed like a path that people really didn’t walk on. There was a reason for that, and we ended up getting “lost” (her word not mine).
So while searching for something new to experience in 2021, I came across a post from the Shell, formerly known as Levitt Shell, but now called Overton Park Shell. They had free workout classes on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. I love free things. After messaging my friends, we decided to give the Saturday morning kickboxing class a try. I haven’t done any kickboxing since my Tae Bo days in high school with Billy Blanks. Nevertheless, I was stoked!
That morning, I drank a levy’s worth of water and headed to the Shell. We found a good spot, high-fived each other, and began. Y’all … y’all … y’all … I was not ready. Billy Blanks ain’t got nothin’ on those Kroc Center instructors. In the first session I attended, I promise I lost two lbs. and a little common sense. I gave that class my all, my everything! After the kickboxing class ended, we moved straight to yoga. And I moved straight to sleep. In the middle of the Shell, with folks all around me, I took myself a little nappy-nap. After I woke, I needed to do one thing: take a restroom break. I tiptoed through the crowd to the bathroom with my Baptist “Excuse Me” Finger in the air, only to discover that the restroom was locked. Not wanting to leave class, even though I just slept for 20ish minutes, I held tight for dear life and waited on my friends.
I returned to the Shell for several more Saturday-morning workouts. After kickboxing, I often just laid there. Not immediately, but as time progressed, I got stronger. Eventually I was able to do 5-20 minutes of yoga before napping out. Also, bonus, the restrooms were later unlocked.
Fast-forward to the present, the Overton Shell has started up the Health and Wellness Series again. Now you too can have a healthy, life-changing experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed Twilight Yoga and Pilates, but one yoga session stretched my bladder more than I want to admit. As usual, I drank a levy of water again before driving to the Overton Park Shell. (Look, I seriously believe in hydration.) Although I arrived a little late in my cute Fabletics outfit, I found a good shady spot. I quietly rolled out my yoga mat and mentally prepared myself for this woo-say moment. As I exhaled a long, deep breath, my bladder also tried to exhale. My eyes shot open! Every muscle in my body tensed and I willed them to suck back in every ounce of moisture in my body. Once I felt I was in stable condition to move without leaking, I headed to the restroom by the side of the stage. As I walked, I saw that there was a gate and a lock on the restroom. A gate and a lock! Quickly, I thought of my options: Keep walking past the restroom in search of a bush; turn around, grab my things, and leave in search of a proper restroom; or try the restroom on top of the hill.
Afraid to exhale too hard, I took a quick, shallow breath and chose Option C. I trudged all the way up the hill only to find that those restrooms were locked, too. I went back to my mat. I sat down and regrouped my bladder. After about five minutes, my body had finally calmed down. I did about two or three yoga poses before I felt the dam starting to give way. It was now or never. In one quick swoop, I grabbed my keys, water bottle, mat, and shoes and sashayed to my car. I drove to the nearest restroom and vowed to get some pelvic floor therapy from Sundara Wellness. Crisis averted. The next Twilight Yoga and Pilates was perfect.
Since I haven’t tried all the classes, be sure you check out overtonparkshell.com for all of the Health and Wellness classes they are offering throughout the summer until October/November. Yeah, that’s a lot of free classes. I know I’ll definitely be attending more Twilight Yoga and Pilates and maybe a little body combat (aka kickboxing). But what I’m most excited about is the goat yoga on June 26th! 901Goats will help me relax while daydreaming about farm life. This is bound to be an excellent experience.
Here are a few pro tips for the Health and Wellness Series: Bring water. Ice cold water. Bring something to wipe the sweat off your face. The instructors will ask you to do some pretty amazing things. Try them out; you can always nap later. Bring a friend or make a friend while you’re there. Wear sunscreen and a hat; you are outside after all. Have fun. Most importantly, pee before you go.
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. Her days are filled with laughter with her four kids and charming husband. By day, she’s a school librarian and a writer, but by night … she’s asleep. @realworkwife @memphisismyboyfriend
2021 Mempho Music Festival (Photo courtesy Mempho Music Festival)
While many have been celebrating the return of indoor concerts for some time now, open-air concerts haven’t gone anywhere. They have an inherent appeal with or without the pandemic, especially from spring to fall in Memphis. In recent days and weeks, many of the key venues for outdoor concert series have released their planned line-ups. Here’s a roundup of all the acts to expect under the sun, moon and stars, from this weekend until October. Be sure to watch for our in-depth guide to the Beale Street Music Festival in next week’s issue of the Memphis Flyer.
Click the link for each concert series to learn more.
Cooper-Young Porchfest This Saturday, April 23rd, from noon til 6 p.m., the Cooper-Young neighborhood will run riot with live music as the Cooper-Young Community Association revives its annual Porchfest. This all-volunteer event will feature an eclectic mix of bands playing on residents’ front porches and at the Cooper-Young gazebo, not to mention a community yard sale that morning.
Cooper-Young Porchfest (Photo courtesy of CYCA).
Please see the Cooper-Young Porchfest website for a full listing of names, times and locations, but some of the highlights include Greg Cartwright, J.D. Reager, Bailey Bigger, Jeff Hulett, the Church Brothers, Los Psychosis, Alice Hasen, San Salida, Flamenco Memphis, the Turnstyles,and Model Zero.
The River Series With an amphitheater boasting an incredible view of the Memphis skyline, as well as naturally superior acoustics, Harbor Town’s Maria Montessori School has made its bi-annual fundraising series a touchstone of musical happenings. Curated by Goner honcho Zac Ives, the artists are always intriguing, even as they depart from typical Goner fare.
Motel Mirrors at the River Series (Photo courtesy of Maria Montessori School)
This spring’s line-up features: Greg Cartwright’s Whelk Stall with Aquarian Blood (Saturday, April 30th), Jeremy and the Drip Edges with Tm. Prudhomme’s FAKE (Saturday, May 14th), and Mouserocket with Ibex Clone (Saturday, June 4th). All shows begin at 4 p.m.
Overton Park Shell The newly rechristened Shell has not missed a beat as it moves into its next chapter, a fully Memphis-based nonprofit once more. Just as in the Levitt Shell years, the stage will host the Orion Free Music Concert Series through the summer and fall, along with a few ticketed Shell Yeah! events to serve as fundraisers.
The latter will include Durand Jones & The Indications (June 16th), St. Paul & The Broken Bones (July 16th), Almost Elton John Masquerade (September 15th), and an as-yet undisclosed fourth artist on September 23rd. As Overton Park Shell executive director Natalie Wilson notes in a statement, “In order to provide accessibility to our free concerts and events, we rely on revenue raised from Shell Yeah! Benefit Shows and generous donations from the Memphis community.”
1972 album cover by Trapeze, featuring an Overton Park Shell audience (courtesy of Overton Park Shell Archives).
As usual, the Shell will bring national and international artists to Overton Park, alongside many notable local acts. Memphis-related groups include the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Sunset Symphony (May 29th), which opens the season, followed by the Sensational Barnes Brothers (June 9th), Reigning Sound (June 10th), the Stax Music Academy (June 25th), Cameron Bethany (July 2nd), Don Lifted (September 16th) and the North Mississippi Allstars (October 14th). See the Overton Park Shell website for the full line-up.
Gonerfest With Gonerfest 18 taking place entirely at Railgarten last year — a first for the festival — Goner Records is taking the same approach in 2022. Gonerfest will once again be centered on Covid safety, and while many slots still need to be filled, the marquee names have been announced and tickets are now on sale for the event, which takes place September 22nd through 25th.
Headliners will include Bay Area garage/soul weirdo masters Shannon & the Clams, wild lo-fi R&B rockers King Khan & BBQ Show, pre-Oblivians/Reigning Sound Memphis legends Compulsive Gamblers, lo-fi punks Gee Tee and garage rocker Michael Beach, both from Australia, and Nashville’s own Snooper. The complete festival will be live-streamed for those unable to attend.
Mempho Music Festival Just as we are about to enjoy one major event, the Beale Street Music Festival, we’re also hearing about the finalized line-up for another, the Mempho Music Festival, scheduled for September 30th through October 2nd. Different ticket packages can already be found here, and, given the quality of the performers slated for the event, early ticket purchases might be prudent.
The Memphis Botanic Garden will thrill to the sounds of The Black Keys, alternative rock mainstays Wilco, and decorated Americana outfit Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, as well as a double-dose of Athens-based ensemble Widespread Panic returning to the lineup by popular demand. Appearances by Portugal. The Man, Fantastic Negrito, Tank and the Bangas, Allison Russell, and Celisse will also be a highlight. Local favorites Bobby Rush, Big Ass Truck, Amy LaVere and Elizabeth King will also share the spotlight’s glow.
Cole Early touring the new exhibit (Credit: Alex Greene)
In light of the Overton Park Shell’s recent rechristening and Memphis magazine’s concurrent dive into the Shell’s history, “The People’s Stage,” let it be known that one fount of knowledge on the topic is the Overton Park Shell itself — especially now, as final preparations are made to open the backstage rooms to tours. With the office walls, greenroom, and other areas now bedecked with a freshly curated display of Shell-related materials, the performers, crews, and visitors can better know the significance of the bandstand as they walk its floors. Those backstage spaces – at various times open to all, shelter for some, or V.I.P.-only – now pay tribute to those who performed there in what’s now known as the Connie Abston Archive & History Exhibits at the Overton Park Shell.
(Credit: Cole Early)
The backstage reboot was masterminded by Cole Early, the Shell’s video crew director and, lately, archives volunteer. Judging from the detailed, polished display, it’s been a labor of love for all the volunteers, and now Early has further plans for the space. “We’re going to start partnering with Memphis Mojo Tours. They already offer a Stax Museum add-on and a Sun Studio add-on. Well, this will be an add-on as well. The guided tour will start out here on the stage, and we’ll give people an idea of what the park’s all about.”
Artist Kirsten Sandlin prepares the exhibit. (Credit: Cole Early)
As a practice run for such a tour, Early walked me through the exhibit areas, starting with the stage itself. Being the site of Elvis Presley’s first public performance, a great many visitors would likely come here for the stage alone. That is where tours will begin. “Since we’re a concert venue, I’ll also take the time to sprinkle in some production terms, just to educate people about the concert industry,” said Early. “And we’ll talk about the acoustics of the Shell. And that it was established in 1936. The tour will then come inside here.”
With that, he led me through one of the center stage doors to the foyer, its walls emblazoned with a statement from its founding day. “During the dedication, the mayor said ‘This is a pledge to the future of music in Memphis.’,” Early said. “This section will cover that and the importance of the WPA to the arts. The importance of Overton Park in the national sense. What was here before the Shell, then the early shows there, like M.O.A.T. [Memphis Open Air Theater], Music Under the Stars, things like that.”
An Overton Park Shell program, ca. 1954 (Image courtesy Shell Archives)
He points to a playbill for one of the acts who started it all: Ralph Dunbar and His Bell Ringers. “He was important,” Early noted. “Before the Shell, it was a natural bowl and they had all kinds of stuff. During the early Depression, before the Shell was built, this cat started doing dirt floor productions out here. And Marion Keisker was a teenager who appeared in the first production; then twenty years later, she worked at Sun and recorded Elvis.”
It’s a beguiling thread of history, leading naturally to a section on Presley’s apprearances at the Shell, starting with a quote from the singer. “That’s what he said, ‘When he was shaking his hips he didn’t know what was going on.’” Early points out. “So this will be all about the ’54 show. And this will be the ’55 and ’56 shows. Blues will be here. And what I just call the classic rock era for shorthand, from the early ’70s will be here. Over here will be the period after the fence came down, the late ’70s. People like Joyce Cobb and the Bluebeats and Keith Sykes. That era.”
Altogether, the different images and plaques cover everything from Johnny Cash’s 1955 appearance, to Black Sabbath’s terrifying and brief appearance (see below), to the Save Our Shell movement that carried the structure into the 21st Century. Portraits of luminaries who have performed there, painted for the exterior in 1999, now hang in both of the larger rooms.
From there, tribute is paid to many more performers in a rotating photography exhibit that brings the exhibit up to the current era. “The theme of this area is ‘Keeping the Pledge – The Next Generation at the Shell,’” Early said. “So you’ve got Lisa Marie Presley, Rosanne Cash, Rev. Robert Wilkins’ son, John Wilkins’ family, the Rufus Thomas family, Shardé Thomas, the Sons of Mudboy.
Cole Early (Credit: Alex Greene)
“And this next section is called ‘Crossing Over,'” Early continued. “Honoring those Levitt Shell era artists we’ve lost since 2008. Unfortunately, we’ve got to add Tim Goodwin and Howard Grimes. And there’ll be more over time. These are all by Andrea Zucker. She’s been taking pictures since day one here.
“I’ve been working on it for 2 1/2 years,” he added. “I just happened to find the poster of the New Moon, New Era show with ‘ZZ Tops’ misspelled on it. Sid Selvidge and Jim Dickinson are among the listed acts — a sweet poster by Randall Lyons. So I found that, and then started finding other stuff.”
As do visitors to the exhibit now, as one image or artifact after another pulls you in deeper. “One of my favorites is this photo of Steve Cropper, and you see the edge of the Shell with him on his Telecaster,” Early said. “Marcia Hare, who held the umbrella over Furry Lewis in the documentary, Memphis ’69, donated her sunglasses.” Even ticket stubs have a place in this exhibit, I found, as we returned to the ‘classic rock’ section.
“Black Sabbath played here twice,” Early explains, “the Paranoid tour and the Masters of Reality tour. And during the Masters of Reality tour, some guy in a trench coat cut himself and started writing stuff in blood everywhere. The band was 20 minutes into their set and got all creeped out and left. Tony Iommi kicked over his amp and walked off. And we found a guy who took a picture during those 20 minutes. So we have blown up that image, with the ticket stub. It’s pieces like that, that are Shell-specific, that I’m thrilled to death to have.”
Black Sabbath at the Shell (Photo credit: Fred Sheron; Ticket stub: Kim Brakefield)
Visit www.overtonparkshell.org for details on touring the Connie Abston Archive & History Exhibits at the Overton Park Shell.
Posted to Facebook by the Overton Park Conservancy
Memphis on the internet.
Shell Yeah
Praise thundered across the MEMernet last week with the news that the Overton Park Shell, which changed to the Levitt Shell after some funding, was changed back to the Overton Park Shell after a split with the Levitt Foundation.
Real Talk
The Memphis subreddit tackled the big issue last week: Why do people talk on speaker phone in public? Here are some of the best responses:
“Main character syndrome,” wrote u/lokisilvertongue.
“Why? Because they’re assholes,” wrote u/FrancisFApocalypse.
“They’re called DGAFs,” wrote u/dgtfnk. “It’s a huge overlap of those who identify with that other four-letter acronym on red hats.”
Pretty funny Cops
Posted to Facebook by the Bartlett Police Department
Giving credit where it’s due, the Bartlett Police Department (BPD) is pretty dang funny on Facebook. They post dank Leo memes (above), photos of their cops in wigs, profiles of BPD employees, and Motorcop Mondays, in which a motorcycle cop ponders things like, “technically, didn’t aliens invade the moon on July 20, 1969?”
Casual passers-by in Overton Park may have noted a recent change in its fabled band shell, first built in 1936 at the behest of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Since 2005, when the Levitt Foundation stepped in to renovate and sponsor the iconic Memphis landmark, it’s been known as the Levitt Shell.
But the lettering over the stage has changed this past week, in preparation for a major overhaul in the Shell’s administration that officially begins today. Once again, it will be known as the Overton Park Shell.
This decision was made by the Levitt Shell’s board of directors after months of discussion. With the name change, control of the Shell also passes to a new local nonprofit to be known as The Overton Park Shell. The restructuring will allow the organization more freedom to launch a new outreach strategy into underserved neighborhoods and ZIP codes of Memphis and Shelby County, making the Shell more accessible for all of Memphis.
Overton Park Shell executive director Natalie Wilson says, “We’re grateful for 17 years of partnership with the Levitt Foundation, who helped us save it. Now we can take the stage back to its historic roots and live our mission even more. We as the board made the decision that we could truly lend more sustainability to the community by bringing in more local investment. With local partners supporting us. Families. Foundations. Individuals. Businesses that believe in the work we do. We wanted to build our sustainability locally. Since I came in in 2019, we’ve been working to find local sustainability, and we have now. We’re grateful for it.”
As Wilson notes, while the Levitt Foundation works with several open-air stages across the country, the band shell in Memphis has special needs. “The other venues are all new venues,” she says. “We’re the only historic venue. The other ones were all built in the past 16 years, but we have major deferred maintenance that I have to continue to focus on, on behalf of the citizens of Memphis. There are so few of us that were built by the WPA. The round band shells, there are very few of us.
“We’re owned by the city, by the citizens, so we have a responsibility for the continued preservation of the Shell. So on top of managing it and the mission, I’ve got to renovate it. I’ve got to preserve it. So, that’s how different we were from the others. When you have an old girl like the Shell, sometimes the largest things you can do, you can’t see, like renovation. Also, the city depends on us as a nonprofit for the money to renovate it. We don’t get that support from the city. It’s up to us to make sure it can stand, that it’s safe, and that it will be treasured another 85 years.
“I told Liz Levitt Hirsch, ‘You helped save the Shell. You will always have that legacy. And we’ll always have a special marker on the lawn that speaks to the Levitt era.’ They started with two years of renovation money — a million dollars. And then 15 years of programming support. And that’s why I say they saved the Shell. Because if it wasn’t for their initial support, we wouldn’t be able to create what we do today. It would not be here.”
For her part, Hirsch celebrates the change. “Coming to the Shell for the first time to meet with local community leaders nearly two decades ago, we knew the magic could, and would, return. Music is a universal language that we all speak and delight in, especially in public spaces where we can celebrate our shared humanity. The Levitt Foundation is incredibly proud to be part of the Shell’s legacy — supporting its rebirth as a cherished gathering place for the entire community,” said Hirsch, board president of the Levitt Foundation, in a press release. “Levitt Shell Memphis has been a beautiful reflection of the Levitt mission, bringing people together from all walks of life to experience acclaimed artists in a free, open lawn setting. The Shell team has built a strong foundation to continue creating a warm and inclusive environment with accessible arts experiences at its core. We’re excited to watch them soar to new heights.”
Wilson also notes that the local support that started in the Levitt era will continue. “We’re grateful for NexAir, who’s been an integral partner for many years, and will continue to be our venue presenting sponsor. And we’re grateful for others, like the Orion Federal Credit Union, who’s the official music partner of the Shell. They’ve rallied behind our nonprofit from the beginning.”
Ultimately, she says, this is a way of bringing it all back home. “It’s not like it’s a name that people are not familiar with,” she says. “The Overton Park Shell has a history, and that history is amazing. The new Overton Park Shell will be just as incredible.”
Right out of the gate, a schedule of live music at the venue is already taking shape. “Starting this summer, at the end of May, we’ll kick off the season with our Sunset Symphony, which we’re thrilled about bringing back, in partnership with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. And that will be the last Sunday of May. Then through the summer we’ll have Thursday through Saturday night concerts that will be free, and then fall concerts on Friday and Saturday nights. And in between, we’ll have our Shell Yeah! concert series, our ticketed shows.
“We’ll also have other partnership events. The Shell is a home for lots of events in the city, and we want more people to think of the Shell as their home for great community events. Dreamfest will be in May this year. There will be the Tri-State Black Pride event and the Tambourine Bash and nonprofit fundraising events. There’ll be all types of events through the year.”
Overall, Wilson reflects, it’s about balancing such activities with historical preservation. “We believe going back to the Overton Park Shell speaks to a name that’s been treasured for many many years here,” she says. “More than ever, the Shell’s name speaks to being rooted in community. And we want to make sure that with this name change, our mission isn’t going to change. It’s even going to grow even more.”
As experienced second-hand shoppers know all too well, the contents of any given yard sale are usually only as interesting as the host. That’s why thrift-store junkies and pawnshop-aholics might want to know about a yard sale being held this weekend at the Overton Park Shell.
Volunteers from Support Our Shell (formerly Save Our Shell, the group that’s been staving off shell demolition since 1985) have been clearing out decades’ worth of backstage trash and treasure in preparation for the historic amphitheater’s long-awaited renovation. Before that happens, however, some of the trash and treasure will be sold at “One Last Look Backstage at the Shell Yard Sale” Saturday, May 5th, and Sunday, May 6th.
Built in 1936, the Overton Park Shell has played host to countless musical events and theatrical extravaganzas ranging from Sondheim to Shakespeare. It is famously the site of Elvis’ first paid concert, but it is also remembered for performances by the Grateful Dead and such seminal Memphis acts as Moloch and Mudboy and the Neutrons.
“It’s not like we’re going to be selling anything from the ’30s,” says David Leonard, vice president of Support Our Shell, explaining that proceeds from the sale will go toward creating and maintaining an archive for historic materials. “We will be selling an enormous forklift that needs a little work, a lot of sound equipment, speakers, speaker parts, some lights, some big shop fans, office furniture, appliances, lumber, some prop columns, and posters from events like Shell Shock, Memphis Mayhem, and Saturday at the Shell.”
Even the shell’s metal wings, which were added in 1970 after a 1969 fire damaged the original structure, are being sold with a buyer already in place.
“For all of the people who have been a part of Save Our Shell, this is like a miracle,” Leonard says of the deal between the city of Memphis and Friends of the Levitt Pavilion to restore and program the Overton Park Shell. “We’ve always said that if the shell was ever actually saved, we wanted to become a support organization. But after 20 years, it all started sounding like one of those never-ending ‘going out of business’ sales.”
