The cozy, quiet dive bar known as the Lamplighter will turn into a rowdy rock-and-roll venue when Orlando’s Golden Pelicans stop through Memphis this Friday. The Lamplighter has served as a live music venue sporadically for the past five or six years, hosting local bands like NOTS, The Oscars, and Kruxe, in addition to ex-Memphian Cole Weintraub’s many musical projects like the now infamous weekly “jazz night.” While the bar has long been a haven for Midtown outsiders, it’s service as a live music venue has always been a “love it or hate it” type of situation. Those not into the idea of loud music tainting the house that Miss Shirley built definitely aren’t going to experience a change of heart when the Golden Pelicans — a band that’s known for their loud and unpredictable, beer-splattering live show — perform.
Josh Miller
Golden Pelicans
Since forming in 2011, Golden Pelicans have put Florida garage rock back on the map, releasing handfuls of singles and two (now sold out) LPs. They’ve toured most of the U.S. and recently got back from a successful outing in Europe. While the band’s median age is probably in the upper 30s, their youthful energy and willingness to hit the road has made them one of the premier garage-rock bands in the country. Drummer Rich Evans also serves as the figurehead of Total Punk records, a label that’s worked with the Memphis band Manateees and a bunch of other Southern punk bands. Musically, Golden Pelicans sit somewhere in between High Voltage-era AC/DC and Eddie & the Hot Rods, blasting through their songs with enough ferocious energy to power a small town. Total Punk alumni Manateees and Black Panties open the show. Donations are encouraged.
Josh Miller 