The tiny bar on Cooper Avenue packs a big punch with great local concerts scheduled almost every night of the week this summer. This week is no different, with James and the Ultrasounds (pictured), Jack Oblivian and the Sheiks, and DJ Dropout Boogie bringing three straight days of Memphis rock-and-roll to Karen Carrier’s latest creation. Jack Oblivian and the Sheiks will start things off on Thursday, June 18th, fresh off a weekend run to Austin, Dallas and New Orleans. This will be the only local appearance by Jack and the Sheiks before they go on an extensive tour across the eastern United States. The band released the excellent Live! album earlier this year (which I reviewed awhile back), and the record is still available from the band and local record shops around town.
Nina Westervelt
James and the Ultrasounds take the “stage” at Bar DKDC on Friday, June 19th, bringing another night of ramped-up garage rock to the small venue. James Godwin released the acclaimed Bad To Be Here album last year and recently told us that he has already begun working on new music. Godwin used to back up Jack Oblivian and did time in the Grifters offshoot the New Mary Jane, making him a driving force behind some of the most appreciated local garage rock bands of the past five years.
Rounding out the three-night extravaganza is DJ Dropout Boogie (Eric Hermeyer), who is replacing long-time running local band Impala. Instead of the instrumental stylings of the swamp boogie veterans known as “The Kings of the Track,” DJ Dropout Boogie will be spinning danceable 45’s all night long, which, after two nights of noisy garage rock, doesn’t seem like that bad of an alternative.
