Go Memphis Stories: Memphis music reviews, previews and commentary

Concert Review: Sumptuous 'New World' closes 10th fine year for IRIS

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:11:00 -0000

The 10th season of the IRIS Orchestra came to a triumphant close Saturday night with a robust blend of brilliance.

Friends, disciples pay tribute to Chilton at South by Southwest

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:52:00 -0000

In death, as in life, Alex Chilton remained the focus of attention, intrigue and homage. The final day of the South by Southwest music festival clearly seemed to revolve around the Memphis music legend, who died Wednesday in his adopted hometown of New Orleans from a presumed heart attack.

Concert review: John Mayer delivers a smooth but mediocre show

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:57:00 -0000

Singer-songwriter John Mayer has been garnering more attention for his loutish public statements than his music of late. But the 17,000 people who turned out to see the Grammy winner and his band play the FedExForum Friday night seemed in a forgiving mood, more than willing to let his tabloid transgressions pass in exchange for two hours of mellow pop rock.

Music Commentary: Memphis bands give strong performances at SXSW

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:04:00 -0000

Thursday’s night official South by Southwest festivities were highlighted by the Memphis Music Foundation’s second annual showcase at Barbarella. A solo set by singer-songwriter Harlan T. Bobo drew a surprisingly strong early evening crowd to the club, as Bobo played songs off his forthcoming Goner Records release Sucker. Ardent label act Star & Micey and Big Star’s Jody Stephens followed.

Minivan Blues Band revs up to roll again

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:10:00 -0000

Since 2007, the Minivan Blues Band has been a long-distance affair. That year, Joe Schicke, group co-founder, singer, guitarist, and one of the band's chief co-writers, moved to Fort Collins, Colo., to go to graduate school. Now, without the luxury of playing together all the time, the Minivan has tightened its sound, trimmed the musical excess and fastened in on their original songs. The band plays at the Hi-Tone in Memphis tonight for a CD release party.

Young, hip enjoy fist-pumping good time at Electrocity parties

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:05:00 -0000

It's 1 a.m. Sunday morning. Nocturnal is hot. The Midtown nightspot is packed with young people — many guys shirtless and young women in summery attire even though it's February. They move to pulsating sounds as laser lights and camera flashes strike their bodies. Others crowd close to the deejay and reach out as if they're grabbing the beats. Outside, a 50-foot line of people wait for their chance to dance before everything stops at 3 a.m.

Music world, friends, fans pay tribute to Memphis legend Alex Chilton

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:52:00 -0000

A day after his death, shock and sadness slowly gave way to fond remembrance by friends, fans and fellow musicians.

Call police: Megadeth band reunited and coming to Memphis

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:00:00 -0000

California police recently interrupted production on a music video by thrash metal heroes Megadeth when the band brought in a real live tank for the shoot. “That’s very typical Megadeth, to have the cops show up,” says the band’s bassist, Dave Ellefson, of filming for “The Right To Go Insane” from the band’s latest album, Endgame. Megadeth and fellow ’80s thrashers Testament and Exodus will perform Tuesday at Minglewood Hall.

Memphis music loses ‘Big Star’ — singer, songwriter Alex Chilton dies at 59

callahan@yourappeal.com (Jody Callahan, Bob Mehr) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:31:00 -0000

Chilton was best known as a member of 1960s pop-soul act the Box Tops and the 1970s power-pop act Big Star.

Now Hear This! Comedian Paul F. Tompkins

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:00 -0000

Widely hailed as one of the finest stand-ups working today, Philadelphia-bred, Los Angeles-based comic Paul F. Tompkins will be familiar to viewers of the groundbreaking ‘90s HBO series “Mr. Show” as well as to fans of “Best Week Ever,” the VH1 comedy-news program he hosted until its recent cancellation. On Saturday night, Tompkins returns to Memphis for the first time since 2007 for a pair of shows at Minglewood Hall’s 1884 Lounge.

Swoon time: Teen pop star Justin Bieber coming to Memphis

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:25:00 -0000

Canadian pop heartthrob Justin Bieber is bringing his "My World" tour to the FedExForum July 31. The 16-year-old singer, who rose to fame as a YouTube phenomenon, recently released his second album My World 2.0, the followup to "My World," which went platinum in less than two months. Reggae-rapper Sean Kingston is special guest on the program. Tickets go on sale Mar. 27.

Pine Ridge Boys bring old time country blues to Folklore Center

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:32:00 -0000

When one thinks of Mississippi music, the blues inevitably come to mind first. But the Magnolia State has a rich tradition in a variety of genres, including country music. “People think of the blues, but you know Jimmie Rodgers was from Mississippi,” says Lisa Lambert, a country musician and blues fan who discovered how closely related the two were when she joined up with the Pine Ridge Boys three years ago. The band plays Saturday at the Center For Southern Folklore in Memphis.

Listen Up: Josh Leggett of Foresight

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:00:00 -0000

Josh Leggett told it like it was when he advertised for musicians for his band, which eventually became Foresight. “I got tired of being kicked out of bands in Memphis ’cause I didn’t want to play thrash metal or just insane punk,” said Leggett, 28, Foresight lead and rhythm guitarist and singer. Leggett, who learned to play guitar while in prison, and his band play Sham-Rock Fest in Hernando on Wednesday.

Rapper Mr. Modest is 'oldest rookie' in game

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:00:00 -0000

At 36, Quincy Ross, who raps under the name Mr. Modest, is at the age when most artists matriculate out of the hip-hop scene, segueing into artist development or producing instead of haunting the clubs to hone their craft. But this latecomer is just hitting his stride, and his experience and maturity are quickly earning him attention on the local underground rap scene.

The Unbeheld releases its psychedelic torrent in new CD

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:00:00 -0000

Hunched over plates of fried rice and Vietnamese soup in a Midtown restaurant, the members of Memphis stoner metal band the Unbeheld seem far removed from the world they sing about, an adolescent suburban boy’s fantasy land of monsters and demons and epic battles of good against evil surrounded in a mist of rumbling drum and epic guitars. The band will throw a CD release party for their full-length debut "In the Arms of Mother Chaos" Saturday at the Hi-Tone.

Kirk Whalum embraces spiritual roots with new album

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:46:00 -0000

There is a thread in Kirk Whalum’s life and career. It’s a line that began as a youth playing in his father’s church choir, and that he followed to the biggest stages in the world. “The first song I ever played as a kid was ‘Amazing Grace,’ ” says Whalum. “Many years later, I found myself playing that song alongside Whitney Houston in South Africa for over 7 million people live on HBO. That song, that experience and that influence was the genesis of my career.”

Now Hear This! Eric Hughes

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Memphis bluesman Eric Hughes likes to say that his music appeals to everyone “from the purist to the tourist.” It’s fair enough description for Hughes himself, a much beloved presence on the local scene — he helped found the Memphis Blues Society back in 2005 — who performs regularly on Beale with his band, as part of a duo and solo. Though the wintertime is typically the slow season on Beale Street, Hughes has been busy recently writing songs for an album he hopes to release this year.

Michael Jackson fan channels the pop king in dance tribute

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:48:00 -0000

Memphian Charlynn Struckhoff, a huge fan of Michael Jackson, never got to meet the gloved one. But on Friday, Struckhoff will conjure his spirit, as well as, in a way, his body, when she presents her all-dance tribute to Jackson at Nocturnal at 1588 Madison. The one-woman show, which starts at 10:30 p.m., will feature Struckhoff reinterpreting some of Jackson’s signature dance moves accompanied by video of the iconic performer.

Yo Gotti, Drumma Boy big winners at Southern Entertainment Awards

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:05:00 -0000

The seventh annual Southern Entertainment Awards, celebrating the best in regional rap, hip-hop and urban music, were handed out this past weekend in Memphis at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Among the big local winners were rapper Yo Gotti, who took home a trio of trophies for Song of the Year, Beat of the Year and Indie Album of the Year. Also, Memphis-bred, Atlanta-based hitmaker Drumma Boy, aka Christopher Gholson, earned his second consecutive win as Indie Producer of the Year,

Concert review: Clapton sedates, Daltrey invigorates Forum crowd

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:38:00 -0000

Friday night's Eric Clapton/Roger Daltrey concert at FedExForum was touted as a teaming of rock legends. When all was said and done, however, only one man came off as legendary, while the other simply seemed lethargic. It was an expectant, near-capacity crowd that packed the Downtown arena to watch the two British icons run through musical catalogs that have come to define classic rock.