Perhaps the fasting growing name in folk music, The Civil Wars, are headed to Memphis this Tuesday, January 10th. The male-female duo comprised of John Paul White and Joy Williams has been blowing up the folk-pop scene after their debut full length from early last year, Barton Hollow, got great reviews.
The two of them have been busy ever since, making numerous appearances on late night shows here and abroad in addition to their busy touring schedule.
The duo played to a sold out crowd at Playhouse On The Square last year, so make sure you jump on those tickets! Female sibling trio The Staves will be opening.
This weekend, local record stores Shangri-La Records and Goner Records will host their annual Christmas parties, Saturday and Sunday night, respectively. Check out the details for each show after the jump.
Alright, this one’s a no-brainer. The incredible David Bazan (of, or formerly known as Pedro The Lion) will be blessing our lovely Hi-Tone Cafe this Saturday, December 3rd.
If you don’t know who Mr. Bazan is or Pedro The Lion was, take some time and go through this prolific songwriter and band leader’s stuff. As PTL, Bazan released four full lengths and five EPs over an 11-year career with the band. Since dissolving PTL in 2006, he’s released two EPs and two full lengths under his own name, his latest being Strange Negotiations this past May.
I have to admit some good friends of mine are opening for Bazan Saturday night. However, they’re legit themselves. My buds will be backing up Mississippi songwriter Andrew Bryant. He’s really great, as well…you can check out his stuff at the link.
Show’s at 9pm, tickets are $10/12, and it’s 18+. Go to this show!
Still promoting their newest album Keys To The Kingdom, local (basically) neo-blues heroes North Mississippi Allstars play Minglewood Hall the day after Thanksgiving, Friday the 25th.
Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson along with long-time bassist Chris Chew have now been at it as the Allstars for 15 years, 10 of those as a full time band.
You know this band kills it live, so come see them on Friday. Previous Show of the Week and killer band Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit will open. Doors at 7pm, show at 8. Advance tickets are $20, day of show $22.
As a Thanksgiving treat – we’re giving away two tickets for the show! Just tell us what you are thankful for this year in the comments! We’ll pick a winner at 5PM tomorrow!
This week’s SOTW is a little special. Instead of your normal concert performance, I’m featuring one hell of a DJ set. That’s right. Pressure World, An All Nite Soul Excursion will be presented by three local labels: Electraphonic, Quartzwatches, and Memphix (each with a representative DJ). Local favorite Buck Wilders will round out the DJ’s at number four.
These dudes are gonna be spinning vinyl til the wee hours over at Mollie Fontaine Lounge tomorrow night, the 18th. If you haven’t been to Mollie Fontaine before, it’s really one of Memphis’ best kept secrets.
So check out the details of the event here. The sets start 10pm and there’s a $3 door charge. The lounge will be 21+ as always.
Indie rock vets Sebadoh will be playing the Hi-Tone this Saturday night the 5th. The band is reunited to tour in support of their recent reissues of Bakesale (1994) and Harmacy (1996).
The three-piece is known to make some real noise and radiate some serious energy from stage. Don’t miss one of the pioneers of lo-fi this Saturday. London’s Mazes will open after locals The Perfect Vessels start the night out right. Doors at 9pm, 18+, $12 advance/$15 at door.
So, the SOTW is a little different this week. Less indie, more badass musicians. Less Pitchfork, more undeniable feel-good music. Less bull butter, more real-deal cats leaving it all on the stage.
Local hip-hop act Royal’T will release his new record 4 All Seasonz and have his birthday party at the Hi-Tone Saturday night the 22nd.
Out on locals Fat Sandwich Records and Lottatime Records, Seasonz is Royal’T’s fourth full length, following up last year’s collaboration album Raw Gospel Muzik.
I can’t find a specific press release for this thing, but it’s pretty self-explanatory. And it looks like there’s some legit folks on the panels, especially keynote speaker Daniel Glass. Here’s the deets straight from the Recording Academy’s site (and you can sign up at the links at the bottom):
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 GRAMMY GPS Fest
Location: Hi Tone, 1913 Poplar Avenue
Time: Doors at 7pm
Performers: GIVERS, Cities Aviv, GR Robinson, Kruxe
Admission: FREE with GRAMMY GPS admission, $10 just for the show
OCTOBER 1, 2011 GRAMMY GPS: A Road Map For Today’s Music Biz
Location: Stax Music Academy, 926 East McLemore Ave
Time: Registration at 11am
Admission: FREE to Recording Academy members, $35 non-members
Keynote speaker: Daniel Glass, Glassnote Records
Okay, so we decided to bump this one up a day early so we could do this show…and I was out of town last week, so we didn’t have a SOTW (pronounced sot-wah’). What?
M. Ward and Dawes are both the bomb dot com. And they’re both at Minglewood tonight. And we’re giving away 2 free effing tickets to the show. And it’s general admission, so who knows where you’ll end up?! Ah!
Sorry.
So this show is gonna be a Memphian folk rock fan’s dream come true. Ward obviously has lots of talent and experience in songwriting. Seven full lengths and two EPs as a solo artist, soon-to-be three records with Zooey Deschanel as She & Him, and a bunch of collaborations and production credits…I mean, he’s got something. Check out a great version of his song “Chinese Translation” from his sixth record, Post War, after the jump.
Frontman for both Cursive and The Good Life, Tim Kasher, will be headlining the Hi-Tone Saturday night alongside Albany, New York’s Aficionado and locals The Warm Atlantic.
Kasher’s out with his latest record, Bigamy: More Songs From The Monogamy Sessions, which is only available at the shows, his label Saddle Creek’s web store, and digitally. Bigamy… was written during the same period his debut solo record, The Game Of Monogamy, was written. That record came out last October, but many of the sentiments are the same on the new release. Kasher’s website reads, “Telling stories of mixed emotions, heartbreak, and adulthood restlessness, the songs range sonically from the slow-burning opener ‘No Harmony’ to the syncopated pop of ‘A Bluer Sea’ to the evocative swell of ‘Rabbit, Run.’
Check out the music video from The Game Of Monogamy‘s single “Cold Love” after the jump…
This show might seem a little odd for The Vinyl District. And you may not have the 70 bucks to go see it. But I get to pick the shows, so get over it. You may not like Alison Krauss, but there’s no denying her incredible talent (don’t even try, you pretentious punk). I mean, Krauss and co. in Union Station isn’t really my bag either, but dude, I have to admit when I hear her voice and look at all the badass stuff she’s done and accomplished I’m pretty blown away. I mean, twenty-six Grammys? Are you effing kidding me? I’m no believer in that the Grammys infer great talent, but when you win twenty-six of them, I’d say you’re doing something right.
Anyway, Krauss and her infamous backup band Union station are playing at our beautiful Orpheum Theater tonight, August 25th. They’re on the road promoting their new record Paper Airplane that released in April. Check out a video of the band playing the title track from the new album on the Today Show after the jump.
This one’s a little biased. Well, I guess they’re all really biased. Anyway, the Church Health Center’s annual fundraiser, Rock for Love, is happening this weekend (18th-21st) at the Hi-Tone. The Church Health Center has this to say about he event:
“Since its founding in 2007, Rock for Love has been produced in partnership with Makeshift Music as a way to raise money for the Center and celebrate the diversity of Memphis music with performances by some of the city’s best bands and artists. Why Rock for Love? Love is the driving force behind great art and great music, especially in Memphis, the birthplace and breeding ground for music that is loved around the world. Love is also at the heart of the Church Health Center’s mission to provide affordable healthcare to the working uninsured and to give people the tools to live healthier lives. So it’s fitting that some of the best bands in Memphis – along with the larger community – come together every year to support the work the Church Health Center.”
And it’s not just music this year. Infolexa is hosting the Rock for Love 5 online auction which went live August 1 and closes at midnight on August 21. Auction items include a Josh Pastner signed U of M basketball, a photograph of Jay Reatard, Orpheum tickets and a bicycle from Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop. Also, the Memphis Roller Derby will host a merchandise table with a variety of CDs, T-shirts, records and other merchandise available for purchase, all to benefit the Church Health Center.
I’ll give you this year’s lineup and details after the jump. Also, check out Flipside Memphis’ promo video for 2009’s Rock for Love to see what it’s all about.
So, instead of trying to regurgitate the press release for this show coming up at The Hi-Tone, I’ll just post the actual thing so I don’t waste your time:
“Indie rock band Rabbit! today announced a U.S. tour to promote its new full-length album titled Go For It, releasing August 2. The “Rabbit!’s Music Stand” cross-country tour will span 45 cities in 48 days, from July 6 to August 20. The tour will also set out to raise awareness about the continuuing arts and music funds-cutting in schools by promoting community programs that are finding alternative solutions from Florida all the way to California. Rabbit!’s Music Stand will include live performances, interviews and documentary-style video as the band seeks to educate themselves and others about this growing concern. In addition to promoting their new album Go For It, Rabbit! will be visiting arts & music programs across the U.S., to shine a light on the “unsung heroes” who are battling cuts in arts education.”
Rabbit!’s Memphis show this Sunday, August 14th will be benefiting the University of Memphis’ Community Music School, which provides “…the best music education and performance opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and economic backgrounds.” Check them out at the link below.
So, DJ Buck Wilders & The Hook-Up is the best local DJ combo we’ve got, spinning the best garage rock, psych rock, soul, r&b you’ll ever dance to. And our town’s best all-girl outfit, Bake Sale, is playing with them Saturday night at the Hi-Tone. AND IT’S FREE!!!!!!!
Bake Sale’s upbeat but melancholy songs pack a little punch and will be really great paired with Wilders & Co. Check out this video of them playing at The Dairy House here in town:
Perhaps the fasting growing name in folk music, The Civil Wars, are headed to Memphis this Tuesday, January 10th. The male-female duo comprised of John Paul White and Joy Williams has been blowing up the folk-pop scene after their debut full length from early last year, Barton Hollow, got great reviews.
