Category Archives: TVD Memphis

Hey Memphis! Groundhog Day came and went with the groundhog not seeing his shadow. If you’re not in the know, this results in Spring arriving early. If you’ve been in Memphis through 2013, you’ll likely agree it started about three weeks ago.

To celebrate jort weather in February, this week we’ve got you checking out an elite Memphis rapper, making some voodoo music with a man who’s been compared to Jimi Hendrix on more than one occasion, and finding out what exactly to do with some Shovels and Rope. Make sure your DD is secured, it’s time for weekend shots.

Friday, (2/8) brings some hyped out country folk to The Hi-Tone. With the historic venue closing down, the Hi-Tone is packing some big shows before it bites the dust and this Friday makes for a perfect example. Shovels & Rope take a gritty and raw crack at twanged out country.

The South Carolina duo is lauded for their performances as well as the fresh take on old Americana. Contrasting the dirt, Andrew Combs brings a smoother stab at country as well.

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Whose Army? is a fundamental example of post-post-rock bands in the 21st century.

After all, hard rock and roll as the champion of American music has come and gone—taking with it the countless hordes of leeches who picked up an axe just to cover Staind at the high school talent show for the off-chance it could get ’em laid with the overzealous girl who didn’t quite make the cheerleading team. (I hear she puts out anyway.)

Though many fame seekers may find the world of overdriven guitars bleak and desolate, those loyal to their craft are left to roam the open lands with a new eye for the uncharted. Whose Army? has stuck around and steadily upped the level to prep an EP for late February that covers some fresh, new ground—and we’ve got hold of the new video for one of the EP’s best tracks.

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Hey Memphis! How was your week? Hopefully full of good times and great things. This weekend we’ve got you checking out an album release, getting into some Memphis r&r, and flying with the flocka. I hope you don’t have enough on you to get charged, It’s time for some weekend shots!

Friday (2/1) starts off with a gnarly bang. Psychedelic/ blues/ rock Graveyard have come all the way from Sweden to tour the states, landing this Friday at The Hi-Tone Cafe.

Graveyard is three albums deep, having released the most recent Lights Out in October of last year on the German heavy metal label Nuclear Blast. The Shrine supports. (We reviewed the DC show here. —Ed.)

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Hey, Memphis! If you’re either back to school or back at work, the full rush of the holidays has come and passed, but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t anything to do.

This weekend we’ve got you exploding to some blues, hearing some of the South’s most notable all-stars, and hopefully not bleeding on a dance floor (unless you’re into that kind of thing). Hope your fake ID is in check—it’s time for some weekend shots!

Friday (1/25) starts on a good note with long-running New York blues rock Jon Spencer Blues Explosion booked at The Hi-Tone Cafe. Jon Spencer and co. released Meat & Bone last year to positive critical reviews, which was something of a task considering it was the band’s first studio effort in eight years. Come to hear raw and catchy cuts like the album’s lead single “Black Mold.” The Jam Messengers support.

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Hey, Memphis! Are you staying warm in the cold weather? Just in case that coat isn’t thick enough, this weekend has you set up with plenty of live music to heat up those bones. We’ve got you hitting up an album release or two, getting down with Deering, and feeding that greedy kidney. Make sure you’re wearing enough layers—it’s time for weekend shots!

Friday (1/18) starts with one hell of a punch. The subtle sounds of lowkey rockers Idyl will be heard at The Cove. Idyl is riding the wave of their newest album Elements of the Field, released this past December sporting seven tracks of dense and woody indie rock. They’re on tour with a singer-songwriter with the voice of a siren, Aisha Burns. Memphis’ own Sultana supports.

At The Hi-Tone Cafe, local eccentric rock man Clay Otis is set to release his new album The Overachiever. Otis touches on jangly pop, blues, and throwback rock all through a slightly off-kilter and tongue-in-cheek filter. Time and Richard James are also billed, as well as a special performance by Marcella Simien. (Be sure to give her love—it’s her birthday!)

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The feverish pace of Memphis’s Switchblade Kid doesn’t slow down.

The thrash/shoegaze/throwback/rock outfit has been busy over the past few months, working on more than just music. Past their album that was released in December of last year, band leader and movie maker Harry Koniditsiotis has been hard at work handcrafting music videos from old 8mm footage that drip with warmth and are well-worth watching.

From a dance hall from decades past to ’90s gothic imagery, Switchblade Kid videos have an eclectic scenery list but all carry one unifying theme: relatable visual nostalgia that seems to hit where it counts.

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So usually when shots come around, fate sets Memphis up with a limited option of live sound excursions. Well holy crap Memphis, this Friday/Saturday has opted for the opposite and is stocked with more music to offer than Lil B’s discography… or at least pretty close.

This weekend we’ve got you training with the devil, throwing down with some local yokels, and jumping headfirst into an evening of folk and gangsta rap. (Err, what?) I totally hope you’re of age because it’s time for some weekend shots!

Friday (1/11) starts off with a bump, and then another bump in succession, and then a snare hat, and then some crescendo sounds, and then most likely a drop that’ll hit you in the face with more sub bass than in James Earl Jones vocal chords… or the way they EQ Howard Stern’s voice on the radio. Voodoo Village staple Strooly has made his way west from Nashville and is bringing along a grab bag of tastes that might reference anything from trap hats to island rhythms to hype electro drops at Brinson’s.

Last year he released an EP acting as half of the dart “post-trap” act GRIM, slang quite a few originals on Soundcloud, and even released a snazzy remix or two, traversing the work of artists like TNGHT and Kendrick Lamar. If your thing is dance parties for dance parties’ sake, this has your evening set up.

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Hey, Memphis! How are your New Year’s resolutions going? Forget about that one were you said you weren’t going to do that thing anymore… That just isn’t gonna happen. Although you might have had to ditch a few, there’s still one resolution you can stay true to: Go to see more local music!

This week we’ve got you getting into some Memphis folk, slowing down with some sludge metal, and celebrating the life of the king. Today’s the day to start living life like you should; it’s time for some weekend shots!

Friday (1/4) brings out all the crazy mother folkers. The first show you should check out is that of a rising Memphis star who’s amassing a crowd with her powerful songwriting and dry lyricism (the fact that she’s gorgeous helps too) at the 1884 Lounge. Kait Lawson released her debut album last year to positive reviews and a growing number of venues that see booking her as a must. Her on-stage performance is directly located at the intersection of infectious charm and sultry songwriting. Fellow singer-songwriter Rob Baird is also providing a full night of intimate music.

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Nostalgia’s palm is a place where it’s easy to find comfort. After all, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

The Switchblade Kid is a Memphis act who relishes and recreates sounds of the past with accurate emotional clarity. The outfit’s sound has an analog soul that ranges anywhere from Cure-esque dream pop to over-driven guitars and hella-death metal.

At the tail end of December, they released their self-titled debut on Miss Molly Music, and we’ve got an LP to give away! How can you get your hands on such a tasty treat? It’s easier than you may think…

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Stop the presses—it may be a little too early to finish your “Best-of” lists quite yet.

We’ve got a video that deserves consideration. Memphis bluesman Jason Freeman has walked a long and winding road to get to where he is today and has something to show for it. We’re pleased to premiere the video for Freeman’s “Magic in My Home,” a swarthy guitar tune well-worth blasting through your headphones all week long.

“Magic in My Home” is directed by Emmy Award-winning director Alan Spearman and finds Freeman in the middle of nowhere, whispering his music’s sweet nothings into the Southern air with local juke artist Lashonte Anderson giving you plenty to look at. If the tune is familiar to you, it probably speaks to your great taste in film, as it was featured in Craig Brewers’ recreation of Footloose.

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Hey, Memphis! Done with Christmas shopping? Finished up with finals? No to both? No worries; this weekend has you set up to celebrate all the stuff you finished or ignore it and procrastinate without remorse.

This edition of Weekend Shots has you getting into the Christmas spirit, listening to some rich Memphis flavor, and getting a healthy serving of some Southern folklore. No quitters allowed—it’s time for some weekend shots!

Friday (12/14) begins things with a touch of the holiday spirit with the Shangri-La Christmas Party at The Hi-Tone Cafe. Shangri-La Records is a staple of the Memphis vinyl scene and are always worth supporting. (Which reminds me, vinyl makes an amazing, though awkwardly shaped, stocking stuffer.) Breakout Memphis throwback pop-rock act Tiger High will be headlining with support from Wuv Birds and Ultra Cats.

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What’s up Memphis? After a long streak of never having a “winning” pro team for any sport, it feels damn good that the Grizzlies are doing so well for Memphis. Success deems celebration, and this weekend has got you set up for some good stuff to go out and feel great to.

We’ve got you getting dirty with some Southern pop, getting buck with one of the crunkest acts around, and getting dense on some brand new heady hip-hop. Hope you’ve cleared the next three days in your schedule because it’s time for some weekend shots.

Friday (12/7) has a few different options available. To start, Dirty Guv’nahs are playing at The Hi-Tone Cafe. The Guv’s released their most recent album Somewhere Beneath these Southern Skies in August and are currently touring in its name. They’ve picked up steam from reviews from Relix Magazine and Musicians Magazine and honestly, they put on pretty rad show. Black Cadillacs, who also released their album Run in June, supports.

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Ever thought of driving through Memphis… just for fun?

From the historical architecture prevalent in the downtown area to the tree covered streets of East Memphis, It’s really a town worth seeing. On the off-chance you live to far away for a short driving tour (or, you’re just too lazy), Chris Milam’s new music video has you covered.

The singer-songwriter who just released his most recent effort, the Young Ave EP, recently posted the video for his song “Any Day Now,” which takes you through a driven journey of the bluff city.

If you’re already in Memphis (or are going to be soon), check him out at the Christmastravaganzafest at Otherlands on Dec. 15. Also, be sure to give a listen to his Young Ave EP, full of Memphis love and inspiration.

Hey, Memphis! How was getting fat last week? If you didn’t OD on gravy and stuffing, you’ve got a great weekend to look forward to. We’ve got you riding on musical lightbeams, jamming out with some Middle Tennessee blues rock, and getting your pop fix on. Hope you saved some room for dessert—it’s time for some weekend shots.

Friday (11/30) has a few contrasting events to offer. Over at The Hi-Tone Cafe, the River City Tanlines are playing a show in celebration of all those who donated money to the Kickstarter fund that got them through their European tour. If you’re unfamiliar with their work, The Memphis three-piece is the rock ‘n’ roll outlet for Alicja Trout— One of Memphis’ most well-known unknowns. They released the full-length Coast-to-Coast earlier this year. Come out to hear what modern Memphis rock sounds like.

At Newby’s Memphis, mathy rock Lightbeam Rider will set up bar-side. Other than having brilliant art direction, Lightbeam Rider has a sound that’s somewhere between the articulated guitar work of redneck manifesto and late 2000s’ post rock. October saw the release of Mississippi, a full length that bounces around rock styles and techniques with a concentrated effort in memorable choruses.

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Hey, Memphis! In preparation of stuffing, yams, and the customary fried turducken, this weekend has plenty of music that you should give thanks for.

We’ve got you dancing the robot to ’80s synth pop, getting down with two of Tennessee’s top MCs, and sifting through the back catalog of a living legend. Hope you’re working on an empty stomach—it’s time for some weekend shots!

Friday (11/16) is a long day with plenty to see. ’80s revivalists Future Islands bring their FM synth and 30-year-old drum machine sounds to The Hi-Tone Cafe. The synth-pop trio are working off their “Tomorrow” 7″, which was released earlier this year. Noise rockers Talk Normal are also billed, working off of their second album Sunshine, also released earlier this year. Memphis’s own Ilya Twins provide additional support.

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