Category Archives: TVD Memphis

Since 2007, the Church Health Center has found a brilliant way to wed great music with an even greater cause.

The Rock for Love event has its aim on raising money for the Church Health Center. In a half dozen years, they’ve amassed over $120,000 to aid the Center in providing quality, affordable health care to uninsured working people and their families. Rock for Love 6 is an event at three different venues with over a dozen great bands all geared towards a bigger cause.

Starting up yesterday, the event has already hosted the talent of Mouserocket, Mark Edgar Stuart, and others. So what does Rock for Love have in store for us this weekend? Get your gear ready; it’s time for Weekend Shots: Rock for Love 6 Edition!

Friday (9/7) Hi-Tone Cafe has a strong dose of the heart with a few great sentimental acts. Love-centric Chris Milam will be playing romantic songs for girls and guys who like girls. Also billed, the rising power pop of Star & Micey (who are on the cusp of releasing a Dennis Hearing-produced EP!) will play a set. As if Star & Micey weren’t enough of a reason to go out and party by themselves, a few songs in the set will feature former Big Star drummer Jody Stephens.

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Hey Memphians, we hope the past five days have given you enough rest to tide over for this busy weekend. We have you getting down to some live band dance music, getting real with a Texas legend, and getting into a brand new release from some underground Memphis heat. Just in case you have music rabies, here’s a strong dose of Weekend Shots.

Friday (8/31) starts you off on your feet. If you like party music but wish you didn’t have to stare at the back of a laptop when you’re getting down, Newby’s Memphis has you set up with sets from Kphonix and Arpetrio.

Kphonix are fast becoming a Memphis dance staple with a mixture of rave/house/and bass music that emphasizes live instrumentation and future Bowie-esque vocals. Arpetrio makes jam heavy grooves with thick riffs, passed between guitars and synths meant for dancin’, as evident on their latest release Triggology.

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Connecticut’s own Mercies will fly through town Wednesday to drop a hot load of live music at The Hi-Tone Cafe.

The indie rock trio consisting of Josh Rheault (guitar/vox), Sammy Dent (drums), and Jordan Flower (bass) deliver memorable melodies over precise production that apparently all came from a barn. Rheault and crew have spent a good portion of the past two years writing, recording, and playing music inside of an old barn that Mercies restored through hard work and made their space to work hard.

The results thus far are two well thought-out collections of sound. 2011 saw the release of Three Thousand Days, an acoustic adventure over lush soundscapes and dynamic arrangements. In March of this year, Mercies put out their earthy yet undeniably catchy Ballet EP. Rolling out a tour that will have them hitting up the West Coast then making a pit stop in Canada, their performance in our little town is one you won’t want to miss.

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Hey Memphis! Everyone I know is obsessed with working out, so this weekend we trim the fat and give you a lean, mean helping of Weekend Shots.

From a bitching rock two-piece to an accessible folksy act, we’ve got you covered.

On Friday (8/24), Murphy’s central location on one of Memphis’ best bike streets makes it easy to go see The Fuggers & SnagglePus. Guitar/drums duo SnagglePus carry a rock tag that floats somewhere between ’90s grunge and ’70s art rock. Fuggers deliver gut-bustable R&R (without any resting or relaxing), with an edgy punk ethic that holds the “raw” quality as its most valuable asset.

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Memphis thrash punk outfit Manateees kick off a two-week outing tonight at The Hi-Tone Cafe. With plenty of fun to be had, music to rock out to, and words to be spelled (err… what?), there’s no reason not to come out.

Keith Hall, Abe White (Sons of Thunder, Sector Zero) Charlotte Watson (NOTS) come together like Voltron to form the mega Memphis Punk band Manateees. Later this year, they’ll be releasing a 7″ on Goner Records and have a slew of dates to play in preparation to show off their raw sound.

Tonight will start their tour with a show at the Hi-Tone Cafe. Additional entertainment will be provided by DJ Alic Cooper (Jack Oblivian) and, for those of you who miss showing off in front of teacher, a spelling bee hosted by guitarist/singer Abe White.

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Forty years ago today, Stax Records put together a monumental concert that gathered over 100,000 people in Los Angeles. The Wattstax concert was an event that was more than just the talent and music it hosted; it was a statement on important social issues.

On August 20th, 1972, Stax Records organized a musical platform for injustice with social inequalities. The event was held to bring light to the tragic Watt riots of Los Angeles in 1965. Performances included The Staples Singers, Rufus Thomas, The Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes, and many more. Over 112,000 people came out to support both the music and the riot that it commemorated.

To honor the anniversary of Wattstax concert, a special discussion panel as well as a Q&A will be held at the Stax Museum tonight.

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Hey Memphis! I hope you’re prepared for the coming weekend cause it’ll be a doozy.

We’ve got you set up for two super-awesome side projects, some gritty Southern rock, and a rave that’ll have you dancing until your pants fall of (if you’re lucky). Straight to the dome, it’s time for some weekend shots.

Friday (8/17) starts things off on a good foot as Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes fame is bringing his latest project, Chris Robinson Brotherhood to the New Daisy. With only a year and change under their belts and a full record to promote, Big Moon Ritual, the music is young and full of life. Come out and see them perform their earthy blues in slow rollers like “Sunday Sound” and “Tomorrow Blues.”

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Although there are stories of two people falling in love and making beautiful music all over the world, for a talented couple whose art is grown from Southern American roots, their tale is a Carolina Story.

The darling duo comes to town tonight to play at the The Hi-Tone Cafe. The couple of lovebirds have been burning through the States on the heels of the release of their newest full-length album, the inviting and comforting Home. The album is an earnest effort in all things folk with a leaning on sweet melodies and sweeter lyrics. Come catch Carolina Story as they play new and old material that will have you pining for your main squeeze.

To make the night go from awesome to frickin’ fantastic, Memphis-based Star & Micey are also billed. The folk pop trio overflow with positive energy and tender-yet-powerful songwriting that will have you stomping your feet, clapping your hands, and singing along all night long.

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Good music isn’t always all that far away. Tomorrow, Memphis garage-rock outfit The Near Reaches release their self-titled debut on vinyl and are kicking things off at The Cove with support from The Mighty Dead Soldiers.

Although The Near Reaches started as J.D. Reager’s (of The Cold Blooded Three) solo effort, music from the band’s other songwriters Jason Pulley (The Adversary) and Jack Alberson (Shortwave Dahlia) slowly began to sink into the project, transforming it from a solo outing into a full-on group.

With the addition of bassist Eric Wilson, you have The Near Reaches—an energetic garage rock quartet whose sound is comparable to alt-rock acts of the ’90s while maintaining a healthy grasp on an individual identity and modern songwriting.

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Hey, friends! I’m sick of talking about how hot Memphis is. Screw the weather—this weekend is dedicated to guitars. We’ve got you set up to see everything from an axe virtuoso to a young lovely 6-string crooner. Get loaded… It’s time for some weekend shots. 

Friday (8/10) will start the weekend off by pulling your face out of your gut (metaphorically). Guitarist of gargantuan talents Eric Gales will show everyone he’s better at shredding than them at Minglewood Hall. Burn The Sun (who everyone knows was formerly The Young Guns) will be supporting the man of many licks.

Need your heartstrings plucked? Singer/songwriter Chris Milam will be playing his birthday show at The Hi-Tone Cafe. He’s got lots of sweet sentiments and a big romantic heart for all the girls out there who like that kind of thing. Also billed is Hi Electric, who recently released their self -titled album, of which you should totally go see the live version at the gig.

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Hey, Memphis, feeling the heat of summer? You don’t have to say “I know, right?” because everyone in the bluff city has been on the same page since the first day the temp went above 101 (circa forever ago). For four young’ns who’ve grown up in Memphis, they don’t just experience the heat of the summer, it’s their life.

Brothers Jared, Wesley, and Branson Summers, along with Peter Armstrong, make up The Summers—a pop/punk explosion of youthful energy and intentions prepped to take teen girls and skateboard kids by storm with loads of power chords and an obsession with eighth notes. As of this past several months, The Summers have been hard at work on their debut LP. This Thursday, August 9th, marks the date of the release show of their debut full-length album It’s No Life Story at Newby’s.

With added support provided by YET., Dime Fiction, Louder, As Hell Retreats, and A Plea for Purging, the night is sure to be full of energy, youthfulness, and adorable[ness]. Cover is $10, and the doors open at 6 pm. Come on out if you’re wanting to feel young (like, really young) again!

It’s always been said that integral to rock and roll is sex and drugs, but those who have chosen to make a career out of gigging and dedicate their lives to music may have found out that the sex and drugs part are completely sacrificial to keep the flame burning for good ole Rock and Roll.

Reverend John Kilzer has spent a long life in the rock business, stretching back to 1987. With the single “Red Blue Jeans,” Kilzer’s debut album Memory in the Making pushed Kilzer’s career to the top, giving him the resources to afford all manners of opportunities. In the following years, Kilzer wrote for Rosanne Cash, Trace Adkins, Jimmy Davis, and Dobie Gray.

Although Kilzer stuck to the faster lanes of life during his early years, the pre-reverend rocker entered recovery in 2000. Since then, his life has turned into a positive message of how one can overcome the depths of dependency within the culture and still mantain a passion and career for music. It’s true that the past 30 years have seen Kilzer on many separate ups and downs, but now his music is on its way to the heavens with his latest effort, The Way.

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How was your week, Memphis? On the off-hand that you had a rough one, the bluff city has your back this weekend.

There is plenty of emotionally charged songwriting from opposite ends of the spectrum, a funny show to get you feeling good, and brand new music to show you there’s still hope in the future. Get your bulletproof vest on; it’s time for some weekend shots.

Friday (8/3) is gonna kick things off on a youthful note as the pretty angst of a few native acts will tear through the sound system of the New Daisy theatre. Adorable axe act Running With Giants are working off of their most recent self-titled EP. This wide-eyed group of rockers has songs perfect for those young (like, really young) at heart. As Skies Cave In and 7 Days to Heaven are also billed, rounding out the tour de force of fiercely overdriven songwriting.

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What would you rather do than watching a bunch of really, really ridiculously good-looking people play amazingly gorgeous music? Yeah, you got nothing.

Nashville folk act The Vespers will play at the Otherlands Coffeebar tonight. Since their last trip to Memphis to play a showcase for the Folk Alliance International Conference in February, the folk quartet have stayed busy both touring and releasing new music.

The Vespers second album The Fourth Wall came out in April of this year to widespread critical acclaim. The release is an up-to-date take on folk music that has plenty of rootsy goodness while still maintaining a healthy amount of pop accessibility through brothers Bruno and Taylor Jones and sisters Callie and Phoebe Cryar.

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What up party-goers? This weekend has Memphis featuring a super cool record release, an electronic show of strange sounds, and something about a colorful jumpsuit.

Hmmn? I guess that means its time to suit up and ready yourself for some weekend shots.

Friday (7/27) starts off with a big hullabaloo, with a rocking show at Minglewood Hall. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (which, from what I can tell, is incredibly safe edgy music) will be blowing speakers out with their take on post-screamo/core/hair music. Set it Off and Patent Pending will also be bringing their attitude-soaked sets to the big comfy venue, so why not come and check out what the kids are into these days?

Past the angsty rock of a jumpsuit apparatuses (apparatusi?), there’s also a cool low-key electronic show at the Buccaneer Lounge. The longest-performing electronic group in Memphis, Grunt’s Gelatinous Cube, are top-billed for a night of weird noises you’ll want to hear. Human Being and their electronic post rock, as well as Oxford Icebergs‘ hand-crafted analog beat love-making, and DJ’ing from The Cubists are also billed.

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