In the Memphis music scene since her teens and with six generations of Memphis in her blood, Grace Askew has been a steadfast presence regionally as a singer/songwriter. Askew is a road warrior and has been making a national presence as of lately, touring in New Mexico and Chicago promoting her bluesy and soulful new album Grace Askew and The Black Market Goods.
She is no lump on a log back home either as she plays out frequently throughout Memphis and Northern Mississippi. Askew has played on the same bill as Marty Stuart, James McMurtry, Jesse Winchester, and Hayes Carll. Evolving stylistically both lyrically and musically, while being a versatile musician, she is definitely an artist to watch.
Watch Grace Askew perform at the Hi-Tone Cafe on Thursday, August 18th as part of the Rock for Love 5 Benefit Concert Series for the Church Health Center.
1. Webb Pierce “There Stands the Glass” – I love a great country drinking song, and this one especially gets to me because not only does Webb have one of the most heart-wrenching voices of all time, but the lyrics are utterly brilliant . . .
“There stand the glass, fill it up to the brim / ’til my troubles go dim / It’s my first one today.”
Here’s the youtube video of him doing it at the Grand Ole Opry:
2. YouTube sensation: “Baby Crashes Bar in Las Palmas”- This is just one of those videos that you can’t help but laugh and wonder…hmmm, infants and drunk people really are a lot alike. The project is really well done and put together in a unique way…even after having watched this a good 15 times, it still leaves me in stitches.
3. Fay by Larry Brown– It’s Southern-gothic writing at it’s best. Brown has managed to write a book that I couldn’t read fast enough, for the first time in my life…I totally inhaled it. A highly recommended read to anyone who likes stories about the more sinewy, darker side of small-town South.
See Also:
Shangri la Turns You On to the newest from My Morning Jacket, Grace Askew, and more
Seen Around Town – Grace Askew at Neil’s
TVD Review: Grace Askew and the Black Market Goods
Rock for Love 5 Artists Takeover Pick Three: Jeremy Scott of The Burning Sands
