August 7th: Two Amazing Shows Tonight!

In September of last year, I had my ass officially rocked off by these guys…..

I’m not sure what tide has ridden into the state of Alabama, but Huntsville’s Daikaiju delivers a surf sound reminiscent of their fellow Alabama natives Man or Astroman?.  Tonight, they will be rolling into Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.).

Also, Memphis’ own Tanks, who recently released their sophomore album Loud Cloud on Fat Sandwich Records will be joining them!  Things should kick off at 10:00pm, and cover is $5.  Murphy’s is a 21 and up venue.

Also tonight….

Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Glossary will be playing tonight at the Hi-tone (1913 Poplar Ave.) in support of their seventh studio album Long Live Us All.  Glossary will be joined by The Memphis Dawls!  Cover is $7, and it’s taco night at the Hi-tone!  Doors are at 8:00, and the Hi-tone is an 18 and up venue.

If you want me to list your show on this site, contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

Finally….

I’ve been busy, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been going to shows…so for your amusement, here are some photos my slack ass hasn’t shown you yet…

If you were in Midtown on the Fourth of July, then you probably found your way to The Buccaneer at some point to check out Justin Bierman’s quite amazing firework show.  Most people did not find their way inside The Bucc afterwards, which was a shame, because one of my favorite local bands, The Bombay Alleys, performed:

Sure…It’s shoddy photography on my part, but I kind of think it’s funny how the shadows hide their faces.

On July 13th, The Bombay Alleys played The Buccaneer again, this time with two out of town bands: Asheville, North Carolina’s Albatross Party and Kansas City, Missouri’s Schwervon!

Albatross Party

Schwervon!

Last Monday, July 30th, Memphis garage rock legends The Oblivians reunited and played the Hi-tone with Sharp Balloons!

 Oblivians

Finally, I was quite bummed when I got to The Cove too late Saturday night to catch Anne Schorr bring her new solo project, Anne Schorr and The Significant Others to the Stage.  Fortunately, I was able to see her husband Richard James play with one of the craziest line-ups of Richard James & The Special Riders I have seen yet (featuring Jake Vest and Greg Faison of Tiger High, Luke White formerly of Snowglobe and The Coach and Four, and the ever trusty Patrick Glass and Ross Johnson!)

Richard James & The Special Riders

Coming soon:  Much overdue reviews of The Late Show and Hot Freak Nation!  Plus a review of Ingram Hill’s newest record!

 

August 4th: Richard James, El Karaoke Grande

What?  A new Richard James and the Special Riders video covering Lee Hazlewood’s “My Autumns Done Come.”

Also…”Brown Liquor” available as a new single on Richard James’ Bandcamp page.

Now….If only they were playing a show tonight….

Excellent….and to top it all off, Richard’s wife Anne Schorr will be bringing her solo stuff to you with a full on band!  This is happening tonight at The Cove (2559 Broad Ave.)!  Richard James & The Special Riders haven’t played The Cove since May, and if you haven’t been to one of their shows there, expect it to be wild and to go late!  Things kick off at 10:00pm, there is a $5 cover, and The Cove is a 21 and up venue.

Also tonight…..

Memphis’ favorite lucha mask wearing karaoke jockey will be bringing his party to Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.) for Marianne Spengler’s birthday.  Sing awful pop songs, buy Marianne drinks, and for God’s sake….tip the hell out of your KJ!  This will kick off at 10:00pm, and has no cover (so you have more money to drink, tip El Karaoke Grande, and get Marianne drunk!).  Murphy’s is a 21 and up venue!

Want me to list your show here?  Contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com!

Sultan Bathery and Warm Girls Tonight at The Lamplighter

Looking for some fun tonight (8/1)?

Vicenza, Italy’s Sultan Bathery will be playing the Lamplighter (1702 Madison Ave.) tonight!!!!  These guys have a perfect blend of garage, punk, and psychedelic that I think will highly appeal to fans of Thee Oh Sees.  Check out their Bandcamp page to get a listen to their new 7″ Fireworks which was recently released on Slovenly Records.  They will be joined by Memphis’ own Warm Girls.  Things should kick off around 10:00pm and the Lamplighter is a 21 and up venue.  And remember that Sultan Bathery is from Italy, so by all means buy merchandise or donate to them as they are a long way from home (I’m sure there will be a cover for this show as well).

Want your show listed on this site?  Contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

The Oblivians and Sharp Balloons tonight!!!

Just another boring Monday in Memphis…..Do I really have to tell you what you are gonna do tonight?

I’m sorry.  Do you have something better to be doing?  Report to the Hi-tone (1913 Poplar Ave.) tonight!  Doors are at 9:00pm, tickets are $10, the Hi-tone is an 18 and up venue.  Sharp Balloons is opening!  You want in on this believe me.  When they did their reunion with The Gories back in 2009, all shows sold out.  Not sure if that will be the case tonight, but just in case, you can get your tickets in advance by clicking this link!  Yeah, I know it’s a Monday night, so just take it easy on your Tuesday night drinking or something!

The Weekend, July 27-29

I know…I know….I’ve been a lazy kitty this week.  I promised you a post, and I have seriously let you down, and some goodshows have happened this week.  Maybe you can forgive me, as I give you a solid post for the weekend:

Friday, July 27

Otherlands Coffee Bar (641 S. Cooper St.)
Nots, Moving Finger, DJ No Request (Bennett from The Magic Kids)
7:00pm, All Ages, $5

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Burial Within (Final Show), Tanks, Shards of Humanity
9:00pm, 18 and up, Cover?

Saturday, July 28

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
River City Tanlines (CD Release), Manateees
9:00pm, 18 and up, $5

Mulan Bistro (2149 Young Ave.)
Naan Violence, Hail Maria!, DJ Nat Boogie, DJ Mighty River
10:00pm, 18 and up, $5

The Daily Planet (3439 Park Ave.)
Sin City Scoundrels (CD Release), Chinese Dub Embassy, Reverse Apache
9:00pm, 18 and up, $3

Le Chardonnay (2094 Madison Ave.)
El Karaoke Grande Presents: Karaoke Is For Lovers Part II
9:30pm, 21 and up, Free but tip your KJ

Sunday, July 29

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Limes, Moving Finger, Time 
9:00pm, 18 and up, $5

That’s all I got for now.  If you want your show added to list, contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

Don’t forget…The Oblivians are Monday night.  You may want to float to the Hi-tone’s website to buy your tickets in advance!

Torche and Hosoi Bros Tonight!

Soon, I will have a post up for you that at least has a much more thorough listing for this week’s shows, but for now…go to the Hi-tone (1913 Poplar Ave.) tonight (July 23) for this….

Miami stoner metal outfit Torche will be rocking the Hi-tone tonight!!!

They will be joined by these guys…..

Hosoi Bros and Torche tonight!!!  As an added incentive, it’s also hot wing night at the Hi-tone!

Doors are at 9:00pm, cover is $10, and the Hi-tone is an 18 and up venue.

Want your show listed on this site? Contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com!

Peppermint Sun, Cory Branan, El Karaoke Grande, Buffalo Child

Alright!  The weekend is upon us….Here are some of the things you can get into!

Peppermint Sun, Curly Mojo at The Poplar Lounge

Since Ron Snyder of Peppermint Sun contacted me via e-mail about their show tonight (7/20) at The Poplar Lounge, I’ve been trying to listen to and digest their record Oblivianation via their bandcamp page.  I’m a part of that strange breed that prefers the later work from Paul Westerburg and The Replacements, so whenever I hear a band that reminds me of that, I am pretty much immediately won over.  Elements of power-pop, garage, and punk permeate this band’s sound.  They’ll be joined tonight by Curly Mojo!  Cover is $5, The Poplar Lounge is a 21 and up venue, and things will kick off at 10:00pm!

Cory Branan, Audra Mae, Adam Faucett

Born in Southaven, rocked out Memphis, and relocated to Austin, Cory Branan returns to Memphis tonight (7/20) for a show at the Hi-tone (1913 Poplar Ave.).  If you were hitting up shows at the Hi-tone and the Deli back in the early ’00s, then you probably fell in love with Branan’s music.  Tonight, he’ll be playing with Audra Mae and Adam Faucett.  If you haven’t already done, pick up a copy of Branan’s newest record Mutt at the show tonight.  Doors open at 9:00pm, cover is $10, and the Hi-tone is an 18 and up venue.

El Karaoke Grande’s Birthday Extravaganza

If there were ever a reason for me to plug a shindig for one of my favorite KJs karaoke parties, then this would be the one.  Tonight at Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.), El Karaoke Grande will be celebrating the day of his birth (or perhaps the day of his alter ego’s birth…I don’t want to mess up the legend here) by having you sing terrible pop songs off key while being heavily intoxicated!  While this event is free, remember that KJs like tips (especially on their birthday).  This will kick off at 10:00pm and Murphy’s is a 21 and up venue.

Buffalo Child, The Sheiks, Slut Hound

 Head to The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.) tonight, for Texarkana, Texas’ Buffalo Child.  It has been long overdue, that rock and roll make it’s return (don’t get me wrong, I love indie pop and everything), but Buffalo Child’s sound is reminiscent of the old school blues inspired rock sound of the 1970s.  Grab a beer and your lady and prepare to shake it.  They’ll be joined by locals The Sheiks, who also blow my mind, and Slut Hound.  This should kick off around 10:00.  Not sure about the cover (I assume it’s $5), and The Buccaneer is a 21 and up venue.

Saturday, July 21

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
He’s My Brother She’s My Sister, Golden Animals
9:00pm, 18 and up, $8

 Want me to list your show on this site?  Contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com!

Ed Shrader’s Beat, Good Luck Dark Star, The Growlers, Warm Girls

So here it is….a post for your Thursday evening! And some good shows are happening!!!

Tonight (July 19) at The Lamplighter Lounge Baltimore’s Ed Schrader’s Music Beat will be performing!  Check out their song “Sermon” on the Load Records page!  They have a experimental punk sound that in a weird way reminds me a lot of Jeff The Brotherhood, both in the power of their songs and the simplicity.  They’ll be joined by locals Warm Girls and Kings Dominion. The cover is $4 and The Lamplighter is a 21 and up venue.  Expect things to start heating up in the 10:00 hour.

Good Luck Dark Star

Good Luck Dark Star will be playing the Hi-tone (1913 Poplar Ave.) tonight (July 19) with touring bands The Growlers and Kingston Springs.  Doors open at 9:00pm and cover is $12!  The Hi-tone is 18 and up.

I’ll have another post for you tomorrow about weekend happenings!  Peppermint Sun, Cory Branam, and El Karaoke Grande could all be making your weekend an amazing one!  Contact me if you want your show listed here memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

 

This Week: Brandon Sams, Foster Care, Pampers, Paperhead, D. Watusi

So much happening this week!

Brandon Sams Records an Album

Admittedly, I often don’t dedicate much (or any) time of this blog to Memphis’ comedy scene, despite the fact that they are quite active with open mic nights on Mondays at The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar) and Thursdays at The P & H Cafe (1532 Madison Ave.).  This Wednesday (July 18) at The P & H Cafe, the fairy godmother of Memphis comedy, Brandon Sams will be recording his debut CD.  Fellow comedians Mike McCarthy and Richard Douglas Jones will also be performing, and there will be music from The Community Bubble.  Things will kick off at 8:00pm, and Brandon will be beginning his set at 9:00pm.  There is no cover for this event, but The P & H is a 21 and up venue.

Foster Care, Pamper, True Sons of Thunder

Tomorrow night (7/17), Foster Care and Pampers’ tour swings through the Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.).  If you feel that there just have not been enough gritty, nasty punk rock shows in Memphis as of late, then I think you better make sure you are a part of the audience at the Poplar Lounge tomorrow.  Foster Care is out in support of their debut record Bad Vibe City. Pampers has a new 7″, they would like you to hear.  Throw Memphis’ own True Sons of Thunder into the mix, and you know things are going to be a bit hairy tomorrow night!  Cover is $5, Poplar Lounge is a 21 and up venue.

Also happening on 7/17

The Mosaic House (1097 Vance Ave.)
Itchy Hearts, Empty Orchestra, The Vignettes
10:00pm, All Ages, $5(?)

Paperhead, D. Watusi, Nots

Wednesday July 18,Nashville bands Paperhead and D. Watusi will be rolling into the Lamplighter (1702 Madison Ave.) with Memphis’ Nots.  Click this hyperlink for a Brooklyn Vegan article that includes a new song from Paperhead!  D. Watusi also has a new 7″ to peddle via Nashville’s Dead called Dark Party.  Things kick off at 9:00pm, and The Lamplighter is a 21 and up venue.  Not sure what cover is, but bring some cash with you to donate.  Paperhead and D. Watusi have been on the road for a while now.

Another post is coming soon for events later in the week.  Also pics of Schwervon! and Albatross Party will be up soon as well as some long awaited reviews of records from the folks at Trashy Creatures.  If you want me to list your show on this page, contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

Schwervon! Bombay Alleys, Albatross Party, Hosoi Bros, The See, El Karaoke Grande, and more

Tonight (July 13) is the night, I have been raving about all week!  Schwervon! returns to Memphis to play the Buccaneer (1368 Monroe Ave.) with The Bombay Alleys and Albatross Party!

Cover for this show is going to be $5.  Albatross Party is coming all the way from Asheville, North Carolina and Schwervon! from Kansas City, so come out and support the out of town bands!  Things will kick off at 10:00pm and The Buccaneer is a 21 and up venue!

Also tonight…

If your dollars are tight, Hosoi Bros are playing a free show tonight at The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar).  They will be joined by Little Rock, Arkansas’ The See.  Since The See are from out of town, be decent and put back a couple of folding bills to donate to them for gas money (it’s the least you can do for a show with no cover).  This will kick off at 10:00 and The Poplar Lounge is a 21 and up venue.

Finally….

Tomorrow..(July 14), celebrate Bastille Day in style with this guy….

El Karaoke Grande will be taking his show back to Murphy’s (1589 Madison), for more tomfoolery!  As usual, this one is free, but bring some dollars to tip your KJ.  Murphy’s is a 21 and up venue and things should kick off at 10:00pm.

Also…The line-up for Gonerfest 9 has officially been announced….Check out the Facebook event page here!

Oh…and The Oblivians at The Hi-tone on July 30th!  This summer is getting better by the minute!!!

Contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com!