May 23, 2012

Memphis Shows: May 23-27

And now…a list of the shows coming up that I know about…

Wednesday, May 23

The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.)
OBN IIIs, True Sons of Thunder, Moving Finger
9:00pm, 21 and up, Cover Unknown

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
The Right Here, Capgun
8:30pm, 21 and up, $3

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
The Lumineers, Star and Micey
9:00pm, 18 and up, $12

Thursday, May 24

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Unknown Hinson, The Kernal
9:00pm, 18 and up, $20

The Lamplighter Lounge (1702 Madison Ave.)
Nots
9:30pm, 21 and up, Donations (?)

Saturday, May 26

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Pierced Arrows, Don’t, The Fuzz
9:00pm, 18 and up, $10

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
The Bills, The Turn It Offs, Overnight Lows
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5

The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.)
Whatever Dude, Peppermint Sun
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5

Sunday, May 27

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
William Beckett, Cara Salimando
6:00pm, All Ages, $10

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

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May 23, 2012

Photos: Ty Segall, White Fence, Useless Eaters, Ex Cult

With OBN IIIs at the Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.) tonight, Pierced Arrows at the Hi-tone on Saturday, and the recent appearance from Quintron and Miss Pussycat, it feels like a mini Gonerfest is happening! Last night felt the same way, when Ty Segall took the stage (and somehow I managed to get Gonerfest drunk).  Here’s a bit of what you missed last night if you were unable to make it out….

Ex Cult

While it seems the “Errand Boy” 7″ is out of print, you can still get a copy of Ex Cult’s second 7″ “Plain Jane/I’m A Bug” on the Goner website!

Useless Eaters

White Fence

Ty Segall

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May 21, 2012

Back in Action: Photos of Quintron, Manatees and Sector Zero

After a week away at the beach, I return….slightly rejuvenated and ready to hit some shows!  I made it back in time Saturday night for Mr. Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Manatees, and Sector Zero at the Hi-tone.  If you didn’t come out, you really missed something amazing!

Sector Zero

Its certainly been a minute since Sector Zero has taken the stage in Memphis.  While they might have felt a bit rusty themselves, it didn’t show at all in their performance.

Featuring Goner co-owners Eric Friedl (Oblivians, True Sons of Thunder) and Zac Ives (Sharp Balloons, Final Solutions) with Abe White (Mantees, True Sons of Thunder) on drums, Sector Zero is not quite as tounge-in-cheek as the True Sons of Thunder and maybe not quite as polished as Sharp Balloons.  When I think of Memphis’ brand of garage punk, Sector Zero epitomizes that sound perfectly.  While there might have been a bit of sloppiness, due to the long hiatus the band has been on, that sloppiness seemed to be on purpose.  I hope they continue to play out more in 2012!

Manatees

When it comes to punk and garage rock, it isn’t often that you see bands stepping out of their comfort zones of their genre, and attempting to be experimental.  I admire the Manatees, because they often do.  In the past, their line-up has included multiple guitarists, drummers, a violin player, and even on one show prerecorded tapes.  While I’ve certainly had no complaints with the most recent three piece line-up that has included Abe White on guitar, Keith Hall on bass, and Charlotte Watson on drums, it was nice to see Andrew McCalla (aka Buck Wilders) rejoining the line-up to assist Watson on additional percussion!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat

When Quintron performed last year at the Hi-tone, I missed it.  This bummed me out, because shortly after the show, rumors started that he wasn’t going to be touring much and that I might have potentially missed one of his last Memphis performances.  Thank God, that wasn’t true!  With the early spring release last year of Sucre Du Sauvage on Goner, I should have known we hadn’t heard the last from Quintron and Miss Pussycat.  I got a bit snap happy during the puppet show, and decided to stop taking pictures once they had finished their first song, but here is just a little of the insanity they brought to the Hi-tone!

Looking for something to do this week?

Monday, May 11

 Memphis Music Foundation (431 S. Main St. Suite 201)
Black Dice, Cloudland Canyon, Final Seed
8:00pm, All Ages, $8

Tuesday, May 12

The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.)
David Couser
10:00pm, 21 and up, No Cover

 The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Ty Segall, White Fence, Useless Eaters
9:00pm, 18 and up, $12

Wednesday, May 13

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
The Right Here, Capgun
8:30pm, 21 and up, $3

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
The Lumineers, Star and Micey
9:00pm, 18 and up, $12

 The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.)
OBN IIIs, True Sons of Thunder, Moving Finger
9:00pm, 21 and up, Cover Unknown

I’ll post info for the shows this weekend on Wednesday.  If you’d like me to list your show on this site, contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

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May 11, 2012

While I’m away….

I’m hitting the road for the beach early in the a.m. tomorrow.  While I’m gone, I will not be updating this blog (hey, I need a vacation too!).  I should be returning next Saturday (May 19) for the Quintron show (provided I’m not too road weary)! This is everything that I know about that is going on from this weekend to next weekend.

Friday, May 11

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Megan Reilly, Wuvbirds
9:00pm, 18 and up, $10

The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.)
Gigante, Sin City Scoundrels, Jacqueline Simmers
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5 for the fellas, free for the ladies


 Saturday, May 12

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
El Karaoke Grande’s Karaoke Madness
9:00pm, 21 and up, No Cover (but tip your KJ)

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Can’t Touch This: Tennessee Tease Tackles the 90′s with Kaleidophonix
9:00pm, 18 and up, $25 (VIP Seating)/$15 (General Admission)

Young Avenue Deli (2119 Young Ave.)
Supersuckers, Jocephus & George Jonestown Massacre
9:00pm, 18 and up, Cover Unknown

The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.)
El Dorado & The Ruckus
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5

The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.)
Ross Johnson & Friends (Early Show)
4:00pm, 21 and up, Cover Unknown

Sunday, May 13

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Memoryhouse, MPSO
9:00pm, 18 and up, $10

The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.)
Gary Wrong Group, The Manatees
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5(?)

Monday, May 14

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Dead Soldier
9:00pm, 18 and up, $5

Tuesday, May 15

The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.)
David Couser
10:00pm, 21 and up, No Cover

Thursday, May 16

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Tame The Hurricane, Copper Possum, The Warm Atlantic
9:00pm, 18 and up, $5

Friday, May 17

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
El Karaoke Grande’s Karaoke Madness
9:00pm, 21 and up, No Cover (but tip your KJ)

Saturday, May 18

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Quintron & Miss Pussycat, The Manatees
9:00pm, 18 and up, $12

The Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave.)
Oracle and the Mountain, Victor & The Spoils, Woodenmouth
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5

Crosstown Arts (495 N. Watkins St.)
Bikesploitation II: Some Bike It Hot (Bicycle Film Festival)
6:30pm, All Ages (?), Cover Unknown

Sunday, May 19

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Frank Smith, Sin City Scoundrels, Brennan Whalen & The River Rats
8:00pm, 18 and up, $5

This is everything I know about going on next week.  As you can imagine, this list is in no way comprehensive.  Once again, I will not be updating or handling any blog business next week!  You can contact me via e-mail at memphisrockcity@gmail.com, for anything you want me to list after May 19!  See you all when I get back!

 

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May 9, 2012

Royal Headache’s S/T gets an official U.S. Release

If you attended last year’s Gonerfest, then hopefully you were packed into the Hi-tone on the first night to see Sydney, Australia’s Royal Headache.  While the Australian version of their self titled record has been readily available here in town thanks to the kind folks at the Goner Records store, the band celebrated an official American release of the record yesterday via What’s Your Rupture?.  Royal Headache’s sound bounces between American garage and British punk rock with just a dash of soul thrown in for good measure.  When they played Gonerfest, I kept thinking that they reminded me of the Reigning Sound on speed.  “Psychotic Episode” could pass as a lost Buzzcock’s song, while “Down the Lane” feels like it could have been written in a Memphis garage during a rowdy Alex Chilton/Jim Dickinson collaboration.  “Wilson Street” feels like garage rock’s answer to “Green Onions.” I’m not sure where these Aussie’s found their soul, but I do not doubt its authenticity.  Fans of lo-fi will definitely love this record (I think this is the sort of album that Times New Viking wishes they could write).   Other Tracks to check out: Every time “Really In Love” pops up on my iPod in shuffle, I get pretty stoked.  “Never Again,” “Pity,” and “Back and Forth” are also quite amazing tracks!

Royal Headache kicks off a summer tour of the U.S. on May 25th.  While it doesn’t seem that they have plans to play Memphis at the moment, you might still be able to catch them depending on where you plan to vacation.

ROYAL HEADACHE US TOUR DATES:
Fri. May 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Blue Star

Sat. May 26 – Oakland, CA @ Vitus

Mon. May 28 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones

Tue. May 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room

Fri. June 1 – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn (Chaos in Tejas)

Sat. June 2 – Austin, TX @ Club Deville (Chaos in Tejas)

Wed. June 6 – Minneapolis, MN @ House Party

Thu. June 7 – Chicago, IL @ The Burlington

Fri. June 8 – Madison, WI @ University of Wisconsin

Sat. June 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club

Wed. June 13 – New York, NY @ Cake Shop

Thu. June 14 – New York, NY @ Warsaw [Northside Festival]

Fri. June 15 – Boston, MA @ P.A.’s Lounge

Speaking of vacations….I’m leaving for one Saturday morning and I will not be updating this blog during my time away!  I’ll post the most updated shows I know about for the weekend and next week on Friday, May 11.  If you want me to list your show, shoot me an e-mail at memphisrockcity@gmail.com quicksnap!

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May 7, 2012

This Week’s Shows-May 7-13 2012

Did everyone have an amazing weekend at Music Fest/Dick Dale/Melvins and Unsane?  This week more awesome shows are coming your way…

Coral Legs, Aster, and Nouteka

Tonight (5/7) at The Lamplighter Lounge (1702 Madison Ave.), Minneapolis experimental/noise duo Coral Legs will be playing!!!  Almost every track that these guys have available up on the web sounds different, but I think the unifying theme for their music is that there seems to be a heavy outsider art influence in their sound (I think that if Daniel Johnson were to start an electronic project, it would sound something like Coral Legs).  Coral Legs will be joined by locals Aster and Nouteka, who are back from a bike tour of Arkansas!  Things will kick off at 10:00pm, and donations will be taken for Coral Legs.  The Lamplighter is a 21 and up venue!!!

Also tonight

The Beauty Shop (966 S. Cooper St.)
Witnesse: Ode To MCA
10:30pm, 21 and up, No Cover

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Marbin
9:00pm, 18 and up, $7

Tuesday, May 8

Sometimes when doing this blog, I can be pretty bad about missing some shows.  It dawned on me recently that I have been completely overlooking David Cousar’s Tuesday night residency at The Buccaneer (1368 Monroe Ave.).  Cousar is sort of like Memphis’ own personal Tom Waits.  Some songs have country and folkish leanings, some songs have a psychedelic feel, and some songs have a very 90′s college rock aesthetic to them.  Unless he is on the road, then Cousar can be found every Tuesday night at the Buccaneer.  His Tuesday night residency is free, but The Buccaneer is a 21 and up venue.

   The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Cowboy Indian Bear, The Lion’s Science
9:00pm, 18 and up, $7

Thursday, May 10

The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.)
Moving Finger, Magik Markers
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5(?)

Friday, May 11

It seems like forever ago that Megan Reilly left Memphis for New York.  Well this Friday, she returns to play the Hi-tone (1913 Poplar Ave.) in support of her new record The Well.  Reilly will be joined by locals Wuvbirds.  Things will kick off at 9:00pm with a $10 cover.  The Hi-tone is an 18 and up venue.

 Saturday, May 12

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
El Karaoke Grande’s Karaoke Madness
9:00pm, 21 and up, No Cover (but tip your KJ)

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Can’t Touch This: Tennessee Tease Tackles the 90′s with Kaleidophonix
9:00pm, 18 and up, $25 (VIP Seating)/$15 (General Admission)

Sunday, May 13

The Poplar Lounge (2586 Poplar Ave.)
Gary Wrong Group, The Manatees
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5(?)

These are the shows, I know of for now.  I’ll update as I find out more.  If you want me to list your show on this site, contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

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April 30, 2012

The Telescopes, Social Distortion, and Dick Dale’s 75th Birthday

My God there is a lot of amazing happening this week!!!

The Telescopes, Cloudland Canyon, and Acid Glasses

Tonight (4/30) at the Memphis Music Foundation (431 S. Main), influential UK shoegaze/space rock band The Telescopes will be performing.  The Telescopes are only making a very limited number of U.S. appearances this summer, and this show at the Memphis Music Foundation is one of them!  While The Telescopes may not have made as large of an impression on the mainstream as some of their contemporaries like My Bloody Valentine or The Jesus and Mary Chain, this band is no less important.  This show is one you will not want to miss!  They will be joined by locals Cloudland Canyon and Acid Glasses!  This show starts early (or at least early by Memphis standards) at 8:00pm and has an $8 cover.  I assume that since this is taking place at the Memphis Music Foundation, this will be an all ages event!

Social Distortion

I hope all of you old school punk rockers are excited about tomorrow night (5/1). Minglewood Hall (1555 Madison Ave.), will be welcoming Social Distortion!  Mike Ness and co. will be joined by 90′s alternative rock radio staples The Toadies and country singer/songwriter Lindi Ortega!  Tickets can be purchased on Minglewood’s website for $28, and after Social D wraps up, a free after party will take place in Minglewood’s 1884 Lounge with local Memphis punk rock staples Pezz!  Door open at 7:00pm and the show will kick off at 8:00pm!  This show is all ages.  Come on! It’s Social Distortion! Do I really have to sell you on this one?

Retribution Gospel Choir

If slowcore is more your bag, then you probably aren’t going to be rushing to the Social Distortion show, which is all well and good because Retribution Gospel Choir is going to be playing the Hi-tone (1913 Poplar Ave.) as well tomorrow night (5/1).  Okay, so Retribution Gospel Choir isn’t quite a slowcore band, but they do feature Alan Sparhawk of Low fame!  They’ll be joined by locals Good Luck Darkstar (a quite apropos choice for this show).  Doors are at 8:00pm, cover is $10, and the Hi-tone is an 18 and up venue!

Dick Dale’s 75th Birthday

Did you know that on Friday, May 4th, surf rock icon Dick Dale will be turning 75?  Did you also know that he will be playing the Hi-tone that evening to celebrate his 75th birthday? Richard James & The Special Riders (who seem to be the go to band for playing birthday parties judging from last weekend) will be opening this show!!!  Tickets are $20, and doors open at 9:00pm!

You are probably also aware that from May 4th-6th, the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival will also be happening.  I’m not gonna dedicate too much energy into covering this event, because I think they have the promotion pretty well covered, but they do have some awesome bands playing this year!!! Girl Talk, Megadeth, My Morning Jacket, Florence and the Machine, Three Six Mafia, North Mississippi All Stars, Al Green, Dr. Dog, Black Lips, Cold War Kids, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Jane’s Addiction, Buddy Guy, The Cult, Son Volt, Jerry Lee Lewis, Allison Kraus and the Union Station, The Civil Wars, and Primus are just some of the acts that are playing….Perhaps it will be possible to sit through some shit like Bush and Evanescence for the good bands!!!  

Also this week:

  Thursday, May 3

A. Schwab’s (163 Beale St.)
Star and Micey, Memphis Dawls, Amy LaVere, Caroline Jones
7:00pm, All Ages, $15

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
David Berkeley, Garrison Starr
8:00pm, 18 and up, $15

Friday, May 5

Murphy’s (1589 Madison Ave.)
Modern Convenience (The Shakes CD Release Party), Deal Me In, Alex Warble
10:00pm, 21 and up, $5

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
The Melvins, Unsane
9:00pm, 18 and up, $15

Sunday, May 6

The Hi-tone Cafe (1913 Poplar Ave.)
Lucero, Lee Bains III and The Gloryfires, The Dirty Streets
5:00pm, 18 and up, $20 (This one may have already sold out, but it never hurts to try.)

As I find out about more shows, I will list them on this site.  If you want me to list your show on this site contact me at memphisrockcity@gmail.com.

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