The pictures from the Christmas-night "3 French Hens" party at Itta Bena are posted for all to see on the Cocks N Hens page. Once again it was Chicagoland deejay/producer/remixer Million Dollar Mano on the decks, with support from Memphis mainstay DJ Flip.
I'll be posting New Year's goings-on as I hear about them over the next few days. In the meantime, the always-prolific Paul Ryburn has a running list of Downtown-area offerings at his blog.
I have before me on my workstation a flier that came with some takeout food I ordered. Printer's Alley (don't forget the fine food at the attached Destiny Diner! I had the jerk burger) is hosting the New Year's Eve event of choice for reggae fans. Lineup: The Soul Enforcers, New York transplants Duke Hex & the Firm Foundation, with my man DJ Cush Culture selecting the riddims on wax along the way.
And a happy holiday season, and a Happy New Year ahead!
My longtime associate DJ Witnesse is taking a break from dropping the heavy club/rap/juke sound -- honed on the road behind the decks with Lord T & Eloise -- to present a selection of classic soul and soulful Christmas tunes Friday night at Automatic Slim's. (9 p.m. till midnight; no cover)
New places in Memphis seem to like to open over the holidays (I seem to recall sliding on a luge of ice all the way from East Memphis to the newly opened bluefin a few years ago this week), so it's as good a time as any to welcome the newest high-concept nighclub in town: Level II Entertainment Complex. Housed in the old Premier Nightclub premises on American Way (the club helpfully points out that it's right down the road from the old Platinum Plus), Level II promises state-of-the-art sound and lights along with a capacity of 2,000. Music policy, as described in the club's literature, is: "Popular, Trance, Funk, House, electronica, breakbeat and Eurostyle genres." The club officially opens Friday night with party dubbed "Viva Las Vegas," and a host of programming is already planned for the holidays, including a Christmas night party with names like Rudy Gay, Kia Shine and 8Ball & MJG dropped on the flier.
Ladies get in free till 11:30 on Friday night!
Note: The club appears to be operated by Memphis music veterans Charley Burch and Boo Mitchell (Willie's son) along with Curtis and Corliss Givens.
One of Memphis' most beloved and most creative bands, Vending Machine has offered up some original Christmas tunes for those holiday-themed iPod playlists. Check out the four tracks here at Vending Machine's blog: They're free to download!
Among Christmas music getting airplay around my crib: "ZE Christmas Album," various Stax Christmas tunes (some of which were played earlier tonight on WEVL by The Hook Up), and Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas."
As I sit here at the end of another night at work, listening to Eric "The Hook Up"'s brilliant selection of soul Christmas tunes on WEVL's "In the Basement" program, I'm sad to report that The Hook Up's long-running Thursday night session with Buck Wilders at The Buccaneer wraps up this week. That's right, you'll need to go elsewhere (like another city!) to hear rare soul and funk on your Thursday nights. So be sure to stop by the Buc this Thursday night for one last knees-up featuring everything from garage rock to Euro-kitsch to deep soul. The party gets going at 10, and there will be a $3 cover.
Thursday night will also be a going-away observance of sorts for longtime Buccaneer bartender Michelle. Leave her an extra-big tip for her trouble!
Be sure to check out Memphis Music Confidential, the new Commercial Appeal-hosted music blog penned by Andria Lisle, the writer who has contributed over the years to The Commercial Appeal, the local alternative weekly, as well as a host of other well-known periodicals and Web sites.
Already holding steady as Memphis' top venue for live music, the Hi-Tone has introduced a new menu and weekly drink specials to build up the regular bar business. The menu features pizza (whole or by the slice) along with sandwiches, salads and appetizers. Among the drink specials ...
Mondays- $5 Ketel Martinis & $1 PBR bottles
Tuesday- $5 Absolute Icepicks & $1 PBR bottles
Wednesday- $3 Guinness Draft & $5 Jack Daniels
Thursday- $3 Canadian Club & $3 PBR 24oz cans
Friday- $3 Lemon Drops & $4 Bombay & Tonic
Saturday- $3 Washington Apples & $3 Seasonal Draft
Sunday- $4 Margaritas
The bar will be open daily from 5 p.m. till 3 a.m., with or without live music on the schedule.
If you've missed seeing the unmistakably hip Nick Ray haunting the streets of Midtown Memphis, get yourself to the Hi-Tone on Sunday night for a homecoming show of sorts featuring Ray's veteran "postpunk, art-pop" act (that's what The Commercial Appeal calls it!) Viva L’American Deathray. You've got to love seeing old familiar faces in Memphis rock clubs over the holidays. Antique Curtains opens things up. (Doors at 9; $5 cover.)
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
