The Memphis Scene

The swing dancers were out in full force for Sunday night's concert by French gypsy-swing outfit Samarabalouf at the Levitt Shell. The crew at the forefront of that scene in Memphis is Red Hot Lindy Hop; check out their Web site for information about their programming, including dance classes the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The Memphis Lindy Hoppers are also planning their big bash of the year, the Red Hot Lindy Exchange. The three-day event, Oct. 17-19, features a ton of live bands and deejays at locations all over town, including the Balinese Ballroom on Front Street, Earnestine & Hazel's on South Main, and even Overton Park.

The Free Sol band, busy in the studio for their forthcoming project on Justin Timberlake's Tennman label, return to the Memphis stage Friday night at Newby's. Free and the boys promise to preview some of the new material, so don't miss out!

I'm just catching up on blogging now, and I didn't have an opportunity to mention the Windjammer shootings over the weekend. I only went there once, I believe, but I go to the dentist and get my hair cut right across the street. Pretty scary stuff ...

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.

According to this piece in today's newspaper, the smoking ban has been accompanied by drops in revenue for some dining and lounging spots. Dish in Cooper-Young went to an over-21/smoking-allowed policy after six tough weeks, while Huey's owner Thomas Boggs says his Cordova and Downtown locations have seen revenues drop $10,000 to $15,000 a month. Whether the smoking ban is directly responsible for these losses -- as opposed to an overall slow business climate -- is anyone's guess. But the Tennessee Restaurant Association wants to drop the over-21-only exception altogether.

Rich rappers, working-class rockers and poor deejays. We're all about reaching across class lines with this one. It should be a great way to wrap up your Thanksgiving weekend.

Lord T. and Eloise will be celebrating the release of their debut album, "Aristocrunk." To get you in the mood, check out their video for "Million Dollar Boots," featuring the gangsta walker himself, Al Kapone.

I'm not sure about cover charge for this show. I'll ask around and update this post ASAP.

Wear your helmet, knee and elbow pads and -- knowing these roller girls -- a supporter and cup.

Jay Farrar and Co. play Wednesday night at Newby's in support of their new album, "Okemah and the Melody of Riot." Okemah, by the way, refers to the Oklahoma hometown of folk music legend Woody Guthrie. (9 p.m.; $18.50 cover. 18 and up)

I drove out to the Carre Four shopping center today to renew my car tags before tha polices start pulling me over and sweating me. On my way out, I decided to grab some lunch at Swanky's Taco Shop. I had some substantial chicken enchiladas smothered in a tangy tomatillo salsa, along with black beans and cilantro-lime rice that I could eat for three meals a day. That was one of the daily specials; the standard menu is the basic build-your-own burrito/taco/bowl model (ie, Chipotle or Blue Coast Burrito).

The atmosphere is cool, too: Swanky's a sleek, high-ceilinged corner space with slate-style flooring, roomy booths, a well-stocked tequila bar with seating, and tropical Latin music on the PA. DJ John Clark holds down the late-night scene on Saturday nights.

* The Mo' Boogie band plays every Monday night at Gill's on Highland. They used to be at Newby's on Tuesdays.

* The Cool Jerks, of all people, play an "unexplained" show next Saturday at Newby's. Get ready for Midtown indie hipsters and scruffy garage-band types mingling with the khaki pants and white ball caps. It'll be a beautiful thing. (No cover!)

* I'm going to try to make tonight's show at The Vault, the performance space off to the side of R.P. Billiards (the old Highland Cue), by bands-whom-I-can't-recall-at-the-moment. Last night it was The Secret Service, I believe. I'll report back Sunday on the space and the show.

The Highland Strip: Makin' moves, I tell ya. Midtown types who haven't partied down there in 10 years suddenly find themselves drifting east, beyond the parkways. It must be a bracing feeling, really.