The Memphis Scene

Paul Ryburn has a beer recommendation over at his blog, which wouldn't necessarily be worth a link except that he namechecks old-school wrestling great "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes ...

Actor-comedian Eddie Izzard stopped by Beauty Shop in Cooper-Young on Monday night as the long-running Rehab weekly was in full swing. Izzard, of course, performed the next night at The Orpheum (check out the Jon Sparks review here). After the show, Izzard was seen outside his tour bus, about to be escorted to an after-party somewhere in the South Main District (I would have pursued this further, but the winding-up of the Democratic primary season had me pretty exhausted last night -- and tonight!).

Deejay Buck Wilders plans a two-hour tribute to the late, great Bo Diddley from 10 till midnight tonight on his "In the Basement" program on WEVL. Unfortunately, such tribute programs are needed more often these days as the legends pass on.

Over at Memphis Music Confidential, Andria Lisle recounts meeting the man himself.

The real deal, I'm talking -- 1970s international-relations style, not '00s fraternity-party style. The Hi-Tone is hosting a series of table-tennis tournaments this summer, starting with a dry run Tuesday night. E-mail thehitonecafe@gmail.com if you're interested.

Memphis always seems to show up on undesirable lists compiled by various magazines. Now here comes Newsweek, slapping Memphis at No. 2 on its list of America's Unhealthiest Vacation Destinations. Apparently it has something to do with our city's penchant for property crimes (No. 1 robbery rate in the country!). I think it's all part of Memphis' unique charm.

For your consideration, a recent pet peeve of mine, though not necessarily a major one: Bands who pick silly genres for the categories on their MySpace pages. For instance, MGMT has "surf/jungle/country." That would be pretty witty -- even ironic! -- if every other indie pop-rock band didn't list stuff like "nu-jazz/polka/gamelan" or "minimalist/zouk/boogie."

If this grinds your gears, too, drop me a comment.

Commercial Appeal film critic, Bloodshot Eye blogger, and now New York Times contributor John Beifuss compares the 1976 horror B-movie "Grizzly" with our -- or is it "your"? -- Memphis Grizzlies, and the NBA squad comes out squarely on the losing end (figures, right!?). In fact, just about all the Grizzlies seem to have going for them is the dance team (the movie apparently is short on scantily clad lovelies).

Commercial Appeal film critic John Beifuss, blogging at The Bloodshot Eye, calls "Persepolis" a must-see.

If you went out clubbing in the 1990s in Memphis, or, more recently, checked out the legendary Monday night parties at Melange around the turn of the millennium, you might be familiar with deejay Sean O'Daniels. The dimunitive spinner with outsize energy never fails to rock a crowd, and although he has since moved on to Buffalo, N.Y., he's still putting it down. Check out his bimonthly podcast for your regular dose of house and garage goodness.