Is it just me or is that Damn River a’ risin?
Things have taken a wonderful turn for adventure this year. The summer is great so far. We are starting off a month long concert binge with Queens of the Stone Age that was opened by The Dough Rollers (Harrison Ford’s son), and then off to Memphis for a three day bender on Beale Street, then sooner or later wrap it up with The Killls at the Music Box in LA.
Mississippi was calling me out in April so I booked a trip home with The Kid. DJ Cash Bar would soon meet me there as Cake opened the weekend up for us. Being back a year later where it all began gave a happy yearning to see the next year unfold.
If I tried to name all the acts we saw I would let you down, as so has my memory for me. I do know the Avett Brothers, Sublime with Rome, Cake, Cage the Elephant, and the Sick Puppies were all awesome. J.J. Grey and MoFro put on a good show, but had to stop because of those damn tornados across the river. Our feet were already muddy so we walked down to the next stage to hear Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis. Now Jerry is a legend, one of the founders of Rock ‘N ‘Roll, and still has “A whole lot of shaking going on.” He is a fire ball on the piano and speaks his mind when he sees fit. A suggestion to the crowd, don’t bounce a beach ball around or he will leave, and maybe without warning. As I looked at the crowd behind us it looked like the 405 to Santa Monica on the prettiest day of the summer. Although, these were all people backed up 200 yards deep to the next stage and 100 yards across from the river to the street. Their ages varied but their love for the foundation of modern music was the same. I will never forget all the children on dad’s shoulders as they looked upon a legend that will take decades for them to realize. Before we left the show to catch Macy Gray, Jerry Lee Lewis rose from his piano and said “Is it just me or is that Damn River a’risin?” The crowd was nuts and he kept on playing like a demon on the ivory.
The days have now become blurry on the rage’n Mississippi. I do know for sure we left the show one night to hit the street and attend a jam session at The Tap Room (the location of contact.) There we walked in on the best damn game the Memphis Grizzlies had played all year, beating the San Antonio Spurs and going on to the playoffs. The crowd was nuts and the street lit up like Mardi Gras as the players came from the FedEx to high five and party with the peeps. I high fived Shane Battier as he walk down the street.
(Experimental Tropic Blues Band) As the fire alarm drove me from my room to stand on the corner at 9 in the morning the river was surprisingly angry. We had heard the rumors of the flood coming and tornados blowing, but we weren’t leaving just yet. There was still fun to be had and drank to be drunk in Memphis. I still needed to see the brother and sister heavy metal street band, and where were those Plantation All-stars? Well my band craving was settled as we walked into the Flying Saucer for a bite to eat. DJ Cash Bar pointed out the Experimental Tropic Blues Band to me, and my band-aid instincts and hospitality started doing the walking. I invited them for a drink and soon after we realized we talk not near enough of the same language we smoked cigs and did shots call mind erasers (The DJ’s Idea!). Then we became their much obliged tour guide to Beale Street. I love doing stuff like that, then taking 8 shots of Jack with a Rock Band of Belgium that sworn never to forget this cute couple. DJ Cash Bar would meet up with them again, but for me the journey was over.
- The Lady
For more of the Experimental Tropic Blues Band (You Tube) or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsc41fABHZg&feature=related
- The Lady
For more of the Experimental Tropic Blues Band (You Tube) or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsc41fABHZg&feature=related
