Tad Pierson will take you off the beaten path in style. His American Dream Safari tour company takes tourists and locals alike to the disappearing landmarks of Memphis rock and soul in his 1955 Cadillac. His knowledge of the city’s lore is legendary, going beyond Sun Records and Graceland to take his charges to places such as the Chadic dealership where Johnny Cash’s band once worked and Willie Mitchell’s studio where Al Green cut his landmark songs of the 1970s. The tours transform the city’s history from a dull recitation of half-remembered hits to a living, breathing legacy of a culture that transformed the world. As for Peirson, the man himself is as eccentric as his automotive choices, living in a warehouse filled with restored vintage antique Airstream trailers. But that’s Memphis for you: We take all kinds here.
Beginning in the 1990s as the bassist for surf-rockers Impala, Scott Bomar has been at the forefront of Memphis music for more than a decade. The versatile musician, engineer, and producer has done extensive movie soundtrack work, bringing slinky soul-inspired sounds to such films as Craig Brewer’s 2005 breakout hit Hustle and Flow, the blues infused followup Black Snake Moan, Giancarlo Espositio’s directorial debut Gospel Hill, and the upcoming John Michael McCarthy exploitation epic Cigarette Girl. Bomar’s band the Bo-Keys doesn’t just ape the classic Memphis sounds of the 60s and 70s, members such as “Theme from Shaft” guitarist Charles “Skip” Pitts and Bar-Kays founder Ben Cauley are carrying on in the vein they started.
Bomar says he drew inspiration and advice from legendary producer Willie Mitchell when opening his own Eletraphonic Recording studio in Memphis’ burgeoning South Main Arts district. During the studio’s short existence, Bomar has recorded artists ranging from rap legend Al Kapone to punk sensation Jay Reatard, using a mix of digital and analog equipment to bring the Memphis sound into the twenty-first century.
Often overlooked in Memphis’ music history is its electronic music. It started out in the rave days of the 80s, hiding from police in abandoned warehouses and semi-legal house parties, and has grown steadily through the years into a thriving scene led by beat dropping DJs such as Mr. White and Sean OD.
The epicenter of Memphis electro is Dish, a restaurant and lounge located on the corner of Cooper and Young. Dish is a tapas-style restaurant by day, but after 9 it transforms into a dream disco, complete with a bed where tired dancers can lounge while nursing their cocktails. So remember, guitar slingers: your music may get more attention, but you’re still playing in a beer barn. At Dish, Memphis electronica has found a stylish home.
CREDITS
special thanks to
David Nestler
Mr. White
Robert Kalafat
Glenn Althoff
Sean O’Daniels
Chris Garcia
Sarah Bolton
music
“Hot Mess - Musaria (Songleader Remix)”
written by Sean O’Daniels
remix by Chad White
It’s a gathering of the tribes and the day to celebrate the uniqueness of a neighborhood. Cooper-Young is more than just a center of restaurants and shops, it’s an urban oasis of freethinkers, academics, artists and just regular folks of all kinds. Every September, the Cooper-Young Festival (the largest one-day festival in the Memphis area) brings together the artists, musicians, artisans, crafters, community organizers, and freaks that make the Midtown area such a great place to live. The festival was started as a way to build community pride, but it has evolved into a cross between an outdoor music festival, a reunion, and a swap meet. Between the fine fall weather—and fall is the reward you get for living through the Memphis summer—the great food and unbeatable musical lineup, it’s the most fun you can have with your pants on. Be sure to be there this year on September 19.
Where does the Memphis beat come from? The endless procession of great drummers that has powered the city’s sounds had to get their drums somewhere, and the preferred place for drummers in the know is the Memphis Drum Shop. This Midtown institution has more cymbals than you can shake a stick at, and an unbeatable selections of skins for every skill level. From the beginner to the expert to the rock god, anything a drummer wants to hit, they’ve got it. Even more amazing is their collection of vintage drums, many of which are signed souveniers from rock and soul legends.
But it’s more than just a store, it’s a center of education. Countless Memphis drummers got their first lessons here, whether they’re marching in the drum line or seated behind the kit. With a staff who is dedicated to the art of the beat, Memphis Drum Shop truly is “Drum Heaven”.
CREDITS
special thanks to
Jim Pettit
Cedric Keel
Isiah Rowser Jr.
Renardo D. Ward
Clifford Jackson Jr.
Parker Mulherin
Marshall Mulherin
Joe Mulherin
John G. Salazar
Jason F. Hatcher
Bill Frazier
Liberty Bowl Stadium and Fairgrounds
the Memphis Drum Shop
Trying the Calvary Waffle Shop with @Andre_tha_giant. (@ Calvary Episcopal Church)Posted: 15 mins ago
This is the level of my love: I'm at Bardog for 10 min., watching tipoff before my lunch meeting. (@ Bardog Tavern) http://4sq.com/8xY979Posted: 44 mins ago
@cpmusings The one day I'm not working from there. And indeed, #gotigersgo.Posted: 1 hr ago
Photo #67 in the Memphis Project 365 reminds you to invest in something lasting: good times. http://bit.ly/bVjHd4Posted: 2 hrs ago
