Hey! That's up for review!

    Last night, at the Hi Tone in Memphis, TN, a Welsh alternative rock band took the stage. Ritzy, Rhydian, and Mr. Thomas did what they always do... they brought the house down.     Every time I see The Joy Formidable I am reminded there is something that makes them unique. That being: They seem to really enjoy their music as well as each other. The on stage banter during song breaks and the interaction amongst one another during the show illustrates the tight nit family they are. It's truly enjoyable to watch.      They had a perfect setlist. Played all the crowd favorites even an "acoustic" version of "A Heavy Abacus." They ended the show with "The Whirring" and walked out under distorted reverb.      One thing I think they have mastered is filling the venue space with constant harmonious music. It almost feels like it is turning into noise but they tread the line wonderfully. I think that brings a unique energy to each of t...

    As we continue down this road of blogging, there will be times when I need to preview events so that you as the reader can go take advantage of it! I don't want you always on the outside looking back on something wishing you could've been there. Here's one of those times where I'm firing off the flare to signal to you to schedule in some time to make it to Memphis in May's World Championship BBQ Festival this week (if you're in the area).     If you know anything about Memphis, there are 3 things it is known for: Music (blues, in particular), it's wonderful heritage, and BBQ. This week in Memphis, it is all about the slow smokers down at Tom Lee Park. Last year over 16 Tons of pork was smoked during the 3 day event. For the first time ever, the festival has been expanded into four days instead of three.      MIM BBQ Fest served host to 26 teams in 1978 for it's inaugural festival and has now grown to over 250 teams from all over the country and...

    Chris Stapleton might have one of the more appropriate names in the industry. For over a decade, he has been a major Staple  in the Nashville-music scene, collaborating with artists such as Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bently and Brad Paisley on their albums and serving as a songwriter for Vince Gill, George Strait, and Kenny Chesney.     I was raised on country music. I remember being a kid and singing Garth Brooks, George Strait, Travis Tritt, Hank Williams, Jr., and Clint Black just to name a few. As I grew older, I watched the landscape of country music start to change. It became pop with a twang. It became watered down. As I write this I am reminded like Alabama once sang "If you wanna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band." As I watched this genre breakdown and become a shell of itself, I grew tired of the major players. I walked away. I still kept the good ol' stuff on my Spotify playlist but I wasn't actively searching out for the nex...

    It happens every year. First weekend of May. Like a peacock boasting it's beautiful feathers, Memphis reveals one of her many beautiful sides: Beale Street Music Fest. Ask anyone and they'll tell you how the grounds will be nothing but a pigsty because "it always rains." They don't care though. That's why the Bass Pro Pyramid sells rain boots. This year Mother Nature had other plans for us . This year was going to be different entirely.     If you're not aware already, Beale Street Music Fest is always talked about for being one of the best value festivals. This year it made Everfest's Top 300 festivals in the WORLD. It's one of the many reasons you'll see folks from all over coming to Memphis for the party.     From the venue to the lineup, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one out there. Sure, you can find higher profile lineups all over the country for example at Bonnaroo, Cochella, Lollapalooza, etc but that's not wha...