Comment Archives: Events
Re: “Ted Nugent”
First ten people in the door get a free jar of pickled deer hearts.
Re: “Booksigning by Jeff Klitzner”
Jeff passed away unexpectedly on 8/18/11. His friends and fans will still be attending this event in order to commemorate his life and his spirit of adventure. Please join us.
Re: “Table of Brotherhood Project”
To Whom It May Concern:
I want to know if anyone is concerned about the children and their rights to a first rate education. This issue with consolidation with MCS and SCS seems to be overshadowing the pertinent reasons to have schools—to provide a first rate education for our children. We need to put all this bickering aside and devise a practical plan that has our children’s best interest in mind and not our petty insignificant agendas. Who cares who is right or wrong—we need to come to some sort of an agreement that will help our children reach their maximum academic potential. Although, I am not a proponent of consolidation; however, I am an advocate for education. I would like to see the schools, administrators, and teachers band together in unity to develop a plan that will help the school systems excel—whether we become one large school system or remain separate--I really do not care as long as we create an effective plan that will accommodate all the diverse students and the various learning styles of the students.
Furthermore, I would like to see that we incorporate the positive aspects of both systems, if we must consolidate. The SCS has an excellent curriculum and the teachers are really doing a superb job motivating and engaging the children. I have two children in SCS—one at Bartlett Elementary and one at Bartlett High School. I really think that my children are doing well because of the schools they are attending and the excellent administrative staff. Likewise, I am aware of excellent schools in MCS but I know of several failing or high priority schools, such as Frayser High School and others. I know about Frayser High School because this is the school that I recently chose to write an action research paper about to obtain my master’s in education. In my action research paper, I explored the alarming statistical data about the school and many other detrimental aspects about the school and the community of Frayser.
Finally, I am cognizant of the fact that we have problems in our schools but it bothers me that MCS threw in the towel so quickly before trying to work through the problems with the school system. I do not understand why anyone would want to make the problems with educating our children worst by constantly squabbling about school consolidation, money, and who will run the schools. I hope and pray that we think about the children and their welfare, not our selfish agendas—money, fame, power, or just politics.
Sincerely,
An Advocate for a First Rate Education for Everyone
Re: “Soul Food Festival”
I was absolutely disgusted with what this group did to Shelby Farms. There was trash ALL over the park from the guests of this festival the next day. Users and visitors of the park could not believe that this festival would just allow people to throw trash and food all over the ground. I have never seen such disrespect for a park, and I plan on writing several major publications regarding this flagrant disregard for Shelby Farms. This group does not deserve to use the park ever again.
Re: “Karaoke”
Really a great time... no rotations or anything, just great karaoke with a great selection of songs.
Re: “McGuinness Karaoke Idol with Q107.5 and Alexis Grace”
The host didn't seem to want to be there and the selection truly sucked. Thanks a bunch.
Re: “Ricky Mac Karaoke”
Last time I was there it really sucked.
Re: “Josh "Razorblade" Stewart Blues Band”
We met Josh at Ground Zero in a hot sunny morning, just after a very interesting visit to the Delta Blues museum. He came to our car trying to sell us a CD requesting us to put the music on and as the first notes and his voice came out the player we decided to buy it. I quickly saw he was a big person and spent with him a long time, listening to a theorie about the worl we are living in. Actually, I totally agreed with him. After that he came with my parents and I to the bar and we shared a beer while he told us a little bit more about his life...
After listening to his music we realized how fantastic a musician he is!!! We recommend you to look for him is you come to Calrksdale and take a beer with him at ground Zero! He is Blues!!! The real thing
Re: “Acrassicauda (Iraqi Thrash Metal) with These Wolves Are Robots and Dead Twin”
Is Acrassicauda still on for Friday? Im itchin to go!
Re: “Bob Dylan and Leon Russell”
Words cannot express the greatness of this performance. Like the proverbial apples of gold delivered on a plate of silver. Some few people in life are able to give their very best all the time with no let down and Bob Dylan or Mr. Zimmerman or whatever he wants to be is one of those people. As I scanned the crowd of young, middle aged, and older folks some were dancing in their seats, others sat in awe with their jaw open, others tried to hide the tears by putting their head down. The thing about Mr. Dylans music is that it provides the common link that opens up the heart and puts all ages, all genders, all races on the same wave length and now suddenly you are connected to 5000 people at the thalamic level. This concert was an existential experience of the highest order. How can a 70 year old musician with a significant closed head injury from a motorbike accident years ago do all this every third night for months on end? The answer is blowin in the wind.
Re: “Bob Dylan and Leon Russell”
Here's my review...
Dylan gave a great performance tonight on Mud Island in Memphis (July 30), one of the best I've seen.
It was a great day, my mother and brother came down to Memphis from Arkansas, and we visited Elvis at Graceland earlier in the day. My brother is a Dylan fan, but I wasn't sure mom would enjoy Dylan as much as Leon Russell.
The forecasts called from scattered thunderstorms so I feared rain, and there were ominus clouds over Memphis and lots of lightening during Leon Russells lively set of rock standards. I was not familiar with Russells work, but recognized a few rock classics (Jumping Jack Flash, Wild Horses, etc.) I heard Song for You for the first time, and I will be checking out that and other works by Russells. Leon stayed behind his keyboard barely visible except for his long bright white/gray beard, and he could barely stand for his brief encore, and looked pretty frail limping off with his cane. I had hoped to hear him join Dylan for a renunion on Watching the River Flow or When I Paint My Masterpiece, but he never came back.
I was hoping for Rainey Day Women to open, but since that was played the prior show, I knew we would get Leopardskin Pillbox Hat, still a good start. Don't Think Twice was a familiar version, followed by new arrangement of Things Have Changed, with some good harp. Tangled Up In Blue has undergone another revision, with Dylan in the center of the stage focusing on his vocals and playing some really great harp solos. Dylan played electric guitar for the first, and I think only time, on Beyond Here Lies Nothing, great performance, better than the album version I think...
The highlights of recent Dylan shows, including Memphis, is when Bob moves to the center of the stage to sing and play great harmonica solos. Most songs have also undergone radically new arrangements, usually for the better.
First real standout performance for me was a jazzed up version of Mississippi, with the crowed cheering the chorus (Stayed in MS a day too long..)
Next came a great loud, rockin' Levee's Gonna Break (given new urgency with the recent flooding of the Mississippi...) Charlie and Bob did dueling riffs on guitar and organ.. (oh, Bob is playing mostly organ now, not piano on his keyboard..)
Next great highlight, Sugar Baby. Not one of amy favorite songs from L&T, but this version was mesmerizing, with bob enter stage, singing each line slowly and every word was carefully and forefully delivered. More great harp..
Hwy 61 is always a favorite in Memphis, just a short distance from the famous Hwy 61. Charlie gets to open up with great riffs, dueling with Bob on organ
As the other reviews have foretold, Forgetful Heart is heart stopping greatness. Bob enter stage again delivering great vocals, best singing I've hear from him in a while... Bob seems to love these latest songs.
Thunder on the Mountain was delivered fast and furious, hard to recognize, I think they should slow it down a little, but the best jam of the night saved it for me...
And the last great great highlight of the show, Ballad of a Thin Man, bob at his best as a singer and performer. The echo effect adds to Bobs powerful singing of this great masterpiece. He is really getting into this song and putting a lot into it..
The First Encore was expected, and enjoyable crowd pleasers, Like a Rolling Stone and All Along the Watchower (this version not as good as others), and we held out and got a great second encore of Blowing in the Wind....
The crowd begged for more, but it was the end of another great Bob show in Memphis, Tennessee.
And the verdict from mom as 'thumbs up' so I think she is a bob fan now too...
(Only problem was she was in a wheelchair and the row in front of her stood up most of the show blocking her view..) I had warned her about his worn out voice and what to expect, but bob is once again using his voice as an instrument to express new and different things, with old and newer songs.
Thanks bob for another good one... amazing how he keeps going and going.
Here's a link to some videos from the show I took on my iPhone
http://gallery.me.com/jimmaynard1#100088
Leopardskin Pill Box Hat
Forgetful Heart
Ballad of a Thin Man
Like a Rolling Stone
All Along the Watchtower
Blowin' in the Wind
Re: “Bob Dylan and Leon Russell”
And I forgot to rate the stars: at least four.
Re: “Bob Dylan and Leon Russell”
A few notes (and later I may turn this into a full-fledged review): i got there late (missing Leon Russell), and there were what seemed to be droves of people leaving early. Ominously, some were middle-aged types, who should have been bound by enough generational loyalty to stick around. I asked one guy (younger, in his late '30s): Why are you leaving. He said, "He's awful!"
Now, in truth, Dylan's voice, fltering through the muggy summer air before I got into the arena to see the man, was a croak. But, hey, he's been croaking for a decade or more. What were these folks expecting? Frank Freaking Sinatra croaked for his last decade. To use a tired word that applies to both cases: Authenticity. It was still there.
When I got into my place in the cheap seats, Dylan was wearing that wide-brimmed Mexican hat playing keyboards, jamming with a solid group of instrumentalists. Fact: his keyboards are adequate, his harmonica (which came in on the classics, especially) superb. (His guitar playing has always been far better than most people realized.)
I don't know where all those early dropouts came from; the seats were still filled to overflowing when I got there, and they stayed that way. And the gods rewarded the faithful. Let me put it this way: The last four songs played were: Ballad of a Thin Man; Like a Rolling Stone. All Along the Watchtower. Blowin' in the Wind. (The last three were the encore, called for by an enormous roar.) I'd have paid my $44 just for those.
The audience sang the chorus with Dylan throughout Like a Rolling Stone. It was Holy Communion. I was fascinated by a 20ish couple a few rows down doing exuberant rave moves as everybody got up and stood. Bob's voice even got better. Believe me, it was clear and resonant where it needed to be.
There was, undeniably, this: all those vintage revolutionary lyrics by that weathered old warrior were sung against the backdrop of a social reality that made them seem ironic in this Tea Party age. In that sense, Dylan himself seemed to be playing the role of Mr. Jones. Sad. But still a glorious effort and a good night.
Re: “Bob Dylan and Leon Russell”
Wow, anything but exspected. You never know what you will get from this legendary preformer. That's what keeps us guessing and him in demand.
Re: “William Lee Ellis”
He was really good. Really, really good.
Re: “Acrassicauda (Iraqi Thrash Metal) with These Wolves Are Robots and Dead Twin”
FUCCK YEAH DEAD TWIN IS THE SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: “Teacherz Pet”
Awesome band, best I've heard in a while
Re: “Hidden Gallery Photo Exhibition”
Mr. Davis, many thanks for the heads-up! I will most certainly visit this exhibit; very much looking forward to seeing these photographs!
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
SPECIAL ISSUES
Re: “Ted Nugent”
Wow.Right-Wing Guitar God? Sounds like this magazine might not approve of Mr. Nugent. I have never heard them refer to a liberal musican as Left-Wing Anything? OH well. Whatever.