Pop Culture: Sing All Kinds, Memphis Flyer

Bob Saget, Billy Idol talk Bonnaroo 2013 (Plus, your chance to win tickets!)

Shara Clark — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:04:02 -0500

The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival returns to Manchester, Tennessee next week for its 12th year, drawing nearly 90,000 music lovers to a 700-acre stretch of farmland for four days of fun in the sun June 13-16. The festival is known for its diverse bill of artists, and this year’s lineup features headliners Paul McCartney, Bjork, Mumford & Sons, and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, as well as comedic performances by Daniel Tosh, Bob Saget, David Cross, and others.…

Elements of Dewey Phillips' WHBQ sound booth have been salvaged and stored

Chris Davis — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:59:00 -0500

Renovation has begin on the Hotel Chisca, where WHBQ's "Red, Hot, & Blue" disc jockey Dewey Phillips first introduced the world to Elvis Presley, and rock-and-roll. Working with a skeleton crew of volunteers filmmaker turned preservationist Mike McCarthy removed glass, and acoustic tile from the booth where Phillips conducted the world's first Rock-and-Roll interview.…

Not Your Mother’s Art: Underground Art celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Hi-Tone

Tonya L. Thompson — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:51:00 -0600

Last weekend, the soon-to-be-departed Hi-Tone hosted the 20th anniversary party of another Midtown staple, Underground Art.

In addition to the collaborative art, the event featured performances by Rebel Child, Capgun, New Science System, SVU, Brando Little of the Gloryholes, Jody Stephens of Big Star and Alicja Trout of River City Tanlines, Sin City Scoundrels, Snagglepus, the Sidewayz, Mo Alexander, and Imaginary Friend.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, there was an art auction, with pieces donated by local artists and photographers.…

Live From Memphis Calls It Quits

Bianca Phillips — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:19:32 -0600

Live From Memphis, the volunteer-supported film, music, and arts organization that has captured so many Memphis music moments and showcased them to the world, is calling an end to its 12-year run.

Founder Christopher Reyes posted a letter on livefrommemphis.com today letting fans know that the website has run its course.…

Memphis Photojournalist Robert King Finds John McAfee

Joe Boone — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:40:00 -0600

Memphis-born photojournalist Robert King is in the company of fugitive software magnate John McAfee. King is filming a larger piece on McAfee and filing for Vice.com.…

Nothing To See Here Podcast Re-Launches

J.D. Reager — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:11:59 -0500

After an unexpected 8-month hiatus, the Nothing To See Here podcast returns to the interwebs this week with a brand new home - the Shut Up And Listen network - and a dynamite first guest, actor/comedian (and Memphis native) Chris Parnell.

NTSH creator/host Kirk Rawlings spoke to the Flyer this week about re-launching the podcast and more.…

Wayne Coyne talks about his 24-hour tour

Chris Davis — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:40:25 -0500

In a press conference before The Flaming Lips' Beale Street concert Wayne Coyne described his 24-hour tour as a "trek" and compared it to Easy Rider and to the Sex Pistols tour through the South. He tried to make nice with Erykah Badu and said he didn't care if he broke the world record for most concerts in 24-hours or not.…

Bonnaroo's Back

Shara Clark — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:52:15 -0500

The 11th Annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival rolls into Manchester, Tennessee this week, bringing in 150 performers to its 10 stages and 80,000 campers to soak it all in. The larger-than-life four-day festival will consume 700 acres of farmland in the small town June 7th-10th.…

Testing Out a New Campaign Theme Song?: Obama Croons "Let's Stay Together."

Chris Herrington — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:55:23 -0600

At a campaign event last night, with the right Rev. Al Green apparently in attendance, President Obama croons a little "Let's Stay Together."

Ladies and gentleman, the radical socialist Manchurian candidate bent on the destruction of all that is American, in action:

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Live From Memphis Turns 11

J.D. Reager — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:42:36 -0600

Venerable local arts/film/music organization Live From Memphis will celebrate its 11th birthday this Friday night (01/13) at 7 p.m. with an open-house party at company headquarters (1 S. Main).

Founder Christopher Reyes spoke to the Flyer this afternoon via telephone about the past, present, and future of LFM.…

Memphis Heat DVD Out October 1st

J.D. Reager — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 09:07:01 -0500

After multiple local screenings and successful theatrical runs all over the region, the long-awaited DVD release of Memphis Heat: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin' has finally come to fruition.

Officially, the DVD doesn't hit the shelves until tomorrow, but Memphians will have an early opportunity to purchase the film in person later today (Friday, Sept. 30) from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Midtown location of Central BBQ (2249 Central).…

Live From Memphis Launches "Nothing To See Here" Podcast

J.D. Reager — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:12:47 -0500

This week the website Live From Memphis unveiled the latest addition to its already robust arsenal of freely distributed online components promoting Memphis music, film and creative work, a weekly podcast titled "Nothing To See Here." Live From Memphis will celebrate the launch of the new podcast with a party this Thursday, August 25, 7 p.m. at the Lamplighter Lounge.…

Live from Graceland: SiriusXM's Elvis Radio

Andrew Caldwell — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:31:00 -0500

It ain’t nothin’ but non-stop Elvis for SiriusXM’s Elvis Radio channel which has been broadcasting live from Graceland 24/7 for the past seven years.

Tony “T Y” Yoken, a DJ at Elvis Radio, sat down to answer questions about the station.…

Who's that Girl (Kissing Elvis)?

Chris Davis — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:04:00 -0500

Vanity Fair reveals the identity of the woman touching tongues with the King in one of Elvis's best known photographs.

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The Onion's AV Club Visits Memphis Landmarks

Chris Herrington — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:39:18 -0500

The Onion's AV Club is doing an online travel series called Pop Pilgrims, in which a three-man crew is road-tripping to visit 36 pop culture landmarks around the country and shooting five-minute videos at each destination — one city a week for 12 weeks, three landmark locations in each city. Among the initial stops have been California locations that are featured in films such as Vertigo, The Graduate, and Reservoir Dogs.…

King of Puerto Rico: Your occasional dose of vintage Lawler

Chris Davis — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:26:25 -0600

See the joke? You know the kid's Puerto Rican because he's got a switchblade.…

Bob Friedstand on Animation History Tuesday

Susan Ellis — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:06:00 -0600

On Sunday, January 23rd, the Germantown Performing Arts Centre presents “Rhapsody in Boop,” a concert celebrating the animated, jazz-loving sex-pot Betty Boop, who was first introduced to audiences in the 1930s.

But first, a little education courtesy of GPAC’s ArtSavvy series on Tuesday, January 18th, at 7 p.m.…

Signs: A holiday greeting or just bad advice?

Chris Davis — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:29:51 -0600

Honestly Pastor Williams, I love Christmas but after thinking it over I've decided to see other holidays...

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Ryko Releases Bill Hicks Anthology

J.D. Reager — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:44:21 -0500

Bill Hicks
The Essential Collection
(Ryko)

This month, Ryko rolled out a long awaited four-disc (2 CDs, 2 DVDs) retrospective on the now legendary late comedian, Bill Hicks. Since his untimely death in 1994, Hicks' status has slowly but steadily risen to the level of a cult icon, thanks in part to the success of “alternative” comedians such as David Cross, Patton Oswalt, and even Russell Brand, all of whom Hicks is often credited as being an artistic influence on and forerunner to.…

A Very Unfortunate Elvis Item

Chris Herrington — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:51:00 -0500

From the department of the ghoulish and disgusting: Medical instruments and other materials relating to the autopsy of Elvis Presley are being put up for auction by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.

The items — which include a toe tag — were apparently saved by for many years by an embalmer at the Memphis Funeral Home and will be put up for auction in two lots (estimated at $6,000-$8,000 and $4,000-$6,000, respectively) on August 12th.…

Sound Advice: Jesco White at the Hi-Tone Cafe and Brooks Museum

J.D. Reager — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:07:00 -0500

This Sunday, June 6th, presents two unique opportunities for local devotees of cult icon Jesco “the Dancing Outlaw” White to delve further into the Appalachian wild-man's bizarre and, at times, comical world.

White, 53, originally achieved notoriety as the subject of the 1991 PBS documentary Dancing Outlaw, which chronicled White's devotion to the dying art of mountain dancing (his father, D. Ray White, is regarded by some as the greatest mountain dancer who ever lived), as well his many criminal exploits, regular drug use, and troubled family life.…

Faces of Death: Photographer Jonathan Postal opens All the People who Died

Chris Davis — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:59:00 -0500

I remember drinking a beer with Jonathan Postal last September, shortly after the death of author, poet and occasional recording artist Jim Carroll who recorded "All the People Who Died" knowing it would probably be played at his funeral. Postal, who had recently helped me with a project about would-be wrestlers in West Memphis, was feeling particularly mortal that night.…

Dead Again: Scenes from a Zombie March

Chris Davis — Fri, 28 May 2010 23:15:00 -0500

Once a year people dress up like zombies and take a walk down Main Street for no apparent reason Here's a taste of the Memphis Zombie March 2010.

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Profiles in Awesome: Jerry Lawler draws the cover for "WWE Heroes" comic book

Chris Davis — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:17:00 -0500

And here it is...

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Muck Sticky & the Rock-afire Explosion, Pt. 2

J.D. Reager — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:48:00 -0500

As the Flyer previously reported, Muck Sticky will hit the road this summer backed by “the greatest animatronic rock band of all time,” the Rock-afire Explosion. Formerly known as the house band at the Showbiz Pizza chain, the group will join Mucky Sticky on a nationwide tour known as “the L.I.F.E. Tour.” Muck Sticky spoke to the Memphis Flyer this week via email about this development and more.…