If you were one of the lucky ones who caught Undertow Orchestra tonight, you know the power that this group yielded on that stage. The Brad P. Family Players opened the show to a silent and friendly crowd, putting on an outstanding performance. Not to be outdone, Vic Chesnutt, Mark Eitzel, David Bazan, Will Johnson, and Scott Danbom took the stage and put in a two-hour performance that left people blissful throughout. Each artist performed songs they or their respective bands have made popular to a near-capacity crowd at the World Famous Hi-Tone. The seemingly unlikely casting of David Bazan as drummer and Vic Chesnutt on bass could not have been more special. David, unbeknownst to me, apparently played drums on each of the Pedro The Lion albums except for one of their EP’s. Vic confided to me that he never played bass before this tour. When I left, Mark Eitzel was holding down the bar with Marcus Battle (of Half-Acre Gunroom) having a friendly debate over philosophy that I really didn’t want to tear myself away from.

Memphis, I am proud to call you my home and I want to personally thank you for supporting all the great music that has been coming through the last few weeks. Now I have to sleep, I will be at work at 8am. How is this possible….

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David Bazan, Vic Chesnutt, Mark Eitzel and Will Johnson will be touring together as the Undertow Orchestra. This is a very special collaborative tour with David Bazan (Pedro The Lion, Headphones), Vic Chesnutt, Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), and Will Johnson (Centro-matic) all sharing the stage, rotating between each songwriter’s material, while serving as backing band on various instruments for each other’s tunes. Scott Danbom (Centro-matic) will join the Orchestra on piano and violin. ANOTHER SHOW YOU SHOULD NOT MISS.

Ending off an amazing weekend at The Hi-Tone was a first for Memphis: an appearance by Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters. I should have known something was going to go down when there was a line outside the Hi-Tone by 9pm, and by 9:30 people had taken it upon themselves to completely re-arrange the chairs and tables inside the venue — primarily pushing chairs right up to the edge of the stage to sit down and watch. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that move before at the ‘Tone, but whatever. For the majority of the night, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop in the place last night. At $10 at the door, I almost feel guilty for not paying more.

After an opening set of blues-influenced roots music from Walter Gently, Kozelek took the stage and tore through a wide swath of his work. Starting with the Red House Painters song “Summer Dress” and easing into a Sun Kil Moon version of “Never Ending Math Equation” by Modest Mouse, the rest of the night turned into a furious blur of heartbreaks and lost highways. I managed to actually hold it together during most of the show, but when he launched into “Grace Cathedral Park”, I finally broke down and bawled my eyes out. Once he got to “Cassius Clay” in his encore, I finally recovered myself.

Kozelek, for his part, had some difficulty getting the audience to snap out of their hypnosis. Several times in-between songs, he would be tuning and ask the audience, “So….what’s up?” which brought on uncomfortable laughter. “Usually I’m really funny at these things and I have stuff to say but tonight I’m just…I dunno,” he told the crowd. After several attempts at getting people to talk, he finally looked over at me, sitting on the speaker stage left, and said something that sounded like, “Can you get these guys to talk to me?” So I asked him if it was his first time in Memphis. That seemed to break the ice, because he launched into an explanation about how he had never been here before, how much he liked it, and how overpriced the tour of Graceland is. We suggested a visit to Graceland Too, and when we told him it was open all night he was like, “Hey, let’s get out of here and go!”

Sometimes shows come to town that are pretty cool or kinda interesting or sorta fun. Unlike some of those kinds of shows, this show was far too good to be limited by that kind of lingo. Words like “memorable” and “unforgettable” come to mind. If you weren’t there, I am so sorry you missed out.

I really, seriously recommend attending this show. Kozelek is an incredible songwriter, and you will not be disappointed.

Mark Kozelek – Up To My Neck In You

Flagrancy will be the order of the day.

TO: THE MEMPHIS/MID-SOUTH FILM & TV COMMUNITY

FROM: THE MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY
FILM AND TELEVISION COMMISSION –
Film Commissioner Linn Sitler
Chairman Herb O’Mell
Deputy Film Commissioner Sharon O’Guin

RE: SUPPORT NEEDED FOR PRODUCTION INCENTIVES LEGISLATION

DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2006

As you are likely aware, since January, 2004, The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission has been a strong, vocal advocate to our state legislators re: the continuing, urgent need to pass competitive production incentive legislation.

We now have well-researched and well-considered recommendations for such legislation —thanks to a report recently prepared by the Film Production Advisory Committee (FPAC) of which Linn Sitler was an ex-officio member. The report is available at The Commission’s website at www.memphisfilmcomm.org

Recently, our Board voted unanimously to endorse the recommendations in this report. As you’ll see upon reading the report, the incentives proposed by FPAC encourage both out-of-state production companies working in Tennessee and also indigenous production companies shooting in the state.

You, as members of the Memphis/Mid-South production community have everything to gain — and everything to lose — by the fate of the legislation containing these recommendations.

In the weeks to come, we’ll keep you informed of the progress of the legislation filed — and what you can do to enhance the cause.

Right now, we are asking you to email a short message of support asap for The Film Production Advisory Committee’s Report on Tennessee’s Urgent Need for Competitive Production Incentive Legislation to:

phil.bredesen@state.tn.us (Governor Bredesen)
cc: dave.cooley@state.tn.us (Deputy Governor Cooley)
david.j.bennett@state.tn.us (TN Film Commissioner)
linn@memphisfilmcomm.org (Memphis/Shelby Co. Commissioner)

Additionally,with this email, we are asking for the support of the innumerable businesses and hotels in our community which benefit so greatly from production. Let’s stay “in touch and together” in the weeks to come in order to see our state come from behind to pass competitive incentive legislation THANKS!

A follow-up: here is the email I sent. Feel free to steal any part of this for your own:

Dear State Representatives,

I wanted to take a moment to contact you in support of the Film Advisory Committee’s Report on Tennessee’s Urgent Need For Competitive Production Incentive Legislation. As a working professional in the film, television, and commercial industry, I want to stress to you the importance and urgency of this legislation as it relates to our state’s overall short and long-term economy, our regional economy, and the job security of thousands of people like me: Tennessee residents and their families who are working professionals in the film, tv, video, and commercial industries.

As a working professional, I speak on a daily basis with people in these industries regarding projects they are considering filming in Tennessee. The deciding factor on whether or not to begin production in our state is almost always the tax incentives that are provided by other states in the region. As a result of Tennessee’s outdated standards for Film/TV/Video/Commercial production, we have lost millions of dollars in production revenue to neighboring states who willingly legislate and provide tax incentives. We stand today at a crossroads in the future of the entertainment industry; the decisions each of you will make regarding this legislation will have a far-reaching impact in terms of our state’s short and long-term economic growth and well-being.

The production houses that choose to bring work to Tennessee are walking away and taking work to other states. These companies would willingly pour billions of dollars into our state’s economy over the next ten years; but their decision will be based on whether or not these tax incentives are approved.

For the security of working Film/TV/Video/Commercial industry professionals who make Tennessee their home by choice, it is imperative that you quickly and judiciously review the recommendations of the Film Advisory Committee and sign into legislation the tax incentives which they are proposing. Allowing even another six months to go by without moving forward would deliver a crippling blow to our state’s economic well-being. Your urgent consideration of FPAC’s research and swift move to provide tax incentives to companies willing to come to Tennessee to film will stimulate rapid economic growth and put Tennessee on the fast track for its share in the annual $1.23 trillion entertainment industry of the 21st century.

E.J. Friedman

…I decided to remedy that starting now. I get tired of hearing people say, “I didn’t know you played music,” and I realized that it’s my own fault for not talking about the fact that I do make music and have for a very long time.

Thanks to Sven, I went over and recorded a couple of tracks today at Powerhouse Studios in Memphis, and they’re (as usual) just some acoustic versions of songs. I figure I will give them away and you guys can listen & track the progress as these songs become something more. The first song is a cover of one of my favorite songs — “Twist In My Sobriety” by Tanita Tikaram/written by Pet Shop Boys. The second is one of my originals, “These City Walls”. Hey Gibbard, that was a nice attempt you made at stealing my lyrics, ass face. Enjoy them. Hopefully, I’ll be playing at a location near you again soon.

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I damn sure didn’t. Here’s the winning numbers. As of right now, I don’ t even know if anybody won. But if you did win and you found out by finding the numbers here, would you please send me a “care package”?

Couldn’t you just get some alcohol and stay home instead? Nothing personal, but you’re probably going to kill someone. I don’t know if you used your sense of touch today, but if you had you’d notice that when you touch things outside they’re frozen. You know, ice cold? Like, ice? Since you’re not blowing down the road in your four-wheeler git’n ‘ur done, why not sit your stupid drunken redneck ass at home and watch a C.S.I. marathon? I’m just checking because, you know, I saw this dude at the Piggly Wiggly next to my house tonight who was so piss drunk you could smell him before you saw him. He proceeded to argue with the cashier before storming out to get in his car and drive.

Oh great. Now what do I do? Do I leave well enough alone and pretend I didn’t see it, throw myself in front of the vehicle and pray that he stops, or do I call the cops and give them his license plate number and let him spend a night in jail? I chose (a) because I’m a wuss and I don’t like to invite trouble into my life. However, I think one of the folks at the ‘Pig may have made that call for me and thus saved someone’s life tonight.

The rest of you are possibly reading this and nodding in agreement. I’m preaching to the choir again, and the only hallelujahs I’m getting are from people who already get what I mean.