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After procrastinating repeatedly, I finally made it out (thanks to Mark & Katie) to the beautifully-renovated Levitt Shell on Sunday night for a terrific performance from Samarabalouf (pronounced sah-MAH-rah-bah-LOOF), a Gypsy swing trio from France who energized the crowd in attendance. Seeing this show made me enthusiastic about the future of the arts in Memphis. This isn’t the old Overton Park Shell — it is transformed, ultimately, into something much more grand and beautiful than I could have imagined. More info and a video after the jump.

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I just haven’t had the time this week to properly mention and promote this wonderful show. You need, and I do mean need to be at the Levitt Shell @ Overton Park tonight for COMO NOW. This press release is culled directly from a press release, but the music speaks quite for itself. Enjoy & I hope to see you tonight.

COMO NOW: The Voices of Panola Co., MS, the latest release from Daptone Records (and first that moves away from the Brooklyn funk and soul) continues to get rave reviews from critics all over. Says Grant Alden from No Depression:

“It is a relief once again to fall in love with an album — an entire album — to become enraptured by the music of artists who are unknown to me. To discover something of such great and glorious sounds that it is worth moving from the truck to the house stereo and back, to find music so rewarding to listen to that I have not opened the mail for a week, because this is enough. This is plenty…this is — by far — the best album I’ve heard this year.”

You can check the mini-documentary Daptone made about the album here, or, if you’re lucky enough to be in the Memphis area, the entire group of singers will be performing a very special show at the Levitt Shell next Friday, September 26 at 7pm.

You can also watch a special performance by the Como Mamas, one of the groups included on the compilation, on YouTube’s music homepage, or below.

World’s Fair News » COMO NOW in No Depression Now, and in Memphis Next Week.

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Recently, my friends Chris Reyes, Sarah Fleming, Eric Swartz and Brad Phelan over at Live From Memphis put together a series of webisodes for ArtsMemphis to give people easy access to a visual that expresses the tremendous work going on in the collective arts in Memphis — everything from theater to metallurgy (at the Ornamental Metal Museum) to this week’s webisode, featuring the Stax Music Academy.

In case you’re not familiar with what they do, Stax Music Academy provides an outlet for musically-gifted inner city youth in Memphis to develop their musical talent with top regional industry professionals, artists and musicians. These webisodes will give you just the slightest glimpse into the wonderful work that has been going on, perhaps unbeknownst to you, for several years.

The efforts of Live From Memphis are being released on a weekly basis to this player, which appears on the ArtsMemphis homepage. Be sure to check back on a regular basis to have an opportunity to share in the joy and excitement that the Live From Memphis folks were able to capture. Memphis, this is something for us all to support and take pride in.

*** Pay What You Can Night = FOR 1776 the Pay What You Can date is – Thursday, September 25, 2008, 8pm
(Sponsored by The Blue Monkey, Thomas & Betts, and AutoZone)

Pay What You Can Night allows people who would not normally be able to afford the regular ticket prices to “pay what they can afford.” The goal is to make the productions available to everyone regardless of their financial situation. There is one Pay What You Can performance for each production. “Pay What You Can” Tickets go on sale one week before the performance. Tickets must be purchased in person, cash or check only. Limit of 4 tickets per person.

More details after the jump! Continue Reading »

I had the opportunity last year to work on a wonderful, politically-charged film in Memphis called Nothing But the Truth. The film, starring Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, David Schwimmer, Vera Farmiga and Matt Dillon, and directed by Rod Lurie, debuted a couple of weeks ago at the Toronto Film Festival and the initial reaction has been quite good. Here’s a link to some trailers for the film for you to check out. (HT: memphis. cool. movies.)

Trailers by Film: Nothing But the Truth – Trailer Addict.

You’ve got to come join us for Tuesdays at Dish for new music, great sushi from Sekisui, and an exciting new menu of asian-influenced tapas that will make your mouth water. Music starts promptly at 9pm, so come hang out with friends.

A cat takes shelter under a car on a street after strong rain in Centro Havana September 10, 2008.

REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa.

Memphis, get ready to get up for the get down at the Hi-Tone on Saturday night with Buck Wilders, The Hook Up, Chase One (Memphix) and Redeye Jedi (Memphix). When these shindigs happen, the parking lot is always full, the place is always packed, the music is always funky, and the vibe is always good. See You There!