Tag Archives: Music

Aug16

Fans remember the 34th Anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley with the annual Candlelight Vigil at Graceland

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Fans remember the 34th Anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley with the annual Candlelight Vigil at Graceland

34 years ago today, August 16, 1977, I was watching tv and they told me Elvis Presley died. I ran to tell my mom who initially did not believe me. I was 4. It is hard to believe that after all these years people know exactly what they were doing when they heard Elvis had died, and it is even harder to believe that tens of thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Memphis every August to honor Elvis Presley with a candlelight vigil at Graceland.

Elvis Presley Candlelight Vigil at Graceland 8.15.11

I arrived at Graceland just after 6pm because that’s when you can park for free and just before they shut down the road. I took my chair and cooler and secured a nice spot in the median on Elvis Presley Boulevard in front of the gates of Graceland. It was a beautiful night – cool for Memphis in August. It was great to be sitting in front of Graceland listening to Elvis music with people who love Elvis as much as I do. I saw my friends Caroline, Kimberly, Rhonda, Lisa and Marr,  folks from the Elvis world Jack Soden and Ernst Jorgensen and popular Memphians Jack Oblivian and Kerry Crawford.

line for the vigil at 6:30pm

Jack Soden mingling with the fans

sunset over Elvis Presley Boulevard

At 8:30, the opening ceremony began with a note from Lisa Marie Presley saying that she and Priscilla and the rest of the family would be in Memphis next year to celebrate the 35th anniversary. Then everyone lit their candles and sang along with Elvis’ If I Can Dream- “there must be lights burning brighter somewhere…out there in the dark there’s a beckoning candle.”

and the candlelight vigil begins

'there's a beckoning candle'

After the opening ceremony, I watched the first people in line pass through the gates and make their way up the driveway to the meditation garden to Elvis’ grave. I walked around a bit admiring everyone’s Elvis sidewalk art and sat back in my chair for a few hours enjoying the night.

elvis vigil sidewalk art

even dogs love elvis

At 11pm, I got in line to make my way up the driveway. I passed through the gates of Graceland at 11:15 and was at the Meditation Garden by 1am.

lining up for the vigil at 11pm

34th anniversary candle

passing through the gates of Graceland at 11:15pm

lighting my candle

meditation garden at 1am

we miss you Elvis

Graceland 8.16.11

Please watch my video of the Elvis Presley Candlelight Vigil on 8.15.11

Aug14

ELVIS WEEK 2011 – Sam Phillips documentary and Elvis Live concert

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ELVIS WEEK 2011 – Sam Phillips documentary and Elvis Live concert

Tuesday August 16th will be the 34th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death and the fans still remember. In fact, each year more and more fans flock to Memphis to pay their respects and remember the King of Rock n Roll. This is my 6th Elvis Week. I went to the 25th anniversary, then the 30th and then every one since.

Yesterday was a great day. In the morning I went to the screening of the documentary Sam Phillips: The Man Who Started Rock n Roll hosted by Knox Phillips and Peter Guralnick at the University of Memphis. Knox is Sam’s son and Peter is the great music biographer. And for those of you who live under a rock, Sam Phillips opened Sun Studio in Memphis in the 1950s. It was here that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Howlin Wolf, BB King and Rufus Thomas and many others got their start. Because of Sam Phillips, we have Rock n Roll.

Sam Phillips documentary 8.13.11

It was a great documentary. I actually learned a few things I didn’t know, because quite honestly I could give the tour at Sun Studio I know the history so well. I love the quote that ‘Sam Phillips was his own best friend, and he loved his own company’ – sounds very familiar. After the documentary, Sam’s son Knox and author Peter Guralnick told stories about Sam and Elvis. It was a great couple of hours.

Knox Phillips and Peter Guralnick

Later that night I went downtown to the Orpheum Theatre for the Elvis Presley Live: the King in Concert. I was excited because I haven’t seen one of the Elvis Presley concerts since the 30th anniversary Elvis Week. But I was also a bit skeptical because it was not Elvis’ band playing this time.

Elvis Presley Live: the King in concert 8.13.11

It was a fantastic show! Elvis’ conductor Joe Guercio introduced the show. When the curtain opened and the music started, the audience went wild. Elvis on stage, at least he looked as if he was on stage, with the band behind him. They used footage from Elvis ’69 performances in Las Vegas on a big screen that covered the entire stage top to bottom, but you could still see the live band behind it. I was so into the show that I forgot Elvis has been dead for 34 years and wasn’t really singing in front of me. From the screaming and cheering I heard, everyone in the audience agreed with me. In fact,  every time Elvis shook his hips the girls, I mean the women, squealed. At intermission The Imperials, the gospel quartet who toured with Elvis, performed a few songs. It was a great night, and the most fun event of Elvis Week for me.

ELVIS!

Please watch my video of the screening of the Sam Phillips documentary and the Elvis concert.

 

Tomorrow night is the annual candlelight vigil at Graceland, the pinnacle of Elvis Week.

Aug9

After 3 months, I’m finally home

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After 3 months, I’m finally home

My U2 360 tour ended 2 weeks ago, but I just got home yesterday. I was hiding out at my parents’ house in Maryland avoiding reality. I drove exactly 18,073 miles through 31 states since I left Memphis May 14th. I saw 16 wonderful U2 shows, saw lots of great American sights and met lots of great people.

To help me get over my post-tour blues, I bought tickets for some Fall events: the play Memphis and the Denver Broncos – Tennessee Titans football game in Nashville – yay a road trip! Also something to look forward to is Rock for Love 5, the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival and the Cooper Young Festival. But more than anything, I am looking forward to Elvis Week this week, which I will report on all the events here.

After Elvis Week, I will begin writing my book about my magnificent musical journey this summer on the U2 360 Tour. You can check my other blog OntheRoadwithU2.com for updates.

May3

Beale Street Music Festival 2011

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Beale Street Music Festival 2011

Tasha flew in early Friday morning for our annual weekend at the Beale Street Music Festival. We have gone every year since 2003, except for last year’s tornado incident where we spent a lot of time in the closet. I picked Tasha up at the airport Friday, and we were at Harrah’s Casino in Tunica by 9am. We played the slots until Paula Deen’s buffet started serving lunch, which was our real reason for beging there. We gorged ourselves on all of Paula’s magnificent creations - macaroni and cheese, sweet tea, biscuits, green beans, mashed potatoes. So fantastic! We came back to my house and relaxed for a few hours before heading downtown for MusicFest.

We had dinner at Majestic Grille on Main Street and then strolled in and out of the art galleries on South Main for Trolley Night. We didn’t buy anything, but had a nice walk to work off all the food we had eaten that day. We got into the Beale Street Music Festival around 7pm. I went straight to the hat tent because I wanted to get a new cowboy hat. The prices were much lower than when I bought one a few years ago, so I bought another one. I may be wearing it a lot this summer while I’m On the Road with U2.

Tasha wanted to see both Everclear and Cake, but they were playing at the same time. I didn’t like either, so I didn’t care who we saw. She decided to see Everclear, and I was so glad. They were good. I had issues with them because I had met the lead singer years ago in a bar in Baltimore I used to hang out in and he wasn’t the coolest guy. But I did enjoy Everclear’s set, although they played the songs a bit slower and his voice was a little lower than I remember.

Everclear 4.29.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Everclear’s performance of Santa Monica http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEAsuwcn2XQ

After Everclear, we were walking toward the stage of the next band we wanted to see when we heard Cake’s last two songs – which were also their most famous. So Tasha got to hear both bands. I am really glad we were at Everclear’s set because I actually enjoyed it, and I was right about Cake – I don’t like them.

We both really wanted to see Flaming Lips because everyone had said they are a great live band. There was a huge crowd waiting and the anticipation sure did not match the performance. They are visually pleasing, but not musically. Not my thing – maybe because I wasn’t high. The lead singer got in a bubble and rolled on top of the audience and then balloons and confetti were launched into the crowd. Visually exciting, but not musically. We left after the first song.

Flaming Lips 4.29.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of the Flaming Lips opening performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiPS2QXOz7E

Tasha loves Stevie Ray Vaughan, so she wanted to see his brother Jimmy Vaughan play. Off to the Blues Tent we went – couldn’t get away from Flaming Lips fast enough. Jimmy Vaughan was great. He was more than just blues – he was sort of rockabilly as well. And I love rockabilly! They even had a sax in the band. More bands should really play the saxaphone. I love the sax! We were really tired as it was closing in on midnight, so we only stayed for a few songs.

Jimmy Vaughan 4.29.11 BSMF

Please watch my video of Jimmy Vaughan’s performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAvemzwG7o

On our way out of the festival we heard a couple songs by Stone Temple Pilots. I originally wanted to hear their entire set, but was just too tired. So we just listened as we walked by. I did get to hear two of my favorites by them though.

Saturday Tasha and I decided to go downtown early and have breakfast at the Arcade diner. When we got there, they were lined up around the corner. So we decided to go to Beale Street to see what was open. It was around 10:30am. We parked on the street for free and went to Lil’ Anthony’s because I had heard they had good breakfasts. They don’t. I don’t know if they were just having a bad day, but it was terrible – the service and the food. We ordered sweet tea, and got regular tea. Our waitress apologized and said she would get us sweet tea. She then told us they had to make it, and then told us they had to find the sugar – we never got our sweet tea. Our order came out and mine was wrong and Tasha only got half of her’s. We didn’t have silverware, but we did get that. Tasha ate the food she was brought, and I still didn’t have mine. I cancelled my order and the rest of Tasha’s, and we left. We walked down Beale to Alfred’s, and by this time is was about 11:45, so we had lunch. I love Alfred’s - best food on Beale! Don’t ever go to Lil’ Anthony’s, go to Alfred’s!

After walking around Beale Street for a bit, we went to MusicFest around 2pm. Tasha’s main purpose of Saturday was to see one of her favorite bands Mumford and Sons. Luckily everyone I wanted to see Saturday were on the same stage as Mumford and Sons, so we secured our spot at the front rail and camped out at the Budweiser Stage all day.  Amy Lavere was up first. I had seen her once before and she was great. She was great Saturday also. Tasha really liked her too – and even bought her cds the next day. Amy has a very unique, passionate voice and plays the stand up bass – and she lives in Memphis!

Amy Lavere 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Amy Lavere’s performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZhvrZzkGtI

We had not heard of Paul Thorn, but he was up next. His drummer looked like he was right out of the 50s with his sideburns, rolled up sleeves, and Elvis tee shirt – he is even from Tupelo. I also found Paul Thorn very attractive with kind of a raspy country Ryan Bingham sort of voice. I may get his cd.

Paul Thorn 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Paul Thorn’s performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEcPBiQJLac

The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, was next. This was the 8th time we have seen Jerry Lee Lewis, and the 8th time we’ve seen Elvis’ friend George Klein introduce him. Jerry Lee performs every year at the Beale Street Music Festival, and he never disappoints. He is 75 years old and as ornery as ever. And he can still play that piano! He is one of my favorite artists. He is the last of the original rock and rollers, the last of the Sun Studio stars, the last man standing.

Jerry Lee Lewis 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

 

the Killer

Please watch my video of Jerry Lee Lewis’ performance of Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWa3JP65y88

Although Tasha was really excited to see Mumford and Sons, I was not. I had seen them on the Grammy’s, and they just aren’t for me. But I stayed there, even though the crowd was jumping and freaking out. I liked every song that the banjo was not played. I’m still not a fan and wouldn’t buy their cd, but they are very talented and passionate – it’s just not my thing. Tasha loved them and was even more excited when she saw Jake Gyllenhall watching from the side.

Mumford and Sons 4.30.11 BSMF Memphis

Please watch my video of Mumford and Sons’ performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY9S8GnDZO0

After Mumford and Sons, we were exhausted so we left the festival and went to Central BBQ for dinner. It was fantastic! We sat out on the deck. It was Tasha’s first time there, and she thought it was the best bbq she’s had in Memphis. I love their BBQ portabella sandwich! After we went to the new YoLo’s for dessert. I had their amazing death by chocolate cupcake with icing like parfait.

Sunday we decided not to go to the Beale Street Music Festival because it was pouring rain. We went to the Cupboard for lunch. We have been going there for years. We stumbled upon it back in 2002 when we visited Memphis. I love their eggplant casserole, and Tasha loves their catfish. We then went to Sun Studio. We didn’t take the tour, as we could give the tour by now. We just sat in a booth and hung out for a bit, soaking in all the music history.

Sun Studio

After Sun, we went to see Water for Elephants. Tasha had read the book and really wanted to see it. Although I liked that it was set in the 1930s and starred Reese Witherspoon, I was little scared to see it because of the animal abuse. And I was right. I cried through a few scenes. It was an ok movie, a little slow for me, but Tasha liked it. After the movie, we walked out to discover a tornado was heading for midtown. We stayed in the lobby and watched the news for a bit and then decided it was safe enough to go home. By this time, I had developed a terrible migraine and took a little nap on the couch. After a couple of hours, we went to Bosco’s for dinner. Yummy humus andveggie burger for me! Tasha wanted gellato, so we went back to YoLo’s. Although my migraine had subsided, I wasn’t totally 100% so we just went back to my house and watched Up, which was really good.

Monday morning we woke up to no power – again! It had gone off during the night for a few hours, came back on and then went back off again. It came on just after 9am and luckily stayed on. We drove out east in the pouring rain to Blue Plate for breakfast – our favorite breakfast spot. They have the best biscuits! We then went to Flashback, which is a cool store on Central that has 1950s and 1960s clothes, furniture, decor, etc. I love it there! I bought a silver Johnny Cash cigarette case, even though I don’t smoke. I may use it as a wallet. Tasha bought a cool silver, peace sign painted belt buckle and belt. We went back to my house for a bit before I took Tasha to the airport for her flight back to Pittsburgh. I spent the rest of the cold rainy day on the couch catching up on my dvr and eating our leftovers from the weekend.

My 9th Beale Street Music Festival weekend was a success! Please watch my video overview of MusicFest 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZK2PBUUINU

Mar19

My St Patrick’s Day at Murphy’s in Memphis with EweToo 3.17.11

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My St Patrick’s Day at Murphy’s in Memphis with EweToo 3.17.11

I already wrote about my St. Patrick’s Day on my other blog http://ontheroadwithu2.com/ because it had to do with U2, but I thought I would post it here as well since it has to do with Memphis too. I had read there was going to be an all-girl U2 cover band, called EweToo, playing at Murphy’s in Memphis for St. Patrick’s Day so of course I had to check them out. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything about the band online and the bar’s website was no help either. I called Murphy’s to confirm that a U2 cover band was playing.

So shortly after 3pm, I put on my U2 360 I’ll Go Crazy tee and drove a mile down the road to Murphy’s bar. The bartenders did not know what time EweToo were playing, so I got a Guinness and found a seat on the deck in the shade and waited. I met a lot of great people, long time Memphians who all knew each other for years. Although I did get propositioned by a fortune teller to give her a ride to the pawn shop since she had made enough money that day to claim her item – I declined. But the other folks I met like Susan and Alan and Paul made up for it, and there were also a few dogs celebrating. I may have to bring Elvis and Cilla to Murphy’s next year.

Murphy’s in Memphis for St. Patrick’s Day
the view from my spot at Murphy’s

Around 6pm or a little after, and 3 Guinness later, EweToo finally took the stage. They weren’t an all girl band – there was a male guitarist, but I think he was just helping them out. And they weren’t really a U2 cover band. They used to be a band, but the lead singer moved away. They learned U2 songs to play specifically for St. Patrick’s Day. They were ok, but it was great fun to hear U2 live - in any form. They played Two Hearts, Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year’s Day, Still Haven’t Found, I Will Follow, With or Without You, Pride and Desire. There were maybe 2 other U2 fans in the crowd, but mostly everyone was just singing the chorus and having fun.

EweToo, girl U2 cover band

Please watch the video of my St. Patrick’s Day, including EweToo’s performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu-VW5fUgVg  After listening to the video I took of EweToo, they sounded better when I was screaming the words along with them.

I had a great time at Murphy’s in Memphis for St. Patrick’s Day and will definitely return next year. In fact, I think I’ll check out their music schedule to see who is playing because it is such a great laid back non-college kind of hang out and only a mile from house. I had a great time!

my St Pats swag

Jan7

My First Article – I’m a contributing writer!

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My First Article – I’m a contributing writer!

Today I bought a copy of Twisted South magazine because it had my very first published article in it! I wrote a review of Jerry Lee Lewis’ cd Mean Old Man. My name is listed as a contributing writer on page 4, and my article is on page 12.

Twisted South magazine

Page 4 - I'm a contributing writer!

page 12 - my 1st article

A couple of months ago Nancy Apple announced that she was managing editor (this status has since changed) of Twisted South magazine. I asked her if I could write something for the magazine because that is what I want to do with my life, so I need some experience. She was generous enough to give me a chance, and they published my review! Thank you Nancy!

This is a short video of when I got the copy of Twisted South today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biNwciTMXFc

Dec31

2010 My Year in Review

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2010 My Year in Review

I had a fantastic 2010 and am looking forward to 2011. I visited many places I had been wanting to visit. I did not make it through my entire list, but I made quite a dent.

January I attended Elvis’ Birthday weekend celebration. It would have been his 75th, so there was a lot of hoopla, including a visit by Priscilla and Lisa Marie.

I got Grizzlies season tickets in 2010 and enjoyed my view from up top.  Also in January, I saw Amy Lavere at Young Avenue Deli and went to the cd release party for Nancy Apple’s Shine, which she recorded at Sun Studio. Nancy is my favorite Memphis artist who I now consider a friend.

In February, I visited some local treasures. I toured the Rock n Soul Museum, played the slots at Harrah’s Tunica and ate at Paula Deen’s, and toured the Pink Palace. I also saw the movie Crazy Heart, which really inspired me to take a roadtrip out west. I saw the great play The Jersey Boys at the Orpheum Theatre.

I saw Brandon Santini and Delta Highway at the Blues Hall on Beale Street and they blew me away. Fantastic blues group! I really need to get back to see them. I went to the Big One flea martket and saw Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica. It’s the closest I’ll ever get to seeing Johnny Cash.

I ended February at the Memphis Zoo on International Polar Bear Day. Polar Bears are my favorite, after dogs of course, and they are in danger of becoming extinct.

In March, Elvis, Cilla and I took a trip through Mississippi. We saw Medgar Evers house in Jackson, the casinos in Biloxi and Elvis’ summer home at the Golf Resort, Robert Johnson’s birthplace in Hazelhurst, where coca-cola was first bottled in Vicksburg, Robert Johnson’s grave in Greenwood, Dockery Plantation in Cleveland, and the Cathead store in Clarksdale.

I visited the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, played and ate at Harrah’s, and walked the dogs along the Mississippi River at Tom Lee Park. I finally went to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN, which was small but packed with lots of memorabilia!  

I went to Little Rock, Arkansas for the day to visit the Clinton Presidential Library, which was great and situated along the River. My first time at a presidential library and in Little Rock.

I ended March with a visit to Jerry Lee Lewis’ ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi. I couldn’t tour it because Jerry lives there and no longer gives tours, but I drove by it about 8 times back and forth taking pictures and video. Love his piano gates as an answer to Elvis’ music notes gates.

On April 3 I wrote, “Today I was inspired by a documentary I watched called 10MPH where these guys quit their corporate jobs to follow their bliss. They made a documentary about their cross country journey on segweys. It made me feel a little less crazy knowing that I’m not the only one out there who quit their job to follow their bliss. I am very much enjoying seeing everything I’ve been wanting to see and videorecording it along the way. So I bought a domain and made this blog public.” 

I spent a lot of time in April planning my U2 tour roadtrip that never was, went to the Memphis Roller Derby and finally got to the Memphis Pizza Cafe.

 

I went to the Found Footage Festival at Studio on the Square. Basically, these guys go around collecting and buying old VHS tapes and editing them to make these great montages of nostalia and then show them to folks like me in various cities. A simple and great idea.

I again attended the Memphis Redbirds opening day, which is really a night game – which still bugs me. They lost, but it was fun and a great view from my front row seat.

I went to the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. I listened to great blues by Stacy Mitchart and Valerie June, watched blues documentaries at the old theatre and took a tour of Clarksdale including Tennesse Williams’ house and those of his neighbors Blanche and Brick.

I visited Graceland because I hadn’t been since the birthday celebration in January.

In May for the first time in years, we did not attend the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival because of the tornado. Tasha and I had fun though, except when we were hiding in the closet with the dogs from the tornado. Before the tornado, we went to played slots at Harrah’s, went to Sun Studio, went to Trolley Night where I bought some Memphis art, hung out on Beale Street, ate at Paula Deens, Marlowe’s, Blue Plate, the Cupboard, and Alfred’s. After the tornado, we drove around looking at the damage and then watched hockey at Young Avenue Deli.

The best part about May 2010 was my trip to Las Vegas! I met Cindy there for 4 days, and we had a blast. Plus I got to see New Kids on the Block the first two nights of their tour and the new Elvis Cirque de Soleil show. Cindy and I stayed at Ballys but of course played the slots up and down the Strip, like Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock and the Flamingo.

The worst part about May 2010 was learning that U2′s North American tour had been postponed until next year because Bono had emergency back surgery, but luckily he was alright – thank goodness! So I scrambled to make plans because I was itching to take a roadtrip, since I had planned to be on the road for 2 months seeing every US U2 show and much of the country. I decided on driving out Route 66, with Elvis and Cilla, from Oklahoma to New Mexico and then back through Texas and Louisiana.

I saw many of the classic Route 66 sites from Tulsa to Albuquerque, but my favorite part of Route 66 was Amarillo – the Big Texan Ranch and Cadillac Ranch.

I really loved Texas, well north Texas anyway. I enjoyed Lubbock, Austin and Dallas. Being a Buddy Holly fan, I visited Lubbock and Buddy’s school, studio, grave, as well as the Buddy Holly museum.

On the way to Dallas, I stopped in Killeen to visit Elvis’ home while he was at Ft Hood.

In Dallas, I stayed at the Southfork Hotel and visited the Southfork Ranch. I am a fan of the tv show Dallas and touring the ranch was great fun.

There was one last stop on our roadtrip before heading back to Memphis. And that was in Shreveport Louisiana at the Auditorium where the Louisiana Hayride took place. This is where Elvis, and many others, got there start.

In June, I went home to Maryland for about 2 weeks and had a blast! I attended my 20th high school reunion, spent a few days at Dover Downs casino, went to an Orioles game, went to the Mason Dixon Master Chef tournament at the Belvedere, and hung out with my parents and my friends.

In July, I tried going vegan for about a month, but couldn’t find a great cheese substitute that I could live with, so I’m back to being just vegetarian. I found out that the U2 North American tour had been rescheduled for Summer 2011. On my July visit to Graceland, I bought an annual pass which will pay for itself after 2 visits.

I spent the rest of July attending events in Memphis. I went to the Who Shot Rock n Roll photography exhibit at the Brooks Museum of Art, the opening reception for the Elvis: from Memphis to Manhattan exhibit at Stax Museum, the HiTone (finally!) to see Bulletproof Vests, Daylight Fades encore presentation at Studio on the Square, the Arts Memphis Bravo season kickoff party featuring the Bluff City Backsliders, WEVL’s annual Blues on the Bluff featuring the BoKeys, Marshall Grant’s (Johnny Cash’s bassist) final performance and book signing at the Brooks, and Joan Jett at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica.

August found me on the road again, but this time without Elvis and Cilla. I met Tasha in Chicago for Lollapalooza, but also went to see the play Million Dollar Quartet and a cubs game at Wrigley Field. My main reason for going to Lollapalooza was to see Soundgarden, but I really enjoyed the entire festival. It was clean, organized, and lots of great music. I enjoyed seeing These United States, the Ettes, Mavis Staples, Amerian Bang, Ed Kowalczyk from Live,  Devo, the Black Keys, Lady Gaga,  Switchfoot, the Cribs, XJapan, Wolfmother, and of course SOUNDGARDEN!

Back in Memphis in August for Elvis Week. I attended the benefit for Myrna Smith (sadly she just passed away Christmas Eve) featuring a performance by Cowboy Jack Clement, Elvis Insiders Shake Rattle and Bowl where I met Chris, Noel, Joe Guercio, Cynthia Peppers, Conversations on Elvis at the Orpheum with Joe Guercio, the Stamps, Joe Esposito, the sreening of Elvis on Tour at the Orpheum with a performance by the Stamps, the Candlelight Vigil with a heat index of 115 degrees and an appearancy by Elvis’ nurse Marion Cocke on George Klein’s radio show.

The end of August brought me to the realization that I love writing, this may have been inspired by seeing and reading Eat Pray Love. But writing is what I want to do – find a way to get paid for writing. I would love to get paid for reviewing events I attend, so I have this blog and I write for examiner.com. I have also I started my memoirs – 3 different versions. I also ate at restaurants I had been wanting to try like Majestic Grill and Fuel Cafe and saw Billy Idol at Harrah’s Casino in Tunica.

September started off great with the annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival downtown, which is free. It was a day of great Memphis music with Roy Harper, Nancy Apple, Barbara Blue, Sweet Angel, the Kattawar Brothers, Elmo and the Shades, Bluff City Backsliders, and Jack Oblivian and the Tennessee Tearjerkers.

I went back to Harrah’s to play the slots and eat at Paula Deen’s. I went to traffic court in Illinois to fight a speeding ticket I got on the way to Chicago – and I won! I spent the day in Tupelo visiting Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo Hardware, Elvis’ school, the CVB and eating at Johnnie’s Drive-In.

September 17, 2010 was the last episode of As the World Turns. It has been on the air for 54 years, and on the radio before that. My grandmother used to listen to it on the radio, then watched it on tv. It was the first soap opera that was a half hour – the rest were 15 minutes. I have watched As the World Turns since the late -1980s.

I attended the Cooper Young Festival for the first time. Actually I worked it. I helped out in the Indie Memphis Film Festival booth.

In October, I was on the road again to Nashville for my birthday weekend. I left Elvis and Cilla at the vet’s and away I went. I toured the Ryman, visited record shops and bars on Broadway, saw my Denver Broncos defeat the Titans (the whole reason I went to Nashville), toured RCA Studio B where Elvis recorded and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

I attended the 17th annual Memphis Blues Ball, which was honoring the 75th birthdays of both Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis – neither were in attendance. But Jerry Schilling, George Klein, Mark James, Knox Phillips, Jerry D Williams, Ronny McDowell and Jack Soden were there.

Using my annual pass, I spent the day at Graceland, the happiest place on earth.

I went to the annual Wine Fest in Millington, featuring Nancy Apple.

October ended with the Memphis Grizzlies 10th season opener featuring a performance by Al Kapone.

 

November started with more U2 shows being added and me planning for next summer’s tour/roadtrip. My parents’ friend was in Memphis, so we had breakfast at the Arcade, toured Graceland and Sun Studio, watched football at Alfred’s and saw Chips Moman and Marty Lacker get their music notes on Beale Street.

I went to Payton the polar bear’s birthday party at the Memphis Zoo – he was 7.

I went to Tunica, but this time played the slots at Horseshoe and Gold Strike before going back to Harrah’s and eating at Paula Deen’s. I saw Vince Vaughn and Kevin James at the Cannon Center. They were absolutely hysterical!

For the Portland-Grizzlies game, my seat was upgraded to about 10 rows off the court – a $227 ticket for free! It’s a whole different game from that angle.

 

November ended with the Memphis Grizzlies defeating Lebron James and the Miami Heat. It was a fantastic game, even if I was back up in my nosebleed seat.

In December, Elvis, Cilla and I went home to Maryland for over 2 weeks for Christmas and had a fantastic time! I went to Dover Downs casino for a couple of nights, went to a Ravens game, ate lots of Ledo’s pizza, attended our annual Trivia Christmas party, celebrated Cindy’s birthday, and spent time with my parents and my friends.

What a truly wonderful year I have had! I am so lucky!

I started a new blog at http://ontheroadwithu2.com to document my U2 tour travels next summer as well as my adventures from past U2 tours I’ve been on. I will still post on this blog for non-U2 related events, but 2011 is really going to be the year of U2011!

Nov9

My first week in November – a new job, graceland, sun, beale and a polar bear birthday

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My first week in November – a new job, graceland, sun, beale and a polar bear birthday

I have had a great first week (well actually 9 days) in November. I have been busy, which is why I haven’t blogged daily about my activities. Ironic isn’t it? When you are not busy, you have all the time in the world to blog and not much to write about. But when you are busy, you have lots to write about but not enough time to blog. Such is life!

It was announced on November 1st that U2 will play in Baltimore and St Louis next summer. On November 3rd, I bought tickets for both those shows. On the 4th, I did about half of my Christmas shopping in Southaven. I go to Southaven, Mississippi to shop because the sales tax is less than it is in Memphis and it is only a 15 minute drive. November 4th was the 22nd anniversary of the release of U2′s Rattle and Hum. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOC2nib5zNs 

Friday November 5th will hopefully be the start of a new chapter in my life – a working chapter. I had an interview at the Westin Hotel on Beale Street for Concierge. I will get paid to talk with people about Memphis! I met with both the Human Resources Manager and the Guest Services Manager. A few hours later they called me back to ask me to come in Monday to meet with the general manager. I also got a new phone on Friday – the iphone 4 with 32 gigs.

Saturday morning November 6th I wrote a review of Jerry Lee Lewis’ new cd Mean Old Man, which is supposed to be published in the December issue of the online magazine Twisted South. www.twistedsouth.com

Sunday November 7th I spent the day showing my parents’ friend Bud around Memphis. He was in town for business, but came in a day early to see Memphis. The top three places I tell everyone to visit while in Memphis are Graceland, Sun Studio and Beale Street, so that’s what we did.

We started with breakfast at the Arcade then onto Graceland. It was fun going with someone new and telling him what I know about Elvis and Graceland. In fact half way through the tour, Bud took off his headset to listen to my stories.

Deena & Bud at Graceland 11.7.10

After Graceland, we went to Sun Studio. Jason Freeman, from Bluff City Backsliders, was our tour guide and he was fantastic! I love Sun almost as much as I love Graceland! It’s not only Elvis there, but it’s Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and U2.

Million Dollar Quartet

After touring Sun, we went to Beale Street. I took Bud to Alfred’s because that is my favorite place to eat on Beale. We spent a few hours there at the bar talking with everyone and watching football. Then we went to watch Chips Moman and Marty Lacker get their brass notes on the Beale Street Walk of Fame in front of Superior Bar. I wanted to see this because I have never seen this ceremony before and because Chips and Marty were both very important to Elvis. Chips was instrumental in Elvis’ American Studio sessions in 1969, which produced “Suspicious Minds” and “In the Ghetto.” Marty was a close friend of Elvis’. For more about this event, please read my article at http://www.examiner.com/cultural-events-in-memphis/chips-moman-and-marty-lacker-recognized-with-music-notes-on-beale-street Please watch my video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzkbVh__AxM

Marty Lacker & Chips Moman on Beale Street

Monday morning November 8th I found myself back at the Westin meeting with the general manager. Assuming my backround check and references go well, it looks like I will be a Concierge at the Westin hotel on Beale Street. I can’t believe I’ll be getting paid to talk with people about Memphis and Graceland and Sun Studio!

In the afternoon, I went to the Zoo for Payton the polar bear’s 7th birthday party (it was also my goddaughter Keira’s 4th birthday). I love polar bears. They like to live alone and love to eat. My kind of animal! It wasn’t really a party per se, but there was a polar bear talk and we got to watch Payton eat fish and a pumpkin and play with a big fake iceberg. It was great except for the 30 running, screaming, pushing, knee high kids that barged in. ugh! Please watch my video of Payton celebrating his birthday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQcNVu4InyY

Happy Birthday Payton

Last night I went to the Grizzlies – Suns game, which they won! And I got to see Grant Hill play, which was fun. This morning I had my orientation at the Westin. I am not sure when I will start, but it should be some time this week. So since tomorrow may be my last free day, I’m going to Harrah’s!

Oct18

Wine Fest 2010 – my afternoon with wine and Nancy Apple

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Wine Fest 2010 – my afternoon with wine and Nancy Apple

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in Millington, TN, just 15 miles north of Memphis,  at the Old Millington Winery for Wine Fest 2010. It was a beautiful 75 degree sunny October fall day. With great music by Nancy Apple and the Whole Damn Band and a plethera of delicious wines, everyone (men, women, children and dogs) had a wonderful time.

Old Millington Winery

Wine Fest 2010

Nancy Apple and the Whole Damn Band

I was smart to arrive just at 3 when Nancy Apple started playing because I got a close parking spot. Within the hour, people were parking down the street from the winery. I set up my chair in the shade and bought a bottle of wine because they do not sell wine by the glass. It was a nice bottle of table white wine, they said it was the closest wine they had to pino grigio, called Delta White. It was very good – a little sweet, not dry.

Nancy Apple and the Whole Damn Band were great! Nancy is my favorite Memphis musician, living anyway. I was excited to hear ‘Sun Will Always Shine’ because it is my favorite of Nancy’s, and I didn’t hear it at Memphis Music and Heritage Festival last month. ‘Sun Will Always Shine’ is a song Nancy wrote about the day Johnny Cash died. Nancy’s set also included ‘Rockin Granny,’ ‘Voodoo Woman,’ ‘Let’s Have a Party,’ ‘Delta Moon,’ ‘Elvis Loved His Mama’ (another favorite of mine, obviously), ‘Cathead Biscuits and Gravy,’ and a cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues.’ Keith Sykes came up and sang one song with them.

Nancy Apple

Keith Sykes joins the Whole Damn Band

The whole afternoon was great. Wine Fest was free, parking was free. I spent $10 on a bottle of wine and $10 on a Nancy Apple tee shirt. I got to chat with Aaron and Nancy for a bit – they are just so nice. Nancy gave me a cute dog lover’s pin. The first hour was very relaxing, but the second hour was very crowded. There were only 3 problems with the afternoon – too many gnats, too many smokers and my dogs weren’t there. Maybe next year I will have trained Elvis and Cilla to behave in public, so I can take them with me.

my wine fest stuff

Please watch the video of my day at Wine Fest with Nancy Apple http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ONJqruhRg

Oct10

Memphis Blues Ball October 9, 2010

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Memphis Blues Ball October 9, 2010

I attended the 17th annual Memphis Blues Ball last night, and it was fantastic. It was to honor both Elvis Presley, who would have been 75 this year, and Jerry Lee Lewis, who turned 75 this year. How could I miss this event? It’s for charity and Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling are on the board. I received my invitation a while ago, but was undecided until just the day before the Blues Ball but luckily I had been emailing back and forth with them, so they reserved a spot for me.

the invitation

Not sure what ‘black tie rock and roll chic’ was, but I put on a simple knee length black dress and was on my way. Luckily I was ok. Some were in ball gowns, some were in pants, most were like me. I arrived just before 7pm and valeted my car (complimentary). The first hour of the Blues Ball was outside the Gibson Guitar Factory. There was a fantastic ice sculpture bar serving white wine and champagne. After 2 glasses of wine, I thought I should slow down.

the 2010 Blues Ball begins

ice sculpture bar

First to arrive of note was Mark James, who wrote ‘Suspicious Minds.’ Then in walks Knox Phillips, Sam Phillips’ son. Then Elvis’ best friend George Klein comes in. Then Elvis’ other best friend and my favorite Jerry Schilling arrives! Then I really got excited and pretty much followed him around. I waited for Priscilla and Jerry Lee, but never did see them, which was fine because I had Jerry Schilling.

Mark James

George Klein

Jerry Schilling

A little after 8pm, people started moving inside the Gibson. There was a room for the silent auction, a lot of painted guitars as well as hotel stays and Grizzlies tickets. I didn’t bid on anything. There was also a bar and some food. I didn’t drink anything here, but did try the spicy macaroni and cheese from Sole. Yum!

the Gibson Guitar Factory

blues ball auction

Then a little while later, we moved up onto the roof where dinner was to be served and where the entertainment was. It was a great view of Fed Ex Forum, the Westin Hotel and Beale Street. My table was off to the side, but that was fine for dinner. After the National Anthem and Amazing Grace were played, dinner was served. I had some lively dinner companions. There was wine on the table, so I thought it was safe to have a glass with dinner – plus there was a bottle of water. Dinner was pork bbq, fried catfish, broccoli casserole and corn stuffing. The broccoli casserole and corn stuffing was really good.

Blues Ball on the roof of the Gibson

After dinner was served the entertainment began with Jason D Williams, basically Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. I decided to get up and walk around to get closer to the stage. And good thing I did because the awards ceremony started after Jason D Williams was finished. George Klein was the MC of the awards ceremony. Mark James, Knox Phillips and George Klein all received awards. Jerry Schilling introduced George Klein and gave him the lifetime achievement award, so I got a chance to take many pictures.

Mark James and George Klein

Knox Phillips

Jerry Schilling

George and Jerry

After the awards ceremony, there were fireworks and Ronny McDowell played, then I decided to leave. I waited at the valet with Jack Soden. I left around 10:30pm, and it was only 78 degrees. I love Fall in Memphis!

Please watch the video of my night at the 2010 Memphis Blues Ball http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jkTnIf4TwY