I just had a quick chat in the backstage trailer with Memphis aristo-crunk crew Lord T & Eloise, who had just wrapped up their set on the Cellular South Stage. The group has a big month ahead, with a slot on the Centeroo stage at the Bonnaroo festival and the release of their second album, “Chairmen of the Bored.” The boys told me this project represents a step forward.

“We were just working it out as we learned what our niche was,” said Cameron Mann, aka the powder-wigged Lord Treadwell. And that niche was hardcore rap, with ever more confident mic work from Lord T, Eloise (Robert Anthony) and Mister E (Elliot Ives). “The songwriting and the delivery is less goofy,” Mann said. “We’ve gotten a lot more props from the street than we did with the first album (”Aristocrunk”).” That street cred helped bring a host of well-known guests, including Skinny Pimp, 8Ball, Kia Shine, Dirt Nasty and Al Kapone.

Musically, new tracks performed today — like “Middle East,” with its sample of Egyptian Lover’s “Egypt Egypt,” and “Back From the Business Trip” — leave behind the pop flirtings of the first disc and go straight hip-hop, drawing from Memphis crunk as well as newer urban styles like Baltimore club and Chicago floss. Whereas Ives produced the majority of “Aristocrunk,” “Chairmen” brings studio help from North Mississippi Allstar Cody Dickinson, keyboard whiz Pat Fusco, Canadian crew The Volunteers, and the Colorado-by-way-of-Memphis jam band Pnuma Trio. Pnuma, in fact, produced the album’s single, “Untuxedo” featuring 8Ball and Kia Shine.

UPDATE (May 14): I adjusted part of Cameron Mann’s quote a few days after this post.

Michael Donahue continues to find the interesting people around the Beale Street Music Festival. Donahue’s audio journey continues here (mp3) and here (second mp3)

How did James ‘Super Chickan’ Johnson get his name? And what is his plan for the weather (which has apparently worked)? Find out here.

It looks like the skies might just start clearing up before music starts at 6 this evening. John Beifuss has a detailed forecast, with variables included, just below. Meanwhile, a blogger named Memphis Tider points out that Jonny Lang (9:10-10:15 on the Sam’s Town Stage) has the perfect opening tune in case the inclement weather carries on.

Twenty four hours before showtime, it’s kinda desolate at Tom Lee Park. Everybody is saving their strength for a Friday that has the potential to rock out in all directions — although those pesky t-storms might have a say. Here’s what it looked like Thursday evening… Music fest eve

Saturday morning, the Ques Brothers were hurriedly preparing for the judges at the 2007 World Barbecue Cooking Contest down in Tom Lee Park. Several members of my freshman cooking team had stayed up all night making sure nothing went wrong — that the rotisserie kept spinning, the smoke kept rising, and the food was the best that could possibly come out of our oxy-moronic “Southern Yankee” smoker, made in Indiana.

After 19 hours slowly turning in the applewood, hickory and cherry smoke, our 17 pound pork shoulder was as good as it was ever going to get. (more…)

My BBQ Team, the Ques Brothers, has been patting ourselves on the backs for the last few days. For freshman contestants, we’ve got a darn good set up. Most teams settle for a big tent. We went whole hog — putting up a tent in the rear AND a two-story scaffold structure in the front, which is a great place to perch for sunsets and people-watching.

What does it say about my team members? That we go to extreme lengths to party? That we like to look down on others?

And what, I wonder, does this booth say about the Adribbers? (more…)

Mud.

More brilliant commentary to come…

After the Ann Peebles concert, we caught up with her organist Russ Wheeler, dressed in this lovely ensemble. Russ also plays at B.B. King’s on occasion, so go check him out.

Of course, we gotta zoom in on those platforms, purchased, he said at a store on Summer — the Portabello Road of Memphis.

Mike Witt, a crewmember on the AutoZone stage, had the best seat in the house. Not for watching Papa Roach, but for watching Papa Roach’s crazy fans.

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