The delicious weirdness of it all.

the contest for “who can have most women dance on stage with him.”

Usually that honor goes to a rapper.

I guess it doesn’t hurt if you play 10 or 12 shows.

Whatever, he still wins.

I made it down pretty early because I wanted to catch Umphrey’s McGee. Last year I went to see them based solely on the fact that their 10-year-old debut album is entitled Greatest Hits: Volume 3.

That’s funny enough to merit 40 minutes of my time.
And I think I remember really liking it.

But I’m a battered and ill-cared for old robot, and I hadn’t heard them before or since, so I need to check again. I can’t accurately access that data at this time. Please wait…

I’m also rigging this old deck up with some Photoshop action, so imagery is imminent.

The weather is beautiful.

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Backstage at the Blues Tent, the venerable bluesman Pinetop Perkins sits quietly and somewhat luminously as Watermelon Slim goes through his sound checks. Mr. Perkins dispenses conversation and autographs as those who know who he is stand a bit away, shyly, somewhat in awe. This is the way it went.

 

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The audio blogging continues! Michael Donahue’s still down at Tom Lee finding the interesting audio and delivering it to you. Well, I suppose I’m delivering it to you, but you get the idea. We’ll have another Where’s Donahue photo in a short time, but sate your Donahue curiousity below:

Saturday Podcast 1

Podcast Numero 2

Another one!

One more

I would like to officially apologize to the Memphis Police Department for speeding here to catch Oracle and the Mountain. I’m sorry, but I only break the law when it’s really, really convenient for me.

I had to catch the only band here who is from Memphis, who is not a rap group, who is somewhat representative of what currently, really goes on around here. (In my tiny head/world anyway.)

I mean seriously, where is all the Memphis music?

(I’m not talking about the Jerry Lee Lewis kind.)

We didn’t have 40 minutes for the Noise Choir? or Vending Machine? or even Lucero or Snowglobe or The Glass or whatever? Adios Gringos maybe? Joint Chiefs? Mouserocket? The Warble? The Subteens? Arma Secreta? I’m nothing that even approaches a music critic, but come on!?

In my head its early Saturday afternoon at the Tom Lee Park BSMF, most people are waiting around on the headliners, and this is the best time to wander and discover something. Preferably from Memphis. We have such an amazing, diverse music scene and it’s lame for it to just lie here dormant at our big “showcase.” I guess Muck Sticky and Saving Able is what the kids want to see.

But I’m not so sure. Maybe I just don’t get it.

Anyway Oracle and the Mountain was great.
We should have more acts like that.

Now that I’ve gotten my single, solitary gripe out of the way; I’m going to have some fun.

Maybe wander over towards the Buddy Guy, Lou Reed area. You guys should come hang out. I hear the draw today is 60,000, but it doesn’t really seem that crowded to me…

(I have pictures, but this computer is bobo… you’ll have to wait. I know you can hardly stand it.)

A corn dog is calling my name.

Cheers.

Feel-good troubador Muck Sticky kicked off the BSMF doings at the Cellular South Stage on Saturday. Here’s a personal message just for you and a bit of his show, about as much as we could publish on a responsible family Web site.

Here is a video clip and some photos from Christopher Blank of Friday’s exquisitely colorful crowd — colorful even when in black. Music is from Charlie Musselwhite’s set.

So, not only did we send Mr. Donahue out for your aural pleasure, but we also wanted him to provide some visual stimulation for you, our devoted blog readers.

With that in mind, we have a fun little feature called “Where’s Donahue.” We’re going to start easy tonight, as you’re probably tired from either the festivities at Music Fest or from reading our exciting coverage of the party at Tom Lee. Click the image below to get started. Or if you want more audio fun, click here