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Can't believe it's been over three months since my last blog attempt.  It's been very busy and I've been scatter-brained working on a quasi-festival that commenced last weekend.   For the first time around it was fine.  South Main garnered quite a bit of press including multiple newspaper articles, TV segments and a concerted marketing effort from Downtown Memphis Commission and others.  Thank you for you support!

Coming up for air can be fleeting but it's time to prepare for Shannon McNally who plays here tomorrow night (June 20) at 7PM.  for more info on this amazing American Artist go to shannonmcnally.com.  You can purchase tickets by going to “shows” on this site.  There we are, getting sidetracked in the name of promotion, but that is truly my passion.  Whether it's for one of the 32 shows we have booked at various places in June or with our Music Menu promoting others, that's the sweet spot for me.  Almost daily I feel the need to reinvent myself when the future lies in what we've already done and continue to do.  

It won't hurt to slow it down a little bit and South Main Sounds often feels like an unnecessary expense. That is until you have a spirited discussion with visitors about The Arcade(Breakfast), Blues City Cafe(Ribs), The Peabody Ducks, STAX and even the Cattle Drive and Hotel Drover in Ft. Worth.  It's not much past 11AM and I've already shed tears talking to the Aunt of a St. Jude Patient who's prognosis doesn't appear to be good.  I found an extra Pocket Jesus that I donated to the cause and have hopes that the Young Lady in question pulls thru.  Though unnamed to me, she was described as a “spicy one” which had the two young kids in tow repeating that description over and over on their way out.

I've not decided on what the future holds but for now, we'll stay the course and do what we do best…promote things, consistently without being obnoxious.  If it ever becomes too much, I won't take offense to someone pointing that out.  I may not change anything, but at least I'll know.  That's it for now, I've gotta go get an enchirito at Taco Bell and Beer for our show tomorrow.

3 Chords and The Truth,

-MP

When I first moved to Memphis 25+ years ago, I asked somebody how I could figure out what was going on Downtown.  “ Just sit in the lobby bar at The Peabody, have a drink and read the Memphis Flyer, you'll figure it out.” I can almost hear Bernhard Lansky saying “Come on in Young Man" even now.

Amazingly that advice served me well.  What I didn't count on is this historic hotel becoming such a huge part of my life.  Early on, I did sit at that bar, drank gimlets and got to know the people around me.  There was a friend from the Michigan Golf industry who was sales manager at the time and he set us up with VIP passes for the weekly rooftop series on Thursday nights.  Those were amazing nights and several of the folks who worked at the hotel, in radio or other walks of life are still friends today.

There was a lot of good music over the years, some bands and solo acts went on to have success on a regional or national level and it was always a good time overlooking the river and hanging out with the ducks.  Oh, the ducks…I tell people that the two attractions they must see in Memphis are Sun Studios and the duck march at 11AM or 5PM.  Even today, as I get my printing done at FedEx Office a couple times a week, I enjoy the gathering of folks or all ages, awaiting the time-honored tradition.

In my time at WMC, we often gathered at The Peabody and my friends from Michigan still prefer staying there.  I experienced the aftermath of the Tyson Vs. Lewis fight in that lobby and may or may not have found love from time-to time.  One thing is for certain, The Peabody Hotel is the center of Memphis and it is like a 12 story reset button for me whenever I walk in.  Yesterday was one such time as I will explain.

Of late, my exercise regimen is augmented by the 2 mile round trip to pick up my weekly print materials.  The world had been getting to me that morning, partly because I took the previous night off and was facing my first-world problems with a clear head.  The walk did me good and as always, the hotel was therapeutic to my cause.  While there, I received a text about a friend's birthday later in the day at The Peabody, no less.  I returned several hours later to find a group of my South Main friends gathered and I took my first gimlet in 5 years over there to join them.  After soaking it all in, I realized something and it had to do with whether Little Feat were describing this place in the song “Dixie Chicken.”

What I realized is that I've been chasing something elusive since leaving my sales gig 11 years earlier.  Re-invention always seemed what I strived for.  Creating that one thing that everyone would want and perhaps pay money for.  The “struggle for the legal tender” as Jackson Browne eloquently spoke of, always stressed me out, even when I wasn't short of cash.  Bare with me, I'm getting to my point.

Organically, it dawned on me that everything you've done over the last 11 years has been enough.   The hundreds of shows at South Main Sounds and other venues.  The TV and radio segments.  The trips to Nashville to scout talent.  The social media posts highlighting local restaurants and promoting live music.  The friendships and connections that have been made.  My involvement in the Memphis Songwriters Association and the South Main Community.  

In my case, it's time to focus on what we already have and make it better.  To be proud of what we've attained and utilize it to sustain what we've built.  This can be your mission as well.  Just go have a drink at The Peabody, or wherever your Eden may reside.  You'll figure it out just like I did.  

My upfront apologies for a rare time to boast over here in Memphis.  Aside from delayed and lackluster road response, we fared pretty well from the latest storm of the century.  In the wake of said storm, we put on a show last night that was magical from the start. I was reminded that the singer/songwriter world that is often taken for granted, is in fact the root of all music.  

Raised on the greats in and around the Motor City, music was a fabric of my upbringing and my exposure to radio stations at a young age made me appreciate it more than I imagined.  My father would often bring me along when he cut commercials and some of our closest family friends were in the media.  Again, this is an overview as I back into where we are now.

When we fast-forward to 2010-11, I found myself working at an iconic TV Station in Nashville that had lost it's identity in the community but for one night, everything changed.  Nashville flooded while my daughter and I were at a Jimmy Buffett Concert at Bridgestone Arena. In the aftermath, Vince Gill held a telethon that raised over a million dollars and everyone was there.  From Allison Krauss relieving me of phone duty to introducing Keith Urban to Larry Gatlin, I realized anything was possible.  My time in Nashville was brief, but many friendships were made that I cherish to this day.  My chance meeting with The Godfather of Americana, Billy Block was one such friendship that changed my life. In a 4-5 year span I would regularly attend his shows back in Nashville and we collaborated on a talent show for seniors that I'd like to revive one day.

In early 2015 I texted Billy, who was in hospice care at the time at the end of his cancer battle: “I may be crazy but am about to sign a lease on a space to do songwriter nights here in Memphis.”  His response read “Go for it, you'll be a tremendous succcess.”  The man who gave so many future stars a chance passed away a week or so later. Again, getting to my point.

Last night, in temperatures similar to those exactly 11 years to the day when we started South Main Sounds, the spirit of all those that came before us was revived.  Three separate acts graced our stage and the room filled up with folks that found hope in a former art gallery on Main Street.  This is why we do it.  This is why they do it.  It's a pouring out of your soul and an affirmation that your efforts, money and heartache are worth it all.  

Finally, after approximately 400 shows, South Main Sounds has stepped away from being an unheralded underdog and can claim it's place among the elite songwriter venues.  Thanks to the musicians that create the magic and the fans that fuel it, we are proud to have survived and perhaps thrived.  In my experience, The Bluebird, The Listening Room and The Commodore Grille are the havens in Nashville and I'd add Saxon Pub in Austin to the list as well.  But remember, South Main Sounds is not a singular place.  We represent and promote all of Memphis Music and honestly it reaches much further than that.  We are a product of everyone and every place that starts with an idea and watches it grow into something that matters.

See you next weekend for two big shows and we can't wait!

Much like events of nearly six years ago, the long snow break doesn't necessarily foster creativity.  Bare with me while I drum some up from the last few days.  First of all, our amazing South Main Community has been a joy to hang out with during Snowmagedden ‘26.  Max's, Birdies and Green Beetle have been wall-to wall with regulars and new faces as well.  What's great is how folks take over the Juke box at a place like Max's and create an adjunct playlist of just about all genres.  

It's interesting how things work sometimes.  People who frequent the same places and of various ages, enjoying a deep-dive into Little Feat or any number of acts from Rock to Folk-Country and beyond.  We've got a good one next Friday at South Main Sounds if the weather does us any favors.  We also have an open mic on Wednesday at Everygreen Grill here in Memphis.  We'll be doing these the second and last Wednesdays each month and hope to see locals and travelling musicians alike.  Bring your instrument and your best original song.  Presented by the Memphis Songwriters Association.  

In the meantime, I've got some catfish to broil and some gumbo to heat up from our neighbors at Juiced What You Needed on South Main.  Vote for them in the https://www.ediblememphis.com contest.  

We'll see 

Greetings from the little music room on the far end of the street where all the cool kids meet.

We started our programming a couple of weeks earlier than in past years because we wanted to accomodate Madaline Collins and John Wilkerson who were on a Memphis run from their new home in Fayetteville.  Pardon the run-on sentence but I'm still just thrilled about what occurred last night(1-10-26) and can't say enough about how it all came together.

As usual, the patrons filed in at the last minute which always makes this promoter a little anxious but it's so rewarding seeing a room fill up with people in such a short period of time.  First of all, Madaline always brings the energy and this was so much the case this time.  With the “Guitar Preacher” at her side, this power duo gave us the originals we expected at South Main Sounds and then launched into some covers that just raised the roof.

It's hard to say how many people were in the room but most of the 40 available seats were taken with folks mingling outside as well.  On that note, I've got to get a plan together for the outside speakers soon.  Brad Matherne(AKA Bart Mathews) had always pushed for a “two-headed show” as an alternative to our traditional songwriter-in the round lineups and it appears he, as almost always is the case, was spot-on.  On that note, thanks so much to Chris Coly for running immaculate sound!

Having the duo play the entire Two plus hours allowed momentum to build and the room to basically become electrified as Madaline fed off John's deep guitar riffs and covered some of the most classic rock songs of all-time.  And yes, I've paid the pipers so no worries there.

As always, thank you to our loyal parishoners as well as a lot of new folks that ventured in.  For anyone who may be working on gigs, promotion works!  Thank you Alex Coleman, Frank Rhodes and the staff at WREG for having me on to tell our story and push this show. Thanks also to the places that allow us to put flyers up:  Quick Check, Shangri La Records, Bayou Bar and Grille, The Peabody Hotel, Central Station Hotel, The Arcade Restaurant and of course The Corkscrew.

We'll be back in a couple of weeks with more great music and Memories in The Making.   I regret you never had a chance to play our room John Kilzer, but I think it's high time we put a photo of you on our wall.

Cheers Folks!