Yes, yes - indeed, things do (of course) happen in Memphis.  Throughout the year I'll be posting photos (by Jenn and myself) from shows and other music/arts-related events that either or both of us attend.  As for the title ("Things Happen") of this feature, I can can only assert my utter inability/inadequacy in naming or titling things in general - songs, articles, cats, and even semi-frequent blog posts.

(Also, if you haven't noticed - I am a fan of the parenthetical statement/aside/clarification.)

True Sons of Thunder recording sessions

TSOT at Palace of the Ry, sessions for their new record.  I've never worked with a more efficient or fun buncha guys.  I've also never recorded atonal banjitar solos before . . . damn good times.

Gang vox.

Yes, that is a talkbox.

Hello, loyal LFM readers.  You may have noticed that this blog temporarily didn't exist (or at least that it hasn't been updated since September).  All I can say is, "my bad."  It is a New Year's resolution of mine to do a better job with this thing here, so in honor of that, I present the following:

2009 IN PICTURES!

(Yes, yes - the easy and inevitable "year-in-review" post.  Keep in mind, these are photos from shows/events that I either played or attended, so I'm in some.  Also, all photos by me and Jennifer.)

Shabbadoo @ the Shangri-La Records "Valentine's Day Massacre" show.  This show was tons of fun.

Booker T performing with the Drive By Truckers @ Bonnaroo 2009.

I know, I know . . . neither myself or Live From Memphis is known for insightful sportswriting. But when the hometown team (the Memphis Grizzlies) makes a national news splash by signing a future hall-of-famer, a person who would arguably become the most famous and culturally significant individual to reside in Memphis since Elvis Presley, and you can go to the press conference, you go. And to those of you uninterested in such a pedestrian endeavors as the game of basketball, I say this: would it make you happy to see a picture of A.I. with a guitar?

Last week, Jennifer and I covered the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, TN for the Flyer.  (Read the article here.)  As a three-time festival attendee, I can tell you that we probably had our best Bonnaroo experience this year—possibly due to the added comforts of media access, or the unusually cooperative weather, or the superior line-up for 2009 that included the Beastie Boys, Bruce Springsteen, David Byrne and Public Enemy, just to name a few. We're not sure which.   

One somewhat disappointing thing I did notice, however, was that there no presence from Memphis' thriving (artistically, anyway) underground music scene. Years past have seen well-known local acts such as Lord T and Eloise, Amy LaVere and Lucero performing on side-stages. This year, it seems most of those nods went to smaller acts from Nashville and Knoxville. (Somebody from the Music Foundation or Commission needs to get on this for next year!)

Which is not to Memphis was entirely unrepresented. Soul legends Al Green and Booker T (pictured above, accompanied by the Drive By Truckers) performed crowd-pleasing sets on the main stage, and Memphis-associated acts MGMT and Todd Snider performed on the bigger side-stages. But I'd like to think somewhere in the pantheon of folks like John Paul Keith or Jay Reatard or hell, anyone from $5 Cover, really, there lies an underground band worthy of inclusion for next year's festival.  

Anyhoo, here are some more mostly not Memphis-related photographic highlights from Bonnaroo 2009:

Booker T with the DBT's.

Sunset @ the Other Tent.  

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O striking a pose, as she is wont. 

In my fury over the camera mishap (that shall, henceforth, never be spoken of again) on the first day of the trip, I neglected to recount much of the actual ride down to Austin as part of the Memphis Music Foundation's HUGE delegation of local musicians, media, and "industry professionals" (which is a term I loathe, but still serves as an apt description) that traveled together on a rented coach bus and a pair of trailing cargo vans.

Photos by Jennifer Brown Reager.

 Although I wish like hell that we could have stayed Saturday night for the Goner official showcase, our ride back to Memphis left that morning from the Drury Inn that housed countless Memphis musicians over the course of the week.

That said, Friday night was one hell of a night, for Memphis music and SXSW as a whole.

The MusicMemphis/$5 Cover showcase started a bit slow, but picked up steam as the night went on, swelling to a high-point once John Paul Keith & the 145's took the stage at 11 p.m.

Earlier in the night, a spot on the bill left open by Harlan T. Bobo – who, reportedly, canceled all of his own SXSW performances due to mental exhaustion with the MTV media blitz – was filled by Memphians Valerie June and Jason Freeman, both grateful to be given a last-minute chance to perform at the festival.

And later that night, in a totally non-Memphis related excursion, we dropped by the Austin Music Hall to take in SXSW's headline performance by the mighty Devo.

Thanks are due to the Memphis Music Foundation for providing transportation and housing for the Live From Memphis crew to and from Austin – we couldn't have done all this without their assistiance. . . stay tuned for even more pictures and updates from SXSW.  

Photos by Jennifer Brown Reager.

Ahhh . . . a welcome break in the middle of the day (for a change) has allowed me the opportunity to check in a bit earlier than the last two days.

Today a TON of stuff has been going on @ SXSW relating to Memphis music. The 6 Degrees of Memphis party, Goner day party, Lucero Family Picnic party all went on simultaneously, while a handful of other Memphians showcased here and there.

However, I was tied up for most of the afternoon once again with Two Way Radio. We played an acoustic mini-set at the Music Foundation's booth in the trade show which became somewhat of a spectacle. I have a feeling that most folks don't try to bring an eight-piece band to play in these booths.

Tonight is the big MusicMemphis/$5 Cover showcase, and we'll be there to take it in. I'm guessing that given how late the show will likely run, and our travel arrangements tomorrow, that I won't post my final SXSW update until we get back home Saturday night. So until then, enjoy more scenes from yesterday's festivities . . . 

Jody Stephens sitting in with Jump Back Jake @ the Music Foundation day party:

Hill Country Revue @ the Music Foundation day party:

Photos by Jennifer Brown Reager.

 Alright . . . all of yesterday's technical difficulties aside, it's been a fantastic trip so far. I have to admit, today's Memphis events went even better than I would have expected, particularly the Memphis Music Foundation's day party in Brush Square Park, which was well-attended and packed to the brim with local talent.

If there's been one theme today, it's this: problems.

1. My band, Two Way Radio, had an “issue” with our registration which caused both delays and much gnashing of teeth.

2. Our equipment almost didn't show for the showcase tonight- almost.

3. A freak-of-nature digital camera snafu lead to the deletion of several key photographs, including: shots from the Memphis musician-jammed, Memphis Music Foundation-sponsored bus ride down to Austin, Two Way Radio's offical showcase @ Red 7, and Roky Erickson @ the Austin Music Hall.

So, to put it mildy, I'm sick to death right now and hardly in the mood to sing the praises of Memphis musicians, and tell all the cool stories that really could and should be told. Blame technology and my ham-handedness.

I promise promise PROMSE to do a better job tomorrow. For now, much needed rest.

Next week, the trusty photographer/wife and I will be heading to Austin, TX with a delegation of Memphis musicians, journalists and industry pro's (including LFM peeps Brad Phelan and Tommy Kha) to the South By Southwest (SXSW) music festival . A record number of Memphis bands will be there showcasing, including my own band, Two Way Radio.

Over the course of the SXSW music festival (March 18-21), I'll be updating this blog daily with showcase reviews, interviews, live and candid photos of showcasing artists, and more!

Until then, please enjoy a special SXSW installment of Rachelandthecity's 10 Degrees of Memphis podcast featuring bands headed to Austin next week.

Talk to you from Austin!