The Stooges Brass Band at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park, Memphis, TN, Thursday, 5/17/12
Overton Park
The Stooges Brass Band at the Levitt Shell in Overton Park, Memphis, TN, Thursday, 5/17/12
The 2012 seasons for the Levitt Shell in Memphis’ Overton Park opened with the Stooges Brass Band from New Orleans. The youthful band brings a hip-hop street edge to traditional New Orleans brass-band music, and there are enough NOLA residents in Memphis that there was soon a small group of second-liners in front of the stage, decked out in full regalia, complete with decorated umbrellas in true New Orleans style. They were just as amazing here in Memphis as they were in Oxford, MS in February. If you missed them, keep up with them at http://www.stoogesmusicgroup.com/ or like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/stoogesbrassbandpage. They play most Thursdays at the Hi-Ho Lounge on North Claiborne Avenue in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, and believe me, it’s worth the drive to see them there.
The 2012 seasons for the Levitt Shell in Memphis’ Overton Park opened with the Stooges Brass Band from New Orleans. The youthful band brings a hip-hop street edge to traditional New Orleans brass-band music, and there are enough NOLA residents in Memphis that there was soon a small group of second-liners in front of the stage, decked out in full regalia, complete with decorated umbrellas in true New Orleans style. They were just as amazing here in Memphis as they were in Oxford, MS in February. If you missed them, keep up with them at http://www.stoogesmusicgroup.com/ or like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/stoogesbrassbandpage. They play most Thursdays at the Hi-Ho Lounge on North Claiborne Avenue in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, and believe me, it’s worth the drive to see them there.
At the Second Lamar Terrace Picnic in Overton Park, May 2012
At the Lamar Terrace Picnic in Overton Park, Memphis, 5/12/12
Memphis Rap Veteran Al Kapone (@ALKaponeMemphis) at the Lamar Terrace Picnic, May 2012
@ALKaponeMemphis visits the Lamar Terrace Picnic in Overton Park, 5/12/12. The rain couldn’t dampen the spirit, and although the Terrace was torn down, the love and community still stands tall.
Remembering Lamar Terrace at Overton Park, Memphis, April 2012
Scenes from the Lamar Terrace Picnic, Overton Park, March 24, 2012
At the Lamar Terrace Picnic in Overton Park, Memphis, March 2012
At the Lamar Terrace Picnic in Overton Park, March 24, 2012
Residents of Lamar Terrace Reunite for a Picnic in Overton Park, Memphis, 2012
Lamar Terrace, like almost all of Memphis’ housing projects, was demolished under the Federal Hope VI initiative, but more than three generations of former residents came together for a reunion and picnic at the pavilion in Overton Park in Memphis. I had done my share of hanging out in the Terrace in the early 1990’s, and had been invited to the event by friends of mine. Despite the stigma that outsiders often attached to projects like Lamar Terrace, the community was a tight-knit one, and many successful people got their start in the Terrace, including veteran Memphis rapper and actor Al Kapone.
Mojo Nixon did the final set for the Jim Dickinson Folk Festival last night, leaving a lot of tired but happy fans as the show ended around 11 PM.