Music: Zac Brown Rockin’ A Southern Brand Riff-Raff Tee
It’s no secret we’re fans of good music. But what is news is finding out good music is also a fan of ours. Last week Good Morning America was covering the recording of "We Are The World: The Remake" and up popped a photo of Zac Brown of The Zac Brown Band sportin’ our Southern Brand “Riff-Raff” shirt! Rock on, brotha!
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Music: The Replacements Tribute Show
We just got hip to the fact that Minneapolis' storied First Avenue is puttin' on a tribute show to The Replacements to honor the 25th Anniversary of “Let it Be” as well as the paperback release of “All Over But the Shouting.” And one of our faves - High on Stress - has been asked to be on the bill. So if yer up in the Twin Cities area 'round Nov. 27 freezin' yo' ass off - git to this show. And check out this link to an interview with the late, great Jim Dickinson talkin' about his work with The Replacements while producing "Pleased To Meet Me."
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Livin': Ali Limited Edition Hand-Pulled Silk Screen Poster
Southern Brand Collective was recently commissioned to design and produce a limited edition hand-pulled silk screen poster to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Rumble In The Jungle. The 1974 bout in Kinshasa, Zaire between Muhammad Ali and then Heavyweight Champ George Foreman which introduced the “Rope-A-Dope” to the world. A dream project, as we are great admirers of the man and his history. The resulting 250 hand-numbered posters will be available exclusively at ali.com.
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Music/Film: Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story
And while we're on the subject - we've posted on this film before - but do yerself a favor and check out "Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story." It documents an amazing chapter in American history and further shines a light on an incredibly fertile time and place - Memphis, TN in the 60's. Pass this story down to your kids.
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Music: Eyes On The Prize
The great Mavis Staples' powerful and poignant version of "Eyes On The Prize". If you don't already know about this amazing woman and her family's band - The Staple Singers, check her out. And check out this clip from the film Wattstax.
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Readin': If ya don’t know…
...look it up! The Encyclopedia of Southern Culture was cooked up by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi. A wide range of folks contributed to this wise tome, including historians, literary critics, novelists, sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, linguists, theologians, folklorists, architects & newspaper reporters. The encyclopedia’s editors, Charles Reagan Wilson (a Texan) and William Ferris (a Mississippian), organized it around 24 different thematic sections – including music, history, religion, folklore, language, art and architecture, recreation, politics, literature, and the mythic South. The overall goal of this big ‘ol book is to identify the forces that have supported and shaped the Southern way of life – from people and places to ideas, events, rituals and values. The book even garnered some fancy awards when it came out back in 1990, winning the Dartmouth Medal from the American Library Association and the C. Hugh Holman Award from the Society for the Study of Southern Literature, among others.
U.S. News & World Report called it “the first attempt ever to describe every aspect of a region’s life and thought, the impact of its history and policies, its music and literature, its manners and myths, even the iced tea that washes down its catfish and cornbread.” And Esquire called it “a discriminating guide to Dixology.” Pick one up and check it out fo' yerself.
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Music/Film: Good Rockin’ Tonight - The Legacy Of Sun Records
This documentary, part of the PBS American Masters Series, gives a first-hand overview of Memphis' legendary Sun Records and it's founder Sam Phillips by some of the fellas who were there. The doc moves back and forth between interviews with legends such as Cowboy Jack Clement (check out his Q&A on the doc here.), Sonny Burgess, Scotty Moore & D.J. Fontana (Elvis' backup band), Billy Lee Riley and Mr. Phillips himself and performances by modern artists such as Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, and Kid Rock covering Sun songs. Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun calls on friends and Atlantic artists to do the covers - some the world could have lived without (Third Eye Blind). But I gotta tell ya, I was blown away by Italian artist Zucchero doin' Charlie Rich's "Who Will the Next Fool Be". Unfortunately the doc glosses over the African American artists that Sun recorded in it's earliest days that really set the stage for all the white performers that followed. But this point is not lost on the great Rufus Thomas - who finds himself in a room full of white guys patting each other on the back, looks around and firmly states "Whatever kinda music it is...NEVER FORGET THAT THE BLUES WAS THE MOTHER OF IT ALL!"
What's undeniable about Sun Records, Sam Phillips and Memphis, TN in general in the 1950's is that the world's most influential music was born from there. This was an amazin' time in American history - it should be taught in the schools so it's never forgotten.
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Music: Goin’ Down To The River
Mississippi Fred McDowell. Godfather of the Hill Country Blues.
(January 12, 1904 - July 3, 1972) McDowell was born in Rossville, Tennessee, near Memphis. His parents, who were farmers, died when McDowell was a youth. He started playing guitar at the age of 14 and played at dances around Rossville. Wanting a change from ploughing fields, he moved to Memphis in 1926 where he worked in a number of jobs and played music for tips. He settled in Como, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Memphis, in 1940 or 1941, and worked steadily as a farmer, continuing to perform music at dances, and picnics. Initially he played slide guitar using a pocket knife and then a slide made from a beef rib bone, later switching to a glass slide for its clearer sound. Continue Reading...
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