Looking to relocate in the next couple of years. I've always loved music from Memphis (Stax, blues, r&b etc.), but what is the local scene like? Will I be able to find a gig?
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Memphis?
- Thread starter ransombass
- Start date
- Jan 27, 2010
- 4,141
- 471
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
That scene is long gone my friend.
As for finding a gig it depends on what kind you're looking for. Full time? Weekend warrior? What kind of music? The guys in Memphis who make a living playing usually do a lot of casino gigs over the state line in Tunica MS.
As for finding a gig it depends on what kind you're looking for. Full time? Weekend warrior? What kind of music? The guys in Memphis who make a living playing usually do a lot of casino gigs over the state line in Tunica MS.
I'm a semi-pro now and do a lot of Casinos, which isn't awful. I guess I have this idealized notion of jamming the blues on Beale Street all night long with some real blues cats.
Memphian for most of my life, and the music scene here is pretty dead. A few years ago the city signed a deal to build an NBA arena and passed a law to have no competitive events on nights when something is happening in the new arena. It pretty much killed the scene here (not that is was all that stellar before they did this). Anyway, the overall effect is that shows big and small are pushed out of the city and into smaller venues out of the city limits. If you're in a bar band, you can do alright by playing the smaller gigs (mostly covers) in the suburban market. The bands I have been a part of do a decent amount of gigging in the little venues, but most don't really crave original music anymore.
- Jan 27, 2010
- 4,141
- 471
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
There's not a lot of blues left on Beale. Rum Boogie and B.B. King's are still there, and King's Palace. The rest of the street is getting swallowed up by corporate chains and dance/top 40 clubs. I lived there my whole life until about 7 years ago when I moved to Nashville. There are a lot of good things about Memphis, but the music scene isn't one of them. Lots of great players, just not much opportunity.
I really hate to hear this! Are there any good scenes left in the historically rich places like Chicago, Austin, Atlanta, Kansas City, St. Louis etc? Where are the new hotbeds?
