Sometimes I need to connect with my inner BAMF. Go HAM. Or (insert assorted acronyms here). And lately when that happens, I listen to Childish Gambino.

If you’ve turned on a television any time in the past year, you probably recognize Donald Glover as “Troy” from NBC’s Community. And if you and I were really meant to be friends forever, then you’ll remember him from the internet sketch comedy phenomenon known as Derrick Comedy. Either way, reintroduce yourself to Childish Gambino: prolific, witty, masterful.

After releasing an untitled EP earlier this year, the first single from his debut album dropped a couple of days ago. But the bigger news? He’s about to hit the road for the “Sign Up” tour in support of his forthcoming album CAMP, and it all kicks off two weeks from today right here in Memphis. CAMP is due out November 15. Check out all the dates below, and enjoy the aforementioned single “Bonfire.

Bonfire by Childish Gambino

::: TOUR DATES — Childish Gambino :::
10/5 – Memphis, TN - New Daisy Theatre
10/6 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
10/7 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
10/8- Orlando, FL - The Plaza ‘LIVE’
10/30 - Asheville, NC – “Moogfest”
11/1 - Silver Springs, MD - The Fillmore
11/2 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
11/3 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
11/4 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
11/5 - Austin, TX - “Fun Fun Fun Festival”
11/12 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia

::: MP3 ::: Childish Gambino, “Bonfire”

It seems like Memphis was overdue for a song that lets you know where we all come from (there just aren’t any, are there?), and it appears that “Representing Memphis” may well be the one. Well, okay, I kid — there are almost 1000 songs that mention the city of ‘Memphis’, validating the cultural impact and significance that the bluff city holds in the history of recorded music.

In that tradition, a new simmering soul stirrer giving props to the city that I call home appears on the new album from Memphis music legend Booker T. Jones, The Road From Memphis, which will be released on 10 May 2011 from Anti- Records.

With an all-star supporting cast, the album (produced by Booker T., Questlove and Rob Schnapf & recorded by Gabriel Roth from Daptone) features Booker T. being backed by the Legendary Roots Crew with special guest vocals from Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, Lou Reed, and this song which features both Matt Berninger of The National and Sharon Jones.

Can you sing this one with me, Memphis? And hey — in case you’re not familiar with Harlem House (referred to in the song), they were restaurants that served the African-American community, intended to give service to those who were denied service at lunch counters in Memphis during segregation. A staple of African-American communities from one end of Memphis to the other, Memphis was once home to nine Harlem House Restaurants.

Booker T. Jones – Representing Memphis (feat. Matt Berninger and Sharon Jones) by antirecords

[ Pre-Order The Road From Memphis (VINYL) from Amazon here. ]

::: CHECK OUT ::: the video for Booker T.’s cover of “Everything is Everything” by Lauryn Hill.

In 2011, those familiar might think a city with a wealth of musical history and significance such as Memphis would tout an equally wealthy list of music festivals and gatherings. There are at several notables that each have broad appeal — Goner Records’ annual Gonerfest, the Folk Alliance International Conference which takes place every February, and the Beale Street Music Festival every May all come to mind.

But Brandon Herrington — a Memphis native & member of local band This Is Goodbye — could see that something was missing. Last year, he & his friend Seth Fein set out a plan to create a new grassroots festival in Memphis that would cater to and be inclusive of fans 18 and over for the week after SXSW. They reached out to sponsors, bands and local clubs for their assistance in giving birth to the concept.

The result of Brandon & Seth’s heavy lifting is Fareveller Music Festival, which takes place March 24th – 26th in Memphis at a number of local venues — Hi-Tone, Newby’s, Young Avenue Deli and The P&H Cafe. The inaugural lineup boasts a diverse group of out-of-town acts like Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s, Damien Jurado* , Dignan, Pujol and Morning Teleportation blended with a host of up-and-coming & established Memphis artists — Cities Aviv, Electrocity, Total Savage, Youniverse, Pezz, American Gods, Jeremy Stanfill and The Oldest Profession (just to name a few).

You can still get advance tickets for the festival for the paltry sum of $25 by clicking here. The complete schedule follows.

_{*(NOTE: Damien had to cancel due to illness — Ben Nichols of Lucero will be playing in his place)}

[ Sources: Memphis Daily News, Fareveller Official Site ]

[ Fareveller Official Site | Fareveller on Facebook | Fareveller on Twitter ]

[ Printable Pocket Schedule (PDF) ]

THURSDAY :: 3/24

Hi-Tone

8 pm – Mobley
9 pm – Dignan
10 pm – Young Buffalo
11 pm – Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s

Young Avenue Deli

10 pm – Cities Aviv
11 pm – Total Savage

FRIDAY :: 3/25

Hi-Tone

8 pm – Greenside Manners
9 pm – Mark Akin (from the Subteens)
10 pm – While I Breathe I Hope
11 pm – Pezz

Young Avenue Deli (Folk Alliance Showcase)

9 pm – Andrew Bryant
10 pm – The Wealthy West (Brandon Kinder from The Rocketboys)
11 pm – Damien Jurado Ben Nichols of Lucero
12 am – Chase Pagan

Newby’s

8 pm – American Gods
9 pm – Youniverse
10 pm – The Oldest Profession
11 pm – Nicos Gun
12 am – Morning Teleportation

SATURDAY :: 3/26

Young Avenue Deli

9 pm – Myla Smith
10 pm – The Sheriffs of Nottingham
11 pm – Rainy Day Manual
12 am – Jamie Randolph and the Darkhorse
1 am – Star and Micey

P and H

7 pm – Animal Sounds
8 pm – Holly Cole and the Memphis Dawls
9 pm – Andrew Kelley Simons
10 pm – Jeremy Stanfill
11 am – The Near Reaches

Hi-Tone

7 pm – Rainy Saturdays
8 pm – Modern Convenience
9 pm – Death On Two Wheels
10 pm – Surf City
11 pm – Bare Wires
12 am – Pujol
1 am – Turbo Fruits

Newby’s

10 pm – Electrocity Sponsored By Fareveller

Memphis today has its fair share of people grinding away at what we would call ‘traditional hip-hop’ — and if you’re familiar with the city’s Oscar-winning exploits, you’d see this as an opposing force to what the city is best known for creating. Memphis is, after all, the city that brought you Three 6 Mafia, Yo Gotti and Al Kapone, just to name a few. The current cultural emphasis on chillwave, lo-fi, echoes of latter-day indie rock and game-spitting masters of hip-hop like Guru (R.I.P), Mos Def and Pete Rock, have subliminally entered the regional zeitgeist, trickling down and giving platform to the rhymes of cats like Cities Aviv.

While mainstream rap music has consistently morphed back into itself, a new generation of MC’s have started to emerge from Memphis’ locally vibrant arts movement, of which Cities Aviv has become a mainstay. When these MC’s grab the microphone, you can immediately tell: they take their cues from a completely different station and location. Still only 21 years old, Aviv comes with a unique delivery and vocal style that searches for the place from which he can calm his nerves and aim his thoughts. He puts out his chest and spits very personal, unapologetic rhymes over left-of-center beats, evidenced on the verses he spits here over Blackbird Blackbird’s cover of “Float On” by Modest Mouse.

While there’s only a handful of digital singles out there right now (most of which you can purchase from his Bandcamp page), his 7″ of “Coastin’” will be released by Fat Sandwich Records shortly, followed closely by his full-length album Digital Lows. Dig this video and accompanying single. And while I’m at it, dig on “A Beautiful Hell” which features the lovely and talented New Orleans-native-now-Memphian Fille Catatonique on vocals.

Cities Aviv – Float On

[ Cities Aviv on Bandcamp | Cities Aviv on Tumblr | Cities Aviv on Facebook ]

Here comes a brand new video from Gyft & Skewby. This is NEXT.

Loudersoft in association with Matthew Ess & B Thornburg proudly presents Mad Decent recording artist Bosco Delrey + a live DJ set from Youre_Strooly (Electrocity) live at Hi-Tone Cafe on 8 September 2010.

This show will be 18+ so come on down.

Check out a track from Bosco Delrey
RSVP on Facebook

Three killer rock bands, one killer show — The Dirty Streets, River City Tanlines & Chinamen.

You Must Be Present To Win

Tonight at the Hi-Tone in Memphis, IMC (that’s Iron Mic Coalition, y’all) hosts a CD release party for one of Memphis true school hip-hop family, Jason da Hater. All the details are on the flyer, but if you want more info peep these d’s –

IMC presents…Jason Da Hater (CD Release) performance along with special guests…Artistik Approach, Infinito 2017, Mordecai, and comedian Richard Jones (other special guests TBA)

DJ Shamrock & DJ Capital A on the 1s &2s!

Doors open at 9:30p. Shows starts not too long after that…

$5 admission

Hi Tone Cafe
1913 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38104

[Facebook Official Page for more details | Neosoulsville]

Whether you live in or are visiting Memphis, Mollie Fontaine Lounge (679 Adams Avenue [Map]) is the classiest jump-off in town on Thursday nights. Witnesse and Handsome Mark curate a truly unique blend of electronic music, R&B, afro beat, and world music every week at Mollie Fontaine. I love this press release.

The hottest thursday night in the galaxy. Feel-Harmonic Crew: DJ Witnesse & Handsome Mark dismantling black holes and supergiants from the haunted spaceship ‘Mollie Fontaine.’

Modern Dub and Electronica.
Elegant Atmosphere.
Gorgeous Pirates.
No Cover.

Bring self, head soon fixed.

Space Dub Thursdays on Facebook

Skewby, “Proving You Wrong Since 1988 – The Mixtape”

Hip-hop heads, Skewby is in the house and he’s letting you know right up-front: this ain’t what you’re used to. Proving You Wrong Since 1988 is a warning filled with shots fired at the status quo of Memphis’s traditional style of rap. I’ve had this sitting in my queue for a couple of months now, and to say I slept on it would be an understatement. Don’t you be a sleeper, too — if you do not have this mixtape, you are sleeping on one of the illest mixtapes I’ve heard come out of Memphis in my life.

If you’re looking for another gangsta rap mixtape, you’re in the wrong place — this is straight original styles mixtape with the love and respect to the masters I have never seen the likes of here. Shouts to DJ Crumbz and DJ Charlie White. Wake up and download it here now now now gooo.

Skewby – “I’m Here Now”
Skewby – “No Critics Allowed”

(You can find out more about Skewby over at his blog, Something About Skewby or follow him on Twitter)

Is the world ready for Total Savage? Fresh off an opening bid with the Mashter of Ceremonies Girl Talk, Memphis rapper Total Savage is about as next as it gets. I think this video, directed by Brad Phelan, speaks for itself — so let there be no question. Tonight, he’ll be blowing up the stage at Hi-Tone with the grand masters of Aristocrunk, Lord T and Eloise. Get ready to get it bumping out the frame, Memphis.

Memphis, time to stand up! The long-awaited series from director Craig Brewer and MTV, $5 Cover, launches on May 1st. Enjoy this sneak peek at what’s in store, and get ready for the new Memphis music mania in 2009.

More details as they become allowed to be released. For now, check the preview!

She’s the star of the new web-based series from MTV and director Craig Brewer entitled Five Dollar Cover. She can “triple-slap the upright bass like Willie Dixon on Steroids” (according to Jim Dickinson). She can sing like a siren. She’s been on tour the world around, playing packed-out shows at places like the Royal Albert Hall. And tonight, Memphis-based upright bass player, vocalist and film engeneue Amy LaVere, will be the musical guest on Late Night with Conan O’Brien tonight, Monday night (Feb. 2).

According to the Archer Records website, this will mark Amy’s late night debut here in the US, having just played in the UK on Later…with Jools Holland a few months ago. Be sure to tune in tonight. If you live in Memphis, join me and the nice folks from Archer Records at the Hi-Tone Cafe on Poplar for a viewing party.

To tide you over, enjoy this video of Amy performing her song “Killing Him” from the lastest Sun Studio Sessions. It’s recommended that you watch it in HQ (you can choose HQ from the player and you’ll be glad you did).

Memphis, get ready to stand up. $5 Cover, the highly-anticipated new web series from director Craig Brewer has already made its introductory splash to audiences at the Sundance Film Festival this past weekend.

In the weeks and months to come, the rest of the world will have an opportunity to find out what those of us in Memphis have long known and understood: the richness and depth of our tightly-knit music scene and those involved. For now, take a minute to check out the trailer, and keep your eyes peeled to http://fivedollarcover.com for new information as it becomes available.

Happy New Year to everyone & what better way to start the new year than with a free publishing workshop? The Memphis Music Foundation is sponsoring “Publishing + The PRO’s 101″ on January 10, 2009 at the Musicians Resource Center, 431 S. Main #201 in Memphis.

The seating for this event is *strictly limited* so please RSVP if you would like to attend: info@memphismeansmusic.com