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>> female narrator: This is a
production of WKNO, Memphis.
Production funding for this
program is made possible in part
by..
>> [instrumental music]
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: Hi, I'm Mamie
Shannon.
Welcome to "Local Color!"
You know what?
We got a lot to talk about
today.
Let's just get right to it.
You and I are going to talk?
>> Worley: Music-all the artists
to watch in 2013.
>> Shannon: And you and I are
going to talk about?
>> Davis: We're going to talk
about theatre and the plays you
want to mark your calendars for
>> Shannon: And then you're
going to help us get our funny
on-right?
>> Davis: Yeah, we're going to
talk about what to do.
>> Shannon: Well you know, this
event is one that we've talked
about before.
It's called the Incognito Art
Gala.
This is the one that I told you
guys about that's at the Botanic
Gardens where they cover the
name of the artists and you just
buy the paintings that you like.
So you buy what you like, not
what you know.
On the 18th from 5:30 to
7:30.
>> Worley: What a great idea!
>> Shannon: I think that's
really cool, too.
So want to get started?
Okay, we'll be right back.
Pat and I are going to talk
about Memphis musicians.
>> [instrumental music]
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: You know the mission
of "Local Color" is to tell
people about upcoming events and
things to do.
And we had this long
conversation about all these
awesome bands that are coming,
up and coming, and coming back
through.
And I'm glad that we're going to
take this opportunity now to
share that with the audience.
And don't feel like you have to
write any of this down.
You can go to WKNO-dot-org-
slash-localcolor.
And on our website, we're going
to have the names of the artists
we're talking about with a link
to their websites or their
social media sites.
But you know, first of all,
we've got to talk about Lucero.
>> Worley: Got to talk about
Lucero.
>> Shannon: Got to talk about
Lucero.
>> Worley: One of my personal
favorite bands-I remember seeing
their very first show with the
North Mississippi Allstars.
They did this big show at the
Daisy.
And it was phenomenal and I have
loved them ever since.
I had a bootleg recording of the
show and everything.
And they weren't mad at me for
that.
(laughter)
>> Worley: But they have been so
busy.
They've had eight records.
Their latest record has been
doing very well.
They even just did a video
earlier in the fall of 2012.
And so 2013 is just going to be
all about Lucero.
>> Shannon: Listen, these guys
play between 150 and 200 shows a
year.
They're called the Synthesis of
Rock, Soul and Country.
I mean, they cover all of it.
And they're nice guys.
Like you said, they don't care
if you've got a bootleg copy.
And if you walk up to them and
say-"Wow, that was really
great!"-they actually engage in
conversation with you.
They're just normal, everyday
guys that have toured the world.
And I'm really proud of them.
>> Worley: Yeah, there's a lot
going on.
>> Shannon: Now, you we're
telling me about Darrel Petties.
>> Worley: Darrel Petties-hot
gospel act in town.
>> Shannon: 26-year-old singer,
songwriter, preacher-does it
all!
>> Worley: He is one of those
guys that comes in the room and
he just has so much energy about
him.
And when he gets up on stage,
you know, strength and praise is
the name of the choir that's
behind him.
And they have been so hot.
Not only did they have a song
last year on the Gospel
According to Memphis which was a
compilation of different Gospel
artists in town that Mr. Darrel
put together.
They had a song on there they
did very well called "1 Shot."
Then he also has his own record
out and there's a song "New
Season" that's been doing well.
So everybody's been talking
about them.
And then another gospel act that
is so hot right now is a group
called Vincent Tharpe and
Kenosis.
And they just signed a deal to
EPM Music which is Earnest Pugh
Music.
Earnest Pugh-Memphis born!
He was born in Millington.
He played with O'landa Draper
for, you know, he was in
O'landa's choir for many years.
He's got a five octave voice.
He's absolutely amazing.
He decided to bring.
He was going to start his own
label and he was going to bring
it back to his hometown.
So it's, you know, he's based
out of the Memphis area.
And what he's doing-taking acts
that are doing well here and
pushing them to the rest of the
world.
It's going to be fabulous for,
you know, everything that's
going on in gospel here.
>> Shannon: Yeah.
Now, Kenosis is-I mean like,
it's a massive band.
And the voice alone are amazing.
But when they're together, it's
a revival.
I mean every time they play,
it's a revival.
>> Worley: And one of the things
that I really love-not that I'm
a fashionista or anything like
that-but if you go google them
and you look at the pictures,
they all just look so cool.
They just look so cool and hip.
I mean, they look like the
person you would see on the
street.
It's very real life but it's
also got this edge that it's
this fashion piece.
And he really, you know, just
says to the group, you know,
wear your own clothes and all
that.
But we're going to have some
colors themes, you know, and
everything.
>> Shannon: Here's my question.
How long have they been
together?
They won the 2010 Rhythm and
Gospel award for Best Indie
Gospel.
>> Worley: And I'm not sure how
long the whole choir has been
together.
I really don't remember.
I don't know the answer to that.
>> Shannon: Well, I don't know
anything about Kirby Lauryen but
her album-is it Daddy's Child?
I have heard amazing things
about that.
>> Worley: And she just did-she
just signed this great
publishing deal.
We all know that.
Well, I guess we don't all know.
Publishing deals are hard to
come by.
(laughter)
>> Shannon: Your publishing is
where you make the money.
>> Worley: That's where you make
the money.
And she just signed a really
great deal.
She's a member of the music
resource center.
And so we're really involved
with her.
And you know, that's something
to be proud of-to get a
publishing-licensing deals.
You know, that's how, as a
musician, you make your money,
especially these days.
>> Shannon: Now, she did this
thing that I thought was really
cool.
Her song "A Day Journey"-that is
so interesting and it's gotten
really wide acclaim.
I'm sure you can go on YouTube
because that's where she posted
it-right?
Everyday for a year she did a
song a day and posted it on
YouTube.
>> Worley: And what a great
promotional idea!
>> Shannon: I think so, too.
I think so, too.
And what a great way to use
social media.
Okay now, did you hear the Owens
Sisters?
>> Worley: At the-Yes, at Goat
Days.
>> Shannon: These girls-there
are four sisters from
Germantown.
I think they're from like 15 to
21.
Two of them put off college for
a couple of years.
They sang together in choirs
throughout their collective
school experience but they never
sang together.
And they got together just like
last year and started singing
and immediately were booked to
play the Delta Fair.
And as soon as I heard them, I
had them at Goat Days.
They're wonderful!
Listen for the Owens Sisters.
>> Worley: Everybody's been
talking about them.
>> Shannon: Remember in O
Brother Where Art Thou-the
Wharvey girls.
They're kind of like the Wharvey
girls.
And each one is just as cute as
the next one.
But the Owens Sisters are one
that we need to listen for.
And Marcela Pinella.
>> Worley: Marcela!
>> Shannon: She is beautiful,
talented, sweet, smart, funny,
creative.
>> Worley: One of the nicest
people you will ever meet.
>> Shannon: And has really come
in to her own.
>> Worley: Yes, she put out an
EP a year and a half ago.
And now she is in the studio.
She's at Cotton Row Studio
working with Niko Lyras here in
town.
And they're working on her full
length.
But in the meantime, she's been
getting all this attention from
other people.
And Victor Wooten who is known
for, you know, just being the
coolest guy ever and revered in
the jazz scenes, revered by
musicians.
He's a musician's musician.
And he's been working with
Marcela.
And they're actually doing a
special performance together in
LA at the National Conference of
Music Merchants.
So Gibson, Saint Blues-all the
companies that sell.
And Amro here in town, they go.
It's everybody's there and
they're selling their gear.
And they're looking at new gear
and everything.
And so it's a lot of musicians
and a lot of media.
So that's going to be a fabulous
show for her.
>> Shannon: Well, I'm going to
say something.
The one that I'm really proud of
and excited about is going to
happen later on this month at
the Whitehouse.
>> Worley: Oh, yes.
We've got to take some Memphis
music to DC.
>> Shannon: I mean from 1966 to
2013, they are still going and
still growing.
>> Worley: It's amazing.
>> Shannon: And they're playing
at the Gala for the presidential
inauguration.
How cool is that?
>> Worley: The Bar Kay's are
known for their stage antics.
It's a high energy show.
It gets everybody up dancing.
Now that they've added in, they
have this Stax soul review that
they do that goes through all of
the artists, all the big Stax
artists, which they can do
because they were there.
I mean, they have the right to
do it.
And the Bar Kays have also in
the last few months they put out
a single called Grown Folks.
It's their first big radio hit-
top ten hit-in 20 years.
And so they have been really
busy.
The song was produced by Jazze
Pha who's this huge hip-hop
producer who's worked with
everybody like Little Wayne and,
you know, every hip-hop name you
can imagine.
And so he is the son of James
Alexander who's the bassist from
the Bar Kays.
And he came in and produced the
whole thing.
And it has been burning up the
billboard charts.
For the last six months, it's
been on the charts.
>> Shannon: We're about out of
time but talking about burning
up, we've got to talk about the
River City Tanlines.
These guys have taken punk,
rock, the whole garage thing-
mashed it all together.
Three piece.
>> Worley: Three piece with a
chick!
With a chick!
It's absolutely amazing.
Alicja is a force to be reckoned
with here in Memphis.
And in the rock scene, there
aren't a lot of women.
And she is by far on of the most
respected.
So that's fabulous.
>> Shannon: I think so, too.
>> Worley: You know I will
mention two things also in
Memphis music that someone might
not know about.
Next weekend at the New Daisy
we've got the Hometown
Throwdown.
>> Shannon: We talked about
that.
>> Worley: Oh my goodness!
It's going to be so fabulous-two
nights!
So all the rock fans can go to
that.
But also for those who like to
just sit back and listen to good
music and hear a good DJ and a
good juke box and all that,
Karren Carrier who owns Mollie
Fontaine's and the Beauty Shop,
she is opening a new place.
And it is the old Do in Cooper-
Young.
And it's going to be called Bar.
And it's just a bar.
It's just a bar to go hangout
at.
>> Shannon: We're going to have
to talk about that more.
Guys, go to the website.
Check out these musicians.
They're amazing.
And coming up next, we've got
Chris and Mike talking about our
Funny Bones-How to get our funny
on.
>> [instrumental music]
♪♪♪
>> Davis: Professor Ghoul, I
love what you've done with your
hair.
>> Degnan: Oh thanks, Chris.
>> Davis: Yeah!
>> Degnan: Well, it's good to be
here.
>> Davis: I'm glad to have you
here.
You're usually on another side
of the production but we get to
talk about comedy.
>> Degnan: We sure do.
And not just any comedy-we get
to talk about Memphis comedy.
>> Davis: Now one of the things
about Memphis comedy that people
really don't understand is that
it exists almost without a place
to exist.
>> Degnan: True, we do not have
an in-town comedy club anymore.
There was the Bartlett Comedy
Spot that closed recently.
And before that, the last
Memphis-based comedy club was
Comedy Tennessee over on
Sycamore View.
So that closed in 2008 I
believe.
So you'd think it would fall
apart but no.
in fact, the Memphis comics have
been working the whole time.
And through a series of open
mics that we have, like I host
an open mic every Monday over at
the Poplar Lounge.
That usually gets started about
10:00.
And then there's also an open
mic at the P and H Café every
Thursday at about 9:30.
And so we're able to keep up on
our chops even though we don't
have a home club that we can be
based out of.
>> Davis: Now these events that
you're talking about-those are
more for stand-up comedy, for
people who like stand-up.
Can you tell me a little bit
about what those nights are
like?
Do you see a lot of the same
people over and over again or is
there--?
>> Degnan: You certainly have
your regulars.
And that's who the majority of
the comics who show up are.
They're the regulars just coming
back to keep honing material,
try out new things.
But part of the excitement about
any open mic is you get first
timers.
So you have people who don't
know what to expect-maybe
they've never been to a live
comedy show before.
Maybe they've been listening to
records for years and they've
been honing something and they
just want to present it.
Or maybe someone just told them
they're the funniest person they
know.
And so watching how that all
comes together in their first
time up is part of the
excitement.
>> Davis: Yeah, especially the
ones who have just been told
"you're the funniest person I
know."
>> Degnan: It-Yeah.
>> Davis: Because that usually
has more to do with the person
giving the compliment than the
person.
>> Degnan: Generally speaking,
yeah.
>> Davis: But even if you've
seen a lot of comedy shows
before, it may not prepare you
for something like the Freak
Engine.
>> Degnan: That's true.
Freak Engine is of course, as
you know, Memphis' longest
running improv show.
>> Degnan: 15 years now over at
Theatre Works.
>> Davius: Mostly at midnight.
>> Degnan: Yeah, it's the first
Friday of every month at
midnight.
That's their coveted spot that
they've had for oh so long.
And they still get people
turning out.
And that's much more of game
improv.
So closer tow hat you'd find on
"Whose Line is it Anyway?" for
instance.
And speaking of short form
improv, the Wiseguys improve
which I'm a member of also has a
short form show on the second
Saturday of every month over at
Café Eclectic.
>> Davis: And you guys do one of
my favorite things which is the
Storytellers Unplugged where you
bring in people who aren't
comedians.
You get them to work with the
audience and tell stories and
then you guys improve comedy
around those stories.
>> Degnan: Yeah, we create
scenes that are inspired by the
stories we've just heard.
That's a lot of fun.
That's the third Saturday every
month.
And that's adults only.
>> Davis: Really quickly because
we're running out of time-We
we're talking about all these
different tribes of comics.
The stand-ups that work in
different places, the different
improve troops.
But they all come together and
bring in some outsiders to this
what's becoming an annual
festival.
>> Degnan: Yes, the Memphis
Comedy Festival.
Memphis Comedy Festival started
last year.
They're coming up on their
second one and that's going to
be over at Theatre Works.
And that's February 7 through
February 10.
And they've got an improv event.
They've got a stand-up event.
Each event is $7 and I think the
pass for the whole thing is $40.
But it's a great way to go out
and meet the local comedy
talent.
>> Davis: It's a lot of funnies
for not a lot of cash.
Thanks, Mike.
>> Degnan: Yeah, no problem.
>> Davis: Here in just a minute,
Mamie and I are going to sit
down and we're going to talk
about all the plays you need to
mark your calendar for in 2013
or at least some of them.
>> [instrumental music]
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: So we had a busy
winter.
Then we had a little lull.
No we're getting geared back up.
>> Davis: Yeah, it's starting
again.
>> Shannon: I'm really looking
forward to this theatre season.
>> Davis: I am also-Well you
know, we're still in the middle
of the last theatre season.
But this last half, it's pretty
loaded with good stuff.
Now am I interviewing you or are
you interviewing me?
>> Shannon: I think you're
interviewing me.
>> Davis: I don't know what's
happening.
>> Shannon: I don't either.
Let's just talk.
>> Davis: Let's just talk about
what's coming up in the theatre.
>> Shannon: Okay, let's start
with this month at Theatre Works
the The Left Hand Singing.
>> Davis: Let me just give you a
rundown of what's happening this
month because I want to start.
I want to go way back just a
little bit to a previous episode
of ours.
You know we had the Altar Boyz
on.
And the Altar Boyz were a
gigantic hit at Theatre Memphis
and they're bringing them back.
They're calling it The Second
Coming but it's the same show.
>> Shannon: Oh well, that's
cool!
>> Davis: It was such a popular
show.
You know it's frustrating the
way our subscription houses are
set up.
You know a show runs from this
period of time to this period of
time whether it's a big hit or a
terrible flop.
>> Shannon: And not that we have
a lot of terrible flops but if
it's a big hit-
>> Davis: If it's a big hit when
it's done, it's done.
So they have to revive them.
You know we don't have the
ability to transfer them to a
bigger theatre or another
theatre.
It just doesn't work like that.
>> Shannon: So the same cast?
>> Davis: Same folks are coming
back and under the same
direction.
It promises to be very exciting
because you know there's nothing
like the encore.
You know when you've had a show
that was so good, you get to
have the encore.
That's what this is.
This is their encore.
>> Shannon: Well, that's pretty
sweet!
>> Davis: Yeah, I think so, too.
>> Shannon: Okay, what next?
>> Davis: That's what's
happening.
At the other end of that
spectrum, we have a play that's
coming to Memphis for the first
time that's very important.
It's the Mountaintop also by
Katori Hall who's from here.
She had her-from bein from here,
she had her debut very recently
with a stellar production of
hurt Village at the Hattiloo
Theatre.
Well the Mountaintop is her show
that played on Broadway just
last year with Samuel L. Jackson
and Angela Bassett.
It is-yeah.
It's the show that first got her
a lot of international attention
when it won the Olivier award in
London.
And you know the Olivier is like
the Tony.
it's like the British Tony.
So she won for best new play.
And then it was produced like I
said on Broadway.
So it's debut here at the
Circuit Playhouse.
It's a co-production with
Hattiloo.
The goal is to sort of give
people a taste of what they're
going to see once the new
Hattiloo Theatre opens in
midtown.
>> Shannon: Now there's one
that's coming up that I'm really
intrigued by-Debbie Does Dallas.
>> Davis: Well, that's as little
bit further down.
Now you want to start talking
about the things you need to
mark your calendar for in 2013.
>> Shannon: Okay, when is it
coming?
>> Davis: Well, let's just tell
people to check the website and
we'll get all the dates there
because if I start doing it, I
will lie, lie, lie.
Debbie Does Dallas.
>> Shannon: I mean, is this like
based on the movie?
>> Davis: On the pornographic
movie-Yeah.
>> Shannon: How are they going
to do that?
>> Davis: Well, a lot of people
have asked that question in the
past.
It's been this play is produced
more often than you might
realize.
It's a musical because when we
think about classic '70s
***, we obviously think
about choreography and signing.
No, it's relatively tame in a
lot of ways.
>> Shannon: So is it about the
movie or is it about making the
movie?-the characters of the
movie?
>> Davis: You know, I haven't
seen Debbie Does Dallas in so
long.
I can't really tell you all the
particulars.
But it's very closely built
around the original script to
that film about a group of high
school senior cheerleaders who
want to become Texas
cheerleaders.
There was actually some legal
disputes because they were
obviously the Dallas Cowboy
cheerleaders and Dallas Cowboys
did not want themselves
portrayed in that light when the
original movie came out.
So a few years back, somebody
thought it would be hilarious to
take this to this classic piece
of camp *** and to
develop it was a stage musical.
And it's original production was
straight forward but there was
no nudity.
There was no, you know.
>> Shannon: So it's for theatre.
>> Davis: It's for theatre.
There was a lot of wink-wink,
nudge-nudge.
>> Shannon: Well, we're going to
have to come back and talk about
that.
>> Davis: It'd been done since
with much raunchier choreography
and I think Courtney Oliver is
involved in this.
And I have a lot of faith in her
to bring the raunch.
>> Shannon: Well, I can't wait
to see it or hear about it.
We're going to get Pat back in
here and we're going to wrap it
up and talk about some karaoke.
>> Davis: Oh, wow!
>> Shannon: How about that?
>> Davis: We barely got to talk
about anything in 2013.
>> Shannon: I know.
>> Davis: Well, there's a lot
more you should see.
>> Shannon: We'll talk about it.
>> Davis: We'll talk about it
later.
>> [instrumental music]
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: It's going by way
too fast.
>> Worley: Yeah, it did.
>> Shannon: I really want-please
let me know the next time you go
to see Darrel Petties.
>> Worley: Oh, definitely.
He does a lot of performances
around town, too.
So he played the Cooper-Young
Festival in 2012.
So there are opportunities to
see him coming up.
>> Shannon: And Chris, you're
going to have to let me know,
you know.
I have selected time that I can
go to the theatre so you're
going to have to let me know.
>> Davis: You know, we had a lot
of things we wanted to talk
about and time just ran out.
We barely got to the top of our
list.
So I guess people can check the
website and we'll list all the
things that we think you should
mark your calendars for.
>> Shannon: And speaking of
marking your calendars, this
lady over here goes every Friday
night to P and H for-what is it
called?
>> Worley: Rockstar Karaoke-Oh,
it's awesome!
It's awesome!
Just last week I did wonderful
"Loverboy" performance.
The kid is hot.
It was hot.
>> Shannon: She's a legend in
her own mind.
(laughter)
>> Worley: A mutual friend.
>> Shannon: She's heard me sing
and it's awful.
But you know, karaoke-I just
don't care.
You just have fun.
>> Worley: You have to pay
attention to where you go.
You should go scope it out.
Find out what the deal is.
Some places you go to, it's
really laid back and everybody's
having fun.
>> Shannon: Some of them are
like very regimented and they
take it seriously.
>> Worley: They are auditioning
for American Idol.
I mean it is just like-Oh my
goodness!
>> Shannon: Have you ever heard
about Old Whitten Tavern?
>> Worley: They've been doing
karaoke for a long time.
>> Shannon: They do it on Monday
nights and they were suggested
to me.
And that is on Whitten road in
Bartlett.
And then the Cove, of course.
Please tell me they're laid
back.
Have you been, Chris?
>> Davis: Oh, I avoid karaoke
like the plague.
>> Worley: Oh, wow!
Well, it's because he actually
sings.
>> Shannon: I know.
He can actually sing.
(laughter)
>> Shannon: But you know, it
seems like The Cove might be
laid back.
>> Worley: Yeah, I wonder.
I wonder.
We're going to have to go check
it out to figure it out.
>> Shannon: I think so.
And they're on Wednesday nights.
So we've got Monday, Wednesday
and Friday.
And I think Alfred's on Beale
has it all the time.
>> Worley: Windjammer's in East
Memphis-They have karaoke.
It's really interesting to go
and see what the scene is, see
who the people are.
>> Davis: See if anyone is
stupid enough to sing "Come on
Eileen."
>> Shannon: Oh, I would sing it
with you!
>> Davis: Have you ever tried to
do that karaoke?
It's one of the killers.
It's like "End of the World as
we Know it."
Once you've done that, you'll
never do karaoke again.
>> Worley: Some songs are just
like-everybody in the audience
sings it.
You do Elton John-"Tiny Dancer"
or you do Neil Diamond, you
know, "Sweet Caroline."
>> Davis: I've also humiliated
myself with a terrible rendition
of "Baby Got Back."
I almost had to leave town.
>> Shannon: Oh, gosh.
I really wish somebody would
have been rolling tape on that
one.
>> Davis: I'm sure it's probably
on YouTube if you look hard
enough.
>> Shanon: So you go.
Really, you go every Friday
night.
>> Worley: Yeah, I try to.
It's definitely a lot of fun.
And I'll tell you why I did it-
interesting story.
I started doing karaoke because
I had to make a lot of
presentations for work.
And I really get nervous even
though I'm used to getting up
and talking to people.
Small group presentations-I get
really nervous.
And so I decided I was going to
do karaoke because I can't sing.
And if I can get up and sing in
front of a bunch of people, then
talking to people about things
I'm passionate about-Oh, that
will be easy!
So that was my little medicine
for myself.
And it worked wonderfully.
>> Shannon: Well, I think that
we should all get Chris out and
do a trio somewhere.
>> Davis: Too much trauma.
>> Shannon: Come on, Chris.
>> Davis: Too much-too many
attempted Dexy's Midnight
Runners just didn't work.
(laughter)
>> Davis: It's embarrassing for
me and everyone who has to watch
it.
>> Shannon: Oh my goodness.
Thank you guys so much for
joining us.
Please come back next week.
And go out and enjoy your local
color!
>> [instrumental music]
♪♪♪