The Real Memphis Mike (don't settle for imitations)

This is the 5th year in a row that I've posted this blog. I hope y'all enjoy it! A lot has changed in my life since the 1st time I posted it but all in all, life is good! Cheers! BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!!!! 5th YEAR!!!!!! Thanksgivus Thanksgivus: that's what she called it. The 'she' in question would be a very short, loud, middle aged black woman with retardation who I supervised for years. Her name is Omega...fitting because she truly is THE END! Omega didn't exactly have a speech problem but I think her hearing wasn't 100% on the mark, as certain words would get slurred together such as "Thanksgivus". Another fave was her version of Social Security, which often sounded more like "sociable secretary" (of which I've known a few). Thanksgivus (which is what I now prefer to call the US holiday Thanksgiving) is the last Thursday of November (this is for my overseas friends who may not be fully knowledgeable of the subject). It is the ho...

The politicians are on the march. They want YOUR vote! Remember...that's all they want. The Republicans (and Tea Party lunatics) want a return to how things used to be. Here's a little reminder of just how 'well' their way worked. In June of 2008, gas prices here in Pittsburgh were at an average of $4.05 per gallon. They are currently $2.85. In June of 2008, at least a third of the people I know were either unemployed or grossly underemployed. Banks were falling apart. Homes were being foreclosed left and right (I can think of at least a half dozen in my neighborhood alone). Things looked pretty grim. Obama was elected President and the Republicans lost no time in starting their racist rhetoric. Was he a Muslim? Was he born in the US? Was he a space alien? What he was, and is, is a half black, half white AMERICAN man who was elected President and is making good on his promises. Sure, it's not happening overnight. Remember, when George W. Bush took the office, we had...

I've long suggested that people support live music. Without the support of the 'fans', it'll fade away. That said, allow me to address a serious issue with live music. Promoters. I swear, there should be a test/licensing involved in becoming a concert promoter! I haven't met many that have the intelligence beyond that of a hydrocephalic spider monkey. At least not locally. I had planned to go to see former Wall of Voodoo singer Stan Ridgway last night at a SMALL bar here in town. I've played this joint numerous times over the years and I'll tell ya, its a nice place. When I got there, I see the poster on the door and the promoter is charging $23 a head! First off...WEIRD price! Why not just make it $25? The section of town this bar is in is pretty low rent/blue collar. People want to go out and have some drinks and a bit of fun. They do NOT want to drop $20+ just walking in the door. (this ain't NYC or LA!) Factor in having a few drinks....and if you...

It's been another year since it happened. I thought after all these years it would get easier. It hasn't. If anything, I've merely grown accustomed to the hole in my life without you. I still get angry at the fuckers that you took you and so many others. Some days I can just about contain the anger...then I think of your smile and I'm "ok" again for awhile. I think I've changed alot since I lost you. I think you'd love me even more (if that's possible). I think you'd be proud of how I handle things these days. I guess you could say I've "mellowed". I have to wonder what you'd be like today. I wonder what would have become of "us". I still think of you on your birthday. Hell, I still think about you almost everyday. I've got cancer again...I'm glad you don't have to go through that with me...you know what a младенец I can be when I'm sick. LOL It amazes me how much I still miss you...even after all we ...

There are 2 kinds of religious zealots in the world. Those who are in it for their own selfish actions (mostly seeking attention) and those who mean it. That said, this weekend could get very ugly for Americans globally if the fools of The Dove World Outreach Center start burning Korans. Muslim zealots are serious. They take their beliefs serious enough to die for them. I've yet to meet an American religious nut serious enough to do it. They might miss something on TV! Pastor Terry Jones exemplifies the worst of America; small minded, mean, disrespectful and ultimately every bit as dangerous as his Muslim counterparts. To even think about burning a Koran, Bible, etc...is just downright wrong. While one may not believe in the teachings, there are others that do and to destroy a symbol of one's faith is not only disrespectful, it's downright evil. FACT: The Bible and the Koran were both written by men. They have many similar stories. There is yet to be any documented physica...

So, I went to my former fave watering hole this eve. Damn...the old place sure has changed. Without naming names, I'll tell ya this much: my granddad, who passed on in 1957, used to drink there. It was pretty much always a small time, neighborhood, old man bar. When I used to drink there, they still refused to have a juke box. Instead, the old TV was usually on A&E or Court TV. Drinks were unbelievably CHEAP! For Pete's sake...the place had a pachinko machine! I remember when my friend Jimmy and his then girfriend were in for a visit. We stopped at my little neighborhood bar to prime the pumps. I bought the first round...smirking all the while. When Jimmy went for the next round, he came back suggesting that they had "undercharged him". I told him, with some personal glee, that no they hadn't; the prices where just that cheap! I stopped going there after I was filmed there for an interview for a documentary on rockabilly music. It took me 5 hours to get out o...

I guess you could say that June 2010 was my month. I kept busy for sure! For starters, I finally settled my artist endorsement thingy with Republic Guitars . Just about a year ago, my good friend Sean Chambers (Sean Menscher & The Rhythm Kings, The Rowdy Bovines) contacted me about Republic and how he was trying to hook me up with an endorsement. Anyone that knows me knows the past couple years kicked my ass, so simply put, I just couldn't be bothered. Well, now that I have it and I have 2 new Republics (a Tricone and a reso uke) I'm kicking myself for not hopping on this earlier! They make truly excellent gear! I've also been working some insane hours at "the real job"...so much in fact that I finally took a vacation!!! 1st one in 15 years! And you know what? I enjoyed it! I might actually take another one! LOL While on vacation, I got to visit my dear friend Dez, my baby cousin Lulu and my old friends Hayden & Georgia, who were kind enough to feed me...a...