Trying to Bring People to Memphis Via Mix Tape

Trying to Bring People to Memphis Via Mix Tape

Since 2005, I've convinced at least three people that what they really need to do is move to Memphis. Two of the three people had never seen Memphis before. One person (the one I married) was convinced in less than 20 mintues.

When I was at SXSW, I made some friends. One of those friends is considering a move from his hometown in the Pacific Northwest to somewhere in the Southeast. None of my normal methods of convincing (our low cost of living, amazing food, friendly people, weather, etc.) have worked.

So, as a last-ditch effort to convince my friend to relocate to Memphis, I've brought out the big guns. I made him a tape.

Liner Notes for my Memphis tape

All of the songs are by Memphis bands, and I tried to capture some of the spirit of the city. It's a sampler with an ulterior motive. Here's what's on the tape:

1. The Magic Kids - Hey Boy

2. Snowglobe - Regime

3. John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives - Memphis Girls

4. Lucero - Kiss the Bottle

5. Harlan T. Bobo - Too Much Love

6. Two Way Radio - Run Away

7. Jay Reatard - Ain't Gonna Save Me

8. Al Kapone - Gettin' Mine

9. Coach and Four - Tiger High '85

10. Cory Branan - Hell-Bent and Heart-First

11. Reigning Sound - Tennessee

12. Kathryn Brawley - My Heart

13. Chris Bell - I am the Cosmos

I'm not sure if the tape will work, but I think it's fairly convincing. I dropped a roller derby sticker into the envelope, just in case.

Have you ever convinced anyone to move to Memphis? What did you tell them?

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Amy
I have a feeling the one you married was a little more inclined to move based on you than anything else in Memphis ;)
April 1, 2010 3:59pm
Jonathan
You need some Al Green, and some Stax music.
April 1, 2010 4:14pm
Kerry (admin)
I love Stax music. I tried to pick bands that he would still be able to see (with the exception of Chris Bell and Jay Reatard).
April 1, 2010 4:31pm
Joey
Killer list!
April 1, 2010 5:26pm
Kerry (admin)
@Amy He was actually convinced about 20 minutes after I met him, about three years before we started dating. :)
April 1, 2010 8:54pm
Jonathan
Were you able to go to staxtacular this year?
April 2, 2010 1:56am
Deena Dietrich
I moved to Memphis almost 2 years ago from Baltimore. I had to move here for years. I had been vacationing here twice a year - in May for the Beale St festival and in August for Elvis week. I thought why not live where I vacation because I should live where I love. After my friends from New Hampshire visited me right after I moved here, they decided they wanted to move here too. They didn't really need convincng. They will be hereby the end of May.
April 4, 2010 5:01am
Victoria
When you read the comments on Commercial Appeal stories, it sounds as though Memphis were hell on earth. I'm so glad there are people who love it as much as I do! I collect Memphis songs (about, mentioning, from). Just because it mentions Memphis doesn't mean it's a good song, of course, but I've found a lot of stuff I liked a lot, just searching for "Memphis" on iTunes. Now, off to see how many of Kerry's list I can find. . .
April 5, 2010 4:14pm
Amy
@Kerry (admin) okay sure, we'll just say it was the mixtape that sold him ;)
April 5, 2010 8:05pm
Blakely Fletcher
I moved to Memphis b/c I fell in love with a guy who was from here and was set to go to med school here. I thought I'd be out in 4 years, but now, almost 12 years later, I'm a true blue Memphian who drives so bad, I couldn't live anywhere else. So, in light of that, may I suggest you add "That's how I got to Memphis" by the Avett Brothers to your mix tape. It would have to be on mine, and I have a feeling that's how a lot of us converts got here :) Love your blog- thanks for showing us all what a great place Memphis is!
April 6, 2010 1:02am
Jonathan McIntosh
Supposedly, how goes the "creative class" of a city, how goes the city: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_class Also supposedly, Memphis' creative class is shrinking relative to the overall population growth. Who knows if this is true, but right now I'm encouraging my friends to come a be a part of a creative resurgence in Memphis. Move to Memphis. Move back inside the loop. Move closer in to the urban core. Move to Midtown & Downtown. Live, shop, create, make friends and be a good neighbor. Also, Kerry, I'm convinced that Cory Branan is a brilliant singer/songwriter and if more people in knew about him, the world would be a better place. @Blakely - I'm trying to find that Avett Bros. song. What album? Where did you get it?
April 6, 2010 1:02pm
Libby
Kathryn Brawley is my sister...that's awesome she made your mix. :) Makes an older sister proud! ;)
April 6, 2010 1:31pm
steve wilkerson
Who else could it be but Elvis.
May 11, 2010 4:38pm
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