Listen Up: 9 Shows To See in Memphis in December 2014

Listen Up: 9 Shows To See in Memphis in December 2014

Here's my monthly guide to live music in Memphis in December.

Giveaway alert: I've only listened to St. Paul and the Broken Bones a little, but y'all love them. If you want to win a pair tickets to St. Paul and the Broken Bones show tomorrow (12/3) leave me a comment on this post telling me which SP&TBB song I should listen to introduce me to the band's music. I'll draw a winner randomly at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

**Giveaway update 12/3: Congrats to Nick G. who won the St. Paul and the Broken Bones Tickets!**

Minglewood Hall is being awesome and has given me a pair of tickets to give away for 3 more shows this month. Be sure to follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or check the blog every day to find out which shows and how to win.

st paul and the broken bones
St. Paul and the Broken Bones is at Minglewood Hall on 12/3.

This edition of Listen Up is special because it's mostly Memphis musicians. Is it just me, or is now an exciting time in the local music scene? Seems like between new venues and album releases, talented folks who've been playing for years are coming into their own, it's just a great time to love Memphis music.

Please keep in mind that this is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to every live music act coming to Memphis, just an variety of shows big and small I think you'll like and my little comments on them.

1. St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Minglewood Hall, Wednesday December 3, 6 p.m., $20+ fees, all ages
Y'all loved St. Paul and the Broken Bones so much when they were at the Levitt Shell this fall that they're back this week at Minglewood Hall for a Wednesday night show.

2. Dead Soldiers, Bar DKDC, Saturday December 6, $7, 21+

Dead Soldiers Hi Tone Show small
Dead Soliders at their show at the Hi-Tone back in August. This month they're at DKDC on 12/6.

They're grumpy, they're full of feelings, they're Southern, and they rock. Pack in to Bar DKDC on Saturday night to hear Dead Soldiers play their tales of love and death and Memphis and whiskey. I'm a sucker for it (the music and the whiskey). 

3. Mighty Souls Brass Band, Lafayette's Music Room, Sunday December 7, music starts at 7 p.m., $10,  all ages
If you went to the I Love Memphis B-day Party back in August, you got to hear the completely awesomely fun musicians of the Mighty Souls Brass Band play their NOLA-style, Memphis-flavored big brass band music all afternoon. Well, they are finally releasing an album and this is the party for it. They'll be about a dozen horn players, saxes, drums and more. Caleb Sweazy plays at 7 p.m. and the Mighty Souls start at 8 p.m. Be there.

4. Faith Evans Ruch Tacky Christmas Vinyl Release Party, Co-Motion Studio, Friday December 12, doors at 8 p.m., $7 - $10, 21 and up

Faith Evans Ruch Memphis Music Month 1835 Madison
Is it a tacky sweater Christmas party? Is it an album release show? Is it a chance to buy Faith's new album on vinyl? Yes. Singer-songwriter Faith Evans Ruch puts on a great show to promote her forthcoming second album "After It's Said & Done". The best (worst?) holiday outfit wins a prize, there will be a photo booth to document the occasion, and beer and spiked nog are included in your cover. For $10 you get the vinyl, too.

5. Graham Winchester Album Release Show Part One, The Buccaneer, Friday December 12, 10 p.m., $7
Over the years, I've had the pleasure of catching shows with Graham on drums or singing for all kinds of acts like the Maitre D's, the Sheiks, for John Paul Keith…or Copper Possum way back at the old Neil's when all of us were definitely old enough to be there. I'm so happy he's finally releasing a solo album. Go to his album release show Part 1 on the 12th at the Bucc or Part 2 at DKDC on Dec. 19.

6. Santa Claus Presents: Hip Hop Toy Drive, Hi-Tone Cafe (412 N. Cleveland), Dec. 13, doors at 7 p.m., $5 or a new, unwrapped toy, 18 and up

Memphis hip hop artist Knowledge Nick (read my interview with him here) hosts the 3rd annual Hip Hop Toy Drive for Toys for Tots. There's a big lineup of Memphis hip-hop and rap artists including Iron Mic Coalition, S.O.U.L., Dick Solomon, Da Ladie, Ricache', Nina 9, Sleepy J Barksdale, Bartholomew Jones, and DJ Wyzlyfe Go here for links to sample their music.

7. Lucero Family Christmas, Minglewood Hall, Friday December 19, doors at 7 p.m., $22 adv./$24 day of show, all ages
Join the Lucero family for their annual Christmas party at Minglewood Hall. The band will be joined by Mighty Souls Brass Band. $1 of the show's proceeds will benefit a local charity.

8. The City Champs w/ Marcella & Her Lovers, Hi-Tone Cafe, Friday December 26, $10, 18+
The Hi-Tone's website says of The City Champs, "one of the best Memphis bands ever. Period." I tend to agree, and you should take our word for it. With zydeco songstress Marcella opening for them in the wake of her new album, this is gonna be a good one.

9. The Bo-Keys New Year's Eve Show, Lafayette's Music Room, Wednesday December 31, 10:30 p.m., cover TBD, 18+
Memphis legends who have been entertaining the Bluff City for more than 40 years will help you ring in the new year at the newest oldest place to hear music in Memphis. It's New Year's Eve so I have a feeling the Roo is gonna be crowded after this one.

Comments Make Us Happy

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Whitney
CALL ME!!!!!! 
December 2, 2014 11:40am
Listen Up: 9 S…
[…] Please keep in mind that this is not meant to …read more […]
December 2, 2014 11:51am
Kristin
Call Me. Definitely. 
December 2, 2014 11:52am
Chris
Sugar Dyed
December 2, 2014 11:54am
Michael Parker
I know it's a cover but go to spotify live sessions and listen to "A change is gonna come" feat. Lizzo So much soul. 
December 2, 2014 12:04pm
Mac
Broken bones and pocket change!
December 2, 2014 12:06pm
Erin
Most definitely "Call Me." It's probably their most popular song, so it'll be the best to show you why everyone's raving about them.
December 2, 2014 12:06pm
Kasey Spilman
My vote is for Sugar Dyed! It's a good dancin' tune that sounds straight out of Stax. 
December 2, 2014 12:07pm
Mariah
Like a Mighty River!! ;)
December 2, 2014 12:14pm
Catherine
Don't Mean a Thing! 
December 2, 2014 12:16pm
Jennifer Phoenix
I shared this list on Facebook.  My husband would LOVE to go to the show tomorrow night!
December 2, 2014 12:18pm
Jennifer Phoenix
Oh and I pick "Call Me"
December 2, 2014 12:18pm
Timmy P
I'm loving "Grass Is Greener" right now!
December 2, 2014 12:19pm
Jaimie Nolan
Grass is Greener!
December 2, 2014 12:35pm
Sophie
Mighty river will make you happy
December 2, 2014 12:38pm
Karen Golightly
Like a Mighty River, of course. 
December 2, 2014 12:38pm
Nick Gullic
Sugar Dyed.  But they're all good...
December 2, 2014 12:40pm
Josh
Dixie Rothko. For sure. 
December 2, 2014 12:44pm
Nick
Like a Mighty River!
December 2, 2014 12:50pm
Kelli
Gotta b different...Second Church Of The Cosmic Lamb
December 2, 2014 12:55pm
Jerica Sandifer
Call me, fo sho.
December 2, 2014 12:57pm
Nicole
Broken Bones & Pocket Change
December 2, 2014 12:57pm
Erica
Great list this month! I'd love to go tomorrow - I'd recommend checking out a live performance of Broken Bones and Pocket Change. 
December 2, 2014 12:58pm
Erin
Half The City will tell you Call Me. Let It Be So, but I'm Torn Up because I like Broken Bones and Pocket Change, too.
December 2, 2014 1:06pm
Hillary C
Grass is greener!
December 2, 2014 1:06pm
JR
I'm Torn Up
December 2, 2014 1:07pm
Aubrey
CALL ME or Mighty River !! 
December 2, 2014 1:10pm
Lacey
I like Grass is Greener!
December 2, 2014 1:14pm
Micah
Call Me! It really shows off the power in his voice.
December 2, 2014 1:24pm
mallory
grass is greener!
December 2, 2014 1:28pm
Christopher
Like a Might River, of course!
December 2, 2014 2:15pm
Drew
Grass is Greener for sure!
December 2, 2014 2:16pm
Allison
Call Me
December 2, 2014 2:30pm
Christy Horton
Call Me.
December 2, 2014 2:31pm
Kaitlin Edwards
Sugar Dyed!! It's so fun! 
December 2, 2014 2:40pm
Lyndsay Saunders
Call Me is a great starting point for this phenomenal band.
December 2, 2014 3:07pm
Jeremy
I'm Torn Up...crazy vocals!!
December 2, 2014 4:05pm
Rikeen Patel
You should check out It's Midnight. Perfect song for background noise.
December 2, 2014 4:53pm
Erin R. Weekley
Like a Mighty River is a great one! 
December 2, 2014 6:30pm
Mark VanGelder
Zoogma is among the best of December. In my view, not a very accurate list without them.
December 2, 2014 7:20pm
Shawn Lynxh
Call me!
December 2, 2014 8:14pm
Mikenzie
"Half the city" is awesome. You'll love it. Please make it an awesome Wednesday night and bless me and my best friend with those beautiful tickets!! We fell in love with this group at the Shell.
December 2, 2014 8:31pm
Melanie Montgomery
I would have to say Grass is Greener!
December 2, 2014 9:44pm
matt
Call me
December 2, 2014 9:45pm
Paul Crum
I've been loving you. (Otis Redding cover)
December 2, 2014 9:53pm
Scot Cowan
Call me, amazing sound.
December 2, 2014 10:34pm
Jason Sonnenfelt
Find a friend that shot video or audioof them at the Shell and hopefully they got Try a Little Tenderness. Amazing!
December 2, 2014 11:20pm
Rebecca Quinn
Like a mighty river! :)
December 3, 2014 12:14am
Lindsay Smith
Half the City!! Reminds me of my fond times in Birmingham, the band's hometown! 
December 3, 2014 4:22am
Jordan Bernardini
honestly, you can only feel about 5% of the energy they produce by listening to a recording, but to catch some Memphis in their sound, listen to the cover of Ottis Redding's Try a Little Tenderness!
December 3, 2014 6:46am