The Commercial Appeal - Go Memphis
Brass note, local show, new EP fill Sykes’ calendar
It’s shaping up to be a busy spring for veteran Memphis singer-songwriter
Next week, Sykes will officially release a new single, “Come As You Are Beach Bar,” from his forthcoming EP “Songs from a Little Beach Town.” The track has already been getting regular play on Sirius XM’S Margaritaville Radio, the station operating under the banner of Sykes’ longtime pal and champion Jimmy Buffet.
Sykes’ record is set to be released nationally April 22. Before that, on March 11, Sykes will be back in the Bluff City to perform at Downtown venue
(locals will serve as his backing band). As part of the event, Sykes will also be honored and presented with a Brass Note on Beale Street.
Doors open at 7 p.m. The Brass Note ceremony begins at 8 p.m., with music to follow.
For more information, go to keithsykes.com.
RAP ON THE CHARTS
It proved to be a big week for Memphis rapper Yo Gotti (profiled in last week’s column). The Bluff City veteran’s big week promoting his new album, “The Art of Hustle” —which included national TV appearances and a concert cameo by Kanye West — yielded serious results. Gotti enjoyed his highest chart debut, hitting No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200, by selling more than 61,000 copies of the disc (which also netted an additional 14 million streaming plays) for the joint CMG/EPIC label release.
Gotti’s previous chart high came in 2013, with his album “I Am,” which topped out at No. 7.
Fellow local MC Young Dolph also made an impression on the charts with his independently released new album, “King of Memphis.” The disc hit No. 49 on the Top 200, showing major promise for the revered underground rapper, who put the record out through his own Paper Route Empire label.
LITTLE ROCK, BIG NAMES
While Memphis has its fair share of stars coming for concerts this spring and summer, North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena will be hosting performances from a handful of other notable acts that are skipping the Bluff City (at least for now).
Those interested in seeing country queen Carrie Underwood — out on the road with her “The Storyteller” tour — can catch her April 28 at the Verizon. British pop-metal kingpins Def Leppard will appear there on May 11. The Dave Matthews Band will pass through the Natural State on May 18. R&B diva Janet Jackson (who already made a Memphis stop a few months back) will play on May 31, and a Steely Dan/steve Winwood double bill stops there June 25.
Tickets for the concerts are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000.
LAFAYETTE’S NATIONALS
Overton Square’s Lafayette’s Music Room has ramped up its national booking this month, bringing a mix of roots acts from out of town and out of state to perform at the Midtown venue.
This past week’s sold-out show by Mississippi singer-songwriter Paul Thorn will be followed by a rare Memphis appearance Thursday, March 10, by Georgia Satellites singer Dan Baird (see story on page 6).
Before that, however, Lafayette’s offers the local debut of rising country star William Clark Green, who plays the club at 10 p.m. Saturday. Released in 2015, Green’s latest album, “Ringling Road,” earned critical praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, and is helping to break this Texas talent nationally.
Other noteworthy acts passing through Lafayette’s in March include Nashville country ingénue Hailey Whitters (March 14), and the Jeff Austin Band ( March 27), the new project from the longtime Yonder Mountain String Band mandolinist.
Contact Bob Mehr at mehr@commercialappeal.com or 901-529-2517