Gonerfest 15: What acts to check out
For the 15th time in the last 14 years, Goner Records will present its multiday, multivenue garage-rock (and more) extravaganza, Gonerfest.
The festival is an outgrowth of the Cooper-Young-based record label and retail store run by Eric Friedl and Zac Ives.
Gonerfest has become one of the Bluff City’s unique cultural events, expanding beyond its modest origins to include a mix of music, film, guided tours and more.
“There’s no way we would have predicted this when we started out in 2004,” Friedl says.
This year’s festival will kick off with a screening of Mike McCarthy’s ’90s underground flick “Sore Losers” on Sept. 26 at Studio on the Square and will close with a performance by Mississippi bluesman R.L. Boyce on Sept. 30 at the Cooper-Young Gazebo. In the days between, nearly 40 artists will perform at a variety of venues, including the HiTone Café, Murphy’s and Memphis Made Brewing Co., for hundreds of fans traveling from all over the world.
In addition, those who purchase allaccess Gonerfest Golden Passes will be able to partake in three nightly “Happy Hour Studios Tours” that will take fans into a trio of Memphis’ iconic recording facilities: Sam Phillips Recording, Ardent Studios and Royal Studios.
“We approached some Memphis legends about leading select tours at their studios,” Ives says. “There will be a bar setup by Old Dominick and Memphis Made, which should only make things better. Ardent’s Jody Stephens, Royal’s Boo Mitchell and Phillips’ Jerry Phillips may even have some tricks up their sleeve.”
With so much to see and hear, we asked Friedl and Ives to offer up their personal picks and highlights for the festival.
Sept. 27 5:30 p.m. opening ceremony with DM Bob at the Cooper-Young Gazebo
The fest officially kicks off outside the Goner Records store in CooperYoung with the Louisiana flavor of DM Bob.
“I first heard (DM Bob) in the late’90s, with his records on Crypt,” Ives says. “He was living in Europe and has since moved back to States. We pulled him out of hiding and have him opening the whole festival up. No idea what he’s gonna do or who he’ll be playing with — but we’re excited about it. And it’s a free show, too.”
9 p.m. Hi-Tone
The first full night of shows gets going with a strong multi-band bill that includes locals Harlan T. Bobo and Aquarian Blood and is headlined by veteran poet/singer Lydia Lunch, making her Gonerfest debut.
“She’s a true legendary punk leading lady — and she’s going to be backed by an all-star band called Retrovirus,” Ives says. “This one is going to be great.”
Sept. 28 2:30 p.m. Memphis Made Brewing
In addition to appearances by fastrising bands like Austin, Texas’ Trouble Boys, the highlight of the daytime festival will be a songwriter’s showcase featuring Greg Cartwright of the Oblivians/ Reigning Sound, and Harlan T. Bobo, among others.
“Friday afternoon we’ve got Greg, Harlan, Gentleman Jesse from the Carbonas, and King Louie playing as part of this songwriter/solo stage,” Ives says. “We figured rockers have a sensitive side too, so it would be the perfect place to let people listen to these guys in a stripped down way.”
9 p.m. Hi-Tone
Night two at the Hi-Tone will feature a performance from French band En Attendant Ana.
“They’re one of my favorite new bands from Paris,” Ives says. “They have a great new album on Trouble In Mind.”
Also, Goner act and SoCal skate rock favorite Cobra Man returns to the festival.
“They stole the Gonerfest day show at Murphy’s last year with a totally insane live performance,” Ives says. “There’s no telling what Cobra Man will come up with for the show this year — but I know it will be jaw-dropping.”
Cobra Man’s new album is available now via streaming services, with physical copies coming Oct. 26 on Goner.
The day-long, double-stage bill at Murphy’s day show is loaded with a range of exciting acts, from Soft Boys founder/solo artist Robyn Hitchcock to African-American hardcore band Negro Terror, to a wild card set from rapper A Weirdo from Memphis, as well as a rare performance from Missouri riff rockers Drunks with Guns — which is the fest’s can’t miss act, according to Goner coowner Friedl.
“I never thought I would see St. Louis’ sludgesters Drunks with Guns. I remember listening to the hopeless, hilarious sound of teenagers buzzed on cheap canned beer blasting out oneguitar riff songs based off one vocal idea in the late ’80s ... just the greatest, dumbest realization of bored suburban rock ‘n’ roll I’d heard till that time,” Friedl says.
“Also on that same bill we’re putting rapper A Weirdo From Memphis into the mix. It’ll be a wild Memphis hip-hop element that should throw people for a loop.”
9 p.m. Hi-Tone
Gonerfest has always had a large contingent of Australian bands, and this year’s class is led by Deaf Wish.
“They are a heavy duty action band from Melbourne made up of some of my favorite people on the planet,” Ives says. “This is going to be an ear-splitting, goosebump-inducing live show. Can’t wait to see them again.”
Also, the return of Atlanta rockers the Carbonas has the Goner crew excited.
“We released their last album in 2006, and it’s one of my favorites in our catalog,” Ives says. “We’ve got an amazing double LP of Carbonas singles and unreleased material coming out Oct. 26. It will be great to see them on stage again.”