Here’s video of the late great Shawn “The Memphis Monster” Lane playing Watermelon In Easter Hay in some noisy bar. Why he’s applauded at the end is a mystery to me (though he plays a very nice version of the tune) because throughout, nobody seems to be listening to the poor guy.
Thanks to those who sent in the link.
August 7th, 2006 at 6:45 pm »
The noisy bar is Murphy’s a little watering hole in Mid-town Memphis. ‘been there many times. The crowd noise is a basic example of why Memphis is such a heads/tails city when it comes to music. There are so many amazing musicians to have come(and continue to come) from Memphis that club patrons are almost indifferent when someone plays something really good. It’s like they expect greatness so they don’t ackowledge it when it happens? Starnge phenomenon, I could never figure it out. It bled over into full-blown concerts as well. I remeber sever concerts where the artists commented on how lame the crowd was. Good vid though. I miss Shawn. He was a realy nice guy.
August 7th, 2006 at 6:46 pm »
can’t type today appearantly . . .
August 8th, 2006 at 3:18 pm »
I met Shawn once, and got to see him play a few times. He was indeed a nice guy, and a brilliant musician.
August 13th, 2006 at 11:20 am »
I adore that sort of mixture: one of the FZ masterpieces, performed in ” low culture”.