Memphis Music Stories

TRS interviews guitarist/singer Darrin Brady shares his current work with Ken Houston as an acoustic duo (started around COVID), playing venues like Huey’s, Knuckleheads, Villa Casorotti, and Delta Blues Winery, averaging heavy gig counts and varied setlists with audience interaction. He recounts joining Ken’s band The No Hit Wonders in 2018, and notes the band is rehearsing again with members including Bobby and Nick Ireland and Dave Morscheck. Darren also covers his Memphis musical roots, early bands, influences (Kiss, Van Halen, Rush, Billy Gibbons), Kisstory shows, gear stories (including stolen guitars/amp), and adds that his dad graduated with Elvis.

Heath & AJ Live in Studio: Acoustic Country Covers, Weekly Neil’s Residency + Memphis Music Talk

Patrick O’Daniel Talks Heartless, Magnum Dopus, Memphis Music, and Writing ‘Crusaders, Gangsters and Whiskey

The podcast welcomes Memphis bassist and author Patrick O’Daniel. They talk about Patrick’s recent gigs, including Italian Fest with Heartless and a rain-soaked show at Ghost River. Patrick explains Heartless set choices, their “Ladies of the ’80s” breakout, and the advantage of two female lead vocalists, Vanessa Sudbury and Katie Marlier. He shares his musical beginnings, early influences (Kiss, Zeppelin, Yes, Cream, The Who, Rush), and his fingerstyle start. The episode covers Patrick’s original band, Magnum Dopus—its lineup, writing process, streaming reach, and upcoming recording—plus his other projects (Island 45 and Super Five). Patrick also spotlights his Memphis-history nonfiction books, especially “Crusaders, Gangsters and Whiskey,” available in print, libraries, and audiobook.

Mike Stoker on Memphis Jones, Stoker Stringed Instrument Repair & Memphis Music History

Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis-born bass player and stringed instrument repairman Mike Stoker of Stoker Stringed Instrument Repair. They discuss how Derrick previously brought basses to him through REvolve Music (owned by Jeff Albert), the kind of repair and wiring work he does, and how he grew his business organically from music retail jobs at Strings & Things and Yarbrough’s. Stoker talks about playing in the trio Memphis Jones since 2012, their Memphis music revue of Sun, Stax, and classics, their regular BB King’s Beale Street slot (Mondays and Fridays, 4:30–7:30), and touring in Canada and abroad. He shares early musical influences including Elvis, his first Sears acoustic guitar, switching from guitar to bass, and his interest in Stax-era rhythm sections.

On this in-studio episode of The Rhythm Section, Derrick and Jeff welcome Traci and Andy McCullough of Roxi Love to talk about their return to pushing original music, social media clips, and a recent video release for their song Lullaby. They discuss Roxi Love’s long-running marriage and music career, budgeting and surviving COVID, and how Southland Casino’s roster system works across stages like Chairman’s Bar, Charred Oak, Bentley Stage, and The Kitchen. The band shares plans for new music, upcoming videos (including “Dream Boy”), and recording with help from Louis Hayslett. Traci and Andy also perform an unreleased original, “Alone”.

The Rhythm Section Pod welcomes guest Nick Strong, a dedicated supporter of the local music community and aspiring vocalist. Nick shares how childhood influences like Huey Lewis, Bon Jovi, Poison, and Def Leppard shaped his dream to sing, and how he gained confidence by posting home singing videos and being invited onstage with bands including Formerly Known As, Gen X, Six Feet Thunder, Full Metal Racket, and Your Mom’s New Boyfriend, often performing STP’s “Cracker Man” and Ozzy’s “Shot in the Dark.” He credits supporters like Shawn Few and Scott Sudbury, discusses his son Noel’s band Indigo Avenue, and suggests mixing Memphis rap with rock, citing Project Pat and Al Kapone’s TAMI Awards performance. Nick also talks about his business, Home Strong Quality Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, and thanks the community while encouraging fans to support local shows and musicians.

Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis drummer Ken Artison, who works as a family engagement liaison at Power Center Academy Elementary School in Hickory Hill and plays drums for Elevation Memphis: A Tina Turner Tribute Experience and Just Liyah & Maxwell: A 90s tribute to Aaliyah and Maxwell. Ken shares how Stax Music Academy trained him in production, theory, and performance through a school-year program and summer music experience, and how young musicians can apply. He explains how he landed a long-running Sunday job at Al Green’s Full Gospel Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, the connections it created, and his move into more rock-and-roll work. Ken recounts joining Elevation via an audition, discusses tuning drums to a bassist’s lowest note, talks gear and cymbals, and names key drumming influences.

Derrick and Jeff welcome Brad Webb, Tony Adams, and Dan Cochran to talk about decades of Memphis-area recording and gigging, including sessions with Blind Mississippi Morris, Fred Sanders, and others. Brad describes building a barn studio in 1987, working with analog tape and early mic-mixing techniques, and running hundreds of blues jams at venues like Rum Boogie, Stage Stop, and Rock House Live. Dan shares that most of his studio work happened in Brad’s room but prefers live performance, and explains how he became a left-handed person who plays right-handed bass. Tony recounts signing a first record deal at 17, recording at Phillips Studios with Sam Phillips at the console, then working in major analog studios and becoming a sought-after drum tech and tuner, including a story from sessions tied to Matchbox 20’s early work.

Derrick and Jeff welcomes Steve Owens for a special in-studio discussion combining band date announcements, and an open discussion about the local music scene. The conversation covers double-booking problems, sound support, fair pay, covers/tipping, table reservations, and the shared responsibility of bands and venues to promote shows. Steve highlights Hadley’s Monday-night fundraisers benefiting 4-year-old Elise “the Beast” Glimmer (spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy, needing treatment in Mexico), the April 19 “Pause for the Cause” animal-rescue benefit at Neil’s, and the sold-out Thomas Half Acre benefit at Lafayette’s on April 20, including an auctioned memorial shirt.

On this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, Derrick and Jeff sit down with Lonnie Hammer—singer and principal songwriter for Hammer Down Hard—for a deep dive into his musical journey. Lonnie shares stories from his days behind the kit with bands like Bullet Theory, Chosen, Jack Russell, and Black Oak Arkansas, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life as a working musician. He also talks about his move to Memphis, breaking into the local scene at the legendary Stage Stop, and his experiences recording at the iconic Ardent Studios.

On The Rhythm Section Sports podcast, the Derrick and Jeff welcome Memphis musician Zack Horvath, a Patriots fan and multi-instrumentalist who recently filled in on bass with Music Box and discusses singing while playing bass. Zack talks about simplifying his solo acoustic looping setup, preferences for smaller drum kits, and his shift from fronting bands to working as a hired-gun/session player, including an upcoming July 4th Gen X gig at Gold Strike. He recounts projects including 30 Minute Ego, Triple Annie’s formation from a Hadley’s jam, and Kid Ego’s run and lineup changes, plus earlier bands like PMD and Animal Crackers. Zack shares how he became a Patriots fan, his musical beginnings in school band and church singing, learning guitar by ear, and major influences like Freddie Mercury, Chris Cornell, and Matt Cameron.

On The Rhythm Section Memphis Music Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis-born musician Rice Drewry about his band the Rice Drewry Collective and their mix of classic rock with some originals, plus his trio Three Degrees with Donna Wolf and Donna Handsome. They discuss seeing RDC at Nashoba, the band lineup (including Dunk Carter, Dave Botkin, Tony Rapp, and Ron Richards), and RDC winning a Tommy Award for Best Original Band and performing originals, with Boo Mitchell presenting the award. Rice shares experiences playing listening-room shows at South Main Sounds and his long involvement with the Memphis Songwriters Association, reflects on early musical influences from radio and his parents’ records, and recounts his Army service as a flight surgeon. He also talks about recording at Royal Studios and mentor Jack Holder, highlighting his song “Playing With the Angels” (from the EP “Crisis in the Shockers”).

In this episode, Derrick and Jeff interviews drummer Mark Sansom of the cover band Souled Out, starting with stories about Mark’s son Gunner Sansom, a Jerry Lee Lewis–style pianist and singer who taught himself keys and surprised Mark with deep-cut song choices. Mark discusses Souled Out’s lineup, busy private-event schedule, and public gigs at places like Dan McGuinness, Lafayette’s, and Knuckleheads, then dives into drumheads, sticks, playing hard, and learning to sing as a working drummer. He traces his path from a junk first kit and early bands to Memphis venues like Stage Stop, road work in the Midwest, and even opening for Starship, sharing influences from Ronnie Tutt to Eric Singer and views on interpretation vs. note-for-note playing, clicks, and tracks.

Derrick and Jeff invite the band Standard Issue—Mark Vines, Dennis Rosti, Tory Jay, and Jesse—to discuss the group’s formation, members’ backgrounds, and plans for the future. They explain how Dennis and Jesse began jamming after meeting through FAA work, how Tory joined, and how Mark came aboard after the original bassist Brandon left. The band teases the possibility of adding Johnny Lamb on keys and vocals, talks about the challenges of singing while playing, and shares influences ranging from Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson to Gene Simmons and Keith Moon. They run through their cover-heavy setlist (including Stone Temple Pilots, Audioslave, Alice In Chains, Metallica, Dio, and more), recap a successful first gig at the Delta Fair, promote an April 2 show at The 10th Inning in Southaven, and reveal upcoming recording sessions at Sun Studio with artist Michael Inger.

Derrick and Jeff welcome Donnie Wayne Smith to The Rhythm Section Podcast, sharing how he started guitar at age six, was inspired by early concerts and albums like Ratt’s “1984” and Ozzy’s “Bark at the Moon,” and played Memphis-area rooms including the Stage Stop, where he recalls Nita’s guidance and classic club moments. Donnie discusses his COVID-era YouTube series “Separate Studios Together,” explaining his remote-stem workflow and listing collaborators from the local scene. He details joining Winger as John Roth’s backup guitarist from 2014–2019, including major festival experiences and how vocal-cord damage eventually ended his live singing work. Donnie also covers his transition into full-time photography with his wife through http://SmithArtisan.com, his approach to making clients feel confident, and his studio/gear-focused recording setup.

On the Rhythm Section podcast, Derrick and Jeff chat with Memphis guitarist and longtime instructor Rick Forbes about his background as an army brat who settled in Memphis in 1976, switching from saxophone to guitar after classic rock concerts, and joining bands soon after arriving. Forbes discusses how radio, FM album cuts, and modern streaming changed music discovery, and how he teaches students not to rely solely on YouTube. He outlines his current projects with Amber McCain and the cover band Spectrum, as well as past work with Jared Price’s “Almost Elton.” He describes the challenges of faithfully performing pop and Elton John material live. He also recounts years in the instrumental jazz group Pacific Flight, odd gigs, and transcription work for Willie Mitchell’s catalog, and highlights common Memphis venues and scheduling challenges.

Derrick and Jeff welcome back Kevin and Bethany Paige for their second appearance and talk about upcoming and recent projects. The main focus is the debut of Saddle Up Memphis, an ’80s/’90s (with a few exceptions) “diva country” band featuring Bethany Paige on lead vocals. They share details for the debut show on Saturday, May 2nd at Neil’s Music Room, encourage listeners to follow Saddle Up Memphis on Facebook and reserve tables, and discuss plans for future gigs. The conversation includes influences and artists they plan to cover (e.g., Reba, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Jo Dee Messina, Patty Loveless, Bonnie Raitt, Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, and more), thoughts on story-driven country vs. “beer and trucks,” and the appeal of ’90s country for musicians and dance floors. They also recap Kevin and Bethany’s “All About Love” event at the Esplanade Event Center in November, including theextreme effort it took to put it on, and the large band lineup (including Angelo Earl, Gerald Allen, Eric Freeman, a four-piece horn section with Victor Sawyer, Mark Franklin, Chris Barnes, and their daughter singing). Additional topics include their duo performances around Southaven and elsewhere (Tequila, casinos, Lucky Dog, Lafayette’s) and their sitcom-theme segment (e.g., The Jeffersons, Facts of Life, Friends, Cheers). The episode ends with reminders to check out Saddle Up Memphis at Neil’s on May 2nd

In this episode, we catch up with the members of Fevertree - Tim Dills, John Paterson, Mike Bertoldo, and Rocco Wallz - for a hilarious and fun-filled Zoom call. The band members reminisce about their past shows, recent activities, and even share some wild and embarrassing stories. From discussing their haircuts and hunting adventures to Rocco's infamous pranks and gadgets, this episode provides an inside look at the band's dynamic and camaraderie. Don't miss out on the laughs and memories shared in this entertaining reunion!

In this packed episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by recapping their Friday night hang at Nashoba’s, where they caught a killer set from their friends in Land/Divided. Derrick also gives a big shout-out to Matt and Jennifer at Supernova Music for coming through in the clutch with some much-needed gear support.

The featured interview spotlights Scott Sudbury—lead guitarist, vocalist, and driving force behind Almost Famous, Famous, Lost 45s, Six Feet Thunder, and The Scott Sudbury Band. Scott walks the guys through the origins of Almost Famous, shares what the Memphis music scene was like “back in the day,” and tells the story of how he first fell in love with music.

In this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by teasing some exciting new content coming to the show through the holidays — and what listeners can expect during the off-season from the traditional interview format.

Then, the guys welcome Doug McMinn, a lifelong Memphis drummer known for his work with Roxy Love, The Deb Jam Band, and Southbound, just to name a few. Doug shares stories from decades behind the kit, including memories of his father, Papa Don McMinn, a legendary figure in the Memphis music scene of the ’70s and ’80s. He recalls the history of Rum Boogie Café, his early touring days, the night he jammed with Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the journey that led him to Roxy Love. Doug also talks about his favorite drummers and the influences that have shaped his groove over the years.