Live From B Side Memphis | WiMM Presents.... 3/27/2024 Also visit our YouTube channel and subscribe!... | By B-SIDE Memphis | Rolling, rolling, Rolling. Rolling on the river, rolling down the Mississippi. Welcome everybody to win Wednesdays here at B side. We would like to welcome everyone from near and far. Um we are here every last Wednesday of the month here at B side and WIM stands for women in Memphis Music and tonight is a very special episode I guess or you know, show for us because today or this month is the two-year anniversary of Women in Memphis Music and all this, yeah. 2 years In those 2 years, we've hosted over 50 local female musicians. Yeah. And if you're, this is the first time you're here, I just want to let you know that some of the fiercest musicians in the world are from Memphis, Tennessee. Hello. And you can check our archive. It's on Women of Memphis Music on our YouTube page and you can follow us on our Instagram page and you can also follow us on our Facebook page. So, however you found us and however you got here, we're happy that you're here. We promise you a very amazing show tonight. We have Empress Choice and The Core is here. And Foster Falls is here. And miss Megan May is here. We're going to, the way that this night goes, we have three bands tonight. Also, we usually only have two but tonight, we have three. So, you just, you really came on an extra special night. After this first set by Megan and I'm going to tell you a little bit about her in just one second. We're going to have all the female musicians come up and we're going to do a little interview and I also want to say that there's also cake here tonight. You guys like cake? Cake is always good. So, let me give you a little bit of a background on our first performer this evening. Megan May is a country blues artist from Jackson, Mississippi. Her 20twenty-four independent debut album, Bentonia Voodoo Queen, which is out now, was recorded right here in Memphis. She is the apprentice of Bentonia Bluesman, Jimmy Duck Holmes, and resides in Bentonia, Mississippi, playing frequently at the historic Bluefront Cafe. Tonight, she will be accompanied by fellow Mississippi musician, multi-instrumentalist, and instrument builder, RL Superbad. So, please give warm, warm welcome to miss Megan May. I've been wanting to play at B side for it's that actually marks the two years since I started my journey in Memphis as well making this record. So, thank you for letting me be a part of this. It's wonderful. And you can't play it like you used to heart stops beating right when you leave me your smile human like you don't even see me Dingo like you look into the but you won't even stick I'll saddle the Malbank town Wendy, you can't play your guitar on the street when he sing for me in my dreams do you think you live and miss me when you can't play when you can't come cry too guns and horses you won't even stick around and kiss our saddle and yet it sounds Ariel's super bad y'all. On the slide guitar. He makes these instruments by the way. He's coming up from Clarksdale, Mississippi tonight. Very proud to be here playing with him. Again, my name is Megan May. Did just release a record called Bentonia Voodoo Queen. So, y'all check it out. If you haven't heard it yet, I saw you walking down the shoulder with your I see you hurting your footsteps as you are you broke or deep inside have a little more guitar in this monitor please of my guitar did your car run out of gas you left front tire blow did your fears get scrambled in the bottom of your soul are you her deep inside that heartbeat roadside river gravel down way up in my shoe that burn me slap life and I know too out for hell when they find somebody new are you or deep inside arms since they threw you at school I'll teach you it's been a decade and a half skin and mules are you broken or deep inside that had been roadside rhythm gravel gone way up in my shoe that ball of fire near burn me slap life somebody new are you broke down up the road you're deep inside did your mama always tell you no that your daddy call you a fool your brothers and your sisters told you well I remember that Sunday morning when a man made off with your tools are you broken down or deep inside and roadside somebody are you broke down deep inside deep inside your deep inside even Thank you. That's called Broke Down Up the Road. Thank you. It's a good drive-in song. It's called Chevy Truck. We wanted to live a dream leave a legacy that means something we drove to the lands and stars sparkled hands like I've never seen I mountain let's put everything Chevy truck and we can't blame my guitar or that picture few and your grandma everything and then Chevy truck and drive stop me saying what comes out it might save a life keep this little town out of mine and out of would hate me because I can't tell them about Jesus everything and that Chevy truck to Albuquerque we can't leave my guitar or that picture you and your grandma Chevy Or else super bad, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. That's called Chevy Truck. To give you the heads up. Well, this will be awesome. You're on a train pass that shady grove Jesse Rombers calling me she must've seen the devil Can I have some more guitar please? You show up on my front porch words on my step and get that feeling she got been told you ever do queen where you're so good looking baby cry over your soul good looking baby must have been a devil must have been a devil it hadn't been the devil had to bend the look out and you got all night long Thank you very much. It's called Vintonia Voodoo Queen followed up by Bentonia Blues song, The Devil. Thank you all for having me tonight. I made this record in Memphis. It's got Memphis in its blood. Yeah, thank you. Rl super bad. Thank you. What makes them tick? What made them become an artist well. So, y'all can pick a mic whichever is easiest. Is this one? Oh, it's on now. Yeah. Here I was like yelling at everyone and it's on. Alright, while we take a second just to get adjusted and everything, I do want to mention for anybody out there or anybody out here, we have an event tomorrow night. We have this wonderful, wonderful organization here in Memphis called Music Export Memphis and yeah and musicians from Memphis can get financial help on vinyl merchandise. If they go on tour. So, we have an informational session at the Cosset Library which is also a wealth of resources for artists in this city. Um we're going to be there tomorrow night, 630 to 830. So, anybody that's tuned in, watching, or anybody out there trying to get go on tour and trying to do your thing, let Music Expert Memphis help you. Alright. Oh, good. You pulled it off there. Alright. Do you want to. On stage without it. It's all good. I mean, you can hold it if you need to. Like your secret is your security guitar. I gotcha. So, first of all, I want to know, how did everybody get started in music? I mean, I guess if you're from Memphis, it's like you just drink the water and you're like, whoo. Um you know, I got it but if you're not or what what made you, what made you go this route? Make sure you talk into the mic as well. So, family. Family, that's what we did. On the porch. They made you go into music or. Yes. You were like, I like math. They were like, no. That that's what we all did was set around the house, you know, on the weekends and play guitar and sing songs and. Awesome. My mom was a gospel singer. So, you know, that's in the country. There's not a lot to do either. So, that's that's what we did for entertainment and being together. Awesome. Well, I guess being from the south, my story probably pretty much the same. Started out in the church. Uh my father's a pastor and you know, just kind of just born with it and just kind of run with it and hopefully my gift will continue to make room for me and yeah, that's why we're here. Uh I was very hyper verbal as a child and as I grew, I found that people would listen to me more if I did it with a little music behind it and I could get my message across a little easier and people would remember it a little better if it was sung. Sweet. Yeah. I totally can relate to that because I'll be talking and then I go like this and they're like, what is this like opera, singing, like talking that you do and I'm like, well, I I feel like it makes a lasting impact. Right. I don't know. Alright, we've got 18 questions. You guys are going to each pick one. So, pick a number one through eighteen and empress, you can go first. Six. Sick. Well, she was like, I know what I'm picking. I do. Alright. Oh, wait. Hold on. I gotta get to the right ones. Alright. Can you recall any specific times you asked for help? Like in my career? Sure. Yes, and no. Um, because I'm still working on learning how to ask for help because I'm the helper. Um, but yeah, I can remember sometimes, like, definitely when I first got started, I asked for, for help, and even now, I still ask for help, the founder of the core band, he helps me a lot with even my musicianship now. So, I'm always, I'm learning now to X, X, X, X, you see what I'm saying? So, I'm getting better at it. It's hard. It's a hard thing to ask for help. I know. I get it. Same question. Do you want me to repeat it? Will you? Yeah. Can you recall any specific times you asked for help? In in the music business. Yeah, in your career as a musician. Yes, when I met Carlyn in Memphis, Tennessee. Yup. I know him very well. Yes. Um I asked him for help. Will you help me? I want to record this on my own and musicians in Memphis, Tennessee showed up and helped me make this record and I was happy that I asked for help. Yeah. Yeah. Real friends. You asked one of the best. I'm just saying. I'm a little biased. Yes. I like that but it's true. I've also found that the musicians here are very supportive and very helpful. Which is a big difference from where I came from New York City. So. yay, Memphis. Can you recall any specific time you asked for help? Yeah. So, me, I'm if y'all don't know me, I'm Foster. I go by they them pronouns. I'm non binary but I have frequently asked for and received help from some of the wonderful women in Memphis music. This is such a cool platform and Cathy who will be up here shortly with alumni with me. Yes. Whim alumna. Uh she has given me some help in like learning just the ins and outs of like booking practices and as well as just helping me to write some beautiful music. So, that's definitely a time that I've gained a lot from asking for help from some women in Memphis music. I love it. Like they say, closed mouths don't get fed. Alright. Alright. I know, right? Someone said to me, oh, I like that saying. I'm going to use it. You go ahead and pick a number one through eighteen, Megan. Uh number three. Are you sure No, I'm just kidding. What things did you have to let go of or leave behind in order to take the leap? I just quit my job 3 weeks ago. Okay, that is pretty big. Nice. That takes guts having like five different degrees from school and none of them are in music but I've been pursuing music only for over 10 years and. Wow. This is the only source of income. So, and yeah. Having kids and all, yeah. So, big big leap of faith. So, yeah, we in, yeah. Not working but this is the work. Yeah, that we putting in. I love it. Yeah. I feel like I had to let go of a lot of perfectionism. I'm definitely one of those people who won't start something unless I know I'm going to be able to do it the right way and there's really no right way with music and with being a creative. So, for sure. That brings me to another saying by Arthur Ash and I'm probably getting this out of order but it's three things. Start where you are, use what you can, and do what you are use what you have. Start where you are and use EPN or something but it's like it's the same. It's like just do it, right? Yeah. Yes. I love Snap, snap, snap. Alright, one through eighteen, you get to pick a number. 18. Wow. Okay. Name something that you did that you considered a failure. What did you learn from it and do you still consider it a failure? Only asking the hard questions here. Come on. We're getting to the meat of it. Take a second because I know. So, in college, I made a mixed CD and like distributed it just like, handed it out to some friends and I look back and I listen to some of those songs and I'm like, ugh like it's grading. I made all of them in audacity. They don't sound very good but that was the first time that I ever tried to like mix my own music and I've learned so much since then and I would not have started. Had I not just done what I could with what I had at the time. So. I love that. Nice I started making my record about 13 years ago and it didn't work out and so I had these amazing tracks and songs and I couldn't get the files and so there were many nights where I laid awake in bed. I'm like, what have I done? You deserve this? And I saw, but there's still my songs. So, I thought it was a failure that I didn't make the record 13 years ago but then, it turned out I ended up recording something so much better. So. Thanks. Yeah, it makes us, it's cliche for a reason. It's a good one. You know, it makes us who we are now so. Yeah, exactly. If you learn from it, otherwise eating things until you do. Man Okay. I guess, I don't know if I consider it necessarily a failure but I would say it was definitely a learning tool for me. I actually got accepted to go to Broadway when I was like twenty-one. Um but my daughter did special needs at the time. I had noone to care for her. And so I had to make the decision. Am I going to just up and move to California Or am I going to stay to be able to take her of my child and get the resources that I need. And still pursue independently. And so that's what I decided to do. You know I don't consider that a fairy because being around to raise my daughter has been nothing but you know, it's been successful of course because that's my child and I feel like I made the best decision because I'm still doing music and opportunities are still coming. So, it's more of a just a learning lesson, just a pivotal moment in my career. Nice. Mm hmm. I love it. Alright. Anybody out there have any questions for them? Don't be shy. Yes. I feel like it changes based on the song but a lot of my stuff, I guess, is centered around this idea of like self examination, not being a bad thing and I feel like a lot of people it's kind of painful to look inward sometimes and it's kind of painful to wade through the things that drive you when they're unexamined and once you have done that, you have so much more opportunity to really curate like not only your actions but what's motivating them and that creates such a different type of drive towards the outcomes that you want. Ask for all of us. It's hard to say. It's hard to say if if it weren't for music, I'd be dead for sure. So, I think most the biggest message is that we are all the same. We're all human and it doesn't doesn't matter where we come from or what language we speak but music brings us together. Um and at the heart, we're all the same. Yeah. So, we have to love each other. Spread love. Yes. Imma pick it back out for them because it's true. Um it's a musician. Um I feel like my music has changed with my age, with the times, with the recording equipment that we have access to. Um because y'all know we may have started recording in the bathroom closets, in the living rooms, you know, all of those different things but now we have right. You know, A Trac, you gotta get it right the first time. It's no over dub and none of that. Um so, just to, I always, I left a status one time where I put Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Empress Joyce. You know, because I pull from both of those ladies and I feel like the human experience that I've experienced. Like she said, that's why I'm here. You know, music is what gives me life and music is what has brought a lot of those things together with people and things and places and situations whether they're good, bad, ugly, or indifferent. So, it's like to be able to be standing here what we love. You know, sometimes that's all we need and you know, we just pushing through it. I hear that. Alright. Anybody else have any questions? Alright, we're going to, this is the fire round. Those were the easy ones. Now, these are the hard ones because these are the ones that I wrote. Alright, we're going to fire away here. Alright. Wait, I just had them. What did I do with them? Oh, here we go. What is one of your favorite bands that people would be surprised you liked? Def Leopard. Pour some sugar on me. Oh yeah. Exactly. Def Leopard. Killer song. Bone Thugs and Harmony. Who can wrap that fast? Alright. I don't know. Uh what would you be surprised if I like. Well, actually because you know, hearing your music, I I don't know. Like, I don't want to give too much away but you know, you have like this vibe. It's like, it was very reminiscent of like Joni Mitchell and so if you were to come out and be like, actually, Slayer is my favorite band. I'd probably be a little bit shocked. That's I'm going to be really honest. I don't listen to a lot of music anymore. Like because when I'm in a creating music phase, I feel like it kind of distracts me and like makes it so that I can't. So I guess that's surprising is I'm like, I'm out here making music and I'm like, well, I don't really listen to music that much. As long as you're making the music that you want to listen to, then that's all. That's all you need. Alright What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid? Our favorite breakfast cereal? I miss Golden Grahams. Yes. Corn flakes and bananas. Oh, right. Combo. Did you put sugar on it? That's right. Did you put sugar on it? That's right. We're from the country. Okay, that's all. Alright, just make sure. I was a cinnamon toast crunch enjoyer. It's a good one. Count Chocula. Oh, I don't think they make that anymore. The last one, you guys. You made it till the final round. If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? Telekinesis. Oh my goodness. Oh. I would be a mom superhero. Everybody clean up after themselves and wash their own dishes. Yeah. Nice. Oh, I would be a songwriting machine. Nope. Yeah. There you go. Super songwriter. Yeah. Alright, cool. You guys, give them a hand. Those questions were hard. Thank you so much. Alright, good job you guys Alright, we're going to take a short break and we're going to switch over the stage and then I'm going to tell you a little bit about Foster Falls. So, just hang on for a few more minutes and one other thing, I'm just going to say, you know, it's Women's Month y'all. Like, we're almost at the end of what's, right? Give it up for the women. And along with it being Women's Month, I just want to say to any of the young boys or young men out there that thank god for modern medical technology that you too can also grow up to be a woman. Just saying. That's how that's how it is these days, right? Women are so awesome and they're like, I want to be but you can now because technologically and scientifically, we have done it. Alright, who wants cake? That's what I thought. Alright, hang tight guys. We'll be back in a few minutes. Are we ready, Joe? Yeah, we're following this. Oh, we're rolling, rolling, rolling. Alright, cool. Welcome back, everybody. Hope everybody had a little bit of a sugar rush there. Alright, we've got Foster Falls coming up. Foster Falls weaves introspective lyrics, ethereal harmonies, and the dreamy strip down arrangements that bring you into a world where clarity arises from self observation and lush vegetation. She is joined tonight by a WIM alumni, miss Kathy Zao on keys. So, please put your hands together for Foster Falls. I'm Foster. My pronouns are they them. You can find me on the internet at Foster Falls. Cathy at KZ Music and Cathy, thank you for being the designated woman in Memphis Music for our set. Appreciate y'all so much. Um anybody who has seen me play before probably knows this story. I grew up around the corner from this church and one summer, the church letter board said, if you it's hot now. Just wait. So, I lost my soul early. In a drive-by damnation, of one for the team. I've been away but noone ever cut the time to time hugs on me time to I miss the grass on my feet and the trees on my mind up and away they all farted on a billionaire spaceship before I reach your house because I knew what I'd buy it still turns on me time to time hugs only time to it's still tugs on me I get was it half hugs on me time to time it still turns on me time to time so it's time to it still tugs on me time to Thank you all so much. Um this next one is one that Cathy and I wrote together. Um shout out to women. They're so cool. Tragic hypodise space for difference I changed my drinks today. So, I'm going to tune up real quick. Um this next song that we're about to play is about a dream I had where I sword fought my inner child and after that, I like went into this chamber and convinced my inner child that like you didn't need to do violence or use force to have power and there was this sword that I had brought with me and I wanted to keep the same sword but there was this like angel character who was trying to give me a different sword and I was like, no, I want, I want my old sword and that that became a problem when I finally got the old sword back and the scroll unfurled and like listed all of the butterfly effect consequences that were going to happen because I took my old sword and Then I realized that all of my choices in the dream had impact and I guess my inner child realized that too. Um and then we went on this quest. We were still going on the quest. You know I just had to move on. All those consequences were going to happen anyway. Um and we went on this quest and we reached this beautiful garden and there was this woman in the garden. Um in this like bounty who was just like weeping and like pulling up these bountiful plants at their roots. And so yeah, this this is called the interpreter. Fight your way Thank you all so much. This one's called Listless. It's actually out. Can you give me wisdom feeling of the loneliness on anyone but something tells me that you'll feel rubbing yourself we've got to lose maybe all we need is just a breath hardest thing to do is what you know to do you're feeling restless I know it's easier when magnitude aside I'm slipping with the tide I will hide out from the ultra lies but it's the ones inside I'm just a with the time we've got to need is just a reference all this thing to do is what you know to do release you are with and I think you do Thank you all so much. Set list out. Appreciate you, Cathy. This is another one I wrote with Cathy. So, shout out to women again. Every way impossible blood pressure still advance she found a clear way out manager pretty blue light when I get to scared to the back of the to the back of the sun This is another one that's out. Jason played on this track. So, excited to have him here doing some trumpet. Sign makers shawty looks like I'm running on a over it a hundred This is the part where I bully y'all to sing along. I got no Gotta hydrate. Shout out to water. Off like you'll still roar too you get what you can or two you get what you it's like Alright. I got one looper one. Just for today. It starts to signal innocent on was it proud just reference suspicions of public display the Thank you all so much. Uh we got two more for you and then we'll we'll head out and give the stage over to Empress Joyce and the chord. Whoo. Texture's different. It's that new string feeling. Satisfied and neither of you up at night like of course but me and my and you tune up one more time. Anybody have been longing for spring lately? That's what this one's about. I wish there was a spring without the excess pollen spring, sands, allergies would be ideal to me. The like yellow blanket over everything is not my favorite part. Nobody wants through space and time part of my heart offer everyone is as soon as I serve did I hear a mumble it's over done tugging in me as we're hurling always ahead of it's tugging at That's it. That's my set. Keep it going for Foster Falls. Alright, you guys. We've got one final act left. We're going to take a short little break and we're going to switch over to the stage. Alright. Go, go, go. Maybe I should sing your intro. I don't know We're so happy you are got a big treat for you Empress Choice Empress Choice is a vocalist and a songwriter from Memphis. She has been featured in Soul Essence Magazine and Jill Scott, Memphis dollar quartet. In 2018, she was caught in a crossfire and shot. Through her healing process, she started the Love Heals Foundation and R and B on the Fly Showcase and continues to make an impact with music and activism, artivism, locally, and worldwide. The latest release of her 12 album, Discography, 30 Plus, is on all streaming platforms. Your hands together for Empress Choice and the choir Y'all feeling alright. I say I got a feeling alright. This is the core band. Imma do an introduction beforehand because on keys, we have the founder and the leader, none other than mister 88 Keys himself, Sir Henry. On drums, going to keep the heartbeat for us tonight. We Y'all give him some y'all. And on bass because he going to help us make it funky y'all and I am his Now, these first selections I'm going to be doing for y'all. They are originals. I like to do something that I call rhythm hop. Because I like to move around a little bit when I'm on stage. So, Imma try to stay here as much as I can but y'all still, y'all move for me, okay? Something about this girl I know sister blow have a a good time tonight y'all. We're here for a strong Now, listen. Now, that was Rhythm Hop. Y'all give it up. Now, that's the intro to my latest album, 30 Plus. Yeah, because I like to just get get it started. Get your juices flowing, okay? Now, this next song is if anybody know me personally, y'all know I'm a very eccentric person. So, I wrote a song about it, all about me and all about some people that I know because I know I'm not the only one. Having the bipolar people we got in here. Everybody me up, okay? So, I wrote a song about it bipolar. Y'all can clap your hands. We're in the land of the dead. She was where it ain't what you know but who you know and you know what I'm talking about finding a way to share her views she can't tie her shoes without falling over history love and it's Casanova and worldly seven in the bipolar never she won't let Satan stay she'll be the heart of stone but Y'all come on Facebook. Now, break it down some more time. Do what I told him. I said, I said, I just want to sing a song. I just want to sing a song. I just want to sing, I just want to sing, I just want to sing my song, I just want to sing a song I just want to sing my I just want to sing and I think it's my bipolar in my bipolar Thank y'all. Y'all give it up for this band one time, two times. Whoo. Thank y'all. See, yeah, I get hot up here on this stage but look, it's our worth it, baby. So, listen. This song right It's also an original. Just shot a video to this song that I'm about to perform Um, this weekend. So, y'all look out for that. It's entitled Waiting. My girls out there, this one they favorite songs I'm mostly known for R and B but I do all genres. from country to gospel to opera, whatever it is. I can sing it. So, y'all just listen to the song. Now when we're starting out everything was good I did my thing you did your thing is somewhere along the way things Y'all give it up for the band one time, two times. It's not always easy playing original music. You feel what I'm saying? Now when we started everything was did my thing you did your thing when we touch the feathers turn away you broke my heart and we came should've walked away before it could begin time you'll be waiting when you say you're in love and I say I'm in while you're busy because I've been living my I know you ain't me you're going to be waiting I know you moved on am a woman before anything so I will always hold my own but now and I'm the only one who's thinking when you say you're in love and I say I'm oh yeah I had to be I tell you this if his eyes is my man on the phone and he's been waiting for me Thank you. Thank you so much. Man, this sound amazing. Y'all I'm having a good time. Y'all having a good time. So, y'all, guess what? We are halfway through the set. So, Imma get a little drink while they getting ready to yeah. How many, how many Adele fans we got in the house? Whoo. This one of my favorite songs by Sometimes I be wanting people to just take it easy on me sometime. Give me a little grace. In this river that I've been have sinned I know there is in this water but I can't bring myself am drowning in baby see only I was still a didn't get what I took there ain't for things to change when we are I change you I was still a child had no time to but I trust so and I but I don't get a chance Thank you all so much. I have to hold my emotions back. It's hard for us to not cry sometimes on stage and I'm a big crybaby. So I like to do medleys old school meets new school. So we fixing to do a medley old school meets new school. And then our last song we going to turn up in here. And I I just need to see. I just my last song if I don't see no shoulders wiggling. and some feet padding. I'm just telling y'all, okay? Thank you. Okay. So, we going to smooth it out and we going to turn it up. Y'all ready? Yeah. Are y'all ready? I'd give you the sun moon the stars and the mountains I'll give you the and all that you reach for and even more because boy more than you could and that's for sure the highest going to swim the widest seas scourge me and I pray that you will be always there for me forever you everything all that you're looking night I'mma get you when you lose things call me crazy but I think I found the love of my life Ain't that feel good? Now, look. Now, this is our last song of the night. Have y'all enjoy the core band? Okay Y'all know that real. Now, you know, every now and then We like to do stuff. Nice and easy. You know why? Do you know why? Because we always doing things nice and rough. So, we going to sow it down for you and we going to do it nice and easy. But we going to finish it rough. Is that alright? Is that alright? Yeah. Okay. And if y'all know it, sing along. Here rolling only rolling yeah rolling listen. I left a good every night and day and I never because I was worried keep on turn rolling Let me tell you what I did. Clean the outside of the city rolling rolling yeah rolling a lot of things in music down in New Orleans but I never saw inside of the street out to the river That was the fire Y'all give it up for this band. Thank you all so much. Oh my goodness. Thank you so much to everybody that came out tonight. Thank you, Megan Mae. Thank you, Foster Falls. It's bringing the fire. Empress Joyce and the core. Thank you B Side, Joe, John, and Taku. Thank you. Time. We will see you next month. Coco and the Hitman are going to be here along with Windo. Thank you so much for coming out tonight Thank you Memphis.