GOING BACK TO THE BUSH

“GOING BACK TO THE BUSH” by Matthew “Twinkie” Downen Twinkie has become one of my closest friends, my music guru, and one of my favorite storytellers. He’s been one of MY biggest supporters, and I’m a better writer for having known him.

Anytime I have a question about the local music scene, a particular musician, or what things were like back in the day, he always has an amusing story that helps me pull it all together.

The title song says it all. He proves once and for all that one can, indeed, GO BACK to one’s roots, back to where it all started. He pulls from experiences in his past, painful at times, but they made him what he is today. Growing up in the ghetto in Nutbush TN, harsh memories, but all in all he wouldn’t change a thing.

The songs are soulful, intense, and often heartwrenching. There’s a rap song featuring 40 Kel “Struggle” which is not at all out of character for him. There’s a song he wrote for his new baby daughter, Meadow.

He writes of the loss of a friend to suicide in “Save Me” about our friend Cayce Allen. It has received radio play on 93X (call up the station and request it today~535­093X) Listening to this song brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat, no matter how many times I hear it.

One of my favorite songs on this CD is “Raging Storm.” He sings of hope, of being a friend to see you through the hard times, to be there to catch you when you fall. “Tossed about like a ship on the ocean, in the midst of a raging storm…” I’m a big fan of storms;) Twinkie is a LIVING, BREATHING DEFINITION of That Memphis Vibe.

“Going back To The Bush” can be purchased at Spin Street 3484 Poplar, downtown Memphis.