I came back to find the next BIG NAME TO COME OUT OF MEMPHIS

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I came back to find the next BIG NAME TO COME OUT OF MEMPHIS not knowing who or what I would find. I began hearing rumors about Egypt Central almost upon arrival. I had been lost down that road countless times, white girl lost in the ghetto-not gonna be pretty-but the name stuck in my head, and stayed there, eventually I stopped getting lost and went down that road, intentionally, just so I could say, "I went down Egypt Central, the road...not the band" and that's where my story begins....

WRITTEN BY MALICE STORM THIS is what the haps in Memphis TODAY Memphis has a new Crown Prince in Egypt Central's vocalist, John Falls. A poet from the ghetto, he doesn't waste time on self-pity or wallowing in his own misery. He lives and dies in his songs, and you live and die right along with him , anguish, desperation, confusion, and what do ya know-his heart seems to be in the right place, passionate in his beliefs-he pours it all out, and you can't help but be moved it is beyond words. He embodies THAT MEMPHIS VIBE in the tradition of LORD TRACY (another band with an EGYPTIAN theme), BLACKBONE, and SON OF SLAM. a brooding, tortured soul driven to escape from his origins...destined to make it to the top. His music will rock you to your soul, his words will touch your heart, his force of will allows you to feel like if the same thing happened to you, somehow you'd come through it ok--that no matter how bad your life is at the moment--he had it 1000 times worse, and he was not defeated by his circumstances. a hero worthy of the title. one of our own. one of the best. erotic, exotic, and utterly hypnotic...this man is at the top of his game and i dare any Hollywood Poser Band to rival the talent of one of our own right here in Memphis. Egyptian Symbol of ETERNAL LIFE, ETERNAL LOVE, & ETERNAL HAPPINESS...i've worn my ankh necklace for more than 20 years, i've had it since the Malice in Wonderland era...NOW, HERE, i am Malice in DisGraceLand...and THAT is a whole 'nutha story...in a previous blog, many many months ago when i was less enamored of this city.... a stylized ankh, evokes the spirit of the band, something vaguely obscene in the graphic (well, LOOK at it!), EGYPT CENTRAL ~ A SIGN FROM GOD...OR JUST A SIGN ON A POST-you tell me. i've heard other musicians compare him to a younger Josy Scott, early BLACKBONE era. I see that, and welcome the comparison. I've heard others compare his look to that of BLACKLIST UNION, I think it's the other way around-i don't know for sure, I haven't talked to him, but i think THEY are following his lead. He is well-respected by his fellow musicians, and I've never heard anything negative about his character as a man. He has survived more in his twenty six years than most do by the time they're forty-he has survived a hellish existence living as a ward of the state, he has survived being institutionalized, he has survived horrendous abuse at the hands of those entrusted with his care. He's come through it all and just look where he is now. Even though he broke his ankle, shortly before the musicfest- he was still out there doin' his thing--from a wheelchair...a lesser man would have stayed home feelin' sorry for himself. The Memphis Flyer hails Egypt Central as The Reigning Heirs of SALIVA--I'll buy that. They

October 31, 2007 - Wednesday I want to thank all the Memphis musicians who shared their stories with me Current mood: nostalgic Category: Writing and Poetry You all have been MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS, and I greatly appreciate your taking the time to answer my many questions, the sharing of your stories about growing up in the ghettos in the heart of Memphis, and how each of you overcame the obstacles that life threw at you. It has been a lifelong dream and ambition of mine to become a published author, and while I'm still a long way from achieving this goal, I have found a direction in which to take my writing. I hold the opinion that kids today need heroes worthy of the title to look up to, to model their lives after, and to emulate. My experience as a small town librarian opened my eyes to the fact that kids love reading about other kids who faced hardships, abuse, and ridicule --other kids who had it much rougher than they ,themselves, have it. I also wanted to explore the lives of the musicians who have made an impact upon my own life, who had their start right here in Memphis. Beginning with my exile into the desert in Alamogordo, NM back in 1994 when i had BLACKBONE and SON OF SLAM to keep me sane in an insane period of my life and ending with the present upsurge of talented musicians who carry on the flame. I have my happy ending, which isn't an ending at all, but a new beginning. Thus the concept for THE BROTHERHOOD was born. But just because my time here is limited, doesn't mean I won't be able to finish work on this project. If anything, That Memphis Vibe holds me captivated still, and part of me will always belong to this town. I will always keep my finger on the pulse of the memphis music scene, just like I always have. Currently listening : Homegrown By Blackbone Release date: By 12 November, 1996

Nothing More was the last band of the evening. Yet another first names only band (seems to be a theme here), Nothing More rocked out. Their sound was reminiscent of Creed's early sound. They also listed Alice in Chains, Kiss and Bon Jovi as influences on their music. Twinkie (another of the selfless folks who helped put this fundraiser together) did a number on lead vocals. He did an outstanding cover of Collective Soul's "Shine" during the set. Filling out the band were Mikey on rhythm guitar, Tate on lead, Aaron on bass and Chris on drums. An interesting story about lead guitarist Mikey right here. It seems Mikey had a near death battle with Addison's Disease. While he was battling back he wrote one of the band's best tunes, if not the best, "Heaven". "Heaven" is a very haunting and emotionally strong tune. That was my impression of the song before I found out the story behind it. Pretty cool. Some of Nothing More's other tunes I dug were "Live To Die", "The Cycle", "Save You" and "Into the Light". You can check out Nothing More at www.nothingmoremusic.com. Most of, if not all, the bands have websites on myspace.com. Check them out if you get a chance. From the look and sound of things that night at Newby's, the Leboneur benefit may very well become an annual event. It was a great night of live music for a great cause. Here's to Newby's, the bands and all the folks who gave up their time to put his event on and help out the kids.

MEMPHIS IS MOSTLY KNOWN FOR BREEDING CHEESEY, SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE, PERVERTED, BAD BOY ATTITUDE, MUSICIANS WHOSE ONLY REDEEMING QUALITY IS THAT THEY WRITE GREAT SONGS TO HAVE SEX TO AND THEY'RE REALLY FUN AT PARTIES. I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. IN THE LATE 80'S & 90'S MEMPHIS REIGNED SUPREME IN THIS GENRE FULLY ENCOMPASSING THE SLEEZEY & THE CHEESEY TORA TORA ROXY BLUE BLACKBONE EVERY MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE LORD TRACY AND AFTER I LEFT HERE TO EMBARK ON MY "SUPPORTIVE WIFE TOUR" AND FOUND MYSELF UNWITTINGLY MIRED IN THE MIDST OF MORE SLEAZE THAN MEMPHIS CAN SHAKE A STICK AT, SIN CITY WAS A 2ND HOME, ULTIMATE VACATION SPOT, FOR MANY MANY MEMPHIS BAD BOYS... "ROCKSTARS, SERIAL KILLERZ, & STRIPPERS" IF YOU WERE IN ONE OF THESE BANDS AND PLAYED VEGAS IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM DURING THE YEARS OF 1990-1994 I WON'T BE CHANGING ANY NAMES TO PROTECT THE GUILTY UNLESS I HEAR FROM YOU PERSONALLY THAT YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE NAMED I'M NAMING NAMES AND CHANGING NAMES TO SUIT MY OWN WHIMS IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS... NOW IS THE TIME TO TELL ME OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE. I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET YOU TELL YOUR SIDE OF MY STORY...BUT I'D BE WILLING TO BET YOUR MEMORIES OF THOSE DAYS ARE A BIT MURKY, IF YOU REMEMBER AT ALL...

I first met John at one of his "in-house" poker games. A couple weeks later, he was kicking it at Newby's with a local poker group called "Poker Lounge". I took him out of the game a couple times and it just started to be a habit of how far each of us would go to taking each other out of the game. Then I met some of the other members. Back then, the band sucked, so I didn't pay much attention. Then, little by little, most of my friends were hanging with his friends. The world got really small and the rest is history. Jordan Dravekx

Bassist JOEY CHICAGO says one of the coolest, yet strangest, concert experiences happened to the group a few years back and has carried on at many of their Florida shows since. "There's a guy in the front row and he's been going crazy through the whole time and I've been egging him on since he's right there in front of my face, and I realized he was reaching down and pulling something from the bottom of him, and he comes up with the lower half of his right leg and he's slamming it on the stage." Chicago then took the leg and proceeded to use it to play the guitar. The musician says it's easily the craziest, coolest moment they've had playing live, and the fan in question has turned up at many of their Florida dates to recreate the leg jam ever since. "It's kind of like tradition now. At some point in the show, I really need to take his leg and do a little leg solo," says the bassist. "You can see like six rows back people don't see that he gave me the leg, and they're like, 'What is the bass player doing?'"

IN DA PIT WITH EGYPT CENTRAL The New Daisy Nov 21, 2007 Once again, EGYPT CENTRAL blew my mind. This band has far and away exceeded my wildest expectations. They're more than just another cheesy cock rock band--nothing cheesy about them, PLENTY of cock in the rock though. They're more than just 5 great looking guys who take awesome pictures. These guys have TALENT, CHARISMA, and STAGE PRESENCE...like few I've ever seen before. I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoy an intense physical reaction to this band...very intense, very physical, very real. I'd be hard pressed to choose which one I'd want to molest first. But I don't HAVE to make that choice...I often entertain wicked fantasies involving more than two of them...and there's not a soul out there who can tell me they haven't also entertained such thoughts. To put it bluntly, the songs make me want to do very bad things. THE SONG MADE ME DO IT is often the only excuse I have.... It's been almost a week since the show, and I am still totally blissed out. We took hundreds of pictures...Sir in a tie, white dress shirt, and a vest (I'm thinking,"ok that's 3 layers he can come out of" and come out of them he did) Joey aka FABULOUS ABULOUS, half naked as ususal, was the talk of all the women in the Ladies Room, Jeff, too, was sporting a tie with his sleeveless dress shirt, Heath, always looks hott in his spiky hair, and Blake-well, I never could see him, but he bangs KING HELL out of those drums. My only thought upon first seeing Sir coming onstage was HOLY FUCK...and it was my last thought as well. What I wouldn't give for just 5 minutes alone with that man..................... They're just so intense, it's hard to take it all in. Joey jumps around,

and struts across the stage, rips his jeans even farther- to our delight- Jeff shreds his guitar like a madman, Heath gives it his all, jumping, leaping, putting his soul into his guitar playing, Blake is a truly amazing drummer, and Mr. Egypt Central, Sir is a GOD, no IFS, ANDS, or BUTS about it. AND we got to hear new songs that nobody else has heard yet. THE SHOW WAS FUCKING INCREDIBLE from the first song to the last. I would definitely love to see a repeat performance...someday. I'm hoping when they're world famous they'll play longer than 30 minutes. leaving us begging for more, more, more... The crowd is equally intense. This is not a band I would expect a mosh pit for...but there they are, slammming into each other and me. We shagged our asses right up front. My friend Kymberley is moving to Vegas in a couple of days, so this was her last show here, I persuaded my girlfriend the Lady Jade to come along with us, she wore her Captain Jack Sparrow shirt in honor of the occasion, and of course my ever- so- tolerant husband joined us in the pit. As he's not exactly wild about EC, that's saying something. But, what the Hell, if you don't go home bruised and bloody, you didn't have a good time! I got clocked in the eye, manhandled, and groped anonymously...I let it go as I didn't wish to be thrown out for putting my boot up this punk kid's ass. This was only my second time to see them play and it took a helluva lot of bribery on my part to get my husband to go. I am so glad we went. I can't say enough about this incredible band. They're well on the way to stardom. They're going to set the world on fire. EGYPT CENTRAL WILL BE BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES. BIGGER, EVEN THAN ELVIS.

interesting "factoid" about streets/towns with EGYPT names Body: all of them were from the same time frame--Little Egypt in Illinois-hideout for gansters in the 20s-not much improved today-scary to be lost in, all across the country there are towns, streets with EGYPT in the title--and dammit, i've been lost down most of them...with far less interesting results. as soon as i gave in and bought the cd, i haven't been lost again, been down that road many times, it's quite scenic. there is a whole volume on it's own right there-there is a reason for everything. this i believe in with all my heart and soul

I first heard OVER AND UNDER on the Music Choice cable music staion. EGYPT CENTRAL....the road- long damn street, don't know how I kept winding up lost out there, or where I was in relation to where I needed to be...I only know it won't take me back home EGYPT CENTRAL....the band, will always bring me back home, where I need to be. I guess you could say this is THE OFFICIAL "I GOT IT BAD FOR EGYPT CENTRAL" MYSPACE PAGE wanna get lost in that memphis vibe and drift away........ order your copy of their self-titled debut cd today. available on CDBABY. www.egyptcentral.net their site is THE OFFICIAL EGYPT CENTRAL MYSPACE because there are dozens of EGYPT CENTRAL fan sites, which is totally fucking cool --more songs available to profile, more pics, more, more,more of the stuff you need MORE of... request their songs on the radio, shag your ass to their shows, get lost in EGYPT CENTRAL

Subject Malice in DisGraceLand...reposted from last aug Posted Date: Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 9:54 PM <P>Memphis: Graceland and Elvis, Home of the Blues and Blue Suede Shoes, a mecca for Elvis Freaks everywhere who descend upon Beale St. like a plague of locusts to celebrate DEAD ELVIS DAY which was Wednesday August 16.  It may be "tourist season", yet we are not allowed to shoot them.           &n bsp;     </P> <P>SALIVA calls Memphis home.  Years ago, Memphis was home to BLACKBONE ( Josey Scott,Chris D'baldo, Rudy, & a bass player named Cheese with hair down to his knees, Trent aka Stix Axetion)) and to Southern Punk Psycholics SON OF SLAM (Trailer Parks, Politics, & God).  I would like to hear from anyone who still remembers either of these two bands- timespan 1994-97 , they both toured the U.S. extensively , they each had only the one recording, but they were wellreceived everywhere they played.  Take a trip down memory lane with me, drop me a line and tell me about the show you saw.   .  </P> <P> I found my new friend Cayce in SALIVA'S Comments because she quoted a line from one of the old BLACKBONE songs("I got Loretta on my shoulder and I'm waitin for a song to play, I got my little boy by my side to help me get thru the pain. Someday my music's gonna stop this rain. Show me the light") and when I contacted her, she offered to burn me a copy of  HOMEGROWN!  This one cd saw me through some of the roughest years of my life-in 1994 we left Las Vegas for Alamo-fucking-gordo, NM and I had my BLACKBONE for comfort, to ease the transition and Culture Shock of living in The Armpit of Hell. </P> <P>Over the years it had become scratched and warped to where I couldn't even play it anymore, so my brother would dub me a cassette  tape every year at X-mas for the next three years. It was HOME to me, and no matter where I went, those songs went with me. </P> <P>Even though SALIVA is a great band, I still prefer the more brutal sound from the old days ("Doperide" & "Click Click Boom" come damn close to bringing it back)        </P> <P>       I feel as though I have come full circle.  I'm back home after 18 years and I now have my old security blanket back to get me through the transition and Culture Shock of living in DisGraceLand. I have new friends who remember the old bands,who know where the best new bands can be found, and the best places to hear them.  I am HOME.</P> <P> All Is Right With My World.   I've got my boys back. I've got all those songs that had become a part of me back: Authority, Alone, Evil, Falling Down, Save Myself, Blame Me, Fall to Pieces, Chief, Witch Hold, Fist, Brotherhood Blackbone, Tie Your Rock (If you tie your rock to me and throw me down deep into the sea, I will sink right to the bottom. But, if you cut me loose you'll see, I'll show you what the music means to me and I hope that you feel the feelin')...um, it's been a long long time and these probably are not the names the songs started out with, but the names i remember them by...and the story's in MY hands now...</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> [Edit] [Delete] [View Comments]

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