Herman’s Picks

Tickets are available now at Be-Bop for North Mississippi Allstars on August 11, and Breaking Benjamin, Evans Blue and Dropping Daylight on August 22, $25. Also mark your calendars for the rescheduled Rock 93.9 Birthday Bash at the Voodoo Lounge on August 8. It’s now scheduled to be an all ages affair with Buckcherry, Bangkok Five and others. It will be quite the throw down for a Tuesday night. Buckcherry fans should just plan on calling in sick for Wednesday, August 9. If you insist on a Friday night throw down, stay tuned for Candlebox on August 25 at Rain, in the old Headliner’s location.

Don’t forget about weekends at Schimmel’s. The once and future owner of the Subway Lounge Jimmy King jazzes up Schimmel’s each Friday and his band, and Subway houseband The Houserockers bring it like they’ve been doing for decades, each Saturday night at Schimmel’s. It’s only $5 each night and rolls 10- 2 a.m.

Find out about all the upcoming new bands you’ve never heard of at www.jacksonfreepress.com/music .

One of the primary joys of summer heating up has to be speculating the uses of a few days off. Nothing quite feeds an idle imagination and replenishes the soul like a good road trip. There are some great ones to plan for just on the horizon. Just announced, Sufjan Stevens will be at the House of Blues September 19. Also not to miss is Black Heart Procession, The Castanets, Devics at the Bottletree in Birmingham, July 27.

The annual Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Fest in Clarksdale will be August 11-13. The Choctaw Indian Fair is going on now through the weekend. Check out the whole upcoming regional calendar on the online lounge list. You’ll find LL Cool J on August 1, India.Arie on July 30 and August 7, 311 on August 3, Built to Spill in September and October and more.

In the fledging beginnings of the JFP and 930 Blues Café, one of my first interviews was with Blues Scholar Sam Myers. To get to know Sam was a rare privilege when he performed with Anson & the Rockets. Sam was as old school, harp-blowing blues legend as they come. Last week Sam, age 70, succumbed to the throat cancer he was diagnosed with last year. Born in Mississippi, he started out drumming with Elmore James from 1952 to 1963. Over the years Sam’s most famous single, “Sleeping In The Ground” from 1956, has been performed by Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and many others. Sleep deep sweet Sam. You will be missed and remembered. Leave the blues behind, for us lonely souls left to fetter the ether.

Herman Snell

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