Here is a link to Mortimer’s. I talk about them and Van Duren on the broadcast. Its a fun place and has great food! Check them out the next time you are in Memphis!
I got an email from KickStarter yesterday and the campaign was awarded the very coveted, A Project We Love! For those unaware, last years KickStarter campaign was A Project We Love, so when I launched this year, I wondered if this campaign would be awarded it again. Yes!
Congratulations! We’ve selected Memphis Weirdos Gets Weirder as a “Project We Love,” which is our way of highlighting brilliant examples of creativity. You’ll see a badge under your main image or project video, and we’ll feature your campaign across Kickstarter.
A Project We Love
Does this mean Memphis Weirdos will get funded? No, it doesn’t. I think it helps and will reach people who aren’t aware of the project. But there is still a lot of work to do. But for now, I wanted to share the great news and thank the people who have backed so far. I have roughly $1,700 to go with 25 days left.
Two years ago on this date, Memphis Weirdos hit the air via shortwave for the first time! It was fascinating because I got to hear the transmission in Memphis, which brings up a point. Memphis Weirdos is not curated for a Memphis audience, but rather an international audience.
The first song I played was a Cramps cover by Memphis band, SuperLo, featuring Klitz founding member, Marcia Clifton on drums and vocals. For the first year, the broadcast lasted 30 minutes a week, every Sunday at 2000 UTC on 15770 kHz. It was popular and a year later with a lot of support, I was able to increase the broadcast to an hour.
I’ve sent Memphis Weirdos QSL’s to Japan and all over Europe. I’ve sent a handful to North America. People listen to Memphis Weirdos. We are everywhere. At the end of 2021, I was able to add an additional 30 minutes on 7730 kHz at 2130 UTC, which is dedicated to our local hard rock scene.
I don’t play this music from a historic standpoint, but rather as a fan. There are instances where I site historical facts because I was witness to or involved. But then again, I throw out opinions from time to time, which come off as facts. Its human.
If you are a long time listener and supporter of Memphis Weirdos, then you know I am getting ready for another KickStarter campaign in hopes to secure operating costs for another broadcast year. I will post the link to that when its available. In the meantime, I want to recognize a few entities who went above and beyond to help keep Memphis Weirdos on the air, my Executive Producers, Omnivore Recordings and Mike De Mita. I can’t thank them enough for their support this past year. Memphis Weirdos would not be broadcasting without them. I also want to thank Jeff White and all at WRMI for letting me do this. And I want to thank you for listening. I love the music we make in our city. Regarding popular culture, Memphis is it. Musically speaking, there is not a more influential city in the world than Memphis, Tennessee.
Alan Hayes passed away this morning after a gallant fight with cancer. He was perhaps best known as a member of Memphis post punk, new wave band, Calculated X. I was just over at his home last year for a visit. An avid biker, we talked about cycling more than music. We swapped merchandise, I left him with some Memphis Weirdos stuff and I left with a Calculated X shirt. To date, I’ve gotten one report for Japan, a man named Hirokazu Mitsumoto. He wrote to tell me his favorite song from a show was 4 Windows, by Calculated X.
I think about letting the sunset on Memphis Weirdos from time to time, then I remember events like that and how happy it made Alan. I hate that he had to deal with cancer at the end of his life. In the same regards, I am glad he is free. Memphis is a better places because of him. I know his family and those closer will miss him. May his memory always be a blessing.
Memphis Weirdos 