Verti Marte, the landmark New Orleans grocery and takeout spot, burned on May 28th. The owners plan to rebuild. Greg Dulli named a track on the first Twilight Singers album in its honor.
MTV News posted an appreciation of Greg Dulli today on the occasion of his birthday. Here’s a sample:
Over the course of five albums, Dulli has laid out an incredible manifesto of R&B grooves, guitar squalls, sexy balladry and electronic freakiness, all of which serve to support his unique voice and lothario persona. It’s a character that is simultaneously adoring and wicked, which make his lyrics dark, passionate and literate.
But the “big” event on this season’s schedule takes place before the season gets under way when on May 15 the remaining members of the band Big Star take the stage for a fundraiser concert. The group last performed at the Shell in 1974.
“It’s going to be one of those very historic events at the Shell,” Pitts said. “Big Star took their start here in Memphis and of the four studio albums they have done, three of them ended up on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of all time.”
The band was booked just before the death of singer Alex Chilton in March, but the remaining members decided to go through with the concert in Chilton’s memory.
Almost a dozen guest artists will take turns performing with the band as vocalists including Andy Hummel, a cofounder of Big Star, and local soul diva Susan Marshall.
A complete set of the highly coveted Afghan Whigs Gentlemen cufflinks and money clip promo are up for auction on eBay. Proceeds from this auction benefit an HIV/AIDS charity called LIFEbeat.
Get a cool souvenir and help a deserving charity. Double score. Auction ends April 2.