I just returned from a week in Memphis and as one might expect, a wonderful time was had. I figure now is as good a time as any to share some pics and gratitudes.
My primary reason for going was the annual Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) conference–a unique gathering of a-v archivists, audio preservation engineers, meticulous record collectors, and some of the world’s best music researchers–and spent my week studying up on the latest copyright and fair use legalese, enjoying Robert Gordon’s thoughtful plenary on Memphis music, listening to Frank Bruno and Trey Brown’s Memphis small-label history, Craig Maki’s deep dive into Vic Gallon (w/ Starday connections!), David Evan’s and Kip Lornell’s insightful presentations on university-based record labels, Richard and Meaghan’s Archeophone collaboration with the Library of Congress, Patrick Feaster’s hilarious and fascinating research on the earliest phonograph, the history and scope of the National Recording Preservation Act with Matthew Barton, Patrick Midtlyng, David Seubert, and others, as well as papers and advice on moving archival collections, advocating for audio preservation to university admin, exploring audio survey and assessment tools, the roles of AI within some archives, and so much more. I also particularly enjoyed the collector’s roundtable on Friday night with Mark Atnip and Martin Fisher’s brilliant cylinder recording demonstration on Saturday afternoon. It was an honor to get to sing and play “Sea of Heartbreak” along with my pals Craig Maki and Frank Youngwerth as Martin cut a 2-minute wax cylinder of our performance. It was also a blast to hear and clap along to Filip Sir’s Czech-language, anti-Nazi protest version of “Deep In the Heart of Texas”--Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
As with every good academic conference, there was a lot of great discussion and camaraderie, a lot of communal meals, as well as the usual sharing of pet and recently-found record photos between presentations. There were far too many friends present to mention everyone by name, but it was truly great to see so many colleagues and pals in Memphis and to meet so many new folks as well. I loved chatting about record label obsessions with Jay Bruder, Cary Ginnell, Christian Stanfield, Lance and April of Dust-to-Digital, and so many others. I particularly enjoyed rooming with my old pal Patrick Feaster, former ARSC president, brilliant scholar, and all-around good dude. It was also a thrill to spend so much time exploring local barbeque haunts and talking music with my musical pals Craig Maki and Deke Dickerson. I will forever remember this conference as the one where Deke zipped away one night and came back the next morning to ask, ‘Hey, wanna play Grady Martin’s six-string bass?’ What?!?! The one that was played on the first ever fuzz record (Marty Robbins), and Johnny Horton’s best rockers, and just about every Patsy Cline recording? Of course, I do!! Many thanks again, Deke!
It was also the ARSC where I got to reconnect with my former high school bandmate, Matt Timberlake. What a joy to eat bbq and jam with the legend who invited me to join my first ever rock band–the Fuzzbuckets. Not only did we get to jam through several of the Fuzz’s greatest hits, I particularly enjoyed hearing him sing some Merle Haggard! I also appreciated him setting up a gig for me on Saturday night at The Cove with Big Barton, a 5-piece Memphis honky-tonk treasure! A grand time was had by all! There were several dogs in the audience. I was asked to play a 2nd solo set after my first one. I sold out of merch. And a kind couple at the bar even bought me a pizza.
And of course, Memphis was a great host city! I arrived early to check out Goner and Shangri-La–both awesome record stores (I even found an undocumented Starday custom 45 at Shangri-La)! I went to a Memphis Redbirds game and the first basement of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (AAA of the Florida Marlins) even pointed me out and threw me an inning-ending baseball! I randomly ran into some rockabilly lookin’ musicians outside the Sun Records studio and they invited me to their show at the HiTone Cafe that night–turns out, the Hotrod Hillbillies r-o-c-k and are coming to WI for Symco soon! Thanks again, Xavier and Angel! I toured the Sun Records studio again and appreciated seeing Dewey Phillips’ recreated studio, went to the Stax museum for the first time and dug Isaac Hayes’ Cadillac and the Hall of Records, went to Beale Street with Patrick and Craig and drank a milkshake, ate some incredible BBQ on Deke’s recommendations, and explored some of the historic sites including the Lorraine Motel (now home to the Civil Rights Museum), the Arcade (oldest diner in Memphis), and the site of Johnny Cash’s first gig to name a few. I also went to a garage sale and scored some great and local rock’n’roll records from Theo Dasbach!
Not quite sure how to top that for a conference, but Matthew Barton, ARSC and Memphis, y’all done well! #arscAnd many thanks to Memphis pals Matt Timberlake, Jeremy Shrader, Jesse Williams, Zac Ives, Christian Stanfield, Rockey the Rockin’ Redbird, and everyone else for the warm welcome and southern hospitality!
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