This article is being re-posted from FLiP Magazine April 2017.  FLiP Magazine is a great publication with insight into pop-culture for both men and women! Aeri Rose is a regular contributor to FLiP W, the female focused half of the magazine, though this month’s article was shown in FLiP M, the men’s side. You should definitely check it out, and subscribe for the free digital editions! Even if I’m quiet here…I’ll always find something to say there!

 

 

Walking in Memphis

By: Aeri Rose

Let me start off by saying, I had no intention of singing karaoke that night. I blame Beale Street. It just pulls the music right out of you, whether you’re ready for it or not. But for one reason or another (or three, all of which may or may not have involved generous pours of gin and a splash of lime) I suddenly found myself belting “Put on my blue suede shoes, and I boarded the plane…” at the top of my lungs in front of a bar full of karaoke fans with a table full of cheering friends somewhere in the back.

Shortly there after, we too found ourselves making our way down Beale Street, thankfully NOT in the pouring rain (hats off to you Mr. Marc Cohen). Beale Street is a must see for any music lover or booze drinker. It’s a lively bar district in downtown Memphis, Tennessee where the bars are packed with live musicians nightly, ready to lure in passerby’s with the sweet sound of blues and rock ’n roll. Though any night will find you at least a handful of live performances, Thursday through Saturday nights are most raucous.

The next morning, wash away the last remnants of the night before with a cup of strong coffee or some hair of the dog from Tamp and Tap, home to artisan coffee and local craft beers. Once properly fortified, get ready for a day of sight seeing at some of Memphis’s most famous historic landmarks.

No, I’m not talking about old battlefields and snore-fest museums. I’m talking about Graceland and Sun Studio the Birthplace of Rock ’N Roll!

Graceland is the home of Elvis Presley. And if you don’t know who that is, put down this magazine, crawl out from under that rock you’ve been living under, and go listen to Hound Dog, Burning Love, and All Shook Up, to start. Now that you’ve been introduced to the King of Rock and Roll, you can start to appreciate just what kind of impact Memphis had on American music in the ’50’s. They changed the way we thought music could sound; packing so much soul, heartache, and longing into every song they recorded. They developed new sounds, playing guitars in front of hollow boxes just to get crunchy moans and deep vibrations out of the instruments; paving the way for modern rock, amplifiers, and electric guitars.

After paying your respects to the King, head on down to Sun Studio and the birthplace of Rock and Roll. Here, Elvis first recorded ‘Thats Alright Mama,’ and other rock and R&B greats like Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and B.B. King recorded some of their most famous works.  Take the tour through Sun Studios and stand in the actual recording studio where the magic happened. Can you feel the rhythm and soul, and the lingering remnants of the musical revolution in the walls around you?

Allow yourself plenty of time to be suitably awed by the musical history and enthralling memorabilia at these two fantastic historic landmarks. When you’re ready, head on down to one of my favorite BBQ joints for a good old Memphis BBQ dinner.  Memphis BBQ is special because of its pit smoking slow cooking style of preparing the meat (usually pork).

For something traditional, my favorite BBQ joint is the Germantown Commissary, home to hickory-smoked barbecue, perfectly brewed sweet-tea, and to die for sides of beans, slaw, and potato salad. The sandwich, on a fluffy white roll, is delicious, and the rack of ribs is heavenly.

For something a little different I like Corky’s, where I can order a heaping helping of sweet and smoky barbecue on top of a perfectly cooked baked potato, complete with sour cream and cheddar cheese on top.  Its decadent. Its delicious. It’s worth every minute the nap you’ll surely need to take afterwards.

After that nap, put on your blue suede shoes, and get ready for another night out on the town. After all, the best way to honor the musical legends that called Memphis home is with a glass in your hand and a lass on your arm, dancing the night away to some of their favorite songs.

Get those toes tapping boys!

 

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Have you ever had the urge to just drop what you were doing, pack a bag, and set out on an adventure? Seven years and over two dozen countries later, Aeri Rose is proof that excitement, independence, and discovery await those who are bold enough to say “yes” to life’s craziest choices. When not exploring the world with her little grey backpack, Aeri Rose an be found living a nomadic lifestyle traveling the United States as a writer and entrepreneur.  To follow Aeri on all her adventures, check her out online at travelingwithaeri.com; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aerirose.