Memphis Music Stories

TRS interviews guitarist/singer Darrin Brady shares his current work with Ken Houston as an acoustic duo (started around COVID), playing venues like Huey’s, Knuckleheads, Villa Casorotti, and Delta Blues Winery, averaging heavy gig counts and varied setlists with audience interaction. He recounts joining Ken’s band The No Hit Wonders in 2018, and notes the band is rehearsing again with members including Bobby and Nick Ireland and Dave Morscheck. Darren also covers his Memphis musical roots, early bands, influences (Kiss, Van Halen, Rush, Billy Gibbons), Kisstory shows, gear stories (including stolen guitars/amp), and adds that his dad graduated with Elvis.

Heath & AJ Live in Studio: Acoustic Country Covers, Weekly Neil’s Residency + Memphis Music Talk

Patrick O’Daniel Talks Heartless, Magnum Dopus, Memphis Music, and Writing ‘Crusaders, Gangsters and Whiskey

The podcast welcomes Memphis bassist and author Patrick O’Daniel. They talk about Patrick’s recent gigs, including Italian Fest with Heartless and a rain-soaked show at Ghost River. Patrick explains Heartless set choices, their “Ladies of the ’80s” breakout, and the advantage of two female lead vocalists, Vanessa Sudbury and Katie Marlier. He shares his musical beginnings, early influences (Kiss, Zeppelin, Yes, Cream, The Who, Rush), and his fingerstyle start. The episode covers Patrick’s original band, Magnum Dopus—its lineup, writing process, streaming reach, and upcoming recording—plus his other projects (Island 45 and Super Five). Patrick also spotlights his Memphis-history nonfiction books, especially “Crusaders, Gangsters and Whiskey,” available in print, libraries, and audiobook.

Mike Stoker on Memphis Jones, Stoker Stringed Instrument Repair & Memphis Music History

Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis-born bass player and stringed instrument repairman Mike Stoker of Stoker Stringed Instrument Repair. They discuss how Derrick previously brought basses to him through REvolve Music (owned by Jeff Albert), the kind of repair and wiring work he does, and how he grew his business organically from music retail jobs at Strings & Things and Yarbrough’s. Stoker talks about playing in the trio Memphis Jones since 2012, their Memphis music revue of Sun, Stax, and classics, their regular BB King’s Beale Street slot (Mondays and Fridays, 4:30–7:30), and touring in Canada and abroad. He shares early musical influences including Elvis, his first Sears acoustic guitar, switching from guitar to bass, and his interest in Stax-era rhythm sections.

On this in-studio episode of The Rhythm Section, Derrick and Jeff welcome Traci and Andy McCullough of Roxi Love to talk about their return to pushing original music, social media clips, and a recent video release for their song Lullaby. They discuss Roxi Love’s long-running marriage and music career, budgeting and surviving COVID, and how Southland Casino’s roster system works across stages like Chairman’s Bar, Charred Oak, Bentley Stage, and The Kitchen. The band shares plans for new music, upcoming videos (including “Dream Boy”), and recording with help from Louis Hayslett. Traci and Andy also perform an unreleased original, “Alone”.

The Rhythm Section Pod welcomes guest Nick Strong, a dedicated supporter of the local music community and aspiring vocalist. Nick shares how childhood influences like Huey Lewis, Bon Jovi, Poison, and Def Leppard shaped his dream to sing, and how he gained confidence by posting home singing videos and being invited onstage with bands including Formerly Known As, Gen X, Six Feet Thunder, Full Metal Racket, and Your Mom’s New Boyfriend, often performing STP’s “Cracker Man” and Ozzy’s “Shot in the Dark.” He credits supporters like Shawn Few and Scott Sudbury, discusses his son Noel’s band Indigo Avenue, and suggests mixing Memphis rap with rock, citing Project Pat and Al Kapone’s TAMI Awards performance. Nick also talks about his business, Home Strong Quality Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, and thanks the community while encouraging fans to support local shows and musicians.

Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis drummer Ken Artison, who works as a family engagement liaison at Power Center Academy Elementary School in Hickory Hill and plays drums for Elevation Memphis: A Tina Turner Tribute Experience and Just Liyah & Maxwell: A 90s tribute to Aaliyah and Maxwell. Ken shares how Stax Music Academy trained him in production, theory, and performance through a school-year program and summer music experience, and how young musicians can apply. He explains how he landed a long-running Sunday job at Al Green’s Full Gospel Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, the connections it created, and his move into more rock-and-roll work. Ken recounts joining Elevation via an audition, discusses tuning drums to a bassist’s lowest note, talks gear and cymbals, and names key drumming influences.

Derrick and Jeff welcome Brad Webb, Tony Adams, and Dan Cochran to talk about decades of Memphis-area recording and gigging, including sessions with Blind Mississippi Morris, Fred Sanders, and others. Brad describes building a barn studio in 1987, working with analog tape and early mic-mixing techniques, and running hundreds of blues jams at venues like Rum Boogie, Stage Stop, and Rock House Live. Dan shares that most of his studio work happened in Brad’s room but prefers live performance, and explains how he became a left-handed person who plays right-handed bass. Tony recounts signing a first record deal at 17, recording at Phillips Studios with Sam Phillips at the console, then working in major analog studios and becoming a sought-after drum tech and tuner, including a story from sessions tied to Matchbox 20’s early work.

Derrick and Jeff welcomes Steve Owens for a special in-studio discussion combining band date announcements, and an open discussion about the local music scene. The conversation covers double-booking problems, sound support, fair pay, covers/tipping, table reservations, and the shared responsibility of bands and venues to promote shows. Steve highlights Hadley’s Monday-night fundraisers benefiting 4-year-old Elise “the Beast” Glimmer (spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy, needing treatment in Mexico), the April 19 “Pause for the Cause” animal-rescue benefit at Neil’s, and the sold-out Thomas Half Acre benefit at Lafayette’s on April 20, including an auctioned memorial shirt.

On this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, Derrick and Jeff sit down with Lonnie Hammer—singer and principal songwriter for Hammer Down Hard—for a deep dive into his musical journey. Lonnie shares stories from his days behind the kit with bands like Bullet Theory, Chosen, Jack Russell, and Black Oak Arkansas, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life as a working musician. He also talks about his move to Memphis, breaking into the local scene at the legendary Stage Stop, and his experiences recording at the iconic Ardent Studios.