The 2024 edition of the Mempho Music Festival kicked off at the Radians Amphitheater with an eclectic mix of artists.
Whether you were into singer-songwriters, country music, or rock; Mempho Music Festival had you covered with their opening day lineup.
Memphis resident Mark Edgar Stuart started things off at the Shell on Wheels Stage. Stuart hails from Arkansas originally (as noted by the hat he sported during his set), but has been a fixture of the Memphis music scene for years. Set highlights included “Arkansas Is Nice,” Stuart’s ode to those still residing in the Natural State. You can hear Mark Edgar Stuart’s newest album, Never Far Behind, on all streaming platforms.
The energy stepped up a notch as Robert Jon & The Wreck took the stage. A southern rock band from California seems counterintuitive but the songs were top-notch rock and roll. Complete with catchy riffs and singable choruses, the Robert Jon Burrison-led quintet gave fans a blistering set. The powerful “Oh Miss Carolina” had the crowd singing along whether they were familiar with the song or not, and “High Time” turned into an extended jam that foreshadowed songs from later in the evening. Robert Jon & The Wreck’s latest release, Red Moon Rising, is available now from Journeyman Records.Oxford, Mississippi’s reunited Blue Mountain was next at the Shell on Wheels Stage. Over two sets the Cary Hudson-led alternative country trio played songs ranging from their 1993 debut, Blue Mountain, to 2008’s Midnight in Mississippi. Hudson’s cutting lyrics and Les Paul tone worked perfectly with backing vocals from bassist Laurie Stirratt. “Midnight in Mississippi” was an obvious crowd favorite, telling the story of a wild night out in the band’s home state. If you’re able to catch the reunited Blue Mountain anywhere, do it.
Opening up the main Adams Keegan stage was country artist Brent Cobb. “Keep ‘Em on They Toes” opened things up and set the mood for what turned into a very laid-back set. Cobb’s version of country music is less of the classic rock-infused style, and much more geared toward storytelling. Cobb intro’d “Black Creek” from 2006’s No Place to Leave with a story about how he’s always accused of ripping off Everlast because of one of the song’s guitar lines. Cobb also admitted that’s “not entirely false.” You can hear Cobb’s most recent release, Southern Star, on all streaming platforms. Cory Wong exploded onto the Bud Light stage for a non-stop set of jazz, rock, and funk fusion. Being exclusively an instrumental act, the music obviously has to be exceedingly interesting to hold a crowd’s attention. Wong had no issues with this, with his guitar or the band’s horns or keys taking the place of a vocalist on many occasions. Wong invited Rick Mitarotonda and Peter Anspach from Goose to the stage to play, with Wong and Mitarotonda trading solos back and forth. Cory Wong’s latest release (in collaboration with The Metropole Orkest) Starship Syncopation is out now. As twilight started to creep in, the guitar of Marcus King roared through the grounds. King’s mix of blues and clear R&B influence is perfect for a festival setting. His previously mentioned guitar work was spot on, ranging from searing solos to complex chord work. Set highlights included “Hero,” “Save Me,” and a cover of Danny O’Keefe’s “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues.” King also played a solo acoustic version of “Die Alone” from his upcoming 2025 release. You can see Marcus King a few more times in the US this year in both the U.S. and Europe. Goose was one of the most anticipated shows of Mempho Fest Day One, and the Bud Light stage was at capacity when the lights went down. The band started with a 20-minute version of the newly released “Big Modern!” which has been lauded as one of the band’s best compositions to date. Cory Wong made a return appearance with the band as well, trading solos with singer/guitarist Rick Mitarotonda on an amazing version of “Animal.” The band also wowed the crowd with a jam version of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U.” You can and should see Goose touring the U.S. for the remainder of 2024. Closing out day one of Mempho 2024 was outlaw country artist Cody Jinks. Jinks and his band (The Tone Deaf Hippies) are very much of the classic rock-infused branch of country music that Brent Cobb is not. With three guitars and a pedal steel on top of that, the band is all power and volume. Jinks said they really wanted to add older songs into the setlist but couldn’t fit them, so they solved things by “just making the setlist longer.” This allowed them to bring back older tracks like “Thunderheads” while keeping fan favorites like “No Guarantees” and “Somewhere In The Middle.” You can see Cody Jinks and The Tone Deaf Hippies touring the U.S. for the rest of 2024 and hear their latest release, Change The Game, on all streaming platforms.
