The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour kicks off its spring 2020 season Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6 pm at Off Square Books (129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655). FREE admission.
Guests: Author Ashley Wurzbacher (Happy Like This), pop-rockers Short in the Sleeve (Traces) and Memphis soul-funk duo, The PRLVG (What You’re Missing).
Hosts: Jim Dees and our house band, the Yalobushwhackers
Radio: WUMS 92.1 FM (Oxford)
Online: http://myrebelradio.com/
NOTE: This show is presented in conjunction with Pop Up Oxford, a week-long schedule of lectures, concerts and programs sponsored by Visit Oxford. More information: http://visitoxfordms.com/about-oxford/
This show will be heard on Mississippi and Alabama Public networks:
Mississippi: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 pm: http://www.mpbonline.org/
Alabama: Saturday, Feb. 1 at 9 pm: http://www.apr.org/#stream/
Don’t miss Thacker Jr., with an all-student cast, on Saturday, Jan 25 at 6 pm at Nutt Auditorium! https://www.facebook.com/events/796517567477696/
Ashley Wurzbacher takes on numerous characters and voices in her exciting and provocative debut story collection, Happy Like This (University of Iowa Press). Many of her characters are professional women—social scientists, linguists, speech therapists, plant physiologists, dancers—who search for happiness in roles and relationships that are often unconventional. The ten shimmering stories in Happy Like This offer deeply felt, often humorous meditations on the complexity of choice and the ambiguity of happiness.
Wurzbacher, a debut author who was named as one of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” honorees this year, deploys her encyclopedic command of various ideas, regions, professions and lexicons with the authority of seasoned masters like Adam Johnson. This is a writer at the top of her game; but hopefully she’s only just getting started.
New York Times
Ashley Wurzbacher grew up in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and a rural sensibility infuses many of her stories. She currently teaches creative writing at the University of Montevallo in Alabama.
The latest release by Memphis pop-rock band, Short in the Sleeve, is the ten-song album, Traces. The band’s front man and chief songwriter, Jason Middlekauff, says the new album is more rock and power-pop than usual. “Honestly, I’d started to grow a little bored with writing acoustic-based songs exclusively.” The new tunes range from boisterous power pop to ruminative folk-rock. The band’s previous releases include the EP, A Broken Heart and Some Chords, and the album, A Message Lost Down the Wire.
Hear the song, Burned, from Traces: here.
Memphis twin brothers Christian and Christopher Underwood, founded their band The PRVLG, after touring as back-up musicians for hip-hop singer, Healy. The duo of bass and drums often has guest musicians round out their sound, blending indie pop melodies with funk, soul, jazz, and R&B. The Memphis Music Hall of Fame recently listed The PRVLG on their “10-Must-Hear Memphis Originals” list. The PRVLG’s debut release is “What You’re Missing.”
Cool video here.
