All about Wild Bill's - sack the rest... (Nightclubs in Memphis)

Member Name: nilo0901

Product:	Nightclubs in Memphis
Date:	08/10/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wild Bill's is.... well, wild. James Govan is a decent entertainer too

Disadvantages: Beale St and watered down blues in general

Memphis, Tennesse. Home of the blues and disappointment for any blues fan. Memphis is a tough place to visit if you're into American musical heritage like me. It's like a blues theme park. You know when you're a kid and go to a theme park and hope for a really good roller coaster with 3 corkscrews and you get a ladybug roller coaster. It's a bit like that. Avoid Beale St for your night out. It's expensive and hokey. The have a Coyote Ugly and a Hard Rock Cafe and B.B King's blues club is dreary and the music a bore. B.B - what were you thinking?

Just about palatable is the Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale Street. Here at least you can hear a great singer in James Govan. A formerly credible soul singer with little success he now plies his trade singing Memphis soul standards to tourists... but he does so with gusto and is worth a look. Try not to weep when he does Otis Redding's I've Got Dreams To Remember - I struggled....

Memphis does however have one standout and that's Wild Bill's. Now this is home of the blues. It's mid-town somewhere in a pretty dodgy area so drive or get a cab. Don't arrive before 10 like I did because nothing will happen other than 2 elderly gentlemen shouting at a basketball game in the corner. And a really loud jukebox playing modern southern soul hits. They only serve quarts of beer so if you don't like beer, you'll be on soft drinks.

Once the music gets going so does the party. The Hollywood All-star Band play a selection of rootsy hits and get low down and dirty. Expect a number of guests to do impromptu performances.

The atmosphere at first glance is very intimidating but don't let this get you down. Once there it's warm and friendly and they take good care of us out of towners.

Not sure if celebrity spotting is regular here but I found myself after numerous quarts of beer chillin' with one Samuel L Jackson and his film crew. No joke. He's pretty cool.

Go to Wild Bill's for the real deal and sack the rest.

Summary: Largely disappointing with one glorious exception