Memphis Flyer 02/02/2023

Keleigh Klarke

SHARA CLARK

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SAMUEL X. CICCI

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JACKSON BAKER, BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

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GENE GARD, COCO JUNE, FRANK MURTAUGH

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Somebody put in some serious work into coming up with the acronym for SCORPION, which stands for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace In Our Neighborhoods. The operation was announced with some fanfare in late 2021 by Mayor Jim Strickland and Police Director C.J. Davis. The four 10-man units were assigned to work in high-crime areas, seeking to reduce the city’s rates of murder, carjacking, car theft, and other major felonies. As has now been reported, the officers often used “no tolerance” policing methods, pulling motorists over for low-level infractions, such as tinted windows or seat-belt violations, as an excuse to interrogate and search.

We still don’t know why SCORPION officers stopped 29-year-old Tyre Nichols near his home in the Hickory Hill neighborhood on January 7th, but, as is now well-documented after the release of a disturbing and nauseating video last Friday, we do know the officers aggressively pulled Nichols from his car, and though he cooperated fully with commands to lie on the ground, they struck him repeatedly and shot him with a taser.

Nichols fled the scene but was caught eight minutes later. Video from a nearby pole-mounted police camera showed five officers mercilessly beating Nichols with batons, face-kicks, and brutal punches to his head for more than three minutes. Nichols was then left on the ground for nearly a half-hour as his assailants stood around discussing possible alibis, ignoring him. Three days later, Nichols died from his injuries at St. Francis Hospital. Ten days after that, on January 20th, the officers were fired for violations of department policies, including excessive use of force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid.

No one who watched that video can deny that this was a lynching, a coldblooded murder of a young man whose death began with a routine traffic stop that escalated only because the cops wanted it to. The Nichols case made the MPD — and the city of Memphis — the lead story on the national news for several days. Reporters parachuted into town from all over, doing stand-up reporting from Memphis streets, covering the peaceful protests, and interviewing Memphis officials and politicians.

In the aftermath, the city got some things right. Davis denounced the officers’ actions, quickly fired them, and said of the video: “This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual. … This incident was heinous, reckless, and inhumane.”

District Attorney Stephen Mulroy held a press conference to announce charges against the five officers, including second-degree murder, and urged consideration of police reform. (This is in stark contrast, it should be noted, to the former DA, who was reluctant to prosecute MPD officers for much of anything.)

The national news website Daily Beast contrasted Memphis’ response with that of New York in similar police-related cases: “This is how you do it. You give the officers due process. But you don’t serve as their defense attorney. … It’s notable that officials in a red state (albeit in a purplish city) appear more committed to accountability for police officers than they are … in New York City.”

City officials — and Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells — asked residents “to protest in peace. I don’t want us burning our city, tearing up our streets.” And Memphis, again, got it right. Demonstrators were unfailingly peaceful. Tyre Nichols’ life was celebrated — and his death was mourned with calm, power, and dignity. Now here we are, and now the real work begins. The Nichols family deserves swift justice. Those officers need to go to prison for a long time. But MPD needs to be rebuilt from the ground up — and maybe from the top down — starting with those who thought SCORPION was a good idea. It was not. It propagated a toxic “cop culture” that was allowed free rein under the guise of restoring peace to our neighborhoods. Davis announced the deactivation of the unit on Saturday, which is a start.

NEWS & OPINION

THE FLY-BY - 4

POLITICS - 7

COVER STORY

“DRAG IN THE SOUTH”

BY KAILYNN JOHNSON - 8

SPORTS - 11

WE RECOMMEND - 12

MUSIC - 13

AFTER DARK - 14

CALENDAR - 15

NY TIMES CROSSWORD - 16

NEWS OF THE WEIRD - 17

ASTROLOGY - 18

FOOD - 19

SPECIAL MEDIA COMMENTARY - 20

CLASSIFIEDS - 22

LAST WORD - 23

Perhaps Lawrence Turner, pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, where Nichols’ funeral will be held this week, said it best: “Today can mark the beginning of the Second Civil Rights Movement: beyond individual equality to systemic equality. We demand a system that manifests justice for all, not the privileged few. In Tyre’s name, systemic justice is what we must demand and fight for — each day going forward until we overcome.”

It’s our turn, Memphis. The world is still watching.

Bruce VanWyngarden bruce@memphisflyer.com

Editor’s note: Flyer writers will occasionally share this space.

THE fly-by

MEM ernet

Memphis on the internet.

CAMERA MAN

Questions, Answers + Attitude

Edited by Toby Sells

2023

“My name is Tyre D. Nichols. I am an aspiring photographer. Well, I mostly do this stu for fun but I enjoy it very much. Photography helps me look at the world in a more creative way.”

{WEEK THAT WAS

By Flyer staff

The Tyre Nichols Case

A turbulent week ends with peaceful protest.

MONDAY

Tyre Nichols’ family met with city and Memphis Police Department leaders to watch police video of the beating that killed Nichols.

Leaders announced the video would not be immediately released. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy expected the public release would come “this week or next.”

At the time, ve MPD o cers had been red in the wake of the incident.

WEDNESDAY

Nichols “su ered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating” in the incident with Memphis police, attorneys for his family said. Attorneys

“It expresses me in ways I cannot write down for people.”

Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said the ndings came a er an independent autopsy was conducted Monday and that more details from it would be released later.

Kevin Ritz, United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, promised a “thorough” criminal civil rights investigation into the matter.

At the time, two members of the Memphis Fire Services Division had been red in relation to the incident.

THURSDAY

MPD Chief Cerelyn Davis said more police o cers and specialized police units were under investigation in the events surrounding the death of Nichols.

tice would be Tyre living to see his next birthday.” Video of the incident would be released by the city sometime a er 6 p.m. Friday, Mulroy said. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director David Rausch described the video as “absolutely appalling.”

A prayer vigil at Tobey Skatepark celebrated the life of Nichols.

FRIDAY

is is the intro to the “about” section of Tyre Nichols’ photography website called T. Nichols Photography. e section is headlined “Welcome the World rough My Eyes.”

Five MPD o cers — Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith — were charged in the death of Nichols.

ey were charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping resulting in bodily injury, aggravated kidnapping involving the possession of a weapon, o cial misconduct through unauthorized exercise of power, o cial misconduct through failure to act when there is a duty imposed by law, and o cial oppression.

“While each of the ve individuals played a di erent role in the incident in question, the actions of all of them resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols, and they are all responsible,” Mulroy said.

Reactions to the charges owed from local leaders.

“While I applaud the swi action of the district attorney, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Memphis Police Department, there is no justice for Tyre Nichols today,” said Tennessee state Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis). “Jus-

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced the police video of Nichols’ beating would be released a er 6 p.m. National media endlessly hyped the video release, bracing the country for riots like those in the wake of the Rodney King beating.

Locals braced for the video’s release, too. Many schools, businesses, and government o ces announced they were closing early in anticipation of possible civil unrest. e video was released at around 6 p.m.

Protesters marched from the Martyrs Park to the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, closing I-55 to tra c. No arrests were made in the peaceful protest.

SATURDAY

Protesters marched for justice in New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and more.

Davis announced she had disbanded the MPD’s SCORPION Unit, the one responsible for Nichols’ initial tra c stop.

e probe into the case broadened with other police ofcers under investigation.

POSTED TO TWITTER BY TYRE NICHOLS

POSTED TO TWITTER BY TYRE NICHOLS

POSTED TO TWITTER BY TYRE NICHOLS

POSTED TO TWITTER BY TYRE NICHOLS

PHOTO: POSTED TO FACEBOOK BY HUNTER DEMSTER Memphis Police Department o cers severely beat Tyre Nichols a er a tra c stop on January 7th. Nichols died of those wounds on January 10th.

Clearing the Air {

The Memphis City Council wants Sterilization Services of Tennessee to start curbing its harmful emissions now, rather than waiting for a mandate from the federal government.

e company, on Florida Street in South Memphis, emits ethylene oxide (EtO), an odorless, colorless gas used to sterilize medical equipment and other materials. EtO is a carcinogen, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that residents around the facility are at a higher risk of getting cancer.

An EPA review of EtO found it to be 60 times more toxic than previously believed. e agency did not learn the chemical could lead to higher cancer risks around emitting facilities until 2016.

An EPA risk assessment of Sterilization Services published in October found that if 1 million residents around the facility breathed air with EtO all day every day for 70 years, 100 of them would be expected to develop cancer due to the exposure. However, the agency couches the projection, noting it “cannot predict whether an individual person will develop cancer.”

CITY REPORTER

By Toby Sells

City council member Dr. Je Warren said last week most of the company’s EtO emissions are not released through a smokestack. Rather, they are “fugitive emissions,” released through doors and “just the natural operations of the business,” Warren said.

Caroline Freeman, director of the EPA’s Region 4 (which includes Memphis), told council members three weeks ago that the agency was concerned about the situation in South Memphis.

As of October, however, the company had not installed new EtO pollution controls and had no plans for new controls, according to the EPA.

However, Freeman told council members the agency is working on new regulations for EtO emissions and hopes to issue a new rule on them this year. But the Clean Air Act gives companies two to three years to comply with new rules, according to council research.

Last week, the council approved a

resolution asking the company to start work on the issue soon. e resolution wants Sterilization Services to immediately begin working with the EPA, the

PHOTO: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

state of Tennessee, and the Shelby County Health Department “to halt fugitive emissions, in lieu of waiting for the passage of federal regulation as the health and safety of Memphians continue to be at risk.” Such resolutions are nonbinding and do not mandate the company to comply.

“ is particular company has multiple locations across the country,” Warren said last week. “In some of the other locations, they are already moving to initiate activities to limit fugitive emission. What we’re doing here is … asking them to initiate those same interventions that they’re putting in other sites across the country.” e resolution also asks for the named government agencies to keep citizens updated with information about the company and its emissions.

Most members of the council’s Parks and Environment Committee signed on as co-sponsors to the resolution.

Work has begun to take harmful emissions from South Memphis facility.

A plume of pollution stretches out from Sterilization Services.

POLITICS By Jackson Baker

Tyre Nichols: Mayoral Candidates React

Feelings of revulsion, sorrow, and commitment to change predominate.

e tragic death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of out-of-control Memphis police has touched the hearts and minds of Memphians and vast numbers of people, for that matter, around the world. How have the announced candidates for Memphis mayor reacted?

Voluminously, it would seem — in public appearances, on social media, and elsewhere. Here is a brief sampling of what they have said.

Shelby County Sheri Floyd Bonner: “My heartfelt condolences are expressed to the family and friends of Tyre Nichols. I am sad and angry about his tragic death.

“I am a second-generation law enforcement o cer, and I am disgusted by what we all saw captured on video. is horrible incident tarnishes the badge that I wear, and many other good o cers wear every day. I will do

everything in my power to prevent another parent from having to bury their child in such a senseless and tragic way.”

Downtown Memphis Commission CEO Paul Young: “On behalf of our family, I pause today and become fully present with my deepest sympathy and condolences for the family and all who are mourning the tragic loss of Tyre Nichols — a young man with much promise who is gone too soon. Let’s keep the Nichols family in prayer as they enter this uncharted territory.”

Businessman J.W. Gibson: “ e police o cers responsible for the senseless and fatal beating of Tyre Nichols have been appropriately charged with second-degree murder. … As a lifelong Memphian, I know that the actions of those few [are] absolutely not a re ection of the dedication, heart, or humanity of the overwhelming majority of the men and women of the Memphis Police Department. As these o cers await their days in court, we must come together as a community.”

School Board chair Michelle McKissack: “My heart breaks for Tyre’s sweet mother, family, and son. Together, we must honor his life and demand systemic change so this never happens again.”

State House Democratic Leader Karen Camper: “Like so many of my fellow Memphians I watched with horror as ve Memphis police o cers savagely beat Tyre Nichols. And I am one of the thousands of Memphians and people around the nation and the world who have followed this tragic event who are o ering their sincere condolences to the Nichols family. is act of violence and abuse of power has no place in our city nor in our police department.”

Former County Commissioner and NAACP President Van Turner: “We appreciate the city’s quick action and transparency thus far in the case of Tyre Nichols as more o cers and rst responders are brought to justice. Tyre’s mother has called for a bill named a er her son which would seek to empha-

size a duty to intervene and render aid which was not done for her son. We must stand with her in this ght for justice and reform. … [W]e must disrupt the culture which allows this to happen. We must not forget Tyre’s death and the way that he died, and as mayor of Memphis, I vow to not allow Tyre Nichols’ death be in vain.”

PHOTO: VAN TURNER Memorial for Tyre Nichols

Drag in the South

Whether you know it or not, your rst introduction into drag probably occurred in your childhood living room. You may have found yourself watching a segment of Some Like It Hot on TCM or the iconic Divine receiving a formal introduction to the ’60s as Edna Turnblad in the John Waters’ hit Hairspray

But for Skyler Bell, that entry point to the world of drag came while watching the 1995 lm To Wong Foo, anks for Everything! Julie Newmar, starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo. at movie stoked their budding passion for drag, and years later, Bell would come to be known as ee Native Supreme: India Taco, gracing the stages of e Blu , Dru’s Bar, and Hi Tone.

Bell began doing drag when they were in college at Mississippi State University and has been performing for the past four years. Having grown up on a reservation in Choctaw, Mississippi, they even hold the honor of being the rst drag queen from their tribe. And while Bell will always hold their humble beginnings and

origins close to them, they realized they wanted more and moved to Memphis to pursue drag full-time.

e path Bell took is one that many aspiring Mid-South drag performers have walked. But what is it that draws people toward Memphis drag? ere’s no doubt that the Blu City is bursting with talent, and many of the performers who call Memphis home have worked hard to build up those talents.

“When I rst started doing drag in this city, it was very old-school, pageant drag. It was all about female impersonation, and this certain level of polish. ere was almost like this unspoken rule of how things had to be done,” says Slade Kyle. ey are a full-time drag entertainer, also known as Bella DuBalle, and serve as the show director at Atomic Rose on Beale Street.

However, as drag navigated into the mainstream, more styles began to appear. According to Kyle, if you’re lucky enough to get a front row seat to see the h season of Atomic Rose’s “War of e Roses” competition, you’ll see a diverse showcase of drag ranging from horror and camp

drag to drag kings and pageant drag. Kyle says this is so audience members can get an idea of “all the crayons in the coloring box of drag.”

Local activist, drag queen, newly crowned Miss Mid-South Pride, and Memphis Flyer 20 < 30 honoree Moth Moth Moth (Mothie for short) remembers when they started doing drag at Dru’s in 2016 in a “little orange dressing room,” with goth makeup and “really weird, obscure songs.” ey recall performing with seasoned veterans like Beverly Hills, who began to appreciate this new, artistic way of drag.

“ at type of perception was really

early in Memphis,” says Mothie. “ at eventually became much more of what everybody’s taste is now. Now people really appreciate, and identify, and love the gender uidity of Memphis drag, and the way that so many di erent spaces are open.”

Memphis drag is not only characterized by diversity and its ability to push the envelope, but it also holds true to the infamous grit-and-grind nature of the city. Kelly McDaniel, famously known as Keleigh Klarke on stage, has been doing drag in Memphis since 2001 and recalls a mantra that’s held true through it all.

“If you can do drag in Memphis,” he says, “you can do drag anywhere.” McDaniel explains that it’s tough to do drag in Memphis, but you’ll nd that masked under slayed lace fronts, Kryolan Paint Stick foundation, and MAC eyeshadow is a performer with thick skin.

“Our audiences here, they’re tough. is city by nature is a rough, hard city, and it takes a lot to impress people,” says McDaniel.

“It can be rough here, and it can be a

PHOTO: DREW PARKER India Taco

Memphis’ drag performers have built their success on a foundation of grit and tenacity.

“If you can do drag in Memphis, you can do drag anywhere.”

— Kelly McDaniel

rough industry for new entertainers to get into, but I think one of those things that sets us apart is that for the ones who do make it in the city, and do make a name for themselves and do make a legacy and a reputation and image, it makes you tough, it makes you grateful, and it makes you work a little bit harder because you want to keep that spot and keep proving yourself.”

Performers like Bell recognize this, and they also say the drag community in Memphis wouldn’t be what it is now without the legends that came before them and the legacy they cemented. Bell thanks not only veterans like McDaniel but also Kiera Mason, DuBalle, and Aubrey “Boom Boom” Ombre.

“If you go to a show, then you know Aubrey Boom Boom,” explains Bell. “Inside and outside of drag, that woman is everything. She’s helped me out, and the community, on and o the stage.” e legend Bell speaks of is Memphis native Aubrey Wallace, known not only by her stage name but also as the title-holder of Miss Gay Memphis 2019.

Miss Gay Memphis, formerly known as Miss Memphis Review, was one of the rst crowns made in Memphis following the Stonewall riots. “Back then, it was illegal to do drag, so they had to wait until around Halloween to actually throw a party and dress up,” explains Wallace. “ e Gay Memphis crown was created from that aspect of life. It has so much meaning to it and so much history that if someone competes for it, it’s a big honor to do so because you’re being a part of history and carrying on a legacy that has been passed on from generation to generation.”

As a queen with 12 years under her belt, Wallace possesses a wealth of

knowledge that she’s always ready to share with newcomers. And her story starts at Backstreet Memphis, a place that many veterans say served not only as a launchpad for their career but also as a safe haven for their community. Performers like Wallace received their rst glimpse into the gay club scene in 2010 at Backstreet, where their performance on the dance oor would capture the eyes of the club’s resident queens.

“ ey ended up putting me in my rst drag show,” Wallace says.

McDaniel also remembers networking with the entertainers at Backstreet Memphis, who in turn taught him the basics of drag such as makeup. e club closed its doors in 2010, but its impact and legacy have been kept alive by those who experienced the magic rsthand. While many nd it can be hard to pinpoint what exactly did it for Backstreet, McDaniel explains

that it paid homage to the “hedonistic excess of those mid-to-late-’90s, early 2000s.”

“On a Saturday night, by 12, 12:30 at night, you could stand on the upper level and it would be a sea of people all in that space.” Clubs like Spectrum have tried to recreate this magic and succeeded in doing so for a new generation, but nothing has seemed to have the vibe that Backstreet possessed.

“Nothing recaptures the energy that was there, but that was a di erent time, too,” says McDaniel. “ ere was a lot less equality and inclusivity at that point for the gay community, so that was our place to go. It was also open to anyone else who wanted to be a part of that environment.”

A lot has changed since the glory days of Backstreet. Wallace has noticed a

change in her con dence, which enables her to help prepare new performers take to the stage. “We’re open to taking people under our wing and getting them started and a stage to start on,” she says. “With me, when someone comes to me, I teach them the way of life rst and teach them what you’ll go through and some of the obstacles you’ll have to overcome. en I’ll teach them the aspect of drag.”

ose lucky enough to be one of Wallace’s “drag children” are privy to family dinners and family outings, where they’re taught the values of life, humbleness, and things they need to succeed in the drag world.

“You have to be respectful and mindful of who has helped you, and who came before you,” Wallace says. “As I grew up, I learned from so many legends. Some that are not here, some that are still here, like Alexis [Marie Grayervon] Furstenburg, Beverly Hills, Kiera Mason. A whole bunch of them. ey’ve groomed me into who I am today, and since then I’ve stayed humble, I’ve stayed respectful, and I’ve always fought for everyone’s fairness and rights.”

Wallace’s dream for the “next generation of drag” stems from a hope that they will be able to show their talents on stage and come in “shining bright as a star.” She sees the potential in them, yet there has been a number of obstacles recently that may change the way a newer and younger generation interacts with drag.

Still, it’s almost impossible to have a conversation about drag without mentioning the in uence of RuPaul’s Drag Race. e show rst aired on February 2, 2009,

on page 10

PHOTO (ABOVE): COURTESY AUBREY OMBRE Aubrey Ombre continued

PHOTO: VICKIE QUICK Moth Moth Moth

PHOTO: DREW PARKER Bella DuBalle

PHOTO: GINGERSNAP PHOTOGRAPHY Keleigh Klarke

OPEN NOW

continued from page 9

and is hosted by drag superstar RuPaul. The competition-style reality show follows a group of drag queens who compete for the title of America’s Drag Superstar.

Many credit the show as being a pivotal part of bringing more acceptance and awareness to the drag community. This, coupled with social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, has allowed the public to interact with the drag community without leaving their homes.

“By pushing it into the mainstream, more people are aware of drag,” Kyle explains. “They’re more aware that it is an art form. There’s a lot of easy misconceptions if you don’t know what drag is.”

In turn, making drag more mainstream through this kind of exposure encourages more nuanced discussions. These discussions can lead to more education and understanding of the art form.

In an October 2022 interview, Mothie told the Flyer that the demographic for drag is changing, and it now includes 14- to 22-year-olds. Mothie also said that younger people “deserve a piece of this culture.”

However, there are opponents of drag, including many lawmakers in Tennessee, who have been working to make sure that younger audiences don’t have access to it.

On September 23, 2022, a familyfriendly drag show at the Museum of Science & History (MoSH) was scheduled as the ending celebration of the museum’s Summer Pride programming. However, the event was canceled by event organizers after a group of armed Proud Boys arrived.

Jackson Sun writer Angele Latham reported in October 2022 that a Jackson Pride drag show, which was also initially advertised as “family-friendly” and slated to be held at a local park, was limited to participants 18 and older after weeks of meeting with lawmakers.

This began to amplify the conversation of whether drag shows were appropriate for kids, or “family-friendly.”

In November 2022, the Flyer also reported that legislation was filed by Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson that could potentially make public drag shows in Tennessee a crime.

Johnson proposed that new language be added to Section 7-51-1401 that defines “adult cabaret performance” as “a performance in a location other than an adult cabaret that features topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest, or similar entertainers, regardless of whether or not performed for consideration.”

This proposed new amendment would prohibit drag performances on public property and other public spaces. If passed, this law would apply to drag shows in the state of Tennessee.

The bill also goes on to make performing in “adult cabaret performance” on

public property or “in a location where the adult cabaret performance could be viewed by a person who is not an adult” a Class A misdemeanor. Repeat offenders face a Class E felony.

Performers agree there are forms of drag that are family-friendly and some that are not. However, Kyle notes that this holds true for every medium. Wallace also explains that performers know that what they perform in front of children will be different than what they perform at a nightclub.

For many, the answer to whether kids should be exposed to drag performances is simple: If you don’t want your kids to see it, then don’t bring them to a drag show. But the truth is that they’ll have access to it in other ways, whether it’s through HBO Max’s Trixie Motel, Allison William’s performance of Peter Pan, or the childhood rite of passage of playing dress-up.

“We’re all born doing drag. Every kid knows what it’s like to put on a costume and pretend to be something else,” says Kyle. “I think it’s incredibly important for kids to have access to [drag.] Not just for the kids that will be queer. It’s important for every kid to understand that their differences make them special.”

Many performers agree that drag serves not only as an outlet to express emotions but also as way to find yourself. Drag is an art form, Mothie reiterates, and when you start to limit people’s ability to express themselves, the aftermath can be harmful.

“I know personally for me growing up, I was always in my parents’ shadow because everyone says I had the same talent as my mom and dad,” adds Wallace. “That was something I had to get away from because I wanted to be me and who I am, and find who I really am. Drag helped me do that. Kids in general will never know who they are or who they want to be if you can’t let them express it. Whether it’s dressing up in their mom’s clothes, watching a play or something like that, [drag] has saved a lot of people’s lives. It definitely saved my life.”

With the complexity of drag and its positive influences on culture and the economy, many are baffled that lawmakers are working to criminalize it. Activists like Mothie have been fighting tirelessly against proposed “pointless” legislation and believe there’s a lot more for lawmakers to worry about than drag performances.

“Tennesseans should take pride in how strong our drag is in Tennessee, how much Tennessee is an incubator for what’s next in drag for the rest of the country,” says Mothie. “Everybody knows, just don’t nobody tell the truth: Memphis is where it’s at. Memphis will always be where it’s at. Drag will only get stronger here, despite the BS legislation that’s coming down on everybody.”

A Senate hearing on Tennessee’s anti-drag bill (SB 003) was scheduled for Tuesday, January 31st, after our press deadline. Follow memphisflyer.com for updates.

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A touring exhibition of The Relayer Group

SPORTS By Frank Murtaugh

Remembering “Ren”

e Memphis Tigers plan to honor the late Lorenzen Wright on Saturday.

This Saturday at FedExForum, the late Lorenzen Wright will become the 10th former Memphis Tiger to have his uniform number retired. At hal ime of the Tigers’ game against Tulane, Wright’s 55 will rise to the arena’s ra ers, where it will hang above the court for every Tiger home game to come. ere it will join banners honoring nine other legends who proudly wore blue and gray for Memphis: Forest Arnold, Win Wilfong, Larry Finch, Ronnie Robinson, Larry Kenon, John Gunn, Keith Lee, Elliot Perry, and Penny Hardaway. Wright’s ceremony will be the rst to retire a Tiger’s number since March 2014, when the program honored Kenon.

Beyond the Mid-South, Lorenzen Wright is as famous for his tragic passing as for his exploits on the basketball court.

In July 2010, a little over a year since he played his nal NBA game, Wright was shot to death in a eld in east Shelby County, the victim of a scheme orchestrated by his ex-wife, who is now serving a 30-year prison sentence. ( e man who pulled the trigger is serving a life sentence.) He le behind six children and thousands upon thousands of fans from his days with the Tigers and, later, the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

A graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Wright joined the Tiger program a er a down season (13-16) in 1993-94. An immediate starter for coach Larry Finch, Wright brought a ferocity to basketball at e Pyramid unlike many Tigers before him. (Did players scream a er dunks before Lorenzen Wright?) He averaged a double-double that season, pacing Memphis in both scoring (14.8 points per game) and rebounds (10.1). Best of all, he helped the Tigers reach the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16, drubbing archrival Louisville in the rst round. A er another double-double campaign

as a sophomore (17.4 and 10.4 rebounds), Wright entered the NBA dra and was chosen with the seventh pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.

To date, no former Tiger has played in more NBA games than Lorenzen Wright’s 778. And while Wright suited up for ve teams as a pro, he played more games with the new-to-town Memphis Grizzlies (336) than any other. He remains seventh in Grizzlies history with 2,386 rebounds. Wright’s banner will be the only one that could be le up on a Grizzlies game night and still feel appropriate.

Only 34 years old at the time of his murder, Wright deserved a better fate. He was and is a beloved Memphian, still one of only two Tiger players to appear on the cover of Memphis magazine. (Keith Lee is the other. Finch and Hardaway each graced the cover, but not until they were coaching the program.) Saturday a ernoon will be a special moment in the history of a proud basketball program, and even more special for those who love and remember the one and only Lorenzen Wright.

• e Tigers won’t be able to stop with 10 retired numbers. Among the players honored, none played for the program since Wright appeared in his last college game 27 years ago. Andre Turner (number 10) should join his teammate Lee in the ra ers, his career assists total (763) not so much as approached since the Little General’s last game in 1986. e university must also nd a way to recognize at least one player from the extraordinary four-year period from 2005-06 to 2008-09 when the Tigers reached at least the Sweet 16 every season. I’ve long advocated the retirement of number 5 for Antonio Anderson. He played for all four of those teams and is the only player in Memphis history to compile 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. Anderson also played in more games (150) than any other Tiger, a record unlikely to be matched in the near future.

PHOTO: MEMPHIS MAGAZINE Memphis magazine February 1996 Cover

Live music at

steppin’ out Literature Is Liberating

We Recommend: Culture, News + Reviews

By Abigail Morici

is Saturday, Crosstown Concourse and Cafe Noir will present Memphis’ rst-ever Literature Is Liberating Festival, a free, communitywide festival celebrating Black voices in literature. e event, which is open to all ages, will feature vendors, author discussions, panels, and activities and readings for kids.

“ e mission,” Jasmine Settles, owner of Cafe Noir, explains, “is to enrich the community through literature by upli ing the mind, nourishing the body, and liberating the spirit.” And that same mission carries within her cafe/bookstore, set to open this summer, which will focus on books by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors. “ e main goal is to highlight marginalized voices, … to kind of give folks the space to be able to explore these authors and explore marginalized voices because o entimes the content that’s presented to us in school leads us to be kind of bored and uninterested [without diverse voices to capture imaginations and re ect di erent backgrounds].”

As such, Settles, who rediscovered the importance of diverse storytelling while pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Memphis, wants to spark this interest in the community. “Memphis has one of the lowest literacy rates in Tennessee. I wanna get folks more involved with reading literature and ways that we can improve our community through doing so.”

e festival on Saturday will feature a spoken word performance by local poet Nubia Yasin, reading from her recently released collection of poetry e Blood and Body. “It’s a self-portrait,” Yasin says of her collection. “It’s about love and all its shadows, and how I learned that from my family. … It deals a lot with the theme of home and what that means and what that looks like, who are the players in like this thing called home.” is will be the rst time Yasin will be able to speak publicly about her book, and she will be accompanied by musician Desire during the performance.

Also, on the festival’s schedule, is a performance by Hattiloo eatre and a panel on African-American literature, presented by professors Jacqueline Trimble, Shelby Crosby, and Terrence Tucker. Plus, Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, will discuss her writings on Wells in conjunction with an Indie Memphis screening of the documentary Facing Down Storms: Memphis and the Making of Ida B. Wells. Indie Memphis will also screen 1970’s Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris, a portrait of the writer during his time abroad.

Meanwhile, young writers and readers can take part in a reading and a writing workshop with Ali Manning, a food scientist whose rst book Can I Play with My Food? was published in early 2022. Librarians from Memphis Public Libraries will also make an appearance for readings, and a free cra -making station will be open throughout the day in the Central Atrium. For more information and a full schedule, visit crosstownconcourse.com/events.

LITERATURE IS LIBERATING FESTIVAL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY

“ e Ecstasy of In uence: Mid-South Artists Centering the Margins”

Clough-Hanson Gallery, Rhodes College, on display through March 10 Mentors and students, Mid-South natives and travelers, queer, Latinx, Chicano, nonbinary, Asian American, Black — the artists in this show are incredibly diverse, and all work with a commitment to express the richness of their identity. is commitment is steadfast, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that their identities are historically marginalized in the region.

e show features work by Ahmad George, Maritza Dávila, Tommy Kha, Richard Lou, and D’Angelo Lovell Williams. e work of this intergenerational, interconnected group draws attention to the diverse communities that have called the Mid-South home.

Morris & Mollye Fogelman

International Jewish Film Festival

Memphis Jewish Community Center, ursday, February 2-March 2

e J presents its 9th year of the Morris and Mollye Fogelman International Jewish Film Festival, with screenings on select dates through March 2nd.

Opening night, February 2nd, 7 p.m., kicks o with iMordecai, a heart-warming movie based on a true story, in which Holocaust survivor Mordecai, while living in Miami, embraces the new technology of his iPhone. What ensues is an upli ing comedy and a love letter to the city of Miami.

Next up on the lineup is Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen on February 5th.

Find the full schedule at jccmemphis.com. Tickets are $7 per screening or $49 for a series pass.

Comedian Poundcake: 10 Hilarious Commandments

e Halloran Centre, Saturday, February 4, 7 p.m., $55-$75 Demario “Comedian Poundcake” Hollowell grew up in the Raleigh neighborhood in Memphis and has been making people laugh his whole life. In school, he was able to make the entire class laugh, including faculty and sta , at his alma mater, Raleigh-Egypt High School. Although he knew he was the wittiest of all, he never thought that he would one day make a living as a comedian.

Now, Poundcake’s positive, observational comedy and distinctive, relatable point of view will be center stage for his annual birthday comedy show in Memphis.

PHOTO: JAMIE HARMON Nubia Yasin

MUSIC By Alex Greene

Got You Found

In 2018, we named Got You Found, by Marcella & Her Lovers, as one of the best albums of the year, writing that Marcella Simien’s “singing propels the whole thing through Afro-pop, funk, and soul,” not to mention her Louisiana Creole background. And it is indeed a stylistic grab-bag, both sprawling and somehow rooted. As a self-released CD, it was not on many listeners’ radars, but now, thanks to Black & Wyatt Records, the album has found a new life as a vinyl LP. While the singer/songwriter — daughter of zydeco star Terrance Simien — prepares to celebrate the album’s manifestation on wax with a listening party (February 9th at the Memphis Listening Lab) and a release show (February 10th at Bar DKDC), she’s taken a moment to re ect on how it came to be, how much of it still rings true, and how far she’s come since then.

on this project. Pete got some of my best vocal takes outta me! I was a little sponge soaking up everything I could possibly learn about how to properly compose songs. But once it was all said and done, we didn’t have enough to press vinyl. So last spring, Cole Wheeler, who’s working with Black & Wyatt records, reached out and asked if I’d be interested in putting a record out.

ose songs have aged well. Five years down the road, you’re still performing most of that material, aren’t you? Oh yeah! I really feel like they have aged well, and hearing it on vinyl was so emotional. I was getting to revisit this story and this person that I was ve years ago. It’s coming full circle in a beautiful way, and I totally cried like a baby. You know, when you hear it on wax for the rst time, it’s like hearing it in the studio again.

You speak of revisiting the album’s story. What is that story?

Memphis Flyer: Your album has been around for years now. How strange it must feel to be celebrating its release a er all this time.

Marcella Simien: It’s been a long time coming. What was incredible was that it was totally crowd-sourced. We raised $13,000 dollars on an Indiegogo campaign in 2017 and we used every bit of it. I paid the musicians for every day they were in the studio. Toby Vest and Pete Matthews [of High/Low Recording] did such a great job. I brought Toby very rough demos and relied so much on his guidance and that of [bassist] Landon Moore — and all the incredible musicians and vocalists

For a lot of those songs, the writing started in my early twenties, so some discovery and relationship issues were dealt with in a lot of those lyrics. But I didn’t want it to be just about me. I was looking at it as a way to honor my ancestry. So I inscribed on the vinyl that it was dedicated to my paternal grandparents. I used my grandfather’s voice on the end of the song, “Creole Cowboy.” I wanted to touch on my Creole connection and the e ect that their lives, their struggles, had on me. ey both came from big families, working on a farm, raising cattle, making their own soap, and living o the land. ose stories and the French they would speak in the household, where I spent a lot of time as a kid, made me who I am in so many ways. I wanted to touch on that deep connection I have with Louisiana and my Creole heritage. at’s also expressed in the song “Indian Red,” a cover of a Mardi Gras Indian song. When you’re 25 years old, you have all these ideas of how to tell this great story. And I did the best I could with what I had. Listening now, it’s almost like getting to have a conversation with that person. ere’s so much I wish I could have said to her. I wish she would have had the con dence that I have today. But it’s cool to know that she was still strong enough to make this album happen and to be vulnerable. Because some of the relationship stu was hard to write about and go through at the time. And I did it anyway! And it felt good.

PHOTO: KEVIN C. EVANS Marcella Simien

Marcella Simien rediscovers her younger self with album release.

AFTER DARK: Live Music Schedule February 2 - 8

Gunnar with Music by Kota and Massey Lane

$10-$12. Monday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.

GROWLERS

Canaan Cox

Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m.

TIN ROOF

Chad Perry

Friday, Feb. 3, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.

TIN ROOF

Cody Clark

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 5:30 p.m.

TIN ROOF

Frankie Valli Greatest

Hits e original Jersey boy

himself, Frankie Valli is a true American legend. $64.50-$175. ursday, Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m.

THE ORPHEUM

Mike Hart

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 5:30 p.m.

TIN ROOF

Naomi Taylor

Saturday, Feb. 4, 3:15 p.m.;

Sunday, Feb. 5, 3:30 p.m.

TIN ROOF

Roxi Love

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m.

TIN ROOF

Pulse-Tribute to Pink

Floyd

$10. Saturday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m.

NEIL’S MUSIC ROOM

Airshow, Graber Grayass

Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

Alexis Jade and the Gemstones, Dandelion

Williams

$10. Friday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.

MEMPHIS CURRENT

Almost Elton John & the Rocketmen

Friday, Feb. 3, 10 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Breeze Cayolle & New Orleans

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Chrora Album Release

Show

Saturday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

Clot with Autolith, Korroded and Seeing Hell

$15. Friday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.

GROWLERS

Deep Roots

Sunday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Forever Loving Marley

Featuring CCDE, Kween

Jasira, Sypha, JParris, Black Cream, Yubu & the Ancient Youth, and Moses Crouch.

Hosted by: PHATMACK. $20.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 6-11 p.m.

RAILGARTEN

HEELS, SPACER, Kristin Lytie

ursday, Feb. 2, 8:15 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

Ibex Clone Album Release with Hartle Road & Elf Rage

$10. Saturday, Feb. 4, 8:3011:30 p.m.

B-SIDE

Jake Blount

$20. Sunday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.

THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS

James and the Ultrasounds with Turnstyles

Friday, Feb. 3, 9 p.m.

BAR DKDC

Lemon’s with Rigometrics and the Afternooners

$10. Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.

GROWLERS

Logan Hannah, Art Edmaiston

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 8:30 p.m.

HI TONE

Lucky 7 Brass Band

Saturday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Marauda: Rage Room

Tour

$25-$30. ursday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m.

GROWLERS

Open Genre

A DJ mix session curated by NYCELYFE. Free. Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.

MARSHALL ARTS GALLERY

Rodell McCord Band

Friday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Royal Blues Band Jam

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM

Dionne Warwick

An evening lled with music from the iconic Dionne Warwick, e Bar-Kays, and Memphis’ next generation of musical legends.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 5 p.m.

SCHEIDT FAMILY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The Stolen Faces

Friday, Feb. 3, 10 p.m.

B-SIDE

The Wirms III LP Release Party

Friday, Feb. 3, 9 p.m.

LAMPLIGHTER LOUNGE

Tonya Dyson & the Ainitmanes

$5. Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30-10 p.m.

THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS

Trash Panda, Demonfuck

$10. Sunday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m.

GROWLERS

Sun Not Yellow with SPACER and Magnum

Dopus

Saturday, Feb. 4, 7-11 p.m.

YOUNG AVENUE DELI

Supersuckers with Slamhound & JGM

Saturday, Feb. 4, 9 p.m.

HI TONE

Surfwax, Lipstick Stains, Seize & Desist

Sunday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m.

HI TONE

TANGELA

Featuring Spek (Was Here) and DJ set by STH MEMPHIS JEFF.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS

Tennessee Songwriters

Week

Friday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.

HI TONE

America

Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m.

HORSESHOE CASINO TUNICA

Cinderella’s Tom Keifer

$30. Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m.

GRACELAND SOUNDSTAGE

Solar Powered Love

$10.

PHOTO: EBRU YILDIZ Neko Case performs at GPAC.

ART AND SPECIAL EXHIBITS

“2023 Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards”

Exhibition featuring more than 135 artworks by school youth. Through Feb. 19.

MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART

“Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine”

Learn how AI touches lives — now and in the future.

Through May 6.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY

“Black Alchemy: Backwards/Forwards

Revisited”

A solo exhibition by photographer Aaron Turner that explores the depths of music through visual art. Through March 18.

TONE

“Jeanne Seagle: Of This Place”

Jeanne Seagle’s perceptive drawings portray the landscapes surrounding Memphis with a remarkable precision.

Through April 9.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

“Jet Lag”

An exhibition of works from the artists comprising the art

collection at Concourse B. Through Feb. 24.

THE MARTHA AND ROBERT FOGELMAN

GALLERIES OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS

“Never Done Making History”

Installation highlighting the legendary Tennessee State University’s (TSU) Tigerbelles track team. Through Feb. 28.

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

“Salmon Skin Fried … and Other Delicacies”

Exhibition of work by Sharon Havelka.Through Feb. 25.

BEVERLY + SAM ROSS GALLERY

“Young Gifted & Dope”

A Lyfe is DOPE x Alive Paint collaboration. Through Feb. 14.

MARSHALL ARTS GALLERY

ART HAPPENINGS

Exhibition Opening Party: “As It Is, As It Could Be”

Featuring new paintings by Ethiopian artist Dereje Demissie.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

UREVBU CONTEMPORARY

Gallery Opening Night: “Cozy”

An evening of music by rapper/artist Yimbo and DJ African thunder, food, beverages

and art by local artists. Friday, Feb. 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

ARROW CREATIVE

Love Will Tear Us Apart

A Valentine’s Day market for the lovers and broken-hearted.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 1-7 p.m.

MEMPHIS MADE BREWING COMPANY

“When Arrows Meet”

Opening Reception

Exhibition by Nick Canterucci.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 6-9 p.m.

MEDICINE FACTORY

BOOK EVENTS

Literature Is Liberating Literary festival celebrating Black authors and African American literature. Free. Saturday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE

Romance Round-Up

Get the inside scoop on what’s hot for 2023 romance novels! $5. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 6 p.m.

NOVEL

Send the date, time, place, cost, info, phone number, a brief description, and photos — two weeks in advance — to calendar@memphisflyer.com.

DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, ONGOING WEEKLY EVENTS WILL APPEAR IN THE FLYER’S ONLINE CALENDAR ONLY. FOR COMPREHENSIVE EVENT LISTINGS, VISIT EVENTS.MEMPHISFLYER.COM/CAL

Urevbu presents a solo exhibition featuring new paintings by Ethiopian artist Dereje Demissie, on display through February 1st.

COMMUNITY

6th Annual Love Yourself Event benefiting the S.O. What! Foundation

Unlimited wine and beverages, a meal prepared by a local chef, live music, empowering speakers, pampering services, and more. $50. Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6-10 p.m.

HATTILOO THEATRE

COMEDY

Comedian Poundcake

One of the hottest and most versatile comedians on the circuit today. $55-$75. Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.

THE HALLORAN CENTRE

Rickey Smiley

Comedy legend and entertainment mogul. $50-$70. Saturday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m.

THE ORPHEUM

12th Annual Wine for Wishes

Enjoy great wine, fabulous food, live music, and a silent auction, all to benefit local children with critical illnesses. $100. Friday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.

THE CADRE BUILDING

Bluff City Fire & Ice

Join the fun at the 16th Annual Chili Cook-off and 24th Annual Polar Bear Plunge to

continued on page 16

continued from page 15

bene t the Special Olympics of Greater Memphis. Saturday, Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m.

SIMMONS BANK LIBERTY STADIUM

Cirque du CMOM in Wonderland

Party for a cause, with an evening of dining, dancing, and other fanciful delights. $125.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MEMPHIS

Practicing with Playback: Non-Judging

Learn how to silence your inner critic. $5-$15.

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER

Renters’ Rights Workshop Series ese workshops will educate renters on their rights. Free. Saturday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

SEXTON COMMUNITY CENTER

Tu Bishvat Community Day

Join the Dixon for the Jewish celebration of the Birthday of the Trees Sunday, Feb. 5, 1-4 p.m.

THE DIXON GALLERY & GARDENS

FAMILY

Celebrate Black Artists

Students will learn about Alma Woodsey omas. $30. Saturday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m.-noon.

ARROW CREATIVE

The

Jurassic Quest

e largest and most realistic traveling dinosaur experience in North America. Friday, Feb. 3, 8 a.m.

AGRICENTER INTERNA-

TIONAL

FESTIVAL

Honey Music Festival

Celebrate the grand opening of the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center with an incredibly diverse lineup of performances, interactive concerts, and musical activities. Free. Sunday, Feb. 5, 1-4 p.m.

SCHEIDT FAMILY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

FILM

Alma’s Rainbow

A coming-of-age comedy/drama about three Black women living in Brooklyn. $5. ursday, Feb. 2, 7-9 p.m.

CROSSTOWN THEATER

Crossword

Nick Canterucci’s

ers in the world. $35. Saturday, Feb. 4, 4 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.

“When

Arrows Meet” will be on display

February 4th18th at the Medicine Factory.

Dark City

A screening in honor of the 25th anniversary of this deliciously paranoid dystopian noir. 18+. Free. Friday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

Shoot & Splice: Short Film Case Studies

A case study of the 2022 Indie Memphis Film Festival award-winning short lms, “Nordo” and “What We’ll Never Know.” Free. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m.

CROSSTOWN THEATER

PERFORMING ARTS

Cirque Zuma Zuma

e ultimate circus, featuring the best entertain-

Edited by Will Shortz No. 1206

BUCKMAN ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL

Mark Nizer: Live 4D Show

One of the world’s most famous jugglers, Mark Nizer brings his unpredictable mix of comedy, mesmerizing music, and technology. $15. ursday, Feb. 2, 3:30 p.m.

MEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Rise is hallmark ballet is set to Dr. King’s nal public speech. $10-$50. Saturday, Feb. 4-Feb. 5 CANNON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

SPECIAL EVENTS

Lunar New Year Banquet

Celebrate 150 years of Chinese history in Memphis with a 10-course banquet dinner, lion dance show, live music performance, and honored guest speakers. $60-$100. Sunday, Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m.

DIM SUM KING

Papa Chubb’s Lonely Heart’s Club! Get in your feelings with Papa Chubb and his sexy, sparkly friends for a heart-stopping evening of singing, dancing, burlesque, and more! $25. Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.

BLACK LODGE

Sweet Street - First Friday

Get your $5 punch card and sample mouth watering treats from local retailers. Free. Friday, Feb. 3, 5-8 p.m.

BROAD AVENUE ARTS DISTRICT

SPORTS

Memphis vs. Tulane

Saturday, Feb. 4, 1 p.m.

FEDEXFORUM

NBA Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m.

FEDEXFORUM

NBA Memphis Grizzlies vs. Toronto Raptors

Sunday, Feb. 5, 5 p.m.

FEDEXFORUM

THEATER

Cyrano de Bergerac

Rostand’s Cyrano is a hero whose depth of love, humor, courage, and vulnerability belies his outward appearance. But will his secret love, Roxanne, recognize this before it’s too late? ursday, Feb. 2-Feb. 19.

TENNESSEE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

Escaped Alone

Caryl Churchill’s convention-defying play juxtaposes backyard tea with environmental disaster, exploring themes of politics, crisis, communication, and culture. rough Feb. 5.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Macbeth

e powerful and dramatic William Shakespeare tragedy ascends to the stage at eatre Memphis. $25. Friday, Feb. 3-Feb. 19.

THEATRE MEMPHIS

Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery is timeless coming-of-age tale explores passage into womanhood, race and rituals in the 1960s South. $30-$35. rough Feb. 26.

HATTILOO THEATRE

The Scottsboro Boys

A retelling of the landmark trial of nine falsely accused black teenagers. is case would eventually give rise to the Civil Rights Movement. rough Feb. 19.

PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE

WIT

Vivian Bearing has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer and comes to reassess her life and her work as a professor with a profundity and humor that are transformative both for her and the audience. rough Feb. 5.

GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY THEATRE

PUZZLE

SOPHIA MAYMUDES

By the editors at Andrews McMeel Syndication

Unclear on the Concept

When prosecutors went to court in Prince George, British Columbia, in a case involving a nightclub flouting Covid-19 restrictions last February, they thought their argument was airtight, the CBC reported on Dec. 7. They had video from Lambda Cabaret that had been posted to Facebook showing patrons dancing and drinking with nary a mask in sight. The club even bragged about their disobedience: “Open with zero mandates 2 weeks in a row,” it posted. But Judicial Justice Brent Adair saw it differently. “There are so many holes in this case — it’s like someone shot a shotgun,” he said. For one thing, he asked, “What is a social media post?” “These are posts that Lambda Cabaret made on Facebook,” environmental health officer Joey Cheng answered. “How do you know they made them on Facebook?” Adair asked. “Ummmm … it was on their Facebook page,” Cheng replied. Adair explained he’s not a “technical person”: “I know Facebook exists. I don’t use Facebook. What is it? What does it show?” He ended up dismissing all the charges against Lambda Cabaret, citing hearsay and questioning why video evidence was relevant. Might be time to brush up, Your Honor. [CBC, 12/7/2022]

Phoenix police officer Christian Goggans, who had been assigned to home duty, took advantage of the situation by dedicating more hours to his porn career, KOLD-TV reported. Goggans is facing an internal investigation after he allegedly traveled back and forth to Las Vegas while on the clock to produce and star in pornographic videos. He posted the films to a public Twitter page using his “stage” name, Rico Blaze (which has since been made private). A Phoenix PD public information officer said Goggans’ work-from-home assignment required only that he call in once daily. [KOLD, 12/12/2022]

Who Knew?

In June 2023, people in South Korea will suddenly become younger, the BBC reported. On Dec. 8, the South Korean parliament voted to switch from two traditional methods of counting age to the more widely recognized international method for official documents. Currently, Koreans are 1 year old at birth and then gain

another year on the first day of each following year. An alternate method has them at 0 upon birth, then adding a year each Jan. 1. So, for example, someone born on Dec. 31, 2002, is 20 years old using the international method. But under Korea’s traditional methods, they might be 21 or 22 years old. One member of parliament said the change would reduce “unnecessary socioeconomic costs because legal and social disputes as well as confusion persist due to the different ways of calculating age.” [BBC, 12/8/2022]

Your Tax Dollars at Work

Someone aboard the USNS Yuma, a Navy transport ship moored on the Greek island of Crete, is having a superior bathroom experience, thanks to the installation of the Bio Bidet BB-1000, The Washington Free Beacon reported on Dec. 12. At a cool $553, the BB-1000 offers a heated seat, blow dryer, remote control, deodorizer, and an “effective enema function,” which a retailer called “the absolute strongest spray pressure of any electronic bidet seat on the market.” The Military Sealift Command confirmed the purchase but declined to offer more details.

[Washington Free Beacon, 12/12/2022]

Different From Us

In Japan, a phenomenon known as rojo-ne — literally, sleeping on the road — is once again becoming a hazard as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and people are out partying more, reported The Guardian. The number of deaths of snoozing partiers has nearly doubled in Tokyo compared to last year, police say, and they’re worried that the impending end-of-year celebrations will only add to the problem. Officials have also asked taxi drivers and others to drive with their high beams on and slow down. [Guardian, 12/14/2022]

© 2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication. Reprinted with permission.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Theoretically, you could offer to help a person who doesn’t like you. You could bring a gourmet vegan meal to a meat-eater or pay a compliment to a bigot. I suppose you could even sing beautiful love songs to annoyed passersby or recite passages from great literature to an 8-year-old immersed in his video game. But there are better ways to express your talents and dispense your gifts — especially now, when it’s crucial for your longterm mental health that you offer your blessings to recipients who will use them best and appreciate them most.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In esoteric astrology, Taurus rules the third eye. Poetically speaking, this is a subtle organ of perception, a sixth sense that sees through mere appearances and discerns the secret or hidden nature of things. Some people are surprised to learn about this theory. Doesn’t traditional astrology say that you Bulls are sober and well-grounded? Here’s the bigger view: The penetrating vision of an evolved Taurus is potent because it peels away superficial truths and uncovers deeper truths. Would you like to tap into more of this potential superpower? The coming weeks will be a good time to do so.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The ingredient you would need to fulfill the next stage of a fun dream is behind door #1. Behind door #2 is a vision of a creative twist you could do but haven’t managed yet. Behind door #3 is a clue that might help you achieve more disciplined freedom than you’ve known before. Do you think I’m exaggerating? I’m not. Here’s the catch: You may be able to open only one door before the magic spell wears off — unless you enlist the services of a consultant, ally, witch, or guardian angel to help you bargain with fate to provide even more of the luck that may be available.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I trust you are mostly ready for the educational adventures and experiments that are possible. The uncertainties that accompany them, whether real or imagined, will bring out the best in you. For optimal results, you should apply your nighttime thinking to daytime activities, and vice versa. Wiggle free of responsibilities unless they teach you noble truths. And finally, summon the intuitive powers that will sustain you and guide you through the brilliant shadow initiations. (PS: Take the wildest rides you dare as long as they are safe.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Fate has decreed, “Leos must be wanderers for a while.” You are under no obligation to obey this mandate, of course. Theoretically, you could resist it. But if you do indeed rebel, be sure your willpower is very strong. You will get away with outsmarting or revising fate

only if your discipline is fierce and your determination is intense. Okay? So let’s imagine that you will indeed bend fate’s decree to suit your needs. What would that look like? Here’s one possibility: The “wandering” you undertake can be done in the name of focused exploration rather than aimless meandering.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I wish I could help you understand and manage a situation that has confused you. I’d love to bolster your strength to deal with substitutes that have been dissipating your commitment to the Real Things. In a perfect world, I could emancipate you from yearnings that are out of sync with your highest good. And maybe I’d be able to teach you to dissolve a habit that has weakened your willpower. And why can’t I be of full service to you in these ways? Because, according to my assessment, you have not completely acknowledged your need for this help. So neither I nor anyone else can provide it. But now that you’ve read this horoscope, I’m hoping you will make yourself more receptive to the necessary support and favors and relief.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I can’t definitively predict you will receive an influx of cash in the next three weeks. It’s possible, though. And I’m not able to guarantee you’ll be the beneficiary of free lunches and unexpected gifts. But who knows? They could very well appear. Torrents of praise and appreciation may flow, too, though trickles are more likely. And there is a small chance of solicitous gestures coming your way from sexy angels and cute maestros. What I can promise you for sure, however, are fresh eruptions of savvy in your brain and sagacity in your heart. Here’s your keynote, as expressed by the Queen of Sheba 700 years ago: “Wisdom is sweeter than honey, brings more joy than wine, illumines more than the sun, is more precious than jewels.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your assignment, Scorpio, is to cultivate a closer relationship with the cells that comprise your body. They are alive! Speak to them as you would to a beloved child or animal. In your meditations and fantasies, bless them with tender wishes. Let them know how grateful you are for the grand collaboration you have going, and affectionately urge them to do what’s best for all concerned. For you Scorpios, February is Love and Care for Your Inner Creatures Month.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Revamped and refurbished things are coming back for another look. Retreads and redemption-seekers are headed in your direction. I think you should consider giving them an audience. They are likely to be more fun or interesting or useful during their second time around. Dear Sagittari-

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.

18): “I want to raise up the magic world all round me and live strongly and quietly there,” wrote Aquarian author Virginia Woolf in her diary. What do you think she meant by “raise up the magic world all round me”? More importantly, how would you raise up the magic world around you? Meditate fiercely and generously on that tantalizing project. The coming weeks will be an ideal time to attend to such a wondrous possibility. You now have extra power to conjure up healing, protection, inspiration, and mojo for yourself.

us, I suspect that the imminent future may also invite you to consider the possibility of accepting stand-ins and substitutes and imitators. They may turn out to be better than the so-called real things they replace. In conclusion, be receptive to Plan Bs, second choices, and alternate routes. They could lead you to the exact opportunities you didn’t know you needed.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Author Neil Gaiman declared, “I’ve never known anyone who was what he or she seemed.” While that may be generally accurate, it will be far less true about you Capricorns in the coming weeks. By my astrological reckoning, you will be very close to what you seem to be. The harmony between your deep inner self and your outer persona will be at record-breaking levels. No one will have to wonder if they must be wary of hidden agendas lurking below your surface. Everyone can be confident that what they see in you is what they will get from you. This is an amazing accomplishment! Congrats!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Before going to sleep, I asked my subconscious mind to bring a dream that would be helpful for you. Here’s what it gave me: In my dream, I was reading a comic book titled Zoe Stardust Quells Her Demon. On the first page, Zoe was facing a purple monster whose body was beastly but whose face looked a bit like hers. On page two, the monster chased Zoe down the street, but Zoe escaped. In the third scene, the monster was alone, licking its fur. In the fourth scene, Zoe sneaked up behind the monster and shot it with a blow dart that delivered a sedative, knocking it unconscious. In the final panel, Zoe had arranged for the monster to be transported to a lush uninhabited island where it could enjoy its life without bothering her. Now here’s my dream interpretation, Pisces: Don’t directly confront your inner foe or nagging demon. Approach stealthily and render it inert. Then banish it from your sphere, preferably forever.

FOOD By Michael Donahue

Another New Tops

Tops Bar-B-Q opens its 17th location — and unveils a new sign.

Tops Bar-B-Q will open a new location in early February. It will be the 17th location for the more than 70-year-old Memphis-based restaurant.

And, as a native Memphian who grew up with Tops, I’m excited more locations are opening.

e restaurants have a new sign, which I love. It’s perfect. e new sign is based on the old pig drawing that graces the side of the Tops at 3353 Summer Avenue.

e new location will be at 4199 Hacks Cross Road, where the old Steak ’n Shake used to be, says Hunter Brown with Tops Operations LLC.

just updated it with backlit red LED lighting. It spells out ‘Tops.’ e LED sign underneath says ‘Bar-B-Q & Burgers.’”

e Tops hamburger needs to be given its props since I, along with a lot of other people, consider it to be the best hamburger in Memphis.

“We never called out burgers before,” Brown says. “When there’s room for it, it’s ‘Slow Smoked Bar-B-Q and Award-Winning Burgers.’ But when it’s shortened up for space purposes, we call it our ‘Bar-B-Q & Burgers’ every chance we get.’”

I asked Brown if they were going to introduce any new menu items this year. I’m constantly getting a craving for the restaurant’s new Fire Braised Chicken Sandwich. at’s my goto — along with the Tops turkey burger — at least once a week or so.

e restaurant location is “o cially still in Memphis,” he says. “We’re so excited to be on that side. It’s the furthest east we are. It’s going to service Germantown, Collierville, East Memphis, FedEx headquarters. We’ve been looking hard to get over in that part of town to make it more convenient for our guests.”

As for that new sign, Brown says this is only the second time the sign has evolved since 1952. “Some of our stores needed a refresh.”

In addition to the interior, they also wanted to refresh the outside.

e original signage was a pig standing on a toy top. at sign can still be found at the Summer-National Tops. But the pig they used for the new sign is the large one on the side of that location. And that’s a Summer Avenue landmark, as far as I’m concerned. “ at restaurant has been there for over 60 years, and that pig is in the oldest pictures I’ve ever seen.”

And, he adds, that pig sign is also “in the original architectural drawing” for that Tops location.

“We used the original pig. We

“ is year we plan on launching two limited time o ers that are scheduled. But we’re still working through the priority of those two as to what is missing and what guests are asking for the most.”

Some Tops items currently are only available on its catering menu. ese include a sausage and cheese plate. By the way, that pulled chicken on their new sandwich is now being used in more ways at Tops, Brown says. “Chicken evolved. Now you can get it on the nachos. You can get chicken nachos in place of pork. You can get it as a plate. at’s now an option. at’s brisket, pork, ribs, or chicken plate.”

All these Tops changes — outside, inside, and in the kitchen — aren’t taken lightly, Brown says. “ ese changes, albeit big or small, there’s a lot of thought that goes into it. And at the end of the day, the answer has to be very clear: Is it good for the guests? With every single thing we think about, if that’s not a resounding ‘Yes,’ then we don’t do it. No matter what we think. We’re not going to change for the sake of change.

“ ere’s a reason this company has thrived for 70 years. And we’re not going to take a chance.”

PHOTO: DYLAN DUNN Michael Donahue at Tops

By Chris McCoy

The Banality of Evil

e four videos of Memphis Police beating Tyre Nichols reveal dark truths.

The camera never lies,” the old saying goes. But really, the lies cameras tell are lies of omission. e lmmaker chooses to show the well-lit movie star, not the scru y ga er holding the light. In past videos of police brutality, such as the 1991 Rodney King beating and the 2020 murder of George Floyd, police apologists insisted that exonerating evidence was, like the scru y ga er, just o screen.

Video 2, Video 4, Video 3, and Video 1 leave little ambiguity for bad faith actors to exploit. ey present the murder of Tyre Nichols in multiple angles with minimal editing. Video 1 is the body camera of a white o cer who rolls up on Nichols’ car stopped in a le turn lane on Raines Road. It is not immediately obvious that the two vehicles hemming Nichols in on the front and le side are unmarked police cars. e rst intelligible words in the video are a Memphis Police o cer screaming, “You gonna get your ass blown the fuck up!”

What is clear from Video 1 is that

Tyre Nichols presented no threat. Once he gures out these are real cops and not carjackers, he desperately tries to deescalate the situation. “You guys are really doing a lot right now,” he says. “I’m just trying to go home.”

But it’s no use. ese agents of the state are looking for a bit of fun at Nichols’ expense.“Lay down!” one cops yells.

“I’m already on the ground!” pleads Nichols, who is at this point completely under the control of 600 pounds worth of MPD. “I’m not doing anything!”

“Spray him.”

As camera cop fumbles with his taser, another cop tries to pepper spray Nichols. Instead, the chemical weapon blinds his fellow o cers. In the confusion, Nichols sees his chance and runs.

It’s a rational choice, since the MPD has made it clear to Nichols that there is no level of compliance he could demonstrate that will stop them from torturing him in the turn lane. It’s well-known in Memphis that if you run from the cops, they’ll give you a whooping when they catch you.“You got any charges on him?”

the dispatcher asks over the radio. No one answers, because there are no charges. ey’re just hunting him for sport.

“I sprayed myself,” says a bearded cop.

“Shit, you sprayed me too!” says camera cop. “I hope they stomp his ass.”

Nichols ees into the suburban neighborhood where his mother lives. Coincidentally, the corner where the cops catch him is in view of a SkyCop camera.

e angle of Video 2 is eerily similar to the angle of the Rodney King video. It provides an unobstructed view of Mem-

I Saw

CREDIT: CITY OF MEMPHIS

An unnamed Memphis Police o cer smiles as EMTs examine Tyre Nichols. ree days later, Nichols died of injuries in icted by members of the Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit.

phis Police o cers, enraged by their own incompetence, taking turns beating Tyre Nichols to death.

e lenses of the two body cameras in Video 3 and Video 4 are obscured

Chris McCoy

at crucial moments in ways that look deliberate, but they record the sound of Nichols crying out for his mother, and one police officer gleefully declaring, “I’m gonna baton the fuck out of you!”

The only area this “elite squad” is welltrained in is how to safely use the state’s monopoly on violence to their advantage. The cops chant, “Give me your hands!” as an incantation to invoke qualified immunity. They are performing for the body cameras, giving viewers — and the courts — permission to blame the victim.

As horrifying as the violence is, the banality of what follows is even more disturbing. One cop props Nichols up on the side of a car to take a trophy picture of his handiwork. When the braindamaged Nichols manages to slur some words, one of the cops who damaged

his brain accuses him of being “high as a motherfucker.” Another killer cop brags about throwing “haymakers” at the restrained civilian. The EMTs whose duty it is to render aid to Nichols instead treat him with depraved indifference.

Rumors have circulated that Tyre Nichols was targeted by a cop with a grudge. But that’s just wishful thinking. The truth revealed by these four videos is far worse. Amid all the horror, the image that sticks in my mind is of a Memphis police officer who arrives late to the scene. He sees Nichols, bloody and broken, and he grins. The cops of the SCORPION unit were doing the job they were hired to do: controlling a subject population through violence and terror. They were bros celebrating a win.

901-575-9400

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needed at Terminix International Company, L.P. in Memphis, TN. Must have bach in Comp Sci or related & 5 yrs’ exp, including: Microsoft Azure Cloud (Compute, DevOps Pipelines) & AWS (EC2, ELB, S3, Lamda, Dynamo Db) technologies; Writing API’s & microservices & containerize them using Docker containers; XML, Json, Javascript, HTML5; MS Visual Studio, MS Code, SQL Management Studio, GIT/TFS. Must also have 2 yrs’ exp w/ the following: Microsoft.Net & Net Core, C#, MVC; Designing & writing proc’s using MS SQL 2008+; Writing Test automation scripts using Provar; Using XML paths for automating testing scripts; NoSQL & Mongo DB; Writing proc’s in AS400; Developing web sites using .Net &.Netcore. Remote workis an option. Email CVs to applications@terminix.com.

EOE - M/F/D/V.

SR. SALESFORCE

DEVELOPER

needed at Terminix International Company, L.P. in Memphis, TN. Must have bach in Comp Sci or related & 5 years of Salesforce exp, including: Configuring & managing Salesforce Field Service Lightning, Service Cloud, Sales Cloud & Marketing Cloud w/ integration of these Clouds; Apex, Visualforce, Lightning Components, Lightning Web Components, SQL, SOQL, SOSL; Javascript, C#, Jquery, Angular, & Bootstrap; Managing APIs using Net. Must have Salesforce Developer Certification. Remote work is an option. Email CVs to applications@terminix.com.

EOE - M/F/D/V.

SUPPLIER QUALITY

ENGINEER positions offered by ABB Installation Products Inc. (an ABB Company) (Memphis, TN). Drives the supplier qualification prcss & ensures the supply base is & remains fully qualified & compliant. Apply online: www.abb.com/careers

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AUTO

AUTO AUCTION

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2006 Cadillac DTS

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NOTICE OF SALE

THESE ABANDONED VEHICLES

Love What You Do

Perhaps it’s a better mantra than “Do what you love.”

A few weeks ago, a close friend spoke to me about a personal crisis. “I don’t even have a career,” they lamented, getting more and more worked up. is person is only 28 years old. I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a “career” either, and I’m 32.

Over the course of my entire life, I have been told, both implicitly and directly, that one of the ultimate goals in life is to “do what you love.” is has been force-fed to me through o cial sources such as elementary school programs urging, “If you can dream it, you can do it!” I’ve heard it said, in some form or another, from almost every authoritative adult gure in my life. It has been repeated and mantranizied (I’m making up a word, just go with it) by my peers. Facebook posts, o -the-cu comments, and full conversations have all brought home the same ideal.

However, I’ve always had several problems with the idea that success is derived from doing what you love. First, this marginalizes the idea of being successful to one area of your life: work. Relationships, personal growth, and almost every other aspect of life are le by the wayside if you’re using this metric of what it means to be happy.

Furthermore, for many people, such as my friend I mentioned earlier, nding out what you love to do takes time, sometimes even years. “Do what you love” assumes that you already know what you love, which for many people is knowledge that comes from experience. I distinctly remember being made to choose the course of my high school curriculum while I was still in 8th grade. So, as a 14-year-old, I was expected to already know what vocation I would be pursuing as an adult. e importance of the decision was highly emphasized to us, and we made the choice in the same day — the same hour, actually — that we rst heard about it, without time to think or consult with our parents or anyone else, for that matter.

Even for those rare individuals who have always been comfortable with the knowledge of what they’d like to do for work as adults, knowing what you’d like to do and being able to actually do it are two very di erent things. Probably my biggest grievance with the prevalence of the phrase “do what you love” is that it leaves out the reality of privilege. Not everyone is a orded the opportunity to pursue their passions, and that’s not even scratching the surface. I am nowhere near quali ed enough to go into detail on this issue, but I do understand that doing what you love is not simple or even feasible for many people.

I am watching our ideas on work change as I get older, but when I was a kid, the nebulous idea of “work” seemed like the be-all and end-all of what an adult’s life was. In my late twenties, when I worked part-time but was also a stay-at-home mom, I struggled personally for years with the idea of failure. I wasn’t using my college degree, and my job was something I enjoyed, but not anything I was passionate about. Yet, I did get ful llment from taking care of my baby. It was complicated to navigate. e idea of being “successful” was something that never really held much appeal to me, seeming as it did to equate to money almost exclusively. But during that time, I decided that the phrase “love what you do” was a much better mindset for me than “do what you love.” I found enjoyment in what started out as “just” a job because I made the active decision to change the way I looked at it.

Volunteer work, child-rearing, social relationships, romantic relationships, self-care, and personal growth all t under the “love what you do” umbrella that I had created for myself, and working a job that wasn’t my dream didn’t feel like something I needed to feel down about. It seems to me that, while telling people to aim for the stars is all well and good, promoting being content with and celebrating non-work-related achievements is a much healthier way to be. Coco June is a Memphian, mother, and the Flyer’s theater columnist.

PHOTO: KELLY SIKKEMA | UNSPLASH

While many focus on the ideal of “do what you love,” a healthier way to look at it may be simply loving what you do.