By Ezra Wheeler
After a predictably slow January, things are slowly but surely starting to pick up again in the long dormant Bluff City music scene. This month offers a series of great opportunities to get back out on the town and start fulfilling your new year’s resolution to see more live music in 2022 (That was on your list, right?). From up-and-coming local acts to established visiting stars, February has a bit for everyone. Oh, and if you’re still looking for a date night plan for Valentine’s Day, maybe you can find a little inspiration below.
Son.Person’s The Texaco Release Party
Friday, February 4th at 9PM, Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe
Free
While it’s understandable if you aren’t yet familiar with the eclectic music of Son.Person, the precocious young artist has hit the ground running this year with a series of live performances and singles that are starting to cause a strong buzz around town. On Friday, February 4th, he’ll be celebrating the release of his newest single “Texaco”, an infectiously fun love song about high school sweethearts and new experiences. Son.Person, who is only 17, has a sound that pulls from pop, hip-hop, and rock and possesses a sense of confidence that belies his age. He’ll be joined by a group of fellow talented youngins including Blu’ Jay, Jayvoe DaVinci, and Duke Smith.
Legendz of the Streetz Tour
Sunday, February 6th at 7PM, FedEx Forum
$85-$275
Although I admit that it hurts my heart a bit to see rappers that I still consider relevant going on a nostalgia tour like they’re the damn Beach Boys, I’ll just accept my age, dust off my fitted cap and throwback jersey, and get excited for the “Legendz of the Streetz Tour” with grace. A rescheduled show that was originally to take place in October, the concert is set to feature some of the greatest rappers of their time, including Rick Ross, Jeezy, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, and Boosie Badazz. Together, these artists were on the vanguard of our current era of trap and all deserve their flowers. So whether you’re a young whippersnapper who needs to get off of my lawn or an elder Millennial like myself, this promises to be one of the most star-studded shows to come through Memphis this year.
Louise Page Valentine’s Celebration
Saturday, February 12th at 7PM, Black Lodge
$15
Whether you think it’s a beloved romantic holiday about celebrating love or yet another cynical cash grab invented by corporations, the fact of the matter remains: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.. And while this year’s holiday falls on the least romantic day of them all–Monday–the good folks at Black Lodge are providing a great opportunity to snuggle up to the one you love surrounded by some great tunes on the weekend prior. The piano-playing pop princess Louis Page will be headlining the event, with opening performances from Mama Honey and Raneem & Better in Color. So forget those cliche fancy dinner plans and opt for a night of music, romance, and dancing instead.
Coheed and Cambria
Wednesday, February 23rd at 8PM,The Soundstage at Graceland
$32.50
For the uninitiated, the music of Coheed and Cambria can be a bit hard to describe, but just know that for the better part of three decades their heavy prog-rock sound has largely been building into a larger concept based on a science fiction storyline called “The Amory Wars” written by their lead vocalist Claudio Sanchez. Does this sound unbelievably nerdy? Well, I suppose that’s hard to argue with, but their nerdiness is very much in line with legendary bands like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin who preceded them and their musicianship is undeniable. Rife with tight hooks, clever lyrics, and imaginative sounds, the music of Coheed and Cambria must be experienced first-hand to be fully understood.
The Band Camino
Friday, February 25th at 8PM, the OrpheumTheatre
$35-45
Few Memphis artists have seen as meteoric of a rise in recent memory as The Band Camino, the pop-rock three-piece that have gone from playing small stages to headlining tours seemingly overnight. With only five years in the game, the band is already regularly selling out shows and have garnered 2.6 million monthly Spotify listeners and more than 330 million global streams to date. While their self-titled debut was released a mere five months ago, the Band Camino have a stage presence that is much more indicative of a veteran band. Their long-awaited homecoming show should be an especially memorable event.
You might also be interested in: Live Music Memphis Tonight | Memphis Live Music Calendar
