What Do You Hear? Robby Grant

Photo by By Brad Johnson

Robby Grant

Music writer Bob Mehr asks notable Memphians about their musical firsts and favorites.

This week: Robby Grant, founder of Big Ass Truck, and a member of Mouserocket, Vending Machine and the Ultracats.

Photo by By Brad Johnson

Robby Grant

What’s in your CD player, iPod or turntable at the moment?

That new Fleet Foxes record, the new Barbaras seven-inch, this old Flying Burrito Brothers greatest hits, and also, I just found XTC’s White Music, and have been listing to that a lot.

What was the first record you bought and where?

The first cassette was probably New Edition or Run-DMC’s King of Rock. The first CDs were Jimi Hendrix Live at Winterland and Ramones Mania.

What was your first concert and where?

The first concert I couldn’t see was Chuck Berry at the Mid-South Fair: I was too short. The one I was tall enough to see was Night Ranger at Mud Island.

If push comes to shove, what would you say is your favorite record of all time?

Probably, the Sly Stone record There’s A Riot Going On. There’s a home recorded quality to it, but a lot of personality in the record, which I love.

What, if anything, do you sing in the shower?

I’m either listing to NPR or WEVL. I like John Beifuss’ show, so whatever he’s playing usually I’m singing.

If you could be any musician, living or dead, other than yourself, who would it be?

David Byrne, mainly ‘cause he’s coming soon (to play in Memphis) so maybe he’ll read this and give me front row tickets to his show (laughs). Him or David Bowie; they’ve both had great careers doing what they want to do.

What’s your party jam? And your chill out record?

Lee Perry’s Chicken Scratch; no matter what the party or situation, people really dig it. Chill out record, I always go back to a Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden.

To hear Vending Machine, click here.

To hear Mouserocket, click here.

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