Eric Hughes
What Memphis movers and shakers are watching, reading and listening to:
Memphis bluesman Eric Hughes likes to say that his music appeals to everyone “from the purist to the tourist.” It’s fair enough description for Hughes himself, a much beloved presence on the local scene — he helped found the Memphis Blues Society back in 2005 — who performs regularly on Beale with his band, as part of a duo and solo.
Eric Hughes
Though the wintertime is typically the slow season on Beale Street, Hughes has been busy recently writing songs for an album he hopes to release later this year. With a pair of gigs coming up this weekend downtown, Hughes took time out to talk about what’s been keeping him entertained.
What are you listening to?
I’ve been getting back into a lot of Bo Diddley, and a lot of Howlin’ Wolf’s early stuff, the Sun Records material. Also, there is a CD from the Memphis Blues Society called Keeping the Blues Alive. I’ve been listening to that quite a bit. It’s got stuff from a lot of good local writers: a couple Billy Gibson songs, a couple from Blind Mississippi Morris, Bobby Lawson, Victor Wainwright.
What are you reading?
I’ve been reading these books by Peter Hathaway Capstick, the last one was “Death in the Long Grass.” He used to work as a professional hunter in Tanzania and Kenya. He’s kind of a hunter/writer who writes suspenseful outdoor adventure stuff. I think he used to have an article every few months in Outdoor Life magazine, which is how I got turned on to him. It was always some gripping, descriptive story about some dangerous animal he had to take out.
What are you watching?
I haven’t been watching much TV. I’ve found that when I watch a lot of TV it makes me not content. I start comparing myself with these people on TV and they’re not even real (laughs). You automatically start thinking: I don’t have that, or I don’t look like that, or I don’t sound like that. So I’ve been laying off the TV.
But what I have been watching, of all things, is (obnoxious fake lounge singer) Tony Clifton. I’ve been checking out some silly clips of him on YouTube.
As a performer, I’m always trying so hard to make a good show and make everybody happy and make the club happy and the band happy. So it’s kind of funny and refreshing, in a sick kind of way, to see somebody go on stage and just be belligerent and boorish and completely offensive. (laughs).
The Eric Hughes Band plays Friday and Saturday, at Club 152, 152 Beale Street, starting at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 544-7011.
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Comments » 2
Midsouthcatholic writes:
Eric Hughes was the guest speaker for the Memphis Songwriters Association last night. I was once again enlightened in an entertaining-way of Eric's down-home and down-to-earth words... this time on a basis of sharing his musical career experience and knowledge.
My first meeting with Hughes was at a Memphis Sound Entertainment event. I was caught in a trance as the band started up, and found myself looking back...
Eric's music has always more than just a song, revealing an actual image to me as I listen.
I encourage everyone to purchase his music, sit back and enjoy the picture.
harpomain1#693639 writes:
My first encounter with Eric was in 2005 at the Blues Society Jam.He encourged me to get up and play harp.He has been a mentor and friend to me ever since.
Eric's music is so soulful and from the heart,it is hard not to get wrapped up in it.
He is a Bluesman to the Bone.
Please pick up a CD or better yet hear him live you will be glad you did.
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