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Elvis's Memphis
Southern Living, Jul 2001 by Butler, Wanda
It's rocking. It's shocking. Come to this club on Beale Street where the house band--The Dempseys--will flat knock your socks off, not to mention your blue suede shoes.
The club is called Elvis Presley's Memphis, and it jumps with all the music and fun that this rock 'n' roll city has to offer.
Upon entering, you'll find a bar/ restaurant/music club that Elvis (or anyone with a pulse) would love. Start with the menu. You have Elvis choices galore, some using his mother, Gladys's recipes. Although it was an Elvis favorite, forgo the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. You'll do better to try the Hunka Hunka Burger, followed by a wedge of Gladys's Apple Pie.
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More Kingly allusions are on the drink menu. The Blue Suede Shoes signature drink gets its hue from blue curacao, as does the Blue Hawaii. But you really need no strong libation to enjoy this nightspot. The Dempseys light up the place brighter than a power substation.
A deceptively small band--just three members--the group consists of hyper-- active bass player Joe Fick, vocalist and guitarist Brad Birkedahl, and drummer Ron Perrone. But for an hour, you might as well be at a three-ring circus, not knowing which way to look first. You'll be hard-pressed to get past Joe's antics and masterful playing. He manhandles the bass with the flexibility of a yoga-- inspired contortionist. He plays it behind his back and behind his neck, rides it like a horse, and stands on it.
The Dempseys' music mixes the eclectic best of rock 'n' roll. Tunes from Jim Morrison to Jim Croce--running the gamut from rockabilly to ballads-- electrify the audience, bringing people to their feet on the dance floor. And if you won't get up, The Dempseys come to you. They troll the audience, standing on tables and chairs (as well as the much-- maligned bass fiddle).
During breaks in the music, wander back to the inevitable gift shop filled with Elvis memorabilia. But that's all right, Mama, because the music and the atmosphere make Elvis Presley's Memphis a must-see. When you're in town, it's important to TCB--take care of business. And when you take in this nightspot and The Dempseys, business couldn't be better. Wanda Butler
Elvis Presley's Memphis: 126 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103; (901) 527-- 6900. Hours: 11 am.- 11 p.m. weekdays. Closes anytime between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekends. For The Dempseys' schedule, visit the Web site at www. epmemphis.com.
Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved
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