No Depression dusted off this 2003 article today. There’s a pretty good history of Stax Records in the article, as well as descriptions of some of the best spots in town. What I really admire though, is the author’s attempt at writing about Memphis as a social phenomenon, or the city’s “sense of place.” Many people struggle to capture the character of places with strong identities. Often such courageous attempts are met with criticism or complete rejection. Trying to get at the meaning of a place is irresistible, though, perhaps because the real meaning of a place comes from our collective perception, and not anyone’s individual idea.
Anyway, it’s a good article:
http://archives.nodepression.com/2003/07/memphis-in-the-meantime/
Cabinet of Seeds 