Thacker Mountain Radio at 6:00 Tonight

From my inbox: 

Thacker Mountain Radio got its season off to a rousing start last week and we’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going. This week’s show will offer everything from trailer trash travails to Oxford neo-soul to uplifting music from Down Under.

Filed under: Entertainment, From My Inbox, Music, Upcoming Shows

From My Inbox: Thacker Stickers are IN & Rehearsal is for Sissies, says Jim Dees

To members of Thacker Mtn. Radio Listeners Unite!

Show your support of Thacker Mountain Radio with a sticker, shirt, or an oven mitt. Actually, we couldn’t find an the once upon-a-time-give-away gift of a mitt, but we did find an apron.

So check out www.cafepress.com/thackermountain to get your Thacker Mountain Radio on…

And don’t miss this week’s show. Details follow:

This week’s show falls on the first day of spring and we’re looking forward to catching the fever. Our diverse group of guests will bring us words and music from the low down to the high-spirited as we begin the stretch run (final six shows) of our spring season.

This week’s author is one of the south’s most distinctive voices, RHETA GRIMSLEY JOHNSON. Long-time readers of the Memphis Commercial Appeal or the Tupelo Daily Journal have enjoyed her insightful and humorous columns for years. Rheta will read from her latest book, Poor Man’s Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana (NewSouth). While visiting Henderson, La. several years ago, Johnson fell in love with the town and a houseboat named the Green Queen. Johnson, who lives outside Iuka, Miss., began spending several months a year in Cajun country and has chronicled the people, culture and terrain beautifully in Poor Man’s. Johnson is the author of several books, including America’s Faces (1987) and Good Grief: The Story of Charles M. Schulz (1989). A native of Colquitt, Ga., Johnson grew up in Montgomery, Ala., studied journalism at Auburn University and has lived and worked in the South all of her career. “We live to work,” she writes in Poor Man’s. “In Cajun Country, people work to live. And live they do, gloriously and riotously. They don’t only suck crawfish heads; they suck all there is to get out of this life. Could it be that simple? Was the secret to a happy life to live happily?” We look forward to “living happily” when we welcome Rheta Grimsley Johnson to Thacker Mountain Radio.

To continue the “happy’ theme, we’ll include a performance by the MASKER WASHER BOARD BAND from the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. The Masker Washer Board Band hails from a tradition that began in 1932 at the university. The group was re-formed as a social club in 1967 and today features the musical and dancing talents of ten university women headed up by head Masker, Haley Harris. One can only hope the struggle for women’s equality will survive this very unique Thacker visit.

Author and Ole Miss writing instructor, DAVID GALEF, will also join us to read from his new book of short-short fiction, entitled, A Man of Ideas and Other Stories. His previous novels are Flesh (1995) and Turning Japanese (1998) and How to Cope with Suburban Stress (2006) and the story collection, Laugh Track (2002).

Finally, we look forward this week to a return visit by singer-songwriter, CARL MASSENGALE. Carl has collaborated with our own Yalobushwhacker, Duff Dorrough, to produce a swinging gospel CD, The Holy Rollers (Black Dog Records). The disc is made up of obscure gospel gems with two original songs by Duff and Carl. This is sanctified music of the spirit that you can dance to. The songs are highlighted by impeccable harmonies and Duff’s tasty guitar licks. Help us celebrate this great new CD this Thursday when Carl and Duff step to the Thacker mike.

Join host Jim Dees and our house band, the Yalobushwackers at 5:25 Thursday at Off Square Books for this special kickoff for spring. If you can’t make it in person, tune in on our new radio home, Rebel Radio, 92.1 FM. Don’t forget our rebroadcast every Saturday night on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (90.3 in Oxford) at 7PM immediately following A Prairie Home Companion.

Visit thackermountain.com

This week’s show is brought to by:

The Oxford Tourism Council, Square Books, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Mississippi Arts Commission, Howorth & Associates Architects, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Star Package, Rebel Radio 92.1 FM, First National Bank of Oxford, City Grocery, Ajax, Volta, Taylor Grocery, Rebel Music, Oxford Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, The Frame Up, and Boure

Plus, a special THANKS to our Friends:
Marlow Dorrough, Ted & Frances Laird, Tom & Ellen Levis, Mr. Thacker, and Snooky & Mary Lou Williams

Become a Friend! Contact mary@thackermountain.com to support Oxford, Mississippi’s original music & literature show.

Go to Thacker Mtn. Radio Listeners Unite!  Facebook Group >

Filed under: Entertainment, From My Inbox, Music, Oxford Life, Upcoming Shows