Beale Street

Now, I know this isn't one of my normal posts and it doesn't exactly fit the description of my blog title. But it is a "musical experience" I want to share so, close enough.

Beale Street, Memphis Tennessee. Sounds like just another place a car drives down or people walk by, but it is so much more. In fact, no people can drive down it because it is too much of a tourist attraction. There you will find BB Kings, where some of the most famous Blues singers have played. There you will find some of the greatest undiscovered talent playing on the corner. There you will find Blues groups playing their music empty grassy spaces between restaurant or shops. But most importantly, there you will find soul. 

Walking down that road for the first time, made me feel like a changed person (as weird as that sounds). It takes you back in time, where people share a deep passion for Blues and no one is afraid to get up and dance and enjoy themselves. Being surrounded by such positivity totally changes your outlook on life, and just for a little while get away from any negativity of your world.

I remember going into BB Kings and sitting down, listening to an amazing undiscovered talent singing with his guitar alone. I remember sitting down and seeing smiles on every single persons face that sat in that restaurant. Even biting into one of the best rack of ribs I have EVER tasted changed my experience. By the time we left we had talked to the waitress who told us that Elvis had preformed on the very stage we were sitting next too, and we had bought the CD of the man (Will Tucker) who had been preforming the night we were there.

As we walked down the street we stopped at tons of shops, some antique, some tourist inspired, but nonetheless all unique in it's own way. I remember stopping and watching a Blues group preforming and seeing people getting up and dancing, sharing their happiness with everyone around them, what a sight. We also stopped and listened to a man with a simple pair of drum sticks and a bucket, and man, he was one of the best drummers I have ever laid eyes on.

All of this happened within a few hours, but changed my look of music forever. It's incredible to see how much music can bring people together, take you back in time, or spread joy right within the moment. I will never forget Beale Street, and hope to go back again one day. If there is anything I have learned in my short experience there it's that no matter how lost you are in the world, you will always be able to find yourself back on Beale Street.