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As we head into the home stretch of 2019, the post-Christmas period still has plenty to offer when it comes to concerts. The remainder of December will see a pretty thrilling mix of local and national acts across genres and generations — from hip-hop and soul legends, to garage rock reunions and up-and-coming post-punk acts — serving up plenty of great live music.
Here are a dozen shows worth catching over the coming week.
FRIDAY
Don Bryant & The Bo-Keys
It’s been a remarkable late-career renaissance for soul man Don Bryant. The Hi Records veteran returned to performing and recording a few years back, with his modern masterpiece “Don’t Give Up on Love”, a comeback that culminated with his election to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame earlier this year. Bryant — who has completed a new album, expected out in 2020 — will headline a Friday concert at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, backed by throwback R&B band The Bo-Keys. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $15. Go to Crosstownarts.org.
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Scarface
One of the true legends of hip-hop stops in Memphis this week, as Geto Boys’ great Scarface plays Minglewood Hall’s 1884 Lounge. The show will find the Houston MC backed by a live band. This is an 18-and-older event. Doors open at 8 p.m., and music starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. Go to Minglewoodhall.com.
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SATURDAY
The Love Light Orchestra
It’ll be a night of old-school, horn-heavy R&B big band sound as Bluff City outfit Love Light Orchestra plays the Green Room at Crosstown Arts. The group — led by noted guitarist Joe Restivo, horn man Marc Franklin and featuring vocalist John Nemeth — will whip up their brand of ’50s rooted blues-soul, including covers of Buddy Ace, Freddie King and Percy Mayfield and a clutch of outstanding originals this Saturday. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. Go to Crosstownarts.org.
Tora Tora
Favorite sons of the late-‘80s/early-‘90s Memphis hard rock scene, Tora Tora, reunited in full a few years back culminating in 2019’s LP “Bastards of Beale.” The group will close out the year with an all-ages show at Minglewood Hall. Alabama native and rock veteran Damon Johnson — known for his work with Brother Cane, and his stints playing with Alice Cooper and Thin Lizzy — will open the show, highlighting material of his album “Memoirs of an Uprising.” Doors open at 7 p.m. Music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 for general admission, $50 for VIP packages. Go to Minglewoodhall.com.
Robert Earl Keen
Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen returns to Memphis for a show at the Germantown Performing Arts Center. Even though it will come a few days after the holiday, Keen will present his “Countdown to Christmas Concert,” with a Lunar Tunes & Looney Times-themed show, that promises to find him and his band paying homage to the “space race and all things celestial in an out-of-this-world evening of family holiday fun.” Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $45 to $65. Go to GPACweb.com.
Jack Oblivian and the Tearjerkers Reunion
It will be a rare reunion of one of Memphis’ beloved bands, as garage-roots-rock great Jack “Oblivian” Yarber brings together the classic lineup of The Tearjerkers for a show at B-Side on Saturday. Led by Yarber, the group — featuring drummer John “Bubba” Bonds, bassist Terrence “T Money” Bishop and guitar ace John Whittemore — will play favorites from the Tearjerkers’ early catalog starting at 10 p.m. Cover is $10 at the door.
SUNDAY
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
One of soul’s most enduringly popular bands, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, will be back in the Mid-South on Sunday. The group — which enjoyed a string of R&B hits from the ‘70s to the ’90 and continues to be a huge draw on the road — will headline a concert at the Orpheum. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $82 to $102. Go to Orpheum-memphis.com.
Scotty McCreery
Since winning “American Idol” singer Scotty McCreery has gone on to a successful recording career, with four No. 1 Billboard charting albums and more than 3 million in sales. His most recent album, “Seasons Change,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, and spawned a pair of No. 1 singles in “Five More Minutes” and “This Is It.” On Tuesday, McCreery will perform as part of the 61st annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, appearing at the halftime event. Before he does all that, McCreery will play a show at the Horseshoe Casino on Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $47 to $77. Go to Ticketmaster.com.
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Old Crow Medicine Show
Roots/Americana ensemble Old Crow Medicine Show will headline the Germantown Performing Arts Center on Sunday. Earlier this year the group released a concert collection, “Live at the Ryman,” featuring highlights from the group’s performances at Nashville’s “Mother Church of Country Music.” The Grammy-winning outfit will bring that same electric live show to the GPAC stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the show are currently sold out, but the venue expects to release a supply of additional seats ahead of the concert. To purchase, go to GPAC.web.
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TUESDAY
Quintron & Miss Pussycat
It will be a jammed and jamming bill of garage rock, post-punk and more at the Hi-Tone Café on Tuesday. New Orleans’ most creative couple, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, will continue their annual tradition, headlining the Hi-Tone’s end-of-year spectacular. Joining them on the bill will be a pair of Memphis hottest bands, Goner Records’ favorites Aquarian Blood and Hash Redactor. DJs Damp Velour and Dark Allie will spin in between sets. Doors at 8 p.m. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Go to Hitonecafe.com.
Bailey Bigger
Up-and-coming songstress Bailey Bigger will do the New Year’s honors at Midtown’s Railgarten. The singer-songwriter — who recently released a fine EP, “Between the Pages” — will play an all-ages show at the venue starting at 6:30 p.m. Go to Railgarten.com.
Marcella and Her Lovers
Memphis swamp-soul queen Marcella Simien will be in the thick of the New Year’s festivities in the Cooper-Young neighborhood on Tuesday. Her group, Marcella and Her Lovers, will headline a show at Bar DKDC, starting at 10 p.m. Go to Bardkdc.com.
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