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Hi-Tone in Memphis has New Grit, True Grit

July 5, 2006 at 12:01 PM | 0 Comments

Your intrepid editor spent the nation's birthday in Memphis, TN. While we'll get to the smoked and grilled meat later in the week, including a comparison of what's available at the airport, but we'll start things off with a nod to the Hi-Tone.

Memphis is famous for music, of course, and there are plenty of swank clubs on Beale Street, but our favorite venue remains the Hi-Tone. Housed in a small, boxy building in Memphis' Midtown with tables practically on the stage, the Hi-Tone plays host to locals and heavyweights alike, including Cat Power and Elvis Costello.

Although it only opened in 1998, it's dirty and authentic enough to feel much older. The Hi-Tone was voted the #1 place to see live music by locals 6 times since it opened, impressive for a city with no shortage of venues. Sometimes the sound of beer bottles being tossed in the trash can disrupt the more intimate performances, but it's still worth checking out who's playing the next time you swing through town.

[Image via Chucktm/Flickr]