There are some mixed emotions among music fans in the Magic City. This weekend we celebrated the history of Ensley’s famed Tuxedo Junction and the music associated with it. There are some that are happy for the attention being paid to our American Idols. Our “boys” (Ruben, Bo and Taylor) are serving as examples of the musical talent that exists in Birmingham, Alabama. There are some that would say that the Idols do not represent the best, a point that may be argued for some time to come. However it is true is that music and venues are a plenty in the metro region. Or are they?
This is a city that takes music seriously; it may not have the resources of a Nashville, Memphis, or Atlanta, but it’s not them, it’s Birmingham. Philip Jordan currently explores the issue of musical venues and the status of the current local music scene in this week’s Birmingham Weekly. (Turning out the Light, Birmingham Weekly, 7.20.2006)
The story grows out of the recent announcement of Moonlight Music Café’s (MMC) closing at the end of September. The question is whether this is the end of the scene, or a call to arms to recognize what is currently out there in its entirety and preserve and expand it?
Filed under: Architecture, Birmingham, AL, Blogging, Commentary, My Birmingham
So some of you may be wondering “Why all the changes?” There are a few reasons.
I wanted people to be able to read the comments people are making about the posts, something the previous layout did not make possible.
I wanted it to reflect what I tend to write about here: Birmingham’s past and future. Driving across the 35th Street Bridge and looking west provides one of the best images for that focus. The ability to see what built Birmingham as well as what can help build the Magic City’s future in the same image is something that I hope is quite powerful.
“We reap what we sow.” This quote has become commonplace, however it is something that we need to be reminded of often. I heard two separate sermons on the Parable of the Sower today that reminded me of the fact that we create the situation. As I’ve said before, I live in a great city that is destined to accomplish great things. Hopefully some additional changes coming to the site and some upcoming posts will help do its part to begin to ask the questions and start the conversations necessary for this renaissance to continue.
Let me know what you think.
Cheers.
