Father-son duo impresses Lucknow crowd with special country music concert

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Wing Night at the Lucknow Legion is always a good time, and even more so when there's a little bit of entertainment after dinner. On Saturday night, almost 50 music fans came out to Branch 309 with the hopes of hearing some old-time song stylings, and they weren’t disappointed. The music was provided by pre-teen phenom Memphis, his father, Richard Marier, and a top-notch band out of Kincardine known as The Northern Boys.

 

Before the show, young Memphis was kind enough to take a moment to chat with The Citizen about why he loves travelling from town to town, jamming with like-minded artists and performing country tunes for his fans.

 

Saturday’s show was billed as a tribute to the music of George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Conway Twitty. Memphis’ favourite song at the moment is Haggard’s “Mama Tried.” “He’s always been a classic, and being able to sing his songs just makes me feel like a classic. And being a classic is great,” he explained. “It’s gonna be awesome! We’re gonna have a bunch of our friends play for us, They’re also gonna sing, and it’s just gonna be a whole party in here tonight. It feels awesome to give people joy.” 

 

Although the winter weather may have slowed him down a bit, Memphis has still been keeping busy doing his schoolwork and making music. 

 

Last year, he recorded a demo CD to sell at shows, and this year, he’s been invited to head down to Clarksville, Tennessee, where he’ll be recording a real-life, professional album. “We’re really excited to do it!” he exclaimed. 

 

Right now, he’s saving up his show earnings to buy himself a Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap. “I like their colours, and when almost every player hits the ball, it’s a really far one,” he explained.

 

Memphis may have only been playing live shows for a couple of years, but he’s already become well-known as a real sharp dresser, and Saturday was no different. “We’re wearing red and black tonight - classic colours,” he pointed out. “It’s been around for ages. Black is more of a dark kind of colour that most people would wear, and red is like a classic joyful colour.” 

 

Then it was time for Huron County’s premier father-son country duo to take the stage, and it really did feel like a party. Memphis made new fans from town and farm alike, particularly impressing the crowd with his mandolin skills, as he sang Twitty’s “Linda on My Mind.”

 

Classic country songs like these ones always tend to come around again, because they speak to the kind of truths that always tend to come around again. Sometimes love comes around, and sometimes it goes away. Sometimes the future feels wide open, and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes all you can do is get together at the Legion with your friends and neighbours, count your blessings, and listen to a boy sing the blues.