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‘The Beat in Herbert Brown's Head'

Before we get started, I have to open up with a bit of disclosure. The topic of this week's column, Herbert Brown, aka James Crow, aka The Ugly Poet, aka Satchel Page, aka Stogey Woods, depending on the situation, is a good friend of mine.

Kerry-ed Away

I'll never forget the first time I saw Kerry Thomas, known as KT on stage, perform live at Dreamz JXN for Forever Friday. It was Sept. 10, 2010. Alone on stage with only an acoustic guitar and a microphone, he captivated a very vocal contingent of female audience members with his soulful renditions of Musiq Soulchild songs.

Have the Grammys Really Changed?

This year's Grammy awards on Feb. 13 marked the 20-year anniversary of Public Enemy's boycott of the 1991 ceremony. It was the third year in a row that the group had been nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Group or Duo; the previous two years, the group lost to Young MC with "Bust a Move" and "Back on the Block," a song from a Quincy Jones album.

On the Record

In this new world of instant, digital and more-often-than-should-be free music, there's a group of music lovers who continue to cling to their vinyl records. These types spend hours getting their fingers dusty in thrift stores, used record shops, garage sales and wherever else their search leads them.

Council Debates Debt Restructuring Plan Today

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. will brief the Jackson City Council again today on the details surrounding restructuring a portion of the city's water and sewer bond debt.

Farish Street Shows Progress

Farish Street regained its critical connection to Amite Street last week, providing a small boost to ailing businesses in the historic district.

"For the People"

One of my main concerns has always been being cool. It is certainly debatable if I achieve that, but I do put a good amount of thought into presenting myself in a certain way and surrounding myself with people I think are cool. It sounds shallow, but sneakers, hats, records, cool friends—these things matter.

DeSoto Parents Sue Schools, Police for Racial Discrimination

Parents of six DeSoto County students are suing the city of Southaven, school district employees and police officers for alleged racial discrimination during an incident on a school bus last year.

Kelly Pates

If you've lived in Jackson for a few years or more, chances are you've heard the Patesa family roots-rock bandperform at local clubs, bars, festivals and other venues in the city. Covering good-vibe songs like Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" and Rod Stewart's "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You," Kelly and Jean Pates and their son, Andrew, have been connecting with crowds and collaborating with other Jackson musicians for the past several decades.

Monday Alert: Help Save Education Funding

[verbatim from Coalition for Children and Public Education]: Please try one more time to effect some positive outcome for education funding through phone calls. I know you've called already, but please call again today. WE DO NOT WANT TO GO TO SPECIAL SESSION. The outcome of a special session will almost surely be worse than that of a regular session. Please call 5 to 10 people and ask that they each call 4 or 5 people to spread the word that calls need to go out today. Be sure you, all those you call, and all those they call phone your Senator, the LT. Governor and Sen. Little. If your senator is among the 30 who voted against the Bryan Amendment, please make sure to call him or her. Those 30 senators and their phone numbers are listed below.

[Alert] Support Public Education Today

Here's what you can do right now to demand full funding of Adequate Education. An alert just in from Parents for Public Schools; the Jackson Free Press stands with PPS on this issue. Please pick up the telephone now. Keep reading to see who to call.

Fruits of Change

Cover art by Ramona Ward

Bob Dylan wrote "The Times They Are A'Changin'" 40 years ago and far from Mississippi. But the sentiment applies here and now; young creatives who couldn't be any more different are sharing a common goal — change — and working to make it happen.

Fondren Steps In to Help Boyd

From the front sidewalk to Boyd Elementary School, the modern and recently renovated façade does not reflect what the visitor soon encounters in the school hallways.

‘A Natural Thing'

Let's start with a little history lesson. Back in the mid-1990s, hip-hop was at a crossroads. Groups like Company Flow and Anticon were pushing the boundaries of the genre into avant-garde directions that challenged the foundations of what could even be comfortably considered hip-hop.

Dog Days of Delight

If you can sneak out of work a little early this afternoon, head over to PrissyKatz Boutique (Swinging Bridge Market, 24 Holiday Rambler Lane, Suite 305 Byram) to have author J. Auberney sign your copy of "Just a Shadow of Me" ($10 book) at 4 p.m. Or, hurry over to Lemuria (202 Banner Hall, 4446 Interstate 55 N.) at 5 p.m. where Nevada Barr will sign her new book, "Burn" ($25.99 book), and stick around to hear her read from the novel at 5:30 p.m.

Arena Study; Blues Joint Opens

Supporters of a proposed downtown sports and entertainment arena will host a fundraiser and information session this evening at the Jackson Convention Complex. In 2009, a steering committee of business leaders contracted consulting firm Populous Sports to conduct an arena feasibility study for downtown Jackson.

NAACP President: Target Companies, Not Immigrants

See: JFP Immigration Coverage

Mississippi NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized a panel of legislators today for not giving enough oversight on companies that import and hire immigrant workers to pay low wages and avoid taxes. "If you're truly serious about fixing immigration issues you will focus your attention upon the entities who recruit, lure and house illegal immigrants in this state," Johnson said. "Instead you pursue individuals looking for honest work."

Just Put It On Shuffle

A few weeks ago, at the conclusion of the Priced to Move pop-up art gallery at the old federal courthouse, a few of us adjourned to the rooftop of the Fondren Corner building with the remnants of the weekend's PBR keg.

Sushi, Tattoos and Redevelopment

The Fondren neighborhood will get a long-awaited sushi restaurant in April, developer Mike Peters says. Peters told the Jackson Free Press that Fatsumo Sushi, an American-style sushi restaurant in Gulfport, will open a location on Duling Avenue April 1. The Fondren location, between Fischer Galleries and the redeveloped Duling School, was originally set to house a different franchise, Fuze Sushi. A number of hiccups, including the death of the restaurant's original chef, delayed the opening indefinitely, however.

Plans and Decisions

This week I bring you a tale of two cities, a tale of making plans and going with the flow, and a tale of making amazingly proper decisions.

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