Johnny Dowd at the Mollie Fontaine Lounge at Mollie Fontaine Lounge – Memphis, TN

Singer/songwriter Johnny Dowd was almost 50 when Wrong Side of Memphis, his debut solo record of wracked country-folk-rock tunes, drew comparisons to Nick Cave in the alternative press. To a degree, that parallel was justified, as Wrong Side of Memphis devoted itself to murder songs and tales of doomed sinners. Dowd had grown up in Texas, Memphis, and Oklahoma before operating a trucking business in upstate New York, and his songs veered close to the source of American creepiness. Yet gallows humor and Dowd’s crackly voice tended to undercut any traces of self-importance, while his debut album — dominated by his singing and guitar, yet featuring spooky dabs of organ and synthesizer that placed him outside of the rootsy Americana camp — immediately established Dowd as an important cult figure whose weirdness seemed to be wrought from true experience.

Memphis based artists and troubadours, Amy LaVere and Will Sexton have been music collaborators and touring companions for 11 years now. The quality of their craft, the miles traveled and their original catalog is ever growing. LaVere’s storytelling and songwriting is barbed and sharp, a delightful contrast to her captivating clarinet-like vocals and smooth upright bass playing. The dark and charming writer has released seven solo recordings and has collaborated on recordings with many other artists across the Americana landscape.

Over the past three decades, Will Sexton has grown into a skilled musical polymath: an esteemed writer, producer, session player and solo artist with a string of acclaimed solo LPs to his credit. Sexton’s seasoned guitar playing and deep velvet vocals are a superb fit to LaVere’s distinctive talent. Amy and Will are among the finest musical craftsmen and performers in the Americana genre.

Individually, these three songwriters are wholly captivating. Together, this show is indescribable and incomparable and something you just gotta see!