When I was asked to write a piece on the Tupelo music scene I have to admit that I jumped at the opportunity. There is just too much to say in one article though!  So I’m going to break it down for you in three stories. This first part is highlighting the artist themselves. As an artist and musician I thought that I would ask the questions that needed to be asked. And get some really uncomfortable truths out there to the public. There are so many talented musicians in Tupelo, it was definitely hard to pick who to interview. I chose questions that I felt would clear the air for a lot of artists and let you see our point of view. You can find booking information for all of these artists at the bottom of the article. Please reach out and book someone local for your next event! There is simply too much local talent for you to go elsewhere!

1.     How long have you been playing?

Eric Stogner from Full Tilt: 1) I've been performing on a regular basis for the last 17 years, started teaching myself  39 years ago. 

Wes Sheffield from Wes Sheffield and the Slowburners: I've been playing guitar since I was 11, and performing live since I was 18.

Kelly Mauldin and Blayze Windham from Bikini Frankenstein: I have been playing professionally since I was 17 (6 years) and Blayze has been playing professionally since he was 17 (10 years).

Michael Thomas from Bonfire Orchestra: As a project, the Bonfire Orchestra is about 7 years old.

Mary Frances Massey from Massey/Tate: I started singing with bands when I was 16. I have been singing professionally though since 2006.

Paul Tate: 40 plus years. First paying gig when I was 11 years old.

2.     What are the characteristics you look for in a venue that you like playing?

Eric Stogner: Good people and good vibes. There are many types of venues. They can all be great, it really depends on people more so than the venue itself. Over the years, I've had the pleasure to play for many good folks.

Wes Sheffield: A good venue, to me, can mean a few different things. Obviously we like it when the PA is provided or if there's a stage, lighting, etc. But all of that isn't absolutely necessary to be a good venue. Mostly: How is your atmosphere? Don't cancel late/double book. Pay reasonably and promptly.

Kelly and Blayze: Atmosphere and vibe are both super important.  You want to play somewhere where you feel welcomed and everyone is having a good time.  When the bar owners and staff are into the music you are playing it makes it so fun.  Venues that are especially fun are the places that the bar goers are having a good time and have a positive vibe.

Michael Thomas: Finding a venue to love is probably really similar to anyone, in any walk of life,  discovering a place they can feel comfortable.

 Everyone wants to know people they can connect with and learn from in an environment that feels like home.  My favorite venues remind me of visiting a relative who I rarely get to see but have dearly missed. 

Mary Frances: A place that has a set space for musicians and entertainment. A venue that makes me and my band feel welcomed and safe and of coarse an owner/manager that keeps their word and treats us well.

Paul Tate: clean, good food and a good bar. Clear communication with management and it’s a plus if they have sound set up.

3.     What Suggestions would you have for the tupelo music scene?

Eric Stogner: Get out and enjoy some live music! Good food and good music makes for good times .

   I remember years ago there were numerous venues and every one of them were full every night.    Times have changed, but the amount of talented musicians in this area is amazing! I feel extremely blessed to make a living at it in a city that is so full of talent. We've got some awesome and fun venues in Tupelo!

Wes Sheffield: I know a lot of people around here have some VERY strong opinions about this and that's understandable. But I really don't think it's as bad as some make it out to be. I think the only thing I would encourage is for people to come out to listen to live music and be interactive. If we play an awesome song and then hear crickets, even if you come up later and tell us how good it was, it isn't the same as that instantaneous feedback. When there's a great crowd that's into it, it makes us work twice as hard and have three times the fun, and then the audience gets that love back and the cycle repeats. It's amazing. Also, give the band a chance to play you an original or a cover that maybe you wouldn't have thought about and be open to what you're hearing. If you go to a bar with the mindset that it's your prerogative to pick out their setlist, then you may as well listen to those songs at home. It's a little different if you know a song that particular band does well and politely ask for it, but if you go up to the stage demanding what you want and then get annoyed when they don't know it or won't play it, it leaves a bad taste for everyone involved and you're probably missing out on something special that you wouldn't have thought about.

Kelly and Blayze: I feel like the Tupelo music scene has improved over the past few years.  I love that venues bring in out of town bands, but I really love that many of the venues make great efforts to hire local musicians.  Hiring local musicians is so important to build a sense of community and further improve the music scene.

Michael Thomas: The Tupelo music scene... is there such a thing, really? There are incredibly talented folks here, no doubt, but attitude is everything in life.

Art and money are mortal enemies.  I think it's impossible to be primarily concerned about profit and still see any growth in an artistic community. And while profit might be the bottom line for establishments hosting live music, there has also been a resounding failure from the creative people in our area to articulate the reasons why art (music, film, sketch comedy, painting, writing, etc) is more than the sum of it's parts, why it is essential to our understanding of each other and ourselves.

 There seems to be a hesitancy to invest, but I worry the mercenary mindset of venues (needing to make money in the short term above all else) , musicians (regularly cutting down other artists around them in hopes of elevating themselves ), and to an extent audiences ( either insisting on or otherwise only supporting known quantities presenting material they are accustomed to)  is fundamentally incompatible with doing anything worthwhile, anything more ambitious than just getting by. 

Patrons to local businesses often complain about a lack of variety and insist they'd like more original music, more diverse cuisine, and so on,  but according the business owners who have to count down the dollars at the end of each day, people simply don't respond to risky new ideas. 

Artists claim that cover material is the only way to retain the attention of the crowd, but the sad truth is that playing some well known cover is simply easier,  less risky.  It would take time,  dedication,  and bravery to create a piece of art that might one day be well known, relatable,  and widely loved.  

There are a select few in our area who have worked tirelessly and courageously towards building something better here,  giving freely of their time,  money,  and creativity,  but unless more of us are willing to throw in with them,  we can hardly expect to a better place to live, work,  and create in the future.

Mary Frances:

I have to echo everyone else’s response. This is an incredible community and the arts are definitely thriving here. But the live music scene can’t survive without support. Get out and do something out of the ordinary. Instead of hitting up Outback Steakhouse ( even though those fries are heavenly), head to one of the many wonderful venues in town and listen to some music with your meal.

Paul Tate: Push the envelope! Try something different outside of peoples comfort zone.

4.     Whats the craziest thing you’ve had happen at a gig?

Eric Stogner: Once back at JP's Jefferson Place I got a busted lip in the middle of a song...  A lady had tripped over the monitor fell into myself​ mic stand and I got hit in the mouth with the microphone....   

It would be hard to pick the one craziest thing..  No doubt it would be something someone in the crowd has done. We are too busy playing music for us to do anything crazy !!  LoL!!!

Wes Sheffield: I can't answer that one honestly in polite conversation.

Kelly and Blayze: Many crazy things happen at gigs (haha).  In this field, you NEVER know what will happen.  Of course you have the random people who get on stage, but one time this woman went a little further than just getting on stage.  I suppose she wanted to join the band (haha), because she got on stage and then grabbed a screwdriver we had in a bag and began hitting the drummer's cymbals!  I quickly ran over and exchanged her screwdriver for an actual drum stick.  Unfortunately she had already slightly dented his cymbal, but overall it was a funny encounter.  She jammed with us for a couple of songs and everyone had a good time.

Michael Thomas: Our gigs are not typically crazy affairs.  Though occasionally alcohol joins forces with sheer probability to create something hilarious and cinematic.

 In the early days of this project,  we were playing a local dive. The show was scheduled to end at midnight.  We'd just announced last call.  Then, for some reason, the stars aligned.  An early- twenty- something, petite blonde made a crow hop across the bar and landed a haymaker on a guy twice her size. Immediately, as though the entirety of crowd had been waiting for someone to shout ''Action! " each individual began a fist fight with the nearest person to them. I swear I could hear saloon piano in my head.

 No fewer than 15 people were arrested, including two of the three bartenders.  The rest scattered. It was kind of amazing actually.  No one was really hurt, but the chaos of that scene is still vivid to me.  I learned something that night which has been continuously rewarding,  the stage is usually the best seat in the house.

Mary Frances: This was not long ago, actually. We had a woman demand to get on stage and play the drums. She may or may not have been over served. Our drummer, like many musicians, didn’t want to let anyone on his drum set. However, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. We let her play a song and it didn’t go as well as she’d liked. It was awkward and uncomfortable to say the least! Also, during my time as a singer for Royal Caribbean, we had our curtain catch fire in the middle of a show! It happened at the most climactic point of our show, so the audience  was confused as if it was staged. I'm sure i cleared that up for them though when the sound guy left my mic going as we were scrambling to get off the stage and I said the "F" bomb into my mic... I'm now used as an example at RCCL on mic etiquette . lol!

Paul Tate: woman pulled him to the side to tell him how much she and her husband hated his band.

Thank you to all of the artists that took the time to answer these questions! Please as a community, get out and listen to local musicians! Venues- take a chance on your local talent! You can find booking information for the above artists at:

Mary Frances Massey: www.maryfrancesmassey.com    facebook: www.facebook.com/maryfrancesmasseymusic  maryfrancesmassey@gmail.com
Paul Tate: https://www.facebook.com/paul.tate.92?ref=br_rs
Massey/Tate

Wes Sheffield: www.wessheffieldmusic.com, www.facebook.com/wes.sheffield.music, info@harmonmusicmanagement.com

Eric Stogner: https://www.facebook.com/eric.stogner.948 .

Michael Thomas/Bonfire Orchestra: 662-871-8648 or BonfireOrchestra@gmail.com  Facebook.com/bonfireorchestrafans  @BonfireOrch on Twitter




Blayze Windham and Kelly Mauldin/ Bikini Frankenstein: https://www.facebook.com/Bikini-Frankenstein-143079992387497/