There’s Pistol Annies, and then there’s everybody else. No one else in mainstream country is making music as honest, smart and fun as this band. The Annies, made up of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, created a wonderful debut, “Hell on Heels,” but the band’s newest, “Annie Up,” is even better. The sassy [...]

In my pop culture round-up, I can’t believe I forgot to mention the crowning of a new “American Idol” champ, Candice Glover. Glover was my pick to win from the start. I love her powerful voice and her sure stage presence. But the question is, did anybody watch, really? The show’s ratings are declining, and [...]

The past month or so has been pretty crazy for me, in good and bad ways. I haven’t had much of a chance to update my beloved Scene Now blog, but hopefully I’ll get this old blog up and swinging in no time. Til then, let’s discuss what pop culture I’ve loved and hated, and [...]

The 10th annual Tupelo Film Festival is upon us. Tonight, the festival begins with a 7 p.m. screening of “The Fallen Faithful,” with producer P.J. Leonard and star Sonny Marinelli in attendance. Tupelo’s own Paul Thorn will perform, too, and this event is at the Malco. The film festival continues with screenings of movies from [...]

Technically I didn’t attend yesterday’s Coliseum Commission, as I was out at Tupelo High School covering its new musical, “Back to the 80s.” But I met with arena director Todd Hunt prior to the meeting and he gave me highlights: The last time he’d talked with Tupelo police, there was no update on the elephant [...]

Too much of a good thing – that’s Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience.” There isn’t a bad track on “The 20/20 Experience.” There are terrible lyrics and metaphors (I’m looking at you, “Spaceship Coupe” and “Strawberry Bubblegum”) but there are plenty of catchy hooks and excellent grooves. What Timberlake did well on his previous record, [...]

Here are highlights from today’s Coliseum Commission meeting: Attendance is going well – so far the arena has welcomed more than 140,000 through the doors for various entertainment events and meetings (yes, this includes the conference enter). That pace is a little slow, but director Todd Hunt said it makes sense: they’re doing more small [...]

I guess that, as an entertainment writer, people expect me to say my favorite band is The Beatles (it probably is), or some pretentious Band No One’s Heard Of Yet, or some weird band that everyone “respects” but no one actually likes. And I love my holy trinity (The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Jeff [...]

From “Cinderella” to Cramer, from “Mockingbird” to “Mikado” to mustaches, Art Rocks Tupelo has lots to offer this weekend. Every major venue in Tupelo is full of the arts this weekend. Audiences have their choice of ballet, an opera, country music, a Japanese art exhibit, a play, the annual Mustache Bash and more. Today’s Scene [...]

Yes, I’m more than a week late on giving you this recap. But between Art Rocks Tupelo coverage and the loss of Judy Putt, well, I’m just a bit behind. Forgive me. Here’s what went down at the last Performing Arts Commission meeting at the Link Centre: Monthly Music Mix update: The Laurence Juber show [...]