* New Compilation CD*

Retrospect, Snowglobe and Scott Sudbury were selected to perform as part of the ASCAP Presents… Heineken Ampt Music Series. The showcase took place at The Lounge on November 15, 2002. The Heineken Ampt/ASCAP Recognition Award was presented to Jody Stephens of Ardent Studios for his contribution to the local music scene.

Retrospect is a band born and bred in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee. The band, defined by its five members and their individual passions, pursuits, and talents, strive continually to produce music that effectively balances the value of creative songwriting, meaningful lyrical expression, and musical excellence. Retrospect is about a group of guys attempting to provide the masses, as well as the few and far between, with good rock n' roll.

Hailing from the legendary Memphis, Tennessee, the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock and roll, Scott Sudbury is grounded in tradition but his music is completely fresh. As a youngster he excelled in track and BMX, running Olympic qualifying times and becoming a nationally ranked and sponsored rider. When an accident forced him to take a break from these activities, he picked up the guitar. The musical exposure he received as a young child began to take over his life. He was lucky to have parents who took him to live music festivals where he heard Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Tom Petty, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, local Memphis music legend Furry Lewis and many Sun and Stax artists. From these early influences, Scott learned the art of creating memorable melodies and expressive lyrics.

Emerging over the last year as perhaps the most promising new band in Memphis, Snowglobe takes the next step with release of their debut album, Our Land Brains. Released by the Athens, Georgia label Bardot Records, Our Land Brains actually improves on the band's live show, capturing their gently psychedelic sound. Snowglobe's music conveys a love for the 60's source material like The Beatles and The Kinks. Singer-songwriters Brad Postelthwaite and Tim Regan come up with a collection of beautifully melodic songs, and the band puts them over with a varied, playfully experimental sound that makes great use of piano, horns and strings with their guitar-bass-drums format.

In the 70's Jody Stephens was the drummer of influential power pop group Big Star. Once the band split, he played with different bands until he settled down as the manager of Ardent Studios, which was opened 32 years ago by John Fry as a place for Big Star to record. He has since brought in artists like REM, Afghan Whigs, The Replacements, among countless others, and has made Memphis and Ardent Studios one of the countries premiere recording spots.

Photography: Steve Roberts

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