After the disastrous, horrific, cataclysmic events of September 11, it seems we could all use a little music to soothe our savage breast. Not to mention some humor to lighten our hearts a bit.

Mem Shannon is in the position to offer us both, via his breakout hit, “S.U.V.,” from his fantastic new album Memphis In The Morning. I’ve reported on this song in this column before, but it bears an even closer look now, because this song is poised to become New Orleans’ first blues hit in a dog’s age. Mem’s

Shanachie label reports that the tune, which mocks sport utility vehicles and their prominence on the urban landscape, is starting to get some airplay on two “Triple-A” format radio stations—WXRV in Boston and WXRT in Chicago. Moreover, the nationally syndicated “Dr. Demento” show will also be spinning it by the time you read this; the 31-year-old institution of the airwaves is famous for playing “novelty” and “comedy” records.

“S.U.V.” is certainly hilarious, building the observations up like a great stand-up act until, by the end, you’re right with Mem in his dislike of the trendy vehicles. And the song really did come to Mem in traffic: “I was riding around in town, and it just hit me one day that all the cars I would see were S.U.V.s! With just one person in ’em. Suburbans, Excursions. They just seemed to be driving more aggressively in those things than they would for car. It’s just a weird trend for me, because I know these people could do just as well with a plain car.” The other burning question is, does Mem really drive a ’71 Maverick, like he says in the song? “No,” he laughs. “I drive a 16-passenger van. But I need it!” he quickly adds. “I got a band full of musicians and equipment to haul around the country.”

Shannon, a former cabdriver, has certainly earned the right to complain about his fellow drivers. He’s somewhat Zen about the possible hit, however. “We’ll see what happens,” he muses. “There’s no way to guarantee a hit. But Lord knows, I need one. The hardest thing is getting on the radio,” he says, echoing a standard bluesman’s complaint. “They don’t know what they like until they hear it.” Does being a blues artist hurt in that regard? “Well, my guitar playing is blues based. My writing. well, I just want to write a good song.” He has. You can help get airplay for “S.U.V.” by visiting the website at www.memshannon.com.

Renowned R&B tenor saxophonist Sylvester “Sil” Austin passed away September 1, 2001 of natural causes in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 71. The Florida-born Austin played one several R&B hits beginning in the 1950s, most successfully on Bill Doggett’s “Slow Walk.” Although he recorded on a number of labels and in a number of styles, from jazz to disco, he’s most famous for being one of the ultimate R&B “honkers.”

In other horn news, friends of Grady “Fats” Jackson are banding together to display his memorabilia in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Trouble is, the Hall is unable to display anything concerning the legendary bluesman, who’s best known for blowing a hot tenor sax on classic Elmore James and Big Joe Turner sides, because the Macon-based museum can’t display anything that isn’t acquired or lent. Jackson’s survivors in New York are said to be unwilling to lend or donate his instruments to the Hall of Fame, so peers like “Steady Rollin’” Bob Margolin, among other legends, are searching their archives and asking around for Fats memorabilia. If you know anyone with Fats mementos, or info on same, e-mail Larry Chastain at [email protected].

Meanwhile, if you agree with Muddy Waters that “the blues had a baby and they named it rock ‘n’ roll,” you’ll absolutely eat up this month’s schedule of local live acts; for blues-based rock acolytes, there has been no better time. First, the boogiebilly master, the Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis himself, appears on the Carnival Cruise on October 6th. That very same day brings the Gretna Heritage Festival, which features Foghat and Black Oak Arkansas perfecting their well-aged white-boy blooze sleaze. Then there are the power-trio guitar heroics of Robin Trower, who graces the stage at House Of Blues on the 23rd, and the new-school Southern rock of Five Horse Johnson, who juice up the Dixie Taverne the day before.

If you really like your Southern blues-rock, you can’t do any better than House Of Blues on the 27th, when former Allman Brothers keyboard wiz Chuck Leavell shares a bill with Allman psych-blues offshoot band Gov’t Mule. Chuck and the Mule also appear at the Voodoo Festival on the same day, as do fellow sub-Mason-Dixon rounders the Black Crowes. And Voodoo also features slightly salacious hip-hop bluesman G. Love & Special Sauce. If you want something a little closer to the roots-music bone, there are two perennial goodtime acts the city is well-versed with: Her Tallness, Marcia Ball, at the Swamp Fest October 6th, and bayou-flavored blues master Tab Benoit at Rock ‘N’ Bowl on the 20th. Should ALL of the above somehow manage to leave you unsated, slide on by Checkpoint Charlie’s on

Sunday Nights and enjoy their open-mic blues night.

After all that boogie ‘n’ barrelhouse, you may well want to kick back at home, put your feet up, and relax in front of the computer. And there are few better places for a blues fan to surf than www.deltaboogie.com, not coincidentally this column’s Blues Site Of The Month for October. This is a full-service type of blues site: not only does it feature the usual fine array of news items, historical articles, mp3s, and the like, but also a full complement of unique items. “Road Stories” archives just that, being the adventures of a seasoned bluesman who’s been everywhere from Arkansas to Memphis. “Delta Writers” is an excellent dual history and bibliography of some of Mississippi’s finest authors, many of whom deal with the blues tangentially (and often directly). Don Buroker’s Photo Gallery offers up an online exhibit of his blues-themed works, including lots of festival pictures. There’s even a recipe section, should you want to eat like a blues artist—and despite their legendary poverty, they know how to eat well. The site is primarily oriented towards Delta blues, natch, but there’s also a great rockabilly section, and for some odd reason, movie reviews. No matter. Would that all musicians, and all people, practice the same sense of community this site does.