Some weeks are full of history and music, and so are some weeklies, particularly this week’s Birmingham Weekly, which includes the true story of the Alabama Air Guard and the Bay of Pigs invasion, plus – count ‘em ¬– one-two-three-four music stories. In addition to an interview with the not-so-anonymous John Doe, we present a trio of local legends concerning The Ramblers, Vulture Whale and Menewa. Those last two bands both have CD release parties coming up this week at Bottletree, and Menewa will likely open their show with the Bob Dylan song “Isis.” How the band came to record that gem is a remarkable story.
Nearly as remarkable is the character monologue form that J’Mel Davidson occasionally pulls out of his hat and the fact that Kyle Whitmire can write such a kindly remembrance of a kingmaker.
Finally, for dessert, there’s ice cream, made in Alabama.
