stories : Feature
Text by Mike Grimes
Photos by Matt Tyson
Photos by Matt Tyson
Four Bands, Four Barbecue Joints
A sonic tour through American barbecue (cont.)
choose a band
Tops Bar-B-Q, Memphis, Tennessee,
with Amy LaVere
Tops is the go-to eatery for the blues- and jazz-tinged trio led by Amy LaVere whenever they’re home from touring. The place was full of Back to the Future throwback charm: brightly colored molded plastic booths, wood paneling reminiscent of a rec room or an Elks lodge, and simple, no-frills presentation. Tops is inexpensive, reliable, quick, and tasty, serving up slow-cooked pork barbecue smothered in a tangy, tomatoey, brown-sugary sauce.
Amy LaVere’s latest album, Anchors & Anvils, is out on Archer Records.
Listen to "Take 'Em or Leave 'Em"
by Amy LaVere
This is a really great story - mixing two of my favourite things - food and music!!! Great idea and well written. Photos are also awesome.
Matt and Mike said that Kansas City may have been their favorite. Was this because of the restaurant, the company, or the general preparation of KC bbq? I have to say that the picture of the pulled pork in NC had my mouth watering!
Great article and photos and I enjoyed playing the music whilst reading the reviews and salivating over the thought of the french fries from NC and the pork ribs from Kansas!
Funny you mention the fries in NC; they are the only thing I don't like at Allen and Sons! The BBQ sandwich and onion rings with a side of hush puppies is the way to go
Funny you mention the fries in NC; they are the only thing I don't like at Allen and Sons! The BBQ sandwich and onion rings with a side of hush puppies is the way to go
Based on the photo and description, they went to the Jack Stack in the Crossroads neighborhood down by Union Station. However, if you want to follow in their footsteps, I'd still suggest that the first of the Jack Stack restaurants, located in Martin City on the south end of KC, is the best of the bunch.
It's BLUES and BBq in KC. Jack Stack is great corporate, polite BBq, there are other places in the KC area and serve "true" KC BBq.
I live in Austin but I would not call it a barbecue mecca. Lockhart to the south qualifies, as does Taylor to the north, but there's precious little great 'cue here Good? Sure. Sublime? Not so much. Also, Iron Works is far from the best Austin has to offer. Good? Sure. Great? Meh.
killer western q...at ridgewood bbq...elizabethton tn....split the pork bbq sammie ....split the fries...everyone have the bbq beans.
I'm sure the music is great, but the choice of BBQ is questionable.
They were in KC and didn't go to Bryants? Bad. Missed the best the area has to offer.
El Jefe,
Well said. What a lousy sampling of the umpteen BBQ joints within 15 minutes from Ironworks. Don't get me wrong. Ironworks is solid, but not the blue ribbon winner.
Even certain gas station BBQ restaurants are better. ; )