Meet Memphis – Low Society

He’s from New York, she’s from Houston. What could possibly make for a better blues combo? More than music, life partners who once wrote a song in the ten minutes following their marriage proposal.

Sturgis Nikides, who plays a mean slide guitar, hails from New York where he first picked up a guitar at six and was playing gigs by fourteen. He played in various bands, performing on such legendary stages as CBGB’s and with iconic performers like The Velvet Underground’s John Cale. Mandy Lemons, who belts out classics from the 1930’s and their own material with equal soulful passion, started in Houston listening to her Mother’s records and taking jazz singing lessons. She sang just about everything, including some time studying opera, but her passion always led her back to the blues. They met at a friend’s birthday party after she moved to New York, hit it off right away, and started playing music together. They wandered about the country, including a road trip to Florida where they wrote “Crazy Love” in the moments after Sturgis proposed.

They headed to Houston for a short time and came to visit Memphis. While “temping” here, they played Clarksdale Mississippi’s Juke Joint Festival, half town fair, half music festival, at the crossroads of Delta blues. They have played the festival ever since. They have also belted out the blues on stages across America and Europe.

That short visit led to a love for Memphis music and heritage; a feeling for the soul of the city. They stayed, have made one record here and are working on a second. Their new direction is music of and inspired by those strong women Mandy grew up listening to – Memphis music older than the blues.

Come to Memphis, meet Low Society, and ask them about being chased out of Houston by a pack of wild dogs!