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News Fri Oct 20 2006
Chicago Reader Loses Music Critic Mehr to Memphis
The Chicago Reader's Bob Mehr, who wrote The Meter up until his last column, out today, is heading south. He'll be taking up a new job at the Memphis Commerical-Appeal starting November 1st. Bob wrote me today:
"As much as I love Chicago and hate to leave, The Commercial-Appeal is just a better opportunity for me at this point. Music critic gigs at daily papers — particuarly one in a thriving and historically significant artistic environment like Memphis — are as rare as hen's teeth. I kinda feel like I've done all I can in the alt-weekly world, having been a writer and editor for the New Times, Village Voice and Reader companies at various points over the last seven years. More importantly, just based on my own tastes, I've always felt a real connection to Memphis, and to the whole region in general. I've long been obsessed with the music and mythology emanating from the place and the chance to live and work in that environment was too intriguing to pass up. Plus, I feel like I'm going at a good time too — things are really flourishing there right now, particularly in the rap world and the garage rock community. And, my new office is basically across the street from Sun Studio — pretty inspiring to look out the window and see that every day if you're a music fan. So, yeah, I feel very lucky to have gone from one genuinely amazing music town to another. I can't complain."
You can look for Mehr's replacement, Miles Raymer's yet-to-be-named column, in the near future.