Memphis Mojo Music History Tour: A Real Review

Alright, so you’re planning a trip to Memphis, and you are looking to soak up all that music history, huh? Maybe the “Memphis Mojo Music History 90 Minute Bus Tour” has caught your eye. That’s good, but how do you know if that bus tour is actually worth your time and your hard-earned money? It’s a good question! That’s exactly what we will try to get into here. You might find out about the sights, sounds, and overall vibe. By the end of this review, hopefully, you’ll be able to tell if the Memphis Mojo Tour should definitely be on your Memphis must-do list. If you’re not familiar, the Memphis Mojo Tour promises a lively trip that visits quite a few key spots. All the while, you’ll listen to the toe-tapping tunes that are found throughout Memphis’s awesome musical past.

What the Memphis Mojo Tour Promises

So, before getting too deep into my personal experiences, it’s possibly a smart idea to check out what the tour actually says it does, right? Basically, the Memphis Mojo Tour aims to throw you headfirst into the city’s rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and soul roots. They state that the bus tour usually takes about 90 minutes (but that can shift a little, just so you know!). As you roll along, it is thought that the talented guides give all the good details, interesting bits, and the legendary happenings that shaped the sounds of Memphis. Now, locations? The tour typically drives on by popular locations like Beale Street, Sun Studio, and also maybe even a glimpse of Graceland. That said, since schedules and routes change, be prepared for them to be switched around. Oh, and their website and brochures probably highlight their commitment to delivering a fresh way that engages people to get to know the awesome music legacy that Memphis has.

First Impressions and the Tour Guides

So, upon rocking up to the meeting spot, you will almost certainly notice the brightly colored bus and all those folks eagerly waiting to get going. What might grab your attention quickly are the guides themselves, usually super charismatic types who clearly know their music stuff and are obviously thrilled to share that stuff. After I hopped aboard, what I figured out fairly fast was just how enthusiastic they were! The guides very clearly did quite a lot to kick the energy levels way, way up! Right from the get-go, they were cracking quite a few jokes, so sharing really crazy stories, and making sure everybody on board was basically amped up. The narratives were a great mix of facts, humor, and that genuine love that I feel a ton of Memphians possess for the city’s musical story. But let me tell you this, alright? These tours are pretty reliant on how well the guides know what’s happening, and honestly, I saw a couple of tours where guides seemed like they didn’t fully know what they were talking about. When booking, consider peeking at recent feedback in the hopes of ensuring you get one that seems like they are lively, entertaining, and know stuff.

Hitting the Streets: The Sights and Sounds

Anyway, once the bus gets rolling, that is really when that experience starts to kick in! The route can kind of depend on that specific day’s schedule. That said, prepare to cruise by a number of the more well-known Memphis spots. Think Beale Street where blues legends did their thing. It tends to be impossible not to feel all the awesome mojo that seeps from pretty much every brick. The guides, while rolling, were fairly awesome at pointing out that history is around all these corners! Even better, you’re listening to some seriously awesome music. The tracks can seriously amp up everything that you are seeing and learning. There are places like Sun Studio (even if you’re only seeing it from outside the bus!). Spots such as these have an almost undeniable, monumental impact on American music! Be prepared, alright? Some tours will do a little run by Graceland! Others might decide to take people to lesser-known spots. That said, I thought the lesser-known locations were totally awesome. All that is usually going to make for a very, very rich overview of Memphis music. So, just be prepared for any given tour to be able to shift away from what is viewed as “standard,” alright?

What Makes This Tour Tick: The Good and the Not-So-Good

I do think that this tour is a smart move. But like anything, it really has awesome spots, so aspects you are going to have to think about to know for sure if it works well for you. I thought the total value was seriously connected to the energy of the guide, the comfort of the bus, and just how smoothly that tour moves. Let’s begin with a look at all those things I loved:

That guide enthusiasm: Their enthusiasm very obviously sets the stage! That tour I went on basically grabbed everybody. They seriously amped it up, making you wanna find out stuff!
Hitting those landmarks: I feel I basically had a really good survey of all those legendary spots in such a really short time! That’s something, right?
Tunes with commentary: They matched the music being played so, so well to all those places we drove past.

What should people be aware of, that might affect them?

A Tour’s Rhythm: When spots aren’t clearly visible, and those details go missing from the narrative, folks have said they have lost interest.
A Guide Experience: How lively, and deeply connected your guide feels on a given day shapes everything.
Weather Realities: Be prepared to make needed choices. It could be super, super hot. Maybe you could face some rain, too. Weather is very important for Memphis outdoor experiences.

Tips for the Ultimate Memphis Mojo Experience

Alright, so you are all in, then? Maybe these easy hacks can possibly enhance it.

Book Early: This is likely key if your time in Memphis is very, very tight, and particularly if the ideal experience occurs at the ideal hour, OK?
Don’t Forget Your Shades: Bring your glasses and just possibly something for rain. That way, you are protected and prepared regardless, alright?
Seek out Feedback: Do you see stuff folks who have done this already wish that people knew beforehand, huh?

Is the Memphis Mojo Tour Worth Your Time and Money?

OK, is this good? Look, if you are super, super pumped to basically drink in the whole Memphis music situation fast, then yes. What you learn and that feel of what Memphis has done for the music is awesome, right? This ride really offers something different because of those knowledgeable, engaging guides and what spots the trip includes. Still, make sure it’s awesome. Look to see how people liked it! That makes a big difference with trips similar to this.

Other Ways to Get That Memphis Music Vibe

Alright, there are various things you can do other than a cool bus trip. These things provide those local vibes, all the same. Are you down with considering more on that local vibe that’s very, very Memphis?

Sun Studio Visits: You need a more close-up view, huh? Well, maybe you should visit Sun Studio directly to stand right where all that magic happens, too.
Beale Street Roaming: Simply walking up and down Beale is cool, OK? Also you get live jams constantly kicking. Seriously, that street provides vibes that almost get a spot in any collection that talks Memphis Music!
Graceland Trips: Consider making time to also see all that Elvis provides because what Elvis provides is seriously very Memphis.