Owner of Po Monkey’s Willie Seaberry with Magical Madge in the background. Photo by Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto
The Delta Bohemians recently visited the infamous Po Monkey’son a R&B Deejay Thursday night. Po Monkey’s is located just outside Merigold, MS in Bolivar County on a gravel road next to a farm field.
Felt like home away from home for this Delta Bohemian. Reminded me of many a night spent juking in my youth among friends who just want to have a good time. Back in the day, we would inhabit an abandoned tenant shack and make it our own until we were run out by the land owner. Po Monkey’s surely sprung out of this same yearning to have a place to unwind, kick it with friends, drink some liquor or brew and dance to music that makes you forget your troubles while transporting you to a place that feels right and is right.
This particular night at Po Monkey’s The Delta Bohemians attended the famous juke joint with two friends, Delta Bohemian Semi-Fixture and Almeda, California resident Gordon Yamamoto and a new NOLA friend Jeffrey Collins. Prior to our visit, we stopped by Crawdaddy’s in Merigold for some grub.
The juke joint was packed and the R&B was pumping a vibration felt deep in our bones. Pool tables were occupied, seats were filled and the dance floor was never without bodies. There was a wonderful mixture of folks–white, black, young, old, locals, tourists, semi-fixtures, Teach for America cohorts, and one Japanese fellow, all sitting at the same tables. The owner, Willie Seaberry, was ever present and always willing to have his picture taken. He is a sweet man….
The video is short but will give you a small taste of how it sounded on this night in a place that personifies much of why we love the Mississippi Delta so much; it resides deep within our bones with an understanding and familiarity that is hard to explain. It just felt like home. God Bless and Long Live Po Monkey’s and Willie Seaberry.
Watch on YouTube or watch the video below.
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- Jeffrey Collins, Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto and Poor William at Crawdaddy’s in Merigold. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Jeffrey Collins, Poor William, Magical Madge, and Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto at Crawdaddy’s in Merigold. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto and NOLA resident Jeffrey Collins outside Po Monkey’s on a Thursday night. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Poor William walking through the door at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Jeffrey Collins, Delta Bohemian and Cat Head’s Roger Stolle with his associates from M for Mississippi documentary at Po Monkey’s greeting Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Friends: Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto and James at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto greeting his friend at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto greeting his friend at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto greeting his friend at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto greeting his friend at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Poor William cuttin’ up at Po Monkey’s with a fellow reveler. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Poor William cuttin’ up at Po Monkey’s with a fellow reveler. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- James, a cool pool playin’ dude at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- James, a cool pool playin’ dude at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- James and Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto enjoying the life at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- James and Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto enjoying the life at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Enjoying the life at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- The interior of Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Poor William inside Po Monkey’s entertaining his wife. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Poor William inside Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- James enjoying a game of pool at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian and Cat Head owner Roger Stolle and Jeff Konkel of Broke & Hungry Records, both producers of award-winning documentary “M for Mississippi” enjoying an evening in Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian and Semi-fixture Gordon Yamamoto inside Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian and Cat Head owner, writer and producer of award-winning “M for Mississippi” documentary, Roger Stolle enjoying his evening at Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Pool at Po Monkey’s. Oh, that’s Gordon, a true Delta Bohemian, taking a photo of me taking a photo of him. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Delta Bohemian and a Mr. Month wanna be…?….Gordon Yamamoto and James inside Po Monkey’s having a real time. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- A lover of Mississippi and a delta Bohemian inside Po Monkey’s on a Thursday night. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Life is good and life is beautiful inside Po Monkey’s. This kind woman friended this Delta Bohemian. She too is a delta Bohemian. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Magical Madge and the patient and sweet Willie Seaberry, owner of Po Monkey’s. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Jimmy “Duck” Homes giving concert to his friend, Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto, both true originals. Photo by Jeffrey Collins
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- Owner of Po Monkey’s Willie Seaberry with Magical Madge in the background. Photo by Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto
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- Delta Bohemian, Semi-Fixture and Alameda, California Gordon Yamamoto in front of Po Monkey’s, a place he frequents every visit to the Mississippi Delta. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
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- Owner of Po Monkey’s Willie Seaberry with Magical Madge in the background. Photo by Delta Bohemian Gordon Yamamoto
For directions to Po Monkey’s, email [email protected].
WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE COMMENTS!!
Good times! (By the way, that’s friend Jean-Pierre Urbain talking with Jeff Konkel and I. Jean-Pierre is a journalist for the wonderful French blues magazine ABS — as well as an economics professor in “real life”! He also has great taste in wine.)
No doubt you told me this that night, Roger, but my brain fails me. Hola, Jean-Pierre Urbain. I need to see this magazine next time I’m in Cat Head. Hope to meet him, too.
Being a french man, I bet he could really enlighten me on some vino. I just know it makes me crazy. 😎
Great photos! That was a fun night. Glad you were able to hang with Duck at the Blue Front, too!
I coulda stayed until it closed but my baby had a lemming moment and when that hits we gotta run. Let’s do it again soon! I love it a Po Monkey’s.
We would love to spend an evening with you and Roger soon. I know you are busy with your new documentary! How’s it going?
Po Monkey’s is a truly unique place. A couple of years ago my wife (Mary) and I were hunting a Geocache that was across the road from Po Monkey’s, so we decided to look the property over. After we had walked around the place and set off the “alarm” we looked around and who drives up but Po Monkey himself. He got out and introduced himself and invited us in (it was about 10am). He told us he had to go in and turn on the A/C for the wedding reception of his boss’s daughter. The inside was amazing with stuffed monkeys hanging from the ceiling and the walls covered with post cards. Some day we’re going to have to get back there when he is open.
Thanks for the pictures, I know y’all had a great time there.
David Cope
David,
We did have a great evening…it just ended too soon. Ha.
Tell me more about you and Mary and your visit. When were you in the Delta? Where else did you go? How did you find The Delta Bohemian? Welcome!
The Delta is waiting for your return!
Madge
Hey Gang,
It’s Monday afternoon in suburban Walnut Creek, CA…miles and attitudes far, far from Po’ Monkey’s! This is the first opportunity for me to see your article on full sized computer…my BlackBerry screen just didn’t permit! I didn’t realize you shot so many photos of me, but I’m really proud of the fact that you captured my efforts to befriend Super Pool Player, James!! I travel all over Southern Louisiana, and the Mississippi Delta because of evenings like we shared at Po’ Monkey’s!! I never tire of reminding Willie that he’s Rich Monkey!! But then, we’re ALL richer for the experiences he provides, yes? Thanks again, Madge and Billy for joining me there!! My next visit we invade Blue Front Cafe and my good friend, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes! ~YAMO, Y’ALL !!
Sounds like a plan my brother! Enjoy your life fishing trip–I am intensely jealous! 🙂
Mary and I live in West Helena. I’ve been here since 1972 and Mary since 2004. We travel all over the delta during our Geocaching adventures. I found a link to your website through my Facebook friend Kim Williams. Mary and I run the Wild Hog Saloon for our bike group. Come down on Tuesday for our Movie Nite @ 7:30pm. We’re showing True Grit this Tuesday. No admission and free popcorn.