Review: North Mississippi Allstars

The blues drop into Knuckleheads about as often as the trains pass by the roadhouse in the East Bottoms, but it’s not often they evoke the kind of fury and variety that filled the place Thursday night.

The North Mississippi Allstars headlined, drawing a crowd that can be best described as standing-room-only except in those places where it was so packed you could barely stand. For about two hours, the brothers Dickinson -- guitarist Luther and drummer/percussionist Cody -- and mountainous electric-bass man Chris Chew entertained more than 400 people with their varied takes on Southern rock and country- and Delta-blues.

The openers were the Buffalo Killers, a trio from Ohio whose take on the classic- and garage-rock/blues dovetailed nicely with the headliners’ music. As the headliners set up their gear, fans filled the floor in front of the stage, ensuring this would be no sit-down show, unless you took a seat in back or inside the large heated tent annex outside. This was an overflow crowd, but most of it chose to stay inside the club proper.

The Allstars opened with a groovy fusion of “Shimmy She Wobbles” and “Station Blues,” igniting a mood that ebbed and flowed throughout the set. Next was the gritty, gospel-infused “The Meeting,” then “Keep the Devil Down,” a mix of thick funk, heavy rock and gut-bucket blues.

From the grimy rock/blues of “Goin’ Down South” to the acoustic country-blues number “Hear the Hills” to Chew’s soft and soulful cover of “People Get Ready,” the music changed colors and dynamics as often as the Dickinsons changed instruments. Luther, also a member of the Black Crowes, played a variety of acoustic and electric guitars, including a two-string cigar-box (attached to a broomstick) and what looked like a coffee-can guitar, unleashing a slew of leads, with a slide or his fast-picking fingers. Cody, too, strapped on a guitar during an acoustic instrumental that slightly resembled the Allaman Brothers’ “Jessica.” He also played electric washboard during a hell-bent cover of “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.”

The conditions were not ideal. Oddly, the vocals came and went from one song to the next. Chew was inaudible during his first lead-vocal duties. Likewise, Luther’s voice was much clearer on some songs than others. Some of that had do to with the crowd around the bar, which gradually became disengaged from the show and started talking, sometimes loudly, making it hard to hear things clearly. As crowded as the room was, the sightlines weren’t good from afar.

Up front, however, the diehards remained in a steady state of movement and beer-buzzed glee, down to the last notes of “Sugartown,” an old-time, good-time blues song about liberation, of the body and soul. The Allstars managed to reach a big crowd at both levels Thursday night, which isn’t something you see at every blues show.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[pellboy]

Spot-on review, TF and although I could be wrong on this due to my perhaps beer-induced haze, from my vantage point near the stage, it appeared that the cigar box dealie was a 4-string and the coffee can contraption was a 2-string. And you're right on the vocals, couldn't pickup much from Chew on that first number that he sang, but from where I was in proximity to the stage, didn't have too much of an issue thru most of the show.

Good call on the "Jessica" analogy as I was thinking that acoustic number even had sort of an early Guster feel. As you said, at times Humble Pie, other times the Dead, the Allstars seemed to invoke much more than just straight blues. Great show.

[onthemark]

Smoking hot show last night! Lot of sound for a 3 man band. Crowded? Hell yeah!

Pellboy, I am sure we saw each other but with the crowd hard to be sure.

Luther said they were shooting a video on the last song, be cool to see that.

And how about Cody playing drums with what appeared to be a whiffle ball bat!

[live music fan]

"the crowd around the bar, which gradually became disengaged from the show and started talking, sometimes loudly, making it hard to hear things clearly."

This absolutely drives me crazy. If you're not gonna listen to the music, why are you there?

Anyway, good review. That was pretty much the show that I expected, and considering how crowded it was (I hate crowded shows) I made the right choice skipping it. The NMAS are pretty great, but after you've seen 'em a few times everything starts to sound the same. My favorite NMAS shows have been when they changed things up a little bit.

[live music fan]

I was just checking the LMA to see if this show was up yet, and it's not, but here's a recording of a great NMAS show:

http://www.archive.org/details/nma2006-04-19

The whole show's good, but tracks 5 through 12 are amazing. I especially like them backing up the rapper on "Hustle & Flow" and "Whoomp That Trick".

[Geordan]

Speaking of talking at this show, the same thing seems to be happening more and more at Knuckleheads, where most people are actually there to enjoy live music and not to be part of a so-called scene. I noticed loud talking at the bar and one of the reserved tables during a Bluegrass show there a couple of weeks ago. After the band's first set, Pete, Knuckleheads' saintly sound guy, made an announcement to keep the talking to a minimum or take it outside during the second set.

Sure, have a great time during your night out, but when the music starts, pay attention or go away. I hope this doesn't continue at Knuckleheads, because the same thing makes me think twice about going to shows at The Record Bar and The Beaumont Club, where loud discussions (and even rampant texting) during a show is almost expected. Glad those who packed the joint had a great time last night. Maybe the band will come back and play the more comfortable outdoor stage next time around.

[Mike A]

Good show but so crowded! Hopefully next time they come through they will book a bigger venue. If Knuckleheads holds 400 what is the next size up? Uptown? Midland?

[pellboy]

Yeah, it's crazy to me that a band of their stature (pretty decent discography, reputation for outstanding live shows, loyal fan following) is still stuck playing cramped venues like The Bottleneck or Knuckleheads when it seems they could mostly fill a small theatre like Liberty Hall, perhaps the Voodoo Lounge or the Crossroads during the outdoor season. Speaking of the Voodoo, what the hell happened to that place, that used to be one of my favorite venues for mid-level acts like Gov't Mule, Derek Trucks, BHTM, etc. and it seems they hardly ever book concerts anymore. What gives?

[Marcos]

I was fortunate to see them with John Hiatt a Voodoo Lounge and their were terrific. Also, had a beer with Luther after the show and he was a nice guy. Hiatt as always was terrific. Voodoo Lounge would be a terrific venue for them. Had to miss them this time to Alejandro Escovedo.

[pellboy]

Yeah, reverse for me, Marcos. Really wanted to go to that Alejandro show, but was already locked into this one from earlier and since I had seen Alejandro at that Record Bar show last year but never the NMAS, my choice was fairly obvious. Looked like one of those 'can't miss' nights no matter where you ended up.

[Mike A]

A quick check of the Voodoo website shows they have one concert booked, some country pretty boy, and thats it through February. Looks like they are no longer a concert venue. They do show a Snooki look alike contest coming up, that should bring an upscale clientele.

[Big Joe]

This show was great! If you don't want to hear all the audience chatter, then get up front and bounce around with the rest of us. You can't beat the energy of being right up front at a packed Knuckleheads show.

[Klaus Trafobe]

I don't to "bounce around" with the hoard gathered around the stage. Didn't like it when I was younger and won't do it now.

[A]

Trafobe, maybe you'd be better off with the DVD that they recorded :)