I ask this upon seeing The North Mississippi Allstars on late night TV, last night…The Carson Daly Show, I b’leive, first watching of that. I’m not unbiased, because I’ve known the band since they were teens, and we had the same influence and wonderful time spent with Mississippi bluesmen now dead and gone… RL Burnside, Jr Kimbrough, Otha Turner. Their new album Electric Blue Watermelon, is a tribute to those guys, and I love it on a deep level, because I was priviledged to hear the guys they pay tribute to.
The album is up for a Grammy, yee-ha, but I guess I didn’t know how popular my homeboys were until seeing them last night just rip it up beautifully in the wee, yet national, TV hours. It made me get teary-eyed, to see that they are taking the music we all loved back in the day a decade ago, to a new level, mixing it up with rap and southern rock, and getting some accolades. It’s amazing to me to see that music taken up so well.
So, are the North Mississippi Allstars on the radar of SD music afficianados? Are they considered a cool band, groundbreaking? I am soooo out of the loop, done got old, but so curious…
I cannot speak for others but I really like their music. I am a blues guitarist myself so am more likely than most others to enjoy listening to a blues band. I saw them in concert here in Lexington on September 25, 2003 and that’s when I became acquainted w/ North Mississippi All-Stars.
Listening to them is the only reason motivating me to occasionally tune-in to the Carson Daly Show.
I liked that record they did back in '01 or so, but haven’t listened to the new stuff. I thought the “rapper” that they had last night was really lame - either get a real emcee and let him have a verse, or don’t. None of this “let’s get a brotha to occasionally yell out some stuff” nonsense.
A few years ago I somehow scored a “photographer pass” to one of their shows and got right up there, elbows on the stage, with my camera. If you like, I’ll see if I can dig those photos up, elelle.
I am not a fan of their style of music, but I have a special place in my heart for them.
Right before settling in on NMSAS, they were “Gutbucket” and did a little tour with the Squirrel Nut Zippers. I got to meet Cody one night and we hung out for a short bit. I got their Gutbucket 45". I thought they were seriously talented and had a great love for what they do.
Then they became NMSAS and I corresponded with their mom for a little while through their first web site. I was proud when they started making it big.
They slip in and out from my radar - they did some recording with a friend in 2000 or so - but i was mighily impressed to see them on a bill for some cruise with Dave Matthews.
I wouldn’t mind being stuck on a boat with Cody tho
I saw NMAll-stars last summer; they were backing John Hiatt and they were a tight, rockin’ band.
Enjoyed them quite a bit.
slight hijack: Zipper
I love the Squirrel Nut Zippers. How cool that you saw them perform.
I caught the very end of their set at Reading Festival a few years ago and saw them again in a pub basement in Birmingham with about 20 other people. I do have the first album as well, but I much prefer them live.
Well, by the number of replies here, I guess the NM Allstars are not much on the regular radar. Thanks for the input, tho.
There is a Squirrel Nut Zippers connection, too; Frontman Jimbo Mathus moved back to Clarksdale, MSPI, a couple of years ago, and now runs a recording studio there, pretty swell, recording many blues musicians, and Elvis Costello, too. His current band is The Knockdown Society; there is alot of overlap in the musicians of the NM Allstars and Knockdown Society, including the younger Burnsides. It’s a pretty vital scene, and I’ll agree, they are all better live players than I’ve heard on record. But, buy the records so they can keep playing live!
I’m a big fan. I first saw them on Conan in 2000 or so, and I’ve been following them since. I was lucky enough to see them at Vegoose (a big outdoor music festival in Las Vegas) a few months back - what a great show. I’d love to see them in a smaller venue some time.
As much as I really like NMAS, I don’t think I could sit through more than about 90 seconds of Carson Daly waiting for them to come on. If there is a more lame, self- absorbed “personality” than him on TV, I’ve been blessed by not having found such a person.
