The North Mississippi Allstars took to the stage at the House of Blues around 11 PM, on a Friday night in Chicago, and proceeded to smoke through a performance that lasted nearly three hours. The trio from Oxford, Mississippi clearly had the heaviest hearts in the club as they dealt with the destruction brought on by Hurricane Katrina two weeks prior to their native southern soil. As they promoted their new album Electric Blue Watermelon, it was visible the band had their minds elsewhere while delivering a powerfully cathartic show.It was the band's first Chicago show since last year. The band recently came through town last July as John Hiatt's band, headlining the WXRT Free 4th of July concert at Grant Park. Fans of the band who were at that show probably were not used to seeing the band stick to a plan. Known for their fluid stage presence and "jam" band-like qualities (marathon guitar solos, band improvisation), the North Mississippi Allstars are considered to be in a class of their own, manipulating what they know to be the traditions of blues music and turning it upside down on its head with country, folk, and rock music.
If there was ever an obvious signal from the packed audience that they were ready for the band's flavor of boogie, it definitely came at the start of the show as a woman tossed her bra at guitarist Luther Dickinson. The shuffling groove of "Teasin' Brown" was an early jump start to the night. Drummer Cody Dickinson (Luther's younger brother) and bassist Chris Chew makeup the band's fat stomp of a rhythm section. Together, they formed a sound like a herd of oxen marching through open fields. The band gave their latest material heavy rotation throughout the setlist. Songs like "Hurry Up Sunrise" and "Deep Blue Sea" stepped back from their more sweaty counterparts and showed more of the band's softer, melodic side. In a tribute to R.L. Burnside, a blues legend in every aspect and friend to the band, "Shake 'Em On Down" got down and dirty as it blended a cover of Burnside's "Poor Black Mattie." The band wrapped their hands around another cover deep into their encore with a hot, sexy (possibly illegal in some states) version of The Rolling Stones' "Stray Cat Blues."
The night eventually drew to a close. Chew, the most talkative of the band members, joked often about how the band has been known to be asked to stop playing by the clubs hosting them. Once that switch is flipped to ON it's hard to get the North Mississippi Allstars to stop. Each member had their moments to shine: Cody Dickinson's washboard solo (yes, a washboard), Chew's funky basslines, and Luther Dickinson's flawless guitar work.For every note, the crowd kept up with the band. It's almost as if the band dares any crowd to try and maintain a level of energy equal to the band's on stage. If you're going to be at a North Mississippi Allstars show, prepare to go all night with the band. To them, the music is like sex; each song gets the band and crowd closer to that monumental orgasm to cap off the night. The bra that was thrown onto the stage at the beginning of the show became Chew's trophy, dangling from the head of his bass as if to signify how great the night went. All parties were happily satisfied and smoked their obligatory cigarette when the lights came back on. With so many musical dynamics at their fingertips, the North Mississippi Allstars gave all the reasons why they consistently remain to be an explosive live band. The chaos which nature wielded upon thousands along the Gulf Coast caused enormous suffering for many. But for the Oxford-based band out of Mississippi the music provided just enough comfort to get through the night.
All Photos By: Chris Castaneda
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