REPRESENTIN' THE DIRTY SOUTH

North Mississippi Allstars :: 02.24.06 :: House Of Blues :: Cleveland, OH

NMA :: 02.24.06 :: Cleveland, OH

Ah, the good ol' southern US of A. It's a place that I know very well, having been born and raised in Georgia. Her mountains and cotton fields, swamps and mosquitoes, sweet tea and collard greens. It's one of the most fantastic places on earth, and on February 24th, a little piece of the south came to the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio, in the form of North Mississippi Allstars (NMA). This talented trio, consisting of Luther Dickinson (guitar/vocals), Chris Chew (bass/vocals), and Cody Dickinson (drums), came rolling into town with as much hell-fire as they could muster, and they were prepared to throw down one damn good shindig.

The doors opened at 7:00 p.m. on the dot, and with nothing to do but wait, I sat back and enjoyed my surroundings. Video images of some of the world's finest musicians played on a movie screen hanging in front of the stage. Watching these clips, I became so enthralled that I almost forgot that I was there to see an actual concert. Muddy Waters, Billie Holiday, John Lee Hooker - all of the greats were represented. Paintings, strange creatures, and pure abstracts hung along the walls of the House of Blues, and patchwork curtains lined the front of the stage. Persian-style rugs laid in patient waiting for the musicians' feet on the stage floor, and a sign reading "Unity in Diversity...All are One" hung above the theater. In this place, good music was just itching to be made.

Steel Train :: 02.24.06 :: Cleveland, OH

New York natives Steel Train started the evening off, and for the small crowd that had begun to arrive, this band's blend of rock, folk, and exploratory jams provided a decent beginning to the night's revelry. The first song contained a great deal of snare and a catchy little hook that ended up a bit poppy for my taste. It sounded like it would do very well among the MTV circuit, but it was out of place at this venture. However, the quality of these kids' musicianship was easily detectable, even if the song was a bit cookie-cutter. Halfway through their set, Steel Train busted out a completely unexpected a cappella number complete with one microphone for four singers, and the guys harmonized beautifully like an old-time barbershop quartet. Their last song was full of energy and Phish-inspired explorations, but these paths sounded more like an unorganized mess rather than the organized bedlam that Phish perfected so well. All in all, Steel Train didn't disappoint.

Luther Dickinson :: 02.24.06 :: Cleveland, OH

After Steel Train's performance and an entire hour of waiting, the North Mississippi Allstars finally took the stage. The crowd had grown a bit restless due to the unanticipated delay, but when NMA kicked right into their first song, "Run On," all anxious feelings dissipated as a world of music infused with deep, down-home roots took over. With a sound that was part country, part blues, and part rock & roll, all shot through heavy amplification, NMA's songs made foot-stomping hard to resist. In "Mean Ol' Wind Died Down," Luther switched to the slide guitar, producing a sound that was very reminiscent of an Allman Brothers jam, and the beat carried throughout the song sounded as though it came right out of Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz." It was the epitome of dirty southern rock.

Chris Chew :: 02.24.06 :: Cleveland, OH

The band played on into the night and showed no signs of fragility. However, as many more Allman Brothers-esque jams ensued, I realized that the journeys were leaving something to be desired. To me, all the jams seemed very similar: Luther shredding away at his guitar, building into a rip-roaring crescendo, and then receding back into the smooth ending of the song. Granted, blazing guitar solos are excellent for the soul but these lacked originality, and there was very little input from the other instruments. Luckily, the repetitive jams were my only qualm with the entire show.

One truly welcome piece to the night's melodic puzzle came from Chew's harmonious voice. His smooth falsetto provided an interesting dichotomy to Luther's gritty vocals, and that created a welcome sense of balance within the music. Chew also grabbed many opportunities to interact with the crowd, keeping them hyped-up and interested. Taking advantage of a particularly high, energy-filled moment, he went into a little rap saying, "Cleveland Browns in the house tonight, Cleveland Browns in the house tonight." And of course the crowd went wild repeating the phrase.

Chris Chew :: 02.24.06 :: Cleveland, OH

Further evolving in tunes such as "Po Black Maddie," with a guitar riff that was redolent of ZZ Top's "La Grange," the southern theme that was so prevalent at the beginning of the concert marched strongly throughout the show. A cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Mississippi Kid" was a true highlight. "Skinny Woman" and "Mississippi Boll Weevil" added to the low-country sentiment with their twangy overtones, and "No Mo'" tied everything together, bringing a sense of present-day, southern hip-hop to the old-school feel of the night through the use of a drummer boy bass line and rap-style lyrics.

Throughout the whole concert, repetitive jams and all, the level of talent of this dynamic group was undeniable. Cody was a site to behold, playing two full drum kits during the show as well as taking some time every now and again to play the keys while simultaneously keeping the beat on his snares and basses. But the presentation of pure musical ability did not stop there. During "Psychedelic Sex Magic," Cody played the washboard, the sound of which was enhanced by the wa-wa pedals attached to the instrument, providing a fascinatingly eerie resonance. With lights flashing madly over the stage, it seemed as if the House of Blues was getting ready for lift-off. While Cody dazzled on his washboard, Luther moved from his guitar to the drums and, along with Chew and his eloquent bass strumming,

Luther Dickinson :: 02.24.06 :: Cleveland, OH

The one key element in this gig that truly made it a success was the sense of emotion behind the whole performance. These men put their hearts and souls into this music, and it resonated off of them for the entire show. The passion and energy never faltered, and the gratitude that was expressed for the fans throughout the concert was unprecedented. On the North Mississippi Allstars' website, there is an entire section about the band's influences and mentors. Although one can read about NMA's respect for their roots and for the performers who made them popular, there is something lost in the translation. Only when one witnesses the Allstars in a live setting can the respect for these three truly unfold, and that is what made this concert so incredible.

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