Recently featured on the Conan O’Brien Show, the North Mississippi Allstars are a combo of gritty country blues, aggressive rock and some great musical genes all mixed together. And they’re playing at Taylor’s Bar and Grill Aug 9.
“We contacted them after seeing their performance at the Mountain Air Festival,” said Bjorn Estlund, Taylor’s booking and promoting agent. “They have a very unique sound, a very powerful, southern blues rock.”
Twenty-something brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson formed the band with friend Chris Chew, and have hit the music world by storm with features in Rolling Stone, Entertainment, Time and Men’s Journal.
It’s no surprise that the band is meeting with success. The Dickinson brothers are the sons of legendary roots music producer Jim Dickinson, and can call upon an upbringing revolving around music.
In the last few years, the Allstars have been playing more than 150 performances a year, sharing the stage with bands such as Galactic and the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Focusing their sound to the region of Fred McDowell, the Allstars have multiple appeal.
“The energy is just right for our room. It’s not so bluesy that it’s too bluesy,” Estlund said. “There are so many influences and it appeals to so many people.
The opportunity to play at Taylor’s is just one of many performances the Allstars booked on their tour.
“This is our first coast-to-coast headline tour since our record came out,” Luther Dickinson said, calling from a pay phone in Victor , Idaho, population 250. Luther Dickinson sings and plays the snaky slide guitar for the trio.
“We’ve never been out west, but people rave about it. They say it’s beautiful country and bands love it. [And] we love college towns. We grew up in a college town.”
“Our music is constantly changing and we’re playing new material all the time,” Cody Dickinson said, labeled a “monstrously talented drummer” by Time magazine.
“We’re a blues band, but we’re really a rock ‘n’ roll band. It all boils down to people wanting to dance,” Luther Dickinson said.
The performance begins at 10 p.m. Wednesday night at Taylor’s Bar and Grill, located at 894 East 13th Ave.
The charge is $6.00 at the door and there are no advanced tickets available.
Visit the Allstars site at http://www.nmallstars.com/