Shake Hands With Shorty

Shake Hands With Shorty

What is the sound of one blues exploding? It is the North Mississippi Allstars, one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the South in a long, long time. This is Black Flag if its members were Fred McDowell, R. L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Otha Turner. Guest stars would include Duane Allman, Captain Beefheart, and Howlin' Wolf. Luther Dickinson plays guitar like an octogenarian bluesman on his first amphetamine rush; his brother Cody drums hard, like a Keith Moon born and bred in Mississippi (their dad is famed producer/musician Jim Dickinson). Linking the two is Chris Chew, who spits out bass fat and heavy. Their music rockets from the rural backwoods to the laser CD player like a jack on a jenny. Songs that evolved through the last century are given new life, ensuring their relevance to another generation. World Boogie is upon us. <i>--Robert Gordon</i>