North Mississippi All-Stars return

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Nov 5, 2014 | Music Briefs | 0 |

Brothers Luther (guitar) and Cody Dickinson (drums) along with Chris Chew (bass) established the foundation for this bluesy jam outfit. Growing up in the North Mississippi Hill Country, the Dickinsons’ younger years were filled with the teachings of R.L. Burnside, Otha Turner and Junior Kimbrough. It also helped that their father (the late Jim Dickinson) was a heavy hitter in the music business himself.

EXBNMSAllstars

It has been amazing to watch the evolution of the North Mississippi All-Star’s sound. With their debut “Shake Hands with Shorty,” the band single-handedly exposed a new generation to the Hill Country Blues style. Their take on Burnside’s “Shake ‘Em On Down” and “KC Jones” proved blues could still be taken outside the box. Other albums such as “Electric Blue Watermelon” show the All-Stars infusing more rock elements into their style.

Currently, the band is touring in support of their 2013 release “World Boogie Is Coming.” Sonically, they have returned to the old school with an overall vibe harkening to classic blues recordings. “World Boogie Is Coming” definitely is a trip to the back roads surrounding their home of Hernando, Mississippi, with each track coming off as a juke joint masterpiece laden with the hypnotic style characterizing Hill Country Blues.

North Mississippi All-Stars
Date: Friday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Soul Kitchen, 219 Dauphin St., www.soulkitchenmobile.com
Tickets: $18 in advance /$23 at the door, available at Soul Kitchen, their website, Mellow Mushroom (MiMo/WeMo) and by calling 1-866-468-7630

About The Author

Stephen Centanni

With the exception of two years spent at Auburn University, Steve Centanni has spent his life in Mobile County while focusing on his two passions: music and the written word. As soon as he was issued his driver’s license, Centanni began to explore the local music scene in the early ‘90s. He filled his weekend with visits classic local venues such as the Four Strong Winds Coffee House, Vincent Van Go-Go’s and Culture Shock, all of which welcomed those who had yet to reach 18. After high school, Centanni traded Mobile for Auburn to complete his B.A. in English with an emphasis on general writing. While at Auburn, he had the honor of studying under the Pulitzer-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, who served as the nation’s Poet Laureate in 2012 and 2014. After receiving his diploma, Centanni quickly moved back to Mobile and completed the University of South Alabama’s graduate program with a M.Ed. Eventually, he was tapped by the nationally distributed Volume Entertainment Magazine to serve as the magazine’s managing editor/senior writer. His time with Volume allowed him to exercise his love for both music and writing. As Volume began to fade, Lagniappe recruited Centanni as their Music Writer and later their Music Editor, where he has remained for a little over a decade. As far as his involvement in the local music scene, Centanni organized Cess Fest at the Langan Park, which was a mini-festival focused on original local music in a time when original local music was veritably taboo in Downtown Mobile. For a short time, he brought original music to Downtown Mobile as the in-house promoter for the now deceased venue Cell Block. He managed local underground powerhouse Fry Cook, until the members parted ways. Centanni has lent his bass to bands such as Keychain Pistol and The F’n A-Holes, and he toured nationally as a member of Abstract Artimus & the Torture Children. Currently, he provides vocals for the garage blues rock outfit Johnny No. Ultimately, Centanni’s experience in the local music scene as both a participant and an observer has allowed him to witness the ever-changing persona of Mobile’s enigmatic music scene, which continues to leave him with more questions than answers.