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| R.L. Burnside |
Life in the Mississippi conjures up many images, and for the blues
aficionado therein lies the heart. The Delta has long been home
to musicians threading tales of bad-luck, worry and deals gone
wrong through raw honesty.
On what could quite possibly be called the opposite side of
the musical spectrum is the pretentious metropolis of New York
City. However great their differences may be, two recent releases
on Matador, A Ass Pocket of Whiskey and Now I Got Worry, have
brought these cultures together in a ferocious manner.
The first member of this collaboration is cut from the same
cloth as Lightnin' Hopkins, Son House and Fred McDowell. Sixty-nine
year old R.L. Burnside has been playing guitar and making music
in Holly Springs, MS for over 50 years. On any given night the
hypnotic blues of R.L. and Junior Kimbrough can be heard seeping
out of Junior's Juke Joint. Although R.L.'s recent southern
drenched jam sessions have been involving the northern punk/blues/rock
sounds of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
Spencer was a key factor in paving the way for the late '80s
underground alternative punk sound with Pussy Galore. Even at
that stage, the blues inspiration was evident with their static
fulled schlock cover of the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street.
After the disbanding of Pussy Galore, Spencer had a brief stint
with the Honeymoon Killers which spawned the seeds for the Blues
Explosion.
Although the differences between Burnside and Spencer seem
obvious, one musn't look far to see the apparent similarities.
Both men front bassless trios and feel music sounds best when
performed from the soul. This realization can be heard loud,
intense, drunk and sloppy on "A Ass Pocket of Whiskey." Make
no mistake, Burnside and company put together the real deal
here with four guitars and drums onslaught on raunchy blues
standards and originals recorded one afternoon in Holly Springs.
The looseness can be felt and heard in the dialogue that weaves
through the tracks in a humorous southern style.
Now with the influence of Burnside and the Delta at their
back, the JSBX have recently released "Now I Got To Worry."
There's more of a blues groove on this than their previous efforts
with songs like "R.L. Got Soul" and "Chicken Dog," which also
features Rufus Thomas (his hit was "Walk The Dog", is a Blues
DJ, and yes he's Irma's Dad!).
Their mutual enjoyment of playing is sure to transcend the
diversity of concert goers in a positive way. The rambunctious
crooning of Spencer, reminiscent of Elvis or Jerry Lee, is sure
to turn the heads of blues fans. Likewise, listening to Burnside
rip through his style of boogie is on par with a dog in heat.
An evening is on hand to bring young and old together like only
the blues can.
Editors Note: Look for a new R.L. Burnside release on Fat
Possum/Capricorn soon, plus on a sampler called "Mucho Mojo".
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2002