“Jimbo Mathus’ Knockdown South”:
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Blues guitarist/vocalist James “Jimbo” Mathus brings his latest
incarnation, “Jimbo Mathus’ Knockdown South” to The Green Parrot for
two raw nights of gut-bucket North Mississippi Juke Joint Blues
Saturday and Sunday December 9th and 10th, beginning at 10 o’clock
with a 5:30 P.M. “Sound Check” on Sunday.
If you’ve only known Jimbo Mathus for his work as the founder of
The Squirrel Nut Zippers and their ragtime, early jazz and blues
you’re missing his best work.. In place of the Zippers tight swing
and hot jazz is a loose, woozy houseful of southern sounds that
ricochet from swamp blues to hip-swerving soul; from honky-tonk
weepers to rollicking, almost Allman Brothers-esque rockers.
In what may be called a modern case of classic blues, Mathus, a
devoted fan of Jimmy Rodgers and Charlie Patton, takes the raw power
of vintage delta sounds and gives it a completely contemporary and
fresh lyrical direction and sensibility.
To this sensibility to blues add Mathus’ prowess as a musician.
Following the success of Buddy Guy’s Sweet Tea album, on which Mathus
played second guitar, he was again cast as Buddy’s right hand man on
the Grammy Award winning Blues Singer and subsequent national tour.
Concertlivewire.com described the tour as “a dangerous six string
showdown between Mathus and Guy. He was then hired for a stint on
Buddy Guy’s famed “Double Trouble” tour and was credited with “a
searing slide guitar courtesy of the talented Jimbo Mathus.”
Knockdown South, drawing on gospel, hip-hop, r &b and juke
joint blues, brings to the stage a primal groove with feral lyrics.
Mathus promises a “ritualistic workout that keeps the booty moving.”
The Green Parrot is your Southernmost center for Juke Joint
Culture on the corner of Southard and Whitehead streets. For more
information call 294-6133.
