After sweltering at AutoZone Park for the first five innings tonight, the roommate and I decided to forego the remainder of the game-and the Redbirds' late inning heroics that delivered a 3-1 win-to move on to the next portion of vacation entertainment: a Burnside at Ground Zero!
Tonight it was Cedric, a gifted drummer and singer, with his partner, Lightnin' Malcolm, a serious guitarist. Cedric Burnside is a grandson of the late legendary north Mississippi hill country bluesman, R.L. Burnside. R.L. and his musical soulmate, Junior Kimbrough, did plenty for us just leaving their collection of late-life trance boogie blues. But musicians of their power and vision don't die; they fertilize the souls of the young musicians that come after them. The best known purveyors of hill country stomp are the North Mississippi All Stars. The sons of James Luther Dickinson were blessed to grow up in the company of great musicians of every stripe, those their father played with, recorded with, and produced. They literally sat at the feet of Burnside and Kimbrough, and the ordination of these acolytes took. But alongside the All Stars are various children and grandchildren, especially among the Burnsides. Duwayne Burnside was the fourth NMA for several years, in the pattern of all those who claimed to be the fifth Beatle. Only Duwayne contributed.
Cedric and Malcolm are a two man band. They don't need any help. Malcolm's slide gets it done, and his finger picking provides a powerful bass line. Cedric takes care of the rest behind his kit. No vocal harmonies here, they double the lead vocal All Night Long. Seamlessly.
The Burnsides, and those who play with them, have IT in their bones. Jim Dickinson calls it World Boogie, and preaches that It Is Coming!
Taking out after John Lee Hooker's stomp and relentlessly driving beat, Burnside and Kimbrough refined it, made it hypnotic (connecting all the way back to the Moroccan trance/dance music at its core) and plugged it in.
The kids go even farther.
An evening spent listening to Cedric and Malcolm can give you hope that there is still a chance for humanity. Wars and economies and bad policies and worse politicians are all swept
away before the tidal wave of The Boogie. Hypocritical religion and vanity of every sort are wiped away. The joy in Staying is savored. The power in Surviving Josef Conrad's Horror is celebrated. The victory of Living In Spite of It All is proclaimed and relished.
Do your soul a favor, and get thee to a Burnside's side as fast as you can get there. It just might save your life, as it does mine everytime!
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