Every once
in a while a band shows up in camp and blows your socks off high enough to end
up with their discography added to your collection. In today’s case we’re
talking about Mississippi
Live & the Dirty Dirty. I found out about them via my bandcamp
feed seeing one of the fans I “follow” had purchased the album. Coaching
lesson for any of you unfamiliar with the feed, it’s sort of like scrolling
through your facebook or Instagram feed except it’s not full of cat pictures
and political memes. In contrast, the bandcamp feed is custom tailored with
fan’s purchased items on bandcamp. You choose who to follow and who to have
access to on the feed. In my case, I have a select few who I can always count
on for finding those hard to reach albums. I follow fans within several genre
classes to get a good cross section of taste. I don’t put all my eggs in one
basket per se. Today’s fan spotlight is within the alternative country, Americana, rock sector;
fan Rick Simmons. Check out his page,
and give him a follow.
Admittedly I
have a soft spot for anything alternative, outlaw, punk rock with a country
backbone. Mississippi
Live & the Dirty Dirty had me at their description from the get go.
"If Pearl Jam’s and the Drive-By
Truckers’ tour busses collided en route to a Neil Young show in New Orleans,
the result might sound like Mississippi Live & the Dirty Dirty’s CD 'Going
Down.' (LA Beat) Mississippi Live & the Dirty Dirty hail from Vancouver,
BC. They have been described as "Springsteen in his darker
moments..."
For anyone a
fan of the Truckers, Springsteen, Pearl Jam, outlaw country, or anything Americana, this will most
definitely get the blood pumping. Its rock and roll at its heart, loaded with
catchy licks and dark, brooding atmosphere.
Like I said,
I purchased the discography, which is a cool option on bandcamp. There are no
physical albums available unfortunately, as I’d really love the ‘real’
discography. The 30% off price tag for 6 releases, some singles, and the
ability to show off on my collection was worth the price tag. I only listened
to half the latest album, I Ain’t Dyin’
Before my
instincts deciding the whole boat was the best option. And boy, oh boy was I
right. The foot stomping blues licks off the latest album only begin to
describe the variety on the discography and displayed on the early stuff. Way Down Here
Exhibits a
sublime mix of boogie blues, heart breaking Americana, and raspy driven alternative
country rock. The description maintains its aptitude as I can hear shades of
Springsteen throughout, with a 90’s rock vibe of Pearl
jam lingering latently throughout and the overall riffage of the Drive-By
Truckers presented sporadically throughout. The range of each and every album
has the ability to tug at your heart strings with the deep throbbing soulful
yearns, and the dust drenched backwoods blues that yank you back and forth from
opposing sides of ecstasy.
I still
haven’t decided which one I like best. Each time I push play on a different
album I am reminded that IT is the best one. I can’t recommend this band
enough. It’s not stoner rock, it’s not metal, it’s not even country, it’s a
mish mash of everything that gets my goat and ticks my clock.
The tone of
the guitars ring with a grandiose nostalgia, twangy enough to lure in a country
bumpkin, sophisticated enough impress bearded brethren of the urban variety and
powerful enough to send shivers down the spine of a statue. I’ve been playing these albums almost daily
and they’re great for that music when the wife and kids, and even parents are
around, as there’s something for everyone to enjoy. I can’t quite get the same
reaction with some of the heavier rock and metal I listen to. This is good old
fashion summertime grilling or hanging at the lake type of music.
This is just
one of the bands that offer up the discography option on bandcamp. If you play
your cards right, you can end up stacking your collection with complete sets
from all your favorites. Financially it’s a blessing and a disguise, as you
will spend more but the unit pricing goes down, depending on how you look at
it. Mississippi Live deserves the chance to be featured in the bonanza this
go-around. Don’t hesitate to check it out and grab at least one of the albums.
I recommend them all.
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