| From DDT to
Gutbucket was real natural because it was just
the acoustic side of what we were doing. It was
the more gigs we could play and the busier we
could stay. Ever since we were teenagers we've
just been trying to play as many shows as we can.
VOYAGER: So
then DDT became a big band, then the All-Stars
formed out of that core group.
LD: As
soon as we started the All-Stars everyone was
real excited, and it was just kind of meant to
be. Paul left because he was more of a jazzier
type player, and that's when (bassist) Big Chris
(Chew) came into the fold! We grew up with Chris
and have known him since we were kids. He grew up
playing in church.
VOYAGER:
What was it about the reaction to the All-Stars
that told you, "THIS is the direction we're
going to take?"
LD: With
the All-Stars it was a definite thing because I
had spent a lot of time with Othar Turner and
R.L. Burnside and studying a lot of Mississippi
Fred McDowell and it was all I was listening to.
It was really just livng my whole life in Memphis
in that subculture down there and it was all I
wanted to do, and here it is.
VOYAGER:
How did you get hooked up with Tone Cool Records?
LD: We
spent a summer playing on Beale Street and they
saw us there. Hunted us down for a year or so (laughs).
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| VOYAGER:
What are the characterisitics of the Hill Country
style? LD:
Its not your typical 12-bar blues style, chord
progression, turnaround. Its more of a rhythmic
drone, a melody on top of a rythmic pulse with
not really a lot of chord changes moving around.
Its just a way to play songs, because a lot of
the songs in the tradition, other people play
them with chord changes. Its real fife and drum
oriented. Its just melody and rythm and real
repetitious and droney and tranced-out.
VOYAGER: The
title of your album is Shake
Hands with Shorty. What was
the in-spy-ration for that title?
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LD:
R.L. Burnside actually named that. He always says
we're hanging in there like a dirty shirt. We
waited a long time to sign with anybody, and then
we got in the game, and its just (laughs) a good,
lighthearted title.
VOYAGER:
Millions and millions of people will read this
(wink wink), so what would you like to say to
them?
LD: Man,
I would just like to say "Hey" to
everybody out there and I hope they enjoy our
music and hopefully we'll see everybody soon.
We're just going to keep on playing, I know that! |
Big Chris Chew -
Hangin' in there like a dirty shirt.
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| The North
Mississippi All-Stars are probably playing near
you soon. Check www.NMSAllstars.com
for tour and CD
info. |
| To read a review of a
North Mississippi All-Stars show, click here. |
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