Australia Jones “Honeybee” Neal: A Powerful New Female Voice in the Mississippi Blues
I am not sure how my friend Sherena Boyce became aware of Australia Jones “Honeybee” Neal, but at some point a couple of years ago, …
musicology
A Sunday Night in the Hill Country
Mattie B’s is an old ballfield and juke joint in far western Marshall County, where for the last month or so, they’ve been having live …
North Mississippi Blues Legends at Mattie B’s
As a state, Mississippi has largely chosen to avoid the stricter lockdown measures that other states have imposed during the pandemic; although many blues events …
Duwayne Burnside Live at Mattie B’s in Marshall County
One of the worst things of 2020 was the cancellation of nearly all live music events, gigs, festivals and parties. It was understandable, in the …
Quarantine Images
The sudden closure of everything in mid-March due to Covid-19 had a devastating effect on all live music, including the blues. Nearly everything was closed …
All On A Mardi-Gras Day: “You Know How It Goes”: Closing Out The Holiday With The TBC Brass Band
The approaching end of any holiday can be depressing, but there is no better way to close out a Mardi Gras Day than with what …
All On A Mardi-Gras Day: A Backyard Party Uptown with TBC Brass Band
The house where TBC was to play at 4 PM looked like a fairly ordinary Uptown home from the street, but it was abuzz with …
All On A Mardi-Gras Day: “I Run Through Water and Swim Through Mud”: Black Indians Uptown
The gangs of Black Indians (sometimes called Mardi Gras Indians) who appear in elaborate costumes on the streets of New Orleans on Mardi Gras, St. …
All On A Mardi-Gras Day: The Rex Parade
The end of Zulu is followed almost immediately by Rex, and although they follow different routes to a point, they end up coming right behind …
All On A Mardi-Gras Day: Breakfast and Zulu Parade Uptown
I was awakened by children’s laughter. My friend Darren Towns’ four daughters were as excited by Mardi Gras morning as kids usually are on Christmas …