Just weeks after the release of their critically acclaimed new album, "World Boogie is Coming", the North Mississippi Allstars made a stop in Minneapolis to an eager Cabooze audience.  After all the praise the album had been getting, I had to check it out.  I was not disappointed, and their live show was on another plane altogether.

Beyond getting to witness a great performance, I was privileged to be attending with a buddy of mine that is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge of this genre.  For everyone in my boat, here is a summary of Mac's tutorial...  NMA is a North Mississippi Hills Blues band, which is a sub-genre of blues but distinct from Delta blues and is all about dancing...  Heavy backs beats, somewhat trance -like, and incredibly rhythmic.  Luther and Cody Dickinson are the sons of Blues legend Jim Dickinson and grew up in Hernando MS.  They were friends of and mentored by Hill Country Bluesman RL Burnside and one of the few fife and drum blues players left - Otha Turner.  Turner's granddaughter, Shadre Thomas, is on the album and she may be the last link to one of blues music's oldest traditions.  Video clips of Otha and RL were playing on the screen behind the band for the first part of the evening, paying tribute to those that came before them.