The North Mississippi Allstars have been rollin’ and tumblin’ since 1996. Upholding an earthy tradition carved out by their badass dad, musician/producer James Luther Dickinson, drummer Cody and guitarist/singer Luther play unvarnished, blues-infused rock ‘n’ roll of the Southern variety. And since the birthplace of the blues is the Mississippi Delta per se, you know the music here is authentic. While Prayer For Peace is the duo’s seventh studio album, their rootsy sound remains more or less unchanged and identifiable. Joined by bassist Oteil Burbridge, guitarist/singer Grahame Lesh and guitarist Kenny Brown, the Dickinsons display their bond with jam deities like the Dead and the Allman Brothers Band, as well as their lineage from Hill Country elders Otha Turner and R.L. Burnside. Performing bluesy originals and classics such as Fred McDowell’s “You Got To Move,” the Allstars are earnest rock torchbearers burning quite brightly.
—Mitch Myers
