Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, who form the heart of the North Mississippi Allstars, are music lifers. They were born into as the sons of the late legendary producer Jim Dickinson, who worked with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Big Star. Jim instilled a deep respect for the South’s musical traditions in them, but I wouldn’t call it veneration. There’s nothing stale or hidebound about their approach to American roots, and the distinctive blues of the north Mississippi hill country. They take a thoroughly modern approach to tradition, and they do it with dazzling musicianship. Their shows are always exciting, energetic, and celebratory, and Friday’s performance at the Hamilton was no exception.
Luther and Cody are consummate musicians, whose skills as sidemen and producers have been sought out by numerous fellow artists. For a while, when the Robinson brothers were on the outs, Luther played lead guitar in the Black Crowes. During the Oct. 9 show, Cody mainly played drums, but he also played keys and washboard. They each sang several songs, as did the current third member of the trio, Marcus Machado. As good a guitarist as Luther is, he readily admitted, after Marcus covered Jimi Hendrix’s “Castles in the Sand” that “I can’t play guitar like that.” Machado did another Hendrix number, “Manic Depression,” toward the end of the set.
It was after that song Luther mentioned how he tried to get an answer from AI about how many shows the band’s played in their 30 years, but the AI couldn’t do it. As I related to his merch person, this isn’t quite a job for AI. You have to ask a marginally employed guy with Asperger’s, who has it all written out longhand on loose-leaf paper. The guy has it all memorized, but he writes it down because it fills a compulsive need and making lists allows him to maintain a sense of orderliness in a chaotic world. I’m not marginally employed, so is this only somewhat autobiographical.
They opened with “Stay All Night,” then Luther set the mood, declaring “We are going to have a good time!” Later, after one of Marcus songs, he exclaimed, “Hallelujah, we’re alive!” I don’t know if what he said after “Mean Old Wind Died Down,” that “good food makes good music,” is a real Southern aphorism, but if it isn’t, it should be. Before the encore, he said, “Music is a prayer for peace.”
Watch North Mississippi AllStars perform “Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down” live for Music City Roots on YouTube:
The set rolled on — and this pun is intended — with “Up and Rollin,” followed by “brand new one,” adding, “these guys are pros.” I have to say, with as many cantankerous performers as there are — I’ve seen some go off on their band — it really is nice to see Luther’s appreciation for his fellow musicians. A bit later, we got another song that’s “absolutely brand new,” which I suspect might be called “Jelly Roll.” (It made me think of my suggestion that, now that Jelly Roll’s lost so much weight, he should change his name to Bear Claw.)
He dedicated “Po’ Black Maddie” to T-Model Ford, who they played with at the Black Cat. He showed his appreciation for the audience after “Skinny Woman,” saying, “You guys are too much fun.”
The set also included “Shake ‘Em Down,” “Call That Gone,” “Preachin’ Blues,” “Keep the Devil Down,” and “All Night Long.” Cody sang the last song in the main set, something like “Revelator.” For their encore, they played “Someday Baby,” “Bird Without a Feather,” and “Mean Old World.”
I’ve seen the Allstars labeled as “Americana,” but I don’t agree with that. If there’s any country in what they’re doing, it’s not much. There’s a lot of blues, a little bit of folk, plenty of rock & roll, and a lot of boogie. This is a a perennial topic in the circles I talk to people in, what is Americana? I love that kind of music, but this music — which I also love — ain’t that. Allmusic lists Lucinda Williams (who also owes a lot to the blues) as a similar artist, and I can see that, but that doesn’t make this country or Americana. Artists can be similar in a lot of ways, and genre is only of them.
On a Friday after a tough week — I’ve been getting over a nasty infection — I knew the Allstars would bring the goods, and they absolutely delivered. For anyone who enjoys music like, these guys are an absolute must see.
Here are some photos of North Mississippi AllStars performing live at The Hamilton Live on Oct. 9, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Ari Strauss.
