The self-titled debut LP from Buffalo Nichols is the music of a wandering soul – not necessarily lost, but there’s the intrigue over how the wanderer came to be. It’s a glimpse into the journey through unfamiliar terrain, the lone wolf with no place to stay, no one you know. It’s a reflection of Nichols’ own journey after years on the road because of school, work, then music, with no sense of permanence, fleeting…like life itself.
KUTX’s November Artist of the Month is also Fat Possum Records‘ first solo blues artist on their roster in 20 years, and Nichols is taking this moment to bring his goal to fruition: Bringing the blues of the past, the music he fell so deeply in love with in his youth, into the present. And how will this be done? “Part of my intent, making myself more comfortable with this release, is putting more Black stories into the genres of folk and blues,” Nichols explains. “Listening to this record, I want more Black people to hear themselves in this music that is truly theirs.”
Nichols has a few more tour dates supporting The Drive-By Truckers coming up, including two nights Austin – tonight, Nov. 18 and tomorrow, Nov. 19, at the Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St. Doors open at 6 p.m. tonight, 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night. There’s also an instore performance happening at 5 p.m. tomorrow at End of An Ear, 4304 Clawson Rd.
Add this one in your calendar, while you’re at it: Saturday Jan. 22 at Stateside at The Paramount.
