It’s been a long time since Mississippi’s Fat Possum Records has released a modern blues record. Strange considering the label was founded for the express purpose of recording blues legend R.L. Burnside, and since the 1990s, their Lomax-esque mission led them to record Junior Kimbrough, CeDell Davis, and many more nearly forgotten blues giants. Without these recordings, we would have lost not just a crucial part of our history and the names of the humans who shaped one of our most important musical traditions, but the epoch of blues’ resurection in the 21st century.
If the aforementioned bluesmen don’t ring a bell, you’ve heard the children of the sound they created. Among the many amazing blues-inflected records released in the early 2000s, you’re probably most familiar with the Black Keys, whose debut not only sounded like a lost Mississippi blues record, but featured covers of songs by members of Fat Possum’s roster like Burnside and Kimbrough. Fat Possum would release the Keys’ next two LPs, as well the incredible Junior Kimbrough cover record Chulaholma. It’s difficult to say why Fat Possum hasn’t released a blues record in years, but maybe they were waiting for the right artist to come around.
If you’ve been tuned in this month, you’ve heard plenty from our November 2021 Artist of the Month Buffalo Nichols, but just last week, our concert club members had a chance to see hear him in person for our first Studio 1A sessions with a live audience in nearly two years! In case you weren’t there for this amazing set, we’ve got you covered with a video of the entire performance below.
Nichols just wrapped up a stint supporting Drive-by Truckers before heading out with St. Paul and the Broken Bones and Valerie June in the coming months. Although he’s got a busy US tour schedule currently, you still have a chance to catch him next time he’s back home in Austin on January 22nd at the Stateside
His debut album, Buffalo Nichols, is out now on Fat Possum Records,
Follow Buffalo Nichols
Set List:
“Lost & Lonesome”
“Sick Bed Blues”
“These Things”
Musicians:
Carl Nichols, vocals, guitar
Production:
Engineer: Jake Perlman; Producer: Deidre Gott; Cameras: Gabriel C. Pérez, Michael Minasi Video Edit: Gabriel C. Pérez
