by Erik Ritland
Rambling On is a seriously fun blog and podcast covering sports, music, culture, and more. Check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Who: Jimbo Mathus
Where: Longfellow Roots, Rock, and Deep Blues Festival (a benefit for Patrick's Cabaret)
When: Saturday, July 18 at 8:00 PM (Minnehaha Stage)
Jimbo Mathus contains all the multitudes of his Clarksdale, Mississippi home - not to mention its varied pedigree of folk, blues, country, and rock. Many know him for his work with rootsy '90s rockers the Squirrel Nut Zippers but his career and myth stretch far beyond that. Whether releasing an album of Charley Patton covers, working with Buddy Guy, or continuing his ever-evolving solo career, Mathus has been burning bright and furthering the folk tradition since well before his work with the Zippers.
Take a trip with me, will you, through the backroads and inroads of the career of this roots rock pioneer.
Lover's Lane
from the 1995 Squirrel Nut Zippers album The Inevitable
A Cosmic American soup of jazz, blues, and Dixieland is found throughout the Squirrel Nut Zippers catalog. Although known for the hit "Hell" each of their songs are well-crafted. "Lover's Lane," which kicks off their debut album, shows the energy and musicianship they were known for. Kicking melody, too, and super fun. The maturity of Mathus' songwriting is already immediately apparent.
Jesus is a Dying Bed Maker
from the 1997 James Mathus and His Knockdown Society album Songs for Rosetta
Jesus is a Dying Bed Maker
from the 1997 James Mathus and His Knockdown Society album Songs for Rosetta
Although Robert Johnson is more well-known, Charley Patton is the most interesting and influential of the pre-war country blues singers. His rough, free style, and the variety of material he covered, are the stuff of legend. His booming voice has to be heard to be believed.
Rosetta Patton, one of Charley's daughters, was Jimbo's childhood nanny. One of his first solo projects was Songs for Rosetta, an album that raised funds for her since she didn't see any royalties from Patton's catalog. This version of "Jesus is a Dying Bed Maker" is faithful to the original, and most definitely the most haunting song of 1997.
Baby Please Don't Leave Me
from the 2001 Buddy Guy album Sweet Tea
Rosetta Patton, one of Charley's daughters, was Jimbo's childhood nanny. One of his first solo projects was Songs for Rosetta, an album that raised funds for her since she didn't see any royalties from Patton's catalog. This version of "Jesus is a Dying Bed Maker" is faithful to the original, and most definitely the most haunting song of 1997.
Baby Please Don't Leave Me
from the 2001 Buddy Guy album Sweet Tea
Jimbo played an important role on Buddy Guy's seminal 2001 LP Sweet Tea, translating the Hill Country blues tradition into something the blues legend could jump in and latch onto. The results are astounding, with Guy letting loose with his best Hendrix-like playing. May the circle be unbroken.
Good Ole Time
from the 2009 Jimbo Mathus album Jimmy the Kid
Good Ole Time
from the 2009 Jimbo Mathus album Jimmy the Kid
Albums like Stop and Let the Devil Ride (2003) and Knockdown South (2005) showed the variety of Mathus' influences and tastes, including swampy rock, delta blues, folk, and jazz. He took a turn on 2009's Jimmy the Kid, though, adding a larger country influence than he ever had before. "Good Ole Time" summons all the great honky tonk masters, as the entire album does.
Writing Spider
from the 2013 album Dark Night of the Soul
Writing Spider
from the 2013 album Dark Night of the Soul
Okay, twist my arm, I'll tell you: country rocker "Writing Spider" is my favorite Jimbo Mathus song. It exemplifies the genuine, personal, thought-provoking writing of his last two albums, Blue Healer and Dark Night of the Soul. The spiritual, paradoxical lyrics are moving:
Some say Jesus is the answer
It's Jesus that can set you free
Well I won't dispute it or claim it
Although it's standing right in front of me
He took the blame for everything
Even the original sin
I took the blame so many times
For all the trouble that I had back then
Shoot out the Lights
from the 2015 album Blue Healer
Some say Jesus is the answer
It's Jesus that can set you free
Well I won't dispute it or claim it
Although it's standing right in front of me
He took the blame for everything
Even the original sin
I took the blame so many times
For all the trouble that I had back then
Shoot out the Lights
from the 2015 album Blue Healer
With his latest album, 2015's Blue Healer, Jimbo has reached a new high point. His strongest batch of song is a perfect cosmic mix of country, rock, blues, soul, and folk. "Shoot out the Lights" begins the record with a blast of energy reminiscent of the Band and Bruce Springsteen.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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