Roots rock extravaganza in Tel Aviv

Two of most authentic purveyors of blues-based rock & roll will make their Israel debuts next month.

By DAVID BRINN
North Mississippi 370 (photo credit: Courtesy/PR)
North Mississippi 370
(photo credit: Courtesy/PR)
Two of the most authentic purveyors of blues-based rock & roll will be making their Israel debuts next month when The North Mississippi Allstars and Alvin Youngblood Hart converge on The Barby Club on July 10.
The North Mississippi Allstars have been considered to be one of the premier roots rock jam bands in their decade of existence. They won a Grammy for their 2001 debut, Shake Hands with Shorty, and the group’s leaders, Luther Dickinson (guitar, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, electric washboard), are the sons of the late famed producer Jim Dickinson, who produced The Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder and The Replacements.
Luther Dickinson joined The Black Crowes as lead guitarist in 2007 and divides his time between the two bands. The All Stars have also functioned as a touring band for John Hiatt and last year toured with Robert Plant and his Band of Joy, prompting the former Led Zeppelin singer to proclaim, “Give me a great theater and the North Mississippi Allstars kicking things off and I’m gone.”
Hart’s forte is country blues, but is known to mix in the classic rock of his youth, Western swing and vintage country. One of his mentors, bluesman Taj Mahal, said about Hart that “the boy has got thunder in his hands.”